Stephanie Cuthbertson discusses the mobile operating system during the Google I/O developers conference in Mountain View
Stephanie Cuthbertson, senior director of Android at Google, discusses the mobile operating system during the Google I/O developers conference in Mountain View, California, U.S. May 7, 2019. (Photo: REUTERS/Paresh Dave)

While many tech enthusiasts are talking about the potential release of the Google Pixel 4 XL, a new report about Google's very own smartwatch recently surfaced online. The report is based on the recently discovered patent application filed by the search engine giant. Could this be our very first look at the rumored Google Pixel Watch which, according to the official document will have a built-in camera?

A few months ago, there were speculations that the long-awaited smartwatch from Google dubbed by many sites as the Google Pixel Watch will be launched along with the Google Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL, but, it never happened. However, if the recent report is accurate, it appears that Google is still working on the much-awaited wearable and would like to add a camera into it. LetsGoDigital first reported the patent application filed by Google about its wrist-worn device.

The report reveals the plan of the search engine giant to embed a camera on the fact of Google Pixel Watch. The patent was filed in 2017, but the official documentation was publicly published by the USPTO or the United States Patent and Trademark Office on August 27, 2019. The patent is simply named Camera Watch and has seven sketches of the alleged United States Patent and Trademark Office design.

While interesting to note that Google is planning to put a camera on its upcoming United States Patent and Trademark Office, the patent application does not reveal what the company plans about the camera on the wearable. It could be a part of the facial recognition feature that Google wants the Google Pixel Watch to have to authenticate tap to pay and to add more security layers to this particular feature.

Apple and Samsung initially released wearables with camera but it was not further included in the succeeding releases. And, it is not hard to see why camera has not found a permanent home in wearables. For one, it could be tough to achieve a well-framed shot out of the device.

Additionally, there is a very little amount of decent camera sensor available that could be used for the camera on smartwatches. Several rumors are claiming that the Google Pixel Watch might be launched alongside Google Pixel 4 XL. This patent application, like all other leaks, should be taken with a barrel of salt and with skepticism until Google officially announces that it is indeed going to launch the Google Pixel Watch.