The Google Pixel Watch 2 release date, price, and specs have now been confirmed. Google’s Made by Google event, on Wednesday, October 4th spelled out the details for the new iteration of the company’s wearable design. In this article, we’ll be looking at the key info for Pixel Watch 2.
The Pixel Watch 2 was confirmed alongside the much-rumored Pixel 8 smartwatch, which we’re also covering the updates for. But read on for the latest wearable news.
Google Pixel Watch 2 release date
Now the Pixel Watch 2 is available for pre-order, the ‘release’ or available date of the Watch 2 will indeed be October 12th.
The initial Pixel Watch model was released on Thursday, October 13, 2022, following a Pixel event one week before on October 6th. So we were right to suggest a Pixel Watch 2 release date could be the 11th or 12 of October.
Google Pixel Watch 2 core specs
As revealed during Google’s latest event, there certainly will be some upgrades and firsts in the realm of Google wearables. We’ve included a full specs run-down below, but we’ll look at a few of the highlights. The new wearable is completely upgraded, and has received major performance improvements, which we’ll go through based on available info.
Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC
At the core of the device is a change of processing tech – away from the Pixel Watch’s Samsung Exynos 9110 chipset, towards a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 chip (specifically the Qualcomm 5100). This makes sense, given The Exynos 9110 is a 2018 chipset and the W5 from 2022. The Watch 2 will also utilize a Cortex M33 co-processor.
Connectivity – no UWB (Ultra-wideband)
It had been suggested that The Watch 2 could get UWB, but that appears to not be the case. The device uses Bluetooth 5.0. So that confirms it.
Pixel Watch 2 materials
The Watch 2 has shifted towards “more durable, lighter” materials. It offers more durable cover glass if the with Custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 spec. It also features an aluminum casing, which is lighter and easier to design with than steel – but will be slightly more scratchable.
However, a new sport-design means the Watch 2 is more breathable than the Pixel Watch, and it uses the same band mechanism, so older bands can be used on the new device.
Pixel Watch 2 battery life
Google has done well to develop a battery that can last 24 hours on a single charge, even when using an Always-on display. Even better, you can get a 12-hour charge into that battery in just half an hour. Well, everyone needs a sit-down at some point!
A day’s worth of charge is highly convenient. and although longer is always better when it comes to battery, it’s a good improvement.
Pixel Watch 2 software
With more than enough power from its quad-core processor, the Watch 2 runs Wear OS 4 – with new Gmail and Calendar apps – and has a newly designed ‘glanceable’ design. Of course, due to a “help by Google, health by Fitbit” approach, there’s plenty of tracking on the watch, and Google has developed the sensor capabilities of the Watch 2 as well. The watch can also make use of Google Assistant.
Pixel Watch 2 sensors
Google’s sneak peek video of the Pixel Watch 2 showed some clear design changes. And one of those was, what appeared to be a continuous electrodermal activity sensor. The sensor, previously seen on the Fitbit Sense 2 allows for extra health and fitness reporting via ‘micro-sweat levels‘ to indicate a stress response from the wearer. The addition allows for “interventions to de-stress”, including breathing and relaxation prompts. Plus it can be used to adjust a wearer’s calendar, so to adjust weekly schedules to better manage stress.
While that addition was officially confirmed (rather than visually confirmed), a newly upgraded heart sensor arrives on the Watch 2. Previously ‘single-path’ in the Pixel Watch the new sensor of the Watch 2 is multi-path, with 10x the number of channels to monitor heart rate. With upgraded AI and algorithms, this will translate to improved readings – and 40% better heart rate tracking, particularly for HIIT (high-intensity interval training), spinning, and rowing. Finally, the Pixel Watch 2 has a new skin temperature sensor.
Google’s shooting for a ‘best of Fitbit, and best of Google Watch’ approach to the Pixel Watch 2 – and it doesn’t seem like the results are lackluster.
Pixel Watch 2 safety check
Safety features were also spoken about at the announcement, with Google Safety Check available on the Pixel Watch 2. By setting a location and the estimated time of return, friends or family can be notified if a wearer hasn’t checked in after the allotted time as planned – in that case, a real-time location will be sent to the recipients. The Watch 2 can also store the medical information of the wearer right on the Watch itself, and users can emergency share location too.
If a wearer’s Watch 2 isn’t connected to a network, but they’re subscribed to Fitbit Premium (the Watch 2 comes with 6 months, which needs to be canceled if not wanted), a Watch 2 can still send a wearer’s location.
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Materials and Finishes | Housing: 100% recycled aluminium |
| Active Band: Fluoroelastomer with soft-touch coating | |
| Dimensions and Weight | Diameter: 41 mm |
| Height: 12.3 mm | |
| Weight: 31 g (without band) | |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE and UMTS |
| Bluetooth® 5.0 | |
| Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz | |
| NFC | |
| GPS: GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, Quasi-Zenith Satellite | |
| Compatibility | Works with most phones running on Android 9.0 or newer |
| Requires Google Account and Google Pixel Watch app | |
| Display | Custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| 320 ppi AMOLED display with DCI-P3 colour | |
| Brightness boost up to 1,000 nits | |
| Always-on display | |
| Band Size | Active Band: Small and large band sizes included |
| Small fits wrists 130–175 mm around | |
| Large fits wrists 165–210 mm around | |
| Power (Battery and Charging) | Battery: 306 mAh (typical) |
| Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery | |
| Battery Life: 24 hours with always-on display | |
| Charging: USB-C® Fast Charging Cable | |
| Charging Speed: | |
| – 30 minutes to 50% | |
| – 43 minutes to 80% | |
| – 75 minutes to 100% | |
| Chip | Qualcomm 5100 |
| Cortex M33 co-processor | |
| Operating System | Wear OS 4.0 |
| Storage and Memory | Storage: 32 GB eMMC flash |
| Memory: 2 GB SDRAM | |
| Sensors | Compass |
| Altimeter | |
| Red and infrared sensors for oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring | |
| Multipurpose electrical sensors compatible with ECG app | |
| Multi-path optical heart rate sensor | |
| 3-axis accelerometer | |
| Gyroscope | |
| Ambient light sensor | |
| Electrical sensor to measure skin conductance (cEDA) for body response tracking | |
| Skin temperature sensor | |
| Barometer | |
| Magnetometer | |
| Interaction | Side button |
| Haptic crown | |
| Premium haptics | |
| Audio | Built-in microphone |
| Built-in speaker | |
| Durability and Water Resistance | Custom 3D Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5 |
| Water Resistance: 5 ATM | |
| IP68 |
Google Pixel Watch 2 price
Now confirmed to be available in WiFi and LTE models, the pricing the Pixel Watch 2 price looks like this:
- Google Pixel Watch 2 ( Bluetooth / Wi-Fi) – £$49 / £349
- Google Pixel Watch 2 ( Bluetooth / Wi-Fi + 4G LTE ) – $399 / £399
Obviously cheaper would be better, but this is in line with the pricing for the original Pixel Watch. And, considering the improvements is a solid level for the new arrival to be priced at. The original Pixel Watch was priced as follows.
- Google Pixel Watch (Wi-Fi) – $349.99 / £339
- Google Pixel Watch (Wi-Fi+4K LTE) – $399.99 / £379
