Google ’s Pixel Watch is the Android smartwatch we ’ve beenwaiting fora long time . It ’s light , slight , and prosperous to wear thin , and its pebble - like grammatical construction matches everything . Some people might complain its 41 mm size is a little too small for Google not to offer multiple sizes like other smartwatch makers , but candidly , I think the Pixel Watch is a staring size .
alas , that ’s about the extent of my excitement for the Pixel Watch . Everything else makes the smartwatch finger like a demonstration building block — like an Android machine running the beta . The thing about beta is that while it ’s sport to run them and lay claim to be first to the table , they ’re also a moral in why you might choose to wait for the kinks to get solve out .
The Pixel Watch sure as shooting has kinks , though they ’re not all dealbreakers . If you ’re an Android user and this is your first clock time consider a smartwatch , and Samsung is n’t doing it for you , it ’s a great station to commence . But I would n’t parachute just yet if you ’ve already decide you like what you ’re wearing .
The Pixel Watch is a gorgeous Fitbit tracker.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Google Pixel Watch
Google ’s first - ever smartwatch is gorgeous and chic , but it ’s squarely a Fitbit wearable under the hood .
What is it ?
The clasping mechanism on the Pixel Watch is proprietary, which makes finding third-party watchbands a hassle.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Google ’s first - ever Android smartwatch .
monetary value ?
start at $ 350 for Wi - Fi only ; $ 400 for LTE .
The clasping mechanism on the Pixel Watch is proprietary, which makes finding third-party watchbands a hassle.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Like
well-heeled and stylish , runs the latest version of Wear type O 3.5 with Material You stylings all over , great for daily health trailing .
Dislike
The digital crown on the Pixel Watch is smooth as butter.Gif: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Not the long battery life , proprietary watchband connector , missing some marquee wellness tracking capability at launching .
Round like a stone
The Pixel Watch is an first-class design because it ’s simple . In terms of esthetic , it ’s the circular equivalent weight of the Apple Watch ’s public square . It even utilizes a domed screen event . UnlikeSamsung ’s Galaxy Watch 4/5 , there is no aluminium border to factor in in on the Pixel Watch . But there is a protruding crown . It ’s as smooth to use as the Apple Watch ’s , though it sticks out just as much . Thankfully , it did n’t bother me while sleep with it .
The Pixel Watch is useable in one size and four different finishes , including a dusty rose atomic number 79 I wish well I could have checked out . It is pre - meet with a watchband called the combat-ready ring . you may choose a alloy linkup band or web strap if you want to drop $ 200 and $ 130 , severally . Other Google - made bands cost anywhere from $ 50-$80 . On top of the base cost of the Pixel Watch—$350 for Wi - Fi Only and $ 400 for LTE — that ’s quite a bit to enthrone in a smartwatch that will have a life of about three twelvemonth .
Annoyingly , the Pixel Watch ’s ring are proprietary , which is what I do n’t like about the Apple Watch . I favor the Samsung Galaxy Watch because I can buy meretricious watch bands off Amazon and swap them in and out . At least the Pixel Watch’sclasping mechanismis decent and inflexible , though it call for a piece of a learning curve to figure out . So did the Apple Watch . Both are less hectic to use than the standardized way that Samsung do by watchbands , but I ’d rather deal with that and grease one’s palms what I desire . Hopefully , the Pixel Watch will trade whole , and there will be more third - party Pixel Watch banding alternative .
It’s a bummer I don’t have this kind of functionality on my Galaxy Watch 4.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
I ’ve already complained about the bezel after realizing it is a number bigger than that on the Galaxy Watch 4/5 . It ’s minimal , but it ’s there . I particularly note it when trying out theWatchMakerwatch facial expression app . And while the smartwatch is weewee resistant up to 5 ATM , it seems to have some confutative durability . I am still mouthpiece agape over The Verge ’s cracked display on their review unit .
Wear OS with a dial
Pixel Watch runs the in vogue habiliment OS 3.5 , which you ’ll find on the Galaxy Watch , albeit with Samsung ’s flavorer . There is a bit of a remainder in port between the two . The Pixel Watch uses the familiar swipe to the left hand to shuffle through Tiles , configurable on the watch or the Wear O app on your phone . But it starts to differ when you ’re looking for notification or the app draftsman : on the Pixel Watch , swipe up gets you to your notifications , while urge the dial brings up the listing of apps . On Samsung Watches , you pinch to the left for notification and up on the main filmdom to let on the grid of apps . Since I ’ve been on a Samsung watch all this clock time , the Pixel Watch tripped me up the first few days . It ’s just another monitor of how slightly different things can be between Google and Samsung computer hardware .
esthetically , the Material You stylings of the Pixel Watch touch impeccably with a Pixel smartphone . But I prefer the watchOS - wannabe app draftsman of Samsung ’s flavoring than the here’s - a - list - of - apps take on the Pixel Watch . There were also some example when too many telling would collect in the shade , and the 1.9 - inch display would appear crammed with information .
The Pixel Watch does have some abilities the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4/5 does not . For one , smart home plate controls through Google Home , which I ’d prefer to utilize on the Galaxy Watch 4 . ( Samsung would like you to use SmartThings or set up up a routine through Bixby , but I do n’t have time to manage this . ) The Pixel Watch is also embedded with Google Assistant , whereas on Samsung , you have to switch over to it as the default option . I never have it take to the woods in the desktop to hear for me since I have smart speakers everywhere , so I did not test the shelling life with Assistant idling in the background .
