Apple's smartwatch operating system, powering the Apple Watch line with health, fitness, and Siri features.
watchOS is Apple's operating system for the Apple Watch, its current major release emphasizing Siri AI, Workout Buddy, and health and fitness tracking. Apple distributes it exclusively with its own watch hardware rather than licensing it to other watchmakers.
The platform competes for the same smartwatch buyers and developers that Google addresses through its licensed Wear OS platform.
Adds products that compete with one of watchOS’ direct competitors but not with watchOS itself. They are shaded, and Linked Through names the direct competitor each one competes with.
| Attribute | watchOS | Wear OS | Garmin Connect IQ | Zepp OS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linked Through | — | Direct competitor | Wear OS | Wear OS | |
| Provider |  |  |  |  | |
| Founded | 1976 | 2003 | 1989 | 2010 | |
| Sells To | Enterprises, Individuals | — | Consumers, Enterprise | Consumers | |
| Pricing Model | Services, Subscription | — | Software, Transactional | Software, Transactional | |
| Ownership | Public | Subsidiary | Public | Private |
Provider
Founded 1976
Sells To Enterprises, Individuals
Pricing Model Services, Subscription
Ownership Public
Provider
Founded 2003
Sells To —
Pricing Model —
Ownership Subsidiary
Linked Through Wear OS
Provider
Founded 1989
Sells To Consumers, Enterprise
Pricing Model Software, Transactional
Ownership Public
Linked Through Wear OS
Provider
Founded 2010
Sells To Consumers
Pricing Model Software, Transactional
Ownership Private
Garmin's open developer platform for smartwatch apps, widgets, and watch faces across its wearable devices.
Zepp's lightweight smartwatch operating system, optimized for battery life on Amazfit wearable devices.
Garmin's open developer platform for smartwatch apps, widgets, and watch faces across its wearable devices.
Google Pixel Watch is the smartwatch line from Google with health tracking.
Huawei's next-generation smart-terminal operating system spanning phones, tablets, TVs, and wearables.
Roku's smart-TV operating system, licensed to television makers and running on Roku streaming players.
