The Pixel Watch 4 Is Getting Bigger Batteries, but the Same Old Brain

The Google Pixel Watch 4 is apparently slated to get much larger batteries this year, over the Pixel Watch 3. According to a report out of Android Authority, the Pixel Watch 4 41mm will have a 327mAh battery, and the Pixel Watch 4 45mm will have a 459mAh battery. That’s an increase of 7% and 9% respectively.

That should offer a pretty nice improvement in battery life, especially since Google is sticking with the same processor – the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1. Which is the same processor that Google used on the last two generations of Pixel Watch.

Interestingly, Google is not opting for the dual-OS approach that OnePlus is using, with Wear OS and RTOS to provide incredible battery life.

The Pixel Watch 3 was advertised as having 24 hours of battery life on both sizes, though I’ve noticed much longer battery life on my 45mm model. I am typically getting about two full days on my Pixel Watch 3 45mm.

Qualcomm’s holding up real smartwatch upgrades

Most smartwatches this year have stuck with the same processor as their predecessor and even the same as two generations ago. And that’s because Qualcomm is still working on its next-generation “sw6100” wear platform, and it’s not quite ready yet. Forcing most companies to stick with the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 processor. It’s an okay processor for a wearable, but at this point, it is really starting to show its weaknesses.

Samsung is using its own Exynos chipsets, which do appear to perform quite well. However, it’s unclear if other companies are able to buy and use the Eyxnos W-series chips, as the Pixel Watch was the only one to use one, and after the original Pixel Watch, Google went to Snapdragon and hasn’t turned back.

The Google Pixel Watch 4, along with the Pixel 10 series, is expected to be announced at a Made by Google event on August 20.