After years of hypothesis, Google has lastly taken the wraps off the Pixel Watch, its debut try at a first-party wearable. We’ve been ready for this for a protracted rattling time—Pixel Watch rumors began circulating before the pandemic even struck. And now that it’s a actuality and we’ll quickly be capable of put on the Pixel Watch, it’s a marvel the way it will resonate with each different wearable already out there. Here’s a preview of what to anticipate with Android’s latest smartwatch.

Another spherical Android smartwatch

Android experimented with rectangular watch faces way back, however Wear OS appears most snug being round. The Google Pixel Watch is a 41mm system and weighs about 36 grams with out the watchband. It’s a little denser than the 41mm Apple Watch Series 8 and practically 7 grams heavier than the 40mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. I did get an opportunity to put on the Pixel Watch briefly in a gathering with Google and I discovered it snug. I’m simply relieved they make them smaller than they used to.

There had been loads of Pixel Watch leaks previous to the reveal positing that the bezels on the show had been large in comparison with Samsung’s providing. The excellent news is that they’re not that dangerous. The Pixel Watch has a little bit of a “dome” impact, which supplies the smartwatch slightly extra depth than, say, the Galaxy Watch’s relative flatness. Frankly, it’s the type of trimming you’d discover on an Apple Watch—that’s what Google’s going after. The show has always-on capabilities and a most brightness of 1000 nits in daylight. It’s water-resistant as much as 50 meters and solely is available in one measurement.

Inside, the Pixel Watch runs on a Samsung-made Exynos 9110 SoC, although there’s additionally a Cortex M33 co-processor that helps facilitate among the on-device AI smarts. It’s the same idea to how the Pixel smartphone features, as that is what Google deems its edge towards different decisions within the platform. There’s additionally 2GB of reminiscence contained in the Pixel Watch and 32GB of storage for issues like music, pictures, and apps.

Battery life can be the very first thing I take a look at after I take a look at the Pixel Watch. This one has a 294 mAh battery pack, which is a tiny bit larger than the Galaxy Watch 5. Like the Pixel 7/7 Pro, Google guarantees as much as 24 hours of battery life on the Pixel Watch, although the tremendous print signifies that precise battery life could also be decrease. Battery life could make or break any smartwatch or fitness-centric wearable. It’ll even be attention-grabbing to see how the Pixel Watch fares towards the Apple Watch. As for charging speeds, Google says the battery can attain 100% with about 80 minutes on its USB-C magnetic charger.

I’m involved about how the Pixel Watch will compete as a health system. Google outfitted the system with a blood oxygen sensor, an optical heart-rate sensor, and an ECG monitor. But not like the brand new Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Apple Watch Series 8, there isn’t any temperature sensor, which implies it already lacks options. The Apple Watch makes use of the temperature sensor to assist with fertility monitoring, and Samsung will supposedly provide related options in a future software program replace. At the very least, the Pixel Watch does have fall detection and Emergency SOS through mobile.

Google’s Fitbit-infused Wear OS

This model of Wear OS might look slightly completely different than what you’re used to on a Samsung system, although its core perform stays the identical. For occasion, the Pixel Watch makes use of a distinct software launcher in comparison with Samsung’s tackle Wear OS, the place the apps are listed so as relatively than introduced in a map-style format. Regardless, you possibly can nonetheless faucet and swipe across the interface to get by way of menus and customise watch faces with issues. I’m curious to see what I’ll be capable of customise on the Pixel Watch’s interface.

One factor to notice about this specific wearable is that its fitness-centric options are centered round Fitbit. Fitbit will observe your coronary heart fee, provide a sleep rating, and observe all of your well being metrics. Even with the promise of separated information, it’s one thing to think about earlier than approaching this system, particularly if you happen to’ve been on the Samsung wearable observe and have information synced with Samsung Health. I hope to check the 2 wellness apps after I get the Pixel Watch in for assessment.

Google says Fitbit “experts” labored with Google Research and Machine Intelligence groups to make the Pixel Watch’s heart-rate monitoring essentially the most correct. I’m desperate to relate this to related claims from the most recent Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch.

Google will provide a six-month Fitbit Premium membership for Pixel Watch customers to provide you a style of what the ecosystem offers if you happen to haven’t already tried it. For of us like myself with different well being platforms, we’ll have to determine if it’s price migrating.

Easy strap swap

One factor I already like in regards to the Pixel Watch is its interchangeable strap-connection mechanism. Rather than pinching the screws on both aspect of the watchband, you possibly can push a button to slip it out. It felt a lot simpler on the nails than the present technique, although nothing beats the convenience of Apple’s slide-out watch bands. I’m bummed that my present Galaxy-compatible watch straps gained’t work with the Pixel Watch. I should procure extra watchbands to pair with it.

When the Pixel Watch goes on sale, Google will provide a number of watch bands, together with a sweat-resistant stretchy band product of recycled plastic and a crafted leather-based band. As for the Pixel Watch, you possibly can pre-order it now within the Google Store or purchase it outright beginning on October 13. It’s $350 for the Bluetooth/wifi mannequin and $400 for the LTE model.