The Pixel Watch 2 is one of two Google smartwatches rumored to launch this fall

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The Pixel Watch 2 will likely launch alongside the Pixel 8.

Google Pixel Watch hazel/gold colorway with the Pacific watch face
(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

What you need to know

  • Google is set to have a Pixel Watch 2 set to launch later this year alongside the Pixel 8 series.
  • The watch could sport a better chipset, improved health tracking, and smaller bezels.
  • The Pixel Watch 2 may be joined by a Fitbit smartwatch for kids, which has been previously spotted in leaked images.

There has been plenty of focus on Google's upcoming smartphones and Pixel Tablet, which are expected to launch at the upcoming Google I/O 2023 conference. However, one device that has flown under the radar is the next-generation Pixel Watch, which is tipped to be on the docket for a launch later this year.

According to 9to5Google sources, the tentatively-named Pixel Watch 2 is set to arrive later this year alongside the Pixel 8 series. The devices should land in October, although given Google's track record as of late, the company may show off the devices at I/O.

So far, we've seen leaked renders of the Pixel 8 series, showing a few design changes compared to the current Pixel flagships. However, despite the leaks and rumors surrounding the smartphones, news on the Pixel Watch 2 has been scarce.

As for what to expect from the device, 9to5 suggests we'll likely see a new chipset. This makes sense, as the one in the original Pixel Watch is a bit dated, given how long the device was in development. Nonetheless, it performs surprisingly well, although it's not the most efficient chipset.

With the upcoming Galaxy Watch 6 rumored to sport a new chipset and the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 heading to new Wear OS watches, it would make sense for Google to have a new chip to provide better battery life. It's also expected that Google may bring improved health-tracking features and smaller bezels around the display while keeping the same overall design as the original watch.

However, according to leaker Jon Prosser, the Pixel Watch 2 won't be the only smartwatch Google launches this fall, as this may also be when the company introduces a Fitbit-branded kids smartwatch.

This isn't the first time we've heard of a connected Fitbit smartwatch for kids. Such a device was rumored to be in the works late last year before images of the device leaked in April. The photos reveal a smartwatch that looks similar to other Fitbit smartwatches but with a camera in the front.

Leaked image of a blue kids' Fitbit smartwatch

(Image credit: 9to5Google)

Rumors suggested we wouldn't see the watch until 2024, but Prosser seems confident that it will launch this fall. It could be possible, as the images show a device that looks ready for prime time. That said, it's unclear if it will arrive alongside the Pixel Watch and Pixel 8, although it will likely be a separate launch.

Derrek Lee
Derrek Lee
Managing Editor

Derrek is the managing editor of Android Central, helping to guide the site's editorial content and direction to reach and resonate with readers, old and new, who are just as passionate about tech as we are. He's been obsessed with mobile technology since he was 12, when he discovered the Nokia N90, and his love of flip phones and new form factors continues to this day. As a fitness enthusiast, he has always been curious about the intersection of tech and fitness. When he's not working, he's probably working out.

2 Comments Comment from the forums
  • ComfyWater99
    Reader for a long time, signed up just to say this:
    As a longtime superfan, I'd be very upset if a Fitbit Watch for kids with a front-facing camera was released without a Pixel Watch for adults being released with the same. I expect either Google will wait and release both in unison, or they'll alienate a lot of us Pixel Watch owners.
    Reply
  • mech1164
    ComfyWater99 said:
    Reader for a long time, signed up just to say this:
    As a longtime superfan, I'd be very upset if a Fitbit Watch for kids with a front-facing camera was released without a Pixel Watch for adults being released with the same. I expect either Google will wait and release both in unison, or they'll alienate a lot of us Pixel Watch owners.
    This is Google so don't get your hopes up. They'll say for security reasons they didn't put it on their new premium watch. Meanwhile they don't have a problem gimping their current watch for an upsell of "Premium" features that should be standard on the watch.
    Reply