A rendering reportedly exhibiting what the Google Pixel Watch may appear like based mostly on leaks obtained by from Jon Prosser. The picture is in Prosser’s video in regards to the Pixel Watch on the YouTube channel Front Page Tech.
Jon Prosser/Front Page Tech
Google is finest recognized for its ubiquitous web companies. But the search big has additionally cultivated a broad array of {hardware} merchandise within the final a number of years spanning throughout telephones, laptops, wi-fi earbuds and the good dwelling. Only Google is aware of what’s subsequent. But if reviews and leaks are to be believed, the corporate may very well be engaged on its very first shopper smartwatch. Google already has a large presence within the smartwatch market due to its acquisition of Fitbit. Verily, the well being tech subsidiary inside Google’s father or mother firm Alphabet, has additionally developed a particular health-tracking watch to be used in medical analysis. But releasing a so-called Pixel Watch would permit Google to go even additional and put its personal stamp on wearables. If the Pixel is supposed to showcase Google’s superb Android cellphone expertise, a Pixel Watch may very well be the corporate’s blueprint for the last word Android watch.Like all nice smartwatches, I hope Google’s gadget has an attention grabbing but comfy design, lengthy battery life and a beautiful display. But as one of many few outliers in huge tech that hasn’t launched a wrist-worn gadget (sure, even Microsoft launched a health band again in 2014), Google has a variety of floor to make up.That being mentioned, Google has provided its personal smartwatch software program for years. Fitbit’s latest merchandise additionally drifted into smartwatch territory even earlier than the Google acquisition, so catching up needs to be fairly manageable.Of course, that is if the Pixel Watch is in reality actual. Google hasn’t mentioned something about plans to launch a smartwatch, which suggests we’re counting on rumors and leaks for now. Still, these whispers are sufficient to pique my curiosity about what Google may convey to the already-crowded smartwatch market. And it is surprisingly loads.
A Pixel-like expertiseGoogle’s Pixel 6 Pro.
James Martin/CNET
Google’s software program is a big a part of what makes its Pixel telephones stand out. As the purveyor of Android, Google performs a big position in crafting new options for telephones from Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus and lots of others. But Google usually provides its Pixel units further perks that both aren’t obtainable on different Android telephones or arrive a lot later. That’s the place Google may construct distinctive options into its watch which might be lacking from the remainder of Wear OS, utilizing it as a take a look at mattress for software program that would trickle down later.If Google does launch a Pixel Watch, I hope it takes this strategy. I’m impressed with the best way Google has tried to deal with a few of the inconveniences of recent cellphone calls via Pixel-specific options on its telephones over the previous couple of years. Wait Times, for instance, estimates the period of time you will be placed on maintain earlier than calling a toll-free enterprise quantity on Pixel telephones. Google additionally taught its digital assistant to attend on maintain for you in an appropriately named function known as Hold For Me. I’d like to see Google be simply as considerate in regards to the shortcomings of recent smartwatches. It looks like the right alternative for the corporate to show simply how helpful Google Assistant really will be. Anyone who has worn a smartwatch is aware of that tiny screens aren’t superb for scrolling, tapping or typing extensively. Being capable of depend on Google Assistant to floor contextual info and course of voice requests could be a key benefit. Google gave its Pixel 6 telephones a lift within the speech processing and language translation departments with its new Tensor chip, so hopefully we’ll see related developments in a future Pixel Watch. You can already use Google Assistant on sure Fitbits and Wear OS-powered watches to start out a exercise, examine the climate or ask questions, amongst different duties. Google’s imaginative and prescient for the way software program ought to work on smartwatches can be already evident within the just lately overhauled model of Wear OS, which the corporate launched final 12 months. The newest model Wear OS needs to be a preview of the place the Pixel is prone to head, however anticipate Fitbit to play a a lot bigger position.The new software program brings quicker efficiency, redesigned variations of Google apps like Google Maps, new navigation shortcuts and a broader choice of third-party apps to Wear OS watches. The revamp was designed in collaboration with Samsung and is presently solely obtainable on the Galaxy Watch 4.But it would not clearly symbolize the way forward for all Google watches. Google Assistant was a no-show for some time, and the Galaxy Watch 4 leans closely on Samsung Health options like electocardiogram (ECG or EKG) that require a Samsung cellphone. But I hope we’ll see extra inventive Pixel-specific options on Google’s personal smartwatch simply as we’ve with its telephones.Health-tracking options that principally aren’t paywalledThe Luxe (left) subsequent to the Fitbit Sense (proper).
