I pitted the $99 Fitbit Air against the $349 Pixel Watch 4 in a head-to-head fitness tracking comparison to determine which is the more precise Google wearable. The results genuinely surprised me.

The Fitbit Air is a lightweight, screen-free fitness tracking band that's as easy on the wallet as it is comfortable on the wrist. The Pixel Watch 4 is Google's flagship smartwatch, with a large, bright display and features galore, including a handy, voice- or gesture-activated Gemini AI assistant.

To find out which of these flagship Google products is the more competent fitness tracker — at least when it comes to step-counting — I walked 4,000 steps with the Fitbit Air on my right wrist and the Pixel Watch 4 on my left. My primary control metric for the comparison is total steps taken. To ensure a precise tally on my end, I manually counted my steps, noting every hundred with a click of my old-school tally counter.

As a control for distance, pace, and climb, I brought along my iPhone 16 Plus and logged the walk using the Strava app. Find the results of the Fitbit Air vs Pixel Watch 4 walk test below.

Fitbit Air vs Pixel Watch 4: fitness tracking accuracy compared

When it comes to tracking outdoor workouts, it's important to note a key difference between the Fitbit Air and Pixel Watch 4. The former lacks onboard GPS, so for location-based insights, you need to carry along a paired smartphone.

In addition to piggybacking off of your phone's GPS antenna, the Fitbit Air also relies on its altimeter for elevation data. The Pixel Watch 4, meanwhile, boasts both an onboard GPS antenna and a barometric altimeter.

Now, on to the test results!

Fitbit Air vs Pixel Watch 4: Walk test results

I took exactly 4,000 steps (manually counted) during my 38-minute walk, including a stroll up Seattle's steepest block (for old-time's sake). While both wearables noted step count totals within 15 steps of my actual count — a seriously impressive result and well within a reasonable margin for error — much to my surprise, the Fitbit Air was a little bit closer than the Pixel Watch 4.

The Air and Pixel Watch 4 also beat Strava, which logged 3,978 steps.

The Fitbit Air's distance data is additionally more in line with the control; the same goes for pace. However, the Air's climb data is woefully inaccurate, a result I noted in my previous walk test with the Fitbit Air vs Apple Watch 11.

When it comes to heart rate and calories, the Air logged a slightly less aggressive workout compared to the Pixel Watch 4. The Air also used marginally less battery — not surprising, since it lacks a display.

Fitbit Air vs Pixel Watch 4: Winner

And the winner is... the Fitbit Air, thanks to a slightly more accurate step count total, pace metric, and distance data. That said, the Air's win versus the Pixel Watch 4 comes with an asterisk due to disappointing elevation tracking performance.

The Pixel Watch 4, meanwhile, performed with acceptable accuracy across the board, including measuring my climb. For this reason, as someone who loves mountain sports, I'd likely opt for the latest Pixel Watch over the Fitbit Air for logging my next adventure. What do you think? Let me know which Google wearable you prefer in the poll below.

Which fitness trackers or smartwatches should I test head-to-head next?

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If you're a Google Fi customer, you might want to check your email inbox. Various users on the Google Pixel and Google Fi subreddits have spotted that Google is offering subscribers a free Pixel Watch 3. From the looks of things, most users are receiving this offer via email, but others claim to have seen it on the Google Fi Store or via a push notification from the Fi app.

Sadly, this offer doesn't seem to be open to everyone. Some users say they've only seen the option to purchase a discounted Pixel Watch 3, while others aren't seeing any special deals at all.

Nothing in life comes free, though, and the catch here is that anyone who redeems the offer will be locked into using Google Fi for at least two more years. Likewise, the Pixel Watch 3 is hardly the most cutting-edge smartwatch. It was replaced by the Pixel Watch 4 last year, and we'll likely see a Pixel Watch 5 in the near future.

My guess is that Google is clearing stock with a mixture of giveaways and discounts, so that it's not holding onto two-year-old smartwatches when the Pixel Watch 5 arrives. But free is free, and if you don't own any kind of Pixel Watch, then a complimentary Pixel Watch 3 is a pretty good deal. Especially if you were planning on staying with Google Fi for the foreseeable future anyway.

It's not like the Pixel Watch 3 doesn't have a great selection of features either. It has a brighter screen than the Pixel Watch 2, while also offering all the best health, wellness and fitness features that Google (and Fitbit) has to offer. Better still, the larger 45mm model has a two-day battery life, which will save you from having to recharge every single day.

Of course, it lacks the even bigger and brighter display of the Pixel Watch 4, which also packs in satellite SOS messaging, improved charging, gesture controls and other upgrades. But that will cost you $349, which is a lot bigger ask when free stuff is available. Assuming you were lucky enough to get this offer.

So be sure to check your emails, check the Google Fi store, and check your phone's notification history to see if you missed that crucial update.

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The Google Pixel Watch 4 may be the best smartwatch for Android users right now, but a Pixel Watch 5 is due for release later this year, and it could be a doozy of an update.

We're still a bunch of months out from a possible announcement, but based on all the leaks, rumors, and insider reports so far, here's what I think we know about the Google Pixel Watch 5, including potential feature and tech upgrades, design changes, and AI advancements.

Google Pixel Watch 5: Price and release date predictions

Google tends to make smartwatch product announcements annually in August, and I suspect that this year will be more of the same. Last year, the Pixel Watch 4 debuted alongside the Pixel 10 smartphone series on August 20th, with units shipping later in October.

No word yet on a scheduled Made by Google summer launch event, but we'll update this story as soon as one gets announced. Either way, there's a high likelihood that the Pixel Watch 5 will be announced alongside the Google Pixel 11 smartphone series. In terms of price, I'm hoping the Pixel Watch 5 maintains its $349 starting price for the smaller, non-cellular model.

Google Pixel Watch 5: Possible new features

An insider report, first covered by Android Authority, suggests that Google is moving away from Qualcomm chips for the next-gen Pixel Watch 5, in favor of an in-house-built Google Tensor chip. There are also rumors of a new multicore processor. Combined, these two potential upgrades will likely result in support for even more advanced on-device AI features.

The Pixel Watch 4 is already my favorite smartwatch for AI features, thanks to Google's Gemini AI assistant, which can be called upon using the brand's excellent Raise to Talk gesture control.

Increased processing power and efficiency could also mean new health tracking tools within the Fitbit app. More specifically, according to a patent filed by Google and first spotted by Gadgetsandwearables, advanced heart health tracking tools, including arterial stiffness monitoring, and potentially even blood pressure monitoring, could make an appearance in the Pixel Watch 5.

When it comes to the latter, the question is, will this potentially groundbreaking tool require calibration via an old-school blood pressure cuff prior to use, like the best Samsung Galaxy Watches, or will it be a standalone tool?

Alternatively, perhaps blood pressure monitoring will act more like Apple's Hypertension Alerts, and instead of providing readings, it will be designed to simply alert you if/when signs of high blood pressure are observed.

Meanwhile, arterial stiffness monitoring could provide important insights into how well a user's cardiovascular system is functioning. In short, increased stiffness is a known indicator of cardiovascular dysfunction and a potential sign of chronic issues later in life.

Google Pixel Watch 5: Design and display rumors

At this point, rumors about the design of the Pixel Watch 5 are limited. However, it seems highly likely that Google will stick with the same circular design as its predecessor, with two sizes, 41mm and 45mm, available.

One upgrade I'd love to see is a move away from Gorilla Glass in favor of sapphire crystal glass for increased scratch and shatter resistance.

Google has steadily increased the maximum brightness of the past several generations of Pixel Watch by 1,000 nits at a time. The current Pixel Watch 4 maxes out at an impressive 3,000 nits, the same as the Galaxy Watch 8 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. However, if the tradition continues, we might see that spec increased to an eyeball-melting 4,000 nits.

Finally, similar to the Pixel Watch 4, there's a decent probability that Google will slim down the bezel even further on the Pixel Watch 5, leading to an ever-so-slight increase in screen real estate.

Google Pixel Watch 5: Outlook

As of right now, it seems likely that the Google Pixel Watch 5 will look and cost about the same as the Pixel Watch 4. However, under the hood, major upgrades, from increased processing power, new AI tools, more advanced heart health-tracking tech, and better power efficiency, all could be on offer.

What possible new features or specs are you hoping for most when the Pixel Watch 5 debuts? Let me know in the comments below.

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I review smartwatches and other wearable tech for a living, but sometimes, I swap out my Apple Watch (or Garmin, Samsung, Google, etc.) for a good-old-fashioned ‘dumb’ watch. And you know what? You should, too.

Beyond telling the time, a traditional watch also allows you to better disconnect from an often overwhelming digital world, while showing off your personal style, and/or accessorizing your outfit. Below are the five biggest reasons why I recommend placing your smartwatch on sabbatical from time to time in favor of something a bit less fussy.

1. You're in formal wear

Say it with me now, “No smartwatches with formal wear.” And one more time for the folks in the back, “NO SMARTWATCHES WITH FORMAL WEAR.”

Just imagine if James Bond wore an Apple Watch Ultra 3 instead of his classic Omega Seamaster or Rolex Submariner (depending on the era of 007). Rather than being the smooth-talking, immaculately-dressed spy we’ve all come to know and love, suddenly, he’s more finance bro than action hero.

Smartwatches are incredibly amazing devices, with serious benefits from health and fitness tracking tools to safety and communication features. However, nothing makes a finely tailored suit or an elegant evening dress look tackier than a glowing mini-computer on the wrist.

So, next time you’re dressing up, whether for a wedding, a fancy date night, the opera, a funeral, etc., skip the Apple Watch and opt for a dressy dumb watch instead.

2. To take a break from the health stats

The best smartwatches are brimming with features to encourage a healthy, active lifestyle. Moreover, attempting to keep a healthy streak going, whether it's hitting a certain daily step count or getting eight hours of sleep every night, is a great way to develop and maintain new habits.

Sometimes, though, you just need a break, and that’s okay! After all, all those metrics and physical health tracking insights can at times be a detriment to one’s mental health. I certainly feel this way occasionally, which is why I make a point of going for walks and workouts sans smartwatch every so often.

Thankfully, most smartwatches make it easy to skip a day or two without affecting your physical fitness achievements. Apple, for example, lets users pause their Activity Rings at any time without penalty, i.e., you won’t ruin a hard-earned Ring-closing streak.

3. You appreciate vintage charm

There’s no such thing as a vintage smartwatch, unless you want to count some of Garmin’s earliest Forerunner models, which look more like digital kitchen timers on a strap than actual smartwatches.

On the flip side, you can spend the rest of your life combing through the seemingly endless and complex back catalogue that is 100+ years of mechanical and battery-powered quartz watches.

Whether we’re talking the fun, color-splashed plastic Swatches and retro-futuristic Casios of the 1980s and 90s, or older all-metal mechanical wonders from legendary brands like Cartier, Longines, and IWC, vintage watches offer infinitely more personality than any modern smartwatch.

And while the aforementioned big-name mechanical brands are often quite spendy, wallet-friendly, vintage-inspired alternatives from companies like Timex, Orient, and Seiko offer all the fun of an actual heirloom timepiece, without breaking the bank.

4. Durability and water resistance are paramount

Most smartwatches offer just 50 meters of water resistance, which is enough to keep your watch protected for short periods of surface-level swimming, but not snorkeling, diving, or high-impact water sports.

Smartwatches also don’t mix well with salt water, unless you thoroughly rinse the device after every swim with fresh water. Similarly, you should never wear your smartwatch in a hot tub, sauna, or similar environments.

So, what’s a guy to do when he’s looking to take the soak of the century, but still wants to know the time? I grab my trusty $99 G-Shock and a towel, without a second thought.

Offering a whopping 200 meters of water resistance, a shockproof case, and an overall design that's basically indestructible, it just might be the toughest bang-for-your-buck dumb watch in existence; mine has survived years of hot tub soaks and still works like a charm.

5. You need a digital detox

Last but not least, occasionally, a digital detox is in order. And frankly, I highly recommend taking at least one day off a month from all your tech gadgets. That’s right, leave your smartphone, earbuds, and smartwatch at home.

Need to tell the time? Look at a dumb watch. Want to look up somewhere to eat? Ask an actual human for advice! Bored without music or podcasts trumpeting in your ears? Try enjoying the sounds of the city or nature instead.

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Apple versus Google: Which brand makes the better smartwatch for tracking fitness? To find out, I strapped the best smartwatch model from each to opposite wrists and embarked on a 6,000-step walk around my neighborhood.

As a control for step count data — the primary metric we'll use to determine our fitness tracking accuracy champion — I manually counted my paces; a click of my trusty, old-school tally counter marked every hundred taken.

So, which top-shelf smartwatch, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 or Google Pixel Watch 4 XL, proved victorious in my comparison? Read on.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Google Pixel Watch 4 XL

Unlike Apple and Samsung, Google doesn't offer an 'Ultra' model in the brand's current smartwatch lineup. This means that the Pixel Watch 4 XL (45mm), with superior battery life but a higher price tag than its smaller (41mm) sibling, is Google's most capable and exspensive model.

Starting at $399 for the non-cellular model or $449 for LTE connectivity, the Pixel Watch 4 is notably cheaper than the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3. Despite this, you get better battery performance from the Google option, along with support for Google's AI-powered virtual assistant Gemini, while Ultra 3 owners are stuck with a dated, non-AI version of Siri.

That said, the Ultra 3 is a tougher-built device, with 100 meters of water resistance and a titanium case, compared to 50 meters and aluminum. Ultimately, though, none of these differences should impact either model's ability to count my steps accurately.

With that, on to the walk test!

I walked 6,000 steps with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Google Pixel Watch 4 XL

For this walk test, I wore the Apple Watch Ultra 3 on my right wrist and the Google Pixel Watch 4 on my left wrist. For additional data to compare the results to, I ran Strava on my iPhone 16 Plus.

With Seattle's cherry blossoms in full bloom and cheery blue skies overhead, I made my way up and down steep hills, past perfectly manicured lawns, quaint bakeries, and no fewer than a dozen 'Little Free Libraries. '

At exactly 6,000 steps, I parked myself on a park bench, ended tracking on all three devices, and catalogued the data. Find the results of my Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs. Pixel Watch 4 XL walk test below.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Google Pixel Watch 4 XL: Walk test results

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 undercounted my efforts by a mere 104 steps, an impressive result and certainly within a reasonable margin for error. However, the Pixel Watch 4 was even closer, with a tally that's just 16 steps over my actual count. Strava, for what it's worth, noted an even closer total of 6,012 steps.

All three tracking methods measure a distance of roughly 3.2 miles, but both Apple and Google noted greater elevation gain than Strava. Assuming, for a moment, that Strava's climb data is correct (the app tends to be on the money in this regard), Apple overcalculated by 51 feet, and Google inflated the climb by 65 feet; neither being an insignificant amount.

Moving on to pace, Strava registered a faster overall speed, but this is likely due to the app's aggressive tendency to pause tracking during even very short breaks in movement. Apple and Google also autopause during stoppages, just less often than Strava.

In terms of heart rate, Apple measured a slightly more elevated average and max compared to Google, but the Pixel Watch 4 noted a tad more calories burned than the Ultra 3. Finally, the Apple Watch used 2% battery to track my roughly 55-minute walk compared to 1% for the Pixel Watch.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Google Pixel Watch 4 XL: And the winner is...

As is often the case with these walk tests, this showdown was a close one. Ultimately, I'm impressed anytime a watch's step count is within a few hundred steps of my actual count, as was the case for both the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Pixel Watch 4 XL here.

However, let's give credit where due: With a step count total of 6,016 — well within a reasonable margin for error — the Google Pixel Watch 4 wins this fitness tracking accuracy showdown.

Does this make the Pixel Watch 4 a better fitness tracker than the Apple Watch Ultra 3? Certainly not! I've tested both of these devices countless times against their peers, and can say with confidence that both are extremely accurate and dependable at monitoring not just your workouts, but your sleep and fitness recovery, too.

Which smartwatches should I test head-to-head next? Let me know in the comments below.

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Picture this: You’re sound asleep, visions of sugar plums dancing, when all of a sudden you feel a strong vibration on your wrist accompanied by a piercing tone; your Google Pixel Watch has issued a ‘Take Action’ Earthquake Alert.

You roll out the bed, grab your chihuahua-dachshund mix, who’s sleeping on the floor beside you, and brace yourself under a table situated near the center of the bedroom, just as the shaking begins.

Google’s Earthquake Alerts — designed to give users anywhere from roughly 60 seconds to a minimum of several seconds advanced notice to prepare before an incoming seismic event — first launched on Pixel phones in 2021. Now, the feature is available on all second-gen Pixel Watch smartwatches and later via the latest firmware.

While your phone isn’t necessarily always on you, your smartwatch tends to be, making it a conceivably more useful form factor for receiving time-sensitive, potentially lifesaving, natural disaster-related updates.

To learn more about Earthquake Alerts on Pixel Watch, I interviewed Edward Shi, a senior product manager on Google's Pixel Safety Team, and Patrick Robertson, a software engineer on the same team who helped develop the feature.

How Google turned a smartwatch into an on-wrist earthquake detector

Earthquake Alerts on the Pixel Watch 2, 3, and 4 utilize the same system as modern Google Pixel smartphones, including the latest Pixel 10 Pro. For folks on the West Coast of the U.S., alerts are generated by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) ShakeAlert detection system.

“They use sensors, and they detect where the earthquake is, and then they send that information to us. We quickly reshuffle it and send it out to the phones, and now, of course, wearables,” says Patrick Robertson.

For non-West Coast folks, i.e., everyone else — the Pixel Watch Earthquake Alert feature is supported in roughly 100 countries — Google relies on a rather cool/clever method to determine seismic activity.

“Outside of [West Coast] states, we have a crowdsource-based system, where we use the phones that are sitting and charging, idle and stationary. We turn them into mini seismometers, and we use their accelerometer sensors to detect shaking,” says Robertson.

“When a phone thinks it's shaking in an earthquake, it sends the data to us. Then we do a lot of involved processing to essentially work out where the earthquake is and how strong it is. [Also, the] depth, latitude, longitude, and the origin time. And then we say, ‘OK, does this warrant an alert?’”

With what seems like more steps involved in verifying crowd-sourced earthquake data versus dedicated USGS earthquake sensor data, I was curious whether the latter had the potential to reach Pixel Watch users faster. According to Robertson, the answer is yes. However, we’re talking about a potential difference in delivery time of several seconds.

The USGS is currently the only government organization Google partners with for direct seismic data. However, it seems entirely plausible that we’ll see similar coordination in the future from like-minded global organizations, especially those in earthquake-prone regions.

Two levels of alert: one designed to get your attention no matter what

Once Google determines that a set of crowd-sourced shake data is legit, "we compute a geographical region [for notifications]," say Robertson.

“We have two levels of alerts, the ‘Take Action’ and ‘Beware’ alerts. Those alerts are sent to users in many cases before the shaking arrives, in some cases during the shaking. Then the user gets more information to really take precautionary action.”

Beyond the language of the alerts, how does the delivery method of a ‘Take Action’ versus ‘Be Aware alert’ vary for Pixel Watch users?

“There's a different level of urgency in which we deliver those particular alerts,” says Edward Shi. “So with the Take Action alert, that's the highest severity, the highest urgency level alert that we'll provide. In that sense, we're blaring all alarms to get your attention for that, [resulting in] sound and vibration. And then we break through different modes as well, like do not disturb, sleep, etc. This is a thing that we take very seriously,” says Shi.

Your Pixel Watch’s ‘Be Aware’ Earthquake Alerts, meanwhile, come through as a normal notification, obeying whatever do-not-disturb parameters you’ve set.

Smartwatches are ideal for critical safety alerts

Modern smartwatches have been around for a little over a decade, and in that time, I’d argue that they’ve largely evolved from communication-centric devices to ones that are more focused on your fitness, sleep, and safety than anything else.

In that sense, Earthquake Alerts on the Pixel Watch series join an already well-regarded set of peace-of-mind features, including Loss of Pulse Detection, Fall and Crash Detection, Satellite SOS messaging, and Safety Check.

So, what Pixel Watch safety features can we expect to see in the near future, based on recent support for Earthquake Alerts? Neither of my interviewees could speak to specifics, but when I brought up the topic of how Google might warn Pixel Watch owners of similar natural disasters, both seemingly lit up.

After all, whether you live on the West Coast of the U.S. or not, seismic activity is far from the only natural phenomenon one needs to consider. Moreover, I’d love to see Google and/or the competition launch parallel early-warning approaches for flash floods, tornadoes, wildfires, tsunamis, and landslides, to name a few.

Ultimately, your smartwatch, unlike your phone, tends to be on your wrist the vast majority of the day and night, making it the perfect platform for delivering such up-to-the-second, potentially lifesaving information. And as brands like Google, Apple, and Samsung add more of these features to their wearables, the draw to purchase one only gets more compelling.

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It’s a great day to be a Google Pixel Watch 4 owner. Not only do you have one of the best smartwatches available strapped to your wrist, it’s about to get a lot smarter thanks to a big software update focused on safety and security.

The March Pixel Drop is bringing a series of new features to the Pixel Watch 4, and also expanding some older features to the Pixel Watch 3. Here’s what’s coming.

New safety features include earthquake alerts

Earthquake alerts have been a life-saving feature available on Android phones for several years, and the new update will roll them out as a standalone feature on the Pixel Watch 4.

These alerts will notify you of local earthquakes before the shaking starts, giving valuable extra time to get to as safe a location as possible.

Along with the arrival of earthquake alerts, Google is expanding coverage for its emergency satellite SOS feature, which allows you to request emergency assistance even when out of cellular range.

This has been available to Pixel Watch 4 LTE users in most U.S. states, and is now rolling out to also cover Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and Europe.

Never forget your phone again

Following the update, your Pixel Watch 4 will be able to instantly alert you if you leave a connected phone behind.

Your phone will also lock automatically if the Pixel Watch moves out of range, giving you peace of mind that no-one can access it if you do leave it behind.

Following the update, the Pixel Watch 4 will also be able to use Express Pay to quickly make payments by tapping a terminal without having to open up the Wallet app.

Gesture controls expand to Pixel Watch 3

The addition of one-handed gesture controls like “wrist turn" and "double pinch” were one of the best updates that landed on the Pixel Watch 4 in December, and following this update they’ll now also be available on the older Pixel Watch 3.

These Apple Watch-style controls make it easier to interact with the watch using just one hand.

All of the new features will be rolling out to the Pixel Watch line-up imminently, so keep an eye out for updates on your watch.

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I've made no secret of the fact that I have a very weird relationship with the best smartwatches since they first hit the market. I know there are times when having a miniature screen on your wrist can prove convenient, but I've never found them particularly interesting or useful. Certainly not in the same way as a smartphone.

I genuinely gave using a smartwatch a real shot, having purchased a Pixel Watch 3 back in late 2024. But by the time it came to the first anniversary of that purchase, I'd already stopped using it. Having a baby meant my routine was messed up for weeks after, and I eventually just took the watch off during one mid-day nap and never put it back on.

In fact, since that day almost four months ago, I think I've worn the watch once. I'm not sure what prompted me to grab it, other than the fact I was taking my dogs out for a walk, but that's the only use it's had. To be perfectly honest, I don't really miss wearing it.

Fitness is the most I've gotten from wearables

Ok, I'm technically lying when I say I don't miss it. I do still find myself absent-mindedly looking at my wrist to try and find out the time — only to realize my mistake and pull out my phone instead.

The reason I stopped wearing a watch in the first place was that my phone ended up replacing it. A smartphone that can tell the time, set alarms and do everything a smartphone can do made having a simple timepiece feel pretty redundant.

Over the years, it became clear that there were some things that smartphones couldn't do. They're really not that great at tracking fitness, for instance, whereas the fledgling wearables industry figured out that they could track all that vital information and beam it over to a phone app for analysis and safekeeping.

It actually works out really well, too. Over the years, I became quite keen on using wearable fitness trackers for this purpose. I may not be the most consistent gym-goer in the world, but when I do go, it's really helpful to have some kind of metric telling me how much effort I've put into a workout. Even if it isn't accurate, it's still better than relying on the machines to do it for you.

Fitness trackers started basic, but ended up bigger and better, with a bunch more features that make them feel more like smartwatches than simple trackers. And yet, no matter how many times I upgraded and what options I had, I never really took advantage of them.

I did try, and on multiple occasions, but I always ended up just... not using those features. I don't know why I thought having a smartwatch would be different, but I was willing to give it a go. Sadly, things didn't really pan out any differently.

I'm too used to using my phone

The main problem is that no matter what other devices are able to do, I'm way too used to using my phone to do everything. It's the kind of stubborn adherence that stems from the fact that using my phone to do things works perfectly well, and the alternatives don't really seem any more convenient.

Checking the time? Phone. Controlling music playback? Phone. Controlling smart home devices? Phone. When pulling out and unlocking my phone takes about two seconds, I've always been more comfortable doing things that way instead of navigating on a tiny wrist-display. Or using voice controls for that matter, but that's a whole other story.

The smartphone is the ultimate utility, whereas a smartwatch is pretty much just an accessory that makes some things a little easier. Or so they say.

I'm already in the routine of using my phone for almost everything that isn't work-related, and that means anytime something comes up, my first instinct is to reach for my phone and do it there. You'd have thought I would eventually adapt to using the device on my wrist at some point, but that still hasn't happened. A smartphone is just too versatile for something else to replace it.

