During the Made by Google event, the company unveiled a range of new devices. These included the highly anticipated Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones, as well as the all-new Google Pixel Watch 2 smartwatch. In addition to these exciting releases, Google introduced an enhanced version of their popular Google Pixel Buds Pro wireless earbuds, which now come with an array of new features and a variety of stylish colour options.
Read: Google launches Pixel 8 Pro: Everything you need to know
The Pixel Watch 2 looks and feels very similar to the first generation, with the same dimensions at 41 x 41 x 12.3 mm. However, it is slightly lighter, weighing 31 grams compared to 36 grams on the original Pixel Watch.
The Pixel Watch 2 supports the same bands and straps as the first generation, and it has the same display and overall aesthetics. It is made of 100% recycled aluminium, and the Active Band is made of fluoroelastomer rubber with a soft-touch coating.
The Pixel Watch 2 has a side button, a haptic crown, and premium haptics to provide an enhanced experience. It also has a built-in microphone and a built-in speaker for calls.
The watch is 5 ATM and IP68 rated, and the front glass is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. It has the same proprietary magnetic charging port on the bottom, and it comes with new watch faces to complement the new operating system and the new watch.
The Pixel Watch 2 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chip, paired with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. This chip is not the newest, but it is expected to provide significant performance and efficiency improvements over the Samsung-made chip used in the first generation Pixel Watch. The watch also features Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, and Quasi-Zenith Satellite connectivity for location tracking.
The Pixel Watch 2 has a wide range of sensors, including a compass, altimeter, SpO2 sensor, ECG sensor, optical heart rate sensor, 3-axis accelerometer, gyroscope, cEDA sensor, skin temperature sensor, barometer, and magnetometer. Like the previous generation, the Pixel Watch 2 is IP68 and 5 ATM water resistant, so you can swim and wear it in the shower without worry.
The new sensors and chip are expected to improve the Pixel Watch 2’s battery life and performance. The Active Band comes in two sizes, small and large, to fit wrists of different sizes.
The Pixel Watch 2 has the same 1.2-inch AMOLED display as the first generation, with a 450 x 450 resolution, 320 PPI, and 1000 nits peak brightness. Unfortunately, the bezels are still large, and there is no larger model available.
The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, and the high brightness should make it visible in all lighting conditions. Google has not announced the refresh rate, so it is unclear if it has been upgraded from the 30Hz display on the first-generation Pixel Watch.
The Pixel Watch 2 comes with Wear OS 4 pre-installed and features several advanced tracking features to help you get the most out of your workouts and stay healthy and fit. These features include advanced heart rate tracking, ECG, blood oxygen (SpO2) saturation monitoring, sleep tracking, and a wide variety of sports modes.
The watch can automatically start and stop tracking for seven common workouts, including running and outdoor cycling. Heart Zone Training can also guide users to meet their fitness goals with voice and haptic cues that help them stay in four personalized heart rate zones.
The Pixel Watch 2’s heart rate sensor has a new multi-path design that improves signal quality. It can automatically switch between single and multi-path modes depending on the intensity of the workout. The watch also uses AI heart rate algorithms to deliver more accurate measurements, which can be displayed on both the watch and the connected phone.
