Android Wear 2.0 to be released on February 9th, rumor suggests

Thanks to a number of previous leaks, we've known for some time that the Android Wear 2.0 update will be released in the early days of next month. Now, courtesy of prolific leaker Evan Blass, also known by his Twitter handle @evleaks, we know the exact date of that launch – February 9th.

Android Wear 2.0, touted as the platform's biggest update ever, was unveiled all the way back in May at last year's Google I/O, but its release date got pushed back to Q2 2017 due to unspecified reasons. The new version promises a number of new features, including handwriting recognition, better fitness tracking abilities, expanded functionality for watchfaces, listening to music without the need for a paired phone in proximity, and more. The update is also said to be adding a new, separate app store specific to the platform, along with support for Google Assistant, the company's new AI.

It's not yet clear whether the February 9th launch will be software only, but previous information states that two new smartwatches running Android Wear 2.0 will be released in early 2017, suggesting this might be their launch date as well. The two devices are codenamed Swordfish and Angelfish, with the latter being a more premium model capable of standalone functionality. Alongside them, 18 other existing watches are confirmed to be getting the update, and a full list can be found here.

source: @evleaks