Last Wednesday, Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) finally announced its forthcoming Pixel Watch at its I/O conference, putting to bed months of speculation surrounding the launch of the tech giant's first-ever smartwatch.
With the Pixel Watch, Google will finally compete directly with Samsung and Apple (NASDAQ: APPL) for a share of the smartwatch space.
The tech giant already has a sizeable start when it comes to smartwatches. For instance, Samsung's Galaxy-branded smartwatches rely on Google's Wear OS, and last year it acquired Fitbit, whose products often lean into the category.
The Pixel Watch itself will be set in edgeless, circular domed glass, controlled with a "tactile" digital crown, feature bands that can be swapped out for easy customization, and will come in both cellular and standalone models.
On the software end, the Pixel Watch will run apps native to Google's Wear OS ecosystem, which it refreshed last year in collaboration with Samsung. But it will feature a few apps new to the platform, like Google Wallet and Google Home, and of course, Fitbit integration.
Rick Osterloh, Google's Senior VP of devices, described the Pixel Watch experience as being designed as "tappable, voice-enabled and glanceable," adding that the Fitbit essence is "imbued throughout."
Much like a Fitbit, the Pixel Watch can track heart rate, sleep cycles, and Active Zone minutes, while users can sync data from their pre-existing Fitbit accounts.
At the conference, Osterloh took pains to demo how users could access their Fitbit's data directly from the watch face.
Osterloh emphasized that Fitbit will retain full control over any data it collects due to a regulatory condition of Google's $2.1 billion buyout of the fitness brand last year. While deeply involved in the Pixel watches development, Fitbit still has plans to launch its own branded smartwatch Osterloh added.
Google saw its share of sales from non-ad categories, including hardware, rise last quarter from $6.67 to $8.16 billion, year over year. With the launch of its first ever smartwatch, Google is seemingly looking to expand those figures, with the watch's Fitbit integration no doubt adding to its initial appeal.
Google added scant other details about the Pixel Watch.
Its price point remains unknown, except that it will be "premium priced." Meanwhile, the company offered no specifics concerning chipsets or whether the Pixel Watch would incorporate special sensors, like EKG monitors, which would require separate regulatory approval.
Google said the watch would launch alongside the Pixel 7 sometime in the fall. However, the specific date remains an open question.
Last year Google launched the Pixel 6 on October 19. If that trend holds true, Google will likely launch the Pixel Watch sometime in September or October.