What it’s good to know
- All Pixel Watch 3, 2, and 1 house owners will obtain Put on OS 5.1 model BP1A.250305.019.W8 within the subsequent few weeks, staggered by gadget and service.
- Google says its enhanced step rely algorithm was resulting in “greater than anticipated” step counts, and is “reverting” to the unique algorithm.
- Customers caught on the November 2024 patch will obtain the March and first April replace options and bug fixes after a protracted wait.
After a messy March replace rollout, Google plans to lastly merge Pixel Watch house owners onto one late-April Put on OS 5.1 versuib — and take away a key function from Put on OS that is not working as supposed.
The March Pixel Watch replace added a number of new options, together with a brand new “enhanced step rely algorithm” designed to higher monitor steps in “difficult conditions” like utilizing a strolling stick, stroller, purchasing cart, or wheelchair.
Sadly, it additionally triggered a number of bugs on Pixel Watch 3 items like delayed notifications, battery drain, and artificially inflated step counts for some customers. And lots of Pixel Watch house owners by no means obtained it.
In early April, Google pushed an replace to repair the battery and notification points; now, this newest replace, “BP1A.250305.019.W8,” will repair the step-counting challenge by returning to the previous algorithm.
Individuals caught on the previous November 2024 patch will obtain the different March 2025 options: menstrual monitoring in Fitbit, a media controls improve, new dev instruments, some UI adjustments, auto bed-time mode on the Pixel Watch 2, and high-severity safety fixes. Solely the step rely algorithm algorithm is excluded.
Google guarantees that you’re going to obtain a smartwatch notification when the replace turns into out there. If you wish to verify for it now, put your Pixel Watch on a charger, go to Settings > System > System Replace, and quickly faucet the display screen for about 15–30 seconds to see if the replace seems.
Primarily based on previous Pixel Watch replace rollouts, older fashions or LTE fashions will take longer to obtain this April 2025 Put on OS patch.
A disappointing Pixel Watch reversion
Mockingly, I examined the improved step rely algorithm on my Pixel Watch 3 final week. I knew Put on OS 5.1 had brought about some bugs, however did not know that folks’s watches had been including tens of 1000’s of steps or monitoring motion whereas eliminated.
Regardless of my ignorance, I approached my check with some skepticism about whether or not Google’s “distinctive accuracy” declare was true, and I put it by means of some robust assessments.
My outcomes weren’t good, however in each situation, my step rely was beneath the precise step rely. It was 100 steps quick after 10,000 steps, 143 steps quick after mountaineering up hills with a trekking pole, and a pair hundred steps quick whereas strolling by means of a retailer with a purchasing cart.
My takeaway was that the algorithm had room to develop, however that it did a good job of recognizing irregular step actions, higher than different manufacturers that may solely interpret pure arm swings as steps. And I appreciated that Google was attempting to account for situations like pushing a wheelchair, stroller, or walker, not simply able-bodied athletes.
That is why I discover it a disgrace that Google has reverted to the previous algorithm, which we have usually discovered to be much less correct for regular step monitoring. I requested my Google rep about what “sure situations” had been inflicting points and why the algorithm needed to be reverted fairly than fastened; I am going to replace this put up if I hear again.
Hopefully, they will be capable of re-add the improved algorithm sooner or later, resolving the supply of the false-positive steps whereas nonetheless serving to Pixel Watches to acknowledge unorthodox steps and motion.
