As I write this story, Google is taking the wraps off its new hardware, one of the newest devices is the company’s first smartwatch. We already knew the Pixel Watch was coming. But now we get to learn more about this wearable that’s been “built by Google, inside and out.”
The Pixel Watch features a domed design with a circular watch face protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. It comes in a recycled stainless steel finish in matte black with an obsidian active band, polished silver with a charcoal active band, polished silver with a chalk active band, or champagne gold with a hazel active band. There are also over 20 band options to choose from and around 18 highly customizable watch faces. It is water resistant up to 5 ATM, allowing it to withstand pressure equal to a depth of 50 meters.
Help by Google
Since this is a Google smartwatch, you can expect to access Google features like Maps, Assistant, Wallet, Gmail, and Calendar right from your wrist. The watch gets a 4G LTE version, allowing you to use it without your smartphone.
Health and fitness courtesy of Fitbit
Since Google owns fitness accessory maker Fitbit, it’s unsurprising we’re seeing its tech in the new Pixel Watch. You can track your health and fitness goals with the help of Fitbit’s technology. It can track your heart rate, ECG, sleep, and more. It gets Fitbit’s Active Zone Minutes. And the Pixel Watch will also get fall detection this winter.
According to the Pixel Watch’s product page, some features might require a Fitbit account. But we won’t be surprised if things change up, given Fitbit users will be required to use a Google account by next year. So, there might be a time the Pixel Watch gets first dibs on Fitbit features.
Device switching with the Pixel Watch
Thanks to Google’s Fast Pair feature, it will be easier to connect your Pixel Watch with your Google Pixel phone and/or Pixel Buds. If you have a Pixel Buds Pro connected to your Pixel Watch and Pixel phone, these earbuds can automatically switch audio between your devices.
Media control on your wrist
That cross-device support extends to media controls. You can easily play, pause, rewind, and adjust the volume of the show you’re watching or the song you’re listening to right from the Pixel Watch.
Smart home access even outside your home
You don’t have to be at home to access your smart home devices. The Pixel Watch will also give you the option to control your gadgets at home right from your wrist.
Locate a missing Pixel Watch
If you’ve somehow misplaced your Pixel Watch, it also supports Google’s Find My Device feature. You need a supported device to ring your smartwatch right from your phone.
Google promises up to 24 hours on a single charge with the Pixel Watch. It isn’t running on a Tensor-based chip, unfortunately. Instead, it is powered by an Exynos 9110 processor alongside a coprocessor.
The Google Pixel Watch gets a starting price of USD 350, and for the pre-order, at least, it comes with six months of Fitbit Premium and three months of YouTube Music Premium.
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