Google has revealed that its first Pixel-branded smartwatch, simply known as the Google Pixel Watch, will be released alongside the Pixel 7 smartphones later this year.
The watch has a round dome and is made of recycled stainless steel. It also has a spinning crown on the side with tactile feedback.
This all appears to be consistent with leaked photographs discovered a few weeks back. Google is also promoting a changeable wristband that connects “seamlessly,” which appears to be a proprietary design.
The Google Pixel Watch will, as expected, support the complete suite of Google features, including Google Assistant with voice commands and Tap-to-Pay with Google Pay. It will also debut with a redesigned Wear OS UI, with more fluid navigation and smart notifications.
Of course, Google is exploiting its Fitbit acquisition from last year by incorporating Fitbit software directly into the Google Pixel Watch.
You’ll be able to examine data such as your active minutes, metrics, fitness goals, and more. The watch will also enable continuous heart rate monitoring and sleep tracking, completing the Wear OS experience.
Google says the Pixel Watch will be available this autumn, alongside the Pixel 7 family, which was also revealed for the first time today. Google didn’t go into great detail on the Pixel Watch, but it did say more will be revealed in the coming months.
Time Google didn’t say much, we’ve been hearing a lot about the Pixel Watch for a while now, and one of the most recent rumors is that it will have a 300mAh battery that will last between one and two days.
Of course, we’ll have to wait for further official information to be sure. The most crucial question is whether Google’s first-party activities in the Wear OS domain will reinvigorate the platform.
Last year, the company convinced Samsung to abandon Tizen in favour of Wear OS, and we saw Samsung declare that it sold three times as many Wear OS devices as the previous year.
Hopefully, this is the additional push it needs to compete with Apple’s watchOS.
To read our blog on “Google Pixel 7: The first look,” click here
