Pixel Watch

This article is about the first-generation Pixel Watch. For the series as a whole, see Google Pixel § Smartwatches.
"Google Watch" redirects here. Not to be confused with Wear OS.

Pixel Watch
A Pixel Watch being worn on the left wrist. The screen indicates it is February 24 at 9:30, and is measuring heart rate (68 beats per minute) with a total step count of 7,500 for the day.
Worn on the left wrist, with a Polished Silver case and a Charcoal Active Band
BrandGoogle
TypeSmartwatch
SeriesPixel
First releasedOctober 13, 2022; 2 years ago (2022-10-13)
Availability by region
October 2022
  • Australia
  • Canada
  • France
  • Germany
  • Ireland
  • Japan
  • Taiwan
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
Units shipped880,000 (Q4 2022)
SuccessorPixel Watch 2
Compatible networks
Dimensions
  • D: 41 mm (1.6 in)
  • H: 12.3 mm (0.48 in)
Weight36 g (1.3 oz)
Operating systemWear OS 3.5
Upgradable to Wear OS 4.0
System-on-chip
Memory2 GB SDRAM
Storage32 GB eMMC flash
Battery294 mAh (lithium-ion)
DisplayAMOLED at 320 ppi with DCI-P3 color
Sound
  • Speaker
  • Microphone
Connectivity
Data inputs
Water resistance5 ATM
CodenameRohan
OtherCustom 3D Gorilla Glass 5
WebsitePixel Watch
References[1]

The Pixel Watch is a Wear OS smartwatch designed, developed, and marketed by Google as part of the Google Pixel product line. First previewed in May 2022 during the Google I/O keynote, it features a round dome-shaped display as well as deep integration with Fitbit, which Google acquired in 2021. Two Pixel-branded smartwatches had been in development at Google by July 2016, but were canceled ahead of their release due to hardware chief Rick Osterloh's concerns that they did not fit well with other Pixel devices. Development on a new Pixel-branded watch began shortly after Google's acquisition of Fitbit.

The Pixel Watch was officially announced on October 6, 2022, at the annual Made by Google event, and was released in the United States on October 13. It was succeeded by the Pixel Watch 2 in 2023.

History

Background

In July 2016, Google was reportedly developing two smartwatches, codenamed "Swordfish" and "Angelfish", which were to be powered by the Android Wear operating system and expected to be released under the Nexus brand name.[2] According to Business Insider, these watches were canceled ahead of the 2016 Made by Google launch event due to concerns from Google hardware chief Rick Osterloh that they did not sync well with the company's new Pixel devices; the smartwatches were eventually "salvaged" by LG and released as the LG Watch Style and LG Watch Sport in February 2017.[3][4] Android Wear was rebranded as Wear OS in March 2018.[5] In August, Wear OS director of engineering Miles Barr dispelled rumors that the company planned to release a Pixel-branded smartwatch that year.[6]

In January 2019, smartwatch manufacturer Fossil Group agreed to sell some of its intellectual property on smartwatch technology to Google for $40 million, as well as transfer a portion of its research and development team over.[7] In November, Google announced that it would acquire smartwatch and fitness tracker maker Fitbit for $2.1 billion,[8] which Osterloh stated would pave the way for Google-developed wearables.[9] The acquisition was completed in January 2021 following a prolonged investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice,[10][11] with Fitbit absorbed into Google's hardware division.[12] Fitbit co-founder James Park was subsequently appointed head of Google's wearables division.[13] During the 2021 Google I/O keynote in May, Google announced Wear OS 3, a version of Wear OS co-developed with Samsung and Fitbit which incorporates elements of the former's Tizen operating system.[14][15][16]

