The Pixel Watch exceeded expectations — now it must be pretty much as good as Samsung

After I reviewed the Pixel Watch final yr, skeptics saved asking me the identical questions over and over: Do you suppose Google’s really going to maintain this factor going? Do you suppose it’s going to ax the Pixel Watch if it doesn’t promote?

These are truthful inquiries to ask. Regardless of being among the many first to the wearable scene in 2014, it let Android Put on after which Put on OS languish for years. Plus, Google’s graveyard of deserted tasks is notoriously huge. Whereas I used to be fairly assured we’d see a Pixel Watch 2, I didn’t suppose the Pixel Watch — a better-than-expected debut with some very first-gen flaws — would succeed to the diploma it did. Throughout This fall 2022 (aka the vacation season), Google leapfrogged Samsung to turn out to be the No. 2 bestselling wearable maker behind Apple, transport 880,000 models.

However the query stays. Can Google maintain the momentum going?

Now could be one of the best time to show that it could possibly. Apple and Samsung have already launched their 2023 flagship smartwatches — and whereas all are wonderful, they’re the definition of iterative. Each corporations are long-term gamers on this discipline, too. Every new Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch is a refinement of the final. As a newcomer, Google has much more room to develop.

On the flip facet, the Pixel Watch’s flaws have been simpler to forgive as a result of it was a debut smartwatch. It’s a uncommon gadget that knocks it out of the park on a primary try. It didn’t assist that final yr’s Google wearable lineup was a complicated jumble of three smartwatches. To distinguish between the Pixel Watch, Fitbit Versa 4, and Fitbit Sense 2, Google nerfed the Pixel Watch’s well being options and the Fitbit smartwatches’ beforehand obtainable good options. Battery life at launch was additionally the pits. You might solely get the estimated 24 hours in the event you babied the battery and turned the always-on show off.

A few of this has since been addressed in subsequent software program updates. However the Pixel Watch 2 is a chance to point out that Google not solely listened to suggestions but in addition handled it. If it doesn’t, it’s tougher to show a blind eye to recognized points on a sophomore try, particularly since there’s no purpose it shouldn’t have the ability to enhance battery life, broaden well being options, and ship a greater consumer expertise. Google has a decade’s value of rival smartwatches to attract inspiration from. In contrast to Apple or Samsung, Google doesn’t must revolutionize smartwatches to drum up pleasure across the Pixel Watch 2. It simply must be noticeably higher than final yr’s.

Actually, it solely has to ship the same expertise to the Galaxy Watch 6. Samsung and Google have each given up on successful over iOS customers as a result of their Put on OS watches are Android solely. So that is to see who reigns over the extremely fragmented Android smartwatch market.

For the previous 10 years, Samsung has been the de facto chief partly as a result of it had stable merchandise and partly as a result of everybody else was a scorching mess. That is regardless of the truth that a few of its well being options, like EKGs, are gatekept to Samsung cellphone customers. Fossil watches, whereas prolific, have at all times been design-first, with middling smarts and well being options second. Garmins served a selected area of interest of outdoorsy athletes. Mobvoi had a good shot with loyal TicWatch followers till it fumbled the transition to Put on OS 3. Huawei watches, whereas good, have been stymied by commerce bans. Montblanc watches price $1,000.

It could not take rather a lot for Google to personal this area. It’s already succeeding in convincing third-party makers to hop aboard the Put on OS prepare. Xiaomi is the newest to ditch a proprietary OS for the platform with its newly introduced Watch 2 Professional. The attract of the Play Retailer is simply too sturdy. (Talking of which, Google’s been laborious at work getting third-party app builders to truly purchase in.) As long as the Pixel Watch 2 doesn’t fall on its face, the strain is on for Samsung to point out everybody one thing they haven’t seen earlier than. And that’s rather a lot tougher to do.

For all these causes, rather a lot is definitely using on the Pixel Watch 2 when it’s unveiled on October 4th. Successful gained’t put Samsung down for the depend, however it can make my job (and lots of others) of selecting one of the best Android smartwatch rather a lot tougher. A flop… properly, that simply provides extra fodder for Google’s fame as an organization with massive concepts and no follow-through.