As of Sept. 9, the Apple Watch 8, Apple Watch Ultra, and upgraded Apple Watch SE are now available for pre-order on Amazon(opens in a new tab). The Apple Watch 8 and new SE(opens in a new tab) are also available for pre-order directly through Apple(opens in a new tab) with an official launch date of Sept. 16, while the Ultra will be launched on Apple’s website on Sept. 23.

If you pre-order the Apple Watch 8 or SE through Amazon, you’ll score the same launch date of Sept. 16 that you would ordering from Apple. It’s the same deal with the Ultra, but you’ll have to wait a bit longer (until Sept. 23) for the heftiest Apple Watch to become available. You’ll also get Amazon’s fast, reliable shipping, of course.

Some notable updates on the Apple Watch Series 8 are a body temperature sensor, crash detection, and fertility tracking (which may be concerning post-Roe). The SE and Series 8 both feature S8 chip, crash detection, and a low power-mode that pushes the battery life past 18 hours.

The Apple Watch Ultra is Apple’s foray into a rugged, outdoors-minded watch. It features the usual Apple Watch tech, plus a 49mm watch face, an extended 36 hour battery life, water depth and temperature sensors, an upgraded GPS, and more.

But Google’s announcement was only a preview, not a full launch. That means there are plenty of details that remain a mystery, such as the watch’s price, battery life and health sensors (to name a few). Google will likely reveal more details about the Pixel Watch closer to its fall 2022 release, but here’s what we know so far.

It will launch this fall alongside the Pixel 7

Google said that the Pixel Watch will formally launch this fall. Exact timing has yet to be determined, but Google typically holds its fall product launches in late September or October. The Pixel 6, for example, debuted at an Oct. 19 event, while Google held a press conference on Sept. 30 to introduce the Pixel 5 in 2020.

The Pixel Watch has a round design with customizable bands

If there’s one thing Google was willing to share, it’s what the Pixel Watch looks like. True to the leaks, Google’s first smartwatch has a circular face with a domed design and glass that looks like it curves over the edges. The watch is made of recycled stainless steel and there’s a tactile crown that looks similar to the Apple Watch’s. Customizable straps will be available, too.

Based on what we’ve seen so far, the Pixel Watch has a striking look that seems fit to rival the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and other high-end smartwatches.

Google’s Wear OS software and apps will power the watch

Unsurprisingly, Google’s new smartwatch will run on its Wear OS platform. Google didn’t say much about the watch’s software features other than calling it “fluid” and “easy to navigate.” Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior vice president of devices and services, described the operating system as being “tappable, voice-enabled and glanceable.” The company briefly demonstrated how apps like Google Maps, Wallet, Home and the Google Assistant will appear on the watch during its presentation.

It will integrate with Fitbit, but won’t replace it

Fitbit’s products aren’t going anywhere, but you can expect to see some familiar Fitbit features arrive on Google’s watch. These include continuous heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and Active Zone Minutes, which measures the amount of time you spend in specific heart rate zones during exercise. Google also showed how you’ll be able to see Fitbit health statistics like heart rate and steps directly from the watch face.

What we don’t know, however, is which specific health tracking sensors will be in the Pixel Watch. But what seems clear is that the Pixel Watch will inherit more Fitbit functionality in the future. “This is not a one and done,” James Park, Fitbit’s co-founder who currently leads Google’s wearables division, said to CNET’s Scott Stein. “We’re going to continue improving the software over time.

It will be compatible with Android devices only

Since the Pixel Watch is meant to complement Google’s Pixel devices, it will not be iPhone-compatible, according to a Google spokesperson. That’s likely part of the reason the Pixel Watch won’t replace Fitbit’s products, considering Fitbit’s watches and trackers work with both iOS and Android.

There will be a cellular option

Google will offer a 4G LTE option of the Pixel Watch, which will enable it to maintain a cellular connection when a phone isn’t nearby. Fitbit’s smartwatches don’t come in a cellular-enabled option, so that’s one way Google could distinguish the two product lines from one another.

