Google Pixel Watch review

Value When Reviewed

429

It has lastly occurred. Having made a smartwatch working system for nearly a decade, Google has lastly made its personal smartwatch.

In nearly each method, the Pixel Watch was definitely worth the wait. 

Once I first noticed the LG G Watch in 2013 forward of its official launch I used to be excited, however having been a fan of Google’s personal {hardware} for some time, I’ve at all times questioned what an own-brand smartwatch can be like. 

Google makes Put on OS in spite of everything, and whereas I’d nearly given up hope varied instances over time, the Pixel Watch is lastly right here. 

Beginning at $349/£339/€379, it’s priced in between the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Professional in addition to the Apple Watch SE and Sequence 8. For a first-generation system, Google has carried out a superb job to make one thing that lastly appears like a real Apple Watch rival for Android followers, but it surely’s not with out its flaws.

Design & Construct 

• Recycled chrome steel 
• Customized 3D glass 
• 50ATM 

The design of the Pixel Watch is without doubt one of the important lures for me. It truly is a factor of magnificence and by some means lives as much as the renders we noticed earlier than the official launch which may be very uncommon.  

Google has made the physique out of 80% recycled chrome steel and the entrance is customized 3D Gorilla Glass 5. I’ve received the Polished Silver color and it seems each bit as premium as you’d anticipate although I believe this is perhaps the worst color, with Matte Black and Champagne Gold additionally on supply. 

Henry Burrell / Foundry

The rounded and easy pebble-like design offers the Pixel Watch an expensive high quality, particularly while you add in the way in which the proprietary band seamlessly flows into the principle physique. The entire aesthetic simply seems gorgeous and makes different smartwatches look boring and even ugly. 

Google provides two sizes of band within the field to make sure you will get the precise match. The usual Fluoroelastomer band works effectively with a metallic nodule you possibly can put by way of any of the holes. 

There’s a vary of further straps you should buy from Google together with Stretch, Woven and Leather-based.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

I used to be a tad anxious about how thick the watch is at 12.3mm but it surely sits completely effectively on my wrist and can also be light-weight at 36g not together with the band. General, this can be a dinky smartwatch which is nice for those who discover others available on the market too large. 

That Gorilla Glass entrance gained’t be as sturdy as sapphire, however I’ve not had a single mark or scratch in over every week. The Pixel Watch can also be waterproof to 5ATM (50m) so can go nearly anyplace with you until you’re a deep sea diver.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Across the sides of the physique you’ll discover a mic, speaker, button and a digital crown. You possibly can put on the watch in any orientation so the crown can go on both aspect relying in your desire. 

Display screen & Audio 

• AMOLED 
• 1000 nits brightness 
• Mic and speaker 

The compact design of the Pixel Watch does imply the show is on the small aspect and an inexpensive bezel round it doesn’t assist issues, though a lot of the watch faces and UI cover it effectively. 

Google doesn’t checklist a dimension for it however so far as I can collect it’s 1.2in which is similar because the Galaxy Watch 5. 

The AMOLED display screen has an honest pixel density of 320ppi and DCI-P3 color, although Google doesn’t say to what accuracy stage. Regardless, the display screen is crisp and vibrant with as much as 1000 nits brightness, in keeping with the agency. 

Henry Burrell / Foundry

I actually haven’t had any issues viewing the Pixel Watch open air in robust daylight. You possibly can choose three ranges of brightness within the settings, however the watch additionally has adaptive brightness because of an ambient mild sensor, so I haven’t wanted to regulate it manually. 

There are additionally Bedtime and Cinema modes you possibly can swap on for sure conditions to keep away from annoyance and to avoid wasting battery life. 

I’ll discuss intimately about battery life later but it surely’s price noting now that there’s an always-on choice for the show but it surely’s off by default as it can shorten the life considerably. In any other case, you’ve tap-to-wake or raise-to-wake as you’d anticipate although I discovered the latter not at all times dependable. 

As talked about, there’s a microphone and speaker on one aspect of the watch and the mic does a strong job of selecting up my voice for issues like instructions or dictation. The speaker is restricted in high quality as a result of dimension of the Pixel Watch. 

