We’re expecting a lot of Google Pixel hardware in 2023, and according to one new report, one of Google’s upcoming releases this year is the Pixel Watch 2.
A report from 9to5Google on May 5 cites a “source” that claims the Google Pixel Watch 2 will be released later this fall alongside the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. Given Google’s past Pixel smartphone releases, that means we’ll likely see the Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel 8 series debut in early October.
With Google I/O right around the corner, it’s entirely possible we’ll get an early preview of the Pixel Watch 2 during the keynote next week. Google first teased the original Pixel Watch at I/O 2022 last May before fully unveiling it the following October. A small tease at this year’s I/O isn’t guaranteed, but it’s also not out of the question.
While this news is exciting for the Pixel Watch 2, it also gives us a better idea of how Google plans to handle the Pixel Watch series going forward. It wasn’t clear if Google planned on doing annual upgrades for the Pixel Watch, but assuming this report is true, it sure seems like that’ll be the case.
So, what do we want to see in the Pixel Watch 2? A lot of things! Google nailed the comfort and basic health-tracking aspects of the original Pixel Watch, but there’s so much it can improve with a successor.
The biggest thing the Pixel Watch 2 needs to address is battery life. The Pixel Watch fails to make it through a full day of use in our testing, and that’s unacceptable for a smartwatch today. Improving battery life is easier said than done, but Google has several options.
For starters, it could use a newer chipset. The Pixel Watch’s Exynos processor has been outdated for a while now, which doesn’t help the battery life situation one bit. With Qualcomm’s much more powerful — and efficient — Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 platform available, Google has an easy solution to this problem. Increasing the Pixel Watch’s case size (or offering two size options) would also allow for a larger battery capacity.
But battery life isn’t the only thing. We’d also love to see the Pixel Watch 2 ship with a drastically smaller display bezel, offer more robust fitness features, and maybe try offering a special-edition model to compete with the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro and Apple Watch Ultra.
Will any of that actually happen? We can’t say for sure quite yet, but with a fall release apparently happening, we shouldn’t have too much longer to wait before we learn more.
Not everyone can afford to hire a personal trainer. And let’s be honest, learning exercises from YouTube or the gym regulars isn’t exactly foolproof. We need a solution that is both affordable and accurate.
A research group at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN), led by Dr Biswajit Saha, has a solution. He created a bendy wearable sensor that works in the gym and for sports like tennis and swimming.
The OnePlus Buds Clip are a new pair of open-ear earbuds built around a simple convenience. They join Sony’s LinkBuds Clip in the growing ear-cuff category, but either OnePlus bud can go on either ear.
Sensors recognize how the earbuds are being worn and route the audio channels accordingly. There’s no label to check before putting them on, and the feature also works when only one bud is used.