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Google's Pixel Watch might usher in a revamped Assistant, forego Qualcomm chip
- Rumor has it, Google’s upcoming Pixel-branded smartwatch will usher in a new version of Google Assistant for Wear OS.
- It’s also possible the smartwatch will be powered by a Samsung Exynos chip, not a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip.
- As always, it’s important to take early rumors with a grain of salt.
After years and years of rumors, evidence is mounting that Google is actually making a Pixel smartwatch. While we don’t know if it’ll be known as a “Pixel Watch,” various sources have outed the existence of a flagship smartwatch made by Google. We’ve seen alleged leaked watch faces that will presumably be available on the new device, and a report that details the potential design and codename for the watch.
Our friends at 9to5Google have uncovered even more details about the upcoming smartwatch. Digging through code tucked away in the Google app, 9to5Google found a mention of “PIXEL_EXPERIENCE_WATCH,” suggesting Google could be leaning into the Pixel branding for its wearable. According to a recent report from Business Insider, Google is still internally mulling over the name of the device.
Read more: Everything you need to know about Wear OS
We’ve noted recently that Wear OS 3, even four months after its launch, is still missing one of its most important features: Google Assistant. There’s a good chance a new version of the Assistant for Wear OS will debut on Google’s new watch.
Recent Google Pixel smartphones come with a version of the Google Assistant called the “next-generation Assistant,” which allows the device to change device settings, sort through photos, and perform various other tasks while offline. 9to5Google found evidence of the “next-generation Assistant” tied to the device with the “Rohan” codename, suggesting the watch will be able to perform more functions via the Google Assistant than other Wear OS watches that use older versions of the Assistant.
Here’s what the new Assistant on the Rohan device will probably look like:
Finally, the publication mentioned it’s possible the Pixel smartwatch could forego Qualcomm’s latest wearable chipset, the Snapdragon Wear 4100 Plus, in favor of a Samsung Exynos chip. There was no mention of which Exynos chip in the report, though it’s possible Google could use the same SoC found in the Galaxy Watch 4, the Samsung Exynos W920.
As always, be sure to take these rumors with a grain of salt. Nothing is confirmed until it comes from Google. However, we’ll be sure to report on more alleged Pixel Watch rumors as they show up.