Development and release

In October, Osterloh revealed that Google and Fitbit were in the process of developing a Wear OS-powered smartwatch.[17][18] Two months later, Business Insider reported that a Pixel-branded smartwatch codenamed "Rohan" was being targeted for a 2022 release, featuring a round bezel-less design, integration with Fitbit, proprietary watch bands, and health-tracking capabilities.[19][20] Evidence unearthed that month indicated that the watch would be powered by either Samsung's Exynos system-on-chip (SoC) or Google's own Tensor chip, the latter of which had recently debuted on the company's Pixel 6 smartphone line.[21] In April 2022, the "Fitbit" category was renamed "Watches" on the online Google Store, in anticipation of the Pixel Watch's impending launch.[22] The same month, Google filed a trademark for the "Pixel Watch" name with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office,[23] while three models of the smartwatch were approved by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group.[24] A prototype of the Pixel Watch was found at a restaurant in the U.S., an incident which drew parallels to Gizmodo's leak of Apple's iPhone 4 in 2010.[25][26]

Osterloh unveiled a preview of the Pixel Watch on May 11, during the 2022 Google I/O keynote.[27][28][29] In an interview with CNET, Park stated that there were no plans to shut down Fitbit, adding that the Google Fit app would co-exist with Fitbit on the Pixel Watch.[30] Google CEO Sundar Pichai was seen wearing a Pixel Watch in September during an interview at the Code 2022 conference.[31][32] Google officially announced the Pixel Watch on October 6, alongside the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro smartphones, at the annual Made by Google event.[33] It became available for pre-orders on the same day, before being released in nine countries on October 13.[34] When asked why Google waited so long before launching the device, Osterloh cited their acquisition of Fitbit and its expansive health platform as the primary catalyst which convinced Google to greenlight the Pixel Watch, adding that the company was committed to first-party wearables.[35]

Specifications

Design

The Pixel Watch sports a round watch face with a domed design, physical crown, and watch frame made of recycled stainless steel attached to custom-designed bands.[36] 18 families of watch faces are available, each of which are highly customizable. It was available in four case–band color pairs:[37]

Color options for the Pixel Watch
Case Champagne Gold Matte Black Polished Silver Polished Silver
Active Band Hazel Obsidian Charcoal Chalk

Hardware

The Pixel Watch is available in two models, one with and one without support for cellular connectivity.[38] Its case has a diameter of 41 mm (1.6 in) and a Gorilla Glass 5 display. Powered by Samsung's Exynos 9110 SoC alongside the ARM Cortex-M33 co-processor, it contains a 294 mAh battery and 2 GB of RAM, as well as multiple sensors and wireless technologies.[39] The watch features a USB-C charging mechanism manufactured by Compal Electronics.[40] Due to the base's curved design, it can only be wirelessly charged with Google's proprietary magnetic charger,[41] though some users were able to charge the device using other Qi chargers or via reverse wireless charging on their phones.[42]

At launch, the Pixel Watch was only compatible with proprietary bands designed by Google, though the company stated that it planned to partner with third parties to develop additional bands in the future.[43][44] By default, each Pixel Watch comes with a proprietary Active Band, with several other proprietary band options available at an added cost.[45][46] Counterpoint Research calculated that the LTE version of the Pixel Watch cost an estimated US$123 to manufacture.[47]

Software

The Pixel Watch shipped with Wear OS 3.5,[48] and features deep integration with Fitbit.[49] It is compatible with Android smartphones running Android 8.0 or above,[50] and is accompanied by a Pixel Watch mobile app available for download on the Play Store.[51][52] iPhones are not supported.[53] Google added fall detection capabilities in February 2023.[54] It was updated to Wear OS 4.0 in October 2023.[55]

Marketing

Actor Simu Liu, who previously served as brand ambassador for the Pixel 6 series in Canada,[56] participated in an advertising campaign developed by Cossette for the Pixel Watch in May 2023.[57]

Reception

Critical response

Following the announcement of the Pixel Watch and Pixel Tablet at the 2022 Google I/O, Jon Porter of The Verge opined that Google was taking a subtle approach at Apple's "walled garden" ecosystem strategy.[58] This was echoed by International Data Corporation research director Ramon Llamas, who believed that Google was aiming to become a "head-on competitor to Apple".[59] Kate Kozuch of Tom's Guide praised the watch's sleek visual design.[60] Victoria Song of The Verge quelled fears over the watch's reported 24-hour battery life, declaring it was "decent" when compared to similar smartwatches.[61]

