Adam Kos Yes, Google is all about software, but it's still surprising that we've only seen Google's own smartwatch now. After all, Wear OS in the form of Android Wear was introduced to the market already in 2014, and it was adopted by companies such as Samsung, Motorola, Xiaomi, Oppo, Sony and others, when they all brought their own solutions. But the Pixel Watch is only now entering the scene.
Google had several paths to take. The first, of course, was more based on the look and feel of Samsung's Galaxy Watch4 and Watch5, as they use the same operating system. The second, and the one that Google eventually goes for, quite logically draws more from the Apple Watch. When you look at both systems, they are really very similar, so why not bring a certain Apple Watch alternative to Android?
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The shape of the Pixel Watch therefore clearly refers more to the shape of the Apple watch, even if it has a circular case. There is a crown, one button below it and also proprietary straps. In contrast, the Galaxy Watch4 and Watch5 have a circular case, but lack a crown, while they also have classic legs for attaching straps through typical studs. The Pixel Watch is actually round and just as elegant as the Apple Watch.
Old chip and 24h endurance
Apple is known for constantly increasing the performance of its devices, often even by the eye, when it simply renumbers the chip and does not add much to the performance. It's the case with the Apple Watch, but it certainly wouldn't do what Google did now. He wasn't really afraid of that, and fitted the Pixel Watch with a Samsung chipset, which dates back to 2018. It's the one that the South Korean manufacturer used in its very first Galaxy Watch, but now it has its 5th generation. In addition, Google states that it lasts for 24 hours. If he was able to reduce the demands of the watch to such a minimum, it's nice, but we still don't know how they will run and eat applications, of course.
But is 24 hours really enough? Apple Watch users are used to it, but Samsung's Wear OS device can last two days, the Watch 5 Pro can last three days, or 24 hours with GPS on. As it seems, the Pixel Watch will not excel here. Although there is a clear promise of close cooperation of the watch with Google products and services, it does not have quite the same reputation with most users as Apple does with iPhone users. Moreover, its Pixel phone owner base is practically unmatched, as the company has only managed to sell 30 million of them so far, while Apple has sold 2 billion iPhones (albeit over a longer period of time, of course).
Google may have also covered the price, as the Pixel Watch is $70 more expensive than Samsung's current Galaxy Watch. Because both models work across Android phones, Pixel or Galaxy owners don't have to go for them. So why want a Pixel Watch when I have Android and so many to choose from? Additionally, Wear OS is set to grow even though it has been more or less exclusive to Samsung until now.
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First generation bugs
You can't say that Google waited too long. Compared to Samsung, it is only a year behind, because the latter managed to release only two generations of watches with their joint Wear OS. So the potential is here, but one can rather guess that Google's first smart watch will end up like Apple's first smart watch - it will impress, but it will fit. Even the first Apple Watch was bad, slow, and only Series 1 and 2 tried to solve their ailments. Here too, we are very limited in performance, so it can be assumed that only the second generation Pixel Watch could be a truly full-fledged competitor for the Apple Watch in a fish named Android.
The Pixel Watch is already available for pre-order in supported markets. They will look at store counters in 17 countries, which do not include the Czech Republic, on October 13. Their price starts at 349 dollars. Considering that Pixel phones are also offered here as gray imports, it is possible that a few pieces will also make their way to the country.
Most of all, look ugly. There's no point in commenting on the durability, they have nothing to complain about with AW. :-)