Admittedly, there have been a couple of instances where a smartwatch might have come in handy, had I been wearing it. Travelling through London was a good one, and with that many people around, holding your phone out for whatever reason is usually a bad idea. If I had my Pixel Watch on, I would have used that to check Google Maps and pay for the Underground instead. Using my phone worked, but it maybe wasn't the most secure way of keeping hold of my belongings.

Likewise, I recently had the fun task of taking part in a family photo, which my dad was struggling to take with his iPhone. Considering he had both his knees replaced in the past few years, using the camera timer and running back into frame wasn't really an option. I had to remind him that the Apple Watch Ultra on his wrist could handle everything for him while he remained on the couch.

I'd call these a matter of convenience, but not something you couldn't work around without a wearable.

Bottom line

I'm sure once my son gets older, and my daily work and sleep routine returns to something approaching normality, I may end up wearing my Pixel Watch 3 a little more regularly. Especially if I manage to find time to do some proper exercising that involves something other than carrying around a tiny human. But I do not doubt that I won't be making full use of my watch's true capabilities the majority of the time.

For now, though, I'm certainly no worse off without my Pixel Watch 3 strapped to my wrist. I still have my phone, after all, and it can handle all the essential tasks just fine. Plus, I only need to worry about recharging one device a day, rather than two. Here's hoping Pixel Watch battery life can advance enough to match Fitbit battery life in the near future.

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The Google Pixel Watch 4 is one of the best smartwatch models, and it already offers useful gesture controls, including "raise to talk," which can be used to "awaken" the Gemini AI voice assistant feature. Now the Pixel Watch 4 is about to get two new gesture controls that sound quite familiar. These include "Wrist turn" and "Double pinch."

No, I didn’t say "Wrist flick" or "Double tap," as those are Apple Watch features, but Google’s forthcoming gesture controls work similarly.

New Pixel Watch 4 gesture controls

Similar to the raise-to-talk gesture, the two new gesture controls for the Google Pixel Watch 4 are designed to make it easier to interact with the watch with one hand.

Wrist turn, like Apple’s wrist flick, can be used to dismiss incoming calls or notifications. When I first tried Apple’s version on the latest Apple Watch Series 11, I seriously wondered how I ever lived without such an intuitive and useful feature. So, yeah, you could say I’m excited for something similar on the latest Pixel Watch.

Double pinch, also coming to the Pixel Watch 4, lets you execute a variety of actions by pressing your index finger and thumb together using your watch-worn hand. These include answering calls, starting a timer, starting/stopping music, and much more.

No word yet on whether either of these controls will ultimately make it to the Pixel Watch 3 or older devices. However, the third-generation watch did inherit the latest raise-to-talk gesture, so I’m hopeful.

Speaking of raise to talk, Google is also rolling out a step-by-step tutorial to help users make the most of the control, which makes me think that some folks are struggling to get it to function as intended. For what it’s worth, I’ve had no issues (hint: set the "wake" sensitivity to max).

Smarter smart replies for Pixel Watch 3 and 4

In addition to the new gesture controls, Google also announced improvements to the smart replies feature on the Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Watch 4. The latest iteration uses an on-watch model (i.e., no internet connection required) that's reportedly twice as fast, while using half the battery power of the prior cloud-based version.

That’s not all. Google also says that the quality of replies has improved. According to a blind study conducted by the tech giant, 97% of users reported that replies were either equally as good or better than before.

When can I try these new Pixel Watch features?

Google’s latest gesture controls and improved smart replies should start rolling out to users ASAP via a firmware update, and I plan to take them for a spin right away. Stay tuned for my impressions.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple Watch 11 vs. Pixel Watch 4: I walked 20,000 steps to find the clear winner
• Pixel Watch 4 vs Pixel Watch 3 — Which Google Smartwatch Should You Buy?
• Garmin vs Apple — who makes the better smartwatch in 2025?

I've been monitoring smartwatch deals for the past two months, and five of my favorite models remain discounted at their lowest-ever price, including models from Apple, Garmin, Google, and Samsung.

The latest Apple Watch SE 3 is just $199, down from $249, and one of my favorite watches of 2025, the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar, is only $299, reduced from $399.

Find details on these epic smartwatch deals, plus three more, below.

Quick Links

• Apple Watch SE 3: was $249 now $199 @ Amazon
• Apple Watch Series 11: was $399 now $329 @ Amazon
• Garmin Instinct 3 Solar: was $399 now $299 @ Amazon
• Google Pixel Watch 4: was $399 now $349 @ Amazon
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: was $499 now $399 @ Amazon

Best smartwatch deals

I reviewed the latest Google Pixel Watch 4 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, and can say with certainty that these are two of the best smartwatches for Android available today. But which one is best for you?

The easy answer is, if you have a Samsung phone, the Galaxy Watch 8 is the wise move, and if you have a Pixel phone, spring for the Pixel Watch 4. However, I can think of plenty of reasons for Galaxy phone owners to opt for the Pixel Watch and vice versa.

After all, despite rather similar specs, there are an array of notable differences between the latest Galaxy Watch and Pixel Watch, including features, aesthetics, holistic tools, and battery performance worth considering before settling on one or the other.

With that in mind, I've compared the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 versus Google Pixel Watch 4 across eight categories, including price, design, durability, display, health and fitness features, safety features, AI features, and battery life, with a winner declared for each.

At the end, I've crowned an overall winner based on the number of category wins. If you're in a hurry, feel free to jump to the conclusion where I've summarized the results of the Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Pixel Watch 4.

Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Pixel Watch 4: Specs

The Pixel Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 8 each come in two sizes. The latter is also available in an even beefier case size with a rotating bezel dubbed the Galaxy 8 Classic (far right column).

Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Pixel Watch 4: Price

The Samsung Galaxy Watch used to start at $50 less than the Pixel Watch. Sadly, Samsung upped pricing across the board with the launch of the Galaxy Watch 8, which now starts at $349 for the smaller 40mm model without cellular, the same cost as the smaller 41mm Pixel Watch 4, also sans cellular.

The 40mm Galaxy Watch 8 with LTE is $399, compared to $449 for the 41mm Pixel Watch 4 with cellular. The larger 44mm Galaxy Watch 8 is $379 or $429 with cellular capabilities, while the 45mm Pixel Watch 4 is $399 or $499 with LTE.

This pricing ultimately makes the Samsung Galaxy Watch a better bargain if you opt for anything other than the 40mm non-LTE model.

The Galaxy Watch 8 additionally comes in a Classic model with a 46mm case size and a rotating bezel for $499 or $549 with LTE.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Watch 8

Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Pixel Watch 4: Design

The Pixel Watch 4 offers an overall sleeker case design compared to the Galaxy Watch 8's cushion-style case aesthetic. That said, the smaller Galaxy Watch weighs roughly the same as the smaller Pixel Watch, and the same is true for the larger models.

Ignoring the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic for a moment, when it comes to controls, the experience is fairly similar between these two top-notch Android models, combining ultra-responsive touchscreens with a couple of physical buttons along the side of the case.

While the Galaxy Watch 8 sports two standard buttons, the Pixel Watch 4 provides a standard button and a digital crown that can be pressed, doubling as a button.

I personally prefer the design and controls of the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic to the standard Galaxy 8 model or the Pixel Watch 4. The rotating bezel is an awesome way to navigate the watch's features. The Classic is also the only one of the bunch with an extra customizable button. That said, with a weight of 60g and a 46mm case diameter, it's one hefty bit of wrist candy.

Ultimately, which design is superior is a matter of personal preference. With no glaring design issues in either camp, this one is a draw.

Winner: draw

Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Pixel Watch 4: Durability

The Pixel Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 8 family are rated for 50 meters of water resistance, making them suitable for wearing during short, surface-level swims, hand washing and showering, doing the dishes, and dancing in the rain. Both also sport an IP68 rating against dust and moisture incursions.

The Pixel Watch 4 and standard Galaxy Watch 8 models sport aluminum case designs that, in my experience, hold up well to the bumps and bruises of everyday life. That said, neither offers much by way of bezel protection for the screen.

The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, meanwhile, boasts a stainless steel case design and ample screen protection thanks to the rotating bezel.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Pixel Watch 4: Display

The displays on the Galaxy Watch 8 lineup are comparably ever-so-slightly larger than those of the Pixel Watch 4, but you'd be hard put to notice the difference IRL. More importantly, both brands offer bright and well-saturated AMOLED panels that max out at an impressive 3,000 nits, making them seriously easy to read even in direct sunlight.

Winner: draw

Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Pixel Watch 4: Health and fitness features

Google and Samsung each offer users a comprehensive set of wellness features, including the latest holistic and fitness-monitoring tech. You also get detailed sleep insights from either model, with deep dives into your sleep stages and overall sleep quality.

With ample tracking modes to cover even the most nuanced activities, both the latest Samsung and Pixel Watch are well-suited to accurately keep tabs on your outdoor excursions thanks to dual-band GPS antennas and onboard altimeters for elevation data.

To help you prep for the day, the Pixel Watch 4 provides a daily Readiness Score from one to one hundred, while the Galaxy Watch 8 offers a daily Energy Score on the same scale.

You get AI-powered workout tools on either model, too. The Galaxy Watch 8 features Samsung's new Running Coach feature that analyzes your abilities via a trial run + user-inputted data to generate a custom-tailored multi-week training plan. For example, after my 12-minute trial run, the Galaxy Watch 8 recommended I train for a 10K. Once you start the plan, the device provides tips, insights, and encouragement along the way.

The Pixel Watch 4 also has an AI-powered personal fitness coach feature that's quite a bit more capable, on paper at least. While Samsung's AI coach is tied to just running, the Fitbit Coach can make recommendations about any workout type, including generating multi-exercise training plans. For example, I plan to use it to generate pre-snowboard season workouts to prep my legs.

Google's Fitbit Coach is only available in preview form as of writing, but a full version is promised for 2026. Unfortunately, to access the majority of these new AI tools, you'll need to pay $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year for a Fitbit Premium subscription.

Winner: draw

Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Pixel Watch 4: Safety features

Both the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Google Pixel Watch 4 offer safety features that can send for help and/or contact loved ones in the event that a hard fall or crash is registered. Users can also manually trigger an SOS via either smartwatch.

However, only the Pixel Watch 4 has Loss of Pulse Detection. Similar to fall/crash detection, it can also send for help in the event of a cardiac emergency, even if you aren't responsive.

For off-the-grid help when you're out of cell service, the Pixel Watch 4 has another advantage over the Galaxy Watch 8: satellite-based emergency messaging.

Only available in the U.S., this feature allows you to connect to emergency services when off-the-grid or without a smartphone via, you guessed it, satellite. However, a clear view of the sky is necessary to send an SOS message, and it only works on the LTE-compatible models.

Still, as an avid outdoor adventurer, this feature alone is enough to swing me toward the Pixel Watch 4 instead of the Galaxy Watch 8.

Winner: Google Pixel Watch 4

Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Pixel Watch 4: AI features

Google's Gemini AI is the gold standard when it comes to on-wrist, voice-activated assistants, and both the latest Pixel Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch ship with the feature built in.

In my testing, Gemini on the Pixel Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 8 is capable of answering complex and/or overly specific questions, like 'How many blueberries should I allow my 18-pound chihuahua-daschund mix pup to eat in one sitting?' or 'When's the next time I'll be able to see Jupiter with my naked eye from my current location?'

Gemini AI can also source relevant, context-specific bits of info from your calendar, messages, emails, and more. As someone who occasionally forgets appointments and/or social events despite writing them down on a physical calendar, I find this especially helpful.

However, one nifty Gemini AI feature that you'll only find on the Pixel Watch 4 is a 'Raise to talk' gesture control that eliminates the need to say 'Hey, Google' when you want to 'wake' the AI. In practice, the gesture control works well, especially if you set it to maximum sensitivity.

Winner: Google Pixel Watch 4

Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Pixel Watch 4: Battery life

I tested real-world battery performance of the Pixel Watch 4 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and discovered that the larger, 45mm Pixel Watch 4 is the longest lasting of the bunch, averaging 60 hours or more per charge (the 41mm Pixel Watch 4 is a little less than that).

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic comes in second with roughly 50 hours of use per charge. The standard Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 lasted for closer to 30 hours per charge in our testing.

Winner: Google Pixel Watch 4

Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Pixel Watch 4: and the winner is...

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 beats the Google Pixel Watch 4 when it comes to price — with the exception of the smaller, non-LTE models, which cost the same — and durability, assuming you go with the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.

Both the Galaxy Watch 8 and Pixel Watch 4 offer similarly impressive designs (though I personally prefer the sleekness of the Pixel Watch) with bright and responsive touchscreens paired with physical controls. You also get comprehensive fitness, wellness, and sleep tracking tools on either model.

While my favorite AI voice assistant, Gemini, comes standard on each, only the Pixel Watch 4 offers a gesture control to wake it. The Google Watch also boasts a greater array of safety tools, including Loss of Pulse Detection and satellite SOS messaging, and superior battery life to the Galaxy Watch 8.

Ultimately, the Google Pixel Watch 4 is my favorite smartwatch for Android currently available. However, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is a close second.

Overall winner: Google Pixel Watch 4

More from Tom's Guide

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Galaxy Watch 7: How to Choose Which is Best for You
• Pixel Watch 4 vs Pixel Watch 3 — Which Google Smartwatch Should You Buy?
• Apple Watch 10 vs Pixel Watch 4 — Which is the Better Smartwatch?

There's no doubt about it. The Google Pixel Watch 4 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 — specifically the Classic edition — are the best smartwatches for Android users in 2025. But which is the more accurate fitness tracker?

With similar price tags, features (including Google's excellent Gemini AI voice assistant) and onboard tech, I'd happily recommend either model, as I reviewed both for Tom's Guide. However, in the spirit of competition, I wore the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Google Pixel Watch 4 during an hour-long walk around Seattle, Washington, to compare their workout data.

As a control, I manually counted my steps — with some assistance from my trusty old school tally counter — and ran Strava on my iPhone 12 mini for distance, pace, and elevation data.

Ultimately, one smartwatch proved decisively more accurate than the other. Can you guess which? Read on to discover the winner in this showdown between the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Google Pixel Watch 4.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs Pixel Watch 4: Quick comparison

Both devices start at $349 and come in a variety of case sizes — 40mm and 44mm for the Samsung and 41mm and 45mm for the Pixel Watch — and with or without cellular connectivity. The Galaxy Watch 8 is additionally offered in a Classic edition with a larger battery capacity and rotating bezel (this is the model I tested), something you won’t find on the latest Pixel Watch range.

Seriously bright and responsive touchscreens adorn both the latest Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch models. The displays are paired with physical buttons along the sides of the cases. While the Pixel Watch 4 lasted longer than the Galaxy Watch 8 in my testing, both easily surpassed 40 hours or more per charge.

Fitness, wellness and safety tools are equally impressive across the board for both watches. That said, only the Pixel Watch 4 offers a Loss of Pulse Detection feature. Plus, the LTE versions of the Pixel Watch 4 also support a new satellite messaging feature for off-the-grid emergency communications.

You can use either flagship smartwatch to track your sleep, though I find Samsung’s sleep reports slightly more detailed and with more actionable advice.

Google’s Gemini AI voice assistant comes standard on both watches, but it's easier to 'wake' using the Pixel Watch 4 thanks to an exclusive, new raise-the-wrist gesture control.

When it comes to monitoring outdoor workouts, the Pixel Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 8 each boast dual-band GPS, onboard altimeters for monitoring elevation changes, and similarly advanced holistic sensor arrays. With no real technology advantage on either side, this walk test showdown is about as evenly matched as they get.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs Pixel Watch 4: Walk test results

With the Pixel Watch 4 on my left wrist and the Galaxy Watch 8 on my right, I embarked on my roughly 1-hour walk around autumn-kissed Seattle. To help keep a precise count of my paces, I noted every hundred step taken with a click of my tally counter before starting again at one. A pair of the best noise-canceling headphones also helped to eliminate distractions.

Across the board — with only a few exceptions — the fitness tracking data from these two flagship smartwatch models impresses. After an hour of walking, the fact that both devices produced step count totals within 30 steps of my actual tally blows me away.

The watches measured slightly less distance covered compared to Strava, but the discrepancy is minor and no cause for concern. On the other hand, the Pixel Watch 4's elevation data is a little funky. While the Galaxy Watch was within 8 feet of the control data (well within a reasonable margin of error), the Google wearable seemingly overcounted by 49 feet.

Samsung's average pace data is a little slower than Strava's, and Google's is significantly more sluggish. What gives? My hunch is that Google's average pace metric reflects an elapsed pace versus a moving pace. While Samsung and Strava provide both moving and elapsed pace metrics, Google provides just one (and doesn't note which it is).

Things get cheerier as we move on to heart rate data, with each wearable producing similar enough averages and maxes. For what it's worth, my maximum heart rate during this walk test occurred while I powered up the steepest hill in Seattle.

Lastly, the Pixel Watch noted more calories burned and also consumed a little more battery during the one-hour walk. The latter surprised me, given that the Pixel Watch 4 ultimately proved to be the longer-lasting device in my greater testing.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs Pixel Watch 4: And the winner is...

With a remarkably accurate step count total that's just three steps off from my actual total, along with more accurate elevation and pace data, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 beats the Google Pixel Watch 4 in today's head-to-head accuracy battle.

Still, the Pixel Watch 4 performed admirably across the board, except for seemingly inflated elevation data. That said, I plan to continue testing the Pixel Watch 4's fitness tracking chops to find out if the climb metric hiccup was an anomaly or something more chronic. Stay tuned for a Pixel Watch 4 vs. Apple Watch 11 comparison.

Until next time, get your steps in!

More from Tom's Guide

• I walked 5,000 steps with the Apple Watch 11 vs Garmin Venu 4 — and the winner is clear
• I just went hands-on with the Suunto Vertical 2 — and it beats my favorite Garmin in 5 big ways
• I test smartwatches for a living — and these are my 5 favorite models when I go hiking

The smaller a device is, the harder it tends to be to repair. Just look at Apple's AirPods Pro 3, which look more or less impossible to open up without causing irreparable damage to the inner workings. Smartwatches often fall into this same trap, but it looks like Google is changing the narrative with the Pixel Watch 4.

iFixit just tore down the Pixel Watch 4, and gave the watch an unprecedented 9/10 for repairability — something no other smartwatch has achieved so far.

As the repair team put it, the watch has "a complete rethink of smartphone design" and it looks as though Google built the watch with repairs and serviceability in mind.

The big change is that there's absolutely no glue involved in this year's design. Instead, the Pixel Watch 4 holds itself together with screws, which makes opening it up an absolute breeze. All you need is a screwdriver, so your heat gun can stay firmly packed away where it belongs.

Better still, the two exterior screws have their own O-ring to seal the body and maintain the Pixel Watch 4's IP68 water and dust resistance. Just make sure not to lose them during your own teardowns.

The internals feature more screws, alongside a press connector and the occasional ribbon cable — but nothing too fiddly or taxing to deal with.

Another internal gasket seals off the screen and chipset, helping to maintain that IP68 rating even further — something iFixit likens to the design of dive watches. They also note that the watch's circular design makes this significantly easier than rectangular and square-shaped watches. Which I think is as good a reason as any to dislike that particular design choice.

All in all, the conclusion from this teardown is that Google has gone out of its way to make the watch easy to repair. There are no traps or hidden screws, nor is there any glue that would instantly make the teardown more complicated.

Not only does that make it easier for Google technicians to fix broken watches, it means you've actually got the choice to make those repairs yourself. Or, at least you will once those spare parts are available to purchase. Which, if the Pixel phones are anything to go by, should happen fairly soon.

How does this compare to other smartwatches?

None of this really means anything unless you know why the Pixel Watch 4's design is potentially so revolutionary. Well, it's because other smartwatches generally suck when it comes to making teardowns and repairs viable.

The last Pixel Watch iFixit tore down was the Pixel Watch 2, which got a repair score of 4/10 because of the custom adhesive that meant the watch couldn't be "reliably reassembled." Likewise, the Pixel Watch 3 is apparently such a pain to fix that Google flat-out said that it would replace broken models instead of fixing them. Which is pretty wasteful if you ask me.

The most recent Apple Watch torn down by iFixit, the Apple Watch Series 10, got a measly 3/10 repair score, for many of the same reasons that plague other small Apple devices. Key parts are difficult to access, official parts and instructions aren't available and the reliance on glue makes it all very difficult to pull off.

More from Tom's Guide

• I wore the Google Pixel Watch 4 for two weeks and it’s the most futuristic smartwatch I’ve ever tested — here's why
• I tried the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro’s LiveTrack feature in a marathon — here’s what happened
• I swapped the Apple Watch Ultra 3 for the Apple Watch Series 11 — here’s my pros and cons

Which flagship smartwatch is better, the Apple Watch Series 10 or the Google Pixel Watch 4? With similar starting prices, specs, and features, the winner is far from clear. That’s why I’m here to help.

I’ve extensively tested the Apple Watch Series 10. The Pixel Watch 4, meanwhile, was just announced, and though we’ve had some limited hands-on time with it, we’re still awaiting a final review unit. With that in mind, this comparison is subject to change based on the results of our testing.

Still, having reviewed the Pixel Watch 3 and the latest Wear OS features, I’ve got a very good sense of what Google’s latest smartwatch brings to the table.

Without further ado, here’s how the Apple Watch 10 versus Pixel Watch 4 compare across eight categories, including price, design, durability, display, health and fitness features, AI features, Safety features, and battery life.

For those in a hurry, feel free to jump to my Apple Watch 10 vs. Pixel Watch 4 summary at the bottom of the page, where I've declared an overall winner.

Apple Watch 10 vs. Pixel Watch 4: Specs

Apple Watch 10 vs. Pixel Watch 4: Price

The Apple Watch Series 10 was announced in September 2024 with a starting price of $399 for the smaller, 42mm Series 10 model without LTE or $499 with LTE. The larger, 45mm Series 10 is $429 without LTE and $529 with it.

Announced in August 2025, the Pixel Watch 4 is still in preorder, with units expected to ship in early to mid-October.

The Pixel Watch 4 starts at $349 for the smaller 41mm model and costs $399 for the larger 45mm model, both without LTE. Similar to the Apple Watch 10, add an extra $100 to upgrade either to the cellular-capable model.

Even though the latest Pixel Watch 4 starts $50 cheaper than the Apple Watch 10, I'm calling this one a draw based on how frequently the latter goes on sale for $50 or more off retail (see links above).

Winner: draw

Apple Watch 10 vs. Pixel Watch 4: Design

Circle or square? In terms of design — case shape aside — the Apple Watch 10 and Pixel Watch 4 are actually pretty similar. For example, when it comes to physical controls, both sport a pressable digital crown and a secondary button along the side of the case. Unlike the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, neither offers a third, programmable 'action' button.

When it comes to accessorizing, both Google and Apple use proprietary methods for attaching a strap, rather than good old-fashioned spring bars (used by nearly every watch made for the past 100 years).

While I've yet to spend time with the Pixel Watch 4 on my wrist, based on my review of the Pixel Watch 3 (which has the same weight and dimensions as the new model), it should wear similarly to the Apple Watch 10. This is to say: Both devices are equally comfy.

Moreover, the smaller Pixel Watch 4 weighs about the same as the smaller Apple Watch 10. The heights are about the same as well, though the Apple Watch is narrower and a little thinner. The same is true across the board when comparing the 46mm Series 10 to the 45mm Pixel Watch 4.

Ultimately, with no real advantage present in either the Apple or the Google camps, this one is also a tie.

Winner: draw

Apple Watch 10 vs. Pixel Watch 4: Durability

The Pixel Watch 4 and Apple Watch 10 are both rated for 50 meters of water resistance, making it safe to wear while swimming in shallow water, but not diving or during watersports. Both are also IP6-rated against dust and grime.

Perhaps more importantly, based on my ample field testing of the Series 10 and prior Pixel Watch models, I feel comfortable saying both hold up to everyday bumps, abrasions, and even drops remarkably well.

Winner: Draw

Apple Watch 10 vs. Pixel Watch 4: Display

Okay, here's where things start to get interesting. While the Apple Watch Series 10 sports an impressive wide-angle OLED screen with 2,000 nits of max brightness and viewable from even the oddest of angles, the Pixel Watch 4's AMOLED screen maxes out at 3,000 nits, the same as the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and should be even easier on the eyes, particularly in direct sunlight.

Winner: Google Pixel Watch 4

Apple Watch 10 vs. Pixel Watch 4: Health and fitness features

Apple and Google's latest smartwatches each track long lists of physical activities and provide valuable insights into sleep quality, fitness levels, and overall health. However, only the Series 10 has sleep apnea detection. On the flip side, only the Pixel Watch 4 offers a daily sleep score and 'Readiness' score out of 100 to help you plan your day (something I find especially useful).

In terms of onboard holistic tech, these flagship devices are also evenly matched. However, the Pixel Watch 4 has a comparably more sophisticated dual-band GPS antenna compared to a single-band antenna in the Series 10, which could give it an advantage in location tracking accuracy, especially in areas with obstructed skies like cities and forests.

That said, until I've had the chance to physically test the accuracy of these two devices head-to-head (please, don't hate me), I'm also calling this one a draw.

