Google will hold its Made By Google hardware event on Tuesday October 15, 2019. The search giant is planning to unveil its new Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, which have both leaked extensively – we’ve already seen the handset from every angle, found out the (shocking) price, new colours, facial recognition, and some stunning camera samples from the new dual-lens set-up.
Reports suggest we’re also set to see a redesigned Google Home, Home Mini with a built-in wall mount, and a new Google Wi-Fi.
But could the Mountain View-based company be planning a surprise announcement for its Made By Google event? Something watch-shaped, perhaps?
Rumours of a new Wear OS smartwatch designed by the same hardware team behind the likes of the Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, and Google Next Hub Max are nothing new. In fact, leaked images have revealed a finished prototype smartwatch that was pulled by Google at the last-minute before a previous Made By Google announcement.
With Apple Watch gaining huge traction and boosting the iPhone manufacturer’s bottom-line, is it time for Google to reconsider its ditched watch?
According to the reliable Nikkei Asian Review, Google will unveil a Pixel Watch alongside the Pixel 4 this week. The report also suggests we’re likely to see a new 5G-enabled Pixel 4, although this won’t be available on store shelves until sometime next year, possibly around the time Google reveals its more affordable Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a XL models.
After years of silence, rumours around the Pixel Watch have started to ramp up over the last few months. This is also backed-up by a recent job listing that appeared for a Vice President of Hardware Engineering for Wearable, and a Wearables Design Manager at Google. Now, why would the company need those people on staff if it wasn’t planning a smartwatch?
Back in August, Dutch technology blog LetsGoDigital unearthed a patented design from Google that showed a smartwatch with a round face and a camera built-in.
The small lens was included in the centre of the watch face, exactly where the base of the hands would be fixed on a traditional analogue watch. It’s unclear exactly what Google thinks this camera would be used for – after all, who wants to hold a Google Hangouts call for hours on end with their wrist held up in front of their face?
Still, it could be useful for the occasional, stealthy selfie.
Other than that, little is known about the elusive Pixel Watch. It’s rumoured to have a circular face like the Galaxy Watch Active 2 and tote some new exclusive Wear OS features that you can’t find on rival wearables from other companies. Unfortunately, we just don’t really know what they are at the moment.
It does seem very likely that Google is working on multiple sizes for its smartwatch range, like the 40mm and 44mm options available for the Apple Watch. According to tipster Roland Quandt, these different sizes are codenamed “Triton”, “Ling” and “Sardine” inside the company. All of the models will be based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 platform.
Hopefully, we’ll finally get to clap eyes on the Pixel Watch at the Made By Google event this year. However, don’t get your hopes too high.
After all, we went through all of this last year. Ahead of the event, usually reliable leakster Evan Blass, better known as his Twitter handle @evleaks, posted a tweet claiming a Pixel Watch would finally be unveiled alongside the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL last year.
“Besides the Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, and second-gen Pixel Buds, a reliable source tells me — with high confidence — that Google’s fall hardware event will also introduce a Pixel-branded watch. Have a great summer!”
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. So, don’t sell your Rolex before the event on October 15 just in case, OK?