Google is rumored to consider switching to Snapdragon Chip for the Pixel Watch 2

Sources indicate that the upcoming Pixel Watch 2 will utilize a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset from the latest “W5” generation. The extent of customization, if any, remains uncertain. Last July, Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1, which has recently been incorporated into the TicWatch Pro 5.

Additionally, there exists a regular Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 variant without Qualcomm’s co-processor, which has predominantly been adopted by Chinese wearable manufacturers such as Oppo Watch 3.

This system-on-a-chip (SoC), manufactured using a 4nm process, boasts four A53 cores clocked at 1.7GHz and dual Adreno 702 GPUs operating at 1GHz. In comparison, the original Pixel Watch relies on the Exynos 9110, constructed using a 10nm process and equipped with two Cortex-A53 cores.

The decision by Google to transition away from the Samsung Exynos chipset for their next wearable device is highly noteworthy and somewhat unexpected. Initially, it was anticipated that they might adopt the 5nm W920 chipset found in the Galaxy Watch 4 and 5. Alternatively, there were rumors suggesting the possibility of the W980 chipset, which was speculated to be featured in the Galaxy Watch 6.

According to reliable sources, this change is expected to have a significant impact on the battery life of the Pixel Watch 2. Although the physical size of the battery is not anticipated to be significantly larger than the current model, Google has managed to achieve over a day of usage with the always-on display (AOD) activated.

This improvement is notable and results in an immediate enhancement compared to the original Pixel Watch, which is rated for 24 hours of usage with the AOD disabled. Presently, users can keep the screen on and comfortably make it through a day, albeit without much additional runtime. However, with the adjusted settings to conserve battery, the Pixel Watch 2 could potentially last for up to two days without requiring a recharge. This extended battery life could prove advantageous, particularly when traveling.

Undoubtedly, the enhanced performance can be attributed to the new chipset, and Google has hinted at the forthcoming Wear OS 4, which promises numerous updates and optimizations to ensure smooth and efficient operation of apps. Anticipated to be released in the autumn, the Pixel Watch 2 is expected to be among the initial devices to debut with Wear OS 4.

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