Scott Stein/CNET
As well being monitoring has change into central to the smartwatch expertise, gadget makers have discovered methods to make it a much bigger a part of their companies. Fitbit, Oura and Amazon take a subscription-centric strategy by requiring a month-to-month or annual cost to unlock extra superior options. It would not be out of the query for Google to do the identical, though I hope the free expertise remains to be noteworthy by itself. Since Google owns Fitbit, it would not be stunning to see the corporate comply with in its footsteps and pursue the same subscription mannequin. We’ve already seen proof of this with the second-gen Nest Hub, which would require a Fitbit Premium subscription to entry its sleep monitoring options beginning in 2023. Google additionally has loads of expertise in digital subscriptions in different areas, together with its just lately launched Pixel Pass. Given these selections and the trade’s subscription-focused route, it could be cheap for Google to maintain some fitness-focused options behind a paywall.
But if Google does take this strategy with a future Pixel Watch, I’d nonetheless need to see a strong choice of free options, too. As a newcomer to wearables, it could be in Google’s curiosity to entice prospects with compelling built-in performance earlier than convincing them to pay further. That’s very true if the Pixel Watch seems to be a high-end gadget meant to compete with the $400 Apple Watch Series 7 and the $250 Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. Apple and Samsung do not cost further for particular fitness-tracking options, which is sensible contemplating their units’ premium costs. Keep in thoughts, although, that Fitbit has already mentioned it is releasing a premium Wear OS watch sooner or later. That watch may find yourself being the Pixel Watch, with a heavy dose of Fitbit and the subscription service that Fitbit leans on, too. For now, Google nonetheless affords its personal health app known as Google Fit, which is distinct from Fitbit’s app. Multiday battery lifeThe Fitbit Sense lasts for greater than sooner or later on a single cost.
Lexy Savvides/CNET
Most smartwatches are designed to be worn on a regular basis: on the workplace, throughout a stroll, out to dinner and even to sleep. The drawback is that almost all units merely aren’t designed to final for a number of days on a single cost. And those that do often require some trade-offs, like a monochrome display or a a lot bigger design to accommodate a much bigger battery. The Fitbit Sense does a good job of balancing a broad mixture of options and battery life, contemplating it lasted for roughly two to 4 days in CNET’s testing. That’s longer than the Apple Watch Series 7 and Galaxy Watch 4 lasted. I hope Google finds a means to attract from Fitbit’s experience on this space, notably if it intends to focus on sleep monitoring as a principal promoting level. But early rumors recommend that might not be the case. A report from Insider citing an inside Google suggestions doc on the watch signifies it could require day by day charging. Of course, battery life will at all times differ relying on how you employ your units. Keeping the always-on show possibility turned on and utilizing the GPS to document lengthy out of doors runs usually drains the battery extra shortly on most smartwatches. What we’re anticipating from the Pixel Watch based mostly on rumorsGoogle hasn’t confirmed any plans to launch a smartwatch, however a collection of leaks and rumors present some clues probably indicating what to anticipate. Google’s smartwatch may have a spherical design much like the Galaxy Watch 4, in accordance with reviews from insider and YouTuber Jon Prosser. This is sensible, since all different Wear OS watches are spherical, too. Color choices might embody black, gold and grey, Android Police reported based mostly on a leak from a service’s stock system earlier this month. It may also have a coronary heart fee monitor and fundamental health-tracking options, which is not stunning contemplating even the most affordable wrist-worn devices now embody these options, in accordance with the Insider report.
Google’s place within the smartwatch marketSamsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 runs the brand new Wear OS, however nonetheless feels extra like a Samsung product than a Google watch.
Screenshot/Samsung
Above all else, the Pixel Watch would give Google an opportunity to ascertain its personal presence and identification in a market that Apple and Samsung presently dominate. That ought to sound acquainted, since Google confronted the same problem when it launched the primary Pixel cellphone in 2016. (Google’s telephones have earned a reputation amongst critics, however Apple and Samsung nonetheless dominate the US and world cellphone markets).And identical to the wearables trade, Google’s present place within the smartwatch realm is not a simple one. It would not have a smartwatch of its personal, however nonetheless holds great affect due to its position as a software program supplier and its possession of Fitbit. Google would even be competing towards companions like Samsung by releasing its personal watch, simply because it’s achieved with smartphones. Google additionally has a historical past of experimenting with new merchandise for brief intervals of time earlier than retiring or pivoting them. Google Glass glasses, the Nexus Q streaming media participant and the Google Clips digicam are all examples of such merchandise. So it is also unclear whether or not a Pixel Watch would stay for the long run alongside Fitbit’s merchandise. Still, the Android smartwatch expertise is ripe for enchancment. Until this level, Android smartwatches have been fragmented, with every device-maker pushing its personal software program and apps for essentially the most half. Google and Samsung’s new model of Wear OS is a transparent try to repair that. But these efforts do not go far sufficient on the Galaxy Watch 4 simply but, which nonetheless feels extra like a Samsung watch than a Google watch. If Google follows the identical path it did with its Pixel telephones, a Google smartwatch may very well be the extra common, Android-friendly Apple Watch different we have been ready for.