Pixel Watch 2
Pixel Watch 2 launch I/O in October. Some may think this is a fast turnaround, but keep in mind that the original Pixel Watch had been in development for several years. It won’t really be a one-year-old product by the time a next-generation model is announced. For example, it had only 1GB of RAM at one point and significantly less storage. The Pixel Watch was teased at I/O 2022 after a prototype was left at a restaurant in April and heavily photographed. What Google showed off on stage last May ended up looking much better than the leaked images. After several months of usage, the Pixel Watch has fared quite well with good performance and a battery that lasts a full day — but nothing more — for most users. That said, the upgrades for Google are beyond obvious.
A new chip should lead to various efficiency gains that will hopefully extend battery life. It’s unclear whether Google is aiming for more than a full day of usage, but a new chip, at the very least, ensures longer usage for heavy users. On the software front, we’re expecting Material You to come to Wear OS and introduce Dynamic Color, with Android 13 likely serving as the next base.
On the fitness front, Google focused on per-second heart rate tracking on the first Pixel Watch. Over six months later, it has yet to enable overnight skin temperature and oxygen saturation (SpO2) stats in the Health Metrics dashboard. In terms of the sensors that could be added, the Fitbit Sense 2 is the most advanced of Google’s wearables, with a built-in skin temperature sensor instead of using existing ones and algorithms, as well as a continuous Electrodermal Sensor (cEDA) for stress tracking.
On the design front, it’s unlikely that Google is moving away from dome-shaped design just yet. However, the bezels could definitely be thinner. Meanwhile, the band connector is also likely remaining so that first-gen Pixel Watch owners can reuse their straps.
For Google, the Pixel Watch 2 launching alongside the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro makes for a solid portfolio that can be repeated annually. 