Google Pixel Watch Launch Tipped for May

Rumors surrounding Google’s forthcoming Pixel smartwatch have been circulating for greater than a 12 months, and whereas we all know some particulars concerning the product, a particular launch date hasn’t even been speculated.

Today, that modified. Leaker Jon Prosser posted on Twitter that Google is planning on launching the Pixel Watch on May 26, a date that aligns with the corporate’s I/O developer convention.

Prosser had beforehand mentioned that Google may reveal the watch alongside the Pixel 6 in October however warned that the date was a transferring goal. He later corrected the timeline, claiming the watch had been delayed to Q1 2022. Now the system seems to be more likely to arrive in Q2.

While Google hasn’t confirmed the discharge date—no much less the existence of a Pixel Watch—simply but, this newest leak ought to be encouraging Android customers ready for a correct Apple Watch rival as a result of, as Prosser factors out, that is the “first we’ve seen a set date on the device behind the scenes.” Moreover, Google’s I/O 2022 convention, which occurred from May 18 to twenty final 12 months, can be a logical launchpad contemplating it’s the place Google introduced Wear OS 3, essentially the most significant replace to its watch OS in years.

We’ve been listening to a couple of Google-made smartwatch for a very long time now, and whereas Google has squashed these rumors in years previous, now may lastly be the time. A December report claimed the codename for the system is “Rohan” and that it’ll have a spherical face (like mainly each different Android smartwatch). It is claimed to supply primary fitness-tracking, like step counts and coronary heart ranking monitoring, together with different options taken from Google-owned Fitbit.

There had been loads of hypothesis about how Google would strategy smartwatches after finalizing its acquisition of Fitbit final 12 months. It was unclear whether or not the corporate would launch a Pixel-branded system or go the Nest route and put its smartwatch division below the Fitbit model. Anything is feasible, however leaks and rumors recommend the wearable will probably be a companion system to Google’s smartphones.

If previous leaks are correct, then we’ve already seen the system. Late final 12 months, Prosser posted on his YouTube channel what he claims are official promotional pictures. They present a watch much like the one featured in renders from April—it has a round design and a virtually bezel-free watch face that waterfalls across the edges.

As for specs, the rumored wearable might be powered by a Samsung Exynos chip and help Google Assistant, based mostly on a report from 9to5Google that claims to have discovered a “PIXEL_EXPERIENCE_WATCH” characteristic tag inside a Google app. It may need been assumed that Google would flip to Qualcomm, however bear in mind, Google partnered with Samsung to assist it repair its tragically failing smartwatch OS. We wouldn’t be stunned if this partnership additionally concerned utilizing the opposite’s {hardware}.

We don’t understand how a lot the watch will price, however a current Business Insider report, corroborated by The Verge, claims will probably be dearer than a Fitbit and priced to compete in opposition to the Apple Watch. And just like the Apple Watch, the Pixel Watch (if it’s named that) will must be charged every day. In any case, most of what we expect we “know” concerning the Pixel Watch is predicated on hypothesis and rumor, so this Android consumer is protecting his pleasure in examine.