Henry Burrell / Foundry

I switched off audio notifications nearly instantly, however you can too use it to have a telephone name if obligatory, although you’ll battle for those who’re not sat in a fairly quiet room. Oddly, you possibly can’t use it to take heed to music. 

Software program & Options 

• Put on OS 3.5 
• Helpful ‘Tiles’ 
• Wonderful Google integration 

There are not any prizes for guessing that the Pixel Watch runs Put on OS. Nevertheless, this Pixel-tinged model of Put on OS 3.5 isn’t one thing we’ve seen earlier than and is much like how for those who purchase a Pixel smartphone, you get the pure uninterrupted Android expertise. 

Google has been working with Samsung on the software program however the Galaxy Watch 5 vary comes with a One UI overlay, for instance. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Establishing with Pixel 7 is a breeze as you get an computerized pop-up and the aptly named Pixel Watch app offers a superb tutorial on methods to use the system’s {hardware} and software program. However fortunately you don’t want a Pixel telephone to make use of the Watch – simply an Android telephone operating Android 8.0 or above. iPhone customers are out of luck.

From the principle watch face, you possibly can swipe up for notifications or swipe down for fast settings and knowledge comparable to battery stage. Scrolling will also be carried out with the digital crown which is suitably easy and satisfying with wonderful haptic suggestions. And haptic suggestions is nice elsewhere, too. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

You will have the contact display screen to pick out issues although in addition to swipe left or proper from the watch face to entry Tiles. These are basically widgets for issues like climate, calendar, sleep, coronary heart price and extra.  

They’re customisable by way of the order they sit in, and you’ll even do that on the watch itself somewhat than the companion app, in addition to add or take away them to your liking.

By default, there are eight watch faces to select from and you’ll edit varied components to get issues good. There are additionally a lot extra through the Pixel Watch to select from for those who like. Some cover the bezel higher than others. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

You possibly can reply to message notifications straight from the watch by dictation or utilizing the display screen to decide on an emoji. I used to be additionally stunned by how effectively the on-screen keyboard labored to compose a message utilizing swipe enter.  

Pushing the digital crown goes again to the watch face or opens a listing of apps relying the place you’re within the UI and the button above opens not too long ago used apps or a protracted press summons Google Assistant. 

It’s all very neat and intuitive and the combination with Google companies, as you would possibly hope, is superb. 

I’ve already talked about Google Assistant might be accessed by lengthy urgent the aspect button however you can too say “Hey Google” or make a complication shortcut on some watch faces. It really works very well and meant I didn’t really want the Google Dwelling app to do issues like flip lights on and off. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The Dwelling app on Put on OS is in beta and slightly fundamental so you possibly can’t do issues like view Nest cameras, alter the amount of a speaker, or management a Nest thermostat. Most faucets lead to a message asking you to get your telephone out. 

There’s additionally Google Maps for on-wrist instructions, which means you don’t must maintain getting your telephone out when discovering your method and this even features a mini-map which works surprisingly effectively on the compact display screen. 

You even have Google Pockets to make funds through NFC, though you have to to arrange a PIN for safety. 

The pre-loaded apps cowl most bases however you possibly can head to the Google Play Retailer to get extra with heaps out there together with Spotify, Calm, Outlook and lots of extra. 

Health & Monitoring 

• Fitbit integration 
• Loads of sensors 

The opposite Google service that’s tightly woven into the Pixel Watch is Fitbit, since Google not too long ago acquired the corporate. In a method, the Pixel Watch is essentially the most premium Fitbit system you should buy with Google saying it has “Fitbit’s most correct coronary heart price monitoring but.” 

This implies you have to observe your stats in your telephone utilizing the Fitbit app, which you have to have an account to signal into – you at the moment can’t sign up utilizing your Google account. It’s one other nail within the coffin for the Google Match app, which is ignored of the entire equation.

