Key Takeaways
1. The Google Pixel Watch 3 currently supports Bluetooth 5.3 but will soon receive a Wear OS 5.1 update to include Bluetooth 6.0 features.
2. The key feature being added is Channel Sounding, allowing precise distance measurement between Bluetooth devices, potentially accurate within half a meter.
3. Channel Sounding improves automatic pairing of devices in close proximity and helps locate nearby trackers with distance indications.
4. While Bluetooth 6.0 offers enhanced tracking, it doesn’t require additional hardware like an ultra-wideband (UWB) chip for functionality.
5. Google has not confirmed if the Pixel Watch 3 will fully adopt Bluetooth 6.0 but aims to improve Android tracker positioning to compete with Apple’s AirTag.
According to information from Google’s data sheet, the Google Pixel Watch 3 currently only has support for Bluetooth 5.3. However, a recent report from Android Authority indicates that this is set to change with the upcoming Wear OS 5.1 update. After the update, the Pixel Watch 3 will feature at least one capability introduced with Bluetooth 6.0: Channel Sounding. This capability enables users to measure the distance between two Bluetooth devices with a good degree of precision – it is suggested that location accuracy could be within half a meter.
Advantages of Channel Sounding
In practical terms, this brings about two significant benefits. First, it allows for more reliable automatic pairing of devices when they are in close proximity. Second, it enhances the ability to locate nearby trackers, as not only will a sound be emitted, but the approximate distance to the respective tracker will also be shown, making it simpler to figure out which direction to go. Although the tracking accuracy via Bluetooth 6.0 Channel Sounding is not as exact as that provided by an ultra-wideband (UWB) chip, it has the key advantage of not needing any extra hardware.
UWB Chip Considerations
While the Google Pixel Watch 3 includes a UWB chip, this feature is not found in most smartphones, smartwatches, and Google “Find Hub” trackers, with the exception being the Motorola Moto Tag. Google has yet to officially clarify if the Pixel Watch 3 will embrace the complete Bluetooth 6.0 standard post-update or if it will only incorporate certain features. Nonetheless, this update indicates Google’s intentions to leverage channel sounding to enhance the positioning of Android trackers in competition with Apple’s AirTag in the future.
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