Winner: draw

Apple Watch 10 vs. Pixel Watch 4: Safety features

As safety tech improves with each new generation of smartwatch, the latest devices from Apple and Google are each brimming with tools that provide peace of mind, including fall and crash detection, high/low heart rate notifications, and the ability to keep loved ones apprised of your location.

Only the Apple Watch can alert you if your environment is dangerously noisy. However, the latest Pixel Watch has a pair of arguably even more important safety features that are absent on the Series 10. The first is Loss of Pulse Detection, which was introduced in the Pixel Watch 3 last year. Like fall/crash detection, it can automatically contact help if a cardiac emergency occurs.

The Pixel Watch 4 is also the first full-featured smartwatch with satellite SOS messaging, which is designed to connect you with emergency responders via messaging when you're outside of cellular range and/or without a smartphone. You'll need the pricier LTE-capable version of the Pixel Watch 4 to unlock this safety tool, though, and it's only available in the U.S. as of writing.

Combined, these two features give the Pixel Watch 4 a slight advantage when it comes to safety over the Apple Watch 10. However, rumors strongly suggest Apple rolling out an emergency satellite communication feature of its own on the forthcoming Apple Watch 11 or Apple Watch Ultra 3.

Winner: Google Pixel Watch 4

Apple Watch 10 vs. Pixel Watch 4: AI features

True-blue AI features are only starting to show up in the most recent generation of smartwatches. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 — released earlier this year — was the first smartwatch to ship with Google's Gemini AI assistant built in (older, eligible devices, including the Galaxy Watch 7 and Pixel Watch 3, can unlock Gemini via the latest Wear OS software).

Of course, the Pixel Watch 4 also supports Gemini, and Google even introduced a new 'raise the wrist' gesture to unlock it; no more saying 'Hey, Google,' like a chump. From my testing, Gemini is quite a useful on-wrist assistant companion.

The Apple Watch Series 10, meanwhile, offers nothing by way of an AI-powered voice assistant. In fact, it sounds likely that we won't get an overhauled Siri until 2026.

That said, the latest Apple Watch does support some AI features, like live message translations and a new, personalized fitness coach called 'Workout Buddy' (the jury is still out on its usefulness; stay tuned for more testing). Google is also rolling out a personalized AI fitness coach, though it will be paywalled, with a little help from Steph Curry.

Gemini on the Pixel Watch 4 is also programmed to automatically recognize and track your favorite activity types (with some training), no user input required.

Ultimately, when it comes to AI features, the latest Pixel Watch has a genuinely useful onboard AI assistant, while the latest Apple Watch, well, doesn't.

Winner: Google Pixel Watch 4

Apple Watch 10 vs. Pixel Watch 4: Battery life

Battery life has been the Achilles heel of the main Apple Watch series, IMHO, for far too long. The latest Series 10 lasts just 18 hours per charge with the always-on display, though you can push that closer to 30 hours by switching to low-power mode.

Google rates the smaller Pixel Watch 4 battery at 30 hours per charge and the larger model at 40 hours per charge. Will those numbers actually hold up in testing? My guess is yes.

The prior generation Pixel Watch 3 was only rated 24 hours per charge, but the larger model consistently lasted for 48 hours (again, with the always-on option turned on). Google says battery life is 25% improved on the Pixel Watch 4 versus the Pixel Watch 3, which could translate to three days of longevity per charge for the 45mm model.

All this is to say that Google already sweeps the floor with Apple when it comes to smartwatch battery life. However, this is something I'm very hopeful will change when the next generation of Apple Watches gets announced on September 9th.

Winner: Google Pixel Watch 4

Apple Watch 10 vs. Pixel Watch 4: and the winner is...

With the Google Pixel Watch 4 being the much newer device, it's not all that surprising that it beats the Apple Watch Series 10 in a head-to-head comparison of key specs and features.

While the two offer similar enough designs (shape aside) and ample wellness and fitness features, the Pixel Watch 4 has a brighter screen, a greater range of safety tools, much better battery life, and perhaps most notably, a reliable AI voice assistant built in.

Stay tuned for more coverage of the Pixel Watch 4 and forthcoming Apple Watches, including complete reviews of all new models, head-to-head testing against our current selection of best smartwatches, and much more.

Overall winner: Google Pixel Watch 4

More from Tom's Guide

• Google Pixel Watch 4 — 5 reasons to buy (and 2 reasons to skip)
• Forget the Apple Watch 10 — 5 reasons why I prefer this cheap Casio Baby-G watch to the best smartwatches
• Pixel Watch 4 vs Pixel Watch 3 — Which Google Smartwatch Should You Buy?

With the launch of the Google Pixel Watch 4, is there any point in considering 2024's Pixel Watch 3, particularly if you can find one on sale? That depends.

I reviewed the Pixel Watch 3 and will be reviewing the latest model as soon as units are available. With that in mind, this comparison is somewhat speculative and subject to change based on testing.

Still, according to the hard specs, our team's collective experience handling the Pixel Watch 4 so far, and my exclusive conversation with Google on the latest Pixel Watch safety tech, I already have a strong sense of what the device offers and how it stacks up against its predecessor.

Below, I've compared the new Pixel Watch 4 versus last year's Pixel Watch 3 across eight categories, including price, design, durability, display, health and fitness features, safety features, AI features, and battery life.

In a hurry, and just want the TLDR? Jump to the end where I've summarized the Pixel Watch 4 vs Pixel Watch 3 results.

Pixel Watch 4 vs. Pixel Watch 3: Specs

But first, how do these two Google Pixel Watches compare on paper? Both come in 41mm and 45mm and share the same launch price.

Pixel Watch 4 vs. Pixel Watch 3: Price

Like the Pixel Watch 3 before it, the Pixel Watch 4 starts at $349 for the smaller 41mm model without an LTE antenna and increases to $449 for LTE. The 45mm Pixel Watch 4 without LTE is $399, while the LTE variant is $499.

The Pixel Watch 4 is still in the preorder stage, with units not expected to ship until mid-October. The Pixel Watch 3, meanwhile, can be picked up right now for well under retail. For example, here's the Pixel Watch 3 in 41mm for $249, reduced from $349 via Walmart.

Moreover, having covered numerous smartwatch holiday sales in the past, I'd be willing to bet deals on the Pixel Watch 3 will get even sweeter as winter approaches.

Winner: Google Pixel Watch 3

Pixel Watch 4 vs. Pixel Watch 3 Design

Design-wise, not too much has changed from the prior generation Pixel Watch to the current one. The new models share the same dimensions and weight as their predecessors, along with the same button configuration.

The newer model now charges on its side — so that you can use it as a tiny bedside alarm clock — but still uses electronic contacts rather than wireless charging, much to my disappointment. The screen is a tiny bit larger and slightly domed on the newer model, but the update is hardly life-changing.

Ultimately, on the wrist, both generations of Pixel Watch should offer the same overall look and feel.

Winner: draw

Pixel Watch 4 vs. Pixel Watch 3: Durability

The Pixel Watch 4 and Pixel Watch 3 are both rated for 50 meters of water resistance, and also IP68-rated against dust and moisture. Each also boasts aluminum cases.

Even though I've yet to test the latest model, the Pixel Watch 3 case has held up brilliantly to knocks and drops, and I expect the same from the Pixel Watch 4.

Winner: Draw

Pixel Watch 4 vs. Pixel Watch 3: Display

In addition to the updated domed glass touchscreen on the Pixel Watch 4, the latest model also boasts 10% more screen real estate (as noted above). This alone probably isn't worth choosing it over its predecessor, but if you're someone who spends a lot of time outdoors, the Pixel Watch 4's higher-output screen might seal the deal.

50% brighter than before, the Pixel Watch 4 display maxes out at 3,000 nits, the same max brightness as the also-new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and 1,000 nits brighter than the Apple Watch Series 10. This should make it easier than ever to read in direct sunlight or when on the move while working out.

Winner: Google Pixel Watch 4

Pixel Watch 4 vs. Pixel Watch 3: Health and fitness features

The health and fitness features on the Pixel Watch 4 are very similar to the Pixel Watch 3. Except for an upgraded body temperature sensor, the holistic tech is a match. Google says the new sensor should result in 18% more accurate sleep stage tracking, but not much else.

On the fitness side, the Pixel Watch 4 sports a fancier dual-band GPS antenna compared to a single-band antenna on the Pixel Watch 3. This upgrade could make the newest model more reliable and precise when tracking in tricky situations with obstructed skies.

That said, the Pixel Watch 3 has never let me down when it comes to tracking accuracy, besting the competition, including the latest Galaxy Watch 8 (which also has dual-band GPS).

Beyond the tech, both watches support impressively large selections of trackable activities and feature comprehensive insights into sleep quality. You also get useful workout training and recovery tools, and access to a daily 'Readiness' score borrowed from Fitbit Premium.

Finally, the newer model automatically uses Gemini to get a sense of your favorite workout types. Once calibrated, Google says that it will be smart enough to automatically start tracking without any user input. Sadly, this likely helpful bit of AI tech won't be coming to the Pixel Watch 3.

Winner: Google Pixel Watch 4

Pixel Watch 4 vs. Pixel Watch 3: Safety features

Pixel Watches are known for their safety features, and both the third and fourth generations offer standbys like fall and car crash detection to automatically get you help when you might need it most.

Last year, Google added a first-of-its-kind Loss of Pulse Detection feature to the line, which can similarly contact medical responders in the event of a cardiac emergency. Again, this feature comes standard on both of the latest Pixel Watches.

However, only the Pixel Watch 4 offers Google's newest satellite SOS messaging feature; due to hardware limitations, older models won't be inheriting it.

SOS satellite messaging, which is available in the U.S. only, allows you to potentially connect to emergency services when out of cell range or without a smartphone via, you guessed it, satellite. It has limitations, like the need for a clear view of the sky. It's also only available on the pricier LTE versions of the Pixel Watch 4.

As an avid outdoor adventurer, this is a must-have for me. However, if you don't find yourself off the grid very often, it might be less meaningful to you.

Winner: Google Pixel Watch 4

Pixel Watch 4 vs. Pixel Watch 3: AI features

Those running the latest Wear OS software on their Pixel Watch 3 have access to the same Gemini AI voice assistant that ships built-in to the Pixel Watch 4 (and Samsung Galaxy Watch 8).

From my testing, Gemini is by far the most useful voice-activated on-wrist assistant I've encountered, with the ability to accurately and helpfully relay contextual information from your calendar, messages, emails, etc., when called upon, like a champ.

However, one nifty aspect of Gemini onboard you'll only find on the Pixel Watch 4 is Google's newest gesture control: 'Raise to Talk.' Rather than having to say 'Hey, Google' or, heaven forbid, press a button, you can now simply raise your wrist toward your face to unlock Gemini. I've yet to try it, but I'm cautiously optimistic about its usefulness.

Winner: Google Pixel Watch 4

Pixel Watch 4 vs. Pixel Watch 3: Battery life

Both Pixel Watch 4 sizes sport slightly larger capacity batteries than their predecessor. That, coupled with a 50% more efficient processor (that's also 25% faster), should translate to the newer model having a notable battery life advantage. (Google says battery life is 25% improved.)

While Google rated the battery on the Pixel Watch 3 at 24 hours per charge, the Pixel Watch 4 in 41mm is rated 30 hours per charge, and the 45mm model is rated 40 hours per charge. These ratings are with the always-on display in smartwatch mode (no GPS tracking).

Of course, in my testing, the larger Pixel Watch 3 actually lasted for roughly 48 hours per charge, double its rating, while the smaller model lasted just 24 hours.

This is to say, in real-world use, I would not be at all surprised if the bigger Pixel Watch 4 pushes well beyond the 48-hour mark. (Stay tuned for testing.)

The newer Pixel Watch 4 also recharges a little bit faster. In just 15 minutes, you can reach a 50% charge, and in 45 minutes, a full 100% charge. The Pixel Watch, meanwhile, takes 25 minutes to get to 50% and an hour to get to 100%.

Winner: (likely) Pixel Watch 4

Pixel Watch 4 vs. Pixel Watch 3: and the winner is...

This shouldn't come as a huge surprise, but the Pixel Watch 4 is, across the board, a better smartwatch than the Pixel Watch 3. This is thanks to a brighter screen, (potentially) longer-lasting battery, the addition of emergency satellite messaging, a new gesture control to unlock Gemini, several small improvements to location and wellness tracking, and faster charging.

Still, the Pixel Watch 3 is no slouch and offers a similar design and durability, all the same fitness and holistic tools, respectable battery life (especially the 45mm model), access to Gemini onboard, and lots of safety features (though no SOS messaging). So, if you're looking to save some cash but still want one of the best smartwatches for Android available today, the Pixel Watch 3 remains a solid option.

Stay tuned for more coverage of the Pixel Watch 4, including my forthcoming complete review, head-to-head testing against other best smartwatch models, feature deep-dives, and more.

Overall winner: Google Pixel Watch 4

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Of all the shiny new features announced on the Pixel Watch 4 during the August 20 Made by Google event, I’m most excited for emergency satellite communications, borrowed from last year’s Google Pixel 9 smartphone.

A first-of-its-kind feature on a smartwatch — much to the chagrin of Apple, no doubt — satellite SOS messaging doesn’t require a paired smartphone or even cellular reception. As the name implies, it uses a satellite to connect you to help via messaging.

As an avid outdoor enthusiast who often hikes out of LTE range, this is a welcome addition to the Pixel Watch’s already impressive toolkit of safety tech (see also: fall detection, crash detection, and loss of pulse detection).

To find out more about satellite SOS messaging on the Pixel Watch 4, I chatted with Sharath Ananth, a principal and system engineer on Google's watch software team, and Anu Kumar, who leads the Pixel Watch essentials apps team.

What is satellite SOS messaging on Pixel Watch 4?

With rumors hinting at both the Pixel Watch 4 and the forthcoming Apple Watch Ultra 3 (and maybe Apple Watch Series 11) launching with some form of emergency satellite messaging, Google clearly beat Apple to the punch. As of writing, the Pixel Watch 4 is the only full-featured smartwatch with this safety tool, though the watch doesn't go on sale until October 9.

Intended to connect you with emergency responders when out of cell range, this potentially life-saving tool is in good company.

“We already have fall detection, car crash detection, and last year we unveiled the loss of pulse feature. This is another in the quiver for your peace of mind,” Kumar said.

Google is using the same service provider for the feature on the Pixel Watch 4 as on the Pixel 9 smartphone.

“What we're doing in the Pixel Watch builds on the infrastructure that we built on the Pixel phone, which launched last year. So a lot of our design philosophy and some of our partners are the same as the phone. We, of course, had to adapt it uniquely for the watch, which is obviously a different form factor, but with its own set of challenges,” Ananth said.

How does satellite SOS messaging work?

To use the new emergency satellite communication feature on the Pixel Watch 4, “you first have to try and dial 911,” Ananth said. “When the 911 call doesn't go through, or if it doesn't go through because you're out of network for a certain amount of time — right now it's about 20 seconds — a UI pops up to the user saying, ‘Hey, do you want to try a satellite option?' If the user accepts, we first [ask] a set of questions about what may be going on.

"The aim is to collect as much information as possible, very briefly. ‘Are you injured?’ ‘Are you in a moving boat?’ After that, there's a small tutorial on how you would have to point to the satellite for the communication to get through,” Ananth added.

Once you cruise through the tutorial, your emergency message is transmitted along with the questionnaire you filled out. After that, “you get an immediate acknowledgement that the message was sent. Now you can communicate free form with our service provider and get messages back,” Ananth said.

Of course, every time you reply, you have to point the watch toward the satellite again.

Satellite SOS messaging — intended use case

It’s worth noting that once connected via emergency satellite messaging, you can only communicate with the responder on the other end via messaging (no voice support), not anyone from your contact list.

“The communication is between you and the emergency service provider, and just a notification [gets sent] to your loved ones,” Ananth said. In this case, "loved ones" would be anyone that you’ve selected as an emergency contact. Thankfully, for the sake of not startling my 70-year-old parents, this can be turned off.

So, yeah, satellite SOS messaging on the Pixel Watch 4 is for actual off-the-grid emergencies only. But what use cases did Google develop the feature around?

“The usual one is hiking," Ananth said. “But maybe something that is not so common is you're driving somewhere and there's no [cellular] coverage, and you have a flat; a simple use case. You still need to get out in the open to be able to make the call, but you will be able to at least get through and get somebody to help you with that.

“Some other use cases we have tested are when you're on the boat in the terrestrial United States," Ananth added. "So, you don't have your phone and have an emergency — I think somebody was saying they're going kayaking and they didn't bring the phone along — then you're falling back to this as your primary provider in an emergency."

Satellite SOS messaging — limitations

One of the most notable limitations of the emergency satellite messaging on the Pixel Watch 4 is that only the pricier LTE models support the feature; it’s also only available in the contiguous U.S. at launch. Interestingly, you don’t need to pay for LTE service to use satellite messaging; you just need the LTE hardware.

“The underlying technology that's communicating to the satellite is still a variation of the LTE standard. So you need an LTE modem, ultimately. It's not, it's not the LTE waveform, but it's very similar,” Ananth sakd.

With a single satellite supporting the new safety feature, sky obstructions, like tall trees, could potentially be a limiting factor.

“You need to have a clear view of the sky to be able to get GPS location data and to be able to point to the satellite,” Ananth added. “So if it turns out that you have a clear view of the sky everywhere but where the satellite is, if there is a building [in the way], no, you won't get through.”

What about cloudy skies or precipitation? “Rain will not be a problem,” Anath said.

No satellite SOS messaging for older Pixel Watches

Unfortunately, older Pixel Watch models will not be inheriting this feature. “The satellite frequency is slightly different, so you have to have band support and antenna support. So it can't come to any of the gotcha earlier versions,” Ananth said.

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Google has been rumored to be planning new satellite features for its Find Hub, and we finally got an idea of what this could mean during the recent Made by Google event.

In a recent statement, via Android Authority, Skylo Technologies revealed just what new features would be coming for the Pixel 10 series as part of an expansion of the satellite connectivity. One of these additions is allowing users with the new phones to share their location through a satellite connection on both the Find Hub and Google Maps.

This means that the Google Pixel 10 series will be the first Android 16 devices to allow users to share their location without requiring a cellular connection. When one of your contacts receives the location pin, it will feature a satellite icon indicating an off-grid status.

It isn't just the phones seeing new features, as it is also stated that the Google Pixel Watch 4 will be the first smartwatch to offer two-way satellite emergency messaging. This means that users will be able to contact emergency services from their watch without needing a cellular plan or even a phone.

It’s not just Skylo that can use the feature, as T-Mobile has stated that Google Maps, Find Hub and Messages are available to connect through its T-satellite service on the Pixel 10. There are plans to expand to more devices as soon as T-satellite becomes data-ready on October 1.

What else was announced at Made by Google

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The Google Pixel Watch 4 has officially been announced, but is it worth the upgrade? While you have until October 9 to decide — that’s when the new smartwatch hits stores — there are reasons to both snag the latest Google smartwatch and reasons to let it pass you by.

With a starting cost of $349, the Google Pixel Watch 4 is the same price as the latest Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and $50 less than the Apple Watch Series 10. Like last year’s model, it’s available in your choice of 41mm or 45mm.

Boasting enhancements both outside and internally, the Pixel Watch 4 is well positioned to nab the title of best smartwatch for Android in 2025. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worth the upgrade if you have, say, the Pixel Watch 3.

With that in mind, as a full-time smartwatch reviewer, these are the five biggest reasons I’d buy the Pixel Watch 4 and two key reasons why I’d skip it.

Buy: Satellite SOS messaging

The Google Pixel Watch 4 is the first and only smartwatch with satellite SOS messaging to connect you to emergency services, even when you’re off the grid/out of cell range. Best of all, you don’t need a smartphone with you to use it.

When a satellite SOS is triggered, the user will be connected via messaging to someone who can help. The feature also notifies your emergency contacts.

For hikers and outdoor enthusiasts in general, I could see this being a major selling point of the Pixel Watch 4, and from my conversations with Google engineers, prior Pixel Watch models will not be getting SOS messaging due to hardware limitations.

It’s worth noting that this new potentially life-saving safety tool is only available for users in the contiguous U.S., and you’ll need to spring for the pricier LTE version of the watch to unlock it. That boosts the cost of the $349 41mm Pixel Watch 4 to $449.

That said, you don’t actually need to have LTE service on the watch, though Google does offer two years free if you buy the device through them directly or Best Buy.

Buy: Better battery performance

Not only do the latest Pixel Watch 4 devices sport larger capacity batteries than their predecessors, but an updated processor brings about 50% more efficient power consumption with 25% greater speed, according to Google's claims.

Google says that combo translates to 25% better battery performance for the latest smartwatch line. While the Pixel Watch 3 was rated to last for just 24 hours per charge, Google says that the 41mm Pixel Watch 4 should last for 30 hours per charge, while the larger model should go for 40 hours.

Buy: Faster charging

Not only has battery performance improved, but the Pixel Watch 4 charges faster than any previous model. Google says you can get 15 hours of battery life — or a 50% charge on the 41mm Pixel Watch 4 — in just 15 minutes of charging. A full charge takes just 45 minutes.

By comparison, the Pixel Watch 3 took roughly 25 minutes to reach 50% and an hour to hit 100% charge.

Buy: Better screen

A new domed glass screen and slimmer bezel result in a 10% larger screen on the Pixel Watch 4 compared to the 3. The display is also 50% brighter, maxing out at 3,000 nits — the same as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 — compared to 2,000 nits for the Pixel Watch 2.

This should make the new Pixel Watch easier to read at a glance, particularly in direct sunlight.

Buy: Enhanced GPS tracking

The Pixel Watch 4 is Google’s first smartwatch with dual-band GPS. What does that mean? More bands = more reliable/precise tracking.

This is especially true when recording a workout in dense cities with buildings obstructing the sky. The same is true for folks who enjoy exercising amongst the trees.

Skip: Similar fitness features to the Pixel Watch 3

While the Pixel Watch 4 has an updated body temperature sensor for improved sleep tracking data — namely, more precise sleep stage analysis — the fitness tracking features are essentially a match with the Pixel Watch 3.

Google has added support for some new activities, though, including basketball, American football, and everyone's favorite pastime, pickleball.

Skip: Same basic design as previous Pixel Watches

Those hoping for a major design overhaul for the Pixel Watch series, similar to what Samsung did with this year's Galaxy Watch line, will be disappointed. The Google Pixel Watch 4 looks pretty much exactly the same as every other Pixel Watch before it.

In fact, the 41mm and 45mm models have the same dimensions and weight as last year’s models. Sure, the bezel has shrunk down over four generations, but the physical controls remain the same, as does the overall design ethos.

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Personalized AI fitness coaching is the hot trend in consumer wearables, so it’s not surprising to hear that Google is launching a Gemini wellness coach this fall for Fitbit Premium subscribers. The announcement came shortly after the unveiling of the new Pixel Watch 4.

Not only that, the tech giant has partnered with basketball superstar Stephen Curry, who will act as a performance advisor for the feature.

The new feature will be paywalled

For those who need a refresher, Google owns Fitbit, and ever since last year’s Pixel Watch 3 launch, the Fitbit app has become the de facto fitness app for the Pixel Watch line. While the app is free to use, some higher-end features are paywalled, and the new AI coach will be one of them.

Fitbit Premium costs $9.99 a month or $79.99 for the year; however, lots of Fitbit and Pixel products come with a free six-month subscription. Either way, you’ll need Fitbit Premium (and be U.S.-based) to check out the new personalized AI health coach, which, according to Google, is “built by Gemini, backed by science, tailored to you.”

Custom training plans backed by AI (with some help from Steph Curry)

What does that mean? Google says that the tool will help users come up with customized workout plans based on their training goals and fitness level. Hmm, sounds a little bit like Apple’s Workout Buddy and Samsung’s Running Coach. The AI coach will also be able to answer questions like, ‘How can I fight jet lag?’

While the announcement of Google’s Gemini fitness coach was somewhat vague on details, outside of the fact that Stephen Curry is advising, it sounds like it won’t be exclusively available on the latest Pixel Watch 4. The real question is, will non-Pixel Watch users be able to access it from the best Fitbit devices?

How you can try Google’s Gemini fitness coach

Starting in October, Fitbit Premium members will be able to "preview" the new wellness coach feature from within a completely redesigned Fitbit app, suggesting that a full launch of the tool is still further out on the horizon.

In addition to a Gemini-back workout coach, the Pixel Watch 4 also uses Gemini to recognize a user’s favorite forms of physical activity. The more you manually log your favorite workouts, the better your watch will be able to predict them without your input, saving you the hassle of manually starting tracking.

Gemini can even recommend workouts based on your favorite activities. Note that these features are only available on the Pixel Watch 4, but are not paywalled behind Fitbit Premium.

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The Google Pixel Watch 4 has arrived. Debuting at the August 2025 Made by Google event today (August 20), nearly every aspect of the smartwatch has been overhauled — or at least, tweaked. The list includes bigger batteries, brighter displays, and a new lifesaving tool.

Despite these changes, the Pixel Watch 4 is essentially the exact size and weight as its predecessor, and wears similarly on the wrist. A new domed glass display makes interacting with the touchscreen a slightly more fluid and enjoyable experience, though. Read my colleague Mike Prospero’s full Pixel Watch 4 hands-on for more handling insights.

