Google’s new phones may receive most of the attention, but the Pixel Watch 5 has the harder job: watching you sleep, run, recover, miss workouts, and insist that walking to the refrigerator counts as activity. That’s right. A new Pixel smartwatch has been announced, too.
Available in 41 and 45 mm cases, the watch retains Google’s domed circular design while introducing a 3,000-nit Actua 360 display protected by Gorilla Glass. The recycled-aluminum case is rated to 5 ATM and IP68, allowing it to survive swimming, showers, and the perspiration generated while thinking about exercise.
Performance comes from the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Accelerated processor and a dual-chip architecture. Google claims 50% more RAM, 12% greater CPU performance, and an overall speed improvement of 20% compared with the Pixel Watch 4.
GPS receives a particularly interesting upgrade. The watch uses 3D building information from Google Maps and atmospheric corrections from weather stations to improve tracking around tall buildings and other difficult environments. Google claims twice the route accuracy of the previous generation, which should reduce those runs where the map suggests you briefly passed through an office block.
Gemini also gains a larger role. Raise to Talk lets you lift your wrist and request information, begin a workout, or set a timer. At a Glance can surface boarding passes and transit information when relevant, while proactive suggestions may assemble one-tap responses using information from Gmail and Calendar. A double-pinch gesture can confirm supported actions without touching the screen.
Fitness features include step-by-step strength-training guidance, automatic rest timing, weight and repetition logging, personalized routines, and recovery-based recommendations. Some coaching services require Google Health Premium.
Sleep-stage accuracy is claimed to be 15% better, while Smart Wake searches for a lighter stage of sleep during the 30 minutes preceding your alarm. It cannot make waking pleasant, but it can attempt to make it marginally less offensive.
Health Guardian monitors longer-term wellness trends involving blood pressure, breathing during sleep, and insulin resistance. These are general wellness features rather than diagnostic medical tools, with availability varying by region. Breathing Emergency Detection can look for prolonged reductions in oxygen saturation and contact emergency services if the wearer fails to respond. It launches first in Europe and has not been cleared or evaluated by the U.S. FDA.
Battery life reaches 30 hours on the 41 mm model and 40 hours on the 45 mm model with the always-on display enabled. Battery Saver extends those figures to 48 and 72 hours, respectively. Fast charging is handled by the included USB-C dock.
Color combinations include Fog, Canyon, Olive, and a new Pyrite housing, although Canyon is exclusive to the smaller case. A 45 mm Stephen Curry Special Edition with a sweat-wicking Performance Loop follows on September 3 for US$579.
The regular Pixel Watch 5 arrives August 20. Prices start at US$399 for the 41 mm model and US$429 for the 45 mm version. LTE models cost US$499 and US$529, respectively. It is available for pre-order as we speak.
Images: Google.