Google’s Pixel Watch series has, at first glance, only evolved slightly in its various generations. But the latest Pixel Watch 4 is a bit more than meets the eye, and it’s also the smartwatch that Google has always wanted.
Hardware |
A familiar look disguises a stunning display
The Pixel Watch 4 looks exactly like its predecessor. That’s just the truth, and I don’t think it’s a bad thing. While I still have durability nightmares from scratching my first-gen Pixel Watch, I’ve really come to love the look and feel of Google’s droplet-esque design. It fits just as well in a dressy occasion as it does in more active environments, and is pretty comfortable to use in terms of button placement.
It’s only when you use the Pixel Watch 4 that you really notice what’s new, and that’s the display.
Google’s new “Actua 360” display pushes the bezels to be a little smaller, which is always nice, but the big change is that the entire display is domed rather than just being a flat panel under some curved glass.
It’s stunning.
The 3D effect that comes from looking at a convex display that literally comes out towards you is not something I ever expected to like, but have really come to love over my time with the Pixel Watch 4. On both the 41mm model as well as the 45mm size I’ve been using, the display just has this subtle punch forward. It’s an effect that’s not only basically impossible to capture in a picture, but one that truly can’t be described properly. You have to see this in person.
The obvious concern, then, is whether or not this curve is distracting or out of place. At first, every time I looked at the display I noticed this effect, but it waned a bit with time. At this point, I still notice the curve at times, but it mostly feels “normal.” The best comparison I can think of is a curved monitor. When you first switch from what you previously used, it can be a little jarring, but it feels normal over time
The display itself is excellent, being as sharp as ever and noticeably brighter than past generations, though only marginally so over the Pixel Watch 3 in most scenarios. The added brightness does help with the reflections from the domed glass.
At this point, I’ve fully transitioned over the 45mm Pixel Watch size, as much as I hate to give up my band collection from the 41mm model. The bigger display just provides so much more space for notifications and previews that it outweighs the comfort I preferred about the smaller model. Your preferences should absolutely be considered in which model you want to get, but I personally think the 45mm size is the most optimal.
Notably, as Abner pointed out in our 41mm Pixel Watch 4 review, I also noticed that bands were a little harder to connect on Pixel Watch 4 versus prior generations. It’s very minor, but some bands get slightly caught and need a bit more force to latch in place.
It only took four generations to figure out repairs
One of the biggest problems with Pixel Watch hardware in the past was that, if it broke, it was done. There was no way to repair a broken watch, even for Google. The sole option was a replacement, which made extended warranty plans a bit more compelling.
With Pixel Watch 4, Google is finally making a fully repairable smartwatch.
There are some big design changes inside to make this possible, but the only part you’ll see as an end user to show that this smartwatch can be repaired is a pair of screws in either watch band connector. These screws allow fully access to the internals so you can replace the battery, display, and other components.
While we don’t yet know the cost of replacement parts, Google’s prior demonstrations of Pixel Watch 4 repairs make it seem like the process is dead simple. That’s a huge win for everyone.
Software |
Wear OS 6 is a delight
Google’s Wear OS 6 update is, put simply, delightful.
The core mechanics of the experience haven’t changed all that much, with the same interface of tiles, a Quick Settings menu, and notifications available at the four sides of the watch face. Rather, it’s the design that stands out.
Like Android itself, Google has delivered a Material 3 Expressive revamp on Wear OS, and it’s so fun to use. You’ll see this right away with things like the PIN unlock and Quick Settings, but even more so with incoming notifications that have a brand new design, as well as various apps such as Google’s Weather app. The biggest impact is with colors, where Wear OS 6 will automatically change the theme of the entire experience to match your current watch face colors.
Google is also adding AI-powered smart replies, but I haven’t really noticed any major changes there from prior context-based replies. “Notification cooldown,” a feature also in Android 16, isn’t all that noticeable either, but that one really isn’t meant to. Notably, I had some issues with notifications randomly stopping while connected to my Galaxy Z Fold 7, but force-stopping the Pixel Watch app and removing/re-adding the notification permission seems to fix the issue, at least for a while.
‘Raise to Talk’ with Gemini is the selling point
My favorite new feature that Google is launching here is “Raise to Talk” with Gemini. When enabled – which requires an extra step on your connected phone – this allows you to simply raise your wrist to start chatting with Gemini.
I’ve never been big on using a voice assistant on my watch, in part because Assistant was a terrible experience on Wear OS, but also because there was always a bit of friction. I simply don’t want a “Hey Google” hotword on my watch, but I also find it a little too cumbersome to long-press to trigger the voice assistant. If I’m doing that, why not just get my phone out, is basically where I’d landed.
