Google smartwatches coming early 2017, Android Wear 2.0 update to follow

After Google’s own Pixel smartphone, here is the next. The technology giant will launch two new smartwatches next year.

The Google smartwatches will be powered by Android Wear 2.0 and will be releasing early 2017. Google’s product manager of Android Wear Jeff Chang however told The Verge that it won’t be branded Google or Pixel.

So what branding to expect? According to Chang, it will carry the OEM branding. This the rumors did not speculate earlier. While similar to the Pixel, Google was expected to bring its own smartwatches, now we know it will be another well known brand.

Reports note Motorola, LG and Samsung will be among the top contenders to make the smartwatch. You can expect to see the Google wearables launching at the CES 2017 to be held in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, the existing Android Wear watches will be receiving an update to Android Wear 2.0 following the launch of the new device.

Among the popular will include Moto 360 Gen 2, Moto 360 Sport, LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE, LG Watch Urbane, LG G Watch R, Polar M600, Casio Smart Outdoor Watch, Tag Heuer Connected, Fossil Q Wander, Fossil Q Marshal, Fossil Q Founder, Huawei Watch, Asus ZenWatch 2 and the Asus ZenWatch 3.

For the uninitiated, the new update will bring numerous new features including support for standalone apps such as Android Pay, Google’s voice-controlled assistant and others.

“Google will release the fifth and final developer preview of Android Wear 2.0 in January, and it is expected to include support for both Google Assistant and Android Pay (on supported devices) in it,” The Verge reported.

Earlier, well known leakster Evan Blass had mentioned the coming of Google smartwatches codenamed Angelfish and Swordfish. As for the highlights, reports said the Angelfish will come with a diameter of 43.5mm with three physical buttons on the side, and features like GPS, LTE, and a heart-rate monitor, and Swordfish will be smaller in size with one crown button on the side.

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