Release date, specs, price, and what we know so far

Replace: September 13, 2022 (3:00 AM ET): We’ve up to date our Google Pixel Watch hub with particulars of the most recent real-life Pixel Watch look. Learn on for extra.

Authentic article: After years of hints and rumors, the Google Pixel Watch is confirmed to be actual and as a consequence of launch in 2022. Right here’s what we find out about Google’s smartwatch endeavors and what we need to see from its first gadget within the class.

See additionally: The best smartwatches you can buy

When Google launched the first Pixel smartphone six years in the past, two smartwatches have been reportedly within the works. These two units ultimately landed as LG wearables, so the story goes. We by no means ended up seeing a Google-branded watch.

Rumors of an upcoming Pixel Watch kicked off once more in 2018 after Google rebranded and refreshed Android Put on to Wear OS earlier than the Pixel 3 collection launch. Nevertheless, Google shortly rubbished these claims, too. Google then bought Fitbit and launched its Put on OS 3 rework on the Galaxy Watch 4 series, which stoked the Pixel Watch rumor flames as soon as once more.

The corporate lastly confirmed the existence of the Pixel Watch at I/O 2022. Google has additionally filed a trademark for “Pixel Watch.”

We’ve got some official particulars in regards to the Google Pixel Watch and a few leaks and rumors that give us a good thought of what to anticipate from the wearable.

Design

The design of the Pixel Watch is consistent with earlier leaks and rumors. It’s going to have a round face, going towards Apple’s rectangular philosophy. We are able to see a minimum of two buttons on the best aspect of the gadget. The central crown seems to be rotatable for navigation and will additionally work as a devoted voice assistant button, though the flat button could have that performance as an alternative.

Google additionally confirmed on stage that the watch could have proprietary bands. This implies you received’t have the ability to purchase normal watch bands from third events nor use bands you already personal, which is barely disappointing. Google did affirm there will likely be a number of colours to select from, although. A brand new leak additionally means that as much as seven straps will likely be accessible for Pixel Watch patrons at launch. Per 9to5Google, this might embrace a metal mesh band, two leather-based choices, a hyperlink band, and material and silicone choices as effectively.

Earlier than Google really revealed the Pixel Watch, the largest design leak got here within the type of an alleged prototype that was found left behind in a Chicago restaurant. The leaked gadget seems quite a bit just like the official render Google confirmed us. The nameless supply who discovered the watch stated that the wearable got here with a field that said that the gadget was for “inside testing and growth solely.” The leaker then posted images of the alleged Pixel Watch prototype alongside an Apple Watch and a Galaxy Watch.

The leaker additionally said that the prototype has a 40mm diameter, 14mm thickness, and weighs 36g. The bezels on it are fairly thick, with the seen display measuring 30mm.

Extra just lately, the Google Pixel Watch was spotted on Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s arm on the Code Convention on September 7.

What may the Google Pixel Watch convey to the desk by way of specs? Google gave us a sneak peek at I/O 2022.

For starters, the watch will help Google Assistant in addition to the Google Residence app and the newly introduced Google Wallet. This characteristic permits customers to faucet to pay, and likewise shops playing cards and paperwork like a scholar ID, boarding passes, vaccine playing cards, and extra. Since there will likely be an LTE mannequin of the Pixel Watch accessible, customers will have the ability to use these options with out a cellphone close by.

Google additionally stated that the Pixel Watch could have a “deep integration with Fitbit,” so the same old SpO2 sensor and heart rate monitor would doubtless characteristic. Ought to Google enchantment to extra avid health fanatics, it may rope in an EDA sensor or an ECG for stress and coronary heart well being monitoring. Nevertheless, a current rumor from Enterprise Insider suggests the watch will solely provide primary health monitoring options.

By way of processing energy, rumors claim the Pixel Watch would possibly forego the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 collection in favor of a Samsung Exynos chipset. A supply confirmed to 9to5Google that the Google smartwatch will use the Exynos 9110, an SoC Samsung launched in 2018. It was beforehand believed that the gadget would leverage the Exynos W920 that options on the Galaxy Watch 4. That will theoretically give the Pixel Watch entry to a low-power Arm Cortex-M55 core for low-power operations, LTE help, and GNSS help for extra correct out of doors exercise monitoring. As a substitute, the Exynos 9110 is a 10nm processor that includes two Cortex-A53 cores, just like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Put on 4100 Plus.

Other leaked specs level to 32GB of inside storage and RAM in abundance. Allegedly, the Pixel Watch will characteristic probably the most RAM of any Put on OS watch in existence, so contemplating the Galaxy Watch 4 presently packs 1.5GB, the Pixel Watch could carry as a lot as 2GB. This could be a fantastic addition for eager multitaskers.

