Google Pixel Watch 5 released online
Google seems to be having trouble keeping new products secret again. This time, a prototype of the upcoming Pixel Watch 5 has turned up in a very special place: the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.
The smartwatch was found during a dive near the Caribbean island of St Maarten. The photos were shared by Randy Pitchford, co-founder of the game developer behind the Borderlands series. According to him, the watch even still had enough energy to display the time, despite the battery being otherwise flat. Now the main question is whether it is a coincidence that the watch was lying there. On the back, the text 'Google Pixel Watch 5 can be seen'.
Based on the images, the design hardly seems to differ from the current Pixel Watch generation. The front, in particular, looks almost identical to its predecessor. However, the back reveals some interesting details about the specs.
For instance, markings on the prototype confirm that it is a 45 mm version. It also mentions an IP68 certification, indicating that the watch is highly resistant to water and dust. The fact that the smartwatch has survived a stay in salt water does not seem to contradict that certification, at least.
Furthermore, various health and connectivity features are visible. According to the markings, the Pixel Watch 5 will get a heart rate sensor, pulse sensor, SpO2 meter for measuring oxygen saturation, skin temperature measurement and a UWB chip for accurate device communication.
Shortly after the high-profile leak, the Pixel Watch 5 also appeared in documents from Indian certification body BIS. Four model numbers were registered there. This indicates that Google will again offer two sizes, presumably 41 mm and 45 mm, each available as a WIfI variant and a model with mobile data connectivity.
Another rumour that has been circulating for some time is getting renewed attention as a result. The Pixel Watch 5 would possibly say goodbye to the Qualcomm processors used in previous Pixel Watches. Instead, Google would opt for its own Tensor chip, similar to the approach the company has taken for years with its Pixel smartphones.
Although Google itself has yet to officially announce anything, clues are now piling up. When the brand will make the new watch official is not yet known. It will probably happen in conjunction with the announcement of the Pixel 11 series, which is expected this summer.
