The update to Android 14 appears to be rolling out now in some regions

Owners of the Xiaomi Watch 2 are reporting receiving the Wear OS 5 update, a welcome software boost that keeps our top-recommended budget Wear OS smartwatch relevant for longer.

The update, which Reddit evidence suggests is rolling out in phases across different regions, brings the underlying software up to Android 14 and includes the latest security patches.

While this isn’t the cutting-edge Wear OS 6 that has just debuted on Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch 8 series, this is a significant and welcome update.

As we noted in our review from early 2023, the Watch 2 filled a huge gap in the market when it launched. It offered a relatively complete Wear OS experience for a very affordable $169 (and can often be found now closer to the $120 mark).

Even in the time since, only really the re-released Galaxy Watch 4 (the Galaxy Watch FE) has come close to matching its value, unless you wanted to consider last-gen or resale devices.

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So, this update ensures that one of the few truly budget-friendly entry points to Google’s ecosystem remains a viable option for newcomers.

What Watch 2 users can expect from the Wear OS 5 upgrade

For current owners wondering what the Wear OS 5 update brings, this one essentially builds on a solid foundation. There shouldn’t be too much visual change, since elements like the redesigned app drawer that debuted with this version won’t carry over to Xiaomi’s skin of Wear OS.

However, it could ease what remains the watch’s most significant compromise, the single-day battery life. When announcing Wear OS 5 last year, Google noted that running a marathon consumes 20% less power than Wear OS 4, an example of how it manages resources much more efficiently (with faster app loading and multitasking part of this, too).

Whatever the case, the rollout of Wear OS 5 is a great sign of continued support from Xiaomi. Now we’ll await a similar update for the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro—especially with no Xiaomi Watch 3 seemingly on the horizon.