Samsung jumped on a new chip, Google sticks to the old one. Pixel Watch 5 leaked just before the premiere

While Samsung switched to a new chip for its watches this week, Google apparently remains faithful to the motto “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The upcoming Pixel Watch 5, codenamed Godric, appeared in the Google Play Console database, and the record reveals an unpleasant truth: inside ticks the same Qualcomm SW5100 chip (Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1) as in the Pixel Watch 2, 3, and 4. Four generations, one foundation.

The biggest difference is in the cores used

Specifically, it’s a quartet of power-efficient Cortex-A53 cores at 1.7 GHz – an architecture ARM introduced back in 2012. This is painfully evident when compared to the new Galaxy Watch 9, which received a 3nm Snapdragon Wear Elite; according to Qualcomm, this ideally offers up to 5× higher processor performance and 7× higher graphics performance. The only consolation is the increase in RAM from 2 to 3 GB RAM – the very first since Google entered the smartwatch market. More memory is likely intended to serve Gemini features, paradoxically allowing Pixel Watch 5 to surpass Samsung in at least one category, as the Korean watches remain at 2 GB.

Same look, higher price. Logic nowhere to be found

According to earlier leaks, the design remains unchanged, the display density of 320 ppi stays the same, and FCC certification confirmed Wi-Fi 6, NFC, UWB, and an optional LTE modem. What is changing, however, is the price tag: the smaller 41mm variant is expected to increase by 20 euros in Europe to 419 euros (approximately over 10 thousand Czech crowns), the larger 44mm version will add 30 euros, and LTE another hundred. Paying more for the same thing is a bold strategy. We will get official answers on August 12 at the Made by Google event alongside the Pixel 11 series – until then, these are unofficial, albeit very specific, information.

Would a four-year-old chip bother you if the watch otherwise runs smoothly?

Source: 9to5Google, Notebookcheck