So, when can you get your hands on the new Google Pixel Watch 4? What are the biggest upgrades, and how much is it going to cost you? Read on.

Pixel Watch 4: Price and release date

The Pixel Watch 4 has the same starting price as the Pixel Watch 3, $349. That’s also how much the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 costs

Despite a mid-August announcement, the Pixel Watch 4 doesn’t go on sale until October 9. Like the Pixel Watch 3, the new Pixel Watches will be available in 41mm and 45mm with or without LTE.

U.S. customers who opt for the LTE version can enjoy two years of free connectivity if they buy the watch through Google or Best Buy.

• 41mm (Bluetooth/Wi-Fi): $349
• 45mm (Bluetooth/Wi-Fi): $399
• 41mm (LTE): $449
• 45mm (LTE: $499

Pixel Watch 4: Key upgrades

While the Pixel Watch 4 looks an awful lot like the Pixel Watch 3, there are plenty of upgrades that set it apart from its predecessor. I’ve listed the seven most notable ones below.

Pixel Watch 4 upgrade #1: Bigger and brighter displays

The new domed display isn’t just nicer to interact with; there’s also 10% more screen real estate compared to the Pixel Watch 3 for both sizes. This upgrade was made possible by a 16% reduction in the bezel size.

The Pixel Watch 4 screen also maxes out at 3,000 nits, the same as the Galaxy Watch 8 and 50% brighter than the Pixel Watch 3. This should make it extremely easy to read, even in very bright sunlight.

Pixel Watch 4 upgrade #2: (Potentially) better battery life

Google says that the Pixel Watch 4 should offer 25% better battery life than its predecessor, with the 41mm model rated to last 30 hours per charge and the 45mm model rated for 40 hours per charge. Both of these are with the always-on display enabled.

These improvements come about from slightly bigger batteries and more efficient processing. The latest dual-chip design uses 50% less power compared to the Pixel Watch 3 and is 25% faster.

For reference, the Pixel Watch 3 is rated 24 hours per charge for both sizes. In my testing, the smaller watch met that rating, but the larger model far exceeded it, cruising for roughly 48 hours per charge without issue.

If the Pixel Watch 4 in 45mm performs similarly, it may last for up to 60 hours per charge.

Pixel Watch 4 upgrade #3: Side-charging

The Pixel Watch 4 has a new charger. Instead of charging via the rear of the watch, it now sports charging contacts on the side of the device. When set down in the new charger, the Pixel Watch 4 acts as a mini tabletop clock, or at least, that’s the idea.

Charge times have also been improved. According to Google, you’ll be able to get a 50% charge in 15 minutes, an 80% charge in 25 minutes, and a 100% charge in just 45 minutes.

Pixel Watch 4 upgrade #4: Satellite SOS

Sorry, Apple, it looks like Google beat you to the punch on this much-rumored safety feature. Similar to the satellite SOS feature on last year’s Google Pixel 9, Pixel Watch 4 owners will be able to call for help from the device (no phone required) from off-the-grid.

There are, however, some notable limitations. To access the feature, you must first try calling 911; if that fails, you’ll be presented with the option to attempt a satellite SOS message. Successfully sending one requires a clear view of the satellite’s position in the sky.

In addition to connecting you with emergency services, the feature will also automatically send a message to your emergency contacts (this can be disabled). The satellite SOS feature is only available in the contiguous U.S., and only the LTE version of the Pixel Watch 4 can access it. However, LTE service is not required — you just need the internal hardware of that model.

Pixel Watch 4 upgrade #5: Greater Gemini integration

Like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, the new Pixel Watch 4 ships with Google’s Gemini AI voice assistant built in. Gemini onboard brings about new context-driven “Smart Replies.” There’s also a new “raise to talk” gesture — which involves little more than lifting your wrist toward your face — to awaken Gemini. This means no more saying, “Hey, Google.”

Pixel Watch 4 upgrade #6: Improved fitness and health tracking

The Pixel Watch 4 sports a similar sensor array to its predecessor but does offer an upgraded skin temperature sensor, which should contribute to improved sleep insights. Google says the latest watch is 18% more accurate at detecting sleep cycles than before.

Google also upgraded the GPS to a dual-band affair, which should make for more reliable and precise data when exercising amongst tall buildings or trees. Plus, thanks to Gemini, the Pixel Watch 4 is programmed to learn your favorite exercise types. Once it does, the watch should be able to autodetect when you're working out and begin tracking with no user input required.

Google has also overhauled the onboard fitness app (Fitbit app) and is launching a new AI-powered personal health coach for Fitbit Premium subscribers.

Pixel Watch 4 upgrade #7: Repairable design

Last, but most certainly not least, the Pixel Watch 4 is Google’s first smartwatch designed to be repaired. More specifically, both the screen and the battery can be replaced by Google or a certified technician (sorry, DIYers).

Google Pixel Watch 4: Outlook

The Google Pixel Watch 4 appears to be a comprehensively upgraded version of last year’s Pixel Watch 3… for exactly the same cost. Individually, none of the improvements — minus satellite SOS — are necessarily earthshattering, but combined, they could add up to the best Android smartwatch of 2025.

Stay tuned for a full review of the Google Pixel Watch 4, along with detailed comparison against the competition, walk tests, feature highlights, and more.

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I've been wearing the new Google Pixel Watch 4 (in 45mm) for two weeks straight, and I'm sold: It's the best smartwatch for Android users in 2025.

This is thanks to a class-leading display and battery life, support for Google Gemini AI voice assistant with easy activation via a raised wrist, thorough health and fitness tracking tools, and loads of useful safety features — including new satellite SOS messaging — all for the same cost as last year's model.

While the enhancements may not be enough to convince Pixel Watch 3 owners to upgrade, those with older Pixel Watch models or smartwatches from other brands might want to take a closer look. Here's everything you need to know about the Google Pixel Watch 4.

Google Pixel Watch 4: Specs

Google Pixel Watch 4: Price and availability

The Pixel Watch 4 is available for pre-order now, with a starting price of $349.

It officially goes on sale on October 9, 2025. Like the Pixel Watch 3, the Watch 4 is available in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm, and configured with or without cellular connectivity.

• 41mm (Bluetooth/Wi-Fi): $349
• 45mm (Bluetooth/Wi-Fi): $399
• 41mm (LTE): $449
• 45mm (LTE: $499

The cellular versions of the Pixel Watch 4 require an active data plan for a phone-free connection. Fortunately, a limited-time promotion allows U.S. customers who purchase the Pixel Watch 4 from the Google Store or Best Buy to score two years of free service.

Google Pixel Watch 4: Design and display

The Google Pixel Watch 4 looks the same as the Pixel Watch 3, unless you're looking really closely at the fine details. For example, can you tell the Pixel Watch 4 from its predecessor in the image above? (Answer: The Pixel Watch 4 is on the left.)

The newer model offers 10% more screen real estate in a case that's the same dimensions and roughly the same weight as before. A reduction in bezel size contributes to this, as does a new dome-shaped crystal that replaces the flat glass screen found on the Pixel Watch 3.

I didn't love the domed crystal at first; the curvature results in a slightly stretched effect near the edges of the screen that can feel a little wonky/jarring.

That said, I ultimately learned to love it. The display is easy to read at any angle, and reminds me of the classic dome Hesalite crystals found on some of my all-time favorite (dumb) watches, like the Omega Speedmaster.

Not only is the Pixel Watch 4 screen easier to view at odd angles than the Pixel Watch 3, it's also brighter: 3,000 nits versus 2,000 nits. This is a match with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, also rated at 3,000 nits, and 1,000 nits brighter than the latest Apple Watch Series 11.

Google's latest Pixel Watch can also drop down to as low as 1 nit, so you don't bother people at night or in the movie theater.

Like before, the Pixel Watch 4 has a crown and a button on the right for navigating menus, but now on the right side are two metal contacts for recharging the device. The new charger sits the watch upright on its side, and the display automatically rotates 90 degrees, so that you can use the watch as a mini alarm clock on your bedstand or desk.

Unfortunately, this means that older Pixel Watch charges are not compatible with the new model and vice versa.

Like its predecessor and the competition, the Pixel Watch 4 is rated for 50 meters of water resistance. Of course, this doesn't actually mean you can go scuba diving with it at depths of 50 meters. However, you should be fine wearing it for short surface-level swims and when showering.

To test the water resistance, I submerged my review unit in just under one foot of water for 30 minutes. After the soak, everything worked just fine.

The Pixel Watch 4 is also the first Google watch with a replaceable battery and display, so you don’t have to chuck the whole thing if it gets damaged. That said, you'll need to send the device to Google or a certified repair technician; the screen and battery can't be swapped at home.

Google Pixel Watch 4: Gemini and gesture controls

The Pixel Watch 4 isn't just the best smartwatch for Android in 2025; it's also proving to be one of my all-time favorite smartwatches, thanks to a genuinely useful implementation of Gemini AI voice assistant built in. While other Android smartwatches also support Gemini AI, including the Galaxy Watch 8 and prior-gen Pixel Watch 3, only the Pixel Watch 4 allows you to "wake" Gemini by simply raising your wrist.

This means that you never need to say, "hey, Google," again. In practice, the new wrist raise gesture works incredibly well. You can set how sensitive you want the watch to be on a scale from one to three. I left it maxed out at three and recommend doing the same.

Even if you activate Gemini with an unintended wrist raise — a blue glow appears at the bottom of the screen when active — the AI assistant is quick to notice your silence, and disengages after a few seconds.

Unlike old-fashioned digital assistants, like Apple's Siri, Gemini AI can answer super-specific questions and rarely resorts to a "I found this article on the subject" kind of answer.

It can also provide smarter, contextualized replies to messages. So, if someone texts you "Are you still coming to dinner?", Gemini can look at the time, your calendar, and where you are, and come up with an automatic reply such as "I'm running 10 minutes late."

I used Gemini AI on the Pixel Watch 4 a ton during the testing period. This included everyday tasks, like figuring out which movies were playing within my current walking distance, along with their showtimes. I also used it to scan my calendar and emails to quickly identify some free weekends to host out-of-state friends.

It accurately answered several seriously nerdy questions about the value of old Pokémon cards, and provided handy advice on how many blueberries I should allow my 18-pound Dachshund chihuahua mix to consume. In fact, I rarely found Gemini AI stumped by my inquiries.

Gemini can automatically (and retroactively) identify workouts, assuming your Pixel Watch 4 was worn while completing them. So, if you forget to start tracking your run, the watch will send you a notification after you've finished, saying something to the effect of, "It looks like you went for a run. Do you want me to save this as a workout?"

The more activities you log yourself, the more accurate the Pixel Watch 4 will get at automatically detecting what it is you're doing.

Google Pixel Watch 4: Fitness tracking

The Google Pixel Watch 3 proved itself to be a mighty accurate fitness tracker, and the Google Pixel Watch 4 continues the trend. An updated GPS antenna with two bands instead of one promises even better tracking accuracy in tricky situations, like those with obstructed skies (think: forests and cities).

In addition to using the Pixel Watch 4 to keep tabs on all my workouts during the two-week review period, I also tested its fitness tracking accuracy versus the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (another proven top-notch tracker) during a 6,500-step walk (manually counted) through a mix of urban and wooded areas in Seattle, Washington. Check out the results below.

With just 29 steps separating the Pixel Watch 4's total from my actual, manually counted total, the results are seriously impressive and fall well within a reasonable margin for error. The same can be said for distance data.

However, Samsung and Strava noted less elevation gain and a faster average pace than the Pixel Watch 4. The former is a bit odd, given that both the Google and Samsung watches sport onboard altimeters for monitoring your climb/descent. It's possible, though, that Samsung's is just a tad more fine-tuned. (I'll continue testing and update this text if these results are an outlier.)

Coincidentally, the Apple Watch Series 11 also seems to overestimate climb data by a strangely similar amount in my recent head-to-head testing.

The discrepancy in pace data is likely due to Google presenting an average elapsed pace figure, which includes any pauses in movement, while the other two methods are providing an average moving pace metric. I find the latter more useful, and ultimately, wish Google offered users both.

Heart rate data between the Pixel Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 8 is similar enough, with the differences likely attributable to the watches being worn on different wrists. Finally, despite logging a more leisurely pace, the Pixel Watch 4 noted more calories burned than the Galaxy Watch 8.

Small variances in data aside — I am, ultimately, splitting hairs here — the Galaxy Watch 8 is just as accurate and reliable at monitoring your workouts as any of the top choices on our best smartwatch list, including the Apple Watch 11 and Galaxy Watch 8.

Plus, with handy post-workout insights and recovery advice, including a Target Load metric to help you avoid overtraining, a daily Readiness score based on recent workout efforts and sleep quality, and over 50 trackable activities, the Pixel Watch 4 has no shortage of tools and features to keep you motivated and active.

Google Pixel Watch 4: Health tracking

The Pixel Watch 4 offers essentially the same, albeit comprehensive, holistic toolkit as its predecessor. Hardware-wise, the only change is an upgraded skin temperature sensor, which Google says should make sleep stage tracking 18% more accurate.

Speaking of sleep, Google's sleep reports are fairly comprehensive, giving you a daily sleep score out of 100, plus a rating. You also get metrics for time spent asleep, time spent in REM vs. deep vs. light sleep, oxygen variation tracking (low is good and high is bad), sleeping heart rate, and percentage of sleep time spent restless."

You can also see how your previous night's data compares to your 30-day average and overall data benchmark. While not quite as actionable or detailed as Garmin's sleep reports (which are the best in the biz IMHO), Google's are on an equal caliber to Samsung's and way ahead of Apple's.

Lastly, while it's not new, the Pixel Watch 4 also offers Loss of Pulse Detection — a feature that launched earlier this year on the Pixel Watch 3 and is currently only found on the latest two Pixel Watch releases. Fall and Car Crash Detection also return with the new watch.

Google Pixel Watch 4: Satellite SOS

The latest in smartwatch safety tools — found only on the latest Pixel Watch and the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3 — satellite-based SOS messaging lets Pixel Watch 4 users (with the LTE model) connect to loved ones and/or rescuers even when completely off-the-grid, just as long as there are clear skies.

The option to connect via satellite is automatically presented if/when you try to contact help via your watch outside of cellular range. Note: You don't need to actually have a data plan to use this safety feature, but you do need the LTE model (the Wi-Fi models lack the hardware).

Google offers a handy and easy-to-follow demo of the steps you'll need to take to establish a satellite connection from your wrist in the event of an emergency. They involve essentially spinning around in either direction once or twice and adjusting the height of your wrist slightly.

I tested my ability to establish an SOS satellite message connection via the Pixel Watch 4 from the roof of my home in Seattle, Washington, under clear skies, and was able to do so in under thirty seconds. That said, an unobstructed view of the heavens is required, something that could easily limit the usefulness of this new safety feature if say, you're in the middle of a forest.

As of writing, Google's SOS satellite messaging is only available in the contiguous United States.

Google Pixel Watch 4: Battery life

With slightly larger capacity batteries and more efficient power management than the Pixel Watch 3, I expected the Pixel Watch 4 to last even longer, and I was not disappointed.

Google rates battery life for the 45mm Pixel Watch 4 at 40 hours per charge in standard mode and 72 hours per charge in low-power mode (the smaller model is rated 30 hours and 48 hours). In my testing, the larger Pixel Watch 4 lasted, on average, 60 hours per charge in standard mode.

Outside of the much pricier/chunkier Galaxy Watch Ultra, this makes the 45mm Pixel Watch 4 the longest-lasting smartwatch for Android users. By comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic lasted an average of 40 hours per charge in my testing, and the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 averaged 48 hours per charge (double its official rating).

The Pixel Watch 4 is also quick to recharge. 15 minutes on the new side charger —which I quite like — gets you roughly 50% charge. A full charge, from zero to 100%, took just over 45 minutes on average.

Google Pixel Watch 4: Verdict

The 45mm Google Pixel Watch 4 is my favorite smartwatch for Android, thanks to battery life that's only matched by the far pricer Galaxy Watch Ultra, comprehensive fitness and holistic tracking toolkits, loads of safety features including a new SOS satellite messaging mode (something I quite appreciate as an avid outdoor adventurer), and a sleek design with a bright and responsive touchscreen.

However, my favorite feature of the new Pixel Watch 4 has nothing to do with any of the above. With Google's latest wrist raise gesture coupled with the brand's best-in-class on-wrist Gemini AI assistant, the Pixel Watch 4 feels more like the smartwatch of the future than anything else I've tested.

Sure, the best Samsung smartwatches support Gemini, and the best Apple Watch models feature similarly useful gesture controls (including the awesome new wrist flick gesture). However, only the Pixel Watch 4 combines a trustworthy AI voice assistant with a gesture control that not only feels natural but also works reliably.

Ultimately, the Google Pixel Watch 4 steals the mantle of its predecessor and is our new best Android smartwatch pick for 2025 and 2026.

Sure, the latest Apple Watch 10, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Google Pixel Watch 3 are all nice, but sometimes, nothing scratches the ‘wrist candy’ itch quite like a semitransparent, baby blue Casio Baby-G watch.

In fact, the Baby-G BG169R-2C (Casio has never been one for cutesy names) has five major advantages over even the best smartwatch models available today.

It’s as if the 1990s never left us — Hammer Time, the Macarena, et all. This $89 gem is big on nostalgia and brimming with fun 'easter eggs,' namely, random animations of doggies, puffer fish, etc. that generate on the LCD (more on that below).

'But, Dan, isn’t that a girl’s watch?' Uh, who cares? In 2025, you can have your cake (pretend it's still the 1990s) and eat it too (wear whatever you want).

1. Fun 'easter eggs'

This brings me to the first advantage this Casio Baby-G has over the best Apple Watches and best smartwatches for Android. Whenever you press the LCD backlight button (the one with the big G below the display), a silly little animal animation occurs at the top of the screen, briefly replacing the day of the week.

This little surprise also occurs every time the seconds counter reaches 30. Four animal animations are generated at random, including a dog wagging its tail and barking, a cat playing, a dolphin swimming, and a puffer fish inflating.

Is this feature groundbreaking? Maybe back in the early '90s, but that's fine by me. I smile every single time I press the backlight button, and you probably will too.

2. No batteries to recharge

Like most 'dumb' digital watches, my Casio Baby-G should last for roughly three years before needing a battery change. While this will likely require a trip to a local jeweler to ensure proper waterproofing post battery swap, the CR1616 battery it runs on can be picked up for around $1.

On the flip side, you’d be lucky to get two days of battery life out of the best Samsung smartwatch or Pixel Watch, and closer to one day from the latest Apple Watch 10.

3. Better water resistance than even the Apple Watch Ultra 2

50 meters of water resistance is par for the course on most smartwatches, except for the Apple Watch Ultra series and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, which cap out at 100 meters. While 50m might seem like solid protection, what it actually means is that your smartwatch is rated for 'shallow-water activities' only (Apple’s words, not mine).

Here’s a deeper dive into what smartwatch water resistance ratings really mean. Meanwhile, 100 meters of water resistance clears you for watersports and shallow water scuba diving. Want something that can go even further?

This Casio Baby-G boasts a deep-sea-approved, 200-meter water resistance rating, greater than not just the 'Ultra' smartwatches of the world, but also my favorite outdoor adventure watch, the Garmin Instinct 3 (also 100m rated).

4. Nostalgic in all the best ways

In 2025, it feels like everyone’s rocking something ‘smart’ on the wrist, whether it’s an Apple Watch, Android smartwatch, Fitbit or Garmin. You know what’s much rarer to spot in the wild? A semitransparent, baby blue Casio Baby-G. It’s also a compliment-generating machine.

I already touched on the nostalgia factor; I was born in 1988, so the 1990s were the heart of my childhood heyday, and I was all about that pre-Millennium colorful, semitransparent aesthetics, from iMacs to Yak-baks.

Maybe my obsession with the Baby-G BG169R-2C is really just a physical manifestation of my subconscious yearning for ‘simpler’ times, before the mass adoption of smartphones, back when Nintendo 64 still reigned supreme, and Carson Daly was still playing music videos... but I digress.

5. Less than $100 and available in an assortment of fresh colors

Casio Baby-G watches come in a wide array of styles and bold colors, and few cost more than $100. The BG-169 model shown here can also be picked up in semi-transparent pink, clear, minty green, smoky black and green, and so many more.

The latest Apple Watch Series 10, meanwhile, starts at $399. The Pixel Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 8 start at $349. Each of the devices is available in a small selection of case colors, ranging from silver to rose gold, but for something more colorful and bold, you’ll either need to opt for one of the best Garmin watches (like the Instinct 3) or dress up your boring smartwatch with a fun strap.

Which brings me to my final point. If Apple does indeed launch an all-plastic Apple Watch SE 3, as some rumors suggest, I’d love to see a limited edition, transparent version. Now, that might actually get some compliments. Until then, I’ll keep rocking my baby blue Baby-G.

More from Tom's Guide

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Even with the debut of the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Series, last year's Google Pixel Watch 3 — particularly the longer-lasting 45mm model — remains one of the best Android smartwatches money can buy.

However, with a Made by Google event on the schedule for August 20, we may well have the Pixel Watch 4 on our wrists before the summer's officially out. The question is, what new features, spec upgrades, and design changes will the new smartwatch model bring about?

I've been covering all the rumors since the first murmurs of a Pixel Watch 3 replacement emerged earlier this year. With that in mind, these are the biggest potential Pixel Watch 4 upgrades you should know about, from price to launch date to battery life and more.

Pixel Watch 4 biggest rumored upgrades

Pixel Watch 4 cheat sheet: Biggest rumors

• Release date prediction: August 2025 launch, September 2025 release
• Price prediction: $349 and up
• Design: Similar circular design like the Pixel Watch 3, but possibly a little thicker to accommodate a larger battery; an additional case button is also rumored; reports suggest improved reparability for the Pixel Watch 4 line; both the 41mm and 45mm options are expected to stick around
• Features: The Pixel Watch 4 could charge wirelessly on its side; the device will likely ship with Google's Gemini voice assistant built in; a new satellite-based SOS messaging feature is possible; a breathing emergency detection tool is rumored; dual-band GPS is likely
• Specs: An increase in screen brightness from 2,000 nits to 3,000 nits is possible; faster charging times are rumored; leakers hint at the addition of a co-processor to handle AI tasks; an increase in battery capacity is possible

Pixel Watch 4: Price and release date predictions

The Google Pixel Watch 4 is expected to debut on August 20, 2025, during a Made by Google event scheduled for that day. Based on prior Pixel Watch launches, you can likely expect the first units to ship by late August or early September.

The Pixel Watch 4 will likely come in 41mm and 45mm, like the Pixel Watch 3. The starting cost for the smaller Pixel Watch 4 without LTE is likely to stay at $349; however, an increase to $399 is possible. Likewise, the 45mm Pixel Watch 4 is expected to start at $399, but the price could creep as high as $349.

It's worth noting that Samsung just increased pricing for the Galaxy Watch 8 series by $50, so Google following suit isn't outside of the realm of possibility.

Pixel Watch 4: Design predictions

The Google Pixel Watch 4 is rumored to sport a similar design to its predecessor. A recent set of leaked renderings, see the gallery above, seems to confirm this. Assuming these images are legit, it looks like we'll be getting some fun new case and strap colors.

Rumors also suggest that the 41mm and 45mm options will be sticking around, which is good. (Everyone loves choices!) While renders from leaker Evan Blass suggest a thinner bezel and potentially larger screen, previously leaked designs also suggest a thicker overall case; this would be to incorporate a larger-capacity battery.

Speaking of battery life, Google may finally be doing away with the magnetic pin-style charger (or not!). Another set of apparently leaked Pixel Watch 4 renders, first shared by Android Headlines, hint at a totally new approach to charging for the series: Instead of the charger connecting to the bottom of the device like it does on most smartwatches, older Pixel Watch models included, it may instead connect to the side of the Pixel Watch 4. The idea is to allow the Pixel Watch 4 to function as a tabletop clock while it charges.

Numerous leaks and rumors suggest that the screens on the Pixel Watch 4 will see a max brightness increase to 3,000 nits, up from 2,000 nits on the Pixel Watch 3. This improvement would keep the Pixel Watch 4 line competitive with the new Galaxy Watch 8 devices and Apple Watch Series 10, both of which also max out at 3,000 nits.

Other potential design improvements include the addition of a second physical button on the Pixel Watch 4 case, joining the existing button and rotating digital crown.

A report in Android Headlines also suggests that the next-gen Pixel Watch may be more easily repairable. Whether that means by the user or a trained technician, remains to be seen. Currently, Google simply replaces broken devices rather than repairing them.

Pixel Watch 4: Possible new features

Last year's Pixel Watch 3 launch brought about the surprise debut of Google's new Loss of Pulse Detection feature, a potentially life-saving tool that works kind of like fall or crash detection, contacting help if a loss of pulse event is registered.

What new features might Google have in store this time around? One leak, first reported on by Android Headlines, suggests that an evolution of Loss of Pulse Detection could arrive in the form of a breathing emergency monitor that uses the SpO2 sensor to detect anomalies.

Another report from Android Authority hints that an emergency satellite-based SOS messaging tool could be in the cards. Speaking of which, the Pixel Watch 4 is also rumored to sport a dual-band GPS antenna, a welcome upgrade for folks who like tracking outdoor workouts.

