Finally, Google’s first smartwatch was unveiled. Called the Pixel Watch, the company annoyed the watch during its I / O conference on Wednesday along with the Pixel 6A, Pixel 7 with a new Tensor chip, Pixel Buds Pro and a look at Android 13.
But Google’s announcement was just a preview, not a full launch. This means that there are many details that remain a mystery, such as the price of the watch, battery life and health sensors (to name a few). Google will probably reveal more details about the Pixel Watch closer to its release in the fall of 2022, but here’s what we know so far.
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It will launch this fall with Pixel 7
In a statement Wednesday, Google said the Pixel Watch will officially launch this fall. The exact time has not yet been determined, but Google usually launches its fall products in late September or October. Pixel 6, for example, debuted at an event on October 19, 2021, while Google held a press conference on September 30 to present the Pixel 5 in 2020.
Pixel Watch has a round design with custom stripes
If there’s one thing Google wants to share, it’s what the Pixel Watch looks like. True to the leaks, Google’s first smartwatch has a round face with a dome design and glass that looks like it curves over the edges. The watch is made of recycled stainless steel and has a tactile crown that resembles that of the Apple Watch. Custom straps will also be available.
Google Pixel Watch
Based on what we’ve seen so far, the Pixel Watch has a striking appearance that seems appropriate to rival the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and other high-end smartwatches.
Google Wear OS software and applications will power the watch
Not surprisingly, Google’s new smartwatch will run on its Wear OS platform. Google didn’t say much about the watch’s software features, other than calling it “fluid” and “easy to navigate.” Rick Osterlo, Google’s senior vice president of devices and services, described the operating system as “touch, voice, and view.” The company briefly demonstrates how applications such as Google Maps, Wallet, Home and Google Assistant will appear on the watch during its presentation.
Google Pixel Watch
It will integrate with Fitbit, but will not replace it
Fitbit products aren’t going anywhere, but you can expect to see some familiar Fitbit features arrive on Google’s watch. These include continuous heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking and core minutes, which measure the time you spend in specific heart rate areas during exercise. Google has also shown how you will be able to see Fitbit’s health statistics as heart rate and steps directly from the clock face.
Pixel Watch on Google
What we don’t know, however, is which specific health monitoring sensors will be in the Pixel Watch. But what seems clear is that the Pixel Watch will inherit more Fitbit functionality in the future. “It’s not one thing,” said James Park, co-founder of Fitbit, who currently heads Google’s wearables division, to CNT’s Scott Stein. “We will continue to improve the software over time.
It will only be compatible with Android devices
Because the Pixel Watch is designed to complement Google’s Pixel devices, it will not be compatible with the iPhone, according to a Google spokesman. This is probably part of the reason why Pixel Watch does not replace Fitbit products, given that Fitbit watches and trackers work with both iOS and Android.
There will be a cellular option
Google will offer a 4G LTE option to the Pixel Watch, which will allow it to maintain a cellular connection when the phone is not nearby. Fitbit smartwatches are not available with a mobile connection option, so this is one of the ways Google can distinguish the two product lines from each other.
There will be a first class price
Google has not yet said how much the Pixel Watch will cost. But at a press briefing, Osterloh said it would be rated a first-class product. It’s not clear what that means, but it looks like it could compete with the Apple Watch Series 7 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. Apple’s high-end watch starts at $ 400, while Samsung’s typically starts at $ 250.
There are still many things we don’t know about the Pixel Watch, but we expect to learn more in the coming months.
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