Leaked Pixel Watch 4 renders hint at a bigger battery and no charging pins

Fresh leaks of the upcoming Pixel Watch 4 suggest that Google is continuing their quest to enhance battery longevity. New renders shared by 91mobiles, courtesy of reliable leaker OnLeaks, show off a device that maintains the familiar circular aesthetic and design but introduces some notable physical changes.

Perhaps the most significant potential shift is the watch’s apparent increase in thickness. 91mobiles suggests a depth of 14.3mm, a noticeable jump from the Pixel Watch 3’s 12.3mm. While increased thickness can accommodate various new components, it often points towards a larger battery cell.

Why a larger Pixel Watch 4 battery matters

A bigger battery is a big deal! Today’s smartwatches pack incredible functionality, from constant health monitoring and GPS tracking to app usage and mobile payments. These features, combined with bright, always-on displays, create a significant demand for power that goes far beyond simply telling time. Every active sensor and vibrant pixel draws energy, making battery capacity a crucial hardware element.

And users increasingly expect their smartwatches to last at least a full day and night on a single charge, with core functions like sleep tracking running through the night. The need to constantly manage battery levels or frequent charging simply takes away from the user experience. Multi-day battery life, as seen on competing devices from brands like Garmin or even specific high-end models like the Apple Watch Ultra, significantly reduces this charging anxiety, making the smartwatch a more reliable and practical tool, especially for anyone who travels a lot or has an unpredictable schedule.

Additionally, features like LTE connectivity offer the freedom to leave your phone behind while staying connected, but it’s not without a cost. This untethered experience, although great for workouts and reducing the chance that you will get sucked into your smartphone when you get a notification, does come with a substantial power cost as the watch maintains its own cellular link. This only amplifies the need for larger batteries to support true standalone functionality without constant battery concerns.

No more charging pins

Another interesting tidbit that you can see in the renders is the apparent removal of the four charging pins that we’ve had on the back of the Pixel Watch 2 and 3. These pins were introduced primarily to facilitate faster, more secure charging, though they necessitated a proprietary charger and were susceptible to wear. Their absence on the leaked Watch 4 renders hints at a potential return to wireless charging, possibly with improved heat management and charging speeds. Could Google have figured out faster wireless top-ups without the need for physical contacts?

Other visible changes include potentially slimmer screen bezels and two small, unidentified buttons flanking the speaker cutout. The overall design closely mirrors the Pixel Watch 3, and it’s expected to launch again in two sizes, likely 41mm and 45mm.

Of course, these are early renders, and it’s important to remember that these designs will almost certainly evolve before the official launch that will likely be next fall at Google’s annual hardware event. We still don’t know the internal specifications or what software enhancements WearOS 6 might bring, so we’ll have to wait and see what the Pixel Watch 4 will bring to the table and if it will be worth your hard-earned money. Here’s to hoping that maybe we’ll get at least a sneak peek at Google I/O next month!