What's New in Google's Earthquake Detection for Smartwatches
Reporter
February 26, 2026 | 04:16 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Now, the earthquake alert feature on earthquake smartwatches by Google has advanced to the next level. Thanks to the Wear OS update, the technology giant's electronic accessory can now receive emergency alerts independently, without being connected to a mobile phone.
"From now on, even if your phone is too far to remain connected to your watch, the latter will still notify you about earthquakes," reads the review by GSM Arena published on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
This enhancement is a solution for users who often engage in outdoor physical activities without carrying their phones. Previously, the Google earthquake alert system only worked when the user's watch was connected to android.
The functionality upgrade was revealed through the release notes for the Google Play Services version 26.07 update some time ago. The developers detailed the new WearOS capability that frees the watch from relying on the phone's connection.
Google's earthquake detection system uses data from accelerometers on millions of devices to detect early seismic vibrations. If there is a strong tremor, the system will automatically send instructions. This early warning is also accompanied by red notifications and a loud alarm to alert its users.
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