Google Pixel Watch may have just handed the Galaxy Watch 5 a free win

Google's been teasing its first-ever smartwatch for a few good months, and the so-called Pixel Watch is apparently closing in on its debut. However, Google's first wrist wearable powered by Wear OS might not change the way we look at smartwatches. Instead, The Pixel Watch might help Samsung's Galaxy Watch 5 series become even more successful.

The Google Pixel Watch won't have the same top-tier internal hardware as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 series. Google's first smartwatch uses Samsung's older Exynos 9110 chipset, while Samsung moved to the upgraded Exynos W920 chip, which was designed specifically for wearables.

So, if the Pixel Watch hardware won't turn any heads, Google fans were hoping for the Pixel Watch to at least undercut the competition and become a relatively affordable smartwatch that offers access to Google's default Wear OS skin for a low cost. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case. (via 9to5Google)

Google Pixel Watch to cost more than the Galaxy Watch 5 LTE

According to the latest rumors, Google intends to release the 40mm Pixel Watch with LTE connectivity in the United States later this year for $399. In contrast, Samsung is selling the 40mm Galaxy Watch 5 LTE in the USA for $329, and that's not counting any trade-in discounts or other bonuses that customers might benefit from.

It looks as though the only remaining saving grace of the Google Pixel Watch might be its software. The Pixel Watch will offer unaltered Wear OS, and Google might try to push its services harder than it does on other smartwatches manufactured by competing OEMs.

However, given the hardware and alleged launch price, the Pixel Watch doesn't seem to have a chance to rival the latest Samsung smartwatches. By default, Samsung has once again become the best hardware supplier for Google's software and the unofficial face of Wear OS. And if this rumored launch price turns out to be correct, then any Wear OS customer wanting the best hardware will probably gravitate towards Samsung — or even other brands — especially outside the United States, where Google's retail network is almost nonexistent. As of now, things don't look very positive for the Pixel Watch, but time will tell what Google's plans really are and what they could mean for the Wear OS platform in the long term.