You can now catch up on podcasts without needing Bluetooth headphones<\/p>\n
Pocket Casts has rolled out a notable update for its Wear OS app<\/a>, adding support for direct playback through a smartwatch\u2019s<\/a> built-in speaker.<\/p>\n The new functionality arrives with Pocket Casts version 8.3, following Google\u2019s introduction of watch speaker playback way back in Wear OS 5.1<\/a>. <\/p>\n With the update installed, users can now listen to podcasts directly from their wrist without needing Bluetooth headphones or an external speaker. Playback can still be switched quickly to a paired audio device from the volume controls, offering more flexibility depending on the situation.<\/p>\n Speaker playback on Android smartwatches<\/a> is still relatively scarce, with only a handful of apps supporting it so far. And while some, like YouTube Music, allow podcast audio through the watch speaker, music can often be disabled. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n So, Pocket Casts\u2019 update positions it as one of the more practical media apps embracing this capability, especially for short listens, news updates, or hands-free use.<\/p>\n \n Advertisement <\/p>\n Cosmetic changes join the new functionality<\/p>\n Beyond audio output, the update also brings several interface refinements to the Wear OS client. <\/p>\n The app\u2019s homepage now shows episodes that have been \u2018Starred\u2019 on your phone, with played or archived episodes visually greyed out. In other sections, such as individual podcast pages, those played or archived episodes are now hidden entirely, making active content easier to find at a glance.<\/p>\n Pocket Casts has also refreshed the \u2018Downloads\u2019 screen on Wear OS, adding a loading spinner to better communicate download progress. Smaller performance and polish improvements are included as well, the platform says, such as faster image loading and fixes for stability issues tied to volume boost and UI elements.<\/p>\n Access to the Wear OS app still requires a Pocket Casts Plus subscription, priced at $3.99 per month or $39.99 per year. Version 8.3 is currently rolling out via the Play Store<\/a>.<\/p>\n