Google’s New Pixel Watch 4 Is the Most Stylish Smartwatch in Town
In my opinion, Google’s Pixel Watch has always been the most stylish smartwatch on the market. The rounded face feels more realistic and comfortable than the square one on the Apple Watch, and the minimalist design feels more tech-savvy than the Galaxy Watch. This year, Google is upping the ante with a new domed display and a new charger that allows the watch to stand upright when docked. And of course, it’s more powerful and has more advanced AI integration.
New dome display
The Pixel Watch 4 is an upgraded version of the Pixel Watch, which stands out from previous models thanks to its raised dome display, which adds a three-dimensional feel to the watch face. The screen now juts out slightly and slopes down at the sides, which Google says increases screen real estate by 10% and reduces bezels by 16%. The device is still 12.3mm thick, though, so you won’t have to worry about the new screen being bulky or accidentally brushing against walls.
Overall, this is a pretty cool change. Large bezels are a constant problem with round dials, and in my opinion, any measure that can help solve this problem is worth it.
If you’re not convinced by the new design, there’s another benefit. The new display is also much brighter than the old one, with a maximum brightness of 3,000 nits instead of 2,000. That might be overkill for most, but with smartwatch screens this small, even a small increase in visibility is a plus.
More powerful chips and a better battery
In addition to the new display, the Pixel Watch 4 also gets a number of internal improvements. These include new chips that, when combined with a new, larger battery, should improve the device’s performance.
Specifically, the Pixel Watch 4 uses a Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 main processor and a Cortex-M55 coprocessor. Both processors are a generational improvement over the Pixel Watch 3. While they won’t run the latest and greatest smartphone apps, the idea is that they’ll work together to deliver faster stat tracking and more efficient use of on-device AI while using less power. Specifically, Google is claiming 25% faster performance and 50% lower power consumption.
Speaking of power, the Pixel Watch 4 has a larger battery in both sizes available: 455mAh for the 45mm model and 325mAh for the 41mm model. Google promises 25% more battery life in both models: 40 hours total for the 45mm version and 30 hours for the 41mm, or two to three days in battery saver mode. For the first time, the battery is now also replaceable. Google will perform the repair for you if you have warranty, or you can buy a replacement battery from Google and do it yourself. The company says it will sell replacement batteries for five years after the Pixel Watch 4 reaches the end of its life, and that the replacement process does not require glue or heat. The screens will also be replaceable.
Upgraded charger
As someone who’s used to using their phone as an alarm clock, I really appreciate this change. Google has redesigned the Pixel Watch 4’s charger so that it sits vertically. This makes it easy to set it on your bedside table and quickly check the time, battery life, time left on charge, and alarms you’ve set. The new charger is also supposed to be 25% faster, which is especially helpful for those times when you forget to charge your watch overnight. The catch? Previous Pixel Watch chargers, including third-party ones, won’t work with the Pixel Watch 4.
Satellite communications
While bothApple and Google already offer Emergency SOS modes on their smartwatches, both require an active internet or Wi-Fi connection. The Pixel Watch 4 is the first smartwatch to let you contact emergency services directly via satellite, which should give you more peace of mind when you’re out and about. Google says the feature is free for the first two years after activation, but may not be available “in all countries, regions, or circumstances.” The company hasn’t yet said how much Emergency SOS via satellite will cost after the initial two-year period, nor has it said that due to hardware limitations, Emergency SOS via satellite will only work on the LTE model of the phone (though again, you won’t need a data plan to use it).
While we’re on the topic of safety features, the lost pulse detection feature also returns to the Pixel Watch 4 after debuting in the U.S. on the Pixel Watch 3 earlier this year. With it, if your smartphone detects a heart attack or other cardiac event, it will sound an alarm and contact emergency services (if you’re able and don’t need help, you can turn off the alarm and call before that). While there aren’t any stories of this feature saving someone’s life just yet, it’s still relatively new. Note that lost pulse detection is a paid feature, so you’ll need to enable it in the Pixel Watch app under Safety & Emergencies .
Likewise, the Safety Check feature returns, allowing you to set a timer that will automatically notify pre-selected emergency contacts of your location if the timer expires without your intervention. The Emergency Sharing feature also allows you to share your location with your emergency contacts, but only upon request. As expected, the traditional Google features are also present : fall detection and car crash detection .
New AI
Despite the impressive new display on the Pixel Watch 4, since smartwatches don’t use particularly powerful processors, it can sometimes be hard to notice hardware upgrades in new generations. That’s why Google is also pushing built-in AI as a reason to buy its latest watches.
Perhaps the most useful new AI feature is activity recognition. Instead of having to select a workout on the watch before you start, the watch automatically recognizes your activity and records it in the Fitbit app. Whereas previously this feature was only available for simple activities like running, it can now be as detailed as a tennis match. Google warned me that it might take a few manual entries before the watch learns to recognize it, but overall it should be a nice touch.
However, if you feel the need to argue with your AI, you can use the Pixel Watch’s new Raise and Talk feature to directly communicate with Gemini and ask it questions like, “When is my hotel reservation?” or task it with simple tasks like creating your own playlist or setting an alarm.
Google also says that Gemini on the watch can be used as a fitness trainer, pulling in data from the Fitbit app, though how much data you’ll have access to will depend on your Fitbit plan . The company will have more details on that in October, including how often other devices will be able to use the trainer.
When it comes to communicating with other people, instead of relying on AI, your Pixel Watch 4 will also be able to use its new coprocessor to send “more contextual” smart replies. This will, Google says, let you respond to text messages more quickly using just the watch, by tapping on the appropriate AI response. This could be useful in emergencies, although I personally wouldn’t want to think that my friends are constantly forwarding my messages to a robot. As a bonus, for the sake of privacy, the smart reply model is entirely on the watch. Google also told me that you should get smart replies more often.
In this regard, Google also says that the Pixel Watch 4 has an improved motor and a sharper speaker, resulting in 15% clearer haptic feedback and better audio quality when talking to Gemini.
Prices and availability
The Pixel Watch 4 costs the same as the Pixel Watch 3: $350 for the 41mm version and $400 for the 45mm version. The 45mm model comes in black, silver, and moonstone (a bluish-gray color), while the 41mm model comes in black, silver, and gold. The watch bands are interchangeable between models, though the default band color depends on the color of your watch (black watches get a black band, silver watches get beige or blue, gold watches get lime green, and moonstone watches get navy blue).
The Pixel Watch 4 is available for pre-order today and will be available on October 9.