Google finally confirmed the Pixel Watch’s existence after weeks of rumours and leaked images. However, today’s presentation is more of a tease than full disclosure, with the watch set to arrive later this fall alongside the Pixel 7.
Given that the Pixel Watch is the worst-kept wearable secret of 2022, the design was not very shocking. The Pixel Watch, as expected, has a round, domed form with a “tactile” crown and side button. It’s constructed of recycled stainless steel and includes proprietary bands that can be swapped out. It will also run an “enhanced” Wear OS 3 with a “refreshed UI” with improved navigation and smart notifications. You can also choose a cellular version of the device for solo connectivity.
Google said the Pixel Watch will contain the standard Google apps as well as a whole new Fitbit integration. This includes Google Maps and Assistant, as well as new Wear OS apps like Google Wallet and Google Home. Emergency SOS is another new feature for Wear OS. This capability has been seen on other smartwatches, and the idea is that you may use your watch to contact a trusted friend or family member as well as call emergency services. With the Fitbit integration, you’ll be able to see heart rate, sleep tracking, and Active Zone Minutes data.
Image Source – Twitter
The Fitbit integration is the most substantial collaboration between the two firms since Google paid $2.1 billion for Fitbit. (Adding Google Assistant to the Fitbit Versa 3 and Sense was technically the first.) Fitbit connectivity will go beyond changing watch faces, according to Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior vice president of devices and services, and will be “imbued throughout” the Pixel Watch experience. Users will be able to sync their data with a Fitbit account, allowing them to access it in the Fitbit app as well as on the web. Fitbit’s most recent health and fitness algorithms will be used in the watch.
In terms of data privacy, Osterloh stated in a press conference that Fitbit and Google data will remain private and separate due to promises made to regulators during the Fitbit acquisition, implying that any health data collected on the Pixel Watch will remain under Fitbit’s purview, separate from Google. Osterloh also stated that, while the Fitbit team was heavily involved with the Pixel Watch, the company still has plans for its own Wear OS watch and will continue to produce its own products.
Image Source – Twitter
And that’s all the concrete information we have right now. In terms of pricing, Google claims it will be a “premium-priced offering.” Another potential stumbling block is that the Pixel Watch requires a phone running Android 8.0 or newer, as well as a Google Account. As a result, the Pixel Watch, like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, will not be compatible with iPhones, as prior Wear OS watches were. Otherwise, the business was tight-lipped on the watch’s specifications, such as what chip it will operate on and whether it will be available in multiple sizes or colours. These data, according to the corporation, will be released in the coming months.
So, while there’s still a lot we don’t know, the most important conclusion is that Google is attempting to push its Pixel ecosystem in the same manner that Apple employs the Apple Watch. The addition of apps like Google Home and Fitbit integration makes the Pixel Watch an appealing alternative for Fitbit users and anyone interested in Google’s smart home products. Of course, much will rely on how the Pixel Watch operates in real life, its specifications, and whether it lives up to the anticipation. To pass judgement, we’ll have to wait till the watch is released later this fall. However, Google appears to have a game plan in place, which is more than we can say for its first attempt at developing a smartwatch.
