Is Google Maps on a WearOS Watch Useful?
Google apps assumed to be an important benefit of WearOS. But when I upgraded my Galaxy Watch 3 to Galaxy Watch 4 I found that I do not use them that much.
Moreover, my first interaction with google map was… not navigation but disabling navigation for driving mode. By default, when I started car navigation on my phone, google map on the watch was activated as well. Then it vibrated before every turn I should do. Great that one can disable this.
This was the only interaction I had with google maps on my watch during more than half of a year. Vacation in the mountains did not change that — I used google maps for driving (phone only) and Komoot + Samsung health on the watch for hiking (this experience is described in the article “Galaxy Watch 4 + Komoot + Hiking: Battery Usage”).
Surprisingly, the things have changed during my recent business travel to Sweden. This travel was different from previous ones:
- I walked mostly in a city, and mostly to find urban places there (not hiking)
- My walked were less prepared/preplanned than usual
- It was rather cold outside
It looks like these factors made a difference — I used navigation on the watch for my walks from A to B every day during this travel. It really was faster and more comfortable than taking my phone out of my pocket or keeping it in my hands.
Meanwhile, selecting a target target is still a phone task for me. Searching for a place to eat, I must filter results by rating, open hours, price range and check the menu or meal photos to be sure that this is really a place I could enjoy.
I think this scenario will stay main use case of google maps on my watch for me.
I heard that other people also use it for navigation in a rented car if this car has neither good navigation nor good stand for a smartphone. But, I have not first hand experience here.
