‘Google Pixel Watch 2 will get ultrawideband support and Samsung display’
The Google Pixel Watch 2 may receive support for ultrawideband, a more efficient SoC than its predecessor and a display from Samsung. Android Authority writes this based on conversations with a source within Google.
Android Authority does not know exactly what the ultrawideband technology of the Google Pixel Watch 2 will be used for. The source only reported that the watch contains an NXP SR100T UWB chip. This uses radio technology and enables very accurate location determination, which should probably make it possible to find the smartwatch as part of Google’s Find My Device network.
Uwb can also be used as a digital car key to unlock the doors of a compatible car and start the vehicle. This is currently possible for a number of smartphones using NFC, but the phone must be held close to the NFC point of the car, which is not necessary with uwb. So far, only certain BMW cars can be unlocked using uwb. For the time being, only the Samsung Galaxy 23+ and Google Pixel 7 Pro support this UWB function, but the Google Pixel Watch 2 may be the first smartwatch to join the list.
Furthermore, Android Authority reports that the Exynos 9110 SoC of the first Google Pixel Watch will be replaced by the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1. An earlier rumor also mentioned that chip, but it was not yet clear whether it was a W5 or W5+ . According to the source of the site, this became the former. The W5+ has the addition that it comes with a QCC5100 co-processor, but Google would like to use a custom co-processor based on an NXP chip instead, according to Android Authority.
Compared to the Exynos SoC, Qualcomm’s chip should be more energy efficient, which should make the watch last longer. In addition, the watch would have energy-saving Deep Sleep and Hibernation functions to extend the battery life. Furthermore, the Pixel Watch 2 reportedly comes with a 306mAh battery, which is only slightly larger than the 294mAh battery of its predecessor.
The first Google Pixel Watch
In addition, the site reports that the OLED screen will have a 1.2″ screen with a 384×384 resolution, just like the first Pixel Watch, but that the new version does contain a different display, one from Samsung instead of BOE. What changes exactly? is still unclear. Finally, the watch would be supplied with WearOS 4, which, according to Android Authority, should make it possible to update the operating system in the background while the old version is still usable.
Google would like to release the Pixel Watch 2 in the fall. That should happen at the same time as the Pixel 8 phones. Google typically announces new hardware around early October, with a release later in the fall.