Google Pixel Watch 5 Accidentally Found at the Bottom of the Ocean

Gearbox co-founder Randy Pitchford shared an unusual story on social media platform X*: His acquaintance discovered a Google Pixel Watch 5 prototype while scuba diving near Saint Martin. The device had been lying on the ocean floor but appeared to remain operational.

Photos of the back panel show "Google" and "Pixel Watch 5" inscriptions, along with sensor labels: SpO2, EDA, skin temperature, heart rate, pulse, and UWB. The IP68 water resistance rating is also visible. The device’s design looks nearly finalized—so much so that it could be mistaken for a finished product.

The situation is particularly odd given that Google has yet to announce the Pixel Watch 5, with the previous model released just last October. Typically, leaks involve blurry photos or accidentally misplaced prototypes, but finding one at the ocean floor is unprecedented. The owner was later identified through online activity, and the watch was returned.

If the story is true, Google may need to overhaul its prototype control system. Leaks via renders are one thing, but losing a device in the ocean is an entirely different level of oversight.