Many have speculated for years that Google will release its own smartwatch, but it looks as if those rumours are finally coming to fruition.
The company’s first self-developed smartwatch, codenamed “Rohan,” according to sources. It is anticipated that the Wear OS wearable would have a round display with no physical bezel, making the Galaxy Watch 4 appear outdated in contrast.
In terms of its internals, Rohan will be a fairly standard smartwatch, with a heart rate sensor and a battery that would require daily charging. The watch bands would be exclusive to the device, thus you wouldn’t be able to use normal straps with it.
Possibly, the key component would be the software. In the same way that Pixel phones serve as “showcases” for Google’s platform, Rohan would serve as a “showcase” for Wear OS 3. It is possible that the watch (which is not necessarily called “Pixel Watch,” despite the name that has been circulated about) will demonstrate to customers what Wear OS is capable of, as well as serve as a reference point for hardware partners to work from in the future. A Fitbit integration, dubbed “Nightlight,” may also be included.
As of now, Google hasn’t said anything as regards this. After scrapping its first attempt at an official watch in 2016, Google is said to have placed its faith in third-party products such as those made by Fossil and LG. As a result of completing its acquisition of Fitbit, it is apparently merging its wearable team with Fitbit’s, as well as attempting to mimic Apple’s focus on health in other ways.
Despite a rush of low-cost hardware and competition from major manufacturers such as Samsung and Garmin, Apple has maintained its position as the market leader in smartwatches. In part, this has been attributed to a lack of meaningful OS updates and a lack of Wear OS hardware. However, while the introduction of an official Google watch is unlikely to completely transform the market, it may encourage other watchmakers to try harder and inject some (arguably much-needed) enthusiasm into the mix.
