A modest upgrade for Google’s second smartwatch.
The Pixel Watch 2 is launching alongside the Pixel 8 today. Google’s second self-branded smartwatch is sporting a modest update, with the same design as the first version, a new SoC, and a skin temperature sensor.
As previously reported, the Pixel Watch 2 is jumping from the Exynos SoC of the first watch to Team Qualcomm, and now this is shipping the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5. That’s sort of an upgrade but not a huge one. Both the new and old chips run four Cortex A53 CPUs—the Exynos 9110 in the Pixel Watch 1 was built on a 10 nm while this is taking a big jump to 4nm. Any CPU upgrade is nice, but the Cortex A53 is 11 years old, so it still feels like Qualcomm is building these things in a cave.
CORRECTION: NOT THE PLUS CHIP
We originally wrote this has a Snapdragon W5+ SoC, but it’s actually a Snapdragon W5 (non-plus) SoC. The difference between the two chips is that the plus model has a Cortex M55 co-processor for things like low-power clock face updates while the watch is “off”, and the non-plus W5 chip does not.
The Pixel Watch 2 still has a co-processor listed on the spec sheet though. It’s an M33 instead of the M55. OEMs can apparently swap in their own co-processor model and re-create the “plus” feature set, but you still can’t call it a “W5+.”
The Qualcomm chip should bring a better modem if you’re getting the LTE version, which is still $400, while the Wi-Fi only is $350. The rest of the spec sheet is mostly the same: 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and IP68 dust and water resistance.
The battery is 306 mAh, and while that’s not different from last year, the shrink to 4 nm should help with the battery a lot. Google promises “24 hours” of battery life, even with the always-on display mode turned on. At this size, the 2.5 W charger apparently counts as “fast charging,” and Google says it can hit 50 percent in 30 minutes and takes 75 minutes to go to full. Unlike the Pixel Watch 1, which used wireless charging, this has a physical connection for power: those four metal circles around the green lights of the heart rate sensor are charging pins.
The sensors on the back have been improved, Google says the heart rate sensor should be “40 percent more accurate” during vigorous activities, thanks to a “multi-pass” sensor that adds more optical sensors. A new skin temperature sensor (just like the Pixel 8 Pro) will offer “better insights into your sleep and overall wellness.” There is also a continuous electrodermal activity sensor, which can measure stress, and an ECG reading is possible with these sensors, too. All of this information will be bundled up into the Fitbit app.
The most common complaints about the Pixel Watch, the small display, small body size, and big bezels, have not changed. There is still only one size, a 1.2-inch OLED. The display doesn’t look bad if you’re just looking at a watch face, but all the apps are large scrolling lists of rectangular content, which starts to feel cramped on the tiny, round display. Speaking of content, you’ll probably be pushing the Pixel Watch 2 display harder than ever, thanks to new Gmail and Google Calendar apps. Previously, there was no way to look at an actual inbox view, so that change will be a big improvement.Advertisement
- Here are some of the new watch bands, like this “slim metal” option. Google
- The silver slim metal. Google
- This “Active Sport” band is a dead ringer for an Apple Watch Nike Sport Band. Google
- Blue leather. Google
The watch bands for last year are still compatible, which means you have a decent selection of bands, including the long-delayed metal band. Google added a bit more to the collection with a “Metal Slim” band in silver and gold, a bright baby blue leather band that matches the Pixel 8 Pro, and a new line of “Active Sport” bands, which are the rubber version but full of holes, so a Pixel Watch version of the Apple Watch’s “Nike Sport Band
Buying a Pixel Watch is still a rough experience; you’ll be forced to buy a watch body with a rubbery “active” band for your watch, even if that’s not the band you want. Apple and Samsung both have watch configurators, where you only pay for the watch bands you want. Google’s strategy is probably easier on its supply chain, but also generates more e-waste by making people buy bands they might not be interested in.
The Pixel comes in four “colors” named after the watch band color you’ll be forced to take, but the aluminum watch body colors are what matter here. The “Bay” (blue) and “Porcelain” (white) units come with a silver body, while “Obsidian” comes with a matte black watch body, and “Hazel” comes with a “Champagne Gold” watch body
Speaking of e-waste generation, this watch still isn’t repairable. The Pixel Watch recently made headlines when it was revealed that, despite Google’s talks of “sustainability” and its partnership with iFixit, the Pixel Watch 1 isn’t repairable. Last month Google admitted “we don’t have any repair option” for the Pixel Watch 1—there are no parts for sale, and you can’t even pay Google to fix existing units. In a pre-briefing before this event, I asked if any of this was changing for the Pixel Watch 2, and was told “Pixel Watch 2 would be in the same vein as Pixel Watch 1, with regard to repairability.” So, it is not repairable at all.
Like the Pixel 8, this is up for preorder now and ships on October 12.