As common, the optical coronary heart price monitor is discovered on the again of the watch and presses up towards your pores and skin. The digital crown is then used as someplace to put your index finger if you wish to do an ECG (electrocardiogram). 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The Pixel Watch will have the ability to observe blood oxygen ranges in future – there’s a sensor in-built but it surely isn’t practical but. That ought to include a software program replace. It additionally has loads of different sensors for monitoring comparable to an accelerometer, gyroscope and altimeter. 

All this implies you get in depth monitoring whether or not you simply need to rely steps and energy or rather more. Hyperlink the Pixel Watch with the Fitbit app and also you’ll get every kind of data with graphs of your coronary heart price and Zone Minutes – i.e. while you’ve reached sure coronary heart price zones throughout train comparable to ‘fats burn’ and ‘cardio’. 

There are greater than 40 completely different actions to select from and though some rival watches supply much more, these cowl the most typical. Your most used ones will seem on the Fitbit tile and built-in GPS means you possibly can exit with out your telephone and nonetheless document your route.

Oddly, computerized monitoring in the identical method as sure Fitbits just like the Sense 2 – with Auto Begin, Cease and Pause – is just not out there on the Pixel Watch. The system can nonetheless routinely observe sure actions and you’ll discover them within the Fitbit app after you’ve completed. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

It is a disgrace and doesn’t actually make sense contemplating Google owns Fitbit. In a remark to 9to5Google, the agency mentioned, “Over time, we’ll work to carry extra on system exercise recognition to our watch portfolio.” I hope that is added sooner somewhat than later however till then, you’ll need to intentionally begin an exercise to ensure.

One thing that’s positively on the way in which is fall detection which Google says will arrive ‘this winter’. It’s a characteristic frequent on Apple Watches that may inform for those who’ve fallen and enable you to alert contacts or emergency companies.

In case you put on the Pixel Watch at night time, which is snug to do in my expertise, you can too get detailed sleep monitoring. This makes use of extra battery, in fact, and I’m of the opinion that I don’t need to be instructed how badly I’ve slept as it could actually make me really feel worse. 

Contemplating the battery life (extra on that under) you would possibly need to depart the Pixel Watch on its charger when you slumber. 

You’re not restricted to Fitbit although and different in style health apps can be found for the Pixel Watch together with Strava. You do get to check out Fitbit Premium without spending a dime for six months which incorporates varied tutored exercises and mindfulness periods in addition to a deeper dive into your information. After that although, it prices $9.99/£7.99 per 30 days – slightly galling.

Specs & Efficiency 

• Exynos 9110 processor 
• 2/32GB reminiscence and storage 
• GPS, NFC and non-compulsory LTE 

Kicking off the core specs is a Samsung Exynos 9110 processor which is constructed for wearables. On the one hand, this a bit stunning as that is the chip that was seen within the first Galaxy Watch again in 2018. 

The newest Galaxy Watch 5 has a more moderen Exynos W920 additionally seen within the Galaxy Watch 4 but it surely makes use of a 5nm manufacturing course of somewhat than 10nm of the Exynos 9110. 

The chip is paired with 2GB of RAM which is greater than the Watch 5 and, regardless of the outdated chip, I’ve discovered the efficiency of the Pixel Watch completely easy and serviceable other than a few very minor blips – primarily opening a notification to learn your complete factor and being offered with a clean gray field. 

The larger impression of getting this chipset, it appears, is on battery life (see under). 

Henry Burrell / Foundry

There’s additionally 32GB of storage on-board as normal giving you extra space than key rivals for apps and downloading music. You are able to do this with YouTube Music or Spotify.

When it comes to different specs, you get all of the sorts of belongings you’d anticipate from a premium smartwatch together with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS and the sensors talked about within the earlier part. 

These wanting information on the go with out the necessity for pairing with a smartphone can go for the 4G LTE mannequin of the Pixel Watch for an additional $50/£40 over the Wi-Fi solely mannequin. In fact, information plans come at an extra value and networks are restricted to EE and Vodafone within the UK however there’s a a lot wider selection within the US. 

Battery Life & Charging 

• 294mAh cell 
• Sporadic battery life 
• Fast charging 

Sadly that is the place we hit the Pixel Watch’s Achilles heel. It’s not a complete battery failure however it’s inconsistent. 