You can also likely expect new AI-backed workout tools, including one rumored to be focused on strength training, that offer personalized exercise and recovery tips, similar to Apple's new Workout Buddy feature that's part of the watchOS 26 update.

Finally, the Pixel Watch 4 will all but certainly ship with Google's Gemini AI voice assistant loaded onboard. I just tested Gemini on the Galaxy Watch 8 and found the implementation super-handy (though not life-changing).

Pixel Watch 4: Battery life predictions

Between predictions that the Pixel Watch 4 will sport a thicker case to accommodate a bigger battery and multiple other leaks suggesting a more power-efficient display with variable refresh rates, there's a very good chance the Pixel Watch 4 will last longer than last year's Pixel Watch 3.

Essentially, sealing the deal for improved longevity is an Android Authority report that quotes an unnamed source at Google who says the 41mm Pixel Watch 4 will sport a 327 mAh battery, and the 45mm model will have a 459 mAh battery. By comparison, the smaller Pixel Watch 3 battery has 307 mAh of capacity, and the 45mm battery offers 420 mAh.

A separate rumor suggests 25% faster charging times for the Pixel Watch 4 series.

As a refresher, when I reviewed the Pixel Watch 3 last year, the 41mm lasted for an average of 24 hours per charge, but the 45mm kept on ticking for 48 hours per charge. Could the 45mm Pixel Watch 4 push that longevity to 72 hours, and the 41mm to 36 hours? It's possible!

While several leakers suggest the Pixel Watch 4 may sport the same processor as its predecessor, Wareable reports that the Pixel Watch 4 could sport an additional co-processor to handle AI tasks, something that could lead to additional power efficiency improvements.

Pixel Watch 4: Outlook

With no shortage of Pixel Watch 4 rumors flying around, there's a high probability that the forthcoming model will be much more than an iterative update. A brighter screen and notably improved battery life would keep Google one step in line and one step ahead (respectively) of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 series.

New life-saving tools to monitor for breathing-related health issues would also put Google ahead of the competition, not just Samsung but Apple and Garmin, too.

Google is already the only brand to offer anything like Loss of Pulse Detection, while also offering all the health-monitoring standards like sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation (AFib) detection, fall/crash detection, and heart rate monitoring. With Breathing Emergency Detection added to the mix, the Pixel Watch 4 could be one of the most competent, consumer-friendly wrist-based health monitoring devices around.

Speaking of safety, the rumored satellite SOS messaging feature potentially coming to the Pixel Watch 4 sounds useful/promising, as does the move to dual-band GPS. The latter would make it a match with the Galaxy Watch 8 and an upgrade over the Apple Watch 10's single-band GPS antenna.

Finally, the addition of Google's Gemini voice assistant, which has already proven useful on the Galaxy Watch 8, will likely make the Pixel Watch 4 an even more valuable digital companion.

What potential Google Pixel Watch 4 upgrades are you most excited to see come to fruition? Let me know in the comments below.

More from Tom's Guide:

• Google Exclusive: How the Pixel Watch 3 got a life-saving feature the Apple Watch can't match
• Google just killed another Fitbit feature — and now I’m certain the brand is as good as dead
• This is the one upgrade that will get me to switch my Pixel Watch 3 for a Pixel Watch 4

Seemingly every day this week, another set of images have leaked showing off at least one of the Google Pixel 10 phones. Friday, July 25, has been no exception thanks to new photos from regular tipster Evan Blass.

Earlier this week, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold was revealed in leaked images, and Google itself revealed the base Pixel 10 amidst an avalanche of leaks. Another rumor tipped the Pixel 10 series as getting heavier possibly thanks to new magnets.

Blass' images give us some of our first looks at the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL as well as the Pixel Watch 4 and Pixel Buds 2A.

If you don't want to wait for the August 20 Made By Google event, here's what they look like.

Google Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL

All of the images show the devices in what appears to be the rumored Moonstone colorway, a slate blue tint.

This year's Pro models should be the same size as last year's model with 6.3-inch and 6.8-inch displays. The displays should be improved by Pulse with Modulation Dimming, a change that should help with eye strain.

The Pixel 10 Pro phones might feature bigger batteries and magnets for Qi2 charging, which now supports 25W charging. Plus, both phones will likely be powered by Google's Tensor G5 chipset.

Google Pixel Watch 4

Typically, when Pixel phones launch, so do Pixel watches. So, we expect the Pixel Watch 4 to launch alongside the Pixel 10 series.

Unlike the handsets, we haven't seen much about the Watch 4 beyond some leaked renders. Those hinted at a thicker watch with thinner bezels.

There may be additional buttons and wireless charging. We do expect the Watch 4 to introduce new health and tracking features, especially as Fitbit continues to slowly die.

Google PIxel Buds 2A

Google launched the Pixel Buds A-series in 2021 as a more budget-friendly version of its Pixel Bud wireless earbuds.

Like the Pixel Watch 4, we have yet to see much in the way of rumors or leaks regarding the Buds 2A beyond one in early July claiming new colors: Hazel, strawberry, iris and fog light.

They also might see a price hike, but how much is unclear.

Outlook

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I just walked 4,000 steps with the Google Pixel Watch 3 on my right wrist and the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 on my left to determine which is the more competent fitness tracker.

To keep things fair, I manually counted my steps as the primary control for this showdown; I also ran Strava on a separate device (iPhone 12 mini) as a control for distance, elevation and pace data.

After 4,000 steps and roughly 2.3 miles, one smartwatch proved (slightly) more accurate in this match-up of the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs Google Pixel Watch 3. Read on to find out which.

Pixel Watch 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 comparison

But first, here's a quick look at how these two flagship models compare. Both run Google's Wear OS platform, and neither plays nicely with the iPhone. The Galaxy Watch 8 is Samsung's new release for 2025, while the Pixel Watch 3 represents Google's 2024 model; we'll likely get a Pixel Watch 4 model in August, if rumors prove true.

Design-wise, the Galaxy Watch 8 features a "cushion" case design, borrowed from 2024's Galaxy Watch Ultra, compared to a circular case for the Pixel Watch 3, though both feature circular displays.

The Pixel Watch 3 comes in two sizes, 41mm and 45mm; the latter is represented here. The Galaxy Watch 8 standard model similarly comes in a smaller, 41mm, and larger, 44mm option.

There's also a 46mm Galaxy Watch 8 Classic with a rotating bezel, used for this comparison. The standard Galaxy Watch 8 models start at $349 for the 40mm model, which is the same starting cost as the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 (though you can score one on sale right now, link below).

Both smartwatches feature handy safety tools and access to the same enormous app library. Each is also brimming with wellness and fitness features, including deep insights into sleep quality, helpful workout training recovery tools, and potentially life-saving health-monitoring apps.

The Pixel Watch 3, for instance, is the only smartwatch on the market with Loss of Pulse Detection. Similarly, Samsung's new cardiovascular load monitoring tool is only available on the latest Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra models. Still, either can perform an ECG, check your heart rate, or monitor your blood oxygen saturation levels.

Nuances aside, these two devices are remarkably well matched.

So, which came out ahead in this walk test? In my previous article, where I walked 5,000 steps with the Apple Watch 10 vs. the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, Cupertino took home the trophy. Can Samsung score some redemption? Find the results of my walk test with the Pixel Watch 3 vs Galaxy Watch 8 below.

Pixel Watch 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 results

Both the Pixel Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch 8 each produced step count totals within 50 steps of my actual total. This is a very impressive level of accuracy and well within a reasonable margin for error. Strava also measures step count, and was even more spot-on with a total of 3,990 steps.

All three devices also essentially measured the same distance covered and similar amounts of elevation gained; the 14 feet separating Strava's tally from Google's is equivalent to 1.5 flights of stairs, i.e., not enough for concern.

Average pace data additionally matches nicely; I was moving fairly quickly for the duration of this walk and made minimal stops, except for one or two traffic lights. Strava measured the fastest moving time, but also provides an averaged elapsed pace, which came out to 15 minutes and 17 seconds per mile.

Both Samsung and Google wearables have a well-earned reputation for accurate heart rate data — something I can attest to based on reviewing numerous devices from each — and the results from this walk test are in near-perfect agreement with not only each other, but also my expectations based on numerous prior tests.

Finally, Samsung calculated fewer calories burned during my roughly 35-minute walk, but coincidentally, also burned nearly twice the amount of battery tracking my trek as the Pixel Watch 3.

Pixel Watch 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 winner

And the winner of this challenge is... the Google Pixel Watch 3. That said, this is about as close as these walk tests come to being called a tie. Over the years, I've probably written 25-plus head-to-head comparisons of this type, and I can't think of another time where the winner was determined by just two steps.

Stay tuned for more testing on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, including my full review where I'll share the inside scoop on the device's newest features, like Run Coach, bedtime reminders, antioxidant tracking and Vascular Load monitoring.

Which smartwatches or fitness trackers would you like to see me test head-to-head next? Let me know in the comments below. Until next time, happy walking!

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Google has sent out invitations to its next "Made by Google" hardware event, giving us a firm date for when we can expect to see the next generation of Pixel 10 phones. In addition to the latest flagship phones from Google, this year's launch should also include our first look at a new Pixel Watch 4.

The event takes places Wednesday, August 20, where Google says it "introduce the latest to additions to our Pixel portfolio of devices."

The invitation doesn't specify what will debut on August 20. But the timing would suggest that the Pixel 10 lineup — which is likely to include the Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold alongside a standard Pixel 10 — would appear.

Last year, Google moved its Pixel phone launch up from its traditional October release to the earlier August window and it appears that schedule is here to stay.

What's new with the Pixel 10 family?

The Pixel 9a released earlier this year dropped Google's horizontal camera bar, but cases leaks point to the Pixel 10 keeping Google's standard camera design.

For the most part, screen sizes should also remain the same as last year models, with the Pixel 10 and 10 Pro both featuring 6.3-inch displays. The Pixel 10 Pro XL is likely to offer a 6.8-inch screen. A recent specs leak revealed an 8-inch inner display and a 6.4-inch cover screen for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, slightly bigger than last year's Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

The big question will be what power these handsets. Likely it will be system-on-chip labeled the Tensor G5, the first chip Google has made entirely from scratch.

It's been rumored that the G5 will be made at TSMC using its 3nm process, a move away from Samsung which had manufactured the previous Tensor processors.

Though recent leakers have claimed that the G5 is "basically TSMC-made version of G4" hinting at 4nm chip, and a prototype SoC was recently leaked with Samsung markings.

If Google has made the move to TSMC with its 3nm processor, expect a faster, more efficient chip compared to the Tensor G4. However, it's quite unclear at this moment

Beyond that, the Pixel 10s should launch with Android 16, which recently arrived and has already hit current Pixels, bringing a number of unique and exclusive software features. An interface redesign is coming, too.

Google Pixel Watch 4 expected upgrades

Unlike the Pixel 10 phones, not many rumors have sprouted up around the Pixel Watch 4. That said, there are a few upgrades we believe Google could announce.

In April, leaker OnLeaks posted renders of the new watch and unlike the new Galaxy Watch 8, Google seems to be sticking with a similar aesthetic as the Pixel Watch 3.

The renders did reveal a slightly thicker 14.3mm watch compared to the Pixel Watch 3 which measures at 12.3mm. It also showed two sizes; 41mm and 45mm with slightly thinner bezels.

They also showed a lack of charging pins which suggests that the Pixel Watch 4 will support wireless charging, a feature the Pixel Watch desperately needs even if the Pixel Watch 3 garnered near-perfect ratings in our review.

Beyond that, we don't know much else. We can look to Samsung's recent smartwatch releases for hints at what's coming with WearOS and health upgrades, but the Korean company's wearables are different enough that it's not a 1-to-1 comparison.

Anything else?

It's possible that Apple could announce other products, but for now, the Pixel 10 family and the Pixel Watch 4 are the only devices we expect to see.

Until then we have to wait a month for that August 20 reveal.

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The Google Pixel Watch 3 is the best Android smartwatch to buy right now and for good reason. It looks great, offers slick software, and makes the most of its Fitbit-powered health and fitness features to make it a pretty complete package.

If you’re a runner, Google’s latest smartwatch has you well catered for, and that includes the ability to build custom running workouts. You might already know this as interval training, but if not, this is the type of running session made up of sections of low-intensity and high-intensity running. This type of session can offer benefits for your running pace and running endurance.

If you’re keen to give interval running a go and like the idea of your Pixel Watch guiding you through how to do it while you keep an eye on your progress, you can do this on both the watch and inside the Fitbit app.

We’ll show you how to do both, whether you like the idea of creating workouts on a bigger screen or you like the convenience of doing it right on the watch.

How to build a custom running workout on the Google Pixel Watch 3

• First, go to the Fitbit Exercise app on the watch and tap the Run option
• On that next screen, tap the icon with the stack of squares.
• This takes you to the running workouts screen. Swipe up to scroll to the bottom of the screen. Look for the big + icon and tap.

• From here look for the Custom icon and tap again.
• The next screen will show you the components that make up your custom running workout.
• If you want to add a warm-up part of your workout, tap the toggle beside it to enable. You can then tap again to adjust the time of the warm-up. You can do exactly the same for the cool-down section of the workout.

• In between that is where you add your intervals. These are the parts of the workout where you do your running and also do your resting between running too.
• Tap the add interval option then select whether you want it to be a run or rest.

• If you pick a run, you’ll then be moved into choosing what that run looks like. Do you want that interval to be time-based, based on distance covered or not with any set target at all?
• If you choose to pick distance, you’ll be able to select your desired distance and can tap the unit of measurement to move between miles or kilometres.

• Once you’ve added intervals to the workout, you’re able to reorder them by pressing the icon next to the + icon to move them up or down.
• There are additional options below the workout to let you enable alerts for specific sections of your workout as well as name the workout and adjust what data you’ll see on screen.

• Once you’ve finished building your workout, you can hit the big play button at the top of the screen if you’re ready to get it done.

How to build a custom running workout for the Pixel Watch 3 on the Fitbit app

If you’re finding it a bit fiddly to build those workouts on the watch, you do have the option to build them on the Fitbit app. You can then sync them to the watch where you’ll be able to select it from the run tracking screen when you’re ready to do it.

The first important part is that you’ll need to download the Fitbit app first, which hopefully you’ve done already with the initial setup of your watch. Connecting your Pixel Watch 3 to the Fitbit app will enable you to get the most out of the onboard health and fitness features.

Once you’ve got that Fitbit app and you’re all logged in, here’s what you need to do:

• Go to the Today section of the app and look for the big + icon, which should be in the bottom right of the screen.
• Tap the + and then tap Build a run.
• What you’ll find on the next screen largely mirrors what you’ll see taking the watch route to building a workout. You can customise the warm-up and cool-down sections of the workout and add your intervals.

• Once you’re happy with the workout you’ve built, tap the Save button at the top of the screen where you’ll be prompted to name the workout.
• You can also choose to save and start the workout on the screen by tapping that option at the bottom of the screen.
• Once you’ve synced your watch with the Fitbit app, it should now have sent over the workout to your watch.

To locate it, open up the run tracking option in the Fitbit Exercise app, tap that icon with the stack of squares and you should see your created workout in the next screen.

Tap to select and you’ll see your workout displayed to give you a look at what you’re about to tackle.

More from Tom's Guide

• The Pixel Watch 3 is my first ever smartwatch — and so far it’s just a glorified Fitbit
• Google Exclusive: How the Pixel Watch 3 got a life-saving feature the Apple Watch can't match
• Google Pixel Watch 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: which Android smartwatch should you buy?

When Google announced the Pixel Watch 3 last summer, the company promised it would get a life-saving new feature — Loss of Pulse detection — at a later date. I was skeptical, and not just because you shouldn't buy devices on what they might do.

Even though it's clearly one of the best smartwatches (how could it not be after Google decided to bury the best Fitbits and incorporate that brand's fitness tracking smarts into its own watch), a life saving software update sounded like vaporware to me.

But then in February this year, six months after the Watch 3 launched, Google was granted FDA clearance for the feature, and, in March, it began rolling out to all Watch 3 owners in the U.S.

That was one objection overcome — the company did release it — but I was cynical that a feature on the Pixel Watch 3 would be as revolutionary as Google claimed. But then I read the team's study in the journal Nature, and it changed my mind.

Smartwatch safety features could save lives

To go alongside the launch of the feature, the research team at Google published a study in the scientific journal Nature detailing how they developed the Loss of Pulse detection feature and the algorithm that detects when your heart stops beating.

There's a lot of detail in there, which surprised me as Big Tech companies are usually very reluctant to discuss how these critical health features actually work. I guess that's not shocking; they do have products to sell and need an edge over the competition.

But if you spend your money on a new smartwatch because it could potentially save your life in a specific circumstance, you want to be sure it can actually do that effectively. A recent experience on vacation brought home to me just how critical that is.

I was involved in a vehicle collision while traveling, and had been wearing the Amazfit T-Rex 3 for testing. Thankfully, everyone involved was okay, so when taking stock later on, I realized this would have been a rare test of some critical features.

Unfortunately, the T-Rex 3 doesn't have collision detection like the Pixel Watch or Apple Watch Series 10, so all I could do was look nervously at how my heart rate rocketed at the moment the two vehicles smashed into each other.

But this got me thinking; how would you know for sure that the collision detection feature worked, until it's too late? And similarly, how would you know if the Pixel Watch 3 Loss of Pulse detection can actually save your life?

Does it even actually work?

Of course, when you think about it, the tech companies have the same problem. You can't really test a feature like this in the real world; you'd need to wait until someone has a cardiac arrest and then delay care to see if the watch does it's job.

So the team came up with a lab testing method instead. When my colleague Dan Bracaglia interviewed Edward Shi, the product manager on the Google Safety Team, Shi mentioned that they enlisted "stunt" participants.

The team used "a pneumatic tourniquet to cut off blood flow in an arm, to simulate temporary pulselessness," and then would see if the watch picked up on these signals. This is similar to how Apple tests its collision feature with crash test dummies.

It's not a real world test, but it's an approximation. Though this is a good reminder that these features aren't guaranteed to work, so if you have a watch with safety tools like this, it's a good idea not to be solely reliant on them.

And while there's a good appeal to authority with the 'FDA cleared' label, this isn't quite as useful as it seems. There are two main FDA labels; cleared and approved. If a product or feature is "cleared" that doesn't mean that it's shown to be effective.

What it really means is that the FDA is aware of the feature and believes it to be similar to something else already for sale or in use, so the applicant (ie, Google) can market it. But the FDA has not actually verified anything at this stage.

To see whether it works as intended, it'd need to be FDA approved. But just because Google didn't aim for approval, that doesn't mean they don't have confidence in it. In a past life, I worked in regulatory affairs for a medical device company.

To gain FDA clearance, it's (almost) as simple as filing some forms. But FDA approval is the standard medicines are held to, so you need a lot of evidence and testing to even begin the very lengthy approval process, so many companies don't bother with this.

Some lives saved is better than none

Okay, so Google has been a bit more open about the Loss of Pulse detection feature than it's peers, but that doesn't quite explain why I changed my mind and stopped seeing the LoP feature as a gimmick.

According to Shi, one of the main motivations to develop LoP was that "many of these [cardiac arrests] are unwitnessed," so someone's heart could stop when they're alone and no one would know, so no one calls for help.

And the way I see it, even if the Loss of Pulse feature can't detect all events with absolute certainty, there'll be enough people who suffer some form of heart-stopping emergency who will get life-saving treatment because the watch called for help.

Plus, the Nature study notes that the algorithm "was trained on smartwatch sensor data collected from diverse participants (age, sex and skin tone)." This is super important because different skin tones absorb light at different rates, effecting optical heart rate measurements the system is based on.

Historically, tech companies have thought very little about training their systems on diverse, less homogenous sources, so I was relieved to see Google had at least thought about it (even if you couldn't verify this as participants' data is hidden due to protect their privacy).

Do I now believe that it'll work perfectly every time? No. But even if it only works half the time, that'll still save lives, as without it, no one would come to the aid of people who have suffered a potentially fatal health emergency.

More from Tom's Guide

• Google Pixel Watch 3 is first smartwatch with pulse loss detection — here’s how it works
• How to setup Loss of Pulse Detection on you Pixel Watch
• Google Pixel Watch 3 just got FDA approval for pulse detection feature — here's when it's coming

Onboard safety features are a huge selling point of modern wearable devices. These days, the best smartwatches can automatically contact emergency responders and/or loved ones if you take a nasty fall or are involved in an accident, regardless of whether you're wearing the latest/greatest Garmin, the best Apple Watch, or the best smartwatch for Android.

While fall, crash and incident detection are all but par for the course on high-end, full-feature smartwatches, a new, more advanced safety feature surfaced last summer that's currently only available on the Google Pixel Watch 3. That's right, not even the Apple Watch Ultra 2 or Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra offers anything like Google's Loss of Pulse Detection tool.

Like fall detection, Loss of Pulse Detection is designed to help users out during an emergency — in this case, a medical one, when there may otherwise be no one around. Better yet, setting up Loss of Pulse Detection takes less than 2 minutes, which is not a lot of time considering it could be a literal lifesaver.

To find out more about Loss of Pulse Detection, including insights into the development, testing and FDA approval process, I had an exclusive interview with Edward Shi, the product manager on the Google Safety Team who spearheaded the project.

Our 30-minute conversation covered a lot, but it's Google's creative approach to testing the new safety feature — something that's crucial for avoiding false positives — that most fascinated me.

For one, Shi and his team had to figure out how to simulate a loss of pulse in a living subject, for testing purposes, of course, which is no easy feat. His team also worked with stunt actors to understand how a user may fall when a loss of pulse is experienced.

Beyond that, our conversation touched on whether older Pixel Watch devices could get Loss of Pulse Detection in the future, how long until the competition replicates the feature and what the Google Safety Team is up to next.

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your background at Google. How were you involved in developing the Loss of Pulse Detection feature?

Edward Shi: I'm a product manager here on our Android and Pixel Safety Team. Our team works on safety products with a goal of giving users peace of mind in their day-to-day lives. These products include, in the past, features such as car crash detection and fall detection.

For Loss of Pulse, specifically, I'm one of the main product managers on the project, working across the teams, with our clinicians, our engineers, etc., to bring Loss of Pulse Detection to the Pixel Watch 3.

Who is Loss of Pulse Detection for, and what does it do?

Shi: It’s really for any Pixel Watch 3 user who meets our eligibility criteria. It uses sensors on the Pixel Watch to detect a potential loss of pulse and prompt a call to emergency services with either the user's smartwatch or their connected phone, who can then intervene and potentially provide life-saving care.

A loss of pulse is a time-sensitive emergency, and it can be caused due to a variety of different factors, such as a cardiac arrest, a respiratory or circulatory failure, poisoning, etc. Many of these events are unwitnessed today. So around 50% of cardiac arrests, in particular, are unwitnessed, meaning that no one's around to help.

How exactly does the feature work? Which sensors are the Pixel Watch 3 relying on most?

Shi: The two main sensors are the PPG sensor as well as accelerometer. We use PPG to detect pulselessness, as well as the accelerometer to look at motion in particular. So if a loss of pulse occurs, what we anticipate is that the user is unconscious, so there shouldn't be excessive motion.

So those two sensors combined help form the foundation of the algorithm.

How did your team's previous experience working on features like fall and crash detection influence your approach to LoPD?

Shi: There are a lot of similarities in the sense that all are emergency detection features. Essentially, these are for potential life-threatening emergencies in which a user may not be able to call for help themselves. In those events, we would need to be able to detect that emergency and then help connect [the user] with emergency services.

Much of the design and the principles remain the same. The algorithm is trying to balance both detecting that emergency, so in this case, a loss of pulse, while minimizing accidental triggers.

That's a really key part of all three of the features. We don't want to overly worry and bother the user with accidental triggers. Also, in particular, we don't want to burden [emergency] partners with accidental triggers in the case where a user doesn't need help.

What if I accidentally trigger one of these safety features, then what?

Shi: Once a loss of pulse [or] a car crash [or] a fall is detected, the experience is designed to try to quickly connect the user over to emergency services. If, for whatever reason, the user doesn't actually need help, the user experience is [also] designed so that they can easily cancel any call.

How long did it take to develop and launch Loss of Pulse Detection?

Shi: I don't know if I could precisely say exactly how long, but definitely over a year and a half, but it can really vary. One particular [safety] feature isn't necessarily the same as the others.

They may look similar on the surface, like a fall or a car crash or a loss of pulse, but each of them has its own unique challenges in validating both the algorithm and developing the user experience.

And of course, with laws, we had to go through working with our regulatory partners and regulatory bodies in different regions [for Loss of Pulse Detection]. So there are different complexities for each of them, so the timeline can definitely vary.

What’s the testing process like? Are you mostly using software for testing, or actual human subjects?

Shi: It's a bit of both. So, it's definitely algorithmically tested. We also collect hundreds of thousands of real-world user data and run our algorithm over that data to take a look at how often it could be triggered.

Internally, we have "dog foods." And then we ran clinical studies. All of that is run to measure how often we’re seeing accidental triggers in particular.

In addition to honing the algorithm or user experience design, we run user research studies to look and walk [users through the] ‘flow,’ both during onboarding, as well as when an actual loss of pulse is detected.

[We’re] seeing that users understand what's happening and are able to cancel out of that flow if they don't need help. So, it's both algorithmic as well as user research.

