Google Swordfish smartwatch in a nutshell: We round up the rumours on Google’s incoming Android Wear watch, dubbed the Google Swordfish, which is set for launch in early 2017.
What is the Google Swordfish?
Boasting slick design and the new Android Wear 2.0 OS, the Swordfish watch from Google could be one of the best Android smartwatches of the year.
The Swordfish is one of two new Google wrist rockets expected to launch in 2017, alongside the Angelfish – although these are unlikely to be the final names of these Android Wear watches. More likely, they’ll be released with the Pixel branding, just like Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones.
Read next: What is Android Wear 2.0? Everything you need to know
What’s the difference between the Swordfish and Angelfish watches?
Both watches are likely to sport very similar specs and features, as well as a slick metal finish. So the primary difference between them will probably be the size.
Swordfish is the smaller of the two watches, which you can see in an early photo of the devices published on Android Wear (above). The Swordfish appears to have a slightly smaller screen and much thinner bezels than the Angelfish, making it better suited to feminine wrists. However, that reduced size also seems to mean that two of the side buttons have been culled. You’ll therefore be more reliant on the touchscreen controls.
You’ll also get a greater choice of colours with the Swordfish, if rumours are on the money. You can expect the smaller Google smartwatch to come in silver, dark grey and – of course – rose gold. Meanwhile the Angelfish will only come in grey.
As the above picture emerged in summer 2016, we doubt that the final Swordfish and Angelfish devices will look just like that.
Read next: Best Android smartwatches 2017
What are the Swordfish specs?
So far we don’t know much about the Swordfish smartwatch and its internals. However, like the Pixel phones before it, you can expect this watch to pack some seriously premium specs.
Rumours suggest that the Swordfish will be a stand-alone device, able to function perfectly well without an Android phone tethered to it. That means it’ll likely take a SIM card to receive messages and connect to the web, rather than simply relying on your phone’s connection.
You can also expect GPS support to be built in, so you can track your exercise sessions without lugging around a mobile. A heart rate sensor will also likely be built in, for measuring your pulse. Likewise, we’re hoping for an altimeter and other smart sensors to be buried away inside the Swordfish’s metal frame.
The Swordfish watch will likely boast full Google Assistant integration, which is Google’s snazzy and smart new virtual assistant.
Google Assistant first appeared on the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones and so far seems to be a reliable and intelligent tool, who can work out the context of your commands and deliver exactly what you need, with minimum fuss. On the Swordfish watch this could be an invaluable tool, helping you to respond to messages on the fly without the need to fiddle with your phone.
Chances are good that Google’s smartwatch will be powered by a Snapdragon 1100 or 2100, Qualcomm’s two chips that were designed specifically for watches. As the 2100 is the more capable of the pair, we’d put our cash on that being Google’s choice.
What’s the UK price and release date of the Google Swordfish watch?
Like the Pixel phones, Google’s Swordfish watch will likely come with a premium price tag when they’re lkaunchedf later in 2017.
The Swordfish is probably going to cost a little less than the Angelfish, with a UK asking price of around £299 to £349. That’ll make it roughly the same cost as the cheapest Apple Watch.
As for the release date, we’re expecting Google to reveal the Swordfish watch in the next month or so, along with the official release of Android Wear 2.0. In that case, we’d expect the Swordfish to hit the UK around March 2017.
We’ll bring you more news on the Google Swordfish when we have it.
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