The Pixel Watch has a small 294mAh battery, which isn’t unusual for a smartwatch of this dimension and whereas Apple claims 18 hours for the Sequence 8 and Google quotes 24 so on paper it beats a key rival whereas being cheaper. 

The issue right here is that you just won’t get to that determine. As talked about, ‘inconsistent’ is the important thing phrase right here as a weekend at residence noticed me get nearly 48 hours of battery life, whereas a day journey into London noticed it final simply over 12 hours. 

And I wasn’t even utilizing the Watch rather more other than filming a video about it within the afternoon and by that time, it had already dropped to under 20%. There are numerous components that can have an effect on battery life, in fact, so issues like operating with GPS, Spotify and utilizing the always-on display screen characteristic will suck juice. 

Maybe a more moderen chipset on a smaller manufacturing course of will assist on this division, somewhat than the ageing Exynos 9110. 

Fortunately, charging is fairly fast and with the provided charger and a 15W wall plug, I received to 39% after 15-minutes and 53% after 30. 

The charger itself is very similar to many on the market and comes within the type of a small magnetic puck. Nevertheless, I’d want a stand like Motorola has carried out. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

One other problem is that you would be able to’t use different chargers because the Pixel Watch doesn’t help Qi wi-fi charging. So even when you’ve got a Pixel Stand 2, or need to use the reverse wi-fi charging on the again of a Pixel 7, you possibly can’t. 

Observe that even for those who see a charging animation and seems to be working, the watch isn’t really being topped up which is poor type from Google. 

Value & Availability 

The Pixel Watch begins at $349/£339/€379 for the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth mannequin with a selection of any colourway. In order for you LTE connectivity (further community prices apply) then you definately’ll must pay $399/£379/€429. 

You should buy it directly from Google in addition to the likes of:

US

UK

This makes it costlier than the Galaxy Watch 5 and Apple Watch SE 2022 however cheaper than the Galaxy Watch 5 Professional and Apple Watch Sequence 8. 

In fact, there are many different choices on the market so try our chart of the very best smartwatches and finest Fitbits to see extra. 

Henry Burrell / Foundry

Verdict 

If you wait so lengthy for one thing, it turns into more durable for it to reside as much as expectations. Nevertheless, the Google Pixel Watch has gone past mine in some ways. 

It truly is the one smartwatch I’d think about carrying past the overview interval and this largely comes right down to its stunning design. Not solely does it feel and look nice, with its personal persona, but it surely’s additionally compact, mild and cozy, too. 

The construct high quality can also be distinctive so all of this mixed makes it very fascinating certainly. It’s full of a great deal of nice tech and works brilliantly effectively because of the mix of intuitive Put on OS 3.5, a digital crown and dazzling display screen. 

Sadly, Google hasn’t nailed it in each division with unpredictable battery life, restrictions relating to charging and, most odd of all, missing correct computerized exercise detection which you’ll discover on different Fitbits.

I can forgive most of this for my private utilization, particularly when most rivals can’t go for much longer within the battery life division. However I’d additionally perceive for those who really feel like ready for the Pixel Watch 2. 

Specs

• Put on OS 3.5 (appropriate with Android 8.0 or increased)
• 1.2in AMOLED, 320ppi, 1000 nits
• Exynos 9110
• 2GB RAM
• 32GB storage
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz
• Bluetooth 5.0
• GPS
• NFC
• LTE (non-compulsory)
• Mic
• Speaker
• Optical coronary heart price monitor/ECG
• Blood oxygen sensor
• Accelerometer, altimeter, gyroscope, ambient mild sensor, compass
• Fall detection
• 40 exercise modes (Fitbit)
• 294mAh battery
• As much as 24 hours of battery life
• Water resistant to 5ATM / 50m
• 80% recycled chrome steel physique
• Customized 3D Gorilla Glass 5 entrance
• Digital crown
• Facet button
• 36g (physique solely)
• Launch colors (physique): Matte Black, Polished Silver, Champagne Gold