Did Sony Give Up Smartwatch Business? SmartWatch 3 Not Getting Android Wear 2.0 Update

It’s been three years since Sony released its SmartWatch 3 timepiece, but it hasn’t launched a successor to its smartwatch line to this day. The Tokyo-based electronics company’s absence from the smartwatch scene was not hugely felt by consumers until this week when it subtly confirmed the sad news that its latest high-tech timepiece is not getting the Android Wear 2.0 treatment.

On Wednesday, Xperia Blog found out that Sony updated its product page for the SmartWatch 3 with the confirmation that it is not receiving the newest Google smartwatch OS update. Found at the very bottom part of the Sony Mobile page, Sony’s note reads: “SmartWatch 3 SWR50 supports up to Android Wear 1.5. Android Wear 2.0 and onwards are not supported.”

Sony’s confirmation comes just days after Google officially launched the delayed Android Wear 2.0. Aside from introducing the new features of the new OS, Google also published the list of smartwatches that will receive the Wear 2.0 update. The list included LG’s Watch R and Watch Urbane, as well as Motorola, Fossil, Casio and Asus smartwatches, among many others.

Because Sony’s relatively old SmartWatch 3 was noticeably absent from the list, speculations that the device will not get the chance to update its software quickly surfaced. There were also those who believed that the wristwatch could just be receiving Android Wear 2.0 at some point in the future. Unfortunately, Sony chose to crush that tiny amount of hope SmartWatch 3 owners held on to for a long time now.

Upon learning of Sony’s decision however, many SmartWatch 3 owners complained and one of them even started a Change.org petition for Sony to change its mind and ask Google to roll out the new Wear OS to the timepiece. The petition is asking for 2,500 signatures. As of writing, it already has 1,784 supporters.

Meanwhile, GSM Arena thinks Sony may have already given up its smartwatch business. The smartphone-centric news site pointed out that Sony’s three-year absence from the smartwatch scene could indicate that it has ceased its efforts to be part of the segment. Of course, this speculation could be easily debunked once Sony expresses its interest in releasing another smartwatch.