The Google Pixel Watch might not be the best smartwatch, but it’s what Pixel phone users have been waiting for. Good looks, smart software, and the support of Fitbit’s fitness tracking features make for a strong showing for a first-generation device.
For this Pixel Watch review, it was no easy task to separate the actual performance of the device from the excitement of the brand-new flagship smartwatch. The perfect combination of Google and Fitbit? It almost seemed too good to be true; And, for the most part, it lives up to its promises. Google apps run smoothly and Fitbit’s health tracking is as comprehensive as ever.
But as time went on with the Pixel Watch, some gripes presented themselves that were uncharacteristic for a $349 smartwatch, though not surprising for a version 1.0 device. Battery life feels very un-Fitbit, and the large bezel is a small letdown. There was also an annoying moment when I thought I’d never get the watch strap back on my review unit, though I did eventually get to grips with the interchangeable band mechanism.
Google Pixel Watch: Price
Google unveiled its new smartwatch alongside the Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro phones at its Google Pixel 7 event (officially a Google-made title) on October 6 It’s accessible for pre-order now and will start shipping on October 13.
The Google Pixel Watch is priced at $350 / £340 / AU$550 for the Wi-Fi and GPS model and $400 / £380 / AU$650 for the LTE edition . As mentioned, there is only one size and board range of band styles and colors.
Google Pixel Watch: Design
The Google Pixel Watch is a simple-looking smartwatch, to say the least. It comes in only one size: 41 mm. Those with larger wrists may complain about the lack of a larger option. That said, it fits me perfectly.
The face has a round design with a 3D glass dome. This bumpy effect distracts from the display’s thick bezel but doesn’t change the fact that a good portion of the display is unusable. Maybe my previous experience with Samsung watches is to blame? I can’t help but think it’s a missed opportunity to add a digital rotating bezel to this space.
There seems to be no mistaking that the Pixel Watch is a “dark mode” device. The interface and all Google watch faces have a black background to further hide the bezel. The only watch face that extends into the bezel is the Google Photo Watch face, which I like a lot from a personalization standpoint, even if it emphasizes the watch’s small size.
There have been some complaints of OLED burn-in for the Pixel Watch display, but Google says users are seeing image retention and that it’s shifting pixels frequently to avoid burn-in.
The Digital Crown on the side bears a striking resemblance to the Apple Watch’s Digital Crown, complete with some tactile grooves. Above the Digital Crown, the Pixel Watch has a small button that opens recently used apps with a short press, a feature that only came to the Apple Watch’s side button this year. A long press of this button wakes up Google Assistant.
The Pixel Watch comes in three colors: Matte Black, Silver, and Gold. Google launched the Pixel Watch with seven types of interchangeable straps in different materials and colors, which are exclusively compatible with the Pixel Watch. Changing bands presents a learning curve, as it is a proprietary procedure. Honestly, I struggled a lot at first, at one point I was convinced I wouldn’t be able to bring the band back. But I finally got the hang of it and am optimistic about changing straps based on style or occasion.
Google Pixel Watch: Fitting
Google Pixel Watch fitness tracking is fully powered by Fitbit, meaning users will have access to basic activity data as well as Fitbit Premium’s overall health features.
The watch can track more than 40 exercise types, while also counting your steps and continuously monitoring your heart rate. I was impressed with the heart rate measurement, which not only updates continuously on watch faces with heart rate complications but also adjusts quickly during exercise. In yoga practice, I wore both my Apple Watch Series 8 and Google Pixel Watch and found that the Pixel Watch changed my heart rate at least a second faster than the Apple Watch. In addition to heart rate monitoring, the Pixel Watch can be used to take an ECG to detect possible signs of atrial fibrillation.
When it comes to GPS tracking during walks and runs, the Pixel Watch’s distance readings perfectly match the Apple Watch’s on both open roads and my local track. At all times, the workout interface displayed my metrics including distance, elapsed time, steps (for walking), pace, and active zone minutes achieved.
Active Zone Minutes is an activity standard introduced in 2020 on the Fitbit Charge 4 (which has been replaced by the Fitbit Charge 5). I must spend, according to WHO guidance. Depending on your current activity level, this may seem like a daunting goal, but it’s meant to be encouraging for those who want to spend more time on their fitness.
One thing to note is that some people are reporting that the Pixel Watch is increasing their calorie count. So, keep this in mind before taking all this data to heart.
Battery
The battery life of the Google Pixel Watch is estimated at 24 hours of battery life. That’s probably a little lower than I was hoping to see, especially with the Galaxy Watch and Apple Watch battery upgrades this year. In my testing, I can barely get enough time, with GPS draining 20% of battery life per hour. That said, on days I didn’t exercise or use activity tracking, the watch ran for a full 24 hours.
Not that a daily charge is unusual for wearables, but the Fitbit Sense 2 felt a bit clunky with a 6-day battery life that lasts a fraction. Perhaps the Pixel Watch’s stamina wouldn’t seem so disappointing if it didn’t run like a Fitbit watch.
As for charging, the Pixel Watch comes with a simple magnetic to USB-C charger that looks like a pebble. It charges from nearly dead to full in about an hour, which is in line with the charging capabilities of most popular smartwatches.
Google Pixel Watch: Verdict
The Google Pixel Watch is a beautiful piece of wearable hardware. It’s eye-catching and, more importantly, useful.
It is a perfect partner for Google’s new line of Google Pixel 7 phones. And while we’d love to see seamless Fitbit integration, the little hoops we had to jump through (those jumps don’t count toward our daily step count, sadly) soon faded into the background when we Use the watch to measure exercise, walking, heart rate, sleep habits, and more.
There are many things better than having Google Assistant on your wrist. We love our Apple Watch and Siri, but Google Assistant is even better thanks to Google’s vast knowledge.
The screen is a bit on the small side but as we mentioned above, you don’t notice it too much, unless you’re reading text.
We’re not fans of the big sensor hump on the back, especially when it presses into our wrists while sleeping. We find the band connection and removal strategy the most awkward. And we have some analysis on battery life. (Android watch battery life is often measured in days, not hours, after all). You might consider the one-size-fits-all strategy a disadvantage, but the 41mm case is, essentially, a sweet spot for many wrists.
Overall, this is a great smartwatch built on a world-class platform. It’s also slightly more affordable than some competitors and feels like a real contender for Apple’s best offering. If Google can fix the back, rejigger the band, and add a slightly bigger battery, the Pixel Watch could be unbeatable.
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