Photos shared by Gearbox co-founder Randy Pitchford show an unreleased Google Pixel Watch 5 reportedly found underwater near St. Martin, complete with sensor labels and IP68 water resistance—before Google has announced any plans for the next watch.
By the weekend, a scuba dive near St. Martin turned into one of tech’s strangest unscheduled releases: a watch that appears to be an unreleased Google Pixel Watch 5, pulled up from the ocean and still looking—at least in photos—like it could be ready for the shelf.
Gearbox co-founder Randy Pitchford posted images on X along with a story. In his post, he said a friend found the unreleased Pixel Watch 5 while scuba diving near the island of St. Martin. Pitchford’s account claimed the watch was discovered underwater and appeared to still be functional despite the unexpected deep-sea detour.
The narrative didn’t end with the find. Pitchford later shared an update saying the owner had already been found thanks to “the magic of the internet,” and arrangements had been made to return the watch.
The images are what keep the story from fading into pure novelty. On the back of the device. the markings appear to read “Google” and “Pixel Watch 5. ” along with health sensor labels including “SpO2. ” “EDA. ” “Skin Temperature. ” “Heart Rate Sensor. ” “Pulse Sensor. ” and “UWB.” The back also references IP68 water resistance.
The front of the watch, according to the photos Pitchford shared, looks like a completed product rather than a rough test shell. It shows the familiar round Pixel Watch design, and the hardware appears nearly finalized.
What makes the leak even more jarring is the timing. The Pixel Watch 4 launched in October last year, leaving a wide gap before any expected Pixel Watch 5 release. Yet this alleged Pixel Watch 5—if the photos are legitimate—already looks polished.
There’s also a practical question hovering over the story: could this be an internal prototype being tested outside a controlled environment. then accidentally lost?. Pitchford’s account points to a real object found underwater. but the “found while scuba diving” part also suggests it wasn’t exactly treated like a prototype destined to stay out of the public eye.
If everything checks out, the leak lands with an added sting. A device leaking in renders is one thing. A device disappearing into the sea—and then resurfacing online—forces the issue from a different angle entirely. turning prototype tracking and handling into the story whether Google wants it or not.
Pixel Watch 5 Google Android wearables leaks Randy Pitchford St. Martin scuba diving IP68 UWB SpO2 EDA tech news