Google Pixel Watch 2: What to Expect from the Next

Google is set to launch the Pixel Watch 2 in a few months, and while we cannot be sure of its true capabilities until then, we have insider information on some of the changes and improvements. One notable upgrade is the replacement of the outdated Exynos 9110 SoC with the more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1, offering improved performance and efficiency.

The new Snapdragon chip features four Arm Cortex-A53 cores running at 1.7GHz, compared to the two cores running at 1.15GHz in the previous chip. The GPU performance has also been enhanced with the more modern Adreno 702. The most significant improvement, however, is the efficiency of the chip, addressing the weak battery life issues of the original Pixel Watch.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 is built on a 4nm process, providing a major efficiency improvement over the old Exynos chip. It also supports low-power states like Deep Sleep and Hibernation, further enhancing battery life.

Another exciting feature of the Pixel Watch 2 is the inclusion of ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. With an NXP SR100T UWB module, the watch can enable applications such as precise device finding and unlocking your car using Digital Car Key. UWB support is currently only available on a limited number of Android phones.

To improve battery life, Google has slightly increased the capacity of the Pixel Watch 2’s battery, rated at 306mAh. The new smartwatch will still feature a 1.2-inch round OLED display but with an updated panel sourced from Samsung Display.

The Pixel Watch 2 will ship with Wear OS 4 based on Android 13, offering faster updates and support for dynamic theming. It also comes with support for seamless updates, allowing for background OS updates while the old version is still running.

In terms of availability, the Pixel Watch 2 will have two versions: one with LTE capability (codenamed “Eos”) and one with Wi-Fi only (codenamed “Aurora”). While specific regional availability is not yet known, the regulatory e-labels indicate multiple model numbers.

Overall, the Pixel Watch 2 shows promising upgrades in performance, battery life, display, and software, making it an anticipated smartwatch from Google.