Based on the most recent additions to the Versa and Sense series, it’s perhaps obvious that Google was never interested in keeping Fitbit’s smartwatch lines alive. Despite this, the company has been reluctant to clarify its plans for them; that is, until now.

According to a recent Engadget interview with Google’s Pixel Wearables head, Sandeep Waraich, the company no longer regards Fitbit products as part of its smartwatch project, effectively calling time on these two series. To provide the actual quote: “Pixel Watch is our smartwatch part of the portfolio.”

The Google Pixel Watch 3 is on its way into customers’ hands starting in September, bringing with it a range of exciting new specs and features, including a larger variant this time around. While many of these changes are related to hardware, software improvements can be equally important. One of the promised new software features is offline map support for Google Maps, but you’ll be able to get it sooner as the feature is starting to rollout to Google Maps for Wear OS now.

While you will have to manually download the app update, Google says it will automatically auto-download offline maps to the watch from your profile and will sync and check either when you’re on Wi-Fi or while your device is charging. There’s even a new “Offline maps” within the Settings. As with Google Maps on Android, you’ll know if the watch is using a local map as you’ll see a cloud symbol with a line through it at the top to the left of the current time indicator within the Google Maps app.

Google’s latest smartwatch represents the brand’s third generation since entering the wearables landscape. The Pixel Watch 3 introduces significant hardware and software improvements, including multiple size options. Find out how the new watch ranks against the OG model in this Pixel Watch 3 vs Pixel Watch comparison.

Google Pixel Watch 3 vs Pixel Watch: At a glance

The Pixel Watch 3 is here, and quite a bit earlier than we initially expected. Not only does it boast a range of exciting new features and improved specifications, but Google has also introduced a larger variant for the first time, catering to a broader range of users. But is that enough to call them the best smartwatches available currently? Here’s everything you need to know about the Pixel Watch 3.

Google Pixel Watch 3: Release date, price, and availability

With news of the imminent Pixel Watch 3 fusing left, right, and center, I’ve been looking at my Pixel Watch 2 a bit more attentively and thinking of everything I appreciate about it and all the small or big changes I’d like to see in its follow-up. But one aspect slipped my mind until I bumped my Watch 2 against the door just 20 minutes ago, and I thought, “Damn, this must’ve scratched it!” Then I looked at the display and, well, nothing.

It occurred to me that this has been a frequent theme over the last 22 months with both Pixel watches. I’m a clumsy person by nature. I hit my hands against doorways, furniture, and random items about once a week. Most of them are simple bumps, but some are really thudding collisions. I’ve also scraped my hand — and thus my smartwatch — against pocket and backpack zippers more often than I’d like to admit. I hate to admit it, but I may have also dropped the watch a couple of times before wearing it, while taking it off, or while charging it.

I got my first Fitbit nearly a decade ago. Back then, you could argue that Fitbit was a proprietary eponym — a brand name that inadvertently became synonymous with similar products due to its success or popularity. This couldn’t be further from the case in 2024. The company’s decline started well before Google’s acquisition three years ago, but stalwart Fitbit fans will argue that Mountain View’s influence is the reason for its continued downfall. I’d argue that it’s a little more complicated than that.

When Fitbit was founded in the late 2000s, it was one of a few companies that seriously considered the fitness tracker space a budding technology segment. Initial products weren’t feature-packed, but the brand built a loyal following by introducing heart rate tracking technology at a time when few other consumer products did. Following its growing success, Fitbit listed publicly in 2015, making it one of the year’s hottest IPOs. However, that initial searing heat would dissipate rapidly in the coming years due to low sales, encroaching competition from Apple and others, and a series of troubled launches.

It’s August, which means it’s officially Pixel launch month. While Google’s big launch event is just around the corner, the internet can’t seem to keep a secret. Thanks to a deluge of leaks, we’ve already seen everything there is to know about the Pixel 9 series and details about what to expect from the Pixel Watch 3. And now, the latest leak from Android Headlines spills the beans on the final piece of the puzzle: the pricing for Google’s new smartwatches.

If you’re just catching up, we expect Google to launch two new smartwatches this time around. A standard Pixel Watch 3 and a larger variant, possibly called the Pixel Watch 3 XL. The smaller model (likely 41mm) will reportedly be priced at $349 for the WiFi-only version and $449 for the LTE model. While the WiFi model’s price remains unchanged from last year, the LTE model sees a $50 increase, potentially to accommodate the larger, presumably 45mm variant.

As anticipation builds for Google’s August launch event, leaks continue to surface, painting an increasingly detailed picture of what Google has in store for us. We expect the Pixel Watch 3 to make its debut at the event, and the latest leak, courtesy of Android Headlines, gives us a good look at what appears to be the official promo material for Google’s upcoming smartwatch(es).

The images basically confirm that Google will introduce two sizes for the Pixel Watch 3: a 41mm model (matching the existing Pixel Watch 2) and a larger 45mm variant. The smaller model is getting a glow-up with “10% more screen,” indicating thinner bezels, while the 45mm version sports “40% more screen” compared to the Pixel Watch 2.

There have been quite a few leaks related to Google’s upcoming products recently, including news on the Pixel 9 series and Pixel Buds Pro 2. Now the Pixel Watch 3 is in the spotlight with leaks regarding what bands will be available, the colors, and case options.

According to a report from Android Headlines, the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 will come with 10 different types of bands. It appears each band will be available in an assortment of colors to choose from. A few of these colors, which you can see in the bullet points below, are exclusive to the smaller model. This list will reportedly include:

Google’s Pixel Watches are two of the best smartwatches for Android users, offering decent technology in a sleek design. Despite their excellence, however, both models have had an always-on display (AOD) problem since day one. When a user opts for a custom watch face on either generation, the AOD no longer adjusts the brightness automatically.

According to an Android Police report, both Google Pixel Watches suffer from an annoying AOD bug. When using a custom watch face, the auto-brightness feature stops working in AOD mode. So, if an affected user switches from a well-lit room to a dark one, the AOD’s brightness will remain high until they manually wake the screen. Similarly, leaving a dimly-lit room won’t automatically raise the AOD’s brightness without manual user intervention.

Google’s been doing smartphones for long enough now that plenty of us are fully on board with team Pixel; every few years, we’ll be looking to upgrade to the latest model, and the odd special feature notwithstanding, those improvements tend to follow a pretty predictable set of expectations. But Google’s much less experienced when it comes to wearables, and so far we’ve only had the Pixel Watch and Watch 2 to compare. While the second-gen model delivered a lot of important enhancements, did Google really learn enough the first time around? Is it going to be the upcoming Pixel Watch 3 that really shows the company’s progress? That’s what most of you seem to think, based on your responses to our recent poll.

We still don’t have the complete picture on this upcoming hardware, which we expect to see debut at Google’s August Pixel 9 event. But even with just a few rumored details to go on, the Pixel Watch 3 is stacking up to sound like one darn compelling smartwatch.

It was only recently that tech giant Google launched its Find My Device network for Android devices with offline capabilities. Now it appears that this feature is expanding to Wear OS devices, including the Pixel Watch.

In an APK teardown, conducted by 9to5Google, version 2.5.0.652251118 of the Pixel Watch app revealed a “Find My Watch” setting. It’s said this setting would allow users to remotely lock, locate, and even erase their watch, even when it’s offline. As of today, the current version of the companion app only offers a shortcut to open the Find My Device app. What’s more, you’ll need to have your Pixel Watch connected to the paired phone or have cellular connectivity to use Find My Device.

The Google Pixel Watch 3 is expected to launch next month alongside the Google Pixel 9 range, and we’ve already seen some leaked renders and a few other claims. Pricing has been a little harder to come by, but an outlet has just posted apparent European prices.

French website Dealabs has posted European prices and a few other Pixel Watch 3 details. The outlet says the 41mm model will be available with four strap colors, namely Hazel, Obsidian, Pink, and Porcelain. Meanwhile, the 45mm model will have three strap colors (Hazel, Obsidian, and Porcelain). Check out the pricing below.

GPS isn’t always practical to add support for, especially on really compact electronic devices with tiny batteries. Smaller devices tend to be lost more easily, though, so alternatives to GPS are needed to locate them. That usually happens through either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, which are both basically ubiquitous, but the precision of these technologies when it comes to location tracking, especially when distance and direction are determined through the received signal strength, leave a lot to be desired. This is why UWB is gaining in popularity, and support for this technology is finally being added to Android smartwatches with Wear OS 5.

UWB, which stands for ultra-wideband, is a short-range wireless communication protocol that’s incredibly good at pinpointing the distance and direction between objects. An UWB transmitter can easily navigate towards the location of an UWB receiver with sub-meter precision, and since UWB uses time-of-flight measurements between the transmitter and receiver rather than received signal strength, the exact direction towards the receiver can be easily derived. It’s no wonder then that UWB is seeing adoption by item tracker makers, as the technology can precisely lead users directly to the location of their personal belongings, as well as by car makers, as UWB can help lead people to the location of their parked cars.

The Google Pixel Watch 2 was a massive upgrade over its predecessor — it addressed almost every major issue of the first-generation smartwatch — most importantly, the bad battery life and slow charging. It also introduced a plethora of new features that made it a much more compelling option for most. However, the device still had a few gripes that stopped some from buying it.

Fortunately, Google is fixing a few of these lasting issues with its upcoming refresh of the watch — the Pixel Watch 3. Thanks to a source inside Google, Android Authority is able to preview some of these changes early.

The Made by Google event scheduled for early next month could serve as the launchpad for the Pixel 9 series and the next-gen Pixel foldable. Google might also unveil the Pixel Watch 3 alongside the new smartphones, and the new watch has allegedly made its way to the FCC for regulatory approval.

Four new devices with the model numbers GBDU9, GRY0E, GG3HH, and GGE4J recently popped up in the FCC database under Google’s FCC ID. Droid Life reports that the listings refer to all four as “Wireless Devices” and include information about supported connectivity options. All four models feature UWB, 802.11 ax dual-band (5GHz and 2.4GHz) Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth, but only two offer LTE support — GBDU9 and GRY0E.

Google’s foray into the smartwatch scene with the Pixel Watch line has been met with a mix of praise and critiques. Design-wise, they’re head-turners, no doubt. But when it comes to how long they last between charges? Suffice it to say that across the two generations of Pixel Watches so far, the biggest complaint on everyone’s mind has been about the battery life.

Recent reports have hinted that a Pixel Watch 3 XL could join the regular Pixel Watch 3 this year. This news had us pretty excited, not because the original Pixel Watch is too small, but because a bigger watch might finally mean better battery life.

From persistent rumors to leaked images, an XL variant of the Google Pixel Watch 3 is all but confirmed to be heading to shelves this fall. Though I’m not usually one to put the cart before the horse, I’m already emotionally committed to the larger build. However, I don’t just want a bigger screen; I want a bigger battery.

Third time’s the charm

Yesterday, we detailed the big changes tipped for the Google Pixel Watch 3 XL, the company’s rumored larger smartwatch. As its name suggests, it would be a larger version of the standard Pixel Watch 3. While it’s always difficult to imagine the sizes of devices solely based on measurements, a new leaked image puts this difference into perspective.

Reliable tipster OnLeaks published a new render placing the two devices side by side, making it much easier to inspect how much larger the XL model might be. See the render below.

A new leak regarding Google’s next iteration of the Pixel Watch has emerged online. The leak is related to the rumored larger variant of the Pixel Watch 3.

The folks over at Android Headlines have gotten their hands on leaked renders of the upcoming larger variant of the Pixel Watch 3 with the help of tipster OnLeaks. According to the outlet, the smartwatch will not be called the Pixel Watch 3 Pro, but rather the Pixel Watch 3 XL. Additionally, it’s speculated that the XL branding suggests that the smartwatch won’t be any different from its smaller sibling. Whereas a Pro moniker typically means that there are more features or different hardware to warrant the designation.

Back in November 2023, Google quietly rolled out a feature to the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2. The feature would tell an owner that their smartwatch was done charging via phone notification. It was a highly requested feature, which is why its seemingly sudden disappearance is so unfortunate.

Some Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 owners have started to notice they are no longer receiving the battery full notification. One of our own writers also reports that they have not seen the notification in the last few weeks. If that wasn’t enough, there’s even an entire thread on Google’s community page full of owners who claim the same or report never seeing the notification in the first place.

Google has started pushing out the May 2024 security update for the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2. All supported Pixel Watches running Wear OS 4 will start receiving the update now, and the rollout will continue over the next week, depending on your carrier and device.

In a little less than a month from now, Google will be holding its annual I/O event. While we’re expecting the firm to announce the Pixel 8a at the event, it’s possible we could also be in store for a surprise hardware announcement.

A mysterious Google product recently passed by the FCC. Discovered by 9to5Google, the unknown device has the model number G4SKY.

This is my Google ecosystem: phone, watch, headphones, audio, Chromecast. If I told you that you could get it all for under $1,000, I think a lot of people would be interested.

Let me clarify right off the bat: Clearly, this isn’t possible if you focus on buying the latest and greatest Google hardware. When I thought about this challenge, I didn’t aim it for the biggest tech enthusiasts who want a Pixel 8 Pro or maybe even a Pixel tablet; they are just too expensive and would take up my entire $1,000 envelop and more! I wanted to maximize my budget and get as much as possible for as little money. However, I also didn’t want to go and get something like a Google Pixel 5 because that phone is too old now and nearing the end of its support.

Wear OS smartwatches are the best companions to your Android flagship experience. However, while Android as a platform can be considered mature and refined, the same cannot always be said for Wear OS. There is still some progress to be made for the smartwatch OS, and Google is slowly and steadily reaching there, with the Pixel Watch providing the perfect opportunity. Soon, you will be able to sync app permissions between your Pixel Watch or other Wear OS smartwatch and your smartphone, avoiding the headache of granting the same permissions twice.

As spotted by the (unofficial) Gooogle News Telegram channel, the Pixel Watch companion app will soon be able to sync app permissions between your phone and your smartwatch (namely, the Pixel Watch). The v2.3.0 update to the companion app introduces a hidden server-side flag that, when activated, surfaces a new setting submenu called “Device details,” which further houses a new setting called “Sync permissions from phone.”

Celestial bodies might be taking center stage today, but this deal is yet to be eclipsed (it’s tenuous, but the best I could do). The original Google Pixel Watch just dropped to its best price ever on Amazon. It originally sold for $349.99, but now you can pick it up for just $180.49 in this deal.