The Pixel Watch was positively received upon its launch. Lisa Eadicicco of CNET and Cherlynn Low of Engadget lauded its design and health features, with Eadicco likening it to "a hybrid of Fitbit and the Apple Watch", but both criticized the battery life.[62][63] Song called the Pixel Watch "good-but-not-yet-great".[64] Wired's Julian Chokkattu echoed these sentiments, but argued that its "accuracy, elegance, and comfort" compensated its shortcomings.[65] CNN Underscored reviewer Max Buondonno praised the Pixel Watch's sleek design and the performance of Wear OS 3.5, but felt that the battery life was subpar and the screen was not large enough.[66] Nicole Nguyen of The Wall Street Journal did not find the smartwatch particularly astounding and noted several software bugs, but ultimately deemed it a worthy companion to the Pixel phone.[67]

Commercial reception

Analyst firm Canalys calculated that Google shipped an estimated 880,000 Pixel Watches during the fourth quarter of 2022, constituting 22 percent of Google's total wearable sales, which include Fitbit products. The Pixel Watch's launch allowed Google to obtain 8 percent of the wearable market share, jumping 16 percent from fourth place to second place, behind Apple.[68] The Pixel Watch Android app had amassed more than 500,000 downloads by February 2023.[69]

Future

Main article: Pixel Watch 2

The Pixel Watch was succeeded by the Pixel Watch 2 in October 2023.[70]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Google Pixel Watch Technical Specs". Google Store. Archived from the original on October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  2. ^ Ruddock, David (July 6, 2016). "Exclusive: Google is building two Android Wear smartwatches with Google Assistant integration". Android Police. Archived from the original on July 7, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  3. ^ Bastone, Nick (September 17, 2019). "The Pixel watch that never was: An inside look at how Google's smartwatch efforts beat Apple to the punch, but then broke down and never recovered". Business Insider. Archived from the original on September 18, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  4. ^ Faulkner, Cameron (September 18, 2019). "Google almost had a Pixel smartwatch — here's why it reportedly failed". The Verge. Archived from the original on September 19, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  5. ^ Welch, Chris (March 15, 2018). "Google just changed the name of Android Wear to Wear OS". The Verge. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  6. ^ McGarry, Caitlin (August 31, 2018). "Exclusive: Google Confirms No Pixel Watch This Year". Tom's Guide. Archived from the original on August 31, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  7. ^ Kan, Michael (January 17, 2019). "Google Buys Up Smartwatch Tech from Fossil Group for $40M". PCMag. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  8. ^ Wakabayashi, Daisuke; Satariano, Adam (November 1, 2019). "Google to Buy Fitbit for $2.1 Billion". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 1, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  9. ^ Keane, Sean; Blumenthal, Eli; Reichert, Corinne (November 1, 2019). "Google agrees to buy Fitbit in $2.1B deal to help boost Wear OS". CNET. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  10. ^ Bursztynsky, Jessica (January 14, 2021). "Google closes its Fitbit acquisition". CNBC. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  11. ^ "Google closes Fitbit deal as U.S., Australia probes continue". Reuters. January 14, 2021. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  12. ^ Li, Abner (July 13, 2020). "Google says Fitbit deal is 'about devices, not data' after committing to EU pledge". 9to5Google. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  13. ^ Stein, Scott (May 11, 2022). "Fitbit's Founder on the Google Pixel Watch and the Future of Fitbit". CNET. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  14. ^ Wright, Arol (May 18, 2021). "The biggest Wear OS update in years has arrived: Here's what it looks like". XDA Developers. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  15. ^ Welch, Chris (May 18, 2021). "Google and Samsung are merging Wear OS and Tizen". The Verge. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  16. ^ Chokkattu, Julian (October 11, 2022). "The Pixel Watch Has Landed. What Does That Mean for Wear OS?". Wired. Archived from the original on October 11, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  17. ^ Bohn, Dieter (October 19, 2021). "Sundar Pichai and Rick Osterloh Think the Pixel 6 is Google's Breakout Phone". The Verge. