Pixel Watch could cost less than an Apple Watch but more than a Galaxy Watch 5
Expensive entry for Google’s watch
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It’s looking more and more likely that theGoogle Pixel Watchmay fall short of its premium-pricing expectations.
We were shown the GooglePixel WatchatGoogle I/Oearlier this year, but the event left us surprisingly light on details. Rumors consistently hinted that this would be a premium device, and now a pricing leak confirms that Google’s new watch won’t be cheap, but it won’t be the most expensive wearable, either. Our friends at9to5Googlesay that a source gives the watch a $399 price tag when you add a cellular connection. From there, we can extrapolate further pricing and details.
The newSamsung Galaxy Watch 5is also available with LTE networking, and that watch costs $329 / £319 / AU$599 for the smaller version or $359 / £339 / AU$649 for a larger model with a larger screen and battery. If Google is launching one size, it is probably comparable to the larger Galaxy Watch 5 or theWatch 5 Pro, so we can assume Google’s Pixel Watch will cost $40 more.
We’d guess a likely starting price for Google’s Pixel Watch would be $349.Samsung’s watch starts at $309 / £289 / AU$549 for the larger size. This would put Google squarely between Samsung andApple.
Analysis: How will it be so pricey?
TheApple Watchhas always sold at a premium, and the currentApple Watch 7starts at $399 / £369 / AU$599, with options for premium materials and watch bands shooting that price into the stratosphere. It is interesting that the Pixel Watch, which Google has already shown in photos, also shares the crown dial feature of the Apple Watch. Google seems to be using design as a hook into the premium segment of the market.
We know that the new Google watch will useFitbitfeatures, which makes sense since Googleacquired the companyearly last year. The Google Pixel Watch will only work with Android, though, of course, not only with Pixel phones.
We still don’t know if the watch will include new skin thermometer sensing, as featured in the upcomingFitbit Sense 2andpossibly the nextApple Watch 8. Samsunghas a sensorfor the feature in the Galaxy Watch 5 but it is inexplicably not yet active.
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We’re expecting the Google Pixel Watch to finally make its debut this fall alongside the newPixel 7, which was also announced at Google I/O. We don’t have specific timing yet, but rumors point toan event in late Septemberor October. You can read everything we know about theGoogle Pixel 7on our hub page.
Phil Berne is a preeminent voice in consumer electronics reviews, starting more than 20 years ago at eTown.com. Phil has written for Engadget, The Verge, PC Mag, Digital Trends, Slashgear, TechRadar, AndroidCentral, and was Editor-in-Chief of the sadly-defunct infoSync. Phil holds an entirely useful M.A. in Cultural Theory from Carnegie Mellon University. He sang in numerous college a cappella groups.
Phil did a stint at Samsung Mobile, leading reviews for the PR team and writing crisis communications until he left in 2017. He worked at an Apple Store near Boston, MA, at the height of iPod popularity. Phil is certified in Google AI Essentials. He has a High School English teaching license (and years of teaching experience) and is a Red Cross certified Lifeguard. His passion is the democratizing power of mobile technology. Before AI came along he was totally sure the next big thing would be something we wear on our faces.
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