Google Pixel Watch for $180.49 ($170 off)

Google has started rolling out the April security update for Pixel phones and the Pixel Tablet. The company is also simultaneously rolling out the month’s update for the Pixel Watch.

Fitbit users can expect a much smarter health and wellness experience later in 2024 with the introduction of a new AI-powered health chatbot. This feature was revealed at Google’s annual Check Up event and is part of a broader push by Google to integrate AI tools into healthcare.

The Fitbit chatbot, launching later this year as part of Fitbit Labs, will use advanced AI to analyze your health data and translate it into actionable insights. While most health-tracking apps can display personalized insights based on charts and graphs, Google’s approach is taking it a step further. The Fitbit chatbot will analyze the health data collected by Fitbit wearables and allow users to ask questions about their health in natural language.

The Google Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 are Google’s take on making a great smartwatch for Android users. Google has been adding features to the Pixel Watch through its Pixel Feature Drop updates, making the watches perform better than what they started off as. One of the changes that has been snuck in is a new progress indicator for app installs that is now showing up for some users.

As spotted by user Dimitrios Vlachos and highlighted by Mishaal Rahman, the Google Pixel Watch is starting to show a progress indicator for app installs. This progress indicator shows up in the watch’s app drawer when downloading an app or an update through the Google Play Store.

The Pixel Watch series offers Watch Unlock functionality, allowing your Bluetooth-toting phone to unlock your wearable. It seems like Google will upgrade this feature when the Pixel Watch 3 comes out.

9to5Google dug into a recent version of the Play Services app and found references to “UWB ranging” for Watch Unlock. The outlet also found a few references to UWB-based Watch Unlock not working in countries that don’t allow the connectivity protocol.

Google is rolling out its March Pixel Feature Drop starting today. While there are plenty of new features coming to Pixel phones, the first generation Pixel Watch is also getting some love.

The tech giant has announced a handful of new functions meant for the Pixel Watch. In total, the smartwatch will be getting five new features, including one that was announced just a week ago.

In late January 2024, it was reported that Google could be planning to release the Pixel Watch 3 in two different sizes. A new leak may have now revealed the size of the larger variant, as well as details on a sequel to the Pixel Buds Pro.

Since the launch of the original Pixel Watch, Google has stuck with just one size for its smartwatches — 41mm. For some, this size is fine, but there are others who prefer something a bit bigger. Offering a bigger model could open the door for new customers, and it looks like Google will do just that.

The original Pixel Watch is a capable smartwatch that continues to be relevant to this day. But it looks like things probably would have played out differently if Google had stuck to the specifications of one of its prototypes.

First spotted by 9to5Google, a Redditor appears to have unintentionally gotten their hands on a prototype Pixel Watch. According to the Redditor, they bought an “open box” Pixel Watch on eBay for $100. The user initially thought it may be a demo unit or a counterfeit, but later realized it was a prototype after starting up Fastboot Mode and seeing that the Hardware Revision said PVT0.1 (production validation test).

Updated, February 6, 2024 (01:45 PM ET): After updating my Pixel Watch 2 to the latest February 2024 release, I noticed that there’s now an “Apps” header in the grid view. Also, at the bottom of the app drawer, there are now buttons to quickly switch between the new grid view and the old list view. Handy!

The Pixel Watch line has received plenty of software love from Google since its release, most recently bringing a far more capable camera app. Now, Google has announced that the February 2024 security update is available for the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2.

Google confirmed on the Pixel Watch Help forum (h/t: Droid-Life) that the February 2024 security patch is being pushed out to all Pixel Watch models running Wear OS 4 from today.

The Google Pixel Watch camera app is a pretty rudimentary affair, offering a basic photo mode, zoom slider, front/rear camera switching, and a three-second timer. That’s changing now thanks to an update.

9to5Google spotted a new Pixel Watch camera app update, and we can confirm seeing this update as well. The update brings some handy features to the table. Check out the gallery below for our screenshots.

Google could address a longstanding issue with the next Pixel Watch model. According to 9to5Google, the company is planning two sizes for the Pixel Watch 3.

It’s the second week of January and it looks like Google is ready to roll out a new security patch. The patch will be the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2’s first security update of 2024.

Google has announced it is starting to roll out the January 2024 security update to Pixel Watch devices running on Wear OS 4. If you haven’t received the update yet, don’t worry. The tech giant says the update is rolling out in phases depending on the device and carrier and will continue over the next week.

When Google pushed out the December Pixel Feature Drop last month, a variety of Pixel devices got a bevy of new features. In that feature drop, the original Pixel Watch was supposed to get the Pixel Watch 2’s Do Not Disturb and Bedtime Mode sync feature. It looks like that feature is just now starting to roll out.

First spotted by 9to5Google, Pixel Watch owners are now starting to see the Do Not Disturb and Bedtime Mode sync feature promised back in December. To access the function, owners will need to navigate to the Notifications page in the Pixel Watch companion app. You will see a new “Do Not Disturb & Bedtime” section on that page where you can toggle the feature on or off.

Google announced the December 2023 Pixel Feature Drop last week for various Pixel devices. It’s taken a while, but the Feature Drop has finally landed on the first-generation Pixel Watch.

Google is once again offering great discounts on the Pixel 8 series. The deals were previously available during the Black Friday sale. If you missed out back then, you can now pick up the Pixel 8 Pro for $200 less than its regular price of $999. The vanilla Pixel 8 is also getting discounted by $150 and is now available for $549 instead of $699. Both price drops are the best Google has offered to date.

If you’re looking to pick up the new Pixels, this would be the best time to do so. Remember, the deals may not last very long, so you should make up your mind quickly before they vanish.

Apart from the flagship Pixels 8 series, you can also score $350 off the Pixel Fold, bringing down the asking price of the base model to just $1,449. The Pixel Watch 2 is also getting $50 shaved off its price. The first Pixel Watch LTE is getting an even deeper discount of $200 if you’re still interested.

Here are all the great Pixel deals you are getting for the holiday season:

Google Pixel phone deals

• Pixel 8 for $549 ($150 off)
• Pixel 8 Pro for $799 ($200 off)
• Pixel 7 Pro for $649 ($250 off)
• Pixel Fold for $1,449 ($350 off)

Google smartwatch and earbuds deals

• Pixel Watch 2 for $299 ($50 off)
• Pixel Watch (Wi-Fi) for $199 ($150 off)
• Pixel Watch (LTE) for $199 ($200 off)
• Pixel Buds Pro for $119.99 ($80 off)

At the beginning of the month, we saw a rumor that the Pixel Watch could get a long-demanded feature: a notification indicating it has fully charged. Now, we are seeing that feature live, with our own Pixel Watch 2 having it starting today.

In the screenshot below, you can see how it works. When your Pixel Watch becomes fully charged, your phone will give you a notification to let you know. This enables you to leave it on the charger but not forget to put it back on when the charge is complete.

Our Google Pixel Watch app is on version 2.1.0.576785526. As far as we can tell, Google made no announcement about this feature, so this is a very quiet rollout.

This does not appear to be a controllable feature. In other words, you can’t choose not to get a notification: it is on by default and cannot be turned off. Considering how high in demand this feature has been, though, we doubt many people will turn it off.

Unfortunately, we don’t know if this is also going to be available on the original Pixel Watch. However, since the notification originates from the Pixel Watch app and not the watch itself, we imagine it will work on any Pixel Watch. If it works on your OG watch, let us know in the comments.

When the Pixel Watch companion app launched in 2022, it had most of the stuff you expected it to have, like configuration options, settings, and more. However, it was missing a feature that most people would have considered to be pretty obvious — a full charge notification. But it looks like Google could finally be ready to introduce the feature soon.

As discovered by the Google News Telegram channel, the latest version of the Pixel Watch app has a behind-the-scenes option. Hidden behind a server-side flag, there appears to be a notification feature. Once enabled, your Pixel Watch will send a notification to your phone letting you know when it has reached full charge.

It appears the folks over at the outlet were able to activate the feature. You can see an example of what to expect in the image above. According to the team, the notification doesn’t pop up immediately; it takes a few minutes before your phone is pinged.

While it’s far from being a game-changer, it would be a much-welcomed update. Users would no longer be forced to hover over their Pixel Watch or Pixel Watch 2 to find out whether it’s at 100% or not.

It’s unclear when Google plans to roll out the feature. Since it’s almost December, it’s possible the tech giant could choose to include it in the December Pixel feature drop.

When you look at the Pixel Watch and the Pixel Watch 2, the design is almost identical. Although Google mostly avoided making any changes to the design for this year’s model, a new patent may hint at a design change for the Pixel Watch 3.

First spotted by Wearable, Google has filed a new smartwatch-related patent. It discusses the possibility of having sensors inside the next Pixel Watch that can detect gestures like presses, taps, squeezes, and swipes.

The patent in question is titled “Gesture recognition on watch bezel using strain gauges.” These sensors would present a new way to use the smartwatch and control certain apps.

It appears Google’s goal is to simplify the design and prevent users from having to obscure the already limited screen real estate when navigating. “Content on such a small screen is easily obscured when touching the device, making it difficult to precisely select and scroll because the user cannot see what they are selecting or scrolling,” the patent states. It also mentions that buttons, bezels, and crowns complicate the manufacturing process and waterproofing.

The patent acknowledges that dials, rotating crowns, and more are suitable options, but they have flaws.

Rotating scrolling buttons are used to scroll on many smartwatches today, and are reasonably efficient. However, they require a fairly complicated mechanical structure with very small moving parts. They further require waterproofing. Some users may prefer to remove the crown, such as for aesthetic reasons.

However, if a device were to include gesture recognition controls inside the housing, it could result in a cleaner design with fewer moving parts. This would allow the Pixel Watch 3 to remove buttons and other physical inputs from the design.

While this may sound interesting, keep in mind this is only a patent. Companies submit patents for ideas all the time, but only a small number of them ever turn into reality.

The Google Pixel Watch didn’t see significant discounts for a long time. This was frustrating, given that our view was it was a good smartwatch with an inflated price tag. But since the release of its successor, the original has started to fall in price, and this Pixel Watch deal is the best one ever. Amazon currently has a huge $150 markdown on the sleek wearable.

Google Pixel Watch for $199.99 ($150 off)

After the Pixel Watch 2 launched with Wear OS 4, many original Pixel Watch owners were left wondering when the new OS would come to their smartwatch. Google didn’t provide a date, but said in a blog post that it would come “later this year.” Although those words made it sound like it’d be a while before the update would be ready, it appears “later this year” really just meant a few weeks later.

Google announced in a new blog post that “supported Pixel Watch devices running Wear OS 3.5” will get the Wear OS 4 upgrade starting today. The update in question will arrive as software version TWD4.2301005.002 and includes the October 2023 security patch.

When you start the update, it will bring numerous bug fixes, battery improvements, performance improvements, and personal safety experiences. It will also deliver several new features including:

• Watch transfer: Owners can transfer their Pixel Watch to a new phone without having to factory reset it.
• Backup and restore: Data and settings from an old Pixel Watch can be backed up and restored on a new Pixel Watch.
• Google Calendar: The device will get a new version of the Calendar app.
• Safety features: Safety Check, Emergency Sharing, and Emergency Info are now available on the Pixel Watch.
• Accessibility and customization: The Pixel Watch will get new customization capabilities like bold text, improved magnification, and more.
• Enhanced notifications: Notifications now have embedded media previews and come with smart link recognition of phone numbers and addresses.

If you don’t see the update today, don’t panic. Google says it is rolling out the upgrade in phases over the coming weeks. Your place in line for the over-the-air (OTA) update will depend on your carrier and device. But you’ll receive a notification when the software is available for your smartwatch.

If you’ve been thinking that it’s taking longer for your Pixel Watch to charge these days, you’re not wrong. Google has slowed down the charging rate of the original Pixel Watch, but not on the Pixel Watch 2.

As discovered by 9to5Google, Google has updated its Google Pixel Watch Technical and Device Specifications support page shortly after launching the Pixel Watch 2. The company has apparently adjusted its average charging speed times for its first Pixel Watch.

Before the change occurred, the Mountain View-based firm said the smartwatch could go from zero to 50% in 30 minutes. The Watch 2 can still achieve this speed, but its predecessor has been downgraded to reaching 50% in 45 minutes. In addition, getting up to 80% takes 20 minutes longer (75 minutes), and reaching full power takes 30 minutes longer (110 minutes) than before. In comparison, the same intervals take the Pixel Watch 2: 30 minutes, 43 minutes, and 75 minutes.

The reason why charging is taking longer in the Pixel Watch is linked to the latest firmware update. According to a statement from Google provided to the outlet, the “firmware update for Google Pixel Watches required us to review the charging times, the new times are what the average user will experience.”

It seems the company didn’t reveal when this firmware update came out. Nor did Google explain why they felt it was necessary to throttle the charging speeds on the Pixel Watch.

One could guess it’s a move to prevent the smartwatch from getting too warm during charging. It could also be a step to help prevent battery health deterioration. Whatever the case, the news still comes as a bummer for those with the Pixel Watch.

The best time to find a good offer on a product is often right before the release of its successor. This Google Pixel Watch deal is the perfect example of this. With the Pixel Watch 2 hitting the shelves on Wednesday, the original Pixel Watch is now on sale for an all-time low price of just $279.99.

Google Pixel Watch for $279.99 ($80 off)

When Google announced the Pixel Watch 2 at its Made by Google event, it said the smartwatch will support Wear OS 4 when it launches. But what about the original Pixel Watch? It looks like it will also get the wearable OS, but you’ll have to wait a while.

On the Android Developers Blog, the tech giant announced that the latest version of Wear OS will come to the Pixel Watch. But while the Pixel Watch 2 will have the OS right away, the system update won’t arrive on Google’s first smartwatch until later this year. The company did not provide an exact date for the rollout.

Wear OS 4 is based on Android 13 and brings several new capabilities like enhanced tile animations, more seamless data transfers, and optimizations for performance. As the Mountain View-based organization points out, Android 13 is several versions newer than the current version of Wear OS on Pixel Watches.

Although the fourth iteration of the OS will be on the Pixel Watch 2, it won’t be the first wearable with the OS as that title goes to Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 6. It was later followed by the Galaxy Watch 5 series and the Galaxy Watch 4 series. Google even mentions that developers can continue to use Samsung Galaxy Watches to test their apps on Wear OS 4.

