Wear OS 6 fixes the most annoying thing about always-on displays, and I couldn't be more excited
After years as a power-draining setting with significant limitations, the always-on display on Wear OS smartwatches is finally getting a glow-up.
Hitting wrists via Wear OS 6, a redesigned always-on display (AOD) will now offer more functionality, adding key controls to the screen. As someone who spends way too much time flicking my wrist just to perform basic actions, I couldn't be happier.
How important is an improved always-on display experience for you?
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Very, I can't wait.
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Not very, I dont mind it the way it is.
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I dont use the AOD.
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In its developer documentation, Google confirmed that Wear OS 6 will 'consolidate existing solutions to deliver a more consistent always-on experience across devices.' In practice, that means Wear OS watches will continue to display important details even when your wrist is down. The display will retain control screens, instead of fading into a basic clock face, and honestly, it's about time (no pun intended).
This might sound like a small UI tweak, but it's actually a fundamental shift in how I'll be able to use my go-to wearables.
Google is baking more AOD usability directly in as a standard feature, and the example the company provided is one of the best use cases I can think of: tappable media controls visible on the ambient screen (displayed using a low-power outline design that fits the aesthetic).
That means no more exaggerated arm raises trying to skip a track mid-workout, and tipping my balance on the treadmill precariously. No more wrist flicks in frustration in the middle of the road when I want to check something mid-ride. I've honestly lost count of how many times I've glanced at my watch while cooking, hoping to quickly pause my audiobook while I check a recipe note, only to be met with a static screen.
I'm elated that Google is baking more AOD functionality directly into Wear OS 6.
Of course, the update also goes beyond media controls. I'm also excited about the ability to use my watch's AOD more broadly as a glanceable and interactive interface, not just a low-power placeholder. Google confirmed that users' top activity will remain visible and 'in a resumed state' during ambient mode, suggesting the watch will offer more functionality right on the always-on screen. For me, this would make enabling always-on a much more worthwhile battery life trade-off.
This isn't some flashy, headline-grabbing update, but it's exactly the kind of thoughtful polish I hope for as each launch season approaches. Large-scale, sweeping changes are one thing, but tiny, thoughtful user experience improvements are equally appreciated.
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The app also packs an equalizer, the Speak-to-Chat function that can get in the way if too many people are talking near you and Bluetooth connection quality that can allow you to prioritize a stable connection over sound quality if you're noticing dropouts in your tunes. Dig deeper in the app, though, and you'll find more customization tools that let you unlock new commands for the ANC button. I love that there's a lot here; I just wish it weren't all jammed together. But for as clumsy as the Sony app is, I'm happy to see it's available in both the Android and iOS app stores. In comparison, the AirPods Max only properly integrate with Apple devices. If you care about voice assistants, know that the AirPods Max only natively support Siri, while the XM6 work with Siri, Google Assistant and Alexa. TL;DR: Frankly, neither of these solutions is better than the other. I'd award proverbial points here if one company made a ton of features easily accessible in a well-designed app, but neither company hits that note, so nobody wins. I will give Sony credit for the feature that lets you enable transparency mode when you hold your hand over the XM6's right cup, though. You'd think the 5-year-old AirPods Max, which debuted at $550, would have gone down in price by now, having only added USB-C over their tenure. Alas, that's not the case, and they still cost more than you'd expect. This puts them at $100 more than the Sony XM6, though I'm not exactly happy with Sony for charging $50 more for this pair than it did for the XM5 when they came out. We've seen the AirPods Max at around $450 during sales seasons, though, so shoppers who take their time may snag a victory. TL;DR: Sony's high-quality headphones also cost $100 less. 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The New York Times' Modern Love: 'Miranda July Knew Exactly What She Was Doing' Performance Noise cancellation: I wore both of these headphones with ANC turned on for at least one hour on a recent flight. No music was playing during that time, so I could get a clear sense of what the noise cancellation was eliminating. I performed the same test on these headphones on the subway and at the office to get a sense of how they cut down sound in my day-to-day life. Transparency: To how well the AirPods Max and Sony XM6 let in the sounds of the world, I walked around with their transparency modes enabled (and nothing playing) in the streets and subway trains of New York, as well as our offices. Battery life: I listened to the same hour of music, with noise cancellation enabled and volume at 50%, on each pair of headphones. I then noted how much battery life was left on each and used this to create an estimate of how many hours of juice they have on a single charge. Design Hardware: From flexing the headband to repeatedly extending and closing the arms of the headphones, I checked how durable these headphones