Two new Google (Nexus? Pixel?) smartwatches incoming

[Surf Donkey]

Exclusive: Google is building two Android Wear smartwatches with Google Assistant integration

Speaking to Android Police, a reliable source has told us that Google is currently building two Android Wear devices - possibly Nexus-branded - for release some time after the latest Nexus phones are announced. One watch will be larger, sportier, and more fully-featured (LTE, GPS, heart rate), the other will be smaller and lack the aforementioned mobile data and GPS.

HOLY ****....SIGN ME UP!!! This is what I have been holding out on the wearables for!!

 

[iphonedude2008]

If priced as competitively as the Nexus phones, this will be the perfect setup

 

[Surf Donkey]

This is...imho....bigger news than the new Nexus. I am squealing over here on the inside. I wonder if this will be part of the Nexus family, or Pixel? Oh man, cannot wait!!!

Wonder if the Nexus comes out early this year then.....BAM! Google Pixel phone and watches that blow everyone away. My fanboy adrenaline is on overdrive right now. Pairing with a Google/Nexus phone, Google assistant... Project Fi integration with it all for the carrier. Head exploded.

 

[iphonedude2008]

This is...imho....bigger news than the new Nexus. I am squealing over here on the inside. I wonder if this will be part of the Nexus family, or Pixel? Oh man, cannot wait!!!

Wonder if the Nexus comes out early this year then.....BAM! Google Pixel phone and watches that blow everyone away. My fanboy adrenaline is on overdrive right now. Pairing with a Google/Nexus phone, Google assistant... Project Fi integration with it all for the carrier. Head exploded.

Google everywhere the eye can see. Definitely looking to be a very exciting fall for the Nexus line. Now the iPhone line...

 

[spinedoc77]

I hope they are not compromises like the Nexus line tends to be. Please Google, go all out this time.

 

[tbayrgs]

I hope they are not compromises like the Nexus line tends to be. Please Google, go all out this time.

My thoughts exactly...I don't want half assed efforts in an attempt to knock a few dollars off the price. The best hardware from Google is the stuff they make themselves---Pixel Chromebooks and the Pixel C are beautiful, robust, well made hardware and they cost a bit more. Low to mid-range Android Wear hardware all is lackluster, IMO. The best Android Wear watch (that's not a ridiculous amount of money, i.e. Tag Heuer) is the Huawei Watch and it's not bargain basement priced.

I have my fingers crossed that the rumored 'Google Phone' is actually made and is a top end flagship with no compromises. I'd love to be able to pair it with any equally top notch Android Wear watch.

 

[Surf Donkey]

I hope they are not compromises like the Nexus line tends to be. Please Google, go all out this time.

Every $100 they go up on anything in the Nexus line, they lose many potential buyers. $250 will win over a lot of people. $350 would win many less. I am just not seeing a trend towards expensive unlocked items if anyone in Google is doing their job on the marketing and finance side. Chinese makers, One Plus, Blu, etc are winning the market outside of carrier phones. Look at what just happened to HTC. Everyone said it was too expensive. And I didn't see a whole lot of compromises.

That said, for a niche thing, if that made a top end Pixel watch and phone that would be awesome and I would be in line. Just not sure how that would fit in as a business strategy.

 

[spinedoc77]

Every $100 they go up on anything in the Nexus line, they lose many potential buyers. $250 will win over a lot of people. $350 would win many less. I am just not seeing a trend towards expensive unlocked items if anyone in Google is doing their job on the marketing and finance side. Chinese makers, One Plus, Blu, etc are winning the market outside of carrier phones. Look at what just happened to HTC. Everyone said it was too expensive. And I didn't see a whole lot of compromises.

That said, for a niche thing, if that made a top end Pixel watch and phone that would be awesome and I would be in line. Just not sure how that would fit in as a business strategy.

I don't disagree, but look at Samsung and how they are doing with $700-900 phones. Heck look at Apple while you're at it. It seems like Google has an inferiority complex, they seem afraid to put out something top notch and charge for it. Microsoft was able to get over their inferiority complex with the surface line, top notch with top prices, I don't see why Google cannot.

