Motorola is bringing back the iconic Moto 360 smartwatch in 2025, and we have the first official look at the refreshed model. The new Moto 360 maintains the beloved round watch design that became synonymous with Motorola’s early Wear OS watches, a deliberate contrast to its recent square-faced Moto Watch Fit. This return points to Motorola’s intent to blend nostalgic design cues with modern smartwatch technology.
A Brief History: The Moto 360 Legacy
First launched in 2014 as part of the original wave of Android Wear watches, the Moto 360 was a standout for being the first round smartwatch, although it was known for its “flat tire” display cutout. Motorola released two generations (2014 and 2015) before discontinuing the line in 2017. The brand was revived in 2019 under license by Canadian company eBuyNow, but that model did not come directly from Motorola hardware teams.
Design and Features of the 2025 Model
The new Moto 360 sticks closely to the classic round form factor, featuring a crown positioned at the 2 o’clock location and a second button at 4 o’clock, reminiscent of the OnePlus Watch 3 design. The watch is expected to launch in five distinct color options, allowing users a degree of personalization that may help it stand out in a crowded mid-tier Wear OS market.
Software: Dual-OS Possibility
One of the biggest questions for the 2025 Moto 360 is its operating system. Previous Motorola smartwatches like the Moto Watch Fit have used a proprietary Moto Watch OS, a real-time operating system (RTOS) designed for efficiency and extended battery life. However, the watch face on leaked renders strongly hints at Google’s Wear OS interface, suggesting Motorola might embrace a dual-OS approach combining Wear OS for feature-rich tasks and Moto Watch OS for lighter, battery-friendly operations. This would mirror strategies seen in watches like the OnePlus Watch 3.
What This Means for Motorola and Wearables
By reviving the classic Moto 360 identity with a modern twist, Motorola hopes to recapture some of the original’s excitement while addressing past limitations. The balance between Wear OS’s extensive app ecosystem and a proprietary OS’s power efficiency could give the Moto 360 2025 an edge in battery life without sacrificing functionality.
With the market for premium smartwatches becoming increasingly competitive, Motorola’s strategy to emphasize design heritage, personalization, and a potentially hybrid software platform will be crucial in distinguishing this new 360.
Anticipated Launch and Market Prospects
While no official launch date has been announced, the watch’s 2025 branding strongly suggests availability later this year. With five color options and a familiar yet refined design, Motorola positions the Moto 360 2025 as a strong contender in the Android smartwatch segment as Wear OS continues to evolve.
The Moto 360’s 2025 comeback brings a welcome blend of nostalgia and innovation, and it will be exciting to see how it performs against established giants like the Google Pixel Watch and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch series.