After all, the demand for processing energy may come at the price of battery life. Per Enterprise Insider sources, the Pixel Watch in its present guise requires day by day charging. Charging speeds are additionally reportedly far too sluggish. Notably, battery endurance is a major weak spot of the Galaxy Watch 4. Every day charging could be fairly annoying for individuals who presently personal a Garmin or Fitbit, however it wouldn’t be a serious problem for Apple Watch floor-crossers. A newer charging leak means that the Pixel Watch could depend on USB-C charging that might high up a 300mAh battery pack. Notably, that might be a a lot smaller battery pack than the bottom Samsung Galaxy Watch 4’s 361mAh cell.

One other element lurking in the Fitbit app additionally hints on the Pixel Watch’s battery life. A line throughout the app uncovered by means of an APK teardown recommends that customers would wish to cost the Pixel Watch to a minimum of 30% to report sleep.

Curiously, the Pixel Watch could pack an LTE feature that no different smartwatch possesses. In response to one other APK teardown performed by 9to5Google, there’s point out of Rohan throughout the Google Fi app. This, in case you forgot, is the code identify for the Pixel Watch.

We all know the Google Pixel Watch will launch with pure Put on OS, so no surprises there. However we haven’t but had a superb have a look at the OS working on the Pixel Watch. Nevertheless, because of a new video, we get a glimpse of the OS working on the Montblanc Summit 3 — the primary non-Samsung Put on OS 3 smartwatch.

So, what can we glean? For starters, there are a number of gesture deviations between the Montblanc and Samsung. Swiping up on the Montblanc’s face opens Put on OS 3’s notifications web page. Swiping left or proper opens Tiles, which is a extra environment friendly design than Samsung and can doubtless characteristic on the Pixel Watch, too.

As for navigating Put on OS 3, there aren’t too many surprises. Single urgent the Montblanc’s crown opens the apps checklist, double-tapping opens Google Pockets, and long-pressing opens the facility menu. It’s attainable the Pixel Watch’s crown may function similarly.

The gadget additionally options FastPair, a system that enables customers to shortly pair their watches with an Android cellphone. The Pixel Watch may additionally characteristic this expertise.

Granted, we often see a number of variations between Put on OS units. Whereas the Montblanc movies do give us a basic thought of how Put on OS 3 capabilities, count on the Pixel Watch to pack a number of variations.

Past Put on OS, what else do we all know? Nicely, Google’s additionally taking a eager curiosity in creating a “next-generation Assistant,” in keeping with proof uncovered by 9to5Google. This revamp would come with onboard computational smarts akin to Google’s Pixel smartphones. This means that Google could have to give attention to the Pixel Watch’s number-crunching talents whereas additionally holding energy consumption in examine.

In the meantime, contemporary proof discovered by 9to5Google suggests the Pixel Watch will get a devoted app known as the “Google Pixel Watch” app.

There’s additionally a risk that the Pixel Watch could play nice with iPhones. The Montblanc Summit 3 will launch with iPhone help. This means that Google’s OS may natively help Apple units. It’s unclear if Google would undertake Montblanc’s agnostic stance, although.

The Pixel Watch may be among the many first to profit from Nearby Unlock, a Put on OS 3 characteristic that might unlock the Pixel Watch when in shut proximity to its host smartphone. Customers may lock their telephones by means of their watch.

Lastly, how a lot will the Google Pixel Watch value, and when can you purchase one?

In response to The Verge‘s sources, the Pixel Watch will “value greater than a Fitbit,” however that itself is a reasonably imprecise assertion.

In the meantime, citing a “comparatively new supply,” frequent tipster Yogesh Brar revealed that the smartwatch is perhaps priced within the vary of $300 — $400. That’ll put it in direct competitors with the Apple Watch Sequence 7, Garmin Venu 2, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 collection.

Brar additionally famous in his tweet that the smartwatch may see a restricted launch, suggesting that it might solely launch in a number of markets, similar to the Pixel telephones.

We is perhaps taking a look at three variants of the Pixel Watch. A Google wearable just lately bought listed on the Bluetooth SIG website with three completely different mannequin numbers.

The Google Pixel Watch will likely be a smartwatch firstly, and to compete with the likes of the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, it’ll want to supply one thing fully distinctive on this planet of wearables. Google’s Rick Osterloh talked about at I/O 2022 that the Pixel Watch will use the most effective of “Google’s ecosystem,” hinting that well-liked properties like Maps, Google Pockets, and Assistant will all characteristic in some capability. Nevertheless, there’s certainly extra that Google can provide on this regard?

