Remember when wrist gestures on Android Wear were a thing? They showed up, felt kind of cool for about five minutes, then quietly disappeared. Why? They never quite worked right. Google’s apparently bringing them back for the Pixel Watch, but this time with a twist that might actually make them useful.
Code spotted in the latest Pixel Watch app update by Android Authority points to a “double pinch” gesture. It lets you handle calls and notifications by simply tapping your thumb and index finger together. Think of it like snapping your fingers, but gentler. According to the APK teardown, the system relies on motion sensors. It also uses subtle changes your heart rate sensor picks up when your fingers move. This works similar to how the Apple Watch handles AssistiveTouch controls. This would be a significant upgrade for the Pixel Watch lineup, which has been steadily adding features since launch.
The same code also shows that Google’s reviving “wrist turn” gestures. These let you silence calls or dismiss notifications with a quick flick. If you used early Wear OS devices, you probably remember how finicky these were. The difference this time? Google seems focused on making them work for simple, reliable actions instead of trying to do too much.
More Than Just a Party Trick
These gestures could genuinely help when your other hand is busy. Think cooking, driving, or mid-workout. Instead of fumbling with the screen or spinning the crown, you just pinch or flick your wrist to answer that call. It fits right into Google’s bigger push toward natural, AI-powered interactions on Pixel hardware. These sit alongside features like raise-to-talk Gemini on the Pixel Watch and head-movement call controls on the latest Pixel Buds.
The real question is whether these controls will actually be reliable enough to trust. Nobody wants a feature that accidentally answers calls when you’re just scratching your nose. Or worse, one that fails to work when you actually need it. Apple and Samsung have been refining their own gestural controls for a while now, so Google has some catching up to do.
Nothing’s live yet and Google hasn’t announced a rollout date. However, the detailed descriptions in the code suggest these features are being prepped for a future update on current Pixel Watch models. If Google nails the execution, this could be the moment wrist gestures finally become more than just a gimmick.
The post Pixel Watch Gesture Controls Could Finally Make Wrist Flicks Work appeared first on Phandroid.
