Google is finally preparing to launch a smartwatch of its own a year after its Fitbit acquisition closed, and a report from noted leaker Evan Blass gives us a first look at the so-called Pixel Watch. Built for Google’s new Wear OS platform and boasting integration with Fitbit, the Watch is expected to be announced at Google I/O in May.
The render looks similar to ones shared by Jon Prosser a year ago, but show a more final look at what Google could be expected to debut in the weeks to come. The Fitbit icon is shown prominently, The Watch is also reportedly code-named Rohan, and should come with Wear OS 3.1, an as-yet-unannounced variant of Google’s Wear OS.
It was already obvious that a smartwatch from Google would be coming as the company signaled its intent to build one as soon as possible after it closed its Fitbit acquisition in 2021. “We’re confident the combination of Fitbit’s leading technology, product expertise, and health and wellness innovation with the best of Google’s AI, software, and hardware will drive more competition in wearables and make the next generation of devices better and more affordable,” Rick Osterloh, Google’s vice president of devices, said. While we have yet to see the fruits of that acquisition, the time seems to be near
As for the software it’ll be running, Google debuted WearOS 3 with the Galaxy Watch 4 last year, so it’s taken us quite a while to see what Google’s Wear OS would look like without Samsung’s augmentations. Heck, the official Wear OS 3 update rollout hasn’t started yet, despite it being announced at last year’s Google I/O, which was a year ago. There have been a few missed opportunities to showcase it, but it seems we’ll also finally be seeing a take on the smartwatch experience from Google.
Aside from the Pixel Watch, Google is also expected to announce a low-cost Pixel 6a with the same Tensor processor as the flagship Pixel 6 at I/O.
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.
We buy fitness bands and activity trackers to keep tabs on our exercise, but it is easy to forget to start tracking or switch modes when moving between different activities. For Fitbit and Pixel Watch users, that could soon become a lot less annoying, as Google is rolling out a major upgrade to automatic activity tracking that can recognize more than 100 types of exercise, up from just 10 before.
Google first showed off the improved tracking earlier this month alongside the Fitbit Edge. It is now coming to Fitbit Air and the Pixel Watch 3, 4, and 5, and Google claims the added context behind the system makes workout detection nearly twice as accurate while cutting missed activities by more than half. Fitbit Edge will support it too.