Even though the app doesn’t do much yet, it’s a good step for Peloton and Google.

Peloton has always worked with the Apple Watch, but users of Wear OS were left out in the cold. Now, no longer. For Wear OS 3 smartwatches, you can now get the Peloton app from the Play Store.

9to5 Google was the first to notice the app, but it doesn’t do much. I put the app on my Pixel Watch and started walking around The Verge office to get in shape. I could see my heart rate and which heart rate zone I was in as I moved from cubicle to cubicle. After I finished the workout, I was able to look at a summary that showed how many calories I burned, my average heart rate, my “best” heart rate, and my Strive Score, which is a measure of effort based on heart rate. So, that’s it.

Also, Peloton added Apple Watch integration to all of its machines earlier this year, but it doesn’t look like that feature is ready for Wear OS 3 yet. On my smartphone, I was still asked to start a workout. On the other hand, when a user starts a class on the Bike, Bike Plus, or Tread, the Peloton app on the Apple Watch will let them know.
Even though the Wear OS app isn’t as advanced as Peloton’s Apple Watch experience, this is still a step in the right direction for both Google and the struggling fitness company. One of the most important changes in Wear OS 3 is a better app store.

Wear OS 2 had problems with apps that were rarely updated, but Google has persuaded some important third-party developers to give Wear OS a second chance. Apps like Strava, Spotify, and Todoist are part of this. Even though Peloton hasn’t been doing so well lately, it’s still a well-known brand in connected fitness with a large number of loyal users. The Wear OS app makes Peloton’s digital app-only subscription a better choice for Android users than it was before.