Google Tests Missing Device Alert Feature on Pixel Watch

The Forgotten device alert will be available for the Pixel Watch line. (photo: x @SumahoReview )

Google is reportedly testing a forgotten device alert feature for the Pixel Watch line. This is an update that users have long awaited and has the potential to bring Google's smart watch closer to established competitors such as the Apple Watch.

The latest report says that Google is developing a Forgotten Device feature that will notify users when connected devices are separated. For example, when the Pixel Watch loses Bluetooth connection with a connected phone, the system will trigger an alert almost immediately. A similar mechanism can also work in reverse, with the watch notifying the user if the phone is left behind.

This kind of feature has long been the standard on the Apple Watch and a number of other high-end smartwatches. From the perspective of security and convenience, this feature is considered crucial because it helps users avoid the risk of losing devices in public places. Until now, the absence of a missing device alert has often been considered one of the main gaps in the Pixel Watch ecosystem.

According to a report from Android Authority, indications of the development of this feature were found in the form of a code string in the Pixel Watch companion app. The code indicates that Google is testing a notification system that will alert users if the watch is left behind while the phone is still near them. Notifications can also appear on the Pixel Watch if the connected phone is left behind.

"This feature is designed to improve security as well as the daily use experience," the report wrote, adding that the system will use Bluetooth connections to automatically track the whereabouts of both devices.

However, this feature is likely not available for all Pixel Watch models. The restriction indicates the need for certain hardware or software compatibility for the system to run optimally.

Until now, Google has not given an official statement regarding the development and release schedule of the Forgotten Device feature. In fact, there is no certainty whether the feature will actually be launched to the stable version for the public.

Even so, this development direction is considered positive. The Pixel Watch has been known for its distinctive design, solid fitness tracking, and increasingly mature software support. The presence of a delayed device alert has the potential to close one of the main shortcomings of the product and strengthen Google's position in the increasingly tight smartwatch market competition.

If this feature is really released, the Pixel Watch will not only be smarter, but also more difficult to "forget yourself" - or at least forget the watch.