Smartwatches have made it easy to track various health and fitness metrics, offering one-glance convenience on the wrist — even if their accuracy falls short of professional medical equipment. There’s heart rate and sleep monitoring, followed by detection of sleep apnea trends and the like, and Google seeks to elevate the competition.
Announced alongside the Pixel 11 series of devices, the Pixel Watch 5 will introduce a non-invasive Insulin Resistance Trends feature that “uses passive sensors on your wrist to track monthly shifts in your metabolic health, reserving formal lab work for when you’re at the doctor’s office,” per the company. To do so, it first tracks the user’s heart rhythm, sleep quality, and activity levels, then feeds the data to an AI model.
Of course, a disclaimer stresses that it isn’t a substitute for a diagnostic tool, but the tech is pretty groundbreaking. Up till now, the only way for individuals to monitor their blood sugar is through a continuous glucose monitor, or CGM, which uses a small filament inserted under the skin to send real-time readings to a smartphone or a receiver. Insulin Resistance Trends is part of Google’s passive-monitoring Health Guardian suite of features that includes blood pressure data and sleep-breathing quality.
The company is also pending approval from the Food and Drug Administration for Breathing Emergency Detection, triggered by factors such as choking, accidents, severe pneumonia, and more — similar to Loss of Pulse Detection first incorporated into the Pixel Watch 3, with irregular rhythm notifications and high/low heart rate notifications among other existing features.
Outside of software, there’s little change to the Pixel Watch 5. It comes in the same 41mm or 45mm watch face options, tipping the scales at 31 grams and 36.7 grams (without band), respectively, while the Actua 360 AMOLED display delivers up to 3,000 nits of brightness, a 60Hz refresh rate, and 320 ppi. Under the hood, the upgraded Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Accelerated chip boasts 20 percent faster processing when compared to the previous generation, alongside increased battery capacities of 332 mAh and 465 mAh, up from 325 mAh and 455 mAh.
As with the rest of the Pixel family, Gemini Intelligence is integrated into the smartwatch. In addition to the Raise to Talk feature and the ability to manage timers, alarms, and workouts using voice commands, users can expect personalised coaching with Google Health Coach, which uses an advanced algorithm to analyse sleep patterns, and Cycle Health, bringing together fitness, sleep, and health metrics. This new suite is designed to complement other new fitness additions, including Readiness Score, Bedtime Automations, and Smart Wake Alarms, as well as existing safety tools like Safety Check, Emergency Sharing, Fall Detection, and Car Crash Detection.
The Pixel Watch 5 is available in four colours: Obsidian, Fog, Olive, and Canyon (41mm only). The 41mm and 45mm models start at S$569 and S$599, respectively, with pre-orders now open and on-shelf availability dated for 20 August.
Rounding out the accessory announcements is the new Google Pixel Tag, the company’s version of Apple’s AirTag. Similar to the latter, it helps users track and find their belongings, such as their suitcase or keys, and is compatible with Android devices running Android 9 or newer. Tagged items are viewed within the Find Hub app, alongside simple directional guidance to their current location, while those within Bluetooth range can use the Pixel Tag to play a sound. For Pixel phone owners, connecting to the Pixel Tag allows it to ring their device, even if it’s on silent.
Made out of stainless steel, it weighs a mere 11.8 grams, measures 5.4mm thick, and is rated IP67 for water resistance. The company lists a one-year battery life, with the Pixel Tag priced at S$45 for one and S$150 for a four-pack. Unlike the Pixel Watch 5, it will only be available this November.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