It will have premium pricing

Google hasn’t said how much the Pixel Watch will cost yet. But in a press briefing, Osterloh said it would be priced as a premium product. It’s unclear what that means, but it looks like it could be competitive with the Apple Watch Series 7 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. Apple’s high-end watch starts at $400, while Samsung’s usually begins at $250.

There’s still a lot we don’t know about the Pixel Watch, but we’re expecting to learn more in the coming months.

The watch has a domed circular design, runs on Google’s Wear OS smartwatch software and includes some Fitbit health-tracking features. Google didn’t announce a price but said it will be sold as a premium product.

The Pixel Watch represents Google’s first major step into the smartwatch market, which saw shipments grow by 24% in 2021, according to Counterpoint Research. Google is a newcomer to this market. Rivals like Apple and Samsung lead the market and have been selling smartwatches for years. The company sees its new smartwatch as crucial to building its Pixel brand into a full ecosystem of products similar to those offered by Apple and Samsung, spanning phones, tablets, wireless earbuds and smartwatches.

The announcement comes more than a year after Google’s acquisition of Fitbit closed in January 2021. While the Fitbit team is driving the development of the Pixel Watch, Google isn’t planning to merge the two product lines, according to Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior vice president of devices and services.

The Pixel Watch and Fitbit’s lineup of devices will instead complement one another, says James Park, Fitbit’s founder who now leads Google’s wearables division. Those who care about having more traditional smartwatch features like LTE support in addition to health tracking would likely opt for the Pixel Watch, while the Fitbit Charge would be ideal for consumers who care more about fitness and battery life.

“The great thing about combining Pixel and Fitbit is that we’re able to collectively offer these different devices,” Park said in an exclusive interview with CNET’s Scott Stein ahead of Google I/O. “People can pick and choose what’s best for them.”

Familiar Fitbit features like Active Zone Minutes, which measures the amount of time spent in certain heart rate ranges during exercise, will be available on the Pixel Watch. Like many of today’s smartwatches, the Pixel Watch will also track sleep and heart rate.

The company expects to add more Fitbit functionality in the future. “Over time, the Pixel Watch will have the most advanced health sensors,” Park said. “And we’ll be selective on how all those features come across the entire portfolio.”

Unlike the Pixel Watch, which will be Android-only, Fitbit’s products are compatible with iPhones too. Park said the company doesn’t have any plans to discontinue support for iOS users on Fitbit products. “It’s really important for the Fitbit lineup,” he said.

Popular Google apps like Maps, Wallet and Google Assistant will be part of the Pixel Watch, along with refreshed software that should feel “fluid” and “easy to navigate,” according to the company. The watch also has customizable bands and a tactile crown similar to the one found on the Apple Watch.

For Google, launching a new hardware product like the Pixel Watch isn’t necessarily about selling the most units, according to Tuong Nguyen, a senior principal analyst at market research firm Gartner. It’s about keeping people using Google’s apps and services, giving them a more prominent role in our lives. It’s a strategy that’s worked well for Apple.

“The hardware is like a delivery mechanism,” said Nguyen. “And we should, at least maybe in the short to medium term, focus more on what it can do.”

The company didn’t announce pricing, availability, feature details, battery life or other hardware specifics like the watch’s processor, health sensors or display type. These questions will likely be answered in the fall closer to the watch’s release.

Google already holds some influence over the smartwatch market thanks to its ownership of Fitbit and to its Wear OS software platform, which powers watches from Fossil and Samsung, among others. Google will be both a partner and competitor to these smartwatch makers once the Pixel Watch debuts. By launching its first smartwatch, Google will also have an opportunity to showcase what the ideal Android watch experience should be like, just as its Pixel phones do for Android smartphones.

