Google has found its equivalent to the Apple Watch. The Pixel Watch 4, which we expect later this year, is already making its way through the rumor mill. Google has allegedly made some nice tweaks to it. However, most of the changes are minimal. They remind me of how Apple updates the Apple Watch every year, but only slightly. Most years it’s not worth updating the watch unless it’s outdated. But moving the Pixel Watch to more proper wireless charging would be a welcome innovation.
According to 91mobiles and OnLeaks, two rumor mongers who have been in the know about these things before, the charging pins are gone. Yes, the pins that used to help speed up Pixel Watch battery charging seem to be preparing for an update that is not proprietary to the company. Currently, the Pixel Watch 2/3 charges using the magnetic mount, which is very annoying when your watch is almost out of power and the charger is left at home. It’s also frustrating trying to find a good three-in-one accessory to charge your Pixel devices. ZDNet liked this off-brand accessory and Amazon has a popular one, but they both only work with the last two generations of Pixel Watch. Ditching the pins means that hopefully Google will opt for standard Qi-charging to make it easier to charge with what’s available. However, even the elimination of pins does not guarantee this. For example, the Apple Watch Series 10 does not have pins, but it is still a proprietary charging standard.
The Verge suggests that the pins were abandoned because WearOS will be more energy efficient and won’t require additional metal for fast charging. I’ve been enjoying the battery life of my larger Pixel Watch 3, so I haven’t given it much thought. Regardless, we won’t know anything until we see the Pixel Watch 4. For now, all we have are these rumors, which include the allegedly thicker 14.3mm body of the regular Pixel Watch 4 compared to the 12.3mm of the Pixel Watch 3. This could be due to a larger battery or additional components added inside – perhaps it will get a depth sensor like the Apple Watch Series 10. There are also rumors that these are additional buttons on the other side of the Pixel Watch 4, where the speaker is usually located, making it four input buttons if you count the button dial. Perhaps this is why the watch has become bulkier?
Again, while nothing is confirmed here, these are all minor additions to the features compared to past generations. From what I can see, it’s going to be hard to justify upgrading to the Pixel Watch unless you need what these two new buttons are supposed to do. Next month we hope to learn more about what’s coming to WearOS at Google I/O.
