Google is not only known for its Internet services. In the last few years, the search giant has cultivated a wide range of phones, laptops, wireless headphones and smart home devices. Only Google knows what’s next. But if reports and leaks are to be believed, the company could work on its first consumer smartwatch, which is rumored to be called the Pixel Watch. It may even appear on Google I / O 2022.
Google already has a significant presence in the smartwatch market thanks to the acquisition of Fitbit. Verily, a subsidiary of health technology at the parent company of Google Alphabet, has also developed a special health tracking watch for use in clinical trials. But the release of the so-called Pixel Watch would allow Google to go even further and put its own stamp on wearable devices. If Pixel aims to demonstrate the perfect Google experience with Android, the Pixel Watch could be the company’s plan for the best Android watch.
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Like all great smart watches, I hope the Google device has an attractive but comfortable design, long battery life and an attractive screen. But as one of the few deviations in the big technology that hasn’t released a wrist device (yes, even Microsoft released a fitness band in 2014), Google has a lot of opportunities to make up for it.
With that in mind, Google has been offering its own smartwatch software for years. The latest Fitbit products also entered smartwatches even before the acquisition of Google, so catching up should be quite manageable.
Of course, this is if the Pixel Watch is actually real. Google has said nothing about plans to launch a smartwatch, which means we are currently counting on rumors and leaks. However, these whispers are enough to arouse my curiosity about what Google can bring to the already crowded smartwatch market. And it’s surprisingly much.
A Pixel-like experience
Pixel 6 Pro on Google.
James Martin / CNET
Google’s software is a big part of what sets its Pixel phones apart. As an Android provider, Google is playing an important role in creating new features for phones from Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus and many more. But Google usually gives its Pixel devices additional benefits that are either not available on other Android phones, or arrive much later. This is where Google can incorporate unique features into its watch that are lacking in the rest of the Wear OS, using it as a test bed for software that may come later.
If Google launches the Pixel Watch, I hope it will use this approach. I’m impressed with the way Google has tried to address some of the inconveniences of modern phone calls through Pixel-specific features on its phones over the past few years. The Wait Times, for example, calculates the amount of time you will be detained before calling a toll-free Pixel business number. Google has also taught its digital assistant to wait on hold for you in an appropriately named feature called Hold For Me.
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I would like to see Google equally attentive to the shortcomings of modern smart watches. It seems like the perfect opportunity for the company to prove how useful Google Assistant can really be. Anyone who has worn a smart watch knows that small screens are not ideal for scrolling, touching or writing. Being able to rely on Google Assistant to display contextual information and process voice queries would be a key advantage. Google has boosted its Pixel 6 phones in the speech and translation departments with its new Tensor chip, so we hope to see similar progress in the future Pixel Watch.
You can now use Google Assistant on certain watches powered by Fitbits and Wear OS to start a workout, check the time or ask questions, among other tasks. Google’s vision of how software should work on smartwatches is also already evident in the company’s recently updated version of Wear OS, which was released last year. The latest version of Wear OS should be a preview of where Pixel is likely to go, but expect Fitbit to play a much bigger role.
The new software brings faster performance, redesigned versions of Google applications such as Google Maps, new navigation shortcuts, and a wider choice of third-party applications for Wear OS watches. The update was designed in collaboration with Samsung and is currently only available for the Galaxy Watch 4.
But that’s not clear about the future of all Google watches. Google Assistant hasn’t been around for a while, and the Galaxy Watch 4 relies heavily on Samsung Health features such as an electrocardiogram (ECG or ECG) that require a Samsung phone. But I hope to see more creative Pixel-specific features in Google’s own smartwatch, just like we have with its phones.
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Health tracking functions, which in most cases are not paid
Luxe (left) to Fitbit Sense (right).
Scott Stein / CNET
As health tracking has become central to the smartwatch experience, gadget makers have found ways to make it a big part of their business. Fitbit, Oura, and Amazon use a subscription-oriented approach, requiring monthly or annual payments to unlock more advanced features. It would not be out of the question for Google to do the same, although I hope the free experience is still remarkable in itself.
Since Google owns Fitbit, it would not be surprising to see the company follow in its footsteps and pursue a similar subscription model. We’ve already seen evidence of this with the second-generation Nest Hub, which will require a Fitbit Premium subscription to access sleep tracking features from 2023. Google also has a lot of experience in digital subscriptions in other areas, including the recently launched Pixel Pass. Given these decisions and the direction of the subscription industry, it would be wise for Google to keep some fitness-focused features behind a paid wall.
But if Google takes this approach with a future Pixel Watch, I’d still like to see a solid selection of free features. As a newcomer to wearables, it would be in Google’s interest to entice customers with captivating built-in functionality before convincing them to pay extra.
This is especially true if the Pixel Watch turns out to be a high-end device designed to compete with the $ 400 Apple Watch Series 7 and the $ 250 Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. Apple and Samsung do not charge extra for specific fitness tracking features, which makes sense given the premium prices of their devices.
Keep in mind, however, that Fitbit has already said it is launching a premium Wear OS watch in the future. This watch could be a Pixel Watch, with a large dose of Fitbit and the subscription service that Fitbit also relies on. For now, Google still offers its own fitness app called Google Fit, which is different from the Fitbit app.
Multi-day battery life
Fitbit Sense lasts more than one day on a single charge.
Lexi Savvids / CNET
Most smart watches are designed to be worn all the time: in the office, on a walk, at dinner and even for sleep. The problem is that most devices are simply not designed to last several days on a single charge. And those who do usually require some trade-offs, such as a monochrome screen or a much larger design to accommodate a larger battery.
Fitbit Sense does a decent job of balancing a wide combination of features and battery life, given that it lasts approximately two to four days when testing CNET. That’s longer than the Apple Watch Series 7 and Galaxy Watch 4. I hope Google finds a way to take advantage of Fitbit’s experience in this area, especially if it intends to emphasize sleep tracking as a major selling point. But early rumors suggest that may not be the case. A report by Insider, citing an internal Google feedback document on the watch, indicates that it may require daily recharging.
Of course, battery life will always vary depending on how you use your devices. Keeping the display on at all times and using GPS to record long outdoor runs usually drains the battery faster on most smartwatches.
What we expect from Pixel Watch based on rumors
Google has not confirmed any plans to launch a smartwatch, but a series of leaks and rumors give some clues that probably show what to expect. Google’s smartwatch may have a round design similar to the Galaxy Watch 4, according to reports from insiders and YouTuber John Prosser. This makes sense, as all other Wear OS watches are also round. Color options can include black, gold and gray, Android police said based on a leak from the carrier’s inventory …
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