The company is best known for its ubiquitous search engine and digital services, but it’s made a bigger push into hardware in recent years. The Pixel Watch will join Google’s current lineup of phones, smart home gadgets like thermostats and connected speakers, the Pixelbook Go laptop and Chromecast streaming devices. It’s also just one of several new hardware products in Google’s pipeline. The company announced on Wednesday the Pixel 6A and Pixel Buds Pro, both of which will be launching in July. It also previewed the Pixel 7, which will arrive in the fall, and a new Pixel tablet coming in 2023.

While not confirmed until Google officially announces the Pixel Watch, the leaked images line up with previous reports, including rumors about the minimalist design, the crown and the potential hidden button. CNET’s been following the rumors surrounding the smartwatch, compiling a full list of clues you can find here.

The images were reportedly taken and leaked under somewhat strange circumstances: Someone allegedly found the smartwatch at a restaurant in the US. The finder, who asked to remain anonymous, didn’t share the location with Android Central.

The person who is allegedly in possession of the watch posted more details to an Ask Me Anything (AMA) post on Reddit under the username u/tagtech414. After posting a photo to confirm they indeed have the watch, the details began to unfold: A co-worker found the watch at the restaurant where they work and kept it “a few weeks” in case the owners came to pick up the watch. After a few weeks with no one claiming the watch, u/tagtech414 took it to investigate.

Here’s what u/tagtech414 posted about the watch:

• The source wasn’t able to see the user interface but did see a white Google logo appear when attempting to turn it on.
• A physical crown sits between two buttons on the side.
• The bezel is actually quite large.
• The watch face is about 1.5 inches in diameter and half an inch thick.
• The watch’s band is a proprietary Google band, looking similar to the bendable Apple Watch Sport bands.
• The watch comes in a rumored black color.
• The bottom seems to be coated in glass like the Apple Watch.

The source didn’t find a charger and the battery is now dead, so we won’t have any more details on what the watch can do until the release, which could be announced or at least teased during Google I/O in May. A previous report from Insider stated the device may debut in the spring, but that’s subject to change based on how internal testing goes.

While we still don’t know when it will be launched, how much it will cost or the regions in which Google plans to release the watch, it’s likely the watch will come this spring or fall and will run on the new Wear OS software.

Google didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Only Google knows what’s in store for its annual conference. But the company typically uses its opening keynote as an opportunity to preview developments across its major products. That usually includes platforms like Android and Wear OS, and apps such as Google Photos, Maps and Search.

The Pixel Watch might arrive

There’s a chance Google could finally introduce its first consumer smartwatch. Google hasn’t said a word about plans to release a watch of its own, but it might be the company’s worst-kept secret. Reports from Insider, tech YouTube personality Jon Prosser, and recent leaks claiming to show photos of the watch indicate a Pixel Watch is indeed coming.

Google I/O seems like an ideal time to make such an announcement. However, it’s possible we might not get the full story at I/O. Prosser suggests Google will tease the watch at its conference rather than reveal all the details. Instead, the company might launch the Pixel Watch in the fall alongside the Pixel 7, Prosser says.

Google made a similar move with the Pixel 6 last year. It announced certain tidbits about the phone in August but saved the full reveal for its October release.

So what do we know about the Pixel Watch so far? Everything but also nothing, it seems. Reddit user “tagtech414” leaked photos to Android Central and on Reddit that claim to show the watch itself. Both sets of images are consistent with previous rumors and renderings indicating it will have a round design.

We also expect Fitbit to be incorporated into the Pixel Watch in some way, although we won’t know for sure until the watch becomes official. Fitbit also previously said it’s working on a high-end Wear OS watch of its own, but it’s unclear whether this Fitbit watch and the Pixel Watch would be the same device. Pricing is another mystery.

Wear OS updates

Google will also likely have general updates to share on Wear OS, the software it provides for smartwatches made by Fossil, Samsung and other companies. Google announced a new version of Wear OS during last year’s I/O that brings better integration with the company’s apps and smoother performance among other improvements. It developed the software in collaboration with Samsung, the world’s second-largest smartwatch maker in terms of market share, according to Counterpoint Research.

