From its Pixel smartphones to Google Home, the Google brand is quickly becoming synonymous with high-quality consumer hardware. This year it looks like Google may eventually branch out a little further by creating its first smartwatch, tentatively called Pixel Watch. Here’s everything we know so far.
Google has dipped its toes into the consumer hardware business in the last few years. While it started off rocky — ahem, Google Glass — the tech giant quickly redeemed itself with its line of smartphones, Pixelbooks, and Google Home products. Eventually, it may re-enter the wearables market with its first smartwatch, the Pixel Watch. Here’s everything you need to know.
It may be a bit of a wait until we actually see the Pixel Watch. While a number of rumors indicated that Google would launch a Pixel Watch alongside the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, Google confirmed in an interview with Tom’s Guide that there won’t be a Pixel Watch this year.
Given that information, we have almost no idea when Google will launch the device, if it plans on releasing it at all. If Google does want to get into the smart watch game, it’s likely it will do so within the next few years — but speculation is all we have.
Google just announced a revamp of policy surrounding the Wear OS apps that run on devices like the Pixel Watch, aimed at improving the overall quality of them — a clear suggestion the company is looking at the wearable ecosystem as it prepares for some sort of launch. The policy, unveiled on August 15, calls for mandatory review of apps by Google rather than allowing app makers to voluntarily submit to the process (you know, if they feel up to it). Google also now insists that developers include at least one screenshot of the app in action.
The new policy is meant to address two common issues Google says it has seen in Wear OS apps: Weak support for different shapes and a lack of screenshots detailing an app’s appearance. Some of the best wear OS watches are weird shapes, after all. Here’s how Google puts it:
The policy will become mandatory as of October 1,2018, Google said — might this be the date the Pixel Watch launches?
Since we’re still a while away from a possible Pixel Watch announcement, details on the rumored smartwatch are sparse. But we do expect the Pixel Watch to ship with flagship-quality hardware.
Much like similar premium smartwatches, we anticipate both Wi-Fi and LTE versions of the Pixel Watch; German website WinFuture reports that the Pixel Watch is currently being developed as three different models, code-named “Ling,” “Triton,” and “Sardine.” If true, this also means it’s possible the Pixel Watch will come with size variants as well. That same report also goes on to state that the Pixel Watch will come with at least 1GB of RAM, though it’s uncertain whether that would apply to every model.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of the rumored Pixel Watch is its operating system. The Pixel Watch will most likely run a stock version of Wear OS, or a version with special features just for the Pixel Watch — similar to Google’s brand of Android for the Pixel phones. Since the smartwatch will be Google’s own hardware, it should receive frequent software updates and support for at least a few years.
While rumors of the Pixel Watch’s features aren’t widespread yet, expect Google Assistant, Google Assistant, and a touch of Google Assistant. Google has leaned heavily into Assistant in the last year, improving it heavily and packing it into more products. It would be fair to assume that Google’s voice assistant will be a big part of the Pixel Watch’s intended use.
It’s hard to guess exactly what the Pixel Watch will look like. There have been no leaked images or schematics of the device just yet, so anything we list is almost pure conjecture.
That said, we anticipate the Pixel Watch will be smaller than many other smartwatches on the market. Since it will likely use a smaller, yet to be released, processor, Google will likely be able to shave off a few millimeters of the overall case width.
On the other hand, Google is reportedly looking to pack features into the watch. According to a report from WinFuture, the Pixel Watch will contain a heart rate monitor, Bluetooth support, and other premium features.
Google has yet to confirm it is even making a smartwatch, so we’ve yet to receive confirmation on the name. Famed leaker Evan Blass and other tipsters have referred to the upcoming device as the Pixel Watch, and that name appears to be on brand. So for now, that’s good enough for us.
Updated August 31: Google confirmed that it will not release a Pixel Watch in 2018.