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  18. ^ Gartenberg, Chaim (October 20, 2021). "It's time for the Pixel Watch". The Verge. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  19. ^ Langley, Hugh (December 2, 2021). "Exclusive: Google readies 'Pixel Watch' for 2022 launch as it renews ambitions in wearable tech". Business Insider. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  20. ^ Gartenberg, Chaim (December 2, 2021). "Google is making its first in-house smartwatch that could launch in 2022". The Verge. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  21. ^ Rogerson, James (December 22, 2021). "Google Pixel Watch could have a powerful chipset and better Google Assistant". TechRadar. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  22. ^ Szpytek, Peter Hunt (April 19, 2022). "Google Store redesign indicates imminent Pixel Watch announcement". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on April 20, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  23. ^ Song, Victoria (April 22, 2022). "Yup, it's going to be called the Pixel Watch". The Verge. Archived from the original on April 22, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  24. ^ Bradshaw, Kyle (April 27, 2022). "Three models of Pixel Watch get Bluetooth certification, moving closer to release". 9to5Google. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  25. ^ Shekar, Shruti (April 23, 2022). "Google Pixel Watch: Exclusive leaked images seem to show Google's first smartwatch". Android Central. Archived from the original on April 23, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  26. ^ Clark, Mitchell (April 30, 2022). "The latest Pixel Watch spec rumors show Google's trying to make a flagship". The Verge. Archived from the original on April 30, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  27. ^ Bursztynsky, Jessica (May 11, 2022). "Google announces its first smartwatch, a new budget phone and more". CNBC. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  28. ^ Eadicicco, Lisa (May 11, 2022). "Google's Pixel Watch Is Coming This Fall to Take On Apple". CNET. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  29. ^ Marino, Andrew (May 13, 2022). "Vergecast: Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Google I/O 2022". The Verge. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  30. ^ Stein, Scott (May 12, 2022). "Fitbit Co-Founder: Pixel Watch Won't Kill the Fitbit". CNET. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  31. ^ Gurman, Mark; Barinka, Alex (September 6, 2022). "Pichai Says Google 'Pro-Competitive,' Sees Vibrant Tech Market". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  32. ^ Lumb, David (September 6, 2022). "Google CEO Sundar Pichai Spotted Wearing Possible Pixel Watch". CNET. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  33. ^ Clark, Mitchell; Roth, Emma (September 6, 2022). "Google announces October 6th event to launch the Pixel Watch and Pixel 7". The Verge. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  34. ^ Walker-Todd, Alex (May 10, 2018). "Google Pixel Watch: release date, price, specs, and features". TechRadar. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  35. ^ Pierce, David (October 6, 2022). "Google thinks smartwatches are the future again — are you buying it?". The Verge. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  36. ^ Heater, Brian (May 11, 2022). "Google's Pixel Watch arrives this fall". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  37. ^ Eadicicco, Lisa (October 11, 2022). "Pixel Watch Hands-On: Fitbit's Wear OS Debut Highlights Google's First Smartwatch". CNET. Archived from the original on October 11, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  38. ^ Dave, Paresh (October 6, 2022). "Google's new Pixel Watch faces hurdles with economy, no iPhone support". Reuters. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  39. ^ Song, Victoria (October 6, 2022). "Google's Pixel Watch marks a new chapter for Wear OS". The Verge. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  40. ^ Ion, Florence (May 23, 2022). "Google's Pixel Watch Shares a Component with the Apple Watch". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  41. ^ Chokkattu, Julian (October 6, 2022). "Google's Long-Awaited Pixel Watch Is Finally Here". Wired. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  42. ^ Song, Victoria (October 14, 2020). "The Pixel Watch doesn't officially support wireless charging for a reason". The Verge. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  43. ^ Heater, Brian (October 6, 2022). "Let's take a closer look at Google's Pixel Watch". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  44. ^ Comeault, Heather (October 13, 2022). "Can you use normal watch straps with the Google Pixel Watch?". Android Police. