Google Pixel Watch 4 Won’t Get New Chip, Adds Battery Boost
Google Pixel Watch 4 keeps the same Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chip but adds larger batteries and two size options. Launch expected alongside Pixel 10 in September.
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Google’s next wearable, the Pixel Watch 4, will ship next month with the same Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 processor used since the Pixel Watch 2, according to internal sources. The company plans two case sizes, a 41 mm model and a 45 mm model, offering both Wi-Fi and LTE variants.
The smaller watch will house a 327 mAh battery, up 7 percent over the Pixel Watch 3’s 307 mAh cell. The larger model grows to 459 mAh, a 9 per cent increase from its predecessor’s 420 mAh pack. Charging speeds are said to improve, though exact figures remain unconfirmed.
Google identified the 41 mm unit as codename “meridian” (FME23) and the 45 mm unit as “kenari” (FK23). Both names reference Star Wars planets, marking a shift from the deity-inspired codenames of earlier watches.
Qualcomm’s forthcoming SW6100 platform promises performance gains, but its launch schedule misses Google’s timeline. Switching to Samsung’s Exynos W-series chips posed supply and compatibility risks. Google is also reportedly developing an in-house chip for the 2026 watch release.
Despite its age, the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 delivers solid Wear OS performance and efficiency. Google optimized software to extract reliable battery life without resorting to display workarounds used by competitors.
The Pixel Watch 4 will debut alongside the Pixel 10 smartphone lineup at Google’s annual hardware event, set for September. Preorders are expected to open immediately after the keynote.
