UPDATE: The Android Wear app for iOS is now available in the App Store. You can find it right here. Some screenshots are available below.
UPDATE 2: Looks like Android Wear for iOS might support more watches than the LG Watch Urbane, despite what Google says. The Verge was able to pair a Moto 360 with an iPhone with no issue, so if you've got an Android Wear smartwatch and an iPhone laying around, you may want to try pairing 'em to see what happens.
ORIGINAL: Ever since their respective launches, Google’s Android Wear and Apple’s Apple Watch have only been compatible with their respective platforms. Now that’s no longer the case.
Google is launching an Android Wear for iOS app, allowing iPhone owners to use its Android Wear-powered smartwatches for the very first time. As you might expect, Android Wear for iOS’s feature set isn’t quite as robust as Android Wear for Android, but Google has managed to include quite a few goodies for you to try.
Android Wear on iOS supports notifications for things like phone calls and messages as well as alerts from your apps. You can also use Google Fit to track your activity and complete voice commands with “Ok Google.” The voice dictation will let you create reminders, answer questions, and more. You’ll also get Google Now-style alerts for things like traffic info, flight status, and notifications telling you when to leave for an appointment.
One Android Wear feature that’s limited on iOS compared to Android is watch face selection. You won’t be able to install just any old watch face with Android Wear for iOS; instead, you’ll have a handful of faces that Google has selected.
Android Wear for iOS is compatible with the iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, 6, and 6 Plus. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work with most existing Android Wear smartwatches. The only one that’s available now and supports Android Wear for iOS is the LG Watch Urbane. However, all future Android Wear watches will work with iOS, so new offerings from Huawei, ASUS, and Motorola should all play nicely with an iPhone.
While Android Wear for iOS is a limited compared to its Android counterpart, it still looks like it ought to perform most smartwatch functions perfectly fine. Today’s news is awesome for iOS owners, as it now means would-be smartwatch buyers can select an Apple Watch, Android Wear device, or a Pebble when searching for the perfect companion to their iPhone. It’s unclear if Apple will ever allow the Apple Watch to work with Android phones, but hey, the company is broadening its horizons a bit with an Apple Music app for Android.
So let’s hear it, iPhone owners: Would you use an Android Wear smartwatch with your iOS handset?