Google Pixel Watch is up for pre-order, pricing starts at CA$450

Google has officially taken the wraps off the Pixel Watch, its first entry in the smartwatch space. The company has already made the device available for pre-order. The Bluetooth/Wi-Fi option costs $450, while the 4G LTE option retails for $530. 

As previewed earlier this year, the Pixel Watch sported a domed, circular glass design with scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 5 paired with a stainless steel housing. The watch is water-resistant up to 5 ATM, allowing it to withstand pressure equal to a depth of 50 metres. This watch features an always-on display, allowing you to see the time even when you're not interacting with it. But that should impact battery life, which is expected to last up to 24 hours on a single charge.

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Pixel Watch sports a rather fat bezel

@rquandt / Twitter

Rumours have been going around that the Pixel Watch is getting a rather thick bezel, and this leaked image gives us the closest look at it. It looks like the bezel takes up almost 10mm of its rumoured 41mm diameter. And while Wear OS 3 seems to be doing a good job at obscuring the black ring, some menus—like those in the leaked image—makes it rather obvious.

The Pixel Watch is expected to get an "improved" version of Wear OS 3, with support for native apps like Google Maps, Google Wallet, Google Assistant, and Google Home. The smartwatch is also expected to get Fitbit integration. The Pixel Watch will launch alongside the Pixel 7 tomorrow at 10 AM ET.

Source | Via

Google confirms there won’t be a Pixel-branded watch coming out this year

Google revamps Wear OS and adds features like Proactive Assistant, which shows information at a glance as you can see on Skagen's new smartwatch. (Photo courtesy of Tom's Guide)

Back in May, reliable leaker Evan Blass tweeted that Google was prepping its own smartwatch for the fall hardware event—which is happening on October 9^th—but now the company has confirmed that it has no plans for this “Pixel Watch” this year. Miles Barr, Google’s director of engineering for Wear OS, told Tom’s Guide that the company is focusing on its partners at the moment. He said, “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.” After the interview, Google confirmed Barr’s statement.

Before this interview, Google’s moves in the smartwatch space—everything from revamping Wear OS and Google Fit—suggested that the company was working on its own smartwatch. But now it seems we have to wait a bit. At least with Qualcomm set to unveil a new processor for wearables on September 10^th, we could at least expect a better Pixel Watch, if and when it arrives.