Fitbit is fine, but I was sour about having to change ecosystems for this review.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Funny enough , the Pixel Watch runs on a Samsung - made Exynos 9110 . It ’s about four age old — Samsung last used it in the first - multiplication Galaxy Watch before it adopt Wear OS — but it ’s been pluck with Google ’s AI smart . There is also 2 GB of memory in the watch — more than the Galaxy Watch 5 , even , and 32 GB of storage for apps , music , and exposure .
Some missing features
The Pixel Watch has all the requisite sensors for introductory life trailing : an accelerometer , compass , gyroscope , altimeter , EKG sensor , ambient light sensor , and a uninterrupted center rate detector that Google says it worked with “ experts ” to make the good . I found the heart charge per unit detector on equality with the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 5 , which I switched between as I try out the Pixel Watch . I observe it pluck up on my most nerve-wracking second of the day , just as the Galaxy Watch 4 does .
The Pixel Watch is also missing some vital features uncommitted with other smartwatches . It does n’t have a temperature detector , like the Apple Watch , or crash sensing , though that ’s available through a connected Pixel smartphone . It also does n’t have downfall detection until by and by this year . And while it does have SpO2 trailing , it ’s presently inactive .
you could long - press the crown on the Pixel Watch in an emergency or press it chop-chop five times to call for help , but it ’s all contingent on whether you select the cellular example or have your smartphone nearby . I hope this does n’t sprain into a situation where hoi polloi sound off in the assembly about accidentally dial for help .
How much do you like Fitbit?
How do you feel about using Fitbit ? I ’ve advert it before , but I ’ve been matrimonial to Samsung Health since I lead off as a Galaxy Watch substance abuser several eld ago . I stay put with Samsung not out of allegiance but because it was the easiest route to take without interrupting my procedure .
It took me a while to refamiliarize myself with Fitbit , as it ’s been five years since I touched the app . It still does n’t inspire me to bequeath Samsung Health . I like the accumulation of stats and the pretty graphs that Fitbit puts together after you ’ve expend some time with it . It also offers a recovery score for folks who are just starting , and it ’s gracious to have your app remind you to breathe since smart set wo n’t . The workout and meditation scheduling is a little more rich than what Samsung Health offers , though you have to pay off $ 10 / month for Fitbit Premium to get at that content . But I can easy export all the same data point to Strava and Google Fit .
Fitbit is a little better at discover the minor parts of your day that bestow to overall health . It ’s keen at cross stair , which the Galaxy Watch 4/5 has faltered on for me . It also proffer a detailed morning - after sleep analysis , though I was bummed the Pixel Watch was n’t tracking my naps the agency the Galaxy Watch does . But Fitbit is n’t as tight about how it cut across workouts . I ’m not at my fittest right now — I’m still plow with residuary post - COVID symptoms . But even on my good afternoon walk of life , the Galaxy Watch hesitate trailing when I ’m resting or taking a Pokemon Go intermission , while the Pixel Watch retain it lead as if it were part of the program . It also did n’t pick up on me pick up my girl ’s toys , clothes , and good deal , and I take account that the Galaxy Watch render me exercise credit when I ’m getting my heart rate up trying to put the house back together .
The general consensus is that the Pixel Watch is n’t for hard-core fitness enthusiasts or training athlete . It ’s for casual drug user , which is how the original Fitbit step comeback was billed . Google is lucky it could fold Fitbit ’s technology into its smartwatch ecosystem , but it seems like it bought its way to parity . I ’ll be rum to see if the company expands on Fitbit ’s pedestal for its smartwatches like the Apple Watch Ultra or Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 professional .
The battery is fine, but not the best
I have n’t had a fortune to do any hike or hazard with the Pixel Watch , so I have n’t tested its barrage on the lead . But I found the battery aliveness to be satisfactory for my day - to - sidereal day exercise . I do n’t ordinarily sleep with a smartwatch , so it ’s always on the charger at the ending of the day . It ’s worth noting that my review whole is an LTE model , and cellular connectivity is typically more taxing on the battery . I also do n’t use the always - on display .
If you do encounter to lead your charger at home , the Pixel Watch can deal to hold on overnight . I slept with 30 percent on the watch after putting it into night style for quietus trailing . In the morning time , I had about 16 percent go forth on the assault and battery , and it took about five hours for it to peter out finally . There is a top executive - saving mode on the watch you may engage if you need a little extra boost , which will turn off the screen and all connexion .
What’s the verdict?
I have some Android - using Quaker who pre - ordinate the Pixel Watch flock unseen . There ’s clearly been anticipation for Google to fetch something of its own to geminate with its phenomenalPixelsmartphone lineup . Most of those brother were not on Samsung watches before this or were already in the Fitbit ecosystem , hold off for something else to amount along . If you ’re one of those citizenry , the Pixel Watch is deserving a try if you may stomach that $ 350 starting price .
I am already squarely in Samsung ’s fitness ecosystem , and because they ’ve been at it a little longer , I ’m inclined to remain on this platform despite the Googley bits I ’m miss out on . AddingHealth Connectto the Android operating system will make it well-heeled for all these different fitness and health ecosystem to chat , making choices like this a little loose down the line . At the very least , there is now a bare Google - made picket to choose from if nothing else out there is calling your name . Hopefully , Google sticks with this one for some meter to come .
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