Having a dedicated, automatic gesture to launch Gemini is really a game-changer for me.
It’s so seamless, with the assistant ready to accept questions or commands instantly. I’ve found this really helpful while on a walk with my dog, for example. While holding a leash in one hand, a phone is a little cumbersome to pull out, but simply holding up my wrist to tell Gemini to have Google Home close my garage door, or start a walk workout on Fitibit, or anything else, really, is just so convenient. At least, the 90% of the time when it works. Every once in a while, it doesn’t trigger properly, but the rest of the time it’s wonderful.
This is a feature that probably won’t come to past Pixel Watch models. The Pixel Watch 4 is using a new Snapdragon chip that, on the whole, doesn’t have any big performance boosts, but Google is using its own co-processor in part for this feature. That new chip does enable satellite connectivity, though, which is a welcome addition for safety.
Assuming “Raise to Talk” never comes to older Pixel Watch models, I think it is the reason to buy Pixel Watch 4.
“Raise to Talk” on Pixel Watch 4 is one of those rare features that puts the “smart” in “smartwatch,” while everything else keeps focusing on fitness and notifications – both very important things – and, well, not much else of value.
Fitbit’s best is yet to come
As far as Fitbit is concerned, there’s not a lot new to tell.
In terms of features, you’ve got the same simplified health tracking experience that, personally, I prefer, as well as the in-depth running features that were introduced with Pixel Watch 3. Activity detection stood out to me, with the Pixel Watch 4 more frequently tracking walks than my Pixel Watch 3 did, and it was also able to recognize my disc golf hobby as a walk workout, where I think the prior generation was thrown off by the start-and-stop nature of that walking. Google also says that sleep tracking works better on Pixel Watch 4, but I didn’t notice any significant difference.
It all works well, though you still need a Fitbit Premium subscription to get the most out of the experience.
But the thing to keep in mind here is that the best is yet to come. Fitbit’s AI-centric revamp is right around the corner, with early access starting this month. While I’m a bit skeptical about the UI Google has settled on, the idea of fusing AI with fitness actually feels apt. I’ve been on my own health push as of late, and finding a workout I actually want to do has been tough. I’m really looking forward to seeing if Fitbit’s AI coach can help me figure that out, and I’ll be updating this section of the review with my findings in the next few months.
Battery Life |
A welcome charging boost eliminates battery anxiety entirely
Battery life on my 45mm Pixel Watch 4 has, so far, been great.
With always-on display enabled and Gemini’s “Raise to Talk” gesture turned on (though “Hey Google” is turned off), I’ve not had to think of the battery really at all. On one drain test, I was able to get through nearly two full days before the battery saver threatened to kick in, and even on days where I’m tracking walks with GPS, I’m simply not needing to think about the battery at all.
That’s in part because the new charging system is super fast.
Yes, for the third time in four generations, Google has once again introduced a new Pixel Watch charger. This time around, the charging pins are located on the side of the watch, with a magnetic dock providing power. It’s very fast. In one example, I popped the watch on its charger at 1:43pm as I went to take a shower and clean up after a workout. At that time, the battery was down to 29%. Less than 20 minutes later at 2:06pm, I took the watch off of the charger at 95%. Truly, I can’t ask for more. That’s charging fast enough to make battery anxiety entirely irrelevant.
I’m still not huge on the look of the charging pins on the side of Pixel Watch 4, but I can live with the trade-off given the charging speed. Beyond that, I think it’s also better for day-to-day use. My Pixel Watch 3 would constantly need to be cleaned from build-up after being used on sweaty days, and it’s hard to clean out the pin contacts. But this new design is largely immune to that!
The only thing I’d ask Google at this point is to stop changing the charger. The Pixel Watch already has to fight for every accessory it gets – I had to annoy my favorite watch band maker for 3 years to get a leather band for this thing – and changing aspects like this just ruins any momentum in the accessory ecosystem while also scaring away any future partners. Google, you have “done did” the good charger, so let’s call it a day and focus elsewhere.
Final Thoughts |
Same, but different in all of the best ways
The Pixel Watch 4 is, in many ways, familiar. It’s the same core design, the same core experience. But the tweaks Google has made feel impactful enough for me to really enjoy this upgrade.
Is it worth moving up from Pixel Watch 3? Certainly not. But anyone on an older Pixel Watch should absolutely consider the upgrade. Between the display’s visual and size improvements, as well as the charging speed upgrade and “Raise to Talk,” it’s just a huge leap over Pixel Watch 2, and even more so over the first generation.
Pixel Watch 4 is available starting at $349, with the 45mm size starting at $399, and both sizes are available on October 9.
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