Google Pixel Watch: Australian specs, price and release date
Google Watch releases soon - here's what you'll pay, the specs it comes with and when you can get one in Australia.
Google already owns wearables giant Fitbit, but that's not going to stop the search giant from launching its own Pixel branded device. Here's what you need to know about the Google Pixel Watch.
At its "Made By Google" event where it also launched the Pixel 7 phones, Google unveiled the very long-awaited Pixel Watch.
Google's been talking up the potential of Android-specific wearables for years, and at a technical level it's already got a stake in this market though its ownership of Fitbit.
When can I buy a Pixel Watch in Australia?
The Google Pixel Watch is available to pre-order now, with availability from 14 October 2022.
How much does the Pixel Watch cost in Australia?
As with the Pixel 7, Google's taking a fairly aggressive approach to Pixel Watch pricing -- at least as it relates to the watch body itself -- while not quite throwing out the Fitbit business just yet. The Pixel Watch is -- to a certain extent -- the fancy Fitbit, with pricing to match.
Base pricing for the Pixel Watch starts at $549 for the Bluetooth-enabled variant, while the 4G LTE+Bluetooth model will run you $649.
That makes for some interesting comparisons against other smart watches you could opt for. With the most basic bands, here's how that Pixel Watch pricing compares.
| Device | Price | Review |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel Watch Bluetooth | $549 | TBC |
| Pixel Watch LTE | $649 | TBC |
| Apple Watch SE Gen 2 | $399+ | Apple Watch SE (Gen 2) review |
| Apple Watch Series 8 | $629+ | Apple Watch Series 8 review |
| Apple Watch Ultra | 1299+ | Apple Watch Ultra info |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Bluetooth | $499-$549 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 info |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 LTE | $599-$649 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 info |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro Bluetooth | $799 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 info |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro LTE | $849 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 info |
| Fitbit Sense 2 | $449.95 | Fitbit Sense review |
Read more: The best Fitbit fitness trackers and smartwatches in Australia
Can I get a Google Pixel Watch on contract in Australia?
If you're thinking plan in terms of paying it off in monthly instalments, it doesn't look like it. At the time of writing Telstra does have a pre-order page up for the Pixel Watch, but only to buy on an outright basis at the same price as Google.
If you're an existing Telstra customer that may still have some appeal, however, as you can also get 5,000 bonus Telstra Plus Points if you link a Telstra One number and take on Telstra's $5 month plan for the Watch.
Google Pixel Watch Specifications
| Device | Google Pixel Watch |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 41mm |
| Processor | Exynos 9110 with ARM M33 co-processor |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Features | ECG, Heart Rate Sensor, Fitbit integration |
| Band Variety | Yes |
| Battery | 294mAh (rumoured) |
The Pixel Watch's specifications are, like most smartwatches, relatively modest. You simply don't need the processing power of a full smartphone or tablet or laptop to just run smartwatch functions, especially as many of them are shared with a paired Android device.
Of interest is the use of Samsung's Exynos 9110 processor; while Google has juiced it up with a custom ARM M33 co-processor, that's still an older part in the wearables space. Presumably Google figures it can deliver enough smartwatch performance out of Samsung's older silicon without impacting actual experiences using it.
Fitbit integration is of course key here, and in many ways the Pixel Watch takes over the space of Fitbit's higher end wearables. It's worth remembering that Fitbit has a premium paid tier, and while you do get a complimentary six month subscription, that's for higher-end training features -- basic Fitbit tracking is still a free service.
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