But so far, we’ve only seen the software on Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4, which still relies heavily on Samsung’s own apps and services. It doesn’t feel very Google-like, so it’s hard to tell how much of a difference the refreshed software makes. Google Assistant is coming to the Watch 4 in a future update, although a firm date hasn’t been announced.

Wear OS is also expected to come to Fossil wearables and Mobvoi’s TicWatch devices in mid-2022. Fossil tweeted in March that the update would arrive to eligible watches in the mid to second half of the year, but we have yet to hear more specifics. A Google spokesperson said the company is working to bring Wear OS 3 to more devices this year, but has nothing to share about its partner roadmap at this time. Now that we’re approaching the middle of the year, hopefully we’ll learn more about timing and availability at I/O.

It’s possible that Google could announce the Wear OS Fitbit watch we’ve been hearing about, but Fitbit product announcements usually happen closer to the fall. Google could also unveil new features and other refinements to Wear OS now that it’s been almost a full year since the software’s reveal.

Google’s plans for Fitbit

Perhaps the biggest question is whether we’ll learn more about how Google intends to fold Fitbit into its Wear OS platform. Fitbit plans to release a version of its app for Wear OS, as my colleague Scott Stein reported last year, although the timing is unclear. A Google spokesperson said it’s working to bring the Fitbit experience to Wear OS this year and will share more details closer to the launch.

It’s been more than a year since Google’s acquisition of Fitbit closed; it’s possible we could hear more about how the two brands plan to work together. There’s already some evidence of this in certain Google products. For example, the second-generation Nest Hub’s sleep tracking features will require a Fitbit Premium subscription in 2023. But Google and Fitbit still offer two distinctly different experiences, so it’ll be interesting to see how they eventually unite.

Google has made a name for itself in smartphones and laptops thanks to its Pixel brand, but it has yet to branch out into smartwatches. While advertising remains the biggest part of Google’s business, the company has made a push to compete with Apple and Samsung as a leading maker of consumer tech gadgets in recent years. It even opened its first brick-and-mortar retail store last year.

Acquiring Fitbit was a big step in expanding Google’s footprint in the wearables market, but Apple and Samsung still lead the industry. Apple accounted for 30.1% of the global smartwatch market in 2021, according to Counterpoint Research, while Samsung came in second with 10.2%. Depending on what Google announces at I/O, we could learn more about how the company hopes to change that.

I’m also hoping to see Samsung commit more fully to Google’s software and services. The Galaxy Watch 4 currently feels caught between Google and Samsung’s ecosystems, as my colleague Scott Stein wrote in his review.

Samsung hasn’t said a word about plans for its next smartwatch, although the company typically debuts new wearables in August. Details about Samsung’s collaboration with Google on Wear OS did come at last year’s Google I/O conference, so it’s possible that some software details might arrive at this year’s Google I/O on May 11. There haven’t been many rumors about the next Galaxy Watch yet. But here’s our best guess at what Samsung might be planning, based on leaks and the company’s previous launches.

A possible August announcement

Only Samsung knows when the next Galaxy Watch will arrive. But the company has a history of launching new wearables in August alongside other new products. For example, the Galaxy Watch 4 debuted in August last year, while the Galaxy Watch 3 arrived in August 2020. Samsung has already launched a passel of new gadgets in 2022, from the Galaxy S22 lineup to the cheaper Galaxy S21 FE, new laptops and tablets. The one thing we haven’t heard about yet is smartwatches, so there’s a chance Samsung could be saving this for its typical August Unpacked event.

A larger battery than the Galaxy Watch 4

One of the Galaxy Watch 4’s drawbacks is its relatively short battery life, which typically lasts for between one and two days. There’s a chance that might change with the Galaxy Watch 5. Tech blog Sam Mobile claims it’s found a regulatory filing indicating that the 40-millimeter size of the Galaxy Watch 5 will have a slightly higher battery capacity than the Galaxy Watch 4. Samsung declined to comment on the report.

