Google Pixel Watch Brings Fitbit Features to Wear OS

Google unveiled its new Pixel Watch today alongside the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. The Pixel Watch is the first Pixel-branded Wear OS device from Google, and it stands out by integrating Fitbit features.

The design of the Pixel Watch is quite elegant with a circular screen wrapped in a stainless steel body. On the right, a tactile crown lets users control scrolling, access shortcuts, as well as the app tray. There’s also a side button right above the crown to access recently used apps.

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The Pixel Watch is available in three finishes, and Google will offer 20 different classic and modern band choices. Wear OS 3.5 on the Pixel Watch also offers 19 customizable watch faces, and the Pixel Watch can even use your favorite photos from Google Photos as your watch face. Google promises up to 24 hours of battery life on the Pixel Watch, which is better than the 18 hours on the Apple Watch Series 8.

Wear OS on the Pixel Watch can do a lot including controlling smart home devices, playing music (there’s 32GB of storage to download songs from YouTube Music and other apps), setting timers, using Google Wallet for contactless payments and transit, and providing turn-by-turn directions from Google Maps. Fall detection is also coming in 2023, Google said today.

Google emphasized today how the Pixel Watch integrates new Fitbit technologies including the company’s most accurate heart rate tracker to date. “The Fitbit experience is completely redesigned for Google Pixel Watch, with 40 exercise modes available to track your favorite workouts and all-day activities including steps, distance with built-in GPS and Active Zone Minutes, to help you push for that extra rep during workouts,” explained Sandeep Waraich, Director of Product Management, Google Pixel Watch

The Pixel Watch also comes with an ECG app and a Fitbit sleep-tracking experience. The new watch also comes with 6 months of Fitbit Premium, which provides access to more than 1,000 workouts, personalized wellness reports, and more.

The Pixel Watch can seamlessly sync with Pixel phones and Pixel Buds thanks to Google’s Fast Pair technology. However, it will work with all phones running Android 8.0 or newer. The WiFi model is priced at $349 and the LTE version costs $399. Both models are available to pre-order today, and they will start shipping on October 13. The list of nine launch markets includes the US, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, Japan, Australia, and Taiwan.

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