Skip to main content

Google’s Pixel Watch is real and it’s coming soon

The Pixel Watch, a product rumored for some time, has made its first official appearance. The new Google-branded smartwatch is just one of the announcements made during Google I/O 2022, the annual developer conference held by the company, and it follows a series of leaks related to the watch leading up to the show.

What we know about the Pixel Watch

The Pixel Watch is the first smartwatch from Google, and it runs the very latest version of WearOS. We’re being promised a newly refreshed design for the user interface, interactive notifications, and all the apps you need through the Google Play Store. In addition, it supports Google Wallet for contactless payments, Google Maps for directions, and Google Assistant, plus the Pixel Watch will have an app to control your Google smart home products, too.

Google Pixel Watch render, showing the screen and a white strap.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

On the health and fitness side, Google has brought in Fitbit’s expertise, an expected but long-awaited move since the company purchased Fitbit in 2019. This means it tracks your activity, measures your heart rate, watches over your sleep patterns, and includes Active Zone Minutes data during your workouts.

The smartwatch’s design is slick, minimalist, and stylish. The circular case has domed glass over the top and a single crown on the side, matched to silicone straps in different colors. It’s definitely reminiscent of the Apple Watch equipped with a Sport Band, just with a round case and not a square one. There will be two versions available, a standard Wi-Fi model and a second with a 4G LTE connection, so you can take calls and send messages without your phone.

The Pixel Watch has been revealed at Google I/O and will be available in the fall at the same time as the officially teased Pixel 7. Unfortunately, Google has not provided any information on how much it will cost.

Editors' Recommendations

Andy Boxall
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
Smartwatches are in big trouble
Different smartwatch models with displays illuminated.

I recently reviewed the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro, and it’s very good indeed. It’s fast, capable, and comfortable to wear, with a decent app and long battery life. The thing is, it’s actually only a gently warmed-over version of the same smartwatch released this time last year, which normally would be the kiss of death for any new product.

However, in the stagnant world of Wear OS, it’s apparently entirely possible to release basically the same product one year later and for it to still be a recommended purchase. The situation perfectly sums up the state of smartwatches at the moment, and it couldn't be happening at a worse time because two serious threats are looming.
Is it really the same?
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 (left) and Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Read more
The Google Pixel 8a’s 6 biggest upgrades over the Pixel 7a
Pixel 7a back.

The Google Pixel 8a has just launched, and it comes with many upgrades that Pixel fans have been hoping for. These include some attractive new design flourishes, beefed-up hardware, a longer-lasting battery, and a higher-end display. You also get all the software features that make the Pixel series so appealing, including seven years of OS and security updates and Gemini Nano for more AI features.

But how does all of this compare to the already great Pixel 7a? Here’s a breakdown of the Google Pixel 8a’s six biggest upgrades over the Pixel 7a. For a closer look at all of the differences between the two phones, see our Pixel 8a vs. Pixel 7a comparison.
The Tensor G3 chip

Read more
Motorola just launched a new Android phone to take on the Google Pixel 8a
A render of the front and back of the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024).

If you have your heart set on a phone with a stylus, you’re probably familiar with Samsung devices like the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the previous Galaxy S23 Ultra. But there is another company out there that ships phones with a stylus — Motorola. Unlike Samsung’s flagship, the new Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) won’t break the bank thanks to its $400 starting price in the U.S.

The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) is the latest in a series of midrange stylus-equipped phones that Motorola started releasing in 2020. The latest model keeps up with its predecessors with solid midrange capabilities and, as the name indicates, support for 5G.

Read more