However, Google says the Pixel Watch 2 is the only smartwatch with all of Wear OS 4’s capabilities. Pre-orders for the Pixel Watch 2 have already started, with general Google Store availability starting on October 12.

Opinion post by

Adamya Sharma

Google has to be kidding with its repair policy for the Pixel Watch. The company calls the $349 wearable “beautiful inside and out,” but it’s hiding an ugly secret from customers — there’s no way to repair a broken Pixel Watch.

Thanks to a report and Google’s recent confirmation, we now know that the Pixel Watch can’t be repaired by Google or any third-party repair services affiliated with the company. Want to repair it yourself? No official — or unofficial — parts are available to help you fix your smartwatch. This has to be the most archaic and careless policy for a modern wearable that’s soon to receive an upgrade in the form of the Pixel Watch 2. It’s even more appalling considering the company’s stance on recycling and ecological waste. So despite all the new features Google might pack in the Watch 2, no one should buy it if it remains unfixable.

Firstly, the design of the Pixel Watch, which leaks indicate to be similar to the Pixel Watch 2, doesn’t do it any favors when it comes to ease of repair. What Google markets as “a bold, circular dome design” is its biggest pain point as far as repairability is concerned. Multiple reports of people breaking the display of the Pixel Watch show that it easily dents or shatters from the curved sides. Some users have also documented damages to the glass back and failed to find any resolution from Google or elsewhere.

The beautiful dome design of the Pixel Watch 1 and 2 is prone to denting, cracking, and shattering.

iFixit, which usually awards repairability scores to devices, failed to generate one for the Pixel Watch, and it’s Google’s official repair partner. That’s saying something.

I don’t need to remind you that this is a smartwatch and a Fitbit too. People run and hike and do all kinds of exercises with it, it’s on someone’s wrist 24/7 — it’s understandable how the thing could get damaged, but for Google to wash its hands off any responsibility towards its buyers is as absurd as it is thoughtless.

It's a fitness-geared smartwatch; it's bound to get damaged in some situations. Google can't pretend that's not a problem.

Google’s support forums are evidence that users have to wait days and, in some cases, months for the company to address their despair in case of broken Pixel Watches. The only resolution the company reportedly offers right now is a replacement smartwatch, which you may have to partially or fully pay for.

The official company line, as per what a Google spokesperson told The Verge, is — “At this moment, we don’t have any repair option for the Google Pixel Watch. If your watch is damaged, you can contact the Google Pixel Watch Customer Support Team to check your replacement options.” This sort of unbothered attitude is not what’s expected of Google, which now has pretty robust repairability programs in place for its Pixel phones.

With no way to repair the Pixel Watch, the only solution one is left with is to buy a brand new smartwatch. Anyone with half a sound mind would not opt for a Pixel Watch again and instead look at other more durable and repairable smartwatches on the market. The top two that come to mind are Samsung and Apple, both of which offer parts and repairs for their watches.

Google doesn't even take back the Pixel Watch for recycling. This ensures a broken watch ends up as e-waste.

Not only is Google doing its customers an injustice by providing no repairs for the Pixel Watch, but it is also ensuring the device ends up in landfills as e-waste if users happen to break it.

What can you do with a broken Pixel Watch except dump it? Google runs an official recycling program for its hardware through its Store, but the Pixel Watch isn’t even one of the devices eligible for it. In a day and age where tech companies are rightly moving towards enhancing the sustainability of their products, this lack of a repair commitment for the Pixel Watch looks really bad.

Google's warranty doesn't cover damages caused by accidental drops or strikes. Your best bet is your credit card warranty.

One piece of advice I’ve been seeing given out by community specialists on Google’s forums is to check if the credit card that was used to purchase the Pixel Watch offers some kind of standalone warranty for accidental damage. That seems to be the only real way to get some form of reprieve if one breaks their Pixel Watch. Google, at its end, has a very narrow warranty on offer for the wearable. The company doesn’t cover damages caused by accidental drops or strikes. That, right there, is another reason to stay clear of the Pixel Watch 2. If Google doesn’t fix its warranty or its non-existent repair policy for the new smartwatch, it’ll lose the trust of more customers who may discover this issue over the course of the next year.

What might change Google's stance on Pixel Watch repairs is the Right To Repair law.

What might change Google’s stance on Pixel Watch repairs is the Right To Repair law, already adopted by some states in the US. It forces companies to provide repair guides and parts for repairs. Most notably, California recently passed an electronics right-to-repair act that requires companies like Google to offer repairs for three years for products costing $50 to $99.99 and seven years for products priced at $100 or more. The bill will cover electronics made and sold after July 1, 2021. Given this has been passed in Google’s backyard, the company may not have any choice but to offer repairs for the Pixel Watch and Watch 2.

For now, it would be most unadvisable to pick up a Pixel Watch — a device that offers features like Fall Detection without considering what users would do if they actually fall and break the watch. The same is true for the Pixel Watch 2 if this problem persists with the next generation.

Google has already confirmed the Pixel Watch 2 is coming on October 4, and we’re now hearing more about the new features that will likely appear on the smartwatch. According to what sources are telling 9to5Google, Google could equip the Pixel Watch 2 with a thermometer, stress tracking, personal safety improvements, and a Fitbit UI revamp.

The temperature measurement feature on the Pixel Watch 2 could work the same way as skin temperature readings on the Fitbit Sense 2. Owners will likely be able to check their body temperature on demand, and older readings could be accessible through the Fitbit mobile app.

This is in addition to a new stress management feature, also borrowed from the Fitbit Sense 2. Google’s sneak peek of the Pixel Watch 2 previously revealed the wearable will include an electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor. 9to5Google’s sources have reaffirmed that the new sensor would help Pixel Watch 2 users manage stress.

Pixel Watch 2: What else is new?

Opinion post by

Rita El Khoury

As Apple introduced the new Watch Series 9 this week, two features struck me because I’ve wanted them on Wear OS smartwatches for years and I couldn’t believe that Apple was introducing them before Google: on-device Siri commands and now-playing HomePod notifications. Let’s focus on the latter for now.

Apple will let you control HomePod music from the screen that's always on you — your smartwatch. That's super useful.

Apple’s Watch Series 9 and HomePod integration is based on the watch’s second-generation Ultra-wideband (UWB) chip, which detects nearby devices and measures how far they are and in which direction. When the Watch Series 9 recognizes a nearby HomePod within a four-meter distance, it’ll immediately surface a card to the top of the widget stack. If nothing is playing, the card will suggest music, podcasts, and audiobooks to play. But if something is already playing, it’ll show that and let you control it.

Isn’t that oddly reminiscent of something Google Chromecasts already do? It’s been a decade since Google launched the Chromecast and with it the option to control music playing on a nearby cast target straight from your phone. Google’s tech uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so it’s not as precise as UWB, but it has worked well for years. Whenever something starts playing on a Google Nest smart speaker or hub, you get a notification on your phone to control it. It’s simple and efficient.

The issue with Google’s implementation is that the notification doesn’t carry over to your smartwatch — the one controller that’s always physically on and with you, even inside your home. This annoyed me with older Wear OS watches, but it irked me even more when the Pixel Watch was launched and the feature was nowhere to be found on it. All Google had to do was carry over the Play Services notification that pops up on your phone to your smartwatch, as it does with any other application. It didn’t.

Google Chromecasts have shown a now-playing notification on nearby phones for a decade. Not on smartwatches, though.

Spotify Connect helps fix this oversight, but it obviously only works if you’re listening to music via Spotify and the now-playing notification only shows up by default if you start casting from your phone. It won’t pop up if you use voice commands on your speaker or if you start playback from a computer or a tablet.

There’s a glimmer of hope, though. Rumors suggest that the Pixel Watch 2 will have a UWB chip, though we don’t know if it’ll only be used for Find My Device or if Google will allow it to control nearby UWB-touting speakers and displays like the Pixel Tablet (and a rumored upcoming Nest Hub with UWB). Other hidden Android code bits revealed that Google is working on tap-to-transfer to quickly move playing music or video from a phone to a nearby Pixel Tablet or Nest hub/speaker, but again, nothing about transferring from a smartwatch. Nothing is certain, but there’s hope that Google is tightening up the integration between smartwatches and smart speakers and displays.

All Google had to do is allow this now-playing notification to show up on your wrist too. No fancy UWB needed.

Even if Google would roll out its own implementation in October, I’d still be a bit miffed that we’d need UWB to get the simplest part of this — now playing notifications — working or that you’d need to be within a few meters to get the notification like Apple requires. What if you’re not in the same room? The nearby casting notification has been here for a decade; it has worked well for years despite only using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It’s a shame that we’d need newer and flashier tech when all Google had to do was allow this notification to surface on watches.

Google confirmed last year that it was working on the ability to have your Wear OS watch unlock your Android phone. The feature still isn’t widely available just yet, but we’ve now got a better idea of how it all works.

9to5Google managed to enable the Watch Unlock feature, confirming that your wearable “must be unlocked, on your wrist, and within reach of this phone” for it to work.

More specifically, the outlet found that their Pixel Watch had to be no more than four inches (10 centimeters) away from their Pixel 7 Pro. The phone will also urge users to move the watch closer if it’s still not within range. Once the phone is unlocked, you simply need to tap a notification or swipe up on the lock screen to proceed.

Is Watch Unlock worth waiting for?

9to5Google also noted that Watch Unlock beat Face Unlock for sheer unlocking speed most of the time. This isn’t a surprise given that the Pixel 7’s face unlock is camera-based with some machine learning sprinkles rather than proper 3D face unlock.

Interestingly, Google warns users that Watch Unlock might be less secure than biometric methods or traditional pattern/PIN/password unlock. It adds that the feature might also consume more battery life (presumably referring to the smartwatch).

Nevertheless, this feature could be a neat replacement for the Extend Lock (formerly known as Smart lock) function. Extend Lock keeps your phone unlocked when a Bluetooth device is nearby, making it more of a security and privacy risk.

There’s no word on a launch date for this feature, but we’re guessing Google could release Watch Unlock alongside the Pixel Watch 2 on October 4.

Google has confirmed that the display of the Pixel Watch can’t be repaired if it is broken. The company doesn’t officially sell replacement screens for the wearable, and there doesn’t seem to be any third-party option on the market either. Moreover, Google’s Limited Warranty for the Pixel Watch doesn’t cover damages caused by accidental drops or strikes.

“At this moment, we don’t have any repair option for the Google Pixel Watch. If your watch is damaged, you can contact the Google Pixel Watch Customer Support Team to check your replacement options,” Google spokesperson Bridget Starkey told The Verge.

Many Pixel Watch owners have taken to Reddit and Google’s forums to complain about broken watch screens and Google’s inability to help with the problem. The company’s support staff is apparently very vague about a resolution.

“Support told me that they were offering some type of exchange to people that damaged their watches, but could not tell me what the cost for this service was. I had to be escalated to a specialist to find out what the cost was,” a Redditor wrote last year. Google support is currently telling affected Pixel Watch users that it doesn’t have any repair centers or service centers for the device.

Google partners with iFixit for Pixel repairs, and the latter even has a guide for replacing a cracked, broken, or dead Pixel Watch screen. The only problem is that there is no replacement screen on offer. Your best bet would be to buy an old Pixel Watch if you need a replacement part. However, that solution just seems like a waste of money.

With the launch of the Pixel Watch 2 looming, Google certainly needs to fix this repairability problem. There’s little merit in purchasing a premium smartwatch if you can’t fix something as easily breakable as a display. It’s especially important for Google to offer replacement screens for the Pixel Watch since it features a domed glass display that is more prone to cracking if users aren’t careful.

Welcome to the Google Pixel Watch update hub. Here you’ll find the latest information on software releases for Google’s first smartwatch. We’ll detail the current firmware versions for the Pixel Watch and alert you if there’s a new update rolling out.

The Pixel Watch launched with Wear OS 3.5 on board. Google confirmed the series would receive three years of major Android updates and five years of security updates.

• Current stable version: Wear OS 3.5

Latest Google Pixel Watch update

August 7, 2023: If you own a Pixel Watch, get ready for a new security update. The August patch is rolling out now to the wearable, both for the LTE and Wi-Fi-only models. Look for software version RWDC.230805.001, but don’t expect too much. The update is just some bug fixes. We fully expect the Pixel Watch to get Wear OS 4 soon, so that could be the next big update.

You can tap Settings > System > System Updates to check for the latest updates on your Pixel Watch.

Previous Google Pixel Watch updates

• July 6, 2023: Google has rolled out the July 2023 security update with firmware version RWDC.230705.001 for the Pixel Watch. All supported Pixel Watch devices running Wear OS 3.5 should be getting the software update right now. The rollout will continue over the next week in phases depending on carrier and device. Users will also receive a notification once the OTA becomes available for their device.
• June 13, 2023: The Pixel Watch got a feature drop in June with a number of new features including SpO2 monitoring and more. You can read all about the June 2023 Pixel Watch update here.
• May 2, 2023: Google rolled out the May 2023 security update with firmware version RWDA.230114.013 for the Pixel Watch.
• April 11, 2023: Google rolled out the April 2023 security update for the Pixel Watch. The update was fairly small and carried firmware version RWDA.230114.010.G2.
• March 21, 2023: Google rolled out a significant March 2023 software update for the Pixel Watch. This update came with build number RWDA.230114.008.R1, with an RWDA.230114.008.J2 variant for watches in Japan and Taiwan.
• February 7, 2023: Google rolled out the February security update for the Pixel Watch. The RWD9.220429.075 patch landed on both the LTE and Wi-Fi models.
• January 10, 2023: Google supplied the Pixel Watch with the January 2023 update featuring firmware number RWD9.220429.073 for both the LTE and Wi-Fi models. The update fixed an issue that would see third-party watch faces turn off after 15 minutes with the always-on display enabled. It also included the new security patches and other, unspecified bug fixes.
• December 5, 2022: Google’s watch received a notable firmware update in December, bearing firmware version RWD9.220429.070. This update fixed issues related to hands-free profile calling, watch face complications and Fitbit Exercise.
• November 14, 2022: The November 2022 update for the Pixel Watch offers tighter Fitbit integration and a fix for an eSIM bug.
• October 13, 2022: The Pixel Watch may have just been reaching buyers at this point, but 9to5Google reported that a software update was available once you complete the initial setup. The update brought better GPS accuracy and other unnamed “new features.”

