The Google Pixel Watch could cost a lot less than the Apple Watch 8
More SE than 8
Now that the Apple Watch 8 has landed there’s just one more major smartwatch launch expected this year, and that’s the Google Pixel Watch – a wearable which could prove a lot more affordable than Apple’s latest.
That’s according to leaker @Sudhanshu1414, who – in a PriceBaba exclusive – claimed that the Pixel Watch will start at between €250 (roughly $250 / £220 / AU$370) and €350 (around $350 / £305 / AU$520).
Now, conversions are unlikely to be accurate, but for reference the Apple Watch 8 starts at €499 / $399 / £419 / AU$629, so it’s substantially more than this leak suggests the Pixel Watch will be. In fact, Google’s wearable looks set to be priced more in line with the $249 / £259 / AU$399 Apple Watch SE 2.
So this could be quite an affordable device – though notably that’s for a Wi-Fi-only version, with cellular models expected to cost more. A previous leak suggested a price of $399 (approximately £350 / AU$595) for a cellular version.
This latest leak also reveals possible colors, with the source stating that the Google Pixel Watch will be available in Chalk, Obsidian and Charcoal shades. That’s for the body of the watch, not the strap, and likely translates to white, black, and grayish-blue.
We would however take this claim with a pinch of salt, especially as an earlier leak pointed to gray, black and gold shades – so a slightly different selection.
We’ll know the truth soon, as Google is set to fully unveil this wearable on October 6, alongside the Google Pixel 7 line.
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Analysis: stacking up to Samsung
Beyond the Apple Watch line, the Pixel Watch’s main competition comes from the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, a wearable that starts at $279 / £269 / AU$499, so a likely similar price to Google’s watch if the leaks are accurate.
However, the Galaxy Watch 5 comes in multiple sizes with prices increasing for the larger one, and then there’s the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, which starts at $449.99 / £429 / AU$799.99 and goes up if you want cellular connectivity. So while starting prices might be similar, Samsung’s top models could be a lot more expensive.
Does that mean the Pixel Watch will be a bargain then, or simply less capable than some of the best smartwatches from other brands? For now, we’re not sure, but if Google’s smartphones are anything to go by it could be more the latter.
James is a freelance phones, tablets and wearables writer and sub-editor at TechRadar. He has a love for everything ‘smart’, from watches to lights, and can often be found arguing with AI assistants or drowning in the latest apps. James also contributes to 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk and has written for T3, Digital Camera World, Clarity Media and others, with work on the web, in print and on TV.