The Long Journey to the Pixel Watch: From Android Wear to Fitbit Acquisition

The Long Journey to the Pixel Watch: From Android Wear to Fitbit Acquisition

Early Ambitions and Challenges (2014–2018)

Google has been interested in wearables since Android Wear launched in 2014, a platform created to bring smartphone-style apps and notifications to the wrist. While Android Wear initially garnered attention—partnering with Motorola, LG, Samsung, Fossil, and others—Google itself stayed out of directly making smartwatch hardware. Instead, it relied on the ecosystem of OEMs to produce Wear OS devices.

Behind the scenes, however, Google considered releasing its own watch (codenamed “Angelfish” and “Swordfish”) as early as 2016. Then newly hired Rick Osterloh, Google’s Senior Vice President of Devices and Services, reportedly canceled the in-house watches just before the launch of the Pixel phone line in 2016, deeming them unready. Insiders later revealed that Google feared a subpar wearable could tarnish the fledgling Made by Google brand.

Meanwhile, Wear OS faced several issues: battery life was poor, user experiences felt laggy, and Apple jumped into the lead in smartwatches with the Apple Watch (launched in 2015). Samsung, another major Android OEM, switched to its own Tizen OS in 2014, dealing a further blow to Google’s wearable ambitions.

Google recognized that Apple’s rapid success with the Apple Watch derived not just from good hardware but from its integrated approach to fitness and health. Many analysts felt that this was the missing piece for Google. As Osterloh later put it, “We wanted to make a watch earlier… and we probably would have, if not for the fact that we didn’t have what we thought were the right capabilities for health and wellness.”

Laying the Foundations: Fossil IP and Fitbit (2019–2021)

By 2018 and 2019, Wear OS updates continued incrementally—refreshed UI, improved Google Assistant integration, and a rebranding from “Android Wear” to “Wear OS by Google.” Yet users and tech journalists kept asking: “Where is the Google Pixel Watch?”

Google’s answer came in two major acquisitions:

  1. $40 Million Fossil IP Purchase (January 2019)
    Google purchased secret “hybrid smartwatch” IP from Fossil Group (details here), along with part of Fossil’s R&D team. Though details remained murky, it signaled that Google intended to develop unique technology for future wearables.
  2. $2.1 Billion Fitbit Acquisition (Announced November 2019, Completed January 2021)
    The blockbuster deal for Fitbit was the biggest statement of Google’s wearable ambitions. Fitbit brought deep expertise in fitness tracking, ECGs, advanced health metrics like stress and skin temperature, and a large active user base. Rick Osterloh commented that by bringing Fitbit’s platform into Google’s fold, they’d fill the “killer health platform” gap.

It took over a year for regulatory bodies to approve the Fitbit purchase (due to privacy and antitrust concerns), but once finalized in January 2021, Google had effectively acquired all of Fitbit’s hardware know-how. Fitbit co-founder James Park became a key figure at Google overseeing wearables, stating that “the Pixel Watch is going to be part of a family of devices from Google and Fitbit… ” and emphasizing that the integration would take time but result in a “very modern smartwatch.”

The Samsung Partnership and Wear OS 3

Concurrent with the Fitbit acquisition, Google also joined forces with Samsung. At Google I/O 2021, the two companies announced Wear OS 3, a unification of Google’s Wear OS with Samsung’s Tizen platform. This collaboration dramatically improved performance, battery life, and overall polish, leading Samsung to release its Galaxy Watch4running Wear OS 3. The move shot Wear OS market share from ~4% to ~17% practically overnight, largely thanks to Samsung’s return to Google’s fold (analysis here).

By mid-2021, Google had Wear OS 3 in place and now boasted a premier health-tracking solution via Fitbit. Thus, the stage was set for the long-awaited Pixel Watch. Insider leaks in early 2022 suggested the project was codenamed “Rohan.” Google teased the watch at Google I/O 2022—finally confirming its existence.

Pixel Watch (1st Gen, 2022): “The Best of Google and Fitbit”

Launch and Design

The first Google Pixel Watch was officially unveiled in October 2022, alongside the Pixel 7 phones. It featured a distinctive round “dome” design (photos here) with a curved glass face that wrapped into polished stainless steel sides, a rotating digital crown for navigation, and a single side button. Like Apple’s approach, Google used a proprietary band attachment system akin to a camera lens twist-lock, though the watch shipped with two strap sizes to accommodate different wrists.

