There will also be some new Pro-specific features dropping in a future update, including HDR+ and advanced colour grading for videos, plus the first-ever Night Sight Video mode for low-light clips.
The phones will come with the expected Pixel perks and features like Call Screen and Google’s own VPN for private browsing, and the company said these models would be supported with updates for at least seven years, up from five years on the Pixel 7.
The Pixel Watch 2 lasts longer, is more powerful and has more accurate stress and heart rate detection.
For the Pixel Watch 2, Google has stuck with the same domed AMOLED display but updated just about everything else. The housing is now aluminum rather than steel, a much more powerful Qualcomm processor replaces the Exynos from the original, and you now get 24 hours of battery life with the display set to always on, whereas previously you needed to turn it off to get that much longevity. The price for the watch has remained the same; $550 for the Wi-Fi version and $650 for 4G.
The included Fitbit health features are expanded by a new multi-path heart-rate sensor that takes several independent estimates during workouts for more accurate tracking, the company said, with automatic detection when you start or stop a workout. A new feature can also detect stress responses by tracking skin temperature, sweat and heart rate, prompting users to log their mood or offering interventions like guided breathing exercises.
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Google is also adding to its safety features, which includes fall detection and emergency SOS, by bringing “safety check” over from its phones to the watch. Users schedule a timer and are asked to check in when it finishes, and if they don’t a message is sent to their nominated emergency contacts. It’s meant to provide peace of mind for people walking home after dark, or going for a long cycle.
Finally, Google said it was improving the watch software experience with new apps including Calendar and Gmail, and would let the Google Assistant access certain health data, so you could ask about your workout stats. It’s also adapting the “At a Glance” widget from its phones (which changes contextually throughout the day to show weather, appointments, traffic and more) as a complication for its watch faces.
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