The corporate has a wealth of details about its customers at its fingertips that might revolutionize how info is displayed on its wearable. Think about a smartwatch that makes use of such contextual info to streamline your life. As an example, say the Pixel Watch may routinely modify a Nest thermostat’s temperature based mostly on pores and skin temperature readings or extra precisely modify journey instances based mostly on present strolling velocity and physique exertion metrics. That will be a unique characteristic set within the smartwatch area.

See additionally: The Pixel Watch can’t succeed if Google reuses the same 8-year-old formula

Positive, the Pixel Watch is a smartwatch at its core, however even smartwatches pack a bunch of well being and fitness-tracking {hardware}. Google has revealed that the Pixel Watch will characteristic “deep” integration with Fitbit, however it failed to clarify how.

Contemplating Google now owns Fitbit, it wouldn’t be a stretch to think about it adopting the corporate’s {hardware}. Photographs of the Pixel Watch’s rear have revealed a sensor array akin to the Fitbit Cost 5. This could successfully give it a pores and skin temperature monitor, an EDA sensor to observe stress, and an ECG to survey coronary heart well being. With this trio, alongside the commonplace coronary heart price sensor and SpO2 monitor, you’ve a watch with a strong health monitoring base. This cocktail’s key in holding the Pixel Watch related alongside Garmin and Samsung’s competitors.

However what {hardware} is nothing with out software program, so what will we count on right here? Ideally, we’d wish to see Google use Fitbit’s app for core health monitoring. Higher but, the premium Pixel Watch ought to include Fitbit Premium. The Encourage 2 already comes with a year-long trial of the product, we’d count on the identical from what would ostensibly be the priciest Fitbit product.

See additionally: Pixel Watch? Nope, I am way more excited for the Fitbit Sense 2.

Google has left Put on OS frail and underdeveloped prior to now. Simply because the corporate now has a flagship for the OS doesn’t essentially imply it received’t repeat its errors.

A number of smartwatches from Fossil and Mobvoi are set to realize Put on OS 3 in an replace later this yr, however Google has but to set a concrete date for its launch. If something, we’ve needed to depend on Samsung to announce its personal replace program for its Put on OS 3 watch. If its therapy of Put on OS 2 is any indication, the Pixel Watch may very well be in for an unsure help interval with updates sprinkled right here and there.

In step with its commitments to different properties and units, Google wants to stipulate a concrete software program help technique for the Pixel Watch. Contemplating that Pixel title, we’d additionally count on the watch to behave because the staging floor for Put on OS innovation, very similar to Pixel smartphones are for Android.

A smartwatch can pack the business’s finest {hardware}, supplies, fashion, and software program, however that is of no use if its battery solely lasts a number of hours.

We’re anxious about rumors of all-day battery life. That simply isn’t sufficient in 2022. For the gadget to deal with the pains of Assistant queries, health monitoring, Maps utilization, on-device calling, and sleep monitoring within the night, it’ll have to final extra than simply 24 hours per cost. That is a lot simpler stated than carried out, although. Put on OS units historically have horrible endurance. The Galaxy Watch 4 doesn’t encourage a lot confidence for Put on OS 3 merchandise, both.

Per rumors, Google could combine a extra environment friendly core to dump a number of the menial duties from the hungrier CPU, however it’s unclear how this may occasionally translate into real-world advantages.

Google may additionally offset lackluster battery life with speedy charging, however customers with out charger nervousness are extra doubtless to make use of all of the options of the Pixel Watch, as an alternative of switching off options to eke out a piece day.

We all know the Pixel Watch goes to be a premium product, however what does that finally imply for its pricing? Nicely, rumors trace at a value not more than $400, and arguably, that appears truthful in comparison with its doubtless competitors. However contemplating the Pixel Watch is an unproven amount, Google would possibly need to take into account the large Put on OS elephant within the room.

The Galaxy Watch 4 begins at simply $249, whereas the Galaxy Watch 5 provides $30 to that value. It’s the gold normal for Put on OS smartwatches, balancing design seamlessly with well being monitoring tech and good performance. With the current addition of Google Assistant, it’s going to be the gadget to beat for the Pixel Watch.

We perceive that Google received’t offer the Pixel Watch in all international markets. Very like the remainder of its {hardware} portfolio, the gadget will likely be restricted to some markets. This exclusivity could bump up the worth, however it’s vital that Google understands worth trumps branding within the smartwatch house.