Engineering:Pixel Watch 2

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Short description: 2023 smartwatch developed by Google

Template:Infobox smartwatch

The Pixel Watch 2 is a Wear OS smartwatch designed, developed, and marketed by Google as part of the Google Pixel product line. It serves as the successor to the first-generation Pixel Watch.

The Pixel Watch 2 was officially announced on October 4, 2023, at the annual Made by Google event, and was released in the United States on October 12.

History

In May 2023, 9to5Google reported that Google intended to release a successor to the Pixel Watch, a Wear OS–powered smartwatch, in October.[1] Two codenames for the watch, believed to be in reference to the Wi-Fi and cellular models, were later discovered to be "Eos" and "Aurora".[2] Three models were approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in August,[3] while the Eos model was listed on the Google Play Console device catalog for developers.[4] After previewing the watch in September,[5] Google officially announced the Pixel Watch 2 on October 4, alongside the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, at the annual Made by Google event.[6] Pre-orders became available the same day, before being released in 30 countries on October 12.[7][8] The watch suffered from significant shipping delays at the online Google Store.[9]

Specifications

Design

Visually, the Pixel Watch 2 is near-identical to its predecessor, save a "slightly redesigned haptic crown". Six new families of watch faces were made available at launch.[7][10] It is available in four case–band color pairs:[11]

Template:Screen reader-only
Google Pixel Watch (Polished Silver + Bay).svg Google Pixel Watch (Matte Black + Obsidian).svg Google Pixel Watch (Champagne Gold + Hazel).svg Google Pixel Watch (Polished Silver + Chalk).svg
Case Template:Color icon Polished Silver Template:Color icon Matte Black Template:Color icon Champagne Gold Template:Color icon Polished Silver
Active Band Template:Color icon Bay Template:Color icon Obsidian Template:Color icon Hazel Template:Color icon Porcelain

Hardware

The Pixel Watch 2 is made of recycled aluminum, a departure from the original Pixel Watch's stainless steel watch frame. Google stated that the change was made to make the watch lighter and more comfortable for users.[12][7] It is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon SW5100 system-on-chip (SoC), a departure from its predecessor's Samsung Exynos chip.[4] The watch's new circular sensor array consists of several new sensors.[13] A multipath heart rate sensor boasts more accurate readings; a skin temperature sensor tracks sleep but not menstruation; while an electrodermal activity sensor detects sweat beads to assess the wearer's mood. The Pixel Watch 2 is not compatible with the first generation's proprietary magnetic charger, instead requiring a newer and faster one.[7]

Software

The Pixel Watch 2 shipped with Wear OS 4.0.[4] Like its predecessor, the watch features heavy Fitbit integration, given Google's acquisition of the company in 2021.[14] New personal safety features include emergency location sharing, Safety Check, and Safety Signal.[7]

Reception

In her review for The Verge, Victoria Song praised the Pixel Watch 2's improvements from the first-generation on all fronts, especially battery life,[15] as did Yahoo! Finance reviewer Daniel Howley and Digital Spy reviewer Jason Murdock.[16][17] Julian Chokkattu of Wired concurred, writing, "I get a watch that actually comes with everything I wish the original did out of the box. Hooray!"[18] Matthew Miller of ZDNET highlighted the watch's deep Fitbit integration and safety features, but was ambivalent toward its small size.[19] Will Greenwald of PCMag praised the watch's design, performance, and health features,[20] while Mark Knapp of IGN called it "elegant and performant" but "still not a killer".[21] CNN Underscored's Max Buondonno and TheStreet's Jason Cipriani hailed its health, performance, and battery life enhancements.[22][23] Writing for The Guardian , Samuel Gibbs appreciated the improved performance and battery life but was disappointed with the lack of advanced health features and ability to be repaired.[24] Engadget's Cherlynn Low was conflicted, commending Google's efforts to close the gap between other smartwatches but still finding it mediocre overall;[25] Inverse's Raymond Wong agreed, calling it "a better smartwatch, but not the best".[26] Elizabeth de Luna of Mashable described the watch as "playing catch-up to the Apple Watch",[11] while Robert Leedham of GQ thought it was the ideal smartwatch for those indifferent toward smartwatches.[27]

