The Google Pixel Watch is our premium decide from the best Android smartwatches cash should purchase. Whereas the newer Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 lineup trumps Google’s smartwatch in all key features, the Pixel Watch stands out with its distinctive, high-end styling and Fitbit integration. However Google’s smartwatch is just not good. Within the 11 months the wearable has been on sale, numerous 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 event on October 4, this is our wishlist for what Google must get proper with its second smartwatch.
Table of Contents
1. Higher construct high quality
The unique Pixel Watch appears to be like gorgeous. There is no doubt about that. However its construct high quality is horrible. There have been quite a few stories from Pixel Watch owners about its back suddenly falling off for no fault of their very own, probably on account of a weak adhesive. Pixel gadgets have all the time suffered from poor construct high quality, so such points popping up on the Pixel Watch weren’t stunning.
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 spotted in Google’s teaser video would imply tighter tolerances, so it isn’t fully infeasible. And whereas it is at it, the corporate must also make the design extra repairable. In the event you crack your Pixel Watch’s display, your solely choice is to get one other unit, as alternative elements should not accessible.
2. Larger casing
You may get the Apple Watch in 41mm or 45mm sizes, relying on how large (or small) your wrists are. Even Samsung provides the Galaxy Watch 6 in a number of sizes. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to solely get the Pixel Watch in a single measurement: 41mm. This measurement works for girls’s wrists or anybody with a slim or petite construct. However when you have giant wrists, Google’s watch will look comically small.
With the Pixel Watch 2, Google ought to ideally introduce a much bigger 45mm case choice, 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.
Sadly, all of the leaks to this point 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 choice for the Pixel Watch 2.
3. Assist for reverse wi-fi charging utilizing your cellphone
The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 sequence help reverse wi-fi charging. The Pixel Watch additionally prices wirelessly by its bundled charging puck. You’d assume it will be potential to reverse wi-fi cost the Pixel Watch utilizing your Pixel cellphone. However that is not the case, though the charging animation would possibly seem once you do that. It is because Pixel telephones help Qi wi-fi charging, whereas the Pixel Watch doesn’t.
Nevertheless, this isn’t Google’s fault, as all of the top 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 potential to reverse wi-fi cost them utilizing one of many firm’s Galaxy phones.
Reverse wi-fi charging on a smartphone is of restricted use. However having the ability to cost your watch utilizing your cellphone 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’ll be able to 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 may need to disable a couple of well being sensors on the smartwatch to make sure it could actually do each.
The Pixel Watch 2 doesn’t want to supply multi-day battery life just like the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro; 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 manner, you’ll be able to cost it to 100% in about 45 minutes when you prepare for college or work each morning.
Rumors point out the Pixel Watch 2 could use a more efficient Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chip. Add within the underlying enhancements in Wear OS 4, and the Pixel Watch 2 ought to impress within the battery life division.
5. Wider availability and higher help
All Google Pixel gadgets endure from one widespread situation: poor availability. The Pixel Watch is not any exception right here: it’s only accessible in 9 markets. And even then, the LTE mannequin is just not accessible in all areas. If Google needs customers to take its smartwatch ambitions critically, it wants to make sure they’re accessible 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 higher gross sales, thereby encouraging the corporate to make its wearable lineup even higher.
In addition to wider availability, Google should additionally present higher help for the Pixel Watch. As talked about earlier than, the watch’s again falling off on account of poor construct high quality was extensively reported. In some instances, homeowners needed to escalate the difficulty to get a alternative unit, as Google’s help requested for a $300 deposit to file a guaranty declare.
Google is holding its {hardware} efforts again
Google’s {hardware} has potential. That is why 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 a terrific first try, and because of 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 deal with making all the appropriate upgrades that assist ship a extra refined person expertise.
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