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  45. ^ Barranger, Kellen (October 10, 2022). "Pixel Watch's Metal Bands Will Cost $129 and $199". Droid Life. Archived from the original on October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  46. ^ Andronico, Mike (October 6, 2022). "The Google Pixel Watch is finally up for preorder — and we got to try it". CNN Underscored. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  47. ^ Amadeo, Ron (March 2, 2023). "Pixel Watch bill of materials estimate can't explain the sky-high price". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  48. ^ Low, Cherlynn (October 6, 2022). "Google Pixel Watch hands-on: Possibly the prettiest smartwatch I've touched". Engadget. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  49. ^ Pitt, Sofia (October 6, 2022). "Google unveils new flagship Pixel phones and its first smartwatch, which has Fitbit built in". CNBC. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  50. ^ Vonau, Manuel (October 6, 2022). "Google Pixel Watch hands-on: Trying to live up to the hype". Android Police. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  51. ^ Bradshaw, Kyle (June 7, 2022). "'Google Pixel Watch app' coming soon alongside Wear OS 'Smart Unlock' for Android". 9to5Google. Archived from the original on June 7, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  52. ^ Sarangapurkar, Vishnu (October 6, 2022). "Google Pixel Watch app debuts on the Play Store, allows customizations and more". Android Central. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  53. ^ Kleinman, Zoe (May 11, 2022). "Google unveils new Pixel Watch". BBC News. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  54. ^ Song, Victoria (February 28, 2023). "Google rolls out fall detection so the Pixel Watch won't fall further behind rivals". The Verge. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  55. ^ Li, Abner (October 17, 2023). "Google rolling out Wear OS 4 to the original Pixel Watch". 9to5Google. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  56. ^ Li, Abner (December 1, 2021). "Shang-Chi's Simu Liu partnering with Google to shoot Pixel 6 ads". 9to5Google. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  57. ^ Brown, David (May 17, 2023). "Simu Liu returns for Google, with an assist from his assistant". The Message. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  58. ^ Porter, Jon (May 13, 2022). "With its Pixel Watch and tablet, Google is getting serious about its own ecosystem". The Verge. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  59. ^ Eadicicco, Lisa (May 12, 2022). "A Pixel Watch Is Really Happening, and Fitbit Loyalists Might Really Like It". CNET. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  60. ^ Kozuch, Kate (May 11, 2022). "The Google Pixel Watch looks so good I might switch to Android". Tom's Guide. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  61. ^ Song, Victoria (June 2, 2022). "It's okay if the Pixel Watch only manages a day of battery life". The Verge. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  62. ^ Eadicco, Lisa (October 12, 2022). "Google Pixel Watch Review: Fitbit's Best-Looking Watch Yet". CNET. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  63. ^ Low, Cherlynn (October 12, 2022). "Pixel Watch review: Google and Fitbit's imperfect marriage". Engadget. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  64. ^ Song, Victoria (October 12, 2022). "Google Pixel Watch review: it's a smarter Fitbit". The Verge. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  65. ^ Chokkattu, Julian (October 12, 2022). "Review: Google Pixel Watch". Wired. Archived from the original on November 17, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  66. ^ Buondonno, Max (October 12, 2022). "The Google Pixel Watch is a great fit for Pixel owners and Fitbit fans". CNN Underscored. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  67. ^ Nguyen, Nicole (October 12, 2022). "Google Pixel Watch Review: A Fancy Fitbit Smartwatch". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  68. ^ Amadeo, Ron (March 13, 2023). "Pixel Watch sales power Google to No. 2 in worldwide wearables marketshare". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  69. ^ Li, Abner (February 8, 2023). "Google Pixel Watch companion app hits 500,000+ downloads on Play Store". 9to5Google. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  70. ^ Roth, Emma (September 7, 2023). "Google teaser previews Pixel Watch 2 and both Pixel 8 phones". The Verge. Archived from the original on September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 7, 2023.