Get Google’s big Android Wear upgrade now on your Asus ZenWatch

The ZenWatch is getting Android Wear 5.1. Photo: Asus

The ZenWatch is getting Android Wear 5.1. Photo: Asus

Google’s latest Android Wear upgrade, which adds a whole host of new features and improvements, is now available on the Asus ZenWatch.

Announced back in April, this is arguably Google’s biggest Android Wear update to date, however, ZenWatch owners won’t get one of its most significant improvements, which is the ability to sync notifications over Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, the device doesn’t have a Wi-Fi module built-in.

But that doesn’t mean Android Wear 5.1 isn’t worth looking forward to; the ZenWatch will still see user interface improvements, an awesome new low-power mode for apps, and handy gesture controls. It also brings the ability to send emoji replies to text messages, IMs, and emails.

“Individually, these changes are small, but collectively, they promise to make even year-old hardware seem new,” said Jeff Chang, Google’s lead product manager for Android Wear, when the company’s first previewed this release.

Android Wear 5.1.1 running on the ZenWatch. Photo: Verdes8891/Reddit

Android Wear 5.1.1 running on the ZenWatch. Photo: Verdes8891/Reddit

Android Wear 5.1 was made available on LG’s brand new Watch Urbane first, but it seems the ZenWatch is the second device to get it, according to owners on Reddit. We expect other Wear watches to see the update very soon.