If you’ve spotted a Pixel Watch OTA update that we haven’t, you can send us a tip here!

About two weeks ago, I put on my swimsuit and jumped in the pool for my first lap swimming session in four years. In less than one length, it was obvious to me that nothing had changed: I still knew how to freestyle swim (even though I was immediately out of breath) and Fitbit trackers were still utterly useless at swim tracking.

I am currently wearing a Pixel Watch and using it to track my walks, random hikes, and, for the past couple of weeks, swims. And let me tell you one experience is not like the others. So if your preferred form of exercise involves doing back-and-forths in the pool, I wouldn’t recommend you get a Fitbit and I’d caution you against the Pixel Watch too; there are much better smartwatches for swimming out there.

Where are the swim stats, Fitbit?

As you can see in the left screenshot above, when I start tracking a walk or hike, I can see plenty of stats on my Pixel Watch‘s screen, from the total distance to the number of steps, heart rate, pace, calories, active zone minutes, and more. I can even customize the display setup to only show the stats I care about. But as the right screenshot shows, when I start a swim, all I can see is the elapsed time and, uh, that’s it. Just a stopwatch on the screen. No laps, distance, pace, heart rate, or anything of the sort. A $10 digital watch does the same thing. Heck, I could simply look at the wall clock in the pool and calculate the duration of my swim!

A $10 digital watch can track the duration of my swim just as well.

Things don’t get much better when I’m out of the pool and sync my exercise with my Pixel 7 Pro. The app shows me how many lengths I’ve swum and calculates the total distance. Those are all the proper swimming stats Fitbit deigns to give me. Any seasoned swimmer will tell you that they don’t need a fitness tracker for that; we already count laps in our heads and we can do the math. Multiplying by 50m or 100m isn’t rocket science.

What we need is pace, average duration per pool length, break duration, splits, a SWOLF score, and all of it clearly organized by swim stroke type. (I personally alternate freestyle and backstroke and I’m definitely faster at the former). Showing me total duration and distance is opaque and pointless; it doesn’t allow me to compare my stats, follow my progression, or learn anything interesting about my current swim. Runners, cyclists, and hikers have it so much better with Fitbit.

Even after syncing to my phone, all I get is total duration and distance. It's pointless.

And yes, there are three other tabs of so-called stats, but none of them mean all that much for swimmers. Calories burned get two tabs for some reason, with a graph that is mildly interesting to follow my general progression and rest. Another tab shows heart rate zones, but I doubt they’re accurate because, for some reason, heart rate doesn’t appear to be tracked during swims. Wait, what?!

Where is the heart rate data, Fitbit?

For other exercise types, Fitbit measures and displays my heart rate in a detailed graph. For swimming? Nada. As I mentioned earlier, even the active minutes don’t appear to be accurate because no matter what I do — swim faster, slower, or rest — all my minutes are counted as “fat burn.” Even my first swim, when I struggled a lot, couldn’t breathe properly, and felt my heart jump out of my chest, was supposedly all spent in the lower “fat burn” zone. I know my body and I’m confident I hit the cardio zone repeatedly and peak heart rate multiple times.

Heart rate data is completely missing when tracking swims.

It seems to me that, instead of relying on measured heart rate data from my smartwatch‘s built-in sensor, Fitbit is applying some old algorithm that looks at the swim’s duration and total distance, then assigns an average heart rate zone to the entire exercise, regardless of what I’m doing or how intense the exercise feels to my own heart.

I wore an Apple Watch on my second wrist the other day, just to see if the Pixel Watch was messing up my zones, and well, yes. According to the Apple Watch, I spent over 50 minutes above 149bpm, which should qualify as the “cardio” zone on my Pixel Watch. But according to my Fitbit stats, I was chilling in the “fat burn” zone nearly the entire time. In case you’re wondering, the two watches measure the same heart rate outside the pool, so it isn’t a matter of one of them being faulty.

Another quite telling proof is that heart rate data during the swim is completely missing from the day’s graph too. Check the screenshots below. I went for a swim around noon on Tuesday, July 25, and Thursday, July 27. Heart rate data is notably missing during those exercises (pointed out by the red arrows), so there is no way for me to tell how intensely I swam. At all.

And just in case you had any doubts, I reached out to Google and got confirmation: Fitbits and the Pixel Watch do not track heart rate during swims. Why? I don’t know.

Fitbit’s swim tracking is crap, get a Garmin instead

To be fair, this isn’t anything new. Fitbit’s swim tracking has been below par for years. Even back in 2016, when I was testing the Flex 2, I noticed that it failed at tracking any interesting details about swims. Seven years later, it still does. Fitbit displays the same stats now as it did in 2016. There should’ve been plenty of time to improve those algorithms and provide a better swim-tracking experience. Alas, nope.

Fitbit's swim tracking hasn't improved in more than seven years.

The Pixel Watch’s only saving grace is the third-party Swim.com app. It measures most of the stats you need and seems accurate enough. But the data doesn’t sync back to Fitbit and integrate with the rest of your exercises, leaving you with another app to keep your eye on. (No, Swim.com doesn’t support Google Health Connect.)

That’s why I’d recommend you get another fitness tracker if you’re interested in tracking your swims and improving your pace. Garmin trackers are excellent for swimming and even a basic option like the Garmin Forerunner 55 (

Alternatively, if you want more apps and smarts, Apple has upped its swim capabilities and the latest Apple Watch Series 8 will show all your laps, swim styles, pace, and more. It still has some issues measuring laps and detecting wall flips, though, in my experience.

And finally, if you want to live in the future, the FORM swim goggles () overlay your stats inside your goggles as you swim. I used to wear them when I was frequently swimming four years ago and, even though I disliked the narrow field of view, I found the experience of seeing all my stats in front of my eyes insanely awesome and useful. It was like having my own relentless coach, and it helped me push myself and improve my swim way more than glancing once or twice at a watch screen ever could. I still have it in my backpack so maybe I’ll take it for a spin on my next swim. I just wish Fitbit on my Pixel Watch could come anywhere near that.

Samsung just launched the Galaxy Watch 6 series, and with it, the company has also debuted Wear OS 4. Yes, the new Samsung smartwatches are the first to get Google’s latest Wear OS version. If you’re looking at a Pixel Watch on your wrist in disappointment right now, you have every right to be upset.

One would have thought that Google would roll out the new software for its own smartwatch before other manufacturers. It looks like Samsung’s close partnership with the Mountain View company has given the Galaxy Watch 6 series a leg-up on the Pixel Watch.

Meanwhile, Google recently let slip a new Wear OS build for the Pixel Watch with version number TWD4.230609.006.B2. According to folks at 9to5Google, this update refers to Wear OS 4 based on Android 13, up from Android 11 and Wear OS 3.5.

It might be just a matter of a few days or weeks before Google rolls out the Pixel Watch Wear OS 4 update and details all its features (Samsung didn’t tell us much during its Galaxy Watch 6 announcement).

Samsung will only start shipping its new smartwatches in August, so we expect the Pixel Watch to also get Wear OS 4 by then.

Google launched the Pixel Watch alongside the Pixel 7 series last year, coming after years of rumors and leaks. And we thought the wearable was a solid start in our Pixel Watch review.

Colleague Rita El-Khoury recently noted that all the Pixel Watch updates were hyping her up for the Pixel Watch 2. We asked you whether you were looking forward to the second-generation watch, and here’s what you told us.

Are you looking forward to the Pixel Watch 2?

Results

Almost 2,000 votes were tallied in this survey as of writing, and almost 87% of polled readers said they were indeed looking forward to the Pixel Watch 2.

This result suggests Google laid the foundation for a compelling wearable offering with the original Pixel Watch, and that respondents are intrigued by the possible improvements.

Meanwhile, roughly 10% of polled readers said they weren’t looking forward to Google’s next watch as they have another smartwatch. This figure is likely much higher when we look at the smartwatch market at large, with Apple being the runaway leader in this space, after all. Finally, ~3% of surveyed readers said they simply didn’t care about smartwatches.

Wear OS 4 is expected to come out later this year. Google released a developer preview in May, but it will be a while before the OS is officially released. But if you want to get your hands on the OS before the rest of the public, you may get your chance through a Wear OS Beta Program.

Discovered by 9to5Google, the words “Wear OS Beta Program” have appeared in the page source of the Android Beta for Pixel website. The page source also appears to name two devices: the Pixel Watch Bluetooth/Wi-Fi and Pixel Watch 4G LTE and Bluetooth/Wi-Fi.

These devices currently run on the latest released version of Wear OS, which is Wear OS 3.5. If Google is working on a beta program for the Pixel Watch, this would likely be a beta for Wear OS 4.

Google already offers a beta program for its Pixel phones that users can opt into. To sign up, you have to log into your Google account to see your eligible devices. From there, you can find your device and click the “Opt in” button. As Google explains:

Enrolled devices will receive continuous beta updates for the duration of the platform’s release cycle including Quarterly Platform Releases (QPRs) followed by the next unreleased platform until you choose to unenroll your device from the program.

We would assume that the setup process for the Pixel Watch’s beta program will be the same. The Pixel Watch will presumably be added to the list of eligible devices, so once you opt-in, you’ll just have to wait for the OTA update to arrive.

Wear OS 4 is expected to bring a variety of improvements that range from better battery life to a faster text-to-speech engine. But arguably, the most notable improvement will be having the ability to backup and restore data.

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Rita El Khoury

If you asked me eight months ago where I pictured the Pixel Watch would be by now, I’d have named dozens and dozens of updates and new features I wanted, on top of obvious additions like more watch faces. Alas, the first six months of the watch’s existence were pretty boring, update-wise, so much so that I started wondering if Google had abandoned the project soon after it launched it. Hey, all we got was fall detection plus a couple of random features for six months!

But the pace of Pixel Watch updates was greatly accelerated about a month ago. We started seeing new apps and functions as well as better third-party developer support, until it all culminated with an important quarterly feature drop in June. All of this may be a bit late for Google’s first-gen smartwatch, but it’s getting me hyped up for the Pixel Watch 2.

Better apps and third-party integrations

Because of battery life concerns, my Pixel Watch usage is pretty limited: notifications, music control via Spotify, and random smart home controls. All three of these experiences have recently received important upgrades on all Wear OS watches, Pixel Watch included.

A new WhatsApp app, new Spotify tiles, and an updated Google Home have made my experience so much better.

First, the new WhatsApp app on Wear OS has everything I need to carry out conversations with my family and friends, specifically voice message support. Everyone I know uses these and being able to listen to them and answer straight from my watch is a fantastic upgrade. I can now cook, do chores, or chill on the sofa without keeping my phone near me to reply to messages. And when I’m on the train or walking and don’t want to get my phone out of my pocket, I can use the WhatsApp app too. Plus, there are tiles with shortcuts for all the people I frequently contact.

The new Heavy Rotation tile that Spotify introduced is another nice addition. Playing music from my watch was never the most straightforward action because I had to find and launch Spotify first, but now I can just tap one of my frequently played playlists and get going, easy peasy. There’s a podcast tile too and a DJ tile if you live in a country where the feature is available. It isn’t in France yet.

Google has also made several changes to the pretty basic Google Home app on Wear OS. Now, the app shows my favorite devices on top so I don’t have to tap, scroll, tap, scroll to get to my vacuum or fan. I can even trigger my favorite automations with a tap or use the color wheel and temperature slider for my lights. There’s still more I want to see here, but the app has become a lot more useful to me thanks to these changes.

Not to forget other minor updates like tiles for sunrise/sunset, UV conditions, YouTube Music, and Google Keep notes. I’ve recently added my Keep shopping list as a tile so I can quickly consult it when I run low on an item or when I’m at the supermarket.

Updated health and activity tracking on the Pixel Watch

We were all baffled when the Pixel Watch launched with a deactivated SpO2 sensor. The latest update has finally activated it and now my watch tracks my oxygen saturation at night and shows me the result every day for extra peace of mind.

High and low heart rate warnings also made it to the Pixel Watch with the latest feature drop, though I haven’t seen any of them yet — I suppose that’s a good thing! I hope I never need that feature, but at least I know the watch will ping me should things go haywire at some point for no reason.

Google also supposedly added automatic detection for pauses and resuming during exercise tracking, but that didn’t work during my outdoor walk last Saturday. I waited a couple of minutes for the watch to catch up and realize I’d sat down and when it didn’t, I manually paused tracking. It didn’t automatically resume when I got back up and finished my walk, so I had to manually trigger it too. The reason, I later discovered, is that you have to manually enable Auto Pause in the Exercise app on the watch, for each exercise type.

New and essential health and activity tracking features have finally made it to the Pixel Watch.

Now that I’ve turned this option on, I’m excited about it. I’ve taken a few hikes and outdoor walks and often forgotten to pause tracking during rests, which consumes battery and messes up the stats. Or worse, I forgot to resume after pausing. I’d still like the Pixel Watch to automatically recognize and live-track exercises like other Fitbit trackers, but this is a step in the right direction.

Too little too late for the first Pixel Watch…

Despite all the improvements, I’d argue that these updates are a little too late for Google’s first Pixel Watch. Sure, those who bought the watch and plan on keeping it for a couple of years will love the new features, but many already gave up on it like my Android Authority colleagues Kaitlyn Cimino and Ryan Haines.

These features should’ve been there on day one, or at most three months post-launch, not eight months later. And we haven’t even scratched the surface of all the weird restrictions that are still there. The Pixel Watch’s manual bedtime mode is baffling, and so is the lack of automatic live exercise recognition and period tracking. I still can’t tap on the location of a calendar event to get directions, nor can I look up transit directions from the Maps app on the watch. Google Wallet still doesn’t show my loyalty cards.

In perfect first-generation Google product tradition, these features should've all been there on day one.

And more importantly, ecosystem integration is still lacking. I’d like to unlock my Pixelbook or Pixel 7 Pro from the watch, see the casting notification on my watch to easily control smart speakers around my home, and get a nudge to use the Camera app on my watch when I open it on my phone.

Plus, can we all agree that we need more watch faces? The few available choices are uniform and the very opposite of fun or information-dense.

… but things are on the right path for the Pixel Watch 2

If recent rumors are to be believed, the Pixel Watch 2 would launch alongside the upcoming Pixel 8 and 8 Pro in October and will feature an upgraded Snapdragon W5 series chip. Unlike the current Exynos processor, the W5 series is built specifically for smartwatches and promises to improve performance and — most importantly — battery life. That’s the biggest letdown we mentioned in our Pixel Watch review so I’d count it as a win if the second-generation watch can reach two days with always-on activated and a little more with it off.