Longer battery life would make the Galaxy Watch 5 a more capable sleep tracker, since you might not have to charge it every night. It would also help Samsung catch up to Fitbit in that regard, since its Sense and Versa 3 watches can last for multiple days on a single charge. Battery life was one of the Galaxy Watch 4’s biggest shortcomings during CNET’s testing, so an improvement would be a welcome change.

It might be able to measure your temperature

The Galaxy Watch 4 can already monitor metrics like your body composition, blood oxygen levels and heart rate. Samsung might further its health ambitions by adding the ability to measure body temperature to the Galaxy Watch 5, according to Korean news outlet ETNews. The report doesn’t provide much detail, other than to say that Samsung has “devised a technology that can measure body temperature as accurately as possible.” Samsung declined to comment on ETNews’ report.

But TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is well-known for his Apple product predictions, has cast doubt on this development. He suggested “algorithm limitations” could hold Samsung back from bringing this feature to the Galaxy Watch 5.

(3/3)
Samsung is facing this challenge as well. Unlike previous media reports, I think Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 in 2H22 might not support the body temperature measurement due to algorithm limitations.

— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) May 1, 2022

Temperature sensing isn’t new to wearables. Oura’s wellness ring of the same name can measure temperature from your finger to help detect changes that might be happening in your body. Fitbit devices like the Sense and Versa 3 can also detect temperature.

If Samsung does add temperature sensing to its next smartwatch, it would be another sign that wearables have become comprehensive health and wellness devices. Metrics like blood oxygen saturation measurements are now relatively common on wearables from Apple, Fitbit, Samsung and Garmin.

Samsung might ditch the Classic model

The Galaxy Watch 4 comes in standard and Classic versions, but that could change with the Galaxy Watch 5. Instead, Samsung will launch the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, according to Sam Mobile. The regular Galaxy Watch 5 will reportedly come in two sizes, while the Pro version might be limited to one size. It’s also unclear whether Samsung would bring the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic’s rotating bezel to the Galaxy Watch 5 or 5 Pro, the report says.  While the blog didn’t share additional details on what to expect from the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro specifically, it’s possible the new branding could indicate a significant update that’s more than just a refresh.

It’ll likely run Wear OS

Samsung hasn’t announced any details about its next smartwatch yet. But since the Galaxy Watch 4 runs on Wear OS, it seems plausible that its successor will too. Google and Samsung collaborated to develop the new Wear OS, which means Samsung is likely committed to using that software for its future smartwatches. Sam Mobile’s report also says the watch will have a new version of One UI, Samsung’s customized version of Google’s software for watches.

Samsung was the first to launch a smartwatch that runs on Google’s new Wear OS. But the landscape will get more competitive soon with the new Wear OS expected to arrive on watches from other companies such as TicWatch, Fossil and Google’s Fitbit brand. We’re expecting to learn more about what’s next for Wear OS during Google I/O.

What we want from the Galaxy Watch 5

Longer battery life and new health-tracking features are always appreciated. But what we really want from the Galaxy Watch 5 is software that makes it feel more wholly part of Google’s ecosystem. The Galaxy Watch 4 feels torn between Google and Samsung. Yes, it has the Google Play app store and other Google apps. But the setup process and health tracking still largely rely on Samsung’s apps.

The company is addressing that to some extent by bringing Google Assistant to its watch. But we’re hoping to see closer Google integration in the next version that will truly make the Galaxy Watch 5 feel like the ultimate Android smartwatch.

For more, check out all the rumors we’ve heard about the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 4. Plus, the best smartwatches you can buy this year.

Only Google knows what’s in store for its annual conference. But the company typically uses its opening keynote as an opportunity to preview developments across its major products. That usually includes platforms like Android and Wear OS, and apps such as Google Photos, Maps and Search.

Here’s what we’re expecting to see from Google as it relates to smartwatches and wearable technology at I/O 2022.

