Google Maps simply bought a large improve for Put on OS smartwatches: it could actually now work and not using a smartphone, supplied you could have an LTE mannequin with a mobile community.

These of you utilizing among the greatest Put on OS smartwatches on the market – the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 LTE mannequin or the Google Pixel Watch LTE – can get navigation knowledge from Google Maps with no need to pair your watch with a smartphone. Which means the subsequent time you wish to head out on a stroll, a jog, or a motorbike journey you received’t must take your telephone with you to know the place you’re going.

Non-LTE Put on OS smartwatches can benefit from the Google Maps replace too so long as they’re related to Wi-Fi. However until you’re touring round a significant metropolis it’s unlikely you’ll have a secure sufficient connection to take full benefit of the characteristic.

To make use of the brand new Google Maps device you’ll wish to open the app in your Put on OS smartwatch, enter a vacation spot utilizing your voice or the keyboard, choose the way you wish to get there (both on foot, by bike on in a automotive), after which hit begin and head out in your journey. 

Whereas the Put on OS model of Google Maps lacks among the smartphone model’s performance – you may’t get info for routes utilizing public transport for now – it does have one neat add-on. If in case you have enabled mirroring and have began navigation in your smartphone solely to go away it behind, your watch will be capable of take over and provide you with instructions so you may end the journey – although that is admittedly a comparatively area of interest use case.

When you’ve been weighing up the professionals and cons of choosing an LTE smartwatch versus a (sometimes cheaper) non-LTE variant, this new Google Maps replace provides you another excuse to go for the previous over the latter. When you at all times battle to discover a snug place to place your android telephone everytime you’re on a run or a motorbike journey, this Maps enchancment will probably serve you nicely (and provides LTE fashions an edge). 

On prime of that, you’ll additionally be capable of benefit from different LTE advantages, together with the flexibility to obtain calls and messages with out your telephone, and to hearken to music from among the greatest music streaming providers – you’ll simply want to recollect to get a knowledge plan on your watch.