How did you simulate a loss of pulse in a test subject?

Shi: It is pretty difficult, and it took a lot of creativity from our research scientists, in particular. Basically, using a pneumatic tourniquet to cut off blood flow in an arm, [we were able] to simulate temporary pulselessness.

We were able to do that and then put our watches on the user at the same time to ensure that our algorithm was detecting that [loss of] pulse when it occurred.

We actually worked with stunt actors to induce pulselessness and simulate a fall within a reasonable timeframe to see if it was still able to detect a loss of pulse in those scenarios.

Tell me about the U.S. FDA clearance process. That sounds potentially time-consuming to navigate.

Shi: We're very fortunate at Google to have great team members who are familiar with the process and are regulatory experts. Receiving U.S. FDA clearance does go through a rigorous process to ensure quality and understandability of the products that are coming through.

So really, it's taking a look at the U.S. FDA established regulatory frameworks and regulations, knowing what we have to conduct in terms of necessary performance testing, what we have to show to prove that the feature is doing what it [says], and in particular, that it's understandable to users who choose to use the product.

Are there any limitations to Loss of Pulse Detection that readers should know about?

Shi: The biggest thing that we inform users about, essentially during onboarding, is that it's only meant to detect an immediate loss of pulse. So it's not meant to diagnose or treat any medical conditions, and it's not meant to be a feature that gives you a pre-warning of any health condition.

That's a really important distinction that we do try to make as clear as possible within the product itself, so that you don't change any health regimens, etc, and you don't change anything that you've heard from medical professionals. As always, go to your healthcare professional to discuss all of your well-being, etc., and what's best for you.

Will Loss of Pulse Detection come to older Pixel Watch models? And if not, is this a hardware limitation or a software one?

Shi: It's something we can't go into detail about at the moment. We have to look at both the hardware that's available on the older Pixel Watches and see if it's possible.

Also, we have to ensure that there is hardware equivalency on each of the different devices. So we have to make sure on the older Pixel devices, if we were to do [Loss of Pulse Detection], that it still performs as expected within the guidelines that we set.

Can we expect all future Google wearables to have this safety feature?

Shi: Our top priority when we released this feature was to make sure that it maintains its quality and is able to do what it says it does within the guiding principles that we have. What we anticipate is that as new Pixel Watches are released, it's available on all different Pixel Watches.

Of course, it's going to be a hardware-by-hardware validation. We would like to make it available as widely as we possibly can, so that's what we're going to try to do.

Compared to some of your competitors, Google had what some might call a late start to the smartwatch game. With LoPD you’re now leading the pack in some regards. Do you expect your competitors to pursue/copy the feature?

Shi: I think this is definitely speculation and subjective, but I think in the tech world, people are always looking at other competitors and trying to close the gap or match different features. So I wouldn't be surprised if that's something that people did.

In some ways, I think for our team, that this would be a good thing — with safety in particular — if other competitors started trying to copy features. I think as long as everyone maintains high quality, of course, then it's not necessarily a bad thing.

But yes, I think it's fair to assume that people are looking at it and they attempt to copy it.

Can you give me any hints as to what the Google Safety Team is working on next, beyond LoPD? I know real-time blood glucose monitoring is often mentioned.

Shi: We're always looking at helping users get connected with help if they aren't able to themselves. We know emergencies, hopefully, are a bit of a rare event in users' daily lives, but there could be other scenarios where users may feel unsafe.

So, one of our existing features is a Safety Check. When users are going out for a run or going out for a hike and they want that extra peace of mind, they can start a Safety Check, and we can check in with them, and then if they don't respond, we can automatically share their location and reason and context with their emergency contacts.

That's an existing feature, and also things that we're thinking about on the safety side. We're looking across the spectrum from emergencies to daily use cases of how we can help, how we can deliver a little bit more peace of mind in your daily life.

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Want the best Fitbit available today? Your choices come down to the Fitbit Charge 6 and Google Pixel Watch 3. Both devices are powered by Fitbit and produced by Google, but that's where the similarities end.

The Fitbit Charge 6 was announced in 2023 and remains the brand's flagship band-style fitness tracker. The Pixel Watch 3, meanwhile, launched in 2024 and is Google's one and only smartwatch offering, though it comes in two sizes.

For this test, I pitted the smaller 41mm Pixel Watch 3 ($349) against the Fitbit Charge 6 ($159). With Google winding down the Fitbit brand, there's a good chance that the Charge 6 is the end of the road for perhaps the brand's most beloved wearable line.

So, is the Pixel Watch 3 a good replacement for the Charge 6, at least from a fitness tracking standpoint? There's only one way to find out. Let the test begin!

Fitbit Charge 6 vs. Google Pixel Watch 3: Walk test

If you've read my previous walk test articles, you can probably go ahead and skip to the next section. For those new here, this is how these comparisons go down: With a smartwatch on either wrist, I begin tracking my walk. As a control, I manually count each step I take; my favorite Bose Quiet Comfort headphones help drown out the distraction.

To help me keep track of the total, I click an old-school manual tally counter every hundred steps before starting my tally over again at one. In this case, I repeated that process 65 times before finding a nice quiet park bench to settle down on and record the data.

Oh, and as an extra control, I recorded the walk using Strava on my trusty iPhone 12 Mini. Check out the results below:

Fitbit Charge 6 vs. Google Pixel Watch 3: Walk test results

Well, well, well — look at which device was closer to my actual step count total by a whole 17 steps; it's the Fitbit Charge 6. For what it's worth, both devices beat Strava's tally of 6,558 steps.

Unfortunately for the small but mighty Charge 6, things get a little funky when we move on to distance data. Despite nailing my step count total with impressive accuracy, the device appears to have severely undercounted my distance covered by a whopping 0.4 miles... that's not an insignificant difference.

The Fitbit Charge 6 frustratingly also does not report elevation gain data, even though it technically could using the onboard GPS. And while I didn't intend for this walk to be hilly, living in Seattle, Washington, a few hundred feet of elevation gain is par for the course when cruising around town on foot.

The Pixel Watch 3 does report climb data, which looks perhaps a tad inflated for this walk — I tend to trust Strava as the gold standard here — but still accurate enough for my needs.

Of course, had the Pixel Watch 3 undercounted my climb by 22 feet (compared to Strava), I might not be so forgiving.

Strava provides two pace metrics including an average moving pace — reported above — and an elapsed pace, which tends to be slower. In this case, my elapsed pace was 19 minutes and 15 seconds per mile, much closer to the Pixel Watch 3's metric.

Inflated pace data from the Fitbit Charge 6, meanwhile, makes sense given it measured a considerably shorter walk, distance-wise.

Nothing warms my heart more than two devices capturing similar heart rate data during these head-to-heads, and it doesn't get any more precise than this. The same goes for calories burned.

Finally, while the Pixel Watch 3 burned through 9% of its battery during my roughly one-hour-and-seven-minute walk, the Charge 6 somehow managed to gain 1% battery (from 98% when I left to 99% when I returned).

Fitbit Charge 6 vs. Google Pixel Watch 3: Winner

In today's battle of the Fitbit-powered Google wearables, the underdog Charge 6 comes out on top. However, even though the Fitbit Charge 6 managed a closer step count total to my manual count, the Pixel Watch 3 proved more accurate across the board.

Still, I'm impressed that the older, more affordable wearable was able to keep up with the newer and higher-end Pixel Watch 3. Ultimately, the Charge 6 remains one of the best fitness trackers for the money in 2025, especially if you like easy-wearing devices with great battery and onboard GPS so that you can leave your phone at home.

Which fitness trackers and/or smartwatches should I test head-to-head next? Let me know in the comments below.

More from Tom's Guide

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When the Google Pixel Watch 3 first launched in 2024, one of its marquee new health features—Loss of Pulse Detection—wasn’t available for U.S. customers. But that's changed as of April 2025.

Even without the tool, the Pixel Watch 3 still impressed us enough to earn a spot on our best smartwatch list. Thankfully, seven months after the U.S. release date, Google’s Loss of Pulse Detection is FDA-approved and available to U.S. Pixel Watch 3 customers everywhere.

A potentially life-saving tool, Loss of Pulse Detection is a first-of-its-kind feature for a smartwatch. While other models can alert you to signs of sleep apnea or atrial fibrillation (AFib), Google’s tool is aimed at getting you help during a cardiac emergency.

Similar to fall or crash detection, it can automatically contact emergency services if a cardiac event is logged and you’re unresponsive.

Best of all, setting up Loss of Pulse Detection on your Google Pixel Watch 3 is a quick and easy affair. Follow along and I’ll show you how to do it in seven steps.

How to use Loss of Pulse Detection on your Google Pixel Watch 3

1. Ensure your software is up-to-date
2. Open the Personal Safety app on your watch and scroll down
3. Open the Watch app on your phone and tap 'Loss of Pulse Detection'
4. Read about the setup process and tap 'Continue'
5. Verify your eligibility and tap 'Continue'
6. Read through the info and click 'Continue' on the next two screens
7. At the bottom of 'Things to Remember' tap 'Turn on'

Read on to see full illustrated instructions for each step.

There you have it, Google's innovative new Loss of Pulse Detection is up and running in just seven easy-breezy steps. Now you can wear your Google Pixel Watch 3 with even more confidence knowing that it can help you out during a medical emergency.

Of course, in addition to Loss of Pulse Detection, the Pixel Watch 3 offers all sorts of other useful safety features worth exploring including Fall and Car Crash Detection, an Emergency SOS function, real-time location sharing and more.

More from Tom's Guide

• How to set up your new Google Pixel Watch 3
• watchOS 12 wishlist — 3 Apple Watch upgrades I want most
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Google isn't the best at keeping secrets and most gadget fans won't be too surprised to learn the next Pixel Watch is likely to launch alongside the Pixel 10 series later this year.

There's likely months before the Pixel Watch 4 gets official, but alleged renders of the device have leaked today courtesy of tipster OnLeaks (via 91Mobiles). And as far as we can tell, Google is sticking with what's familiar.

That's not a bad thing, of course, because the current Pixel Watch 3 garnered 4.5 stars in our review.

If these renders are accurate, the Pixel Watch 4 will keep the same circular design, albeit thicker at an alleged 14.3mm. The Pixel Watch 3 measures 12.3mm in thickness and the extra weight could be down to an improved battery.

The watch is expected to launch with 41mm and 45mm sizings and in both cases it looks like the bezels around the screen have been slimmed down.

A few more cryptic hardware changes include the addition of two buttons — one on each side of the speaker. This could be a riff on the Apple Watch Ultra's Action button as a way to quickly toggle a workout but we'll have to wait to find out.

There's also the fact the Pixel Watch 4 seems to be missing charging pins at the back. Which, according to OnLeaks, could mean it'll support wireless charging.

While these leaked images show the watch only in black, don't be surprised if Google launches a few other colorways so wearers can pair up with whatever colors the new Pixel devices end up being.

In addition to being one of the main alternatives to the best Apple Watch, the Pixel Watch line is fast becoming the new home for former Fitbit users. Some health features that were previously only accessible behind a Fitbit Premium subscription can be accessed on the Pixel Watch 3 for free.

Since we're talking about Google here, it's a near-certainty that more leaks on the Pixel Watch 4 will arrive in the near future. I've still got plenty of questions on this device — such as whether it'll make the move over to a custom Tensor chip from the Pixel Watch 3's Qualcomm SW5100 CPU and Cortex M33 co-processor.

So rest assured I'll be keeping an ear out for more rumors on Google's upcoming wearable.

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Preserving battery health is incredibly important, especially if you plan on keeping your current device for a long time. Larger devices, like smartphones, can be easily replaced. But what about smaller devices like smartwatches, which can’t be repaired easily—if at all?

Well, Google may be bringing adaptive charging to the Pixel Watch line-up, which could be invaluable in preventing battery degradation over time. This feature is already readily available on Pixel phones and the Pixel tablet, and a deep dive by Android Authority suggests that the Pixel Watch could be next in line.

Code hidden in the Pixel Watch Management Service app mentions specific permission related to an “Adaptive Charging Service.” While it doesn’t mention any specifics of what this feature might involve, it’s not difficult to figure out what it’s referring to, especially since Adaptive Charging is so prevalent on other Android phones and devices.

Frankly, I’m quite glad to hear that this is a possibility for Pixel Watch. I don’t tend to leave my Pixel Watch 3 charging for long periods, typically putting it back on as soon as it’s back at 100%. But any additional features that can help preserve the battery life can only be a good thing.

Smartwatch battery life is rarely impressive, and considering the small size of the battery, any serious degradation could make it even worse. To top it all off, a lot of wearable devices aren’t designed to be repaired. So, if something serious goes wrong, then repairing or replacing problematic parts is tricky, to say the very least. It's not impossible if you know what you’re doing, but you’d be far better off not having to swap out the battery in the first place.

My guess is that the Pixel Watch's adaptive charging features will work the same way as the one on Android phones. Your phone will slow down the rate of charging overnight, timing everything to ensure that it hits 100% just before your morning alarm goes off. Since leaving your phone at 100% for extended periods can speed up battery degradation, it should help preserve battery health for longer.

It’s not clear when we might see this feature launch, but I’d guess that it could be in a future Pixel drop. Those arrive quarterly, and phones are due to get the next wave of features sometime in March. Pixel Watches have had some problems with software delays, but back in November, Google did confirm that the next major update is scheduled for March as well. Hopefully, that’s not delayed either.

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So, you just got a brand-new Google Pixel Watch 3 or, perhaps a slightly less new but still fantastic Pixel Watch 2. Congratulations! You now own one of the best smartwatch models on the market today.

You’re likely asking yourself, ‘How do I set up my new Pixel Watch?’ Assuming you have it unboxed and have an Android smartphone on hand to pair it with, the process is quite straightforward. I should know — I just set up a new Pixel Watch 3 for personal use.

To help make the process easier, I’ve cataloged all the steps below with the most important bits in bold. Follow these seven easy steps to get your Google Pixel Watch up and running without breaking a sweat.

How to set up your Google Pixel Watch

1. Hold the crown to turn your watch on; select your language
2. Open the Watch app on your phone and tap ‘Add watch’
3. Sign in and set up your Google account
4. Select your wrist and crown orientation preferences
5. Setup optional health-tracking features via Fitbit
6. Setup optional Google Assistant and safety features
7. Setup Google Wallet and choose your apps

Read on for more detailed instructions and illustrations.

And that’s it! You’ve successfully set up your new Google Pixel Watch like a pro. Now you’re ready to try out all its cool holistic, safety, entertainment, workout and connectivity features.

Once on the wrist, you’ll be presented with a quick navigational demo before being prompted to set up the above-mentioned safety features, including crash detection, loss of pulse detection and more. Read more on the Google Pixel Watch safety features here.

All in all, expect this entire process to take anywhere from thirty minutes — which was my experience — to an hour.

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The Apple Watch Series 10 battery provides roughly 18 hours of juice per charge. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 battery is good for closer to 24 hours. So, unless you switch on either device’s low-power mode, you will need to seek out a charger daily.

In 2024, battery life, or lack thereof, is the single biggest thing holding back smartwatches. Sure, if you don’t mind rocking a pricey, chunky monster on your wrist, there’s always the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. Even still, the former will get you through just 36 hours between top-offs and the latter a more respectable 48 hours (double those figures for low-power mode).

Battery life for days

When the Google Pixel Watch 3 was first announced, it initially seemed that it too would be capped at roughly 24 hours of battery per charge, similar to the Galaxy Watch 7. Google even said as much in its launch presentation. However, much to my delight, the brand that ate Fitbit was wrong in its longevity estimates.

After extensive testing, I’ve confirmed that the new, larger 45mm Google Pixel Watch 3 model surpasses that battery life rating two-fold, providing two full days of juice before needing to hit the charger.

It’s worth noting that the smaller 41mm Google Pixel Watch 3 doesn’t see the same longevity improvement, and you can expect 24 hours of battery in normal mode and 36 in low power mode.

In the realm of non 'Ultra' full-featured smartwatches, this puts the Pixel Watch 3 XL in a league of its own. Sure, you’ll pay $70 more for it compared to the bigger (44mm) Galaxy Watch 7, but that’s a pretty reasonable cost when you consider the Pixel Watch lasts twice as long as the Galaxy Watch.

Meanwhile, the new, larger 46mm Apple Watch 10, by comparison, is $30 pricer than the 45mm Pixel Watch 3, despite the Google Watch offering nearly three times the longevity.

Sleek enough design

Android users who want the best battery life in 2024 and 2025 have two options, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra or the Pixel Watch 3 XL. One is large, chunky and costs $649, the other is reasonably sleek, easy-wearing and priced at $399.

At 60.5 grams, it’s hard to ignore the heft of the Galaxy Watch UItra, especially when wearing it to bed for sleep tracking. The 45mm Pixel Watch 3, meanwhile, weighs almost half that at 37 grams and is far less cumbersome to sleep with.

Google didn’t make a ton of external changes to the watch, aside from adding the larger size option, but a keen-eyed observer will notice that the bezel has been slimmed down and more importantly, to me at least, the screen brightness has been doubled to 2,000 nits, which is a match with the Apple Watch 10 and more than bright enough for viewing in direct sunlight.

Solid fitness and wellness tracking tools

Google acquired Fitbit back in 2021, and ever since has slowly been adding Fitbit’s best wellness tech and fitness tools into the Pixel Watch series. Unfortunately, Google has also been slowly killing off Fitbit devices… but that’s another story.

With the Pixel Watch 3 release, the brand’s flagship smartwatch now incorporates some of Fitbit’s previously paywalled wellness tools, including the useful Daily Readiness score. I also appreciate Google’s Morning Reports, with insights into sleep quality, workout recovery and estimated energy levels for the day.

However, when it comes to sleep analysis alone, I prefer Samsung’s level of detail to Google’s.

But still no loss of pulse detection…

Ultimately, Google knocked it out of the park with the larger Pixel Watch 3 — the third time really is the charm — which is why it’s my favorite smart wearable of the year, not to mention, one I’ve found myself recommending to folks again and again.

But one notable grievance about the Pixel Watch 3 remains: Loss of Pulse Detection, Google’s marquee new health safety feature, is still not available in the U.S. four months after the product’s launch.

This potentially groundbreaking tech is the type of feature that would tempt me to purchase a Pixel Watch 3 for my parents, who live on the other side of the country, for peace of mind. So I hope regulatory approval comes soon.

Still, even without the Loss of Pulse feature, the Pixel Watch 3 XL stands out to me as the most impressive smartwatch of 2024 in a sea of releases that included heavy-hitters not only from Apple and Samsung but also Garmin, Polar, Amazfit and many more.

More from Tom's Guide:

• I test tech wearables for a living — this 1980s-style smartwatch is my favorite product of 2023
• Google Pixel Watch 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: which Android smartwatch should you buy?
• 5 smartwatch and smart ring predictions for 2025 — Apple Watch Ultra 3, Samsung AR glasses and more

It’s a battle of the top dogs. In one corner, we have the original rugged smartwatch and reigning battery life champion, the Apple Watch Ultra 2. In the other corner, we have the Android people’s champion, the Google Pixel Watch 3 XL.

Today’s contest is an assessment of workout tracking capabilities, with each watch embarking on a manually counted 5,500-step urban hike along Seattle’s Lake Washington. For this test, the Apple Watch was worn on the left wrist, and the Pixel Watch on the right wrist.

The objective? Step-count precision supremacy, with extra points awarded for accurate distance and elevation gain data.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Google Pixel Watch 3: Specs and price

But first, how do these two flagship smartwatches compare? In terms of price, the Google Pixel Watch 3 in the larger 45mm case size starts at $399 for the Wi-Fi-only version and increases to $499 for optional LTE connectivity. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 costs $799 with Wi-Fi and LTE. That’s a big price disparity. What does the extra cash for the Ultra 2 get you?

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has double the water resistance of the Pixel Watch 3 XL — 100 meters versus 50 meters. The screen on the Ultra 2 is also larger and 1.5 times brighter than the Pixel Watch 3, making it a smidge easier to view at a glance in bright sunlight.

As for design, Apple’s premium wearable features a titanium case and a customizable action button, in addition to a digital crown and side button. By comparison, the Pixel Watch 3 has an aluminum case with a digital crown and side button, but no custom button. However, it’s lighter than the Ultra 2 and easier-wearing, in my opinion.

When it comes to tracking outdoor workouts, both devices are well-equipped to keep tabs on key metrics like heart rate, pace, distance, elevation and step count. Onboard GPS comes standard in either, so you can leave your phone at home. However, the Ultra 2 did pick up a GPS signal almost immediately when the test began, while the Pixel Watch 3 took a minute or more.

With scattered clouds and clear mountain views, our head-to-head battle commenced. Read on to see how the results compare.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Google Pixel Watch 3: Walk test results

In addition to manually counting my steps — with some help from an old-school clicky tally counter to note every 100 paces — I ran Strava on my phone as a control for elevation and distance data, as noted in the table above.

Starting with step count data, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 was off by 93 steps compared to the Pixel Watch 3 XL, which was off by 166 steps. For what it's worth, Strava counted my journey at 5,594 steps, just one step more than Apple.

Both devices were within 0.04 miles of Strava's distance calculation with the Apple Watch under and the Pixel Watch over. For elevation data, the Ultra 2 measured my climb as 13 feet less than Strava, which tends to be pretty on the money for this metric, in my experience. The Pixel Watch 3, meanwhile was over by 25 feet.

The Apple Watch measured my pace per mile as a minute slower than the Pixel Watch, while Strava measured it as nearly 2 minutes faster than the Google wearable.

As noted in prior tests, this is likely because Strava is programmed to auto-pause tracking during even brief stoppages in movement. For example, if I pause and wait to cross a street for 25 seconds, the Pixel Watch and Apple Watch penalize me pace-wise, while Strava doesn't.

The Apple Watch measured a more elevated heart rate than the Pixel Watch both in terms of average and maximum beats per minute. It's difficult to say for sure which smartwatch is more precise here, but, I suspect the discrepancy may have something to do with which wrist the watches were worn on. Either way, a chest-mounted heart rate monitor may help clear things up for future tests.

Finally, Google said I burned more calories throughout my one-hour walk, despite my less elevated heart rate. However, I always take this metric with a hefty grain of salt.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Google Pixel Watch 3: Winner

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 wins this walk test against the Google Pixel Watch 3 XL by a comfortable margin. That said, both devices proved accurate and if you're not looking to split hairs, their results are largely a match, minus heart rate and elevation data.

Notably, the last time I tested the Pixel Watch 3 against an Apple Watch — the Series 10 in this case — the Google watch also seemingly overcounted my total elevation gain while recording a lower average and max heart rate for my workout.

For that test, the Pixel Watch was also on my right wrist like it was here. So, the next time I do a head-to-head between these two brands, I'll be sure to swap the Google wearable to my left wrist; stay tuned for a Pixel Watch 3 vs Apple Watch SE walk test soon.

More from Tom's Guide

• I biked 13 miles with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra — here’s the winner
• Apple Watch 10 vs. Pixel Watch 3: Which smartwatch wins?
• Under $100 smartwatch test: I walked 5,000 steps with the Amazfit Bip 5 vs Armitron Matrix — here’s the winner

The Apple Watch Series 10 and Google Pixel Watch 3 are the best smartwatch models for iPhone and Android users, respectively. Debuting just a month apart, each device offers an impressive array of wellness tech, smart features and design enhancements over its predecessor. 

The Apple Watch 10 delivers a thinner case and a brighter screen, with improved viewing angles compared to the Series 9. The Pixel Watch 3 also offers display upgrades over its predecessor by way of a brighter, more responsive screen paired with a thinner bezel.

The Pixel Watch 3 additionally boasts Google's most accurate heart rate sensor and a promising new Lose of Pulse Detection feature (that's still awaiting approval in the U.S.). On the wellness front, the Apple Watch 10 gains sleep apnea detection — here's how to turn it on — and the latest watchOS 11 software also adds a new Vitals app for keeping track of pertinent health data. 

When it comes to workout tracking, both smartwatches offer similarly impressive sets of sensors and tools to keep tabs on key metrics like distance, cadence, heart rate, elevation gain and pace. 

But, is one better for tracking outdoor exercises, like walks, hikes, runs, jogs and bike rides, better than the other? I wanted to find out.

On a sunny Tuesday afternoon, I charged up the Pixel Watch 3 and Apple Watch 10 and strapped them on my wrist for a leisurely 5-mile walk around Seattle, Washington. With the autumn leaves presenting a spectacular array of colors, the sky clear-blue and the temperature a balmy 65 degrees Fahrenheit, the vibes were nothing short of on-point. 

The Apple Watch 10 adorned my left wrist while I wore the Pixel Watch 3 on my right. As a control, I also tracked my walk using the Strava app on my phone. And, for another data point, I used the measure distance tool in Google Maps post-walk, measuring my exact route, to the best of my abilities.

After roughly 90 minutes, a little over 5 miles traveled and 550 feet of elevation climbed, I returned home and compared my results, which you can view in the chart below.

Apple Watch 10 vs. Pixel Watch 3: walk test results

Apple Watch 10 vs. Pixel Watch 3: 5 things that surprised me

This being my first time testing the Apple Watch 10 vs. Pixel Watch 3 at the same time, several things stood out to me when using both side-by-side, beyond how their metrics matched up. 

Here are the five biggest things I learned from my walk test.