PS I'm not arguing with you at all. That's why they need a lower end phone and a flagship so they can appeal to all markets. I do agree with you, and think that things can go 2 ways. Consumers either love their high end expensive flagship and buy tons of them, or they don't. But seeing those renders floating around I'm pretty sure a high end flagship like that would flop pretty badly.

 

[Surf Donkey]

I don't disagree, but look at Samsung and how they are doing with $700-900 phones. Heck look at Apple while you're at it. It seems like Google has an inferiority complex, they seem afraid to put out something top notch and charge for it. Microsoft was able to get over their inferiority complex with the surface line, top notch with top prices, I don't see why Google cannot.

PS I'm not arguing with you at all. That's why they need a lower end phone and a flagship so they can appeal to all markets. I do agree with you, and think that things can go 2 ways. Consumers either love their high end expensive flagship and buy tons of them, or they don't. But seeing those renders floating around I'm pretty sure a high end flagship like that would flop pretty badly.

No I agree... I would love it. I would only say that I don't think Samsung or Apple are actually selling that many $700-$900 phones unlocked. People like leases (JoD), they like payment plans. They are cool with $25 a month, but choke on the full price upfront. They want to be able to "trade in" after a period of time and upgrade. These are mostly provided by the carriers. Perhaps Google doesn't want to mess with the financing. They do it with Project Fi, but that is getting added to the monthly bill (my 6P is an extra $23 per month).

 

[spinedoc77]

No I agree... I would love it. I would only say that I don't think Samsung or Apple are actually selling that many $700-$900 phones unlocked. People like leases (JoD), they like payment plans. They are cool with $25 a month, but choke on the full price upfront. They want to be able to "trade in" after a period of time and upgrade. These are mostly provided by the carriers. Perhaps Google doesn't want to mess with the financing. They do it with Project Fi, but that is getting added to the monthly bill (my 6P is an extra $23 per month).

I thought Google had a lease type program, at least I recall seeing something like that when I was shopping for a 6p. Or maybe it was Huawei themselves. But yeah you're right, most sales are probably leases these days. I don't think Google has a choice if they want to survive and release a high priced phone, well other than releasing a cheaper phone with compromises.

 

[Surf Donkey]

I thought Google had a lease type program, at least I recall seeing something like that when I was shopping for a 6p. Or maybe it was Huawei themselves. But yeah you're right, most sales are probably leases these days. I don't think Google has a choice if they want to survive and release a high priced phone, well other than releasing a cheaper phone with compromises.

Yeah that was Huawaei themselves (with a pretty nasty 12% interest rate if I recall). Ouch. And people taking them up on that had a pretty rough time with orders from what I recall. Much better to go via Google CS at their store.

All that said, if Google goes full Microsoft with a top tier Pixel line (tablet, laptop, phone and watch) I don't think it would be a problem from them to get a leasing or payment system going interest free via a partnership with a credit company. It would be great if Pixel had a presence at box stores like Best Buy as well. Then people could take advantage of their credit and sales services.

But the hardware business is a cutthroat game with razor thin margins. Many service and software companies stay out. Heck, even IBM bowed out to Lenovo and others once they saw what was happening in the PC industry.

 

[nfl46]

Here they go:

 

[Surf Donkey]

Another AP render?? DAMN THESE LOOK NICE!!!

As a refresher: Angelfish will be the "full-on" standalone smartwatch, owing to its LTE connectivity, GPS, and heart rate sensor. It will be the do-all device that will allow Google to demonstrate Wear's most robust capabilities, including the announcement at Google I/O that Android Wear 2.0 will support standalone apps.

Yeah, this will be my first smartwatch. Day one order. I really can't wait until announcement. AP leaks are giving me heart palpitations.

 

[viskon]

I'm hoping that Android Wear watches will start supporting phone calling independent of the phone. I have a Gear S and while it doesn't have all the apps that Android Wear has, for my use case, the ability to leave my phone home every once in a while more than makes up. Android Wear on a watch like the Gear S would be a great combination.

 

[lowendlinux]

Like I said on pocket now. That's a nice looking smartwatch