Maybe it's a little too late for the first Pixel Watch, but things are looking up for the Pixel Watch 2.

Additionally, Wear OS 4 is supposedly coming later this year with Material You colors and an easier backup and reset process for smartwatches. Add this to all of the features that have already been implemented and the Pixel Watch 2 is certainly looking more enticing than Google’s first effort. Ideally, I’d also like a larger size option, automatic live exercise tracking, and a temperature sensor for better female health tracking, but the glacial pace of updates is forcing me to temper my expectations.

Even though Samsung and Apple are still far ahead, I can’t use either of their watches because I’ve been wearing a Fitbit for the last decade and all my data is there. The Pixel Watch is my only option. I’d really like to see it succeed, and after months of questioning, I’m happy to see things move in the right direction.

Google announced the availability of the latest Feature Drop for Pixel phones and the Pixel Watch this week, bringing a number of nifty features to the table.

In saying so, some social media users and a couple of Team AA members found that they’d received the relevant update but didn’t see the new features. So did you get the new features on your Pixel phone or watch? Let us know via the poll below.

The June Feature Drop for Pixel phones brings macro video (for the Pixel 7 Pro), emoji wallpapers, new car crash detection features, hands-free photos via a palm gesture, and more. Meanwhile, the Feature Drop for the Pixel Watch brings nighttime SpO2 tracking, irregular heartbeat detection, and auto-pause functionality for exercise.

Me? I’ve received the Feature Drop update on my phone, complete with a subsequent splash screen listing the new features. But I had to update the Pixel camera app to receive macro video support and palm gesture functionality, while I also had to download the Emoji Workshop Wallpaper app. So maybe try this approach first if you’re not seeing any new features after the system update.

Google has offered the At A Glance widget on Android phones for a while now, delivering a variety of contextual information on your home screen. Now, it turns out that the widget is available on the Pixel Watch too.

9to5Google spotted At A Glance on the Pixel Watch, and colleague Rita El-Khoury was able to confirm the feature’s availability on her Pixel Watch. You can find and add the complication by using the Modular II or Modular III layouts of the Utility watch face, occupying the rectangular complication slot.

Glanceable information on your wrist

Much like the widget on Android phones, the watch-based complication shows the date and weather by default. Oddly enough, Rita notes that the feature only displays the temperature in Fahrenheit, even if Celsius is your default measurement. In any event, Google’s support page confirms that At A Glance on Wear OS devices will also show “time to leave” info, calendar events and agendas, and commute times.

There’s no word on whether At A Glance will come to more Wear OS watches, such as the Galaxy Watch 5 series. The feature was originally exclusive to Pixel phones but has since arrived on regular Android devices. Google still offers exclusive info types for Pixels, though, such as package deliveries and Nest doorbell integration. So it stands to reason that we could see a more basic version of At A Glance landing on third-party watches in the future.

The news also comes after Google issued a separate feature drop for the Pixel Watch. This brings a variety of features, including nighttime SpO2 tracking, the ability to recognize heart-rate fluctuations, and auto-pause functionality for exercises.

Traditionally, Google’s quarterly feature drops for its Pixel ecosystem have focused mostly on smartphones. That makes a lot of sense because, until October of last year, that’s mostly all there was! Now, with the Pixel Watch, Google is starting to give it the quarterly update love as well.

Today, Google is rolling out the June 2023 Pixel feature drop. We have a separate article going over the Pixel feature drop for smartphones, but in this article, we will focus on wearables. That’s right: this drop not only brings some new details to the Pixel Watch, but it also brings some fun to select Fitbits too (Google bought Fitbit in 2019).

June 2023 Pixel feature drop: Pixel Watch

By far, the biggest news from this feature drop is support for nighttime SpO2 tracking coming to the Pixel Watch. This was promised a long, long time ago, so it’s nice to see it finally land. After you update, your Pixel Watch will automatically track your blood-oxygen levels while you sleep. Identifying changes within this data can be a good indicator of your overall health. Considering this has become a fundamental aspect of all fitness trackers and smartwatches, it’s great to see the Pixel Watch finally join the club.

Likewise, the Pixel Watch will now be able to recognize fluctuations in your heart rate. If it notices something is very off, it will notify you (see the above image). This could be an early indication of something being wrong with your heart, even including a heart attack.

Finally, the Pixel Watch will also get an exercising auto-pause feature with the June 2023 Pixel feature drop. If you are doing a run, bike ride, or walking exercise, your Pixel Watch will automatically stop tracking it when you stop. When you start again, it will resume tracking, once again, automatically. This means no more fiddling with your watch every time you get to a stoplight!

As a bonus this quarter, Google is also rolling out a set of first-party Metal Links bands for the Pixel Watch. You’ll have the choice between Brushed Silver and Matte Black (shown at the top of this article). Either way, they’ll set you back $199.99 starting June 16 at the online Google Store and its physical retail locations in New York City.

June 2023 Pixel feature drop: Fitbits

It’s unusual for Fitbits to see much action during a Pixel feature drop. However, this time around, Fitbits see a lot of love. These features will begin to roll out to select Fitbit products this week.

• There will be more support for more languages, including supporting right-to-left reading (Sense 2, Versa 4, Charge 5, Luxe, and Inspire 3).
• Your Daily Readiness score will now appear directly on your wearable’s display, with no need to go into the Fitbit app (all models).
• A new Menstrual Health tile will allow you to manage your period from your wearable (Sense 2 and Versa 4).
• You can now switch your clock’s style right from your watch (Sense 2 and Versa 4).
• All exercise modes will now be available on your tracker, with no need to select just five favorites (Charge 5, Luxe, and Inspire 3).
• Four new clockfaces are available in the Fitbit gallery app (Charge 5, Luxe, and Inspire 3).

Google Pixel phones are able to turn off in the event of excessively high device temperatures, and it turns out that this same feature applies to the Pixel Watch.

Redditor jab_storm82 (h/t: 9to5Google) discovered this safety measure after leaving their Pixel Watch in a car all day, as the watch turned itself off and presented a notification upon booting up again. Check out a screenshot of the watch alert below.

We can also confirm seeing the Pixel Watch turning itself off due to heating issues. More specifically, colleague Rita El-Khoury noted that the watch overheated while using a generic charger.

For what it’s worth, Google’s own support page dishes out guidelines for Pixel Watch temperatures.

“Your Google Pixel Watch is designed to work best in ambient temperatures between 0°C and 35°C (32°F and 95°F) and should be stored between ambient temperatures of -20°C and 45°C (-4°F and 113°F),” the company explained.

Google also urged users not to subject the wearable to temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius (specifically pointing to places such as a car dashboard or heating vent), as this could damage the battery, cause overheating, or represent a fire risk.

Either way, we’re glad to see this safety measure here but we hope summer doesn’t result in a flood of overheating Pixel Watches. After all, the last thing Google needs is another device that heats up in a big way under load.

Update, June 2, 2023 (10:50 PM ET): Google has given Android Authority a statement on this issue. Here is the statement in full:

We’re aware of a very small number of Google Pixel Watch users having an issue with the glass on the back of the watch. We’re working to identify its cause and rectify the situation as quickly as possible.

Hopefully, Google will get to the bottom of the issue and take care of any customers who come across this problem.

Original article, June 2, 2023 (08:07 AM ET): When it comes to good Wear OS smartwatches, there are fewer options than one might hope to see. The Pixel Watch was Google’s attempt at making a good Wear OS smartwatch, and it lays a solid foundation for Google to build on, as we mention in our Pixel Watch review. However, being a Pixel device, the Pixel Watch suffers from the Pixel hardware curse, as users report their units are randomly popping open.

As compiled by AndroidPolice, there have been multiple instances reported by Pixel Watch owners where the backplate of the watch has come off. When pulling the watch off its magnetic charger, the whole rear plate cleanly slides off.

This indicates that the adhesive responsible for keeping the backplate attached has dried up. In most of these reports, we cannot spot any leftover adhesive residue on the watch or the backplate. The Pixel Watch gets warm when charging, which could also loosen the adhesive over time.

Google has not yet officially acknowledged the problem. Affected users have contacted Google support, and the company has sent a replacement unit to most. Some owners have had to escalate the issue as they were denied a replacement.

It’s troubling to see the increasing frequency of these reports. The Pixel Watch’s dust and water resistance ratings presume a secured backplate. Without the backplate, these ratings no longer hold. It also reduces your confidence in the rating even when the backplate is in place. If the backplate of your watch has come off or is about to come off, we strongly recommend keeping it away from dust and water and contacting Google support.

Contrary to the lead-up of most Google devices, few details have leaked about the follow-up to the Pixel Watch. However, that may have just changed after a new leak just surfaced. We may now know about the Pixel Watch 2’s processor, battery life, and some of the specs.

Google could be thinking about changing the chip in the Pixel Watch 2, according to a report from 9to5Google. The outlet’s sources claim the smartwatch might ditch the Exynos processor in favor of a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip from the latest W5 generation. This could be the Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1, which is featured in the TicWatch Pro 5, or it could be a standard Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 SoC.

This 4nm chip would reportedly contain four A53 cores at 1.7GHz with dual Adreno 702 GPUs. In contrast, the original Pixel Watch’s Exynos 9110 chip is a 10nm chip with two A53 cores.

Apparently, thanks to this new chip, the sequel to the Pixel Watch could see a significant improvement in the battery life department. It’s alleged that the device can last for over a day with always-on display (AOD) enabled. When the Pixel Watch launched, it was said to offer 24 hours of use, but that was only with AOD disabled. This boost to the battery life could also be due in part to a more efficient operating system in Wear OS 4, which is expected to arrive in the next generation smartwatch when it launches.

The report also mentions that Google could give the wearable similar health sensors to the Fitbit Sense 2. We don’t know what sensors Google could include. There are a variety of sensors on the Sense 2, but one of the more notable ones is the skin conductance (cEDA) sensor. This sensor is capable of detecting stress levels.

Outside of this new leak, we have heard that the Pixel Watch 2 could launch alongside the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. We expect that the smartwatch will retain its minimalist look and incorporate more of Fitbit’s toolkit.

The Google Pixel Watch has been available for half a year now, launching alongside the Pixel 7 series. The watch’s factory images haven’t been posted online though, but that’s changing now.

Google quietly posted the watch’s factory images and OTA firmware on its developer website this week (h/t: XDA-Developers). So developers and tinkerers have a way to flash to the original firmware.

These images allow users to quickly update to the latest firmware if they don’t feel like waiting their turn for an over-the-air update. It’s also handy for custom ROM development, tinkering, and troubleshooting, allowing users to get back to the vanilla software.

Ready to flash? Not so fast.

Unfortunately, the big challenge is connecting your Pixel Watch to a PC to get these images flashed to your wearable in the first place.

“Flashing factory or full OTA images on a Google Pixel Watch requires a debug adapter that Google distributes by invitation only,” the company notes on its developer website.

However, tinkerers have had some success with DIY methods for connecting a watch to their PCs, although this involves sacrificing a USB cable.

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

WhatsApp is finally available as a native app on Wear OS smartwatches like the Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch 5. The app is still in beta, but those of you who are registered testers will be happy to know that it does nearly everything you’d want from a messaging app on your wrist, including support for voice messages — hallelujah! In an instant, this app has made my Google Pixel Watch infinitely more useful in my everyday life.

How to install WhatsApp on the Pixel Watch and other Wear OS smartwatches

To install WhatsApp on the Pixel Watch, Galaxy Watch 5, or other Android smartwatches, you need to be a beta tester. Join the WhatsApp beta program, then wait a little bit until the Play Store app on your phone validates your beta status. After that, you can simply search for “WhatsApp” on the Play Store either on your smartwatch or your phone and tap to install it.

Once installed, open the app on your watch and you’ll get a Continue on phone message with an 8-digit pairing code. On your phone, a WhatsApp notification pops up and asks you if you’re trying to link a new Wear OS device. Tap Confirm, then enter the 8-digit code you see on your watch.

The pairing process takes a few seconds, after which you’ll see Wear OS among your Linked devices on the phone and all your chats will start loading on the smartwatch. Check the screenshots below for both the phone and watch steps.

What does the WhatsApp smartwatch app offer?

Until now, we could technically use some WhatsApp features on our smartwatches via notifications, but they were limited. Receive a message and reply to it — that’s it. The native WhatsApp app on the Pixel Watch and other Wear OS watches offers a vastly superior experience, starting from the fact that you can now see all your chats and all your messages, not just new notifications. This means you can consult older chats as well as initiate messages, instead of only replying.

The app’s main view lists your last 10 chats with a quick preview of the last message in each one. Scroll down, and you’ll be able to Load more chats or go to Settings. The latter are pretty meager for now: You can view your profile photo, number, and status, but you can’t change any of them. Then there’s the option to enable or disable Security notifications, which lets you know when people change their phones for example. You can also Logout of the app.

Tap on a chat and you’ll be able to scroll back to read all the messages in it. Emojis, photos, and stickers are supported, but unfortunately, GIFs and videos show up as a Message unsupported bubble. At the bottom of the chat, you’ll find the option to open the conversation on your phone, see who’s in it (handy for group chats), and two icons: one to record a voice note and another to type a text message. The latter opens up Wear OS‘s default text input, which lets you use the keyboard, emojis, or voice-to-text.

WhatsApp brings my most wanted smartwatch feature: voice message support

I’ve already explained why audio clips or voice notes are essential to the messaging experience on a smartwatch for me, but the gist is that in my culture, people use these a lot. We speak Lebanese Arabic, we set our phones to French or English, and we type in the Latin alphabet using transliteration (standard Arabic is too formal for most chats). This creates a confusing situation where recording a voice note is often easier and faster than typing a message. It’s especially true for older people, those who are functionally illiterate, or anyone who’s frequently on the move — and we’re on the move a lot.

In my case, I’d say about 50% of the messages I receive and 30% of those I send are voice recordings, and I know the situation is the same for a lot of people across the Middle East, Asia, South America, and Africa. So you can imagine why support for this feature is crucial for my — and other people’s — smartwatch messaging experience. Without it, I lose access to half of my conversations.

And that’s why the new native WhatsApp app is infinitely more useful than the previous notification-only experience. Now, when I get new messages, I can expand the notification and if there’s a voice message, I can tap to Open on watch. This lets me play the audio clip at 1x, 1.5x, or 2x speed using the speaker that’s built into my Pixel Watch. I can also reply straight from my wrist. Recording is simple and I can always delete the message if I change my mind.