In terms of specs, the Pixel Watch used a Samsung Exynos 9110 processor—an older (2018-era) chipset—paired with 2GB of RAM. This was not cutting-edge, but optimizations meant Wear OS 3.5 ran smoothly. The watch had 32GB of storage, a 294mAh battery for an advertised “about 24 hours” of life, and carried health sensors including optical heart rate and ECG. It lacked some advanced sensors (e.g., skin temperature, advanced stress sensors). Users needed Android 8.0 or later on their phones (no iOS support).

Software-wise, Google combined the watch’s Wear OS interface with Fitbit health tracking. At setup, you paired the watch with both the “Pixel Watch app” (for general watch settings) and the Fitbit app (for health data). This synergy let the Pixel Watch track continuous heart rate, count Active Zone Minutes, run detailed sleep analysis, and offer a free trial of Fitbit Premium. Google also bundled in many of its apps, including Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Wallet, and YouTube Music.

Reception

Initial reviews praised the Pixel Watch’s elegant look, build quality, and tight integration with Fitbit’s health services. Wired called it “one of the most comfortable smartwatches I’ve worn,” while The Verge noted it “feels like Google is finally taking wearables seriously.” However, common gripes included:

  • Battery Life: ~24 hours was considered borderline, especially compared to Fitbit’s multi-day trackers or some Garmin models.
  • Single Size: At ~41mm, some found it too small, especially those wanting more screen space or wearing it on bigger wrists.
  • Older Chipset: The Exynos 9110, though optimized, was still a 2018 chip.
  • High Price: $349 for Wi-Fi or $399 for LTE put it near Apple’s pricing.

Nevertheless, Google seemed to have proven that it could build a refined smartwatch. As Osterloh commented, “It’s the first smartwatch that truly brings together the best of Google and Fitbit.” The watch also laid the foundation for Google’s future “feature drops,” including a Fall Detection update in early 2023.

Pixel Watch 2 (2023): Refining Performance, Battery, and Sensors

Just one year later, in October 2023, Google launched Pixel Watch 2 with the slogan “Better, Faster, Deeper Health Tracking.” Although it maintained a near-identical external design, the internal upgrades were significant:

Hardware Upgrades

  1. Qualcomm Snapdragon W5: Ditching Exynos, Google used the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1, offering a more modern 4nm architecture with lower power consumption. This made the watch snappier and improved battery life.
  2. Aluminum Frame: Replaced the stainless steel case with 100% recycled aluminum, making the watch about 10% lighter and more comfortable for 24/7 wear. The domed glass aesthetic remained, ensuring band compatibility.
  3. Improved Battery: Pixel Watch 2 could reliably manage 24 hours of battery life with the always-on display enabled—a notable gain over the first-gen. Faster charging (about 50% in half an hour) further reduced downtime.

Health and Safety Features

  • Upgraded Heart Rate Sensor: A new multipath sensor plus enhanced algorithms improved exercise HR accuracy. Google claimed up to 40% more accurate readings during workouts.
  • cEDA (Electrodermal Activity) and Skin Temperature Sensors: Borrowed from Fitbit’s Sense line, these track stress (through continuous EDA) and nighttime temperature variations for potential illness/menstrual cycle insights.
  • Wear OS 4 and Safety Check: Google integrated Wear OS 4 from the outset. The watch included fall detection, Emergency SOS, and a Safety Check feature—timed check-ins that, if unanswered, notify emergency contacts.

Reviewers applauded the second-gen watch for addressing the biggest complaints—improving battery life, performance, and adding next-level sensors. Criticisms persisted about it still being a single size and the slightly chunkier bezels, but overall, the Pixel Watch 2 was seen as a strong refinement. The Verge declared, “Google is finally taking smartwatches seriously,” and credited Pixel Watch 2 for giving Wear OS more mainstream credibility.

Pixel Watch 3 (2024): Larger Sizes, AI Fitness Coaching, and Loss of Pulse Detection

By the time Google introduced the Pixel Watch 3 in late 2024, the line had matured into a legitimate competitor. This third iteration addressed some of the biggest remaining user requests and added cutting-edge health functionality:

New Sizes and Display

  • Two Size Options: Pixel Watch 3 finally offered both 41mm and 45mm versions, catering to users wanting a bigger screen. The larger model featured significantly reduced bezels, a ~40% bigger display area, and a bigger battery.
  • Brighter, Efficient Screen: An LTPO OLED panel boosted brightness up to 2,000 nits for direct sunlight visibility and could throttle down to 1Hz in always-on mode for power savings. Combined with the larger battery in the 45mm model, users could enjoy 36+ hours on a single charge under normal usage—far surpassing the first-gen’s ~24 hours.