The Pixel Watch might arrive

There’s a chance Google could finally introduce its first consumer smartwatch. Google hasn’t said a word about plans to release a watch of its own, but it might be the company’s worst-kept secret. Reports from Insider, tech YouTube personality Jon Prosser, and recent leaks claiming to show photos of the watch indicate a Pixel Watch is indeed coming.

Google I/O seems like an ideal time to make such an announcement. However, it’s possible we might not get the full story at I/O. Prosser suggests Google will tease the watch at its conference rather than reveal all the details. Instead, the company might launch the Pixel Watch in the fall alongside the Pixel 7, Prosser says.

Google made a similar move with the Pixel 6 last year. It announced certain tidbits about the phone in August but saved the full reveal for its October release.

So what do we know about the Pixel Watch so far? Everything but also nothing, it seems. Reddit user “tagtech414” leaked photos to Android Central and on Reddit that claim to show the watch itself. Both sets of images are consistent with previous rumors and renderings indicating it will have a round design.

We also expect Fitbit to be incorporated into the Pixel Watch in some way, although we won’t know for sure until the watch becomes official. Fitbit also previously said it’s working on a high-end Wear OS watch of its own, but it’s unclear whether this Fitbit watch and the Pixel Watch would be the same device. Pricing is another mystery.

Wear OS updates

Google will also likely have general updates to share on Wear OS, the software it provides for smartwatches made by Fossil, Samsung and other companies. Google announced a new version of Wear OS during last year’s I/O that brings better integration with the company’s apps and smoother performance among other improvements. It developed the software in collaboration with Samsung, the world’s second-largest smartwatch maker in terms of market share, according to Counterpoint Research.

But so far, we’ve only seen the software on Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4, which still relies heavily on Samsung’s own apps and services. It doesn’t feel very Google-like, so it’s hard to tell how much of a difference the refreshed software makes. Google Assistant is coming to the Watch 4 in a future update, although a firm date hasn’t been announced.

Wear OS is also expected to come to Fossil wearables and Mobvoi’s TicWatch devices in mid-2022. Fossil tweeted in March that the update would arrive to eligible watches in the mid to second half of the year, but we have yet to hear more specifics. A Google spokesperson said the company is working to bring Wear OS 3 to more devices this year, but has nothing to share about its partner roadmap at this time. Now that we’re approaching the middle of the year, hopefully we’ll learn more about timing and availability at I/O.

It’s possible that Google could announce the Wear OS Fitbit watch we’ve been hearing about, but Fitbit product announcements usually happen closer to the fall. Google could also unveil new features and other refinements to Wear OS now that it’s been almost a full year since the software’s reveal.

Google’s plans for Fitbit

Perhaps the biggest question is whether we’ll learn more about how Google intends to fold Fitbit into its Wear OS platform. Fitbit plans to release a version of its app for Wear OS, as my colleague Scott Stein reported last year, although the timing is unclear. A Google spokesperson said it’s working to bring the Fitbit experience to Wear OS this year and will share more details closer to the launch.

It’s been more than a year since Google’s acquisition of Fitbit closed; it’s possible we could hear more about how the two brands plan to work together. There’s already some evidence of this in certain Google products. For example, the second-generation Nest Hub’s sleep tracking features will require a Fitbit Premium subscription in 2023. But Google and Fitbit still offer two distinctly different experiences, so it’ll be interesting to see how they eventually unite.

Google has made a name for itself in smartphones and laptops thanks to its Pixel brand, but it has yet to branch out into smartwatches. While advertising remains the biggest part of Google’s business, the company has made a push to compete with Apple and Samsung as a leading maker of consumer tech gadgets in recent years. It even opened its first brick-and-mortar retail store last year.

Acquiring Fitbit was a big step in expanding Google’s footprint in the wearables market, but Apple and Samsung still lead the industry. Apple accounted for 30.1% of the global smartwatch market in 2021, according to Counterpoint Research, while Samsung came in second with 10.2%. Depending on what Google announces at I/O, we could learn more about how the company hopes to change that.