Google released a new promotional video for the Pixel Watch 5 on August 7, taking a direct shot at Apple and Samsung with the tagline that its smartwatch “still has the decency to look like a watch.” It is the company’s first explicit design comparison against its two biggest smartwatch competitors ahead of the August 12 Made by Google event.
The teaser positions the Pixel Watch 5’s circular form against the Apple Watch’s rectangular shape and the Galaxy Watch’s squircle silhouette — a design choice Samsung has leaned into more aggressively with recent models. Google’s message is clear: round equals watch, everything else is a miniature screen on your wrist.
What the Pixel Watch 5 Teaser Shows
The video keeps things understated. A shadowy outline of the Pixel Watch 5 appears with an analog face (the Abstract watch face), and the narration highlights health, sleep, and fitness tracking. Charging pins are visible, suggesting the hardware closely resembles last year’s Pixel Watch 4. The video closes with “Google Pixel Watch 5 with Gemini Intelligence” branding — confirming Google’s AI assistant will be a core selling point for the wearable.
Notably absent from the teaser: any mention of specs, pricing, or new hardware features. Google is saving those details for the full reveal at the Made by Google 2026 event on August 12 in New York City, hosted by Trevor Noah, where the Pixel 11 series, Pixel Tag tracker, and potentially new Pixel Buds are also expected.
What We Know So Far
Prior leaks have painted a fuller picture of what to expect:
- Sizes: 41mm and 45mm, both available with and without LTE
- Chip: Reportedly the Snapdragon Wear Elite — a significant upgrade over the Tensor-based chip in the Pixel Watch 4
- Colors: Four case finishes including a new “Pyrite” option alongside Matte Black, Polished Silver, and Champagne Gold
- Price: Rumored to start at $399, unchanged from last year
Google’s circular design has been a quiet differentiator since the original Pixel Watch in 2022, but the company never made it a marketing point until now. Whether that restraint was strategic or an oversight, the timing makes sense — the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 have pushed smartwatch designs further from traditional watch aesthetics, giving Google an opening to position itself as the classic alternative.
Pre-orders for the Pixel Watch 5 are expected to open before the event on August 12, with a 10:00 AM ET cutoff before the 6:00 PM ET keynote.
Source: 9to5Google