I no longer have to fumble to get my phone and unlock it when I want to listen to or send voice messages. I can do it directly from my watch and, in less than a day, this has elevated my messaging experience on my Pixel Watch. Of course, it works on other Wear OS watches too, like the Galaxy Watch 5.

WhatsApp brings a few extras to its Wear OS app

When I installed the WhatsApp app on my Pixel Watch, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the developers didn’t skimp on features and implemented a few extra Wear OS capabilities too. One of them is complication support. When you tap to edit any watch face, you’ll be able to pick the WhatsApp complication, which shows the app’s icon as well as the number of unread chats. This also creates a quick shortcut to launch the app straight from your watch face — neat!

The other is tile support. The app comes with two new tiles that you can add to your rotation, one showing shortcuts to your last five chats, and one letting you send a voice message to your three most recent chats. Again, both of these are super handy.

For those of us who use WhatsApp a lot on our phones and rely on it for most of our communications, the new Wear OS app is an excellent complement. It eschews the reaction-only paradigm of notifications and brings the essential parts of the WhatsApp experience to the wrist while elevating the messaging experience on smartwatches. If only the Pixel Watch display was bigger to allow me to see more messages — maybe with the Pixel Watch 2?

It’s hard to believe it has only been seven months since the release of the Pixel Watch. Over those months, the gadget has managed to age fairly well. But just as we’ve gotten used to the gadget, it looks like another one could be coming our way soon.

The folks over at 9to5Google managed to get their hands on some new information about the successor to the Pixel Watch. According to the outlet’s source, the Pixel Watch 2 might launch later this year alongside the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. A turnaround that may be sooner than most people expected.

It’s unknown if Pixel Watch 2 will be the actual name or if Google will choose a different name. Outside of this revelation, details remain fairly scarce.

Google has a habit of launching its Pixel phones around October. So if this information is true and there are no delays, there’s a good chance it could launch sometime in October. An October release would also mark a full year since the Pixel Watch made its debut.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Google used a similar design aesthetic for its next smartwatch. Especially since the domed display was a widely celebrated aspect of the device. We also expect Google to continue its Fitbit tool kit and companion app integration.

In our Google Pixel Watch 2 update hub, we mentioned we would like to see better battery life. The current model can barely last a day. And it would be great if Google could come up with a cutting-edge feature. Finally, it would be nice if Google could make the bezel a little smaller.

Opinion post by

Rita El Khoury

As I sit here contemplating how to start this retrospective article, I glance down at the Google Pixel Watch on my wrist and realize it’s down to 13% battery. I shrug; time for the daily top-up, I guess. So I take it off and put it on the charger knowing I will likely leave it there way longer than necessary because I’ll just forget to wear it again after 90 or so minutes.

And therein lies my biggest issue with Google’s first smartwatch. It doesn’t matter how much I like the glass dome design and how smooth it is to interact with as long as I can’t actually use it to its full potential. Like my colleague Aamir recently expressed, I end up using this smartwatch in all the dumb ways because I just want to get to the end of the day without a dead battery. And despite my best efforts, I’ve had many, many empty batteries over the last six months.

Pixel Watch battery life, or lack thereof

I have been wearing Fitbit trackers consistently for more than 10 years, but I haven’t had to actively think about charging any of them as much as I do the Pixel Watch. I already bought a second charging cable and a small, portable USB-C charging puck ($11.99 on Amazon) to carry around when I travel. That’s how cautious I am, and yet…

Picture me plopping my watch on the puck during a 30-minute drive in Slovenia, all so I have enough juice to last me through a short afternoon hike in Bled. I didn’t want to do that, but I had to. Or better yet, imagine me cursing under my breath because I forgot to charge the watch as soon as I woke up and now I have to head out in five minutes with a 20% battery. I guess most of today’s steps will be lost to history. And then the Fitbit app will have the audacity to judge me for not reaching my daily goal! Meanwhile, my husband didn’t even pack his Fitbit Versa charger for our four-day trip and still tracked all his walks, sleep, and three full hikes.

The irony of a fitness tracker being more problematic to use during active days isn't lost on me.

Because Fitbit and Google won’t let me pair the Watch and a regular tracker to the same account, I find myself in a constant “when do I charge this?” conundrum, even more so on days when I’m very active. The irony of a fitness tracker being more problematic to use on active days isn’t lost on me, trust me. A 90-120 minute full charge isn’t easy to slot in, because what should I sacrifice? Steps or sleep? Some days it’s this, other days it’s that. So every month, I end up with at least two or three days of missed sleep tracking. Just look at these screenshots.

The silly battery life was one of the biggest drawbacks we mentioned during our initial Pixel Watch review, and I’d argue it’s a more crucial issue than we first thought. This restriction ends up dictating all my interactions with it. Do I actively track my morning walk to see my live stats on the watch and risk losing 10-20% of juice in an hour, or do I let it do its less useful background tracking and keep those precious percentages? Do I conveniently check Todoist or other cool Pixel Watch apps or do I take my phone out instead? Do I dare open Spotify on the watch to listen to music or do I just stick with my phone, using the watch as a glorified playback remote? Every decision and every usage over the last six months has been tied to this single factor.

The battery life restriction dictates all my interactions with the Pixel Watch, stopping me from enjoying everything else I like about it.

This makes it tough to enjoy everything else that the Pixel Watch does right. It’s beautiful on the wrist — more than any pictures do it justice — and the glass dome is just a fantastic design. Despite how many good Pixel Watch cases and bands there are, putting it in one almost feels sacrilegious.

I also can’t overstate the importance of it not snagging on long sleeves and jackets enough. I often avoided interacting with other smartwatches in the wintertime because of how annoying it was to reach them under my clothing. That’s not the case at all with the Pixel Watch.

Plus, it’s so fun to interact with. Swiping on the dome is smoother than some of the best smartwatches I’ve tried and is on par with the Apple Watch. Also, the crown continues to be a joy to spin, with perfect scrolling haptics. Google nailed a lot of the design decisions; too bad it thought 24 hours of longevity was good enough.

Google’s questionable software commitment

Although Google has rolled out monthly security updates to the Pixel Watch since its launch, and one rather significant update in March 2023, most of them have been nothing but bug fixes. Fall detection, which was promised when the watch launched in October, only landed in March. And it took Google all of three months to enable a single-tap toggle for the battery saver (the feature was teased in December and launched in March). None of that is a sign of proper commitment to the watch or the platform.

Most of the updates have been nothing but bug fixes. New features are few, very few, and far between.

This has been very frustrating for a daily Pixel Watch wearer like me. By now, I would’ve expected a dozen new watch faces, the activation of the SpO2 sensor — we know it’s there, it’s just disabled — and an automatic bedtime mode at the very least. Not to mention the addition of all the small missing features to Google’s own apps. I don’t understand how Google Maps still doesn’t support transit directions on the watch, or how Google Wallet won’t let me show my loyalty cards there.

I’ve already explained everything that’s missing on Wear OS on the Pixel Watch, so I won’t go into that again. Suffice it to say, there’s room for improvement.

Why I really want a Pixel Watch 2

Having worn both a fitness tracker and a Wear OS watch for several years now, I was and still am the perfect Pixel Watch target user. I don’t miss those double-wristing days at all, but I want a more reliable single solution that lasts at least two days on a charge; that’s the restriction I’m willing to work with. A second-generation Pixel Watch would, hopefully, fit that bill.

Rumors of the Pixel Watch 2 have been very scant so far, if nonexistent. Ideally, this successor would come in two size variants, one of them being larger than the current watch. A bigger display and bigger battery would be very welcome too. Both versions should also have smaller bezels and a more power-efficient processor — Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 wearables chip could be awesome here. Basically, I want the hardware specs to match the design of the Pixel Watch so I can use it to its full potential and enjoy doing so.

I want the hardware specs to match the Pixel Watch 2's design so I can use it to its full potential and enjoy doing so.

In this ideal future, the next Pixel Watch would also have most, if not all of the latest Fitbit Sense 2 sensors and automatic workout detection. Specifically, I expect at least the SpO2 and skin temperature sensors to be there. This is Google’s unique selling point for its smartwatch and not capitalizing on that is madness. Who wants to pay $350 for a smarter Fitbit that doesn’t do everything a slightly dumber Fitbit already does?

But I guess the main reason I want a Pixel Watch 2 is that it would solidify Google’s commitment to wearables, its smartwatch platform, and its burgeoning hardware ecosystem. We’d still be far from Apple’s clear strategy and solid line-up, but seeing a second watch from Google might indicate to developers that it’s worth investing in and adapting their apps to the platform. I’ll know we’ve reached that when my local French bank and the Parisian transit system show up on the Play Store on my watch.

Nearly six months after the release of the Google Pixel Watch, the accessory ecosystem is catching up. While we only had a limited choice of stands, chargers, straps, bands, and cases at first, that’s no longer the case now. Both well-known brands and white-label companies have jumped on board and there’s a lot to pick from. I’ve been digging into the online accessory treasure trove to find some options that work for me and landed on four protective Pixel Watch cases and bands that I enjoy using for different reasons.

It’s worth noting, though, that I keep my Pixel Watch band/case-less about half the days that I’m wearing it. I really enjoy its smooth, curved, and obstruction-free design that slides into pockets and under long sleeves without snagging on anything. But I’m a very clumsy person, so there are situations when I know I need a bumper around the glass dome to avoid scratching or breaking it. This is when I resort to these bands and cases.

My all-around favorite Pixel Watch band: Caseology Nano Pop

The two-tone navy and yellow color of the Caseology Nano Pop instantly drew me in. The band’s yellow rim creates an eye-catching border around the Pixel Watch’s display, which works particularly well with yellow-themed watch faces. Yes, I like it when things match. Better yet, the Nano Pop design is available for phones too, so you can grab a similar case for your phone. My only regret here is that the band isn’t made in the “avo green” colorway that Caseology offers on other Nano Pop products.

As we noted in our Pixel Watch review, the design is one of its unique selling points, so it’s a bit of a shame to see it disappear inside this band. But, I think this gives the watch a unique, sportier look, and kinda makes me feel like I own two very different watches.

The Nano Pop gives the Pixel Watch a sportier look and makes me feel like I own two very different watches.

This all-in-one Pixel Watch band protects the device’s body, creating a raised bevel around the display to avoid scratches (which takes a bit to get used to when swiping), and wrapping around into non-removable 22mm straps with a metallic buckle. I like the band’s soft but sturdy rubber material, and its clicky app launcher button, but I’m so-so on its design around the crown. I would’ve liked to see a thinner material here or a larger opening to allow for better grip when turning the crown. Not a deal-breaker for my usage, but keep that in mind if you rely on the crown a lot.

A robust alternative: Spigen Rugged Armor Pro

If the Caseology Nano Pop is a cute and streamlined Pixel Watch band, the Spigen Rugged Armor Pro is anything but. It lives up to its name, though. This reminds me of Casio G-Shock watch designs, with the four thickened bumpers protruding from the left and right sides. The strap is very long — enough to fit 215mm wrists and fix one of the original Pixel Watch’s problems for people with thick wrists. It’s 24mm wide with an indentation after each adjustment hole. The system is so well secured that there’s no way the free loop would slide while you’re wearing it.

This isn’t the band I wear while I’m doing my lofty desk job, but it’s the one I’ve started turning to when I go hiking or on other outdoorsy adventures. The raised lip around the display is just enough to provide protection without impeding on gestures and, surprisingly, the crown is a bit more accessible here than on the sleeker Caseology band. The Rugged Armor definitely looks more “manly” on my wrist, though, but hey, I’m not wearing this to a wedding.

The simple everyday option: Caseology Vault

I wasn’t a fan of the Vault when I first saw it, but it slowly grew on me. Now it’s my favorite Pixel Watch case when I want to keep the minimal, all-black design while adding a bit of protection. Unlike the two previous options, though, this is just a case that wraps around the Pixel Watch’s body; you still have to attach the original bands after you install it.

The Vault has appealed to me because it’s minimal enough and the leather-like pattern around the display doesn’t look too cheap. The case also keeps the Pixel Watch’s cute round shape (unlike the Spigen Liquid Air which takes an oval shape on the speaker’s side), but it still offers a bumper around the entire body. If you don’t mind the more oval shape of the Spigen Liquid Air ($18.99 on Amazon), I think it’s a good alternative: The material is thinner but it has a slightly more raised lip around the display, the crown is more easily accessible, and the app launcher button is more clicky there. I wish there was a case with the best features of both of these, but as it stands, the Vault has won its place on my wrist.

A transparent option: Spigen Thin Fit

Clear TPU isn’t the most elegant material, but there’s a reason a lot of us keep coming back to it: It lets us see beneath it. And that’s why the clear Spigen Thin Fit is nabbing a post on this list. Like its name indicates, it’s a pretty slim case around the Pixel Watch’s dome, but it’s just what you need to avoid random bumps and scratches.

The transparent material is not my favorite — it often catches dust particles and sometimes looks cheap with a rainbow-like effect — but it can also look good under some lighting conditions. My favorite feature here, though, is the completely unimpeded crown. I can easily reach it and turn it, as if there was no case at all.

This isn't my favorite material, but I like the unimpeded access to the Pixel Watch's crown.

Spigen offers it in a black version too, but that one is made of hard plastic and seems to be breaking after a few weeks of use for some users. I’d definitely grab a black rubberized Thin Fit case if the company started offering it, but the clear one is the only option at this time.

I’m still keeping my eye on the Pixel Watch accessory ecosystem and will see if other bands and cases pop up that catch my attention. For now, though, these are the ones I’ve settled on and would recommend you to buy.

Update: March 21, 2023 (12:39 AM ET): Google is finally fixing the annoying issue with alarms getting delayed on the Pixel Watch. The company’s big March 2023 update with build number RWDA.230114.008.R1 is now rolling out to Pixel Watch units. Google notes the following in the changelog:

In the coming weeks, a fix will be rolled out via PlayStore to update the Clock app that addresses some alarms which have been having a delayed or false start.

Original article: March 6, 2023 (1:37 AM ET): Have you noticed your Pixel Watch sounding off alarms later than the time they are set for? If so, you’re not alone. Multiple reports about the issue on Reddit have been popping up for about two months now. Most complaints show that the Pixel Watch has been a few minutes late in firing up alarms. However, sometimes scheduled alarms are delayed by up to 10 minutes, which could be the difference between being on time or getting late for work, school drop-offs, etc.

