Pixel Watch 5 gets its first update, and Gemini is stealing the show

Google recently gave Pixel Watch 5 owners something to tinker with by publishing the smartwatch’s factory images. Now, the company is rolling out the watch’s first software update with new security fixes, bumping the firmware from CD5A.260611.008 to CP3A.260905.002.

The September update keeps the Pixel Watch 5 on Wear OS 7, based on Android 17, and Google says it will roll out in phases by carrier and device. But this first update has an odd twist. Despite the new firmware build, Google’s extensive changelog mostly reads like a recap of the software features that arrived with the Pixel Watch 5 at launch.

Rather than highlighting new features, Google has published an extensive rundown covering Gemini Personalization, Proactive Suggestions, Offline Gemini, improved Raise to Talk, GPS tracking improvements, and expanded hand gestures.

Those are all useful additions, but they aren’t exactly September surprises. Much of this functionality was already part of the Pixel Watch 5 launch experience, making Google’s first update feel more like a software recap than a conventional feature drop.

Still, the changelog highlights how much Google is trying to reduce the time you spend poking at the watch’s tiny display. The Pixel Watch 5 can use a wrist-turn gesture as universal back navigation. At the same time, a double pinch can open notifications and At a Glance, scroll through Gemini responses and workout metrics, switch Google Maps views, and interact with apps including Wallet and Recorder.

Gemini also gets plenty of attention. Personalization lets the assistant draw on information from connected Google services, while offline Gemini can handle actions such as starting a workout, setting a timer, and enabling DND without an internet connection.

There’s one notable limitation, though: Gemini’s Proactive Suggestions require the Pixel Watch 5 to be paired with a Pixel 11, with Gemini and proactive assistance enabled on the phone.