Google’s Pixel Watch had a successful debut in 2022, becoming the No. 2 bestselling wearable maker behind Apple during the holiday season, shipping 880,000 units. However, skeptics are still questioning if Google can maintain this success and compete with long-term players like Apple and Samsung. The Pixel Watch’s flaws were easier to overlook as a first-generation smartwatch, but Google needs to address battery life and improve user experience in its upcoming Pixel Watch 2. The company has a decade’s worth of rival smartwatches to draw inspiration from and doesn’t need to revolutionize the market, only deliver a noticeably better product than its predecessor.
Google has the potential to dominate the Android smartwatch market, which has been fragmented for the past 10 years. While Samsung has been the leader due to its solid products, other brands have struggled to compete. Google’s success in convincing third-party makers to adopt its Wear OS platform, as seen with Xiaomi’s recently announced Watch 2 Pro, indicates that the allure of the Play Store is strong. With the Pixel Watch 2, Google has the opportunity to make a significant impact in the smartwatch industry, putting pressure on Samsung to innovate and potentially making it difficult for consumers to choose the best Android smartwatch.
The unveiling of the Pixel Watch 2 on October 4th is highly anticipated, as its success or failure will have implications for both Google and other smartwatch brands. A successful launch will make it harder for Samsung and other competitors to maintain their positions, while a failure will reinforce Google’s reputation for having ambitious ideas but lacking follow-through. The upcoming release will determine whether Google can continue its momentum and establish itself as a prominent player in the smartwatch market.
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