The Pixel Watch 4 is getting some life-saving new features — here’s what’s coming

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.

Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.

More from Tom's Guide

• 5 Samsung TV settings to change for the best possible picture
• I tried these TikTok-recommended headphones that protect your child's hearing — and so did my kid — here's our verdict
• Amazon's epic Winter Sale is still going strong — here's 35 deals I'm shopping this weekend