AI-Driven Health and Fitness

  • Fitbit Integration 2.0: Powered by advanced sensor algorithms, the Pixel Watch 3 introduced new metrics like Cardio Load and Target Load, along with expanded sleep insights. A daily “Fitbit Morning Brief” summarized readiness, stress levels, and weather to guide your day.
  • Loss of Pulse Detection: An industry-first for Google, this FDA-cleared feature allowed the watch to detect if the wearer’s heart had stopped and automatically call emergency services.
  • Wear OS 5 and UWB: Launched with Wear OS 5 and a new Ultra-Wideband chip, enabling near-instant “Watch Unlock” for Pixel phones and digital car key functionality.

Reviewers like Digital Trends called the Pixel Watch 3 “the best smartwatch Google has ever made—and one of the best you can buy in 2024.” The addition of a larger size, extended battery life, and comprehensive health suite made it a truly competitive offering. Wear OS, now riding on combined sales of Samsung Galaxy Watches and Pixel Watches, climbed toward Apple’s market share lead.

Market Context and Challenges

Even as Pixel Watch thrived in its third generation, Google faced several hurdles:

  1. Battery Life Trade-Off: Wear OS and a bright AOD demand power, leading to shorter battery life than multi-day fitness trackers like Garmin. Google kept improving efficiency, but was still behind certain competitors.
  2. Competition with Apple: Apple Watch dominated iPhone users. Google’s response was to integrate with Android and leverage Fitbit, but matching Apple’s brand momentum remained an uphill climb.
  3. Hardware Limitations: While later Pixel Watches used updated SoCs (Snapdragon W5, rumored future Tensor W chip), Google was reliant on external chip vendors, unlike Apple’s custom S-series chips.
  4. Two-App Ecosystem: Owners had to use both the Pixel Watch app and Fitbit app for full functionality. Google promised a more unified experience, but transitions took time.

Still, Google’s consistent annual releases with meaningful improvements gradually overcame skepticism. Users saw that “Google isn’t abandoning this line,” and, with each new Pixel Watch iteration, Wear OS gained momentum, developer support, and consumer acceptance.

Looking Ahead: Plausible Future Directions

1. Custom Tensor Chips for Watches

A rumored Tensor W chip would bring in-house AI optimization to the Pixel Watch, potentially boosting battery life and on-device machine learning for health analytics.

2. Non-Invasive Blood Pressure and Glucose Tracking

Fitbit has been experimenting with optical blood pressure monitoring using pulse transit time, and Google has patents on non-invasive glucose measurement. If the tech proves reliable, it could appear in future Pixel Watches.

3. MicroLED Displays

Both Apple and Google are exploring microLED technology for better brightness and efficiency without OLED burn-in. A microLED Pixel Watch could enable multi-day usage.

4. Further AI Enhancements

Expect deeper Google Assistant integrations, potentially analyzing daily patterns to recommend workouts or detect health anomalies. Assistant with Bard-like AI might do on-watch summaries of emails and notifications.

5. More Models (Rugged, Budget, etc.)

As Apple has branched into lower-cost (Watch SE) and ultra-premium (Watch Ultra) variants, Google may do the same. A “Pixel Watch Ultra” might offer a rugged design and bigger battery for adventure enthusiasts, while a budget model could bring Pixel Watch features to a wider audience.

Conclusion: A Watch Finding Its Stride

From its start as an ambitious but canceled “Nexus Watch” concept to a fast-evolving product line three generations strong, the Google Pixel Watch epitomizes Google’s long-awaited commitment to wearables. Each generation tackled key critiques—refining design, boosting battery, adding advanced Fitbit sensors, and locking in deeper integration with Android.

Though Apple Watch retains a lead, Google’s strategic unification of Wear OS, partnership with Samsung, and integration of Fitbit have begun to pay off. Wear OS is now a credible second-place competitor with a growing user base. Pixel Watch stands out for its round pebble-like design, AI-driven features, and robust Fitbit-powered health. As Rick Osterloh stated, “We intend to stay in this for the long haul,” and indeed the Pixel Watch’s progress from a first-gen experiment to a refined third-gen device proves a product line that’s actively shaping the future of Android wearables.

Whether Google introduces new sensors like blood pressure monitoring, invests in custom Tensor chips, or expands form factors, it’s clear the Pixel Watch is here to stay. Having matured into a device bridging style, health, and the everyday convenience of Google services, the Pixel Watch embodies the company’s broader vision of “ambient computing” for users worldwide.