Release date, price, news, and leaks for the Google Pixel Watch
Release date, price, news, and leaks for the Google Pixel Watch
According to the latest leaks, the Google Pixel Watch could finally launch this year – but only after Google IO 2021. Given what we know about a Google Watch, we can surmise that it has been in development, but the big question is when it will be available.
As with the Pixel phones, the Google Pixel Watch is expected to demonstrate the full potential of Wear OS – and given the wearable operating system's major update showcased at Google IO, we figured the watch wouldn't be far behind. However, it now appears as though the Google Watch will arrive in October alongside the Pixel 6.
It's difficult to be overly optimistic, however, given the fact that multiple rumored launch dates have come and gone. One leak even suggested that the Google Watch would be unveiled alongside the Google Pixel 4, but this did not materialize.
A report from reliable Twitter leaker @Evleaks in mid-2018 stated that he received information from a trusted source that a Google Watch was in development. His source stated that it would be announced alongside the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, but that also did not happen – perhaps predictably.
However, a recent leak from April 2021 shows a supposed image of the smartwatch (whether real or a render), indicating that it is nearing release, and Google has confirmed that it is developing a premium Fitbit running Wear OS – which could end up being the Pixel Watch.
Below, we'll go over everything we know so far about the new watch, as well as our thoughts on whether it'll ever materialize.
Google Pixel Watch release date and price
There is no definitive release date for the rumored Google Pixel Watch – only speculation based on leaks. If it is to launch in 2021, our best guess is that it will coincide with the Google Pixel 6 launch at the end of the year, as has been rumored. More precisely, all of these devices are expected to arrive in October.
Of course, previous Google Watch launch rumors were incorrect – a tweet from noted leaker Evleaks claiming a "reliable source" claimed it would be announced alongside the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL in 2018, and then another rumor claimed it would launch alongside the Pixel 4 on October 15, 2019 – but of course, neither occurred, and we're still waiting.
It's possible that the Pixel Watch will benefit from Google's acquisition of Fitbit, which will see the latter company's wearable expertise applied to Google smartwatch hardware, but that deal isn't expected to close until January 2021. A smartwatch based on Fitbit's technology is unlikely to arrive in the near future – though Google has announced the development of a premium Fitbit running Wear OS.
Even better, Google announced at Google IO 2021 that Wear OS will incorporate features from Samsung's Tizen OS, which may hint at what's to come in the Google Watch.
Additionally, we've heard that Google has reportedly placed an order with Samsung for processors capable of detecting body movements (per ETNews). Although there is no guarantee that these are for a smartwatch (they could be for a Pixel phone), a wearable would make sense. That is strong evidence that a Pixel Watch is in development.
However, a codename for a device called medaka has been discovered. A medaka is a small fish (Google always uses sea creatures as codenames for its products), and the device is said to lack a notch, leading some to believe it is the Pixel Watch.
The following are the codenames for the upcoming Google devices #leaked:#salmon and #medaka.
None of the devices feature a notch, and medaka is almost certainly a reference to the rumored Pixel Watch.
That is also a fairly recent leak. However, in April 2021, leaker Jon Prosser published rendered images based on information he'd received, including a possible October 2021 release date that fits the usual release window for Pixel flagship phones.
Prosser also hinted that the watch could arrive in October, allegedly around the time frame for the launch of Google's flagship Pixel phones, but that the timeline was fungible.
Regarding pricing, we have no idea how much this watch will cost at the moment. Given that the Pixel range is typically comprised of high-end products with generally flagship-level pricing, we'd expect that, but we currently lack evidence to support it.
News and rumors about the Google Pixel Watch
There is little information about the Google Pixel Watch's specifications, though one source suggests it will feature a 5nm chipset - likely the same as the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 4 rumored to feature. A 5nm chipset is expected to be significantly more powerful than the ones found in current Wear OS watches.
Additionally, we've seen a Google patent describing a gesture control system that would enable a smartwatch to detect movements made by your arm, wrist, or fingers.
For instance, you could close your fist to activate Google Assistant and open it to dismiss it. These gestures would be performed on the arm or hand holding the watch. However, patents are not always used, and thus there is no guarantee that this will occur.
There could also be a strong emphasis on fitness, both as a result of Google's acquisition of Fitbit and as a result of a survey Google conducted asking for feedback on features they'd like to see in Wear OS, which included SPO2 (oxygenation) tracking, sleep apnea detection, sleep analysis, heartbeat alerts, recovery time monitoring, stress tracking, pairing with medical devices and gym equipment, and rep dings.
Of course, it's unlikely that all of them will be added, but some will, indicating that Google is considering health and fitness.
Regarding specifications, the Pixel Watch is expected to be powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset, which will improve battery life and provide additional power for running your favorite apps on your wrist. That said, hopefully it will use something even more modern, as the 3100 is reaching the end of its useful life and a replacement is long overdue.
One rumored feature was dubbed 'Blackghost.' It was believed to be a power management integrated circuit built into the chipset that would enable the watch to constantly listen for voice commands without draining the battery.
That is not a feature of the Snapdragon Wear 3100, but it is possible that Google has figured out a way to make it an exclusive feature of the Pixel Watch when it launches - or that the watch will indeed use a more modern chipset.
If this is the case, expect to be able to ask Google Assistant questions without depleting your smartwatch's battery or requiring you to press a button beforehand.
Another report – this time from WinFuture – suggests that there are actually three Pixel Watch variants in development. According to the website, devices with the codenames Ling, Triton, and Sardine are all in development at Google's headquarters.
The precise nature of the device distinctions is unknown at the moment. This could mean that the Pixel Watch will come in three flavors. Additionally, that same report indicated that at least one version of the watch will include 1GB of RAM.
This report could mean that there will be a watch with LTE and another that is more fitness-focused, but we have yet to hear any rumors about what those different versions will be. Additionally, this report is quite old and may be out of date.
Rumors died down for over a year until April 2020, when a leak suggested the Pixel Watch might have a physical crown, a feature typically reserved for analog timepieces, according to a new image from leaker Jon Prosser.
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