1. The Pixel Watch logged a further and faster walk

The Pixel Watch 3 logged 0.14 additional miles of distance covered compared to the Apple Watch 10, which is pretty small potatoes. Which is more correct? It's impossible to say.

But, if you average the total from my two controls, Strava (5.58 miles) and the Google measure distance tool (5.13 miles), you get a total distance of 5.36 miles, which is one one-hundredth of a mile off from Google's total. Not too shabby, Pixel Watch. 

The Google device also noted a slightly faster pace than the Apple Watch: 17 mins and 1 sec per mile vs. 17 mins and 42 secs per mile. Given the further distance logged by Google, this isn't too surprising. What is surprising is that those paces are significantly slower than Strava's 14-minute and 48-second-per-mile tally. What gives? 

I suspect this difference is likely because Strava automatically stops and starts recording when you physically stop and start moving. For instance, if I pause for 30 seconds waiting for the crosswalk light to change, Strava won't factor that non-moving 30 seconds into my pace, while it seems both Apple and Google do.

That said, when I stopped for a 5-minute break to enjoy some sunshine near the halfway point in my route, both the Apple Watch and Pixel Watch presented me with a message after a few stationary minutes asking if I was done with my workout. Both times I tapped Ignore and kept tracking. 

2. Step count totals were notably similar

I was pleasantly surprised to see that both smartwatches recorded similar total step counts for my walk, with less than 250 steps separating their tallies. Also impressive; the Apple Watch 10 is within 72 steps of Strava's total, while the Pixel Watch is within 164 steps of Strava. 

All-in-all, these are the results I like to see and a reminder that the best smartwatch models hold that title for a reason: they do what they promise and they do it well. 

3. The Pixel Watch logged 30 more feet of elevation

The post-walk metric that threw me off the most is the extra 29 feet of elevation gain measured by the Pixel Watch 3. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch 10 and the Strava app both noted total climbs that were within just one foot of one another, suggesting that the Google device likely over-calculated. 

Does this mean that the Google Watch is always going to add an extra 5 or 6 feet of elevation for every 100 feet climbed? Hopefully not. But, more head-to-head testing is needed to confirm. Either way, for folks like me who put a lot of emphasis on elevation stats, particularly when hiking or skiing in the mountains, I want to be sure my smartwatch is giving me the most precise readings possible. 

4. The Apple Watch recorded a higher heart rate

The Apple Watch recorded slightly higher heart rate data than the Google Watch. This one could potentially be chalked up to the fact I wore the devices on opposite wrists, or that the Pixel Watch 3's rubber strap was worn looser than the Apple Watch 10's cloth sports loop because the former is less comfortable when secured tightly. 

Either way, the Apple Watch 10 recorded my average heart rate as 4 bpm faster than Google's, and my maximum heart rate for the walk at 5 bpm quicker. While it's again difficult to say which is more accurate, these heart rate metrics in general line up with what I've come to expect.

For vigorous walks, my average heart rate is often right around the 130 bpm mark, as it was during my recent Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 vs. Apple Watch SE walk test. Maximum heart rate, on the other hand, can vary greatly depending on the day or route. 

For this walk, I pushed myself toward the end, particularly during my final uphill climb, and the respective heart rate maxes from each watch reflect that. Both 172 and 167 bpm fall within my maximum heart rate zone. 

5. The Pixel Watch used less battery; the Apple Watch was comfier

I left the house with both devices at 100% battery. When I returned roughly 90 minutes later, the Pixel Watch 3 (in 45mm) was sitting pretty at 87% while the Apple Watch Series 10 was a little more depleted at 77%. 

Given this rate of battery exhaustion, the Apple Watch 10 should be able to GPS track a hike for between 6 and 7 hours before dying while the Pixel Watch 3 XL should last for closer to 11 or 12 hours. That's a pretty notable difference. 

On the flip side, the Apple Watch felt comfier on my wrist for the duration of my walk test. This is partly because the Apple Watch is thinner than the Pixel Watch, which also makes it less likely to get snagged on a jacket cuff. However, both devices weigh roughly the same amount. 

The other factor that set the Apple Watch 10 apart wearability-wise is the far softer and stretchier sports loop that came with it. Compared to the traditional rubber strap on the Pixel Watch 3, the Apple loop doesn't catch on my hair or feel gross/sticky when I start sweating. 

Of course, the Pixel Watch 3 offers a range of bands, and the Apple Watch 10 also ships with a similarly unpleasant-to-workout-in rubber strap. In either case, if you plan to workout with your new smartwatch, give some consideration to the strap you'll be wearing. 

Ultimately, both the Apple Watch Series 10 and Pixel Watch 3 are competent smartwatch models for keeping tabs on outdoor exercises of all types. And though I split some hairs here, the results from my test largely line up nicely. So, whether you spring for the best Apple Watch or the best smartwatch for Android, you can look forward to precise fitness and health tracking with plenty of insights to help you train.

More from Tom's Guide

• I hiked 9 miles with the Apple Watch SE vs. Pixel Watch 3 vs. Garmin Forerunner 165 — 5 things I learned
• Smartwatch vs. adventure watch — which is best for you?
• I biked 9 miles wearing the Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7 — and the results surprised me

Prepare your Pixel gear for updates, as the October 2024 Pixel Drop is going live today (October 15), with treats for Google phone, watch, earbuds and tablet owners alike.

The updates, which Google's summarized in a convenient video, is part of Google's regular program of special updates for its own devices, as opposed to more general Android-based updates that apply to all products running the open-source software. However, it just so happens that an Android update is also going live at the same time as the Pixel Drop. Confused yet?

To get back on track, let's go through all the upgrades Google's promised the Pixel posse.

Gemini gets Additional Intelligence

Google is introducing hands-free Gemini access for all Pixel Buds, after a period where it was exclusive to the latest Pixel Buds Pro 2. This can help you access directions, email summaries or a more general conversation via Gemini Live without unlocking your phone.

The Gemini assistant itself has also been updated to interact with the Pixel Screenshots app found on the Pixel 9 series. You can now ask Gemini to find something you saved in Screenshots, and the assistant will open it up for you, saving you the hassle of searching for it manually.

Pixel phones get updates for air, land and sea

More specifically related to the Pixel phones' hardware, the latest Pixel 9 models get more accurate coloration for underwater photos as part of this update, with a new dedicated camera mode. Just remember to search for a waterproof case among the best Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro cases, as the IP68 water resistance rating isn't the same as being truly waterproof.

Audio Magic Eraser improvements have been added to the Pixel 8 series and later. When editing video, you can now turn sounds up and down, rather than just reduce unwanted noise, and increase the volume of different people talking in the clip

Astrophotography mode, found on the Pixel 6 and later models, is now accessible from the Night Sight menu in the Camera app. This makes taking beautiful pictures of the night sky much more convenient, although it is a shame this came out after the recent Aurora Borealis appearance across much of the northern hemisphere.

What's more, Night Sight is itself available within Instagram for more convenient low-light photography in your favorite photo-based social network.

A small update for Pixel 8 Pro owners specifically is that the Thermometer app now gets the same camera-based interface as the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL. The live image with a translucent graphic of your rear cameras overlaid makes aiming the thermometer much easier than the old method that simply highlighted the position of the rear thermal sensor on a blank background.

The last big upgrade is the addition of a Pollen tracker for Pixel Weather. This lets you check the current pollen index, the pollen forecast and what pollen types are currently out and about. This is only for the UK and three other European countries, but hopefully it'll come to more in a future update, including the U.S.

The Pixel Weather app itself is getting wider availability, too. Originally only on the Pixel 9 series, it's now going to be made available on Pixels dating back to 2021's Pixel 6 series, including the Pixel Tablet.

Don't forget the tablet and the watches

Speaking of the Pixel Tablet, it and Google's Pixel Watches are getting upgrades as part of this Drop too.

On all Pixel Watches, you will now have access to a Contact tile, giving you quick access to phone calls and messages for a specified person. You also get the option to send emoji reactions for Gmail, both in the app and via notifications.

As for the Pixel Tablet, it can now send media between it and any Pro Pixel phone just by bringing the two devices close to each other. The tablet can also sync its notifications with your phone so you don't get repeats.

Google has also given the Pixel Tablet a new home app screensaver through which you can control your smart home devices or monitor your active cameras. There are also new clock options for the digital photo frame mode, plus the option to share, favorite and archive the currently displayed image if you need to.

A big day for Google launches

Google's new anti-theft features are also officially launching today, for any Android device running Android 10 or later. This includes AI-powered theft detection that locks your phone in case it's taken from your hand, and the option to remotely lock your phone from a browser with your PIN and a security question if you didn't notice the theft immediately.

Plus, after months of beta releases, Android 15 arrives today for Pixel devices, bringing with it PIN-protected app spaces to keep things hidden or separate from other apps, automatic vibration adjustments for alerts, depending on how loud the environment is.

And with the arrival of Android 15 on Google's own phones, we will no doubt start appearing in various guises on other supported Android phones within the coming months. The best Android phone users will be eating well this winter, it seems.

More from Tom's Guide

• Google Gemini has gotten a facelift on Android — here's what has changed
• iOS 18.1 developer beta 7 released — here’s what’s new for your iPhone
• Your Pixel 9 phone is sending a lot of data to Google — what you need to know

Wear OS 5 is coming to older Pixel Watches starting now.

Wear OS 5 arrived in July when Samsung announced the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra. At the time, we knew it was coming to some older smartwatches such as the Galaxy Watch 6.

However, when Google announced the Pixel Watch 3 during the Made by Google hardware event in August, it wasn't clear when the older Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 would join the latest Google smartwatch in adopting Wear OS 5.

Thanks to a blog post from Google, we now know that the older Pixel Watches will receive the update starting today (September 24) as part of the company's September 2024 security update. That said, anyone rocking a Pixel Watch or Watch 2 may not get the update immediately. Google is rolling out the update and availability depends on your carrier and the device. 

Wear OS 5 introduces a number of efficiency improvements, including reducing battery drain caused by long-term workout tracking. It also is a boon for runners by providing more detailed exercise data and metrics. Wear OS 5 also introduces the next iteration of the Watch Face Format, which unfortunately might block older Watch faces that don't fit the WFF.

Google plans to rollout the update "over the next week in phases." When it's available for your device, you'll get a notification on your watch. 

According to Google's blog post, the update brings "new features, numerous bug fixes, and performance updates. The blog post added that app updates via the Playstore will be available to "obtain the grid-vew launcher, improved Camera controls and the Pixel Recorder functionality."

Many of these can be installed after the Wear OS finishes by going to the Play Store opening "Manage apps" and installing what the updates you want.

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Nowadays it’s increasingly getting more expensive to complement your phone with other gadgets. For example, you could easily shell out over $1,000 on a Pixel 9 and Pixel Watch 3 combo. But thankfully Amazon’s making it much easier because for a limited time you can get a free Pixel Watch (Gen 1) when you buy a Pixel 8.

Yes, they’re technically older devices, but I know the tradeoffs are well worth it because you’re paying a total of $499 for both gadgets at Amazon. (Choose the 128GB model to see this price). Considering that an unlocked Pixel 8 fetches for $699 normally and $279 for the Pixel Watch — a total of $978 — this $499 deal from Amazon effectively gives this combo deal a 49% off discount. Best of all, there’s no trade-ins or other special rules in order to take advantage of this deal. You just simply need to be a Prime member.

In our Pixel 9 vs. Pixel 8 face-off, we detail all of their biggest differences — including the Pixel 9’s redesign and newer Tensor G4 chip. Even though the Pixel 9 makes great strides around its battery life and processing performance, the Pixel 8 has a lot of stuff in common with the newer Pixel 9.

For starters, it shares a similar 50MP main camera that’s an excellent all-around performer for just about any situation. From high-contrast scenes that are strong light sources contending against dimly lit areas, to capturing portrait photos, the Pixel 8’s main camera is just as formidable and delivers outstanding results. The same goes for its video recording performance, which tops out at 4K 60fps capture.

When it comes to the software, you’ll have nothing to worry about because of Google’s commitment to provide it with 7 years of major Android and software security updates. Even though it technically doesn’t have the newer Google AI features introduced with the Pixel 9, like Add Me and Pixel Studio, there’s always the chance that the Pixel 8 could gain them at some point in the future with a software update.

Meanwhile, the Pixel Watch is still an excellent smartwatch that’s the perfect companion for the Pixel 8. Not only does it feature a stylish and sporty design, but it covers all the usual health metrics you’ll find in the best smartwatches and best fitness trackers. They include tracking your heart rate, workouts, sleep, and more. You’ll also be able to take phone calls and text messages all through the Pixel Watch.

This deal is valid through September 21, which could be a perfect gift for the upcoming holidays. You simply just need to head over to this link, select which Pixel 8 model you want, along with the Pixel Watch, and then check out to see the price change to $499.

When we reviewed the original Google Pixel Watch, and then the Google Pixel Watch 2 a year later, we repeatedly criticized two key design elements that limited the smartwatch's potential: a thick bezel and a lack of multiple size options. Well, with the Google Pixel Watch 3, those laments are no longer.

Officially revealed at Made by Google 2024, the Pixel Watch 3 tells us that Google is taking its flagship smartwatch seriously. Now in its third generation, this Pixel Watch introduces a second, larger 45mm size option (alongside the original 41mm model) with up to 40% more usable screen space compared to the Pixel Watch 2.

The new smartwatch also boasts a brighter display, faster charging, advanced running data, a revamped readiness score with training guidance, deeper integrations with Google apps, and more.

Certain health features previously locked behind Fitbit Premium no longer require the paid membership, too. That said, Fitbit Premium is still necessary to take advantage of Google’s most advanced AI-powered health insights.

But the vast number of improvements make the Pixel Watch 3 — available on September 10 starting at $349 — not only one of the best smartwatch models for Pixel smartphone users but also my new favorite Wear OS device and one of the best Android smartwatch models overall.

Pixel Watch 3: Specs

Pixel Watch 3: Price and availability

The Google Pixel Watch 3 is available for preorder as of August 13, 2024 and will be available starting September 10, 2024. The 41mm version starts at $349, which has been the same starting price for the previous two Pixel Watch generations.

But for a version equipped with LTE connectivity, you'll spend $449, which is $50 more than you had to spend for the Pixel Watch 2 with LTE.

For the first time, the Pixel Watch comes in a 45mm size that costs $399 for Wi-Fi/Bluetooth and $499 for LTE. The 45mm option comes in Black, Silver or Hazel, while the 41mm size comes in Black, Silver and Gold.

Pixel Watch 3: Design and wearability

Although the Pixel Watch 3 looks familiar at a glance, especially the smaller 41mm option, it's undergone some significant design changes that many (including us) have been asking for. First, it finally comes in two sizes like the comparable flagship watches from Samsung and Apple.

By introducing a bigger 45mm size alongside the existing 41mm option, the watch is more inclusive to users with larger wrists and those who simply prefer a bigger screen size. We tried on both watches for size; Tom's Guide editor Mike Prospero, who likes larger watches, preferred the 45mm model. It felt better on his wrist and less dainty than the 41mm version.

I also tested both the 41mm and 45mm models, wearing each for several days at a time, and discovered that the two feel remarkably similar on the wrist. While I tend to prefer more petite smartwatch models, I didn’t mind the larger diameter of the 45mm. After all, both Pixel Watch 3 options share the same 12.3mm thickness, and the 45mm weighs only two ounces more than the 41mm.

The Pixel Watch 3 is still thicker than its nearest competitor, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, though, by 2.6mm. It’s also heavier by a few grams. You get rounded screen edges on the latest Pixel Watches compared to flat edges on the newest Galaxy wearables. There’s no real advantage or disadvantage to either but I personally prefer Samsung’s design approach in this instance.

The second much-requested design improvement Google gave us is slightly slimmer display bezels. The bezel on the original Pixel Watch and last year’s Watch 2 were extremely chunky by 2024 standards. Now, it’s been reduced by 16%.

As a result, the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 has slightly more usable screen space than previous versions while the 45mm has a 40% bigger screen. The display is also brighter than before, maxing out at 2,000 nits compared to just 1,000 nits on the Pixel Watch 2.

This makes it far easier to see in bright sunlight, especially when trying to view your workout stats while on the go. The Watch 3’s max brightness is a match with the Galaxy Watch 7 but not as bright as the Galaxy Watch Ultra.

The always-on display can now drop down to 1 nit to cause limited disruption in a dark environment, while the display refresh rate dynamically adjusts between 1 and 60Hz to benefit performance and power efficiency. Previous Pixel Watch models maxed out at a 30Hz refresh rate and the increase on the new model makes for a smoother overall visual experience.

Pixel Watch 3: Health and fitness features

Google says the Pixel Watch 3 has the company's most accurate heart rate sensor yet, though it's worth noting that this was already a strong point of the Pixel Watch lineup.

Still, the sensor's algorithm has been specifically tuned to deliver Google’s most precise running data ever, which now takes into account a user’s arm movement and ground contact time.

You also get new running form metrics, like, stride length, step cadence and vertical ratio. These join all the standard workout specs you’d expect, including calories burned, distance covered, pace, elevation gain, max and average heart rate, etc.

Full disclosure: I'm not much of a runner, though I do pound the pavement from time to time. Still, the new insights into form feel somewhat lost on me. That said, if Google were to offer a similar form analysis for cyclists or hikers, I’d be thrilled.

Nevertheless, I strapped on my best pair of trail running shoes and put the Pixel Watch 3’s running smarts to the test. What I discovered is that my stride length while running is roughly one meter, about average for someone my age and with my body type.

My step cadence, however, was quite low: 118 steps per minute. This is likely because when I do actually go for a run, I like to split my workout into short intervals that alternate between running and walking (more on that in a moment). My ground contact time, vertical ratio (how much height you get off each stride), and vertical oscillation (how much your torso moves up and down with each step) were all about average.

For what it’s worth, I asked several of my friends who enjoy running if these insights would appeal to them. While several said they’d be curious to wear the watch for a run and view their metrics, most had never even heard of stats like vertical oscillation. So, take that for what it’s worth.

You can also create custom running routines with different intervals and goals using Google’s new Build a Run feature. As noted, I like to alternate between walking and running, so I created a custom routine that incorporates both. When it’s time to switch, the Pixel Watch 3 lets you know via either an audio cue or haptic feedback on the wrist.

Additionally, you can set up the watch to alert you when you're falling behind pace on a run, a feature I’d love to see offered to cyclists as well. All of your running progress and performance details can be viewed in the new running dashboard in the Fitbit app, even without Fitbit Premium.

But Fitbit Premium does unlock Google AI daily running plans based on your recent performance and readiness, as well as exclusive workout content from Fitbit Premium trainers. Fitbit Premium costs $9.99/month or $79.99/year, but you'll get 6 months free when you set up your new Pixel Watch.

For the first time, the Readiness Score isn't locked behind Fitbit Premium, so all wearers get a daily rating based on activity and recovery needs. It’s worth noting, though, that accessing your Readiness Score requires seven consecutive nights of wearing the device to bed.

By comparison, Samsung’s newly debuted Energy score — which also ranges from one to 100 and is essentially the same in concept as Google’s Readiness measure — is accessible after just 24 hours with one of the latest Galaxy Watch devices on your wrist.

Google’s Target Load metric takes even more dedication to access: You need to wear the Pixel Watch 3 for 14 consecutive nights before this training tool, intended to help you maximize your workouts without overtraining or risking injury, kicks in.

A new Cardio Load score for Pixel Watch 3 owners lets you know how hard your heart is working while exercising, again, to prevent overtraining or straining your body. Unlike Target Load, it’s available within every workout report.

For example, I recently knocked out a fairly aggressive bike ride where I pushed myself harder than I normally do. This resulted in a Cardio Load score of 100, the highest you can get, which suggests I should probably take it easy for a day or two before taking another epic bike ride.

Maybe the watch just needs more time to calibrate to my body and workout routines, but that rating struck me as oddly high. Sure, the ride involved some steep hill climbs that I took on with more oomph than normal but it also lasted for just 45 minutes.

By the way, I also tested the accuracy of the Pixel Watch 3’s outdoor workout tracking performance against my go-to smartwatch, the Apple Watch SE (2022) and the data was almost a perfect match, including heart rate, distance, elevation, pace and speed metrics.

Pixel Watch 3 owners also get a new Morning Brief when they wake up containing their Readiness Score and exercise insights at a glance, along with details into sleep quality, training suggestions for the day and the current local weather conditions. However, if you don’t click on the report when it first appears, it seems to disappear into the ether, never to be viewed again.

Speaking of sleep, while there aren't any notable new sleep-tracking features, the Pixel Watch 3 introduces auto bedtime mode that automatically detects when you fall asleep to initiate an optimized UI. It'll conserve battery by disabling the always-on display and snooze notifications, too. Then, once awake, it'll return to normal programming.

Like the Pixel Watch 2, a daily sleep report provides details into your total time spent snoozing, various sleep stages, heart rate, variations in blood oxygen levels and restlessness. You also get a sleep score ranging from one to 100.

These insights are useful and seem more than accurate enough, but I still prefer Samsung’s sleep report to Google’s because it tells you things like whether or not you were observed snoring and how your skin temperature changed throughout the night. You also get details into your respiratory rate while sleeping, along with sleep apnea detection, something you won’t find on the Pixel Watch 3.

Finally, the Samsung Health app does a better job than the Fitbit app at tying all of your sleep data together. It does this through AI-generated tips and insights to help users best understand both nightly their metrics and long-term trends. However, to get these insights, you also need to own one of the latest Samsung phones.

Pixel Watch 3: Smartwatch features

A big reason we like the Pixel Watch 3 is that it's not just a fitness tracker, it's a device that's deeply integrated with a large collection of Google apps. As with the Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch, the Pixel Watch performs best when it's integrated with its own company's services.

It helps that Wear OS 5 for Android watches was developed by Google, too (even though Wear OS 5 debuted on the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra). While the Pixel Watch already had great apps for Google Maps, YouTube Music, Google Home and Google Wallet, the latest version takes things a step further.

Now, you'll be able to view security camera feeds directly on your wrist — like the Nest Cam (battery), and even answer the doorbell. The watch can also act as a Google TV remote, letting you control what you're watching if you're not sure where the physical remote is at the moment.

The Pixel Recorder app comes to the watch, so you can record voice memos that'll sync directly to your Pixel phone. Meanwhile, offline Google Maps is now available on the wrist.

Plus, the addition of an Ultra-wideband allows the Pixel Watch 3 to control other tech, not just Google products. For example, owners of compatible BMW and Mini vehicles will be able to lock, unlock and start their cars right from the wrist. I'm told that any of the above models with support for BMW Digital Key Plus should play nicely with the Pixel Watch 3. No word yet on whether partnerships with other automakers are also in the works.

Finally, the Watch 3 introduces a new and first-of-its-kind Loss of Pulse Detection feature that works similarly to fall detection, alerting loved ones or emergency rescue personnel if the safety feature is triggered. Unavailable at launch for U.S. customers, Google received FDA approval for Loss of Pulse Detection in February 2025 with a late March rollout.

However, the health-monitoring tool is already available in 14 countries, including the United Kingdom and most major European markets.

Pixel Watch 3: Battery life

When Google first announced the Pixel Watch 3, we were told to expect only slight battery life improvements, except for when using power-save mode, where the device is promised to last up to 36 hours. However, under normal usage conditions, Google set our expectations at 24 hours per charge, about the same as the Pixel Watch 2 (and Galaxy Watch 7).

Well, from my testing, Google was right on the money with those battery life claims when it comes to the Pixel Watch 3 in 41mm but way off when it comes to the larger 45mm models. I consistently was able to wear the bigger watch for up to 48 hours before needing to top it off with a charge.

And it’s not like I went easy on the device. The 45mm model accompanied me on my daily workouts, tracking my location with GPS for roughly 45 minutes per day, monitored my nightly sleep, and joined me on both errand runs and daily walks a day with my pup. The only time I took it off was while punching the keyboard at my desk for a few hours a day while writing for you, my dear readers.

I also used the Pixel Watch 3 to stream music via Spotify while on the go, consult Google Maps, check in on email and more. No matter how much I messed around with the device, it never once died before the 48-hour mark. That’s darn impressive.

By comparison, the $649 Samsung Galaxy Ultra is the only other full-featured Android smartwatch with 48 hours or more of longevity.

The Pixel Watch 3 additionally charges up to 20% faster than the Pixel Watch 2. From my testing, it takes a little over an hour to hit 100% when battery life is under 15%. For the fastest charging possible, make sure you have the watch connected to a 30W adapter.

Should you buy the Google Pixel Watch 3?

Starting at $349 for the smaller model without LTE, the latest Pixel Watch 3 is a full $50 pricier than its Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 equivalent, which offers similar features, specs and battery life.

Compared to last year’s 41mm Pixel Watch 2, the latest 41mm version boasts a better screen, new health tools/metrics, and greater compatibility with other tech, but not much else. Those hoping for notable battery life improvements will be let down by the smaller Pixel Watch 3.

On the other hand, the larger 45mm Pixel Watch 3 — which starts at $50 more than the 41mm model — is not only worth the upgrade but is also my new favorite Android wearable by a wide margin. Unlike the chunky, pricey Galaxy Watch Ultra, the Pixel Watch 3 in 45mm feels great on the wrist. More importantly, it lasts just as long as Samsung’s Apple Watch Ultra knockoff... I mean, competitor.

