Google Pixel Watch 3, after updating to Wear OS 5.1, became the first smartwatch to receive support for Bluetooth Channel Sounding, a feature that is part of the Bluetooth 6.0 specification, Android Authority reports.
This feature allows you to determine the distance between two Bluetooth devices with an accuracy of up to a centimeter, even without using an ultra-wideband (UWB) chip. Although the Pixel Watch 3's technical documentation only lists support for Bluetooth 5.3, the new update gives the watch support for the precise tracking available in Bluetooth 6.0.
Channel Sounding improves positioning accuracy and improves automatic pairing of devices within range. For example, users will be able to find nearby trackers faster because, in addition to the sound signal, the system will also display the approximate distance to the object. This makes searching for devices easier and more efficient.
Unlike traditional methods that rely on signal strength and can be subject to errors due to interference, Channel Sounding promises more consistent results. Similar accuracy is currently provided by Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, used in Apple's AirTag, for example, but it requires separate hardware components and increases the cost of the devices.
The Google Pixel Watch 3 also has a UWB chip, but this is not the case with most smartphones, smartwatches, and trackers. The advantage of the Channel Sounding feature is that it only uses existing Bluetooth hardware, so it only requires a software update to run. However, while the Pixel Watch 3 already has this new feature, it still needs more devices to support it for it to fully work.