After months of rumours and speculation, the second-generation Google Pixel Watch has finally arrived. It brings with it an updated design as well as a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 5100 processor, so it could prove to be a fairly different experience from the first-generation watch.
If you're excited to learn more about Google's latest smartwatch, you're in the right place. We've rounded up all the details for you to peruse, right here.
Google Pixel Watch 2
With improved performance, better battery life and more styling options, it's safe to say that the Pixel Watch 2 is Google's best smartwatch yet.
Pixel Watch 2 release date and price
The Google Pixel Watch 2 made its official debut at the 2023 Made by Google event, alongside the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
It's available to pre-order now at a price of $349 and will be available to purchase at retail during the week commencing 9 October 2023.
Pixel Watch 2 design
The Pixel Watch 2 might look a lot like its predecessor, but it features an updated chassis made from aluminium, rather than stainless steel. The aluminium is 100 per cent recycled, so it's much better for the environment, and it also reduces the weight of the watch to 31 grams.
It's only slightly less than the 36g weight of the original, but a reduction nonetheless. It also features more durable glass, which is always good to see.
The colour options are the same on the Pixel Watch 2, available in Matte Black, Polished Silver and Champagne Gold. What's new, though, is that there's a larger variety of watch straps to choose from.
As standard, you'll get an active strap in either Obsidian Black, Bay Blue, Porcelain or Hazel but Google will also be selling a variety of other strap options including metal-link versions, woven bands, leather straps and stretch bands.
On the software side, there is a selection of new watch faces to choose from, and you can see some of them below. All the faces are quite simple, with a plain black background and a minimal aesthetic, but they're all highly customisable, too.
You can select from a variety of colours on each watch face, as well as adjust the amount of complications and where they're located. A new Wear OS 4 feature called dynamic theming will extend your chosen colours to the rest of the watch UI, too. Just like Material You on Android phones.
Pixel Watch 2 specs and features
The Pixel Watch 2 features a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 5100 processor, which should offer a marked performance upgrade over the Exynos chip found in the original watch, as well as being more efficient. It also features 2GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage, just like its predecessor.
The Pixel Watch 2 also gains a new cEDA sensor for tracking stress levels and a skin temperature sensor. This is in addition to all the sensors found on the first Pixel Watch: GPS, accelerometer, altimeter, compass, gyroscope and optical heart rate sensor.
Thanks to advancements in Google's AI and machine learning, you can expect 40 per cent more accurate heart rate tracking during intense activities. Sleep insights are also greatly improved thanks to the new skin temperature readings.
Of course, the Pixel Watch 2 also comes with Wear OS 4, Google's most feature-packed smartwatch software to date. This includes new safety features like emergency location sharing and the ability to send your location to an emergency contact if you don't reach your destination in a designated time.
It also comes with plenty of new Fitbit-powered features, the most exciting of which is the new AI coaching and insights. You'll now be able to ask your digital assistant for advice and analysis of your training. For example, if you struggle with your run more than usual, the AI coach will be able to notice things like poor sleep quality, adverse weather or a hilly route.
Pixel Watch 2 battery life
The Pixel Watch 2's battery is rated at 306mAh, which is only marginally larger than the original Pixel Watch battery, which sits at 294mAh. However, you can expect it to last significantly longer thanks to the more efficient processor and software tweaks that have been made in Wear OS 4.
Google says you'll get over a day's use with the always-on display enabled - something that's not achievable with the current Pixel Watch. It'll also charge pretty quick, and you can get 12 hours of battery life from just a 30-minute charge.
Pixel Watch 2: What's happened so far?
4 October 2023: Google Pixel Watch 2 officially launches
Alongside its next range of flagship Pixel smartphones, Google has unveiled its second-generation smartwatch: the Pixel Watch 2. It might look just like the first model, but there are plenty of new additions under the hood, including an ambition to be your whole health companion on your wrist.
30 August 2023: Pixel Watch 2 to launch on 4 October
Google has sent out invites to a Pixel hardware launch event taking place on 4 October, and the watch will likely be there.
21 August 2023: Google just leaked its Pixel Watch 2 specs early
According to some leaked code, Pixel Watch 2 is switching away from Samsung's Exynos-based chipset, to Snapdragon W5.
5 August 2023: New report claims the Pixel Watch 2 will have UWB connectivity and a slightly larger battery
A report from Android Authority claims that the Pixel Watch 2 will feature UWB connectivity, for the first time on Android wearable, which could enable some exciting features. It also says that the Pixel Watch 2 battery will be approximately 4 per cent larger than its predecessor.
31 July 2023: Here's our first look at the Pixel Watch 2 watch faces
Images from an anonymous source inside Google were shared with Android Authority, showing four new faces, each of which is highly configurable.
23 July 2023: Pixel Watch 2 will reportedly switch to a lightweight aluminium design
A report from 9to5Google claims that the Pixel Watch 2 will be constructed from aluminium, rather than stainless steel, in an effort to reduce weight.
30 May 2023: Google Pixel Watch 2 will switch to Snapdragon and have much better battery life, rumours say
According to 9to5Google, we'll be seeing a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset in the new wearable, and it'll be from the latest W5 lineup. The report also claims we'll see over a day of battery life with the always-on display enabled and similar health sensors to the Fitbit Sense 2.