​New Wear OS feature is beach-body ready

Google has launched a brand new feature for Wear OS, and it’s made for the summer.

Your Wear OS smartwatch can now show the UV Index score as a watch face complication, alongside other weather information, so you can plan your day accordingly.

The UV Index runs from 0-11. The US Environmental Protection Agency recommends using sunglasses and SP15 sun cream between 2-7 and extra protection if the UV Index reaches 8 or higher.

Wear OS: the complete guide

For Wear OS users, that UV Index score can be seen on the weather watch face, next to the sunrise and sunset times.

The feature stops short of using the ambient light sensor to gauge UV strength or recommend sun cream reminders, as we’ve seen explored via wearable such as the L’Oreal My Skin Track UV, which was launched in 2019. That used UV sensors to measure the sun’s strength and alert you when you should take precautions.

However, despite the simplicity of the new Wear OS feature, it’s actually a refreshing and useful addition to a operating system that’s often criticised for a lack of updates.

But as usual, it’s down to manufacturers of each smartwatch to roll the update out – and that means it’s anyone’s guess when it will arrive on specific devices.

Wear OS has been treated to a glut of small updates recently, and Google has enabled new Tiles, the ability for third parties to make their own Tiles and performance-related improvements.

Check our guide to updating Wear OS to see if you have the latest features.

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