The Pixel telephones mark Google’s try and set an ordinary for Android telephones, and so they’re getting higher and higher. Can Google now do the identical for Put on OS smartwatches? The long-rumoured Pixel Watch is official, having been revealed at Google I/O 2022 – however a brief teaser was all we obtained. Now Google has set a date for launch, and there’s not lengthy to attend.
Till then, our information can let you know all it’s essential know in regards to the Pixel watch, together with an anticipated launch date, doubtless worth, {hardware} specs and extra.
Google has helped push some Put on OS (ex-Android Put on) watches over the previous couple of years, however none had been truly made in-house. The Pixel Watch will change that. Will or not it’s the kick within the pants wanted to jumpstart the stagnant Android watch market? Following final 12 months’s Samsung Put on OS partnership announcement, our hopes are greater than a bit excessive.
Google Pixel Watch: launch date
When Google formally confirmed off the Pixel look ahead to the primary time at Google I/O, it was coy over precisely after we’d be capable to strap one on our wrists.
We knew there was each probability Google would formally launch the Pixel Watch alongside the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional smartphones in late September or early October, to coincide with the agency’s annual launch cycle. It was made official with a tweet, highlighting October the sixth because the date to your diary.
The accompanying video featured the Pixel Watch closely, so it’s all however confirmed now we have just some weeks left to attend.
This lined up with leaker Jon Prosser’s suggestion that Google would use I/O to tease the watch, fairly than absolutely reveal it. Serial leaker Evan Blass had additionally acknowledged that it “received’t be lengthy now”, offering proof of inner Pixel Rohan coaching materials at Google.
We had been anticipating the everyday Tech Teaser trend of exhibiting nothing greater than a secretive 20-second video, with tantalising close-ups of a round display, and little or no else. Fortunately, Google clearly confirmed off the watch from a number of angles, and gave an excellent take a look at a number of the software program options we are able to anticipate.
Google Pixel Watch: worth rumours
Whereas there’s nothing concrete simply but, retail sources have instructed 9to5Google that the Pixel Watch will begin at $350 within the US, for the Bluetooth/Wi-Fi mannequin. A mobile model ought to price $400. That may make it significantly greater than the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, and extra on par with the Apple Watch Collection 8. The location expects European pricing to be per US pricing, fairly than being any cheaper.
Till we hear totally different, we are able to solely look to the previous – and the competitors – for some first rate hints on what to anticipate. The Apple Watch Collection 8 begins at £419. If we needed to guess, we suspect the Pixel Watch will probably be someplace round £350 when it hits the UK: dear sufficient to be thought of flagship, however maybe a notch under Apple.
That mentioned, an older report from WinFuture claimed that there could also be three variants of the Pixel Watch, so we’ll should see if there’s truly a variety of costs.
Google Pixel Watch: design and display
The Pixel Watch had just about been revealed in its full round glory after somebody —presumably a Google worker — left it behind at a restaurant within the US. An nameless supply (since outing themselves as Reddit person tagtech414) despatched snaps and particulars of the thriller timepiece to Android Central, stating that it gave the impression to be “a testing mannequin for the Inner Pixel group.”
That didn’t give Google a lot choice however to disclose it absolutely at I/O in Could. As per the leaks, the true deal is a gloriously minimalistic round smartwatch with a close to bezel-less show and bodily crown, together with at the very least one seen button.
Although Google hasn’t proven off the Pixel Watch charger, the leaked mannequin’s rear suggests both a Fitbit-like dock charging answer, or wi-fi charging. The rubber straps seem like they’ll be gentle and cozy sufficient, although their design means that they’re proprietary. For the sake of ease and customisation, we’re hoping that received’t be the case.
Straps and watch bands are going to make use of a proprietary connection that’ll make swapping them out simpler, but additionally restrict option to suitable bands solely. Google solely confirmed off one design throughout its I/O occasion, a soft-touch silicone strap with two loops and a peg that ought to preserve it safe even whereas exercising. It’s coming in a handful of colors. Based on 9to5Google, the agency is prepping as much as six alternate designs, which will probably be bought individually, though it’s unclear if they are going to all be prepared at launch. Anticipate a Milanese-style metal mesh band, two varieties of leather-based, a strong metallic hyperlink bracelet, a material strap and a one-piece stretch band. That may primarily cowl all the identical bases because the Apple Watch.
At launch, black, silver and gold instances are anticipated, alongside obsidian, charcoal, chalk and hazel bands. Obsidian must be black, whereas charcoal will probably be darkish gray. Chalk will doubtless be an off-white hue.
Google Pixel Watch: specs and OS
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 2100 chip was once the smartwatch CPU of selection earlier than being changed by the Snapdragon 3100 and subsequent 4100. The Pixel Watch might ditch Qualcomm for Samsung’s personal Exynos processor although, if the newest rumours are to be believed.
The Large G isn’t speaking specs simply but, however given its partnership with Samsung that is greater than a bit plausible, and we anticipate to see an Exynos 9110 contained in the Pixel Watch. Apparently this can be a step behind the Exynos W920 processor discovered within the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Traditional, however rumours recommend it will likely be joined by a co-processor that ought to deal with always-on features and well being monitoring. 9to5Google suggests 32GB of storage, greater than any rival Put on OS watch proper now, and “greater than 1.5GB” of RAM.
Qualcomm just lately revealed its newest wearable silicon, the Snapdragon W5 and W5 Plus. The primary of those chips is aimed toward extra fundamental health trackers, however the latter is primed for smartwatches. There’s much more right here than a brand new title, with the CPU being made on a 4nm course of – down from 12nm on previous-generation chips. It’ll be far more energy environment friendly because of this, and can offload extra duties to the coprocessor than earlier than too. As as to whether it’ll seem on the Pixel Watch? That is still to be seen proper now.
Oh, and it goes with out saying that it’ll run Put on OS, a smartwatch platform designed along with Samsung, powered by the well being and health smarts of Google-owned Fitbit.
Google Pixel Watch: predicted battery life
It was initially thought the Pixel Watch would boast a serious battery life benefit over its Samsung rival, with 9to5Google reporting the Pixel Watch will include a 300mAh cell in comparison with the Galaxy Watch 4’s smaller 247mAh battery.
After all, how lengthy the battery truly lasts will probably be depending on plenty of issues, most notably the software program’s energy consumption, and the report suggests “a couple of day” being the everyday use case. Whether or not Samsung or Qualcomm is the one offering the CPU may even be an element.
That’s all the data now we have on the Google Pixel Watch in the intervening time, however we’ll you should definitely preserve you posted on all the most recent developments forward of its launch. Keep tuned.
Extra reporting by Andrew Hayward
