Why is the first generation Google Pixel Watch charging slower?

If you've noticed that your Pixel Watch is taking longer to charge than usual, you've come to the right conclusion. For an as yet unknown reason, Google has slowed down the charging speed of the Pixel Watch with the latest update. However, the latest version of the Pixel Watch 2 did not experience any changes.

As discovered by 9to5Google, shortly after the launch of the Pixel Watch 2, Google updated its Google Pixel Watch technical support and specifications page. This happens very rarely, but in this case, Google deliberately slows down the charging speed.

Before the change, the American giant claimed that the smartwatch could be charged from 0 to 50 percent in 30 minutes. The Watch 2 still achieves that speed, but its predecessor now takes 45 minutes to reach 50 percent, 15 minutes longer, respectively. It also takes 20 minutes longer (75 minutes) to reach 80 percent battery, and 30 minutes longer (110 minutes) to reach full charge. For comparison, the same intervals for the Pixel Watch 2 last: 30 minutes, 43 minutes and 75 minutes. The reason why the Pixel Watch now takes longer to charge is related to the latest firmware update. According to Google, “a firmware update for Google Pixel Watches required a review of čcharge times.”

With the statement, Google did not give any serious hint as to why this kind of change was made. The charging speed is adjusted only in cases where there is excessive overheating during charging or when it is determined that something is wrong with the health of the battery. According to our data, the majority of existing Pixel Watch users have had no complaints about overheating, which is why Google's decision is all the more surprising. It could also just be a tactic to make a newer watch more attractive to buy.

The autonomy of the battery of the Google watches is still not overly bright, and with the extension of the charging time, they will only further irritate users who will look for alternatives outside the Google ecosystem. Huawei, Garmin, Suunto, Polar... There are a lot of choices and Google will have to be careful not to lose its existing user base in the future.

Regarding the unexpected change, they could also be a little more transparent. The change was noticed by third parties, but for such a decision, we would have expected a public announcement and also a clear explanation. Apple is another company that has come under fire for deliberately slowing down older phones. Although it has not excessively lost its reputation, it is enough to raise doubts about the company's integrity in a certain group of users.