Mysterious Google device passed certification. It will run on Android and has a metal body

Google’s mysterious wearable device is back on the scene. In August, it briefly appeared in ads for the Pixel 11 series alongside the Pixel Watch 5, and the company subsequently pulled them. Now it has appeared in the US FCC certification database under the designation G8BL6 and brought a few specific pieces of information.

GPS directly in the device, not via phone

The most significant finding concerns navigation. The device supports Bluetooth Low Energy and GNSS satellite reception, which means its own GPS, and not just taking location from a paired phone. For runners and cyclists, this is a crucial difference — with such a device, you can go out without a mobile phone.

Second important piece of information: according to the documents, the device runs on Android, most likely Wear OS, not a simplified proprietary system like Google uses for Fitbit trackers. The certification also confirms a metal frame, which matches what was seen in the pulled ads.

Pixel, or Fitbit?

The brand question remains open. In the FCC, the device appears only under a code designation without any logo, so it cannot be determined whether it falls under Pixel or the Fitbit division. However, the August ads presented it more as a Pixel product.

Would you welcome cheaper watches with their own GPS from Google, or are Pixel Watch enough?

Source: Notebookcheck, FCC, Android Headlines