Apple Watch 10 vs Pixel Watch 4 — Which Smartwatch Wins?

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

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