One of the best Google apps isn't available on Galaxy Watch 4 yet, and that's sad

Opinion

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The Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic have many great features, and one of the best things about them is that they have official Google apps courtesy of running Wear OS. Whether or not you like Samsung's switch from Tizen to Wear OS, you can't deny the fact that access to Google apps is a major advantage.

It's an advantage that became clear to me soon after I started using the Galaxy Watch 4, but as I continue to use the watch, I am disappointed that it doesn't have what's arguably one of the best Google apps: Assistant.

The Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic went on sale in late August, and a full month later, Google Assistant is still not supported. The watches come preloaded with Bixby as the only virtual assistant, pretty much like Samsung's Tizen-based smartwatches, and it's strange that Google and Samsung didn't work on making Google Assistant available at launch.

Hi Bixby, when will Google Assistant come to my Galaxy Watch 4?

It could be that Assistant for the Watch 4 wasn't ready on time. The watch does have the option to change the default digital assistant app, but only Bixby is in there at the moment. It could also be deliberate, of course: Perhaps Samsung wants owners of the Watch 4 to first try Bixby in the hopes that they will stick with it before bringing Google Assistant support.

It's sad either way. You can't tout a change as big as an underlying OS switch without having one of its best features available right at launch. I can only hope we won't have to wait too long before Google Assistant comes to the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, because Bixby is just not worth the hassle unless you're already using it over Google Assistant on your phone.

Do you miss Google Assistant on your Galaxy Watch 4 or Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, or are you using Bixby and intend on doing so even when Assistant becomes available?

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Abhijeet Mishra - Editor-in-Chief

[email protected]

First Samsung device: SGH-D500

Abhijeet's writing career started with guides for custom firmware for Samsung devices (including the original Galaxy S), and he moved to SamMobile in mid-2013 and worked up the ranks to Editor-in-chief. In addition to phones and mobile devices, his interests include gaming on both PC and console, PC hardware, and spending countless hours on YouTube watching videos on tech, movies, games, politics, and internet dramas.

Opinion Watch Galaxy Watch 4 Galaxy Watch 4 Classic

samsung galaxy watch wear os google gemini

One of the best Google apps isn't available on Galaxy Watch 4 yet, and that's sad

Hi Bixby, when will Google Assistant come to my Galaxy Watch 4?

Abhijeet Mishra - Editor-in-Chief

[email protected]

First Samsung device: SGH-D500

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