While Google Messages on Android lets you react to messages, Wear OS smartwatch users don’t have that convenience. They either have to select from the auto-generated responses or type the entire text on the small smartwatch screen.
Well, that might change with an upcoming feature for Wear OS smartwatches. Folks at Android Authority have discovered a new “MessageReactionsActivity” string on the Wear OS version of Messages.
Finally, Wear OS users could react to messages
The code also suggests the presence of an emoji picker (as seen on Android or iOS devices when replying to messages), the option to react with a sticker, and the option to remove the reaction.
Although the publication isn’t sure about whether Wear OS users will be able to use Photomojis as reactions, they should be able to see those on their smartwatch if someone sends them via the Google Messages Android app.
Altogether, the update should improve the overall texting experience by eliminating the need to type one-word reactions, which can be conveyed more efficiently and effectively with the right emoji.
Make as Read will help Wear OS users declutter their inbox
“Mark as read” is yet another feature that isn’t available on Google Messages for Wear OS. It allows users to mark a message as read right from notifications, so it doesn’t appear as an unread message in the app.
Along with the ability to react to messages, Google Messages on Wear OS could soon get a “Mark as read” button for incoming messages via the app. It will help you keep the unread count under control while letting you distinguish between messages you don’t need to respond to and those that require your attention.
The publication doesn’t provide a launch timeline for these features, but given that they’re fundamental improvements that bring the Google Messages on Wear OS experience on par with that on Android, the company shouldn’t delay the launch.