Pixel Watch 2 will be the best Apple Watch alternative… if Google doesn’t screw it up

We all had high expectations for the Pixel Watch last year. After dabbling in the wearable segment for a few years with its acquisition of FitBit, we finally got a true Wear OS smartwatch from Google.

The design was definitely the best feature of the watch with its rounded body and minimalist aesthetic. Despite being powered by an older chipset, performance was surprisingly decent, allowing Google to showcase its true vision for its updated version of its wearable operating system.

For some, the $350 starting price tag was a bit steep, on top of the fact that battery life was a lot worse than what was being offered by the competition. Despite those shortcomings, the Pixel Watch was a resounding success, jumping up to the number 2 spot by capturing 8% of the wearable market share in the fourth quarter of last year, compared to Apple’s 27%.

The question is… will the Pixel Watch 2 do the same or better?

Based on the leaks we’ve seen so far, Google’s plan for the Pixel Watch 2 doesn’t seem to include a significant design change. It sports the same 1.2-inch round display with a resolution of 384 x 384 pixels and the same 41mm dial size. It would have been nice to see a second option with a larger display since quite a few people claimed that the watch looked a bit too small on their wrists.

Thankfully, Google will be updating the internals of the smartwatch by using the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1, which is built using a 4nm process, making it far more efficient than what Google used on the original Pixel Watch. Coupled with the slightly larger 306mAh battery, the Pixel Watch 2 should deliver noticeably longer battery life than the original.

The Pixel Watch 2 will ship with Wear OS 4 which will support updates to the overall platform, along with a dozen or so new watch faces. The platform will also sport a new dynamic theming feature that will use the colors of your selected watch face to customize the colors throughout the OS.

While the Pixel Watch 2 may not look any different than last year’s model, the internal upgrades should make it feel like a completely new smartwatch. Those looking for the best Apple Watch alternative will definitely be taking a look at the Pixel Watch 2. That being said, the new $300 Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 looks fantastic as well and will likely be a cheaper alternative to the rumored $350 sticker price of the Pixel Watch 2.

Google should have no issues holding onto the number two spot with the Pixel Watch 2. With the right promotions and marketing push, they could even manage to close the gap between them and Apple. We only have a few more weeks until the Pixel Watch 2 is officially unveiled, so stay tuned!