Subj : Google's Pixel Watch 2 could drop Samsung's processors for better
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Wed May 31 2023 16:15:03

Google's Pixel Watch 2 could drop Samsung's processors for better battery life

Date:
Wed, 31 May 2023 14:56:33 +0000

Description:
Googles Pixel Watch 2 is now expected to switch from Exynos to Qualcomm 
chips, to facilitate battery life improvements and more.

FULL STORY
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Google is set to switch from the Samsung Exynos processors that powered the 
first Pixel Watch to Qualcomm chips for the Pixel Watch 2, with the aim of 
boosting battery life among other improvements. 

According to 9to5Google , Google is said to be changing out the Exynos to the 
Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1 . The W5 Plus Gen 1 is specifically designed to be 
more power-efficient, which Google will be hoping addresses the Pixel Watchs 
frustratingly short battery life, which (as we highlighted in our Pixel Watch 
review ) is one of its most annoying flaws. 

Other than the improved processor, 9to5Google also claims to have some 
information on other Pixel Watch 2 upgrades. Google will reportedly bring the 
Pixel Watch up to par with Fitbits latest smartwatches, specifically the 
Fitbit Sense 2 . How it's going to do this isn't specifically mentioned, but 
theres been speculation that a skin temperature sensor could be on the cards. 

Google is expected to debut a temperature sensor with the Pixel 8 , adding 
credibility to this element of the report. Analysis: A Samsung failure? 

The most interesting part about Googles return to Qualcomm is Google's 
broader strategy regarding processors for its Pixel devices. Though Google 
equipped its Pixel-branded phones and tablets with Qualcomm processors, for 
the most part, the company has switched to Samsung's Exynos processors 
wholesale. As a result, its latest Pixel phones and the Pixel Watch have 
suffered from the relatively poor efficiency of Samsungs chips. 

Unlike with phones such as the Google Pixel 6 or Google Pixel 7 , Google is 
able to easily switch the Pixel Watch line to Qualcomm chips, as the company 
has no investment in the processors it uses. The Exynos chips used in the 
Pixel 6 and 7 are branded as Google Tensor , while the Pixel Watch processors 
have no such label. 

It's not that Google couldn't switch to Qualcomm or MediaTek in its phones, 
mind you, but it's likely that neither company will allow the company to make 
custom AI modifications like it can on the Exynos-based Tensor chip. To move 
to Tensor by MediaTek or Tensor by Snapdragon would be a black eye for the 
Pixel phones range. 

Fortunately, when it comes to wearables, Google has deemphasized the 
processor of the Pixel Watch so it will hardly matter if people are using 
Qualcomm, Samsung or even MediaTek - as long as it works. Theres no shame in 
acknowledging that a particular choice of component may not have been the 
right decision and looking to address the issue, and in this case, Googles 
doing so should increase consumer confidence in its newest products.



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Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/news/googles-pixel-watch-2-could-drop-samsungs-proce
ssors-for-better-battery-life


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