WhatsApp beta teases much-needed feature for smartwatch owners
WhatsApp calls are finally coming to WearOS smartwatches
A new WhatsApp beta release has dropped, and with it comes compatibility with Wear OS 3 smartwatches – so if you have the beta installed you’ll finally get notifications and be able to answer WhatsApp calls using your wearable.
Plus, you won’t need to go digging through your settings on your phone or smartwatch; once you’ve downloaded the update the feature will be turned on automatically (Via Reddit).
Interestingly (or unfortunately for those of you who love communicating through your watch) the feature is currently a one-way affair. While you can answer WhatsApp calls and interact with the caller just as you would with any other call on your watch, you can’t initiate a call from your wearable; instead, you’ll have to use the WhatsApp phone app or a different service if you want to get in touch with someone.
As mentioned above, to use the feature you'll need both the latest version of the WhatsApp beta (version 2.22.19.11) and a Wear OS 3 smartwatch. Right now the list of devices is fairly limited, and includes the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, the Montblanc Summit 3, and the newly launched Samsung Galaxy Watch 5.
Other watches, like the Fossil Gen 6 and TicWatch Pro 3, are expected to be updated to WearOS 3 sometime in the near future, and we imagine the upcoming Google Pixel Watch will launch with the OS too. But for now, you’re mostly stuck with Samsung’s smartwatches.
If you have one of these devices and want to take advantage of the WhatsApp beta release, all you have to do is head over to the official WhatsApp test page on the Google Play store. Right now it’s showing up as full; you might get lucky and be able to snag a spot if someone leaves, but we expect it won’t be long before the option becomes available in the full WhatsApp release.
Looking for an app you can use today? Check out our picks for the best Android apps you can download to your Android 13 smartphone.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
Hamish is a Senior Staff Writer for TechRadar and you’ll see his name appearing on articles across nearly every topic on the site from smart home deals to speaker reviews to graphics card news and everything in between. He uses his broad range of knowledge to help explain the latest gadgets and if they’re a must-buy or a fad fueled by hype. Though his specialty is writing about everything going on in the world of virtual reality and augmented reality.