References

  1. ↑ Li, Abner (May 5, 2023). "Source: Google planning to launch Pixel Watch 2 with Pixel 8". https://9to5google.com/2023/05/05/google-pixel-watch-2-2/. 
  2. ↑ Bradshaw, Kyle (June 13, 2023). "Google app reveals Pixel Watch 2 'Eos' code name, suggests similar design". https://9to5google.com/2023/06/13/google-pixel-watch-2-eos-codename/. 
  3. ↑ Song, Victoria (August 14, 2023). "The Pixel Watch 2 may not get UWB support after all". https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/14/23831205/google-pixel-watch-2-uwb-fcc-straps-wearables. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Cantisano, Timi (August 18, 2023). "Pixel Watch 2 Google Play Console listing reveals Snapdragon W5, 2GB RAM, and more". https://www.xda-developers.com/pixel-watch-2-google-play-console-listing-specs/. 
  5. ↑ Roth, Emma (September 7, 2023). "Google teaser previews Pixel Watch 2 and both Pixel 8 phones". https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/7/23863192/google-pixel-8-pro-watch-2. 
  6. ↑ Haselton, Todd (August 30, 2023). "Google announces event for Oct. 4, where new Pixel phone and smartwatch expected". CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/30/google-pixel-8-pixel-watch-2-expected-at-oct-4-event.html. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Chokkattu, Julian (October 4, 2023). "Google's Pixel 8 and Pixel Watch 2 Have Arrived. Here's What's New". Wired. https://www.wired.com/story/google-october-2023-hardware-event-pixel-8-pixel-8-pro-pixel-watch-2/. Retrieved October 4, 2023. 
  8. ↑ Waraich, Sandeep (October 4, 2023). "Google Pixel Watch 2: New ways to stay healthy, connected and safe". https://blog.google/products/pixel/google-pixel-watch-2/. 
  9. ↑ Schoon, Ben (November 1, 2023). "Pixel Watch 2 is still heavily delayed at Google Store, but shipping immediately from Best Buy". https://9to5google.com/2023/11/01/pixel-watch-2-shipping-google-store-best-buy/. 
  10. ↑ Wong, Raymond (October 4, 2023). "Google Pixel Watch 2 Hands-On: The Major Upgrades Are All Internal". https://www.inverse.com/tech/google-pixel-watch-2-hands-on-sensors-battery-price-release-date. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 De Luna, Elizabeth (October 4, 2023). "The Google Pixel Watch 2 feels like deja vu". https://mashable.com/article/google-pixel-watch-2-announcement-release-date. 
  12. ↑ Li, Abner (July 24, 2023). "Sources: Pixel Watch 2 will use aluminum, Fitbit 'Coach' coming". https://9to5google.com/2023/07/24/sources-pixel-watch-2-aluminum/. 
  13. ↑ Song, Victoria (September 8, 2023). "Pixel Watch 2 teaser shows off a new crown and sensor layout". https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/8/23864574/google-pixel-watch-2-teaser-new-crown-sensors. 
  14. ↑ Blum, Sofia (October 4, 2023). "Google's latest Pixel phones have new camera AI tricks". CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/04/google-pixel-8-pixel-8-pro-and-pixel-watch-2-announced-price-release-date.html. 
  15. ↑ Song, Victoria (October 11, 2023). "Google Pixel Watch 2 review: better battery, better watch". https://www.theverge.com/23910570/google-pixel-watch-2-review-fitbit-safety-check-battery-stress-tracking. 
  16. ↑ Howley, Daniel (October 12, 2023). "Google Pixel Watch 2 review: Google’s smartwatch is better the second time around". Yahoo! Finance. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/google-pixel-watch-2-review-googles-smartwatch-is-better-the-second-time-around-193221747.html. 
  17. ↑ Murdock, Jason (November 1, 2023). "Google Pixel Watch 2 review: The most stylish wearable returns". https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/best-tech-deals/a45695078/google-pixel-watch-2-review/. 
  18. ↑ Chokkattu, Julian (October 13, 2023). "Review: Google Pixel Watch 2". Wired. https://www.wired.com/review/google-pixel-watch-2/. Retrieved November 14, 2023. 
  19. ↑ Miller, Matthew (October 11, 2023). "Google Pixel Watch 2 review: In one key area, it surpasses every other smartwatch". https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-pixel-watch-2-review/. 
  20. ↑ Greenwald, Will (October 11, 2023). "Google Pixel Watch 2 Review". PCMag. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/google-pixel-watch-2. Retrieved November 14, 2023. 
  21. ↑ Knapp, Mark (October 13, 2023). "Google Pixel Watch 2 Review". https://www.ign.com/articles/google-pixel-watch-2-review. 
  22. ↑ Buondonno, Max (October 12, 2023). "The $350 Google Pixel Watch 2 is a big improvement over the original". CNN Underscored. https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/reviews/google-pixel-watch-2. 
  23. ↑ Cipriani, Jason (October 18, 2023). "The Pixel Watch 2 marries Google brains with Fitbit brawn in an elegant design". https://www.thestreet.com/deals/google-pixel-watch-2-review-fitbit-stress-monitoring. 
  24. ↑ Gibbs, Samuel (October 26, 2023). "Pixel Watch 2 review: Google smartwatch gets speed and battery boost". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/oct/26/pixel-watch-2-review-google-smartwatch-speed-battery-boost. 
  25. ↑ Low, Cherlynn (October 11, 2023). "Pixel Watch 2 review: Not leading the way, but no longer lagging". https://www.engadget.com/pixel-watch-2-review-not-leading-the-way-but-no-longer-lagging-170007702.html. 
  26. ↑ Wong, Raymond (October 24, 2023). "Google Pixel Watch 2 Review: A Better Smartwatch, But Not the Best". https://www.inverse.com/tech/google-pixel-watch-2-review-better-battery-life-health-tracking. 
  27. ↑ Leedham, Robert (October 13, 2023). "Google's Pixel Watch 2 is a great smartwatch for people who don't like smartwatches". GQ. https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/google-pixel-watch-2-review. Retrieved November 14, 2023. 
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