Ultimately, the Google Pixel Watch 3 in 45mm represents an ideal balance between wearability and screen size, even if I’m not the biggest fan of its rounded and still somewhat excessively sized bezel.

Beyond that, it’s also the first non-rugged, full-featured smartwatch I’m aware of to blow past the 24-hour battery life mark. That alone makes it worthy of praise and perhaps your hard-earned money.

One of the biggest benefits to buying a smartwatch these days is personal safety. Sure, smartwatches are great for staying active and connected, but modern smartwatches are capable of getting you help when you might need it most. Take the Google Pixel Watch, for example.

The Google Pixel Watch 2 is one of the best smartwatches currently available in the Android market, and it’s hands-down the best smartwatch for Google Pixel smartphone users. But as with any device or gadget, knowing about all the available features is essential to making the most of your experience. Although the Pixel Watch’s safety tools might not seem necessary on a daily basis, users actually have important tools at their disposal. And according to Google, these features have already had a positively impact,

“With smartwatches, the ability to call emergency services and send location, we do see that users are turning to their devices for help in emergency situations,” said Edward Shi, product manager on Google’s Safety Team. “Our mission is to help users feel and be safe with Google and their smart devices, that’s definitely top of mind for us.”

Not every smartwatch is built the same in terms of safety features. Fall Detection is perhaps one of the more standard features you’d find, but some companies like Google have invested in detecting more sophisticated accidents, like car crashes. 

“It takes a lot of testing and making sure you’re thinking of different scenarios the user might be in when it comes to any safety situation — to make sure that the features we’re delivering are helpful in the situation and we never want them to get in the way of a user getting help,” Shi said. "Taking those things into account is where the nuances lie when developing safety features on smartwatches.”

When it comes to the Pixel Watch 2 specifically, there are three core safety features in conversation. Here’s what they are, and how they all work: 

Safety Check

Announced alongside the Pixel Watch 2, Safety Check can be found within the Personal Safety app within Wear OS 4 and used to keep your friends and family clued into your whereabouts. You can create a Safety Check by choosing an activity, such as walking home, and setting a duration of your activity anywhere from 15 minutes to 8 hours. If you don’t confirm you’re safe by the time the Safety Check expires, your emergency contacts will be notified and sent your location. You can see it in action here.

“Safety Check is a little bit different from our other safety features since it can be used on a more frequent basis,” said Shi. “The motivation was listening to users who mentioned, ‘I may not necessarily be in an emergency at this particular moment, but there’s a heightened sense or possibility that something could happen, and I just want a safety net to be there.”

In the Personal Safety app and at the end of the the Safety Check, there’s also an option to call emergency services directly for help. Shi said that altogether, Safety Check has received “great user feedback,” elaborating that users may feel more empowered to go enjoy outdoor activities alone knowing that their device is watching out for them.

Fall Detection

Fall Detection uses the motion sensor on your Pixel Watch or Pixel Watch 2 in conjunction with a machine learning-trained algorithm that runs consistently in the background. If the algorithm detects a fall based on the motion sensor’s signature, it’ll wait for about 30 seconds to see if you get moving again. If it was more than a little stumble and you’re still motionless, the watch will begin a 60-second timer. 

During the timer, users can either indicate that they need help or that they’re OK. But, in the instance where a user doesn’t engage with their watch, emergency services will automatically be called and sent to their location. We would strongly suggest enabling Fall Detection in the Personal Safety app, so that your Pixel Watch is prepared to help you in situations where you fall, even if it’s during a bike ride. 

“Every type of fall is a little bit different,” Shi said, speaking to the process of testing Fall Detection for different scenarios. “We have to anticipate, if you were to fall from a bicycle, what would that fall look like? What does that signature from a motion sensor look like? What our team does is actually simulate these falls with professional stuntmen to make sure our algorithm is tuned properly.”

Car Crash Detection

Available only for Pixel Watch 2, Car Crash Detection works similarly to Fall Detection in that if your watch’s motion sensors detect a potential collision, a countdown will start during which you can say you’re fine or call for help. If you don’t respond within 60 seconds, emergency services will be called for you. Car Crash Detection alerts also bypass Do Not Disturb and Bedtime mode for the best chance at getting you help.  

“We actually go to facilities and crash cars, so we make sure that it can actually detect the crash,” Shi said, adding that the team also tests the device’s response on rollercoasters to learn the difference and prevent accidental triggers.

“We’re confident in terms of the considerations and deliberateness of what we do, and the diligence of our testing so that we’re testing for the scenarios that we think we can detect, Shi said. “We’re always trying to see how we can make the biggest impact on users.”

Great deals can be hard to come by, especially if you’re in the market for any of the Google Pixel products. However, you may be in luck, as Google has just dropped a bunch of awesome deals on its Pixel Watch, Pixel Buds Pro and more. 

Slashing almost 50% off RRP, right now the Google Pixel Watch is only AU$224. Typically, the smartwatch retails for AU$449 for the Bluetooth-only model, so you’ll save AU$225 — what a bargain!

To top it off, there are some massive savings on Google’s Pixel earbuds and phones too, with a whopping discount of AU$120 off Pixel Buds Pro models, and AU$200 off the standard Pixel 8!

The Google Store has a complete list of discounted offers and holiday deals currently available, but you better get in quick — these Google Pixel deals are available while supplies last. 

Google has just announced a slew of major AI updates, including the launch of the new Gemini AI model — designed for Bard and mobile devices. But that’s not the only AI-themed announcements Google has for us, because existing Pixel devices will also be getting some AI-infused upgrades.

This is all coming as part of a new feature drop, which begins rolling out to Pixel phones, tablets and smartwatches today. But while Gemini is more about generative AI, these features are focused on productivity and customization — refining what your devices can already do.

Video Boost and Night Sight Timelapse 

The most important part of this feature drop is the launch of Video Boost on Pixel 8 Pro. This was announced alongside the phone, but was one of the features that wouldn’t be available at launch. Now it’s on the way, and involves uploading your video to one of Google’s cloud servers, where your video is subject to more powerful computational photography than Tensor G3 can offer all by itself.

The idea is that color, lighting and stabilization are improved, while graininess is reduced — all to try and make your videos true to life. Video Boost also enables Night Sight video, which improves video shot in low-light by reducing noise while enhancing video and color.

Google is also adding a Night Sight in Timelapse mode to Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. This promises to record “vibrant, detailed timelapse videos in low light” — just as long as your phone has a steady surface or tripod to rest on.

Upgraded AI photo editing and new tablet features

Portrait Light in Google Photos will be benefiting from a new AI model that can balance light, remove harsh shadows and generally improve portrait photos. The best part is that this can be used on new and old photos. Photo Unblur is also getting an upgrade, boosting its ability to sharpen images of dogs and cats — which is perfect considering both animals can be difficult to keep still.

Speaking of photos, Pixel Fold owners will now be able to show a preview of whatever they’re photographing on the exterior display. Though it’ll only really be useful for taking pictures of people, since they can see and adapt to the preview in front of them. 

Google Assistant’s Call Screen feature is now smarter too, and can now suggest contextual replies that offers you the chance to respond in an appropriate way without actually having to take the call. The Pixel Watch is also getting support for Call Screen, letting you see what’s going on without getting your phone out.

If you’re a Pixel Tablet owner, know that you’re getting a boost to audio and video calls too. This includes Clear Calling, an AI-powered system that offers optimal speech quality on video calls and support for Spatial Audio. This works through the tablet's speaker, or spatial audio-compatible headphones like the Pixel Buds Pro.

Squeaky clean scans and more 

The Pixel Fold, alongside Pixel 6 and newer devices will also be able to connect to laptops and desktops to function as a webcam. This was previously available in the Android 14 beta, but is now rolling out to all Pixels. No word on whether other Androids will get the same treatment.

Smartphones are a solid, albeit imperfect way to replace your home scanner — which often has an awful printer attached to it. Pixels are now getting a new “Clean” feature which will remove smudges, stains and creases from scanned documents to ensure they look a little more presentable.

Google’s smartwatch will likewise be getting the ability to unlock your Pixel phone when it’s nearby for all the occasions you don’t have the option to use one of the many other ways to unlock the phone.

On a separate note, Google’s Password manager will also be able to detect which accounts support passkeys and help you set them up. Repair Mode will also keep your personal data locked away and preserved when you need to send your phone to be repaired.

The Recorder app now supports transcription in 28 languages, while Direct My Call and Hold for Me are expanding to both the U.K. and business numbers without a toll-free prefix.

Finally the World Clock app now features weather conditions both in-app and on widgets. The first gen Pixel Watch has a bunch of new watch faces to choose from and will be able to sync Do Not Disturb and Bedtime Modes from one device to the other — just like Pixel Watch 2.

So if you have a Pixel Tablet, a Pixel Watch or a Pixel 6 and above, be on the lookout for this update. Because you may want to check out all this cool stuff for yourself as soon as you can.

More from Tom's Guide

• Should you buy Samsung Galaxy S23 now or wait for Galaxy S24?
• Forget iPhone 16 — Apple’s getting ready for an iPhone with an under-display camera
• Google's bringing Ultra HDR and other features to Pixel 7 and Pixel 6 — what you need to know

The Google Pixel Watch 3 could be controlled by gestures instead of buttons if a newly-founded Google patent (via Wareable) comes to fruition in time.

Detailed within the "Gesture recognition on watch bezel using strain gauges" patent is a concept for a watch operated by swipes, presses and squeezes on the casing rather than a combination of the display and external buttons. The benefit of these controls, the patent explains, is that they stop the user from having to touch the screen as much, which means blocking out parts of the display with whichever finger you're using for navigation.

It goes on to note that external controls like buttons, crowns and bezels are practical, but can cause manufacturing complications, make waterproofing the watch more difficult, or just spoil the look of the device. However, we can't help but wonder how easy it is to repair or replace one of these internal sensors if it's broken, compared to the relative ease of swapping out a broken button.

This idea reminds us of older Google phones like the Pixel 4, where you could squeeze the phone's sides to activate Google Assistant. This patent sounds more complicated, but the fact that there's precedent here makes this idea feel more likely to appear on a future Google Pixel Watch.

The Pixel Watch needs a big update like this

We like the latest Google smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 2, but it is, unfortunately, very similar to the original Pixel Watch from 2022, with no big external changes. Moving to a buttonless design instead of one based on a scrolling crown would certainly be a big upgrade, but we'd rather Google address other criticisms of the Pixel Watch, such as it offering only one size, and not featuring wireless charging.

Patents don't guarantee a company's going to use an idea, but it can be an indicator of a future direction. Perhaps it's too late to add this to the Pixel Watch 3, which we assume will arrive in fall of 2024, but a future Pixel Watch will be able to use the idea from this patent and gain a higher spot on our best smartwatch rankings as a result.

More from Tom's Guide

• iPhone vs. Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses: which is best for vacation photos?
• iOS 17 has added crossword puzzles — here’s how to find them
• OnePlus Open vs Google Pixel Fold 7-round face-off — here’s the winner

Want to kit your wrist out with some new tech bling? Black Friday sales season is the time to do so. And the deals are getting started early this year, with a bunch of reductions on some of the best smartwatches we've reviewed.

There are some seriously huge deals going on right now, especially if you opt for previous-gen models. The Apple Watch SE 2020 (LTE/44mm) is $109 at Walmart right now, which is $240 off and an incredible price for an Apple smartwatch. It's a couple of years old now, but it can still run the current version of Apple's smartwatch operating system, WatchOS 10. Just hurry, as I doubt this deal will stick around for long.

In addition, the Google Pixel Watch is $199 at Amazon right now. Again, this is a last-gen smartwatch but it's still an excellent companion to your Android smartphone with tons of useful health tracking features and full Fitbit integration. It's $150 off and its lowest price ever right now.

There are plenty more smartwatch deals to be found, so keep scrolling for my top picks. If you're looking for more bargains, check out our Black Friday Apple deals coverage.

Early Black Friday Smartwatch deals — Quick links

• Apple Watch SE 2020 (LTE/44mm): was $349 now $109 @ Walmart
• Google Pixel Watch (Wi-Fi): was $349 now $199 @ Amazon
• Apple Watch SE 2022 (GPS/40mm): was $249 now $219 @ Amazon
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (GPS/40mm): was $299 now $269 @ Amazon
• Apple Watch 8 (GPS/41mm): was $399 now $319 @ Amazon
• Apple Watch 9 (GPS/41mm): was $399 now $389 @ Amazon
• Apple Watch Ultra 2 (LTE/49mm): was $799 now $774 @ Amazon

Early Black Friday Smartwatch deals — Top deals now

Good news for original Pixel Watch owners disappointed Google released a second-generation wearable just 12 months after its release. The company has announced that Wear OS 4 is rolling out to the first-gen smartwatch, and it’s bringing a bunch of the features previously exclusive to the Pixel Watch 2 with it.

“All supported Pixel Watch devices running Wear OS 3.5 will receive the October 2023 software with the Wear OS 4 upgrade starting today,” wrote Stefanie Frederick, Social and Community Manager for Devices and Services at Google. “The rollout will continue over the coming weeks in phases depending on carrier and device.”

When your update is ready, you’ll get a notification on your watch, giving you access to the new features that Pixel Watch 2 users are already enjoying.

What’s coming to Pixel Watch with Wear OS 4?

The most useful of these are the Google Calendar apps, and the introduction of Safety Check, which is a thoughtful and well-implemented feature that could literally be a life-saver. If you’re engaging in something risky — walking home alone after a night out, say — the watch can automatically send your GPS coordinates and a message to your emergency contacts if you don’t confirm you’re safe when a timer of your choice expires.

Wear OS 4 also comes with the ability to transfer your Pixel Watch data to a new phone without a factory reset, and lets you backup wearable data and settings when you’re ready to upgrade to a newer model.

Accessibility has been improved with “a new text-to-speech engine supporting a faster, a more reliable TalkBack experience on your watch, bold text, new and improved magnification, and audio balance to adjust intensity of sound between right and left audio channels”.

Finally, Pixel Watch 1 owners will get improved notifications with “smart link recognition of phone numbers and addresses”. This means you can tap them to call, message or get directions. Images and GIFs will now also appear as media previews within the notification panel. 

Close, but not a Pixel Watch 2

This is a very welcome upgrade for Pixel Watch owners, but it doesn’t bring total parity with the Pixel Watch 2. 

For one thing, there’s one safety feature that hasn’t been brought across to the original wearable: Safety Signal. Available on the Pixel Watch 2 with a Fitbit Premium sub, it lets wearers connect to LTE networks in emergencies, even without a carrier plan. This appears to be intentional, as the original Pixel Watch isn’t listed on the feature’s support page. 

More fundamentally, though the two wearables look similar, the Pixel Watch 2 has a big internal upgrade over the original model. 

The first-generation Pixel Watch used the Exynos 9110 — a chipset that was four years old on release day and isn’t looking any more sprightly today. The Pixel Watch 2, meanwhile, uses last year’s Qualcomm SW5100, which is just a year old and offers nippier performance and better efficiency to ensure the watch lives up to its all-day battery life promise.

In her four star Pixel Watch 2 review, wearable expert Kate Kozuch called it “a big improvement for wellness tracking,” commenting that it “feels more like a Fitbit in a lot of ways.” But she found the lack of sizing options and the persistence of thick bezels an annoyance that kept it from a full-throated endorsement.

“If I had to guess, I think next year will be a big year for Google's smartwatch, with the types of upgrades that directly challenge the Galaxy Watch, maybe even the Apple Watch,” she concluded.

More from Tom's Guide

• Google Pixel 8 vs Google Pixel 7 — all the biggest upgrades
• 5 wireless earbuds mistakes you're probably making
• Google Pixel Buds Pro just got a huge upgrade with Bluetooth Super Wide Band

If you have an Android phone then the Pixel Watch is a great smartwatch option. Yes, Google may have announced the Pixel Watch 2 with a faster processor and more health sensors, but the original Pixel Watch remains a great Android smartwatch packed with tons of useful health and fitness tracking features.

And right now you can get it at a massive discount. During Prime Big Deal Days, you can get the Google Pixel Watch for just $209 at Amazon. That's $140 off and easily the lowest price we've ever seen for Google's first-generation smartwatch. But hurry — this Cinderella deal may turn into a pumpkin at midnight when Amazon's sale event ends.

The Google Pixel Watch was one of the best smartwatches on the market when it launched. It's since been replaced by the Google Pixel Watch 2 but it remains an excellent option if you own an Android phone.

In our Google Pixel Watch review, we raved about the Pixel Watch's sleek design. It looks simple, but it's versatile enough to wear anywhere from daily wear to a big event, to date night or even just a night out. The dark watch faces help hide the somewhat large bezels, and the digital crown and side button make navigating the watch easier.

If you're tied into Google's ecosystem, you'll appreciate the functionality of Wear OS. The Pixel Watch has support for all of Google's major apps and services built-in — Google Pay, Google Calendar, YouTube Music and more are all present and accounted for. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is great, but it doesn't get the same Google-first treatment that the Pixel Watch does.

We also love that the Pixel Watch gets Fitbit health-tracking integration. That means Pixel Watch can track more than 40 workout types, count your steps and continuously track your heart rate. GPS and Active Zone Minutes tracking are also included, and the watch can take ECGs. You even get a 6-month subscription to Fitbit Premium free with this watch (usually $9.99/month), which gets you access to more advanced health tracking features like Daily Readiness Score and sleep tracking analysis.

The only slight downside to this watch is its battery life. We got 24 hours of battery life out of our unit in our tests, but turning GPS on drains the battery pretty quickly. The watch takes about an hour to charge up from dead to full, so it doesn't take too long to top it up if you're running low on battery.

The Google Pixel Watch is a great smartwatch so grab this incredible deal before it disappears. And for all the latest sales as Prime Day winds to a close, check out our last-minute Prime Day deals live blog.

I've been eagerly awaiting the Google Pixel Watch 2's arrival. In fact, I was perhaps equally as eager as I was ahead of the first-generation Pixel Watch's announcement last year. And while the new Pixel Watch 2 excites with a fresh slate of features across-the-board, I couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed that it didn't address the biggest complaint I faced with the original.

As was the case with the Google Pixel Watch, there is only one size option for the Pixel Watch 2: 41mm. For many of the best smartwatches, including the Apple Watch Series 9 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 announced earlier this year, 41mm (or a close equivalent) is the smaller of two size options. 

Multiple size options accommodates what I think is a necessary choice for shoppers, no matter if that choice is based on comfort or personal preference. Yes, you can choose your color and watch band for the Google Pixel Watch 2. You can also customize your watch face with certain complications to your liking. But none of these personalizations matter if you think the watch is too small for you.

Larger smartwatch sizes come at a premium, of course. With the Pixel Watch 2 priced at $349 for the Wi-Fi only model and $399 for the LTE-equipped model (though there are preorder deals to consider), Google would've had to adjust its pricing tiers if there was a second size in the mix. Perhaps the company wants to keep the watch's top price under $400 to stay competitive. For obvious reasons, I can't determine the true motivation. 

Look, I happen to thinnk the 41mm Pixel Watch 2 looked great on my wrist when I tried it in a hands-on demo following the Made by Google presentation. It suited my somewhat-petite wrist size well. However, my vision isn't perfect, and I did have to hold the watch closer to my face than I'd like to actually read what was on screen. For this reason, I tend to opt for the larger smartwatch options when available, even if it does cost more money. 

Is this a Pixel Watch 2 dealbreaker?

For a while now, I've been of the belief that a bigger screen makes smartwatches more usable. We're not yet at the point of them replacing our phones, but the more you can comfortably accomplish from your wrist the more reason there is to be a smartwatch user. If Google is hoping to introduce Pixel phone users to a smartwatch experience with maximum potential, it'd be smart to think big — or at least bigger.

That said, unless you truly know you have a size preference for your smartwatch, I wouldn't consider it a dealbreaker. I've seen people with all sorts of wrists sizes enjoying the original Pixel Watch, after all. And now with upgrades to performance, safety features wellness tracking, battery life and more, there's an even greater reason to make the Pixel Watch 2 your next smartwatch.

The Google Pixel Watch 2 has officially arrived, introducing upgrades that further solidify Google’s efforts in the wearable market.

While Google Pixel Watch had a lot to offer as a first-generation device, the Pixel Watch 2 looks to build on its success. It once again leverages Fitbit health-tracking features, but now gets the stress-detection sensor featured in the Fitbit Sense 2. An upgraded heart rate sensors and convenient workout tools double down on Google's fitness efforts, too.

What's more, an improved processor promises zippier Wear OS performance and a battery life that can actually last 24 hours with the always-on display mode enabled. The watch is also lighter than before, and although the display bezels are still pretty chunky, the glass is slimmer and the watch therefore sits more flush on the wrist.

In several ways, it seems like the Pixel Watch 2 made key changes to keep up with the best smartwatches. But there still could be ways in which the Pixel Watch still needs to catch up to other Android smartwatches. Either way, now that it's here, this is what you'll want to know. 

Google Pixel Watch 2 price and release date

The Google Pixel Watch 2 is available for pre-order starting October 4, alongside the Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Pro. The official release date is October 12. 

As for price, the Pixel Watch 2 costs $349 for the Wi-Fi model and $399 for the LTE-compatible version. The latter model lets you stay connected when you're out and about without your phone, though you'll need to set up a plan with your mobile carrier for an additional fee.

For comparison, the Pixel Watch 2 price lands between the Apple Watch Series 9 ($399 starting price) and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 ($299 starting price).

Google Pixel Watch 2 design

The Google Pixel Watch 2 design is very similar to the first-generation Pixel Watch design, just based on initial looks. It still only comes in a single, 41mm size and features a circular display with rather thick bezels.

But now the watch casing is made of 100% recycled aluminum, dropping the weight from 36 grams (1.27 ounces) on the original to 31 grams (1.1 ounces). The glass screen is also thinner, slimming down the watch slightly. Apparently the digital crown is a bit easier to move, too. 

In terms of color options, the Pixel Watch 2 is available in matte black aluminum, polished silver, and gold aluminum. All choices come with an active band with soft-touch coating. Alternatively, you can choose from a new selection of metal slim bands launching alongside the Pixel Watch 2.

Google Pixel Watch 2 health tracking features

Although the original Pixel Watch launched with a big emphasis on health tracking, Google is doubling-down on its Fitbit integration with a number of wellness-minded upgrades for the Pixel Watch 2. For one, it has a new multi-path heart rate sensor that promises to be up to 40% more accurate thanks to the addition of more LEDs and photodiodes.

There's also new cEDA (continuous electrodermal activity) sensor carried over from the Fitbit Sense 2. The cEDA reader can pick up on subtle changes in your heart rate, skin temperature and even skin moisture to detect when you're having a quick change in mood. You'll (optionally) be prompted to log your feelings and take action if deemed necessary. 

For workout tracking, there's now greater convenience built-in with automatic workout tracking. The Pixel Watch 2 can identify when you've initiated 7 different workouts types, as well as automatically pause the workout when you're stopped moving. When it thinks you're done exercising, it'll prompt you to end the activity as well. 

Other welcome features include pace training and heart rate zone tracking during workouts. Hopefully these features aren't paywalled by a Fitbit Premium membership. That said, Fitbit Premium does have some worthwhile features such as a Daily Readiness Score and Sleep Profiles. 

Google Pixel Watch 2 performance and software

The second-generation Pixel Watch dropped the Samsung Exynos 9110 in favor of the more modern Qualcomm Snapdragon W5100. This processor promises snappier performance. Some users with the first model complained the watch could be more responsive, so it'll be interesting to see whether the upgraded chipset makes a difference.

The Google Pixel Watch 2 comes loaded with Wear OS 4, the latest software version of Google's Android-compatible smartwatch platform. In addition to basic apps for things like the weather and timers, the watch comes outfitted with more operational Google apps than you'll find on any other smartwatch.

New for the Pixel Watch 2 are upgraded Gmail and Google Calendar apps, while Google Assistant on the wrist can now handle health and fitness prompts. Plus, a new "At a Glance" watch face complication arrives to deliver relevant information at times you need it. 

Google Pixel Watch 2 safety features

The Google Pixel Watch 2 seems to prioritize safety with two new ways to get help when you might need it most. While the watch already had the essential Fall Detection tool (even if it came in a later update) it now has a feature called Safety Check. You can enable Safety Check to track your location In certain scenarios, and if you don't respond when your watch asks you to confirm if you're OK, Emergency Sharing will kick in. This means your emergency contacts will be alerted of your location.

Safety Signal is another new safety feature. It sounds like Emergency SOS on the Apple Watch, where you can connect to emergency services even without an LTE plan should you need help urgently.

Google Pixel Watch 2 battery life

The battery life on the Pixel Watch 2 gets a bump, though it's a bit odd to consider It a true upgrade. The original Pixel Watch could only last 24 hours with the always-on display turned off. Now, Google says you can leave the AOD enabled and still get a day's worth of juice. While it's not quite the boost we hoped for, at least now you'll be able to use the display feature without compromising.

Google Pixel Watch 2 outlook

The Google Pixel Watch 2 seems to make some meaningful upgrades, though it's too soon to say whether they'll truly make the new watch feel like a step up from the original. Some of our key pain points of the first Pixel Watch weren't truly addressed, though the new health and safety features are certainly welcome.