In the rapidly advancing world of wearable technology, Google is poised to make a significant splash with the anticipated follow-up to its first smartwatch, the Google Pixel Watch. The debut Pixel Watch, released in 2022, certainly made waves with its modern, minimalistic design aesthetic and integration of Google’s web services, but it also received a mixed bag of reviews. As we look ahead, Google is expected to introduce the Pixel Watch 2, a device promising to build on the foundations laid by its predecessor and address some of the criticisms drawn by the first model.

The rumor mill has been relatively quiet on the specifics of the Pixel Watch 2, but there are several key expectations and hopes for this upcoming smartwatch. The Pixel Watch 2 is expected to maintain the sleek design of the original, with potential improvements including thinner bezels on the round display. Running on a version of Wear OS, possibly Wear OS 4, the Pixel Watch 2 is anticipated to offer a clean, Google-centric user experience, complete with customizable tiles, Fitbit integration, and third-party app support. The integration with Fitbit should continue with the new device, leveraging Fitbit’s toolkit and companion app to track a range of health data.

Google’s Next Leap: Pixel Watch 2

Google, a household name across the globe, is not just known for its web services but also for its technological innovations, the Pixel smartphones being a notable example. After the release of their first smartwatch, the Google Pixel Watch, in 2022, Google is now expected to launch the second iteration, the Pixel Watch 2, later this year.

Design and User Experience

The Google Pixel Watch sports a modern, minimalistic aesthetic, which we can expect to continue in the Pixel Watch 2. Notable design features include a domed display, rotating digital crown, and unobtrusive band mechanisms. An anticipated improvement is thinner bezels on the round display.

The smartwatch’s durability is expected to match its predecessor and it is likely to run a version of Wear OS, possibly Wear OS 4, offering a streamlined, Google-centric user experience with customizable tiles, Fitbit integration, and third-party app support.

Health, Fitness Tracking, and Sensors

The Google Pixel Watch 2, like its predecessor, is likely to feature Fitbit integration, enabling it to track basic health and fitness data such as steps, floors, distance, active zone minutes, calories, heart rate, and more. Additionally, it will support detailed sleep-tracking and provide access to premium features for Fitbit Premium users.

The smartwatch is expected to retain traditional sensors including GPS, accelerometer, altimeter, compass, gyroscope, optical heart rate sensor, the Fitbit ECG app, and a SpO2 sensor. The SpO2 sensor, which wasn’t available at the launch of the first Pixel Watch, is anticipated to be readily available with the Pixel Watch 2.

Technical Specifications

The Google Pixel Watch 2 is expected to offer improved battery life, partly due to a shift from the Samsung Exynos chip to a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset from the latest W5 generation. This chip boasts 4nm technology with four A53 cores at 1.7GHz, and a dual Adreno 702 GPU that clocks in at 1GHz.

Moreover, the Pixel Watch 2 might feature ultra-wideband (UWB) capabilities due to the inclusion of an NXP UWB module, potentially enabling precise device finding, unlocking your car using Digital Car Key, and seamless media playback transfer to a docked Google Pixel Tablet or UWB-enabled Nest speaker. However, recent FCC filings suggest UWB might not be available on the Pixel Watch 2.

Battery Life and Pricing

The choice of chipset and Wear OS will significantly influence the battery life of the Pixel Watch 2. Current estimates suggest that, with the right settings, the smartwatch could last almost two days on a single charge.

The first-generation Pixel Watch costs $350 for the Bluetooth/Wi-Fi model, and $400 for the LTE version, placing it in direct competition with the likes of the Apple Watch Series 8 and Galaxy Watch 5. If the second-generation wearable comes with significant upgrades, the starting price could offer good value, especially for Pixel smartphone users.

Release Date

Following the trends set by Apple and Samsung, Google is expected to release the Pixel Watch 2 alongside the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro later this year, possibly in October 2023.

However, there are certain features that we hope Google will consider for the Pixel Watch 2. This includes offering more than one size, as the current 41mm case size doesn’t fit all wrists. Moreover, a thinner bezel would be a welcome aesthetic change, making the watch face appear larger. Lastly, better battery life would significantly enhance the user experience, as the original Pixel Watch’s battery life was one of its main drawbacks.

Takeaways: With the upcoming Pixel Watch 2, Google seems to be on track to improve upon its first smartwatch. While the design and user experience are expected to remain consistent, improvements in battery life, chip performance, and potential UWB capabilities could set the stage for a competitive smart wearable. However, whether these improvements will justify the price tag remains to be seen.