The Google Pixel Watch is our premium choose from one of the best Android smartwatches cash should purchase. Whereas the newer Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 lineup trumps Google’s smartwatch in all key elements, the Pixel Watch stands out with its distinctive, high-end styling and Fitbit integration. However Google’s smartwatch shouldn’t be good. Within the 11 months the wearable has been on sale, varied points associated to its construct high quality and battery life have persistently popped up. With the Pixel Watch 2 lower than two weeks from its official unveiling on the Made by Google occasion on October 4, this is our wishlist for what Google must get proper with its second smartwatch.
1. Higher construct high quality
The unique Pixel Watch seems to be gorgeous. There isn’t any doubt about that. However its construct high quality is horrible. There have been quite a few studies from Pixel Watch homeowners about its again all of the sudden falling off for no fault of their very own, possible as a consequence of a weak adhesive. Pixel units have all the time suffered from poor construct high quality, so such points popping up on the Pixel Watch weren’t shocking.
With the Pixel Watch 2, this is hoping Google will get its act collectively and ensures no such construct high quality issues — the IP68 certification we noticed in Google’s teaser video would imply tighter tolerances, so it is not fully infeasible. And whereas it is at it, the corporate must also make the design extra repairable. For those who crack your Pixel Watch’s show, your solely possibility is to get one other unit, as alternative components will not be obtainable.
2. Greater casing
You may get the Apple Watch in 41mm or 45mm sizes, relying on how massive (or small) your wrists are. Even Samsung provides the Galaxy Watch 6 in a number of sizes. Nevertheless, you may solely get the Pixel Watch in a single measurement: 41mm. This measurement works for ladies’s wrists or anybody with a slim or petite construct. However in case you have massive wrists, Google’s watch will look comically small.
With the Pixel Watch 2, Google ought to ideally introduce a much bigger 45mm case possibility, packing a much bigger show. And the bigger case ought to present extra room for a much bigger cell, resulting in an extended runtime. For comparability, the Apple Watch Extremely has a 1.92-inch show, whereas the Pixel Watch has a significantly smaller, albeit spherical, 1.2-inch display screen.
Sadly, all of the leaks up to now level to the Pixel Watch 2 coming in the identical measurement as its predecessor. Maybe the corporate will spring a shock at its October 4 occasion with a bigger casing measurement possibility for the Pixel Watch 2.
3. Help for reverse wi-fi charging utilizing your telephone
The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 sequence assist reverse wi-fi charging. The Pixel Watch additionally fees wirelessly by means of its bundled charging puck. You’d assume it might be doable to reverse wi-fi cost the Pixel Watch utilizing your Pixel telephone. However that is not the case, regardless that the charging animation would possibly seem whenever you do that. It is because Pixel telephones assist Qi wi-fi charging, whereas the Pixel Watch doesn’t.
Nevertheless, this isn’t Google’s fault, as all the highest Android smartwatches lack Qi wi-fi charging, regardless of many, just like the Pixel Watch, coming with a wi-fi charger — these aren’t Qi licensed, sadly. However the firm can take a cue from Samsung. Whereas the Galaxy Watch 5 and 6 sequence additionally lack Qi wi-fi charging, it’s doable to reverse wi-fi cost them utilizing one of many firm’s Galaxy telephones.
Reverse wi-fi charging on a smartphone is of restricted use. However having the ability to cost your watch utilizing your telephone in a pinch is one state of affairs the place the function could be handy.
4. Longer battery life
Google claims the Pixel Watch provides “as much as 24 hours” of battery life. That is on paper, although. With At all times-on show enabled, an hour of GPS monitoring, and loads of notifications, you may fully drain the smartwatch’s battery in round 18 hours. And that is the issue.
This poor battery life would possibly drive you to resolve between utilizing the smartwatch to trace your exercises or sleep. Otherwise you might need to disable a couple of well being sensors on the smartwatch to make sure it may well do each.
The Pixel Watch 2 doesn’t want to supply multi-day battery life just like the Galaxy Watch 5 Professional; it solely must final 24–30 hours of heavy use with sleep monitoring and different well being options enabled. Ideally, the wearable ought to have round 20–30% juice left after over 24 hours of use, together with sleep monitoring. This fashion, you may cost it to 100% in about 45 minutes whilst you prepare for college or work each morning.
Rumors point out the Pixel Watch 2 may use a extra environment friendly Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chip. Add within the underlying enhancements in Put on OS 4, and the Pixel Watch 2 ought to impress within the battery life division.
5. Wider availability and higher assist
All Google Pixel units undergo from one widespread difficulty: poor availability. The Pixel Watch is not any exception right here: it’s only obtainable in 9 markets. And even then, the LTE mannequin shouldn’t be obtainable in all areas. If Google needs customers to take its smartwatch ambitions significantly, it wants to make sure they’re obtainable in much more markets.
Ideally, the Pixel Watch 2 ought to launch in the identical markets because the Pixel 8 sequence. A wider availability will guarantee extra customers can strive Google’s newest smartwatch, main to raised gross sales, thereby encouraging the corporate to make its wearable lineup even higher.
Moreover wider availability, Google should additionally present higher assist for the Pixel Watch. As talked about earlier than, the watch’s again falling off as a consequence of poor construct high quality was extensively reported. In some instances, homeowners needed to escalate the problem to get a alternative unit, as Google’s assist requested for a $300 deposit to file a guaranty declare.
Google is holding its {hardware} efforts again
Google’s {hardware} has potential. For this reason the Pixel lineup has such a loyal and powerful fan following regardless of so many construct high quality points. However the firm can be the one which’s holding the Pixel lineup again.
The Pixel Watch was an ideal first try, and due to common software program updates, it has solely improved since its launch. The Pixel Watch 2 doesn’t want a breakthrough new well being function to succeed. Google must give attention to making all the precise upgrades that assist ship a extra refined consumer expertise.