The issue doesn’t seem widespread, though. Some Pixel Watch users have also commented on the Reddit threads that their units fire up alarms just fine.

Meanwhile, the users experiencing the issue can’t pinpoint a particular software update responsible for the problem. Folks at  9to5Google believe the late alarms could be caused by the Pixel Watch waking up from a deep sleep. Most of the complaints are about early morning alarms going off late. This is usually when the Pixel Watch exits Bedtime Mode after hours of being minimally active.

Google hasn’t acknowledged the problem yet, but it’s something that the company can easily fix with a software patch. Hopefully, an upcoming update will resolve the problem.

Having more trouble with your Pixel Watch? Here’s a guide on how to fix common Pixel Watch problems.

Update, March 20, 2023 (2:55 PM ET): Google has pushed out March’s security patch to all members of the Pixel 6 series.

Original article, March 14, 2023: Google pushed out the March Pixel feature drop yesterday, and now the company is rolling out this month’s security patches to the Pixel phones and the Pixel Watch.

According to an official post on Google’s support forum, all phones running Android 13, starting from the Pixel 4a to the Pixel 7 series, will get the March 2023 security patch. For some reason, Google hasn’t included the software build numbers for the Pixel 6 series and the Pixel 6a in the update list.

The rollout will continue over the next few weeks in phases depending on carrier and device. Users will receive a notification once the OTA becomes available for their devices.

The March security fix for Pixel phones includes improvements across several areas, including device stability, connectivity, performance, and more. You can check out the long list of changes here. Following are the official build numbers for Google’s March security update.

Global

• Pixel 4a: TQ2A.230305.008.C1
• Pixel 4a (5G): TQ2A.230305.008.C1
• Pixel 5: TQ2A.230305.008.C1
• Pixel 5a (5G): TQ2A.230305.008.C1
• Pixel 6: TQ2A.230305.008.E1
• Pixel 6a: TQ2A.230305.008.E1
• Pixel 6 Pro: TQ2A.230305.008.E1
• Pixel 7: TQ2A.230305.008
• Pixel 7 Pro: TQ2A.230305.008.C1

T-Mobile & MVNOs, Google Fi (US)

• Pixel 4a (5G): TQ2A.230305.008.A3
• Pixel 5: TQ2A.230305.008.A3
• Pixel 5a (5G): TQ2A.230305.008.A3

Canada

• Pixel 6: TQ2A.230305.008.F1
• Pixel 6a: TQ2A.230305.008.F1
• Pixel 6 Pro: TQ2A.230305.008.F1
• Pixel 7: TQ2A.230305.008.A1
• Pixel 7 Pro: TQ2A.230305.008.A3

Meanwhile, the Pixel Watch also seems to be getting the March security update. Google hasn’t announced it officially, but T-Mobile lists it on the software support page for the smartwatch. The Pixel Watch update on T-Mobile comes with Software Version RWDA.230114.008.R1.

Credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

Google launched its long-awaited Pixel Watch alongside the Pixel 7 series back in October, offering a circular design and some Google and Fitbit additions. Was it a commercial hit, though? Well, it looks like we’ve finally got some shipment figures.

Tracking firm Canalys posted its Q4 2022 global wearable shipment report this week (h/t: Android Headlines), and the company claims that Google shipped 880,000 Pixel Watch units in the quarter.

How does that compare to rival brands, then? Canalys noted that Samsung shipped 2.9 million wearables but didn’t dish out figures for specific Galaxy Watch models, such as the new Galaxy Watch 5 series. However, the above chart shows that the Korean brand’s smartwatch shipments still handily beat Google’s watch shipments (which include Fitbit smartwatches as well).

This isn’t a surprise at all, as this is Google’s first proper smartwatch while Samsung has offered watches for roughly a decade now. Galaxy watches are also available in far more locales than Google’s wearable.

Either way, both Google and Samsung paled in comparison to Apple’s smartwatch shipments in Q4. The Cupertino company reportedly racked up 13.8 million Apple Watches shipped in the quarter.

It’s always interesting to learn how much something costs to make compared to its retail price. For example, did you know that it cost Samsung $533 to make the $1,199 128GB Galaxy S21 Ultra? Well, thanks to a new report, we now know how much it costs Google to make the LTE version of the Pixel Watch.

According to a bill of materials report from global industry analysis firm Counterpoint, the LTE-capable Pixel Watch costs Google $123 to make. This version of the Pixel Watch sold for $399 at launch. If you’re counting, that’s about $276 less than the retail price.

In addition to revealing the total bill of materials cost, the report also breaks down the total part by part. You can see the full breakdown in the chart below.

It’s important to note that if you add up all of the percentages, the total will be over 100%. As Counterpoint mentions in its post, this is due to rounding.

If you didn’t know, the Pixel Watch uses an Exynos 9110 processor provided by Samsung. The Korean tech giant also supplies the LTE transceiver and other paired components. As a result, Samsung accounts for the majority of the overall bill of material cost in terms of cost contribution at 20%.

Second place goes to the manufacturer of the Pixel Watch’s 1.2-inch-diameter OLED display, BOE. This display has a resolution of 450×450 dots, offers up to 1,000 nits of brightness, and is protected by a custom 3D Corning glass (Gorilla Glass 5). According to the data from the report, the display alone manages to capture up to 14% of the total cost contribution.

Now that you know how much Google spends to produce a Pixel Watch and how that cost breaks down, what do you think? Let us know in the comments section down below.

Google has finally rolled out Fall Detection to the Google Pixel Watch. When the watch originally launched, the feature was promised to arrive sometime in winter. Now existing users can enable Fall Detection for future use. Tapping its existing sensors, the watch uses machine learning to recognize if a user takes a hard fall and does not get up immediately. Most importantly, Google extensively tested the feature to differentiate between minor trips or workouts and actual falls with safety concerns.

The feature automatically springs into action when the Pixel Watch detects a real fall. After 30 seconds without detecting user movement, the watch will emit an alarm and vibrate on the user’s wrist. It will also display an onscreen prompt with two options: “I fell and need help” or “I’m okay.” You can tap “I’m okay” to dismiss the feature if you are, in fact, okay. If not, tapping “I fell and need help” will connect the device to emergency services.

If you fail to tap either option, the watch will emit a louder alarm. After about a minute, it will automatically contact emergency services. Once help is reached, the watch will play an automated message requesting assistance. If you are able, you can speak to the operator instead to explain your situation.

To start utilizing the new feature, open the Pixel Watch app on your paired phone and look for the promotional card on the Updates page. To enable it right from your wrist, open the Personal Safety app and tap the toggle next to Fall Detection. Do note that if you don’t have an LTE-enabled Pixel Watch, you will need your watch to be actively connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth for this to work.

While this safety measure may be new to the Pixel Watch, it is not new to wearables in general. Both last year’s Apple Watch Series 8 and Galaxy Watch 5 offer Fall Detection. It is encouraging to see Google continue to support this first-generation device. These improvements to the smartwatch narrow the gap between the Pixel Watch and current industry leaders.

Credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Dhruv Bhutani

As someone who sports some of the best smartwatches primarily for health metrics, the lackluster improvement in battery life in the category has long been a pet peeve of mine. Those health metrics will only be as good as the amount of data I have. If the watch says 24 hours on the box, it should go 24 hours. But as we all know, that’s rarely the case for most users, let alone those like me who push their smartwatches with GPS-based workouts and a healthy amount of notifications.

It’s a problem that particularly plagues Wear OS wearables like the Pixel Watch, though the Apple Watch isn’t entirely immune to it either. In fact, I’d been eyeing the Pixel Watch ever since it was announced but opted for the Apple Watch Ultra primarily for the super-sized battery. Regardless, range anxiety on smartwatches is real, and it makes me long for my old Fitbit that could easily go a week or more on a charge.

But what if there was a way to use my old Fitbit alongside the Pixel Watch on the same account? That would draw me right back into the ecosystem. Here’s why it needs to happen and how it could work.

One account for Pixel Watch and Fitbit: Convenience and versatility

I love health-first smartwatches. They’ve democratized health tracking and incentivized daily wear thanks to the added benefit of non-intrusive notifications and easily-reachable apps. But with great capabilities comes great battery drain, and most smartwatches just can’t go over a day of intensive use. Moreover, if I’m wearing a full-sized wearable, I want all of the functionality instead of a smartwatch-lite experience like that offered by Amazfit or Garmin’s long-lasting wearables. That said, there are occasions when I don’t need all that power.

I don't need a full-blown smartwatch when I'm sleeping.

Case in point: when I’m sleeping. Already heading towards zero by the end of the day, there’s rarely enough juice for a full night of sleep tracking left over — a pain point for most smartwatches. As a lifelong insomniac, I use sleep tracking to actively track sleep zones and improve my sleep quality. That said, sleep tracking doesn’t require a full-blown smartwatch. Why can’t I just swap out the Pixel Watch for a Fitbit to track my nightly sleep or lack of it? All while my Pixel Watch charges on a nightstand.

Formal outings are yet another occasion where I’d appreciate the ability to swap out my smartwatch for something a bit more inconspicuous. I’m the kind of guy who will whip out a mechanical watch when dressing up and I’m not alone in this. However, a formal occasion doesn’t mean I want to miss out on basics like step or heart rate tracking. A smaller fitness tracker strapped onto the other wrist is far more acceptable than dual-wielding watches.

Similarly, I don’t want to baby the glass-encased Pixel Watch when out on a trail. I’d much rather swap over to a more robust, usually cheaper, and relatively dispensable fitness tracker that does all the fitness tracking I need.

Making use of that Fitbit integration

To me, a large part of the Pixel Watch’s appeal is its deep integration with Fitbit. I’ve used the company’s products for years. It’s got granular details of my weight loss journey, my first marathon, and years of workouts. It’s why I’ve been eyeing Google’s watch over other Pixel Watch alternatives. Having my fitness data go into the same familiar data bank with years of trends to pore over is appealing.

Fitbit used to allow multiple trackers to pair to a single device. It's time to consider bringing back the feature.

It also makes me wonder why it’s so hard for Google to allow data from the Pixel Watch and Fitbit to sync to the same account. Surely, it is just the small task of data classification and segregating step counts by timestamps? Moreover, it wouldn’t be new for Google. Fitbit used to offer this functionality. In fact, it was possible to pair multiple trackers to a single account for several years. Fitbit would then automatically sync over data based on the last device used. The company canned the functionality when it introduced products that supported the Fitbit app gallery, but perhaps it is time to consider bringing it back.

In fact, Samsung’s wearables can do this without an issue. In a recent conversation, my colleague Calvin mentioned how the Galaxy Wearables app lets him automatically switch between any wearable paired with the app using skin detection. It lets him grab his older Gear S3 on the way out if his Galaxy Watch 4 is on charge. If Samsung has figured it out, why can’t Google do it too?

If Samsung can use skin detection to automatically switch between two wearables, why can't Google do it too?

Look, anybody considering the Pixel Watch for its highlight feature — Fitbit integration — has likely been in the Fitbit ecosystem for a while. I’ve got a box full of old Fitbit trackers lying around unused. Allowing users to reuse their old fitness trackers alongside the Pixel Watch is more than a goodwill gesture. It would be a fantastic move for sustainability and it would alleviate the biggest pain point of the Pixel watch — battery life. Additionally, it might spur users who prefer a dedicated fitness tracker to pick up a Fitbit to go alongside the Pixel Watch. That’s an easy win for Google.

Why limit it to just Fitbit?

So far, I’ve approached the problem from the lens of a long-time Fitbit user. However, Google has all the tools in place to solve this problem for any combination of smartwatches and fitness trackers. Google’s Health Connect platform was designed to let disapparate fitness apps speak to each other. Better Health Connect and Google Fit integration with the broader ecosystem of fitness trackers will enable just that. With fitness data being routed through Health Connect to Google Fit, all the app would have to do is sort data based on time stamps and integrate it with the rest of my health metrics.

Allowing users to pair a Fitbit with a Pixel Watch is a no-brainer for more reasons than just battery life.

I know, I know. I started off the feature request with a view toward solving the problem of battery life on the Pixel Watch. However, there’s much more to it. The Android ecosystem is all about freedom of choice and expression. I don’t want to be locked into just one wearable. Sure, using a Fitbit alongside the Pixel Watch would alleviate my concerns around battery anxiety but it would also open options for using other hardware based on where I am or allow me to substitute my Pixel Watch for a rugged tracker when engaged in a rigorous activity.

Opinion post by

C. Scott Brown

We’ve been waiting years for Google to launch its first wearable. After all this time, we finally got what we wanted with the Google Pixel Watch, which launched earlier in October alongside the Google Pixel 7 series. It is, without a doubt, one of the most hyped tech products of 2022.

However, I have no problem admitting that I had little interest in the Pixel Watch leading up to its release. In fact, back in May, I wrote all about how unexcited I was for it and how I was much more excited about the Fitbit Sense 2.

Knowing what I know now, it’s clear I was very wrong about the Sense 2. But I was also wrong about the Pixel Watch. After using it for over a week now, I’ve realized that it’s a lot better than I thought it would be. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by its design and how well it performs.

But does that mean I’m going to buy one? Definitely not.

There’s a lot to love about the Pixel Watch

As I’ve seen the scores pour in for the Google Pixel Watch, it’s become very obvious that most tech reviewers aren’t completely enamored with it. Terms like “overpriced,” “lackluster,” and my favorite, “you can do a lot better,” appear littered throughout popular articles, including our review, which threw down some fair criticism too. Despite all this, I really want to hammer home that there are plenty of terrific aspects of this wearable.

The Pixel Watch, despite the reputation it's earning, has a lot going for it.

For starters, it’s a beautiful watch. Its minimalist design gives it a timeless aesthetic. That minimalism also makes it very versatile as you can strap on a metal band for formal outings, a sport band for working out, and a leather band for heading out to the bar with some friends, and the watch looks great on all occasions.

I’ve seen plenty of criticism of the watch’s relatively small size and Google’s refusal to offer a different larger size. For me, this is a benefit, as I loathe enormous timepieces. I feel the Pixel Watch fits my wrist perfectly, and it doesn’t weigh down my arm or look so big as to draw attention to itself.

See also: What’s the best smartwatch?

