Google is finally ready to take on the Apple Watch with a smartwatch of its own – the first-ever Pixel Watch.
Naturally, they’ve made it round, too, because the Apple Watch is for squares. (Sorry, Apple Watch wearers – the joke was right there for the taking!).
There is no price for the Pixel watch yet, but experts reckon it could cost about $400.
Long-rumored since the search engine giant took over Fitbit in 2019, the watch has been hit with a bunch of leaks over the past year.
So we kind of knew it was coming before it debuted at the Google I/O 2022 developer conference.
What’s the Google Pixel Watch actually like, though?
It has a round case made of 80 percent recycled stainless steel.
The Google Pixel Watch sports a domed glass with rounded edges and traditional watch crown plus a sleek push-button above it for control.
There’s no mention of size, but it looks to be about 40mm, making it a relatively universal size given the sleekness of the design.
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But it’s unclear if multiple sizes will be offered like with the Apple Watch.
You can get an Apple Watch as small as 38mm for the Series 3 and as big as 45mm for the Series 7.
Like the Apple Watch, style is an important consideration, so easily changeable straps are, of course, part of the plan.
The promo clips show the Pixel watch being used for messaging as well as smart home control, with it linking to a Google Nest to easily change your lights and AC.
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Naturally, Google Assistant voice control will also be a part of it.
Ultimately, the Google Pixel Watch will really act like a fancier Fitbit – offering more smart home controls through Wear OS (Google’s smartwatch operating system), but using existing Fitbit app for fitness tracking.
So, when can I strap the Google Pixel Watch on my wrist?
Well, dear reader, an exact date has not been set. After all, this was merely an early preview of the product at Google I/O 2022.
But tech giant has kept it vague, saying it is “coming this fall”.
What else was shown at Google I/O 2022?
In addition to the new Google Pixel Watch, we also got a taste for a few other upcoming devices in the Pixel family.
Available to pre-order from July 21 will be the new Pixel Buds Pro wireless earphones, which feature active noise cancellation.
Four new colors will be offered – Charcoal, Fog, Coral and Lemongrass – with two-tone designs and the case will be waterproof.
Also available to order from July 21 is the new Pixel 6a smartphone, priced from $449.
Offered in three colors – Chalk, Charcoal, and Sage – it features the same processing power as the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, but in a smaller size that should lend to good battery life.
A new Pixel 7 smartphone is also coming, but not until the same time the Google Pixel Watch hits the market.
Google has also teased an upcoming Pixel Tablet, although that likely won’t hit the market until 2023.
The company has also teased the fact other upcoming smartwatches from Samsung, Fossil and Montblanc will soon be using its Wear OS software.
