Google Pixel Watch 5 disappoints in specs leak with outdated chip

The Google Pixel Watch 5 is expected to be officially unveiled on August 12 as part of a "Made by Google" launch event, alongside the Pixel 11 series. 9to5Google has already spotted the next-generation smartwatch, codenamed "Godric," on the Google Play Console, which has already revealed some of its key specifications.

According to this information, Google is using a Qualcomm SW5100, the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2, which was also used in the Pixel Watch 4 ($349 on Amazon). The chip is reportedly paired with 3 GB of RAM, up from the previous 2 GB. With four ARM Cortex-A53 efficiency cores reaching clock speeds of up to 1.7 GHz, the chip is significantly slower than the newer 3-nm Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite, which is used in the new Samsung Galaxy Watch9. According to Qualcomm, the newer chip, featuring one ARM Cortex-A78 performance core clocked at 2.1 GHz and four Cortex-A55 efficiency cores clocked at 1.95 GHz, delivers up to five times the CPU performance in the best-case scenario, while GPU performance is said to be as much as seven times higher.

The pixel density of 320 PPI also remains unchanged. An FCC certification has already confirmed that the Google Pixel Watch 5 once again supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, NFC, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), and, optionally, an LTE modem. It is not yet known what other new features the Pixel Watch 5 will include aside from slightly more RAM, as the design also remains unchanged. However, a price leak has revealed that the cheapest model will cost €20 more. The Pixel Watch 5 with a 41-millimeter case is expected to cost €419. Google is said to charge an additional €30 for the larger 44-millimeter version, while an LTE modem will cost an extra €100.