Skip to main content

Pixel Watch 2 might soon tell you the time by vibrating

The Pixel Watch 2 introduced more precise haptics and Google might soon offer a feature that can tell the time by vibrating.

This capability lets you “quickly tap your watch face” with two fingers to get the current time” as a series of vibrations. A single tap returns the hour, while you double-tap for minutes.

The Pixel Watch 2 will offer two vibrating time readouts:

  • Digits: Your watch gives a long vibration for 10 and a short vibration for one 
  • Terse: Round current time to the nearest quarter hour. Your watch gives a short vibration for each 15-minute increment

Lastly, there’s a “Vibration speed” setting, like Medium. 

Source: u/DeFQoN_1_469

As of today, “Vibration watch” was spotted on a Pixel Watch 2 by at least one owner under Settings app > Vibrations. This looks to be an A/B test that most people don’t have, like how some people have the beginnings of Dynamic Color theming

This serves as a subtle way to tell the time without having to look at your watch, while it also helps those that are blind or have low vision use the Pixel Watch. It would join Fitbit Relax’s breathing exercises as another demo of the updated vibration motor.

The Apple Watch offers a similar feature called “Taptic Time,” which also supports a Morse Code readout. It’s not clear when “Vibration watch” is rolling out, but the next Pixel Feature Drop should be next month if the January one didn’t disrupt the schedule.

More on Pixel Watch:

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

Author

Avatar for Abner Li Abner Li

Editor-in-chief. Interested in the minutiae of Google and Alphabet. Tips/talk: abner@9to5g.com

Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications