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Google just dropped the Pixel Watch 2 alongside the pair of Pixel smartphones. The second-generation smartwatch even sticks with the striking circular design, which is good news for everyone.
It’s not all the same, though, as the design is more durable with a new glass finish, improved health features, and the introduction of stress management. Similar to the strategy with the Apple Watch, all bands that work with the original Pixel Watch work just fine with the Pixel Watch 2.
The Pixel Watch 2 improves in the right areas and is an even better smartwatch for Android users. We’re sharing everything you need to know and how to preorder the new second-generation Pixel Watch.
Pixel Watch 2: Pricing, release date, and preorders
Like the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, the Pixel Watch 2 will begin shipping on October 12, 2023. If you’re eager to upgrade from your current Pixel watch or get your first smartwatch made by Google, you can lock in a preorder right now.
The Pixel Watch 2 starts at $349 for the Wi-Fi-only edition and is $399 for one with cellular connectivity. That’s the same pricing as the original, first-gen, as well. Unlike the Pixel phones, there is no price increase year over year.
- Pixel Watch 2 with Wi-Fi, $349 at Amazon or BestBuy
- Pixel Watch 2 with Wi-Fi and LTE, $399 at Amazon or BestBuy
Pixel Watch 2: What you need to know
Google got much of the design right with the first-generation Pixel Watch, and that’s evident as the team didn’t change much of the look with the second generation. Pixel Watch 2 is still a modern, circular smartwatch with only one size: 41-millimeter. It comes in a black, silver, or gold aluminum case with a standard band out of the box.
It’s still thin at just 12.3 millimeters in height, and friends or family might even do a double take as it looks like an actual watch. There is still a rotating crown on the right side of the Pixel Watch.
On the rear is a new sensor stack responsible for heart rate and other key metrics. It’s a new multi-path heart rate sensor designed by the Fitbit team at Google, and it’s poised to deliver the most accurate heart-rate tracking. We’ll need to put that claim to the test, but another exciting health development is a new stress management feature. The Pixel Watch 2 is more like a FitBit than ever before, and the smartwatch will be able to detect stress and help manage it in some ways.
Related: Google's Pixel 8 and 8 Pro just dropped with a refined design and major camera chops
These two improvements are still paired with automatic workout detection, so if you start running and don’t want to start one manually, the Pixel Watch 2 can record it. A custom processor made by Qualcomm still powers it, and Google has optimized AI experiences. Core Google-made applications like Maps, Wallet, and Messages are also enhanced for the Pixel Watch.
Google is still promising all-day battery life, up to 24 hours, and via the included charging cable, you can get back to 100% from 0% in just 75-minutes. That’s pretty fast, and if you’re really in a bind, just 30 minutes of charge time leaves you with 50% from 0%.
The Pixel Watch 2 sticks with a terrific design but mixes things up with better performance and exciting health features that could prove very fruitful. We’re eager to go hands-on and will circle back closer to the release date with our full thoughts.
- Pixel Watch 2 with Wi-Fi, $349 at Amazon or BestBuy
- Pixel Watch 2 with Wi-Fi and LTE, $399 at Amazon or BestBuy
