How the Stephen Curry Edition could stand apartThe biggest change here really seems to be the strap, not the watch hardware itself. Leaked Google marketing material reportedly shows the Stephen Curry Edition rocking a Polished Silver case paired with a woven band that blends stone grey, taupe, orange and brown tones together. The strap also carries Curry's name and "#LockIn" branding, giving the watch a much more distinctive sporting feel.This band's also expected to come with a water repellent coating, though leaked documentation reportedly warns that coating could wear off over time with regular use. Beyond the strap though, the watch itself is tipped to keep the same 45mm design, haptic crown, side button, and IP68 rating as the standard model.Unlike a typical hardware refresh, this Curry Edition really seems to be about exclusivity and design rather than new tech. Leaked info suggests the watch keeps the core specs of the 45mm LTE Pixel Watch 5 intact, with that custom woven strap and Curry branding doing all the real differentiating. It's also expected to sell only while supplies last, and might not even launch in every market. That limited availability could end up making this edition feel more like a collector's item than a genuinely separate technical variant. That reported EUR 579.99 price would put it EUR 30.99 above the standard 45mm LTE model, so the premium here really just comes down to the special edition treatment itself.Why Google is partnering with Stephen CurryStephen Curry is one of the biggest basketball names in his era, and is known for being a 4 time NBA champ for the Golden State Warriors, and even arguably the best ever shooter in the game.This Curry Edition gives Google a real chance to connect the Pixel Watch with a globally recognized sports figure, all while keeping the underlying hardware pretty much untouched. Curry's expected to actually show up at Google's August 12 hardware event too, which makes his presence part of the whole launch story.This collaboration also fits Google's broader playbook, using personality driven editions to give familiar hardware a fresh identity without reinventing anything. From a product standpoint, the special strap and branding let Google create a genuinely premium variant without needing an entirely different watch platform underneath it all. Keeping supply limited could also help this edition feel even more appealing to Curry fans and Pixel users who want something a bit more distinctive on their wrist.