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The Google Pixel Watch 4 may be the best smartwatch for Android users right now, but a Pixel Watch 5 is due for release later this year, and it could be a doozy of an update.
We're still a bunch of months out from a possible announcement, but based on all the leaks, rumors, and insider reports so far, here's what I think we know about the Google Pixel Watch 5, including potential feature and tech upgrades, design changes, and AI advancements.
Google Pixel Watch 5: Price and release date predictions
Google tends to make smartwatch product announcements annually in August, and I suspect that this year will be more of the same. Last year, the Pixel Watch 4 debuted alongside the Pixel 10 smartphone series on August 20th, with units shipping later in October.
Article continues belowNo word yet on a scheduled Made by Google summer launch event, but we'll update this story as soon as one gets announced. Either way, there's a high likelihood that the Pixel Watch 5 will be announced alongside the Google Pixel 11 smartphone series. In terms of price, I'm hoping the Pixel Watch 5 maintains its $349 starting price for the smaller, non-cellular model.
Google Pixel Watch 5: Possible new features
An insider report, first covered by Android Authority, suggests that Google is moving away from Qualcomm chips for the next-gen Pixel Watch 5, in favor of an in-house-built Google Tensor chip. There are also rumors of a new multicore processor. Combined, these two potential upgrades will likely result in support for even more advanced on-device AI features.
The Pixel Watch 4 is already my favorite smartwatch for AI features, thanks to Google's Gemini AI assistant, which can be called upon using the brand's excellent Raise to Talk gesture control.
Increased processing power and efficiency could also mean new health tracking tools within the Fitbit app. More specifically, according to a patent filed by Google and first spotted by Gadgetsandwearables, advanced heart health tracking tools, including arterial stiffness monitoring, and potentially even blood pressure monitoring, could make an appearance in the Pixel Watch 5.
When it comes to the latter, the question is, will this potentially groundbreaking tool require calibration via an old-school blood pressure cuff prior to use, like the best Samsung Galaxy Watches, or will it be a standalone tool?
Alternatively, perhaps blood pressure monitoring will act more like Apple's Hypertension Alerts, and instead of providing readings, it will be designed to simply alert you if/when signs of high blood pressure are observed.
Meanwhile, arterial stiffness monitoring could provide important insights into how well a user's cardiovascular system is functioning. In short, increased stiffness is a known indicator of cardiovascular dysfunction and a potential sign of chronic issues later in life.
Google Pixel Watch 5: Design and display rumors
At this point, rumors about the design of the Pixel Watch 5 are limited. However, it seems highly likely that Google will stick with the same circular design as its predecessor, with two sizes, 41mm and 45mm, available.
One upgrade I'd love to see is a move away from Gorilla Glass in favor of sapphire crystal glass for increased scratch and shatter resistance.
Google has steadily increased the maximum brightness of the past several generations of Pixel Watch by 1,000 nits at a time. The current Pixel Watch 4 maxes out at an impressive 3,000 nits, the same as the Galaxy Watch 8 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. However, if the tradition continues, we might see that spec increased to an eyeball-melting 4,000 nits.
Finally, similar to the Pixel Watch 4, there's a decent probability that Google will slim down the bezel even further on the Pixel Watch 5, leading to an ever-so-slight increase in screen real estate.
Google Pixel Watch 5: Outlook
As of right now, it seems likely that the Google Pixel Watch 5 will look and cost about the same as the Pixel Watch 4. However, under the hood, major upgrades, from increased processing power, new AI tools, more advanced heart health-tracking tech, and better power efficiency, all could be on offer.
What possible new features or specs are you hoping for most when the Pixel Watch 5 debuts? Let me know in the comments below.
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