A Google-branded smartwatch has been rumoured for some time - no pun intended - but it has yet to materialise despite the Wear OS platform running numerous third-party smartwatches.
Here is everything that's been claimed so far surrounding the Pixel Watch. Will it ever launch?
Quick summary
At the moment, we don't know when/if the Google Pixel Watch will be released and how much it will cost. It's been rumoured for so long now that we've almost lost hope.
Google's I/O developer conference took place in May 2021, though whilst it announced a complete overhaul of the Wear OS platform, no Pixel Watch was revealed. There have been suggestions of an October 2021 release date for the Google smartwatch though - which is when the Pixel 6 devices are expected - so it's still on the cards based on reports, even if it might be delayed due to a chip shortage.
Pixel Watch specs: What we want and expect
- Solid materials
- Premium design
- Round face likely
- Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100
- 4GB RAM
- 512MB storage
- 300mAh or larger battery
- HR monitor
- GPS
- Waterproofing
- 4G LTE possible
- New Wear OS
- Fitbit integration
Google Pixel Watch rumours: What's happened?
Here is everything we have heard so far about the Google Pixel Watch.
11 October 2021: Pixel Watch likely delayed
Leaker Max Weinbach claimed on Twitter that while he was told the Pixel Watch was coming about six months ago, but could be delayed because of chip shortage, he is assuming it has been delayed and is unsure if it will be revealed with the Pixel 6 on 19 October or next year.
Pixel Watch was likely delayed btw
â€" Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) October 11, 2021
Like 6 months ago I was told it was coming but could be delayed based on chip availability. I'm assuming it's getting delayed because of chips. Could be announced next week with later release, could be announced next year. Who knows.
25 May 2021: More Google Pixel 6, 6 Pro and 5a 5G details revealed in leak
Max Weinbach revealed some details about the Pixel 5a 5G, Pixel 6 and 6 Pro in a podcast. He also claimed the Google Watch would be revealed in October 2021 alongside the Pixel devices though.
18 May 2021: Google redesigns Wear OS with Samsung and Fitbit
Google announced a redesigned Wear OS in collaboration with Samsung and Fitbit.
9 April 2021: Apparent Pixel Watch design revealed in new leak
Jon Prosser revealed the apparant design of the long-rumoured Pixel Watch in a video. It has a circular face, bezel-free design and a physical crown. It's claimed to be codenamed Rohan and the renders were created based on images provided by a source.
19 May 2020: Pixel Watch could have gesture feature
Google filed a patent with the US Patent Office in May 2020 that suggests the company is working on bringing hand gestures to a smartwatch.
19 September 2019:Â Why Google Pixel Watch was cancelled at the last minute
A new report on Business Insider has claimed Google cancelled plans to launch a Pixel Watch at the last minute because Google's hardware chief, Rick Osterloh, was of the opinion at the time that it "didn't look like what belonged in the Pixel family."Â
The report also said that a former employee stated that the syncing between the Pixel smartphone and smartwatch also "didn't work that great", making for another reason to pull the launch. There were fears that with this and the smartwatch not quite looking right, it would "...bring down the name of the Google hardware brand."Â
Instead of killing the watches completely, Google is said to have decided not to launch them under its own brand name as originally planned, and instead launched them under LG in the LG Watch Sport and LG Watch Style.Â
The report adds that while there are still rumours Google is working on its own-branded smartwatch, sources claim that there will be no smartwatch launching alongside the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL at its event on 15 October.
3 September 2019:Â Google Pixel Watch with built-in camera appears in patent
A patent filed by Google called 'Camera Watch' has been approved. The patent shows a watch with a round face and a camera built-in, though it is not clear from the patent whether the camera is a hole-punch design or under the display.
There are no buttons on the design sketches, suggesting the Pixel Watch could feature some form of rotating or touch bezel.
4 April 2019: Possible Pixel Watch tech pops up in patent
A recently approved patent reveals Google has been working on several quick release watch band mechanisms. Several options are shown in the patent images, one of which is a tradition quick release pin method, while the others appear a little more complex.Â
8 February 2019: New job listings suggest Pixel Watch still happening
Two job listings at Google for a "Vice President, Hardware Engineering, Wearables" and "Wearables Design Manager, Consumer Hardware", suggest Google continues to have major hardware ambitions for wearables.
25 January 2019: Possible Pixel Watch codenames appear online
9to5Google reported on two codenames - Medaka and Salmon - which appeared online and are suggested to reference the Pixel Watch. The codenames appeared in AOSP alongside evidence suggesting they are smartwatches but no further details were offered.
17 January 2019: Google and Fossil enter into $40 million agreement
Google and Fossil Group enter into a $40 million agreement, in which Google will acquire some of Fossil's smartwatch technology, along with members of the Fossil's research and development team. While details are scarce, it suggests Google is still serious about Wear OS.
3 September 2018: No Pixel Watch in 2018
Tom's Guide reported that the rumoured Pixel Watch would not launch in 2018.Â
Miles Barr, Google's director of engineering for Wear OS, said in an interview with Tom's Guide: "To think of a one-size-fits-all watch, I don't think we're there yet. Our focus is on our partners for now," he explained.
The Pixel Watch will likely place a special focus on Google Assistant and AI learning when it finally arrives though as Barr told Tom's Guide his ideal Pixel Watch would offer these.Â
A separate Google spokesperson also confirmed that the company would not be announcing its own smartwatch in 2018.
10 May 2018: Three models of the Pixel Watch claimed to be in the works
WinFuture reported that there are three models of Pixel Watch in the works, but these might just be prototypes with a plan to only release one.
10 May 2018: Google's fall event expected to feature Pixel-branded watch
Notorious leakster Evan Blass tweeted that a reliable source told him "with high confidence" that a Pixel-branded watch would appear at the 2018 fall hardware event alongside the two smartphones and second-gen Pixel Buds. Of course, that wasn't the case in the end.
Besides the Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, and second-gen Pixel Buds, a reliable source tells me -- with high confidence -- that Google's fall hardware event will also introduce a Pixel-branded watch. Have a great summer!
â€" Evan Blass (@evleaks) May 10, 2018
15 March 2018: Google rebrands Android Wear to Wear OS
Google's smartwatch platform, Android Wear, first arrived in 2014. In 2018, Google ditched the name and branding, relaunching the software as Wear OS.
10 February 2017: LG Watch Sport and LG Watch Style launch
LG announced the LG Watch Sport and the LG Watch Style, backed by Google as the poster watches for Android Wear 2.0 with their rotating dials. They put an end to the Google-branded smartwatch...for a while.
23 December 2016: Google to launch two Android Wear watches in 2017
The Verge reported that Jeff Chang, product manager of Android Wear, said Google is planning to launch new watches that will be flagship Android Wear 2.0 devices.
Chang said the device wouldn't be Pixel branded however, despite the Pixel and Pixel XL launching two months earlier, replacing the Nexus line. Instead, the watches would take the name of the manufacturer that makes them.
12 July 2016: Renders appear of Google's Nexus smartwatches
Android Police published some renders of Google's Android Wear smartwatches. The larger device, known as Angelfish, is said to be on the left, while Swordfish, the smaller device, is on the right.
6 July 2016: Google working on Nexus-branded smartwatches
Android Police reported that Google was working on Nexus-branded smartwatches. The two devices were claimed to be Google-made and they had codenames of Angelfish and Swordfish.
Rumours suggests Angelfish was a larger, sportier model which would come with LTE data, GPS and heart rate. Swordfish meanwhile was said to be smaller and miss LTE data and GPS off its features list.Â
Both watches were claimed to feature circular displays.
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