Google said earlier this year that it will improve the auto-unlock experience with Wear OS between Android and Chrome OS devices.
Smart Unlock will take the place of "Smart Lock," which allows a nearby Bluetooth device to keep an Android smartphone unlocked while in range. Smart Unlock is only available on Wear OS devices, and it confirms that a device has been unlocked by the wristwatch on its display, as well as offering the option to re-lock the device.
9to5Google has managed to unlock a new "Smart Unlock" settings page, and the prompt specifically mentions the Google Pixel Watch, but not without referencing the "Google Pixel Watch App."
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This indicates that the Google Pixel Watch will not use the Wear OS companion app, but will instead have its own app. We think this would work similarly to how Google's Pixel Buds have a separate audio app. Google wants the Pixel Watch to offer a completely different experience than prior Wear OS smartwatches, and the dedicated companion app should help with that.
The Google Pixel Watch was announced at Google I/O last month, and its release is likely to coincide with the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro during Google's Fall hardware event, which generally takes place in October.
