Although the look of Google’s upcoming Wear OS device has been thoroughly leaked, there are still many questions about the internal hardware that drives it. It tells sources now 9to5Google that the Pixel Watch will have a mobile connection and how long the battery can last.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the Pixel Watch has a battery that comes in at 300mAh. We have also learned that mobile connectivity will be offered, although we are not sure how the models, three of which have been discovered, will differ.
The closest analog is with Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 (GW4). The portable device, which is also 40 mm, has a 247 mAh battery, which is stated to have a 40-hour “operating time” with Wear OS 3. Our experience is that the smaller Galaxy Watch 4 is closer to a 24- hours unit, depending on usage. Google’s watch certainly beats it in physical capacity, but that should not be surprising as it is well 4mm thicker by about 14mm. The early Pixel Watch hardware is also heavier at 36g compared to the 40mm GW4, which weighs 26g (also measured without straps).
Another battery comparison that can be made is the Fossil Gen 6 and its 300mAh battery, which is rated for a day’s use on the less power efficient Snapdragon Wear 4100+. The Skagen Falster Gen 6 also has the same battery size, and we found that it generally has 24 hours of battery life or less.
Meanwhile, the larger 44 mm Galaxy Watch 4 weighs 30 g, has a 361 mAh battery and generally lasts between 30 and 40 hours, depending on usage, in our experience. It remains to be seen what Google’s official guide will be, or whether Wear OS sees any further optimizations to maximize longevity. Another important spec that remains unknown is how fast the Pixel Watch can be charged, compared to letting users quickly fill up in an instant. If the watch uses some form of Qi charging, as Samsung and Apple do, it seems reasonable to expect comparable speeds.
We have previously speculated that the Pixel Watch may be powered by the Samsung Exynos. Google, which uses the same W920 chip as the Galaxy Watch 4, would not be surprising. A measurement showed that the screen size of the Pixel Watch is around 30 mm or just under 1.2 inches, giving yet another resemblance to the Galaxy Watch 4.
In the meantime 9to5Google previously reported on the possible Pixel dials, but we have not yet really seen how Google will style Wear OS 3 beyond what is available in the emulator. Beyond that, the biggest remaining question is how Google will price the Pixel Watch and when it will be available.
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Ben Schoon, Dylan Roussel and Kyle Bradshaw contributed to this article
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