felt. I also used both headphones as my main pair for multiple commutes to see how they fit. Software: I made sure I knew how to actually use the AirPods Max and Sony XM6's software-based features through Apple's settings menus and the Sony Sound Connect app. Which headphones are the most durable: the AirPods Max or Sony WH-1000XM6? Which headphones are the most durable: the AirPods Max or Sony WH-1000XM6? Both the AirPods Max and XM6 feel durable, but the former's metallic design gives it a bit more protection against drops and falls. For example, I once accidentally let my AirPods Max scrape against pavement for a little under a minute, and while there was some cosmetic damage, they still worked well. The AirPods Max headband, though, can show some discoloration and sag after years and years of use, but their ear cushions are easily replaceable in case they're damaged, while the XM6's ear pads are not. The XM6 haven't been out long enough to speak to their long-term durability. Neither headphones are designed for water resistance — so don't work out in them — and they're not dust-resistant either. Do the Sony WH-1000XM6 or AirPods Max headphones have a USB-C port? Do the Sony WH-1000XM6 or AirPods Max headphones have a USB-C port? The Sony XM6 have a USB-C port, and the newer AirPods Max also have a USB-C port. The original AirPods Max charge over Apple's Lightning port. Which headphones have the most battery life: the AirPods Max or the Sony WH-1000XM6? Which headphones have the most battery life: the AirPods Max or the Sony WH-1000XM6? Sony rates the XM6 for up to 40 hours of battery life, but with only 30 hours if you have ANC enabled. That's still better than Apple's estimate of up to 20 hours with ANC on. CNN Underscored thoroughly tests the products we review and provides full transparency about our testing methodology. We're made up of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and writing product reviews, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. Electronics writer Henry T. Casey has reviewed tech for a decade, including home theater audio equipment, portable speakers and streaming devices. Casey goes the extra mile for headphones, having taken multiple pairs with him on vacation for this very article, and losing the bag space to fit them.
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Details Save $16 $20 at Amazon Close More mobile deals: Best Anker home deals Anker Eufy C10: $250 With a 3-liter base station, this Eufy robot vacuum can run for up to 60 days maintenance-free. It also boasts 4,000 Pa of powerful suction and with a slim 2.8-inch design it can easily fit underneath beds, couches and other furniture. It can also map multiple floors of your home, which makes it easy to set custom cleaning schedules and no-go zones. Details Save $230 $250 at Amazon Close More Anker home deals: Best Anker security deals Anker Eufy C34 smart lock: $85 Keep your front door secure with this easy-to-install smart lock. With this lock, you have a variety of methods to choose from to securely unlock your door, including keypad entry, a physical key, in-app controls or voice commands with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. It is also compatible with the Apple Home app. The smart lock offers eight months of battery life with two AA batteries. Details Save $55 $85 at Amazon Close More security deals: When is Amazon's Prime Day event? The online retailer recently confirmed that its massive summer sale will officially kick off on July 8 this year, and will run through July 11. However, the Fourth of July is just a few days earlier, and several retailers will be offering a massive slate of Independence Day deals as well. Amazon isn't having an official Fourth of July sale, but it will be competing with other retailers by offering tons of early Prime Day deals, which you can shop right now. Are Amazon Prime Day deals worth buying? Depending on what you are after, the short answer is yes. You can expect thousands of items to go on sale, including some deals that match or exceed the previous all-time low prices. Just note that Amazon stock can fluctuate wildly, which means there's no telling how long the item will remain on sale or available. If you see a deal you don't want to miss, we'd recommend taking advantage of those savings sooner rather than later. Will other retailers be offering Prime Day deals? While the official Prime Day sale is exclusive to Amazon, other retailers will absolutely be getting in on the action. Walmart has already announced that it will be having its own summer sale event that runs from July 8 to July 13, and it's likely that at least a few other competitors will follow suit. Plus, we anticipate that many Fourth of July deals and sales will spill over into Prime Day. How we choose the best Amazon Prime Day deals Many of us here at CNET have covered shopping events for several years, including Black Friday, Prime Day, Memorial Day and countless other sales. In that time, we've learned how to spot the best deals among a sea of thousands of superficial offers and scams, and we only surface the best offers from trusted retailers. We look for real discounts, quality reviews and remaining sale time when choosing the best deals to show you. Real discounts mean genuine savings. We check pricing history for products listed as on sale so we know when it's a case of an inflated list price rather than an actual discount. Quality reviews and testing are super important for any product. A discount isn't worthwhile if it results in a subpar product experience, no matter how much you saved. Remaining sale time is important, too. Some deals are only around for a short time or may be limited in supply. If that's the case, we'll let you know upfront so you don't come back to the deal later only to be disappointed.