Outside of how it looks, it also is pretty powerful. Jumping around the various features is smooth, intuitive, and easy with either swipes or physical turns of the sturdy rotating crown. It has a huge app library thanks to the longevity of Wear OS, giving you access to robust versions of Google Maps, Spotify, Messages, Google Home, and more.

It also has Fitbit smarts. It tracks your heart rate more consistently than pretty much any other wearable since it’s taking a reading every second of every day. That data helps you track all manners of exercise routines as well as day-to-day health. It’s not the best Fitbit around, but it delivers the basics that most people care about.

Frankly, despite my initial skepticism, the Google Pixel Watch ended up impressing me on many different fronts. That made it all the more disappointing to discover that Google still completely fumbled in one key area.

Unfortunately, all that good stuff means very little to me

In a word, the Pixel Watch’s battery life is awful. Even if you are in the camp that a smartwatch having around 24 hours of battery life is all good (which is a terrible metric that all wearables should be pushing past), you will be disappointed with the Pixel Watch’s longevity.

With the always-on display active, the Pixel Watch did not reliably make it through even one day for me. I could turn off the AOD and eke out a bit over 24 hours of time, but then I had to deal with the inconvenience of relying on tilt-to-wake (which works maybe 60% of the time) or hitting the crown. Without the AOD, the watch doesn’t function like a real watch, which is, for me anyway, an essential aspect of any wearable.

The battery life of the Pixel Watch is so bad that it negates everything good about it.

On top of that, it takes a little over an hour to charge. With the AOD on, that means the watch will need to be on a charger for one hour every day for as long as you own it. Think about that: When during your day-to-day life will it be appropriate to charge the watch? You could leave it on the charger for the 15 minutes you shower in the morning, but that’s not enough. You could throw it on the charger again when you’re at your desk for work, but that would require you to bring your charger with you or buy a second one. You could also give it a juice up before you go to sleep, but that forces you to stay awake while you wait for it, which might not be feasible all the time. This is to say nothing about the issues you’ll face if you’re traveling, camping, or otherwise seeing your daily routine altered. It’s so inconvenient that you wonder why anyone would bother.

The poor battery life of the Pixel Watch makes it a wholly untenable product for my needs. No matter how much good stuff it has going for it — which, as I mentioned in the previous section, is quite a bit — the terrible battery life negates all of it. If I need to turn off smartwatch features — whether it be the AOD, Fitbit’s heart rate tracking, or even stopping myself from using the watch as often — just to get reasonable battery life, that’s a watch I will not buy.

Imagine having an electric car with an industry-average range on a single tank (~230 miles), but you can’t use the headlights, windscreen wipers, or radio. Oh, and that car is also wildly expensive. That’s the level of uselessness this watch represents. And that, of course, brings us to the other big problem with the Pixel Watch…

The Google Pixel Watch is not worth its price

Let’s entertain for a minute that you love the Pixel Watch. You love it so much that you’re willing to look past the poor battery life. You’re going to need to love it even more than that, though, because it’s going to cost you at least $350 to get it, which is just way too much.

For the sake of context, iPhone users can get a terrific value out of the Apple Watch SE 2, which starts at $249, a full $100 cheaper than the Pixel Watch. Even if iPhone users go all out on the brand new Apple Watch Series 8 they’ll only pay $50 more than the Pixel Watch at $399. Meanwhile, Android users have other Wear OS options like the Galaxy Watch 5 at $329 and the Fossil Gen 6 Wellness Edition at $299. Those two watches both have the latest version of Wear OS, so they will offer very similar experiences as compared to the Pixel Watch — albeit without the Fitbit integration — while having better battery life.

I tried to ignore these price discrepancies and worked on a way around the battery life limitations of the Pixel Watch. Briefly, I entertained the idea of owning two wearables. I do really love the way the Pixel Watch looks, but it can’t make it through my whole day and survive through a night of sleep tracking. But, if I put the Pixel Watch on a charger before I went to bed and put on a fitness tracker in its place to get my sleep data, that could work, right?

To fit the Pixel Watch into my life, I would need both it and a fitness tracker, which could push the combined price over the $450 mark.

I entertained the idea for a bit and then realized how silly I was being. Was I really considering adding more money to the already-too-high cost of the Pixel Watch just to make it fit into my life? Even if I got a relatively cheap fitness tracker, I’d still be spending over $400 just to make using the Pixel Watch feasible. And that’s if I go Wi-Fi-only. If I went for the Pixel Watch LTE model, I’d be pushing past the $450 mark combined with a decent tracker. That’s ridiculous.

Ultimately, the Pixel Watch is a hard no-buy for me. I can only hope Google fixes these problems in 2023. The Google Pixel Watch 2 better be a hell of a lot better than this or Google’s dreams of a full hardware ecosystem will be difficult to sustain.

Opinion post by

C. Scott Brown

We’ve been waiting years to see it and now we finally know everything there is to know about the Google Pixel Watch. Announced this week alongside the Google Pixel 7 series, the Wear OS-powered smartwatch runs on a very old processor, has a tiny battery, and commands a higher price than its closest competitors. We haven’t had the chance to give it a full review yet, but on paper, it’s not the industry-defining timepiece we were hoping for.

Meanwhile, just a few weeks ago, Fitbit launched its newest premium smartwatch: the Fitbit Sense 2. While the Sense 2 has health-tracking capabilities we’ve never seen on any other watch before, it surprisingly lacks some integral features of its predecessor — Google Assistant support, third-party apps, and Wi-Fi connectivity. This makes the Sense 2 objectively inferior to the first Sense, at least when it comes to its usability as a smartwatch.

The Pixel Watch and the Sense 2 are inextricably linked whether Google likes it or not.

Interestingly, both watches also have built-in hardware that they can’t access. In the case of the Sense 2, there’s a built-in Wi-Fi module but Fitbit won’t let you connect to it with the software. Likewise, Google informed us that the Pixel Watch has the ability to take SpO2 readings, but users won’t have access to that metric, at least at launch.

What do these things have to do with each other? Well, for starters, Google now owns Fitbit. The Sense 2 is the first Fitbit smartwatch launched after the acquisition, so it’s easy to assume that many of its missing smartwatch features are due to Google. Secondly, the Google Pixel Watch incorporates Fitbit health sensors and tracking algorithms. It’s a pseudo-Fitbit, since it works like an entry-level fitness tracker but runs Wear OS as a platform.

When you put all this together you quickly realize that both brands are likely limiting their respective products to avoid competing with one another. However, the two watches combined together could have made a super-watch — one that offers everything both of them do well with no compromises. Instead, we’re left with a Google smartwatch that’s disappointing for some and a Fitbit smartwatch that’s disappointing for others.

In other words, no one is getting what they want this time around.

Google Pixel Watch or Fitbit Sense 2? Either way, you lose

The Google Pixel Watch has a few strengths. First, it looks terrific. If your primary concern is having a lovely timepiece on your wrist, it is now one of your best choices. This is something the Fitbit Sense 2 cannot claim.

Although the Pixel Watch is running on a years-old processor, it has more RAM than we’ve ever seen in a Wear OS watch: a full 2GB. This should help it have a smoother software experience when compared to the majority of other Wear OS watches on the market. The Fitbit Sense 2, meanwhile, is running on an unknown custom chipset, but since Fitbit watches don’t carry the bloat of Wear OS, they have always provided a smooth experience.

The Pixel Watch excels at some things while the Fitbit Sense 2 excels at others, making neither watch a true winner.

The Pixel Watch will have Google Assistant access, although how reliable it will be remains to be seen. Historically, Assistant hasn’t worked well for Wear OS and we believe Google should fix it as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the Fitbit Sense 2 doesn’t have Assistant access but offers Amazon Alexa instead.

One area where the Fitbit Sense 2 undoubtedly wins is battery life: It can go over six days without a charge. According to Google’s own promoted metrics, the Pixel Watch won’t make it much longer than 24 hours. The Sense 2 also wins with fitness tracking, as it has more sensors and can track far more metrics than the Pixel Watch.

Finally, we should mention that the two wearables do share a lot in common. They will both see software support for at least three years. They both incorporate Fitbit health tracking, have plenty of easily swappable bands, can receive phone calls, have onboard GPS, and feature 5ATM swim proofing.

It's very clear that Google wants the Pixel Watch to go to smartwatch buyers and the Sense 2 to go to fitness tracker buyers.

However, it’s very clear that Google wants the Pixel Watch to go to smartwatch buyers and the Sense 2 to go to fitness tracker buyers. Neither watch does everything the other does.

Now, imagine if they combined forces

Keeping the two wearables different from one another appears to make sense (bah dum tsss). However, Google seems to be neglecting the idea that there are buyers out there who want both watches. In other words, there are people who want the robust health-tracking, long battery life, and unburdened software experience of the Sense 2, on top of the Pixel Watch’s app gallery, deep integration with Android, and overall design. I know these buyers exist because I am one of them.

If Google designed the hardware and helped Fitbit augment its software, we'd have the king of all smartwatches.

Knowing what we now know, I can’t help but think Google and Fitbit dismissed the idea of creating such a watch — at least for now. Between the two of them, Fitbit is the more experienced smartwatch maker, considering Google has released exactly zero watches before this week. If they set out to deliver a spectacular watch that would give consumers everything they want, the logical move would be to have Google help Fitbit make a better version of the Sense. After all, the original Sense proved that Fitbit could — with the right resources — build a great smartwatch. It had already created a watch with a wealth of fitness features, terrific battery life, good software support, smooth usability, etc. It just needed help with making the watch look nicer and crafting a more robust app library.

But it’s quite obvious Google wouldn’t have been happy with a Fitbit being its flagship smartwatch. The very existence of the Pixel Watch proves the company wanted its own flagship wearable, not a Fitbit.

I’m no conspiracy theorist, but it’s difficult not to read between the lines here. I can imagine a meeting in which Google tells Fitbit it can’t do A, B, and C with the Sense 2 to avoid competing with the Pixel Watch, and Fitbit responds in kind to say that the Pixel Watch can’t do X, Y, and Z. Or maybe Fitbit didn’t even have a say in the matter. Maybe Google just laid down the law and Fitbit needed to fall in line. I don’t know how it went down, but it’s easy to tell that something significant happened, otherwise why would we have these two watches the way they are? And why would each of them include hardware bits that aren’t enabled (at least at launch, for now)?

Instead of getting the 'one' watch, I'll need to make an inevitably disappointing choice.

Think of what could have been, though, had the companies truly combined forces to create one watch to rule them all. We could have had a beautiful watch with every health tracking feature, six or more days of battery life, all the smartwatch features you need, access to the most important apps, and smooth interactions with Android. Even if that watch cost $500+, I would have bought it in a heartbeat.

Instead, it looks like I’ll need to make an inevitably disappointing choice. Do I go with a feature-rich, beautiful watch with terrible battery life and weak fitness tracking or a feature-anemic bland fitness tracker that lasts for a week and tracks every health metric I can think of? Some decision.

Of course, I could just wear two different watches on each wrist. Google would probably be happy with that.

Opinion post by

Calvin Wankhede

After years of rumors and leaks, Google finally took the wraps off the Pixel Watch earlier this week. However, the company left out one key detail during the presentation — how long it will support its first-ever Wear OS smartwatch. Luckily for us, Google’s own product documentation website goes into more detail. Just like the Pixel 7 series, the Pixel Watch will get three years of guaranteed software updates, up until October 2025 (Pixel 7 handsets will see a further two years of security updates too).

If that three-year OS promise doesn’t sound very impressive, allow me to reassure you that it’s not. Let’s start with the Pixel Watch. It faces two big competitors at the moment and both outdo Google handily in terms of support. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5, which is built on the same Wear OS foundation, will receive four years’ worth of software updates. The Apple Watch Series 8, meanwhile, will be supported for five whole years based on past trends.

Samsung and Apple both offer longer software support for their respective phones and smartwatches.

As a prospective Pixel Watch buyer, it’s disappointing to know that the clock is already ticking. If I don’t pick one up at launch, I’ll be buying a product that’s already hurtling toward a set expiration date. While I do agree that Google has to draw a line somewhere, three years isn’t nearly enough for a device that will stay on shelves for a third of that time.

Moreover, considering Google’s tendency to shut down beloved services, I’m a little wary about buying a first-generation product. While I doubt it will share Stadia’s fate, Google’s reluctance to make a long-term commitment doesn’t inspire confidence. By contrast, long-term updates would enshrine Google’s commitment, though that would be costly for the company if its first-gen product flops. Indeed, the Galaxy Watch 5 looks like the safer bet, and that’s before we even discuss price. Samsung’s offering is 25% cheaper than the Pixel Watch.

Long-term support might inspire more confidence in Google's first watch.

Before the announcement, I’d hoped the Pixel Watch would become an industry benchmark for long-term software support, similar to the Nexus series. Instead, I’m now reminded of how little has changed since the late 2010s. Most Wear OS smartwatches at that time, including my second-gen Moto 360, received just two to three years of software updates.

Opinion: The Pixel Watch can’t succeed if Google reuses the same 8-year-old formula

It’s not just the Pixel Watch that disappoints on the software updates front; Google’s Pixel 7 series will also receive three Android version updates. They will still see security patches for a couple of years beyond 2025, but don’t expect any new feature drops.

When Google announced that it is using custom silicon for the Pixel series, many speculated that the move would bring longer support windows. This made sense as Google no longer has to rely on a third-party chip vendor to release updated drivers or provide support. But even though Google negotiated with Qualcomm to ensure three OS updates for Snapdragon SoCs launched after 2020, the search giant hasn’t moved past that benchmark for its own devices. It’s not clear why. Perhaps cost is still a barrier given the Pixel’s relatively small sales volume.

The Pixel 7 series will get three OS updates and five total years of security updates.

Meanwhile, the competition has caught up with Google. Xiaomi was once derided among Android enthusiasts for its inconsistent software support. Yet, the company has promised to deliver three years of OS updates and four years of security patches to the Xiaomi 12 series. To be clear, you get an additional year’s worth of security updates with the Pixel 7, but that’s only a slim victory when you consider how far ahead Google once was.

And then there’s Samsung. The South Korean company now leads the Android market in terms of software support. With four years of OS updates and five total years of security patches, it’s not far from matching Apple’s excellent track record. For some context, the iPhone 8 from 2017 got this year’s iOS 16 update. Samsung’s update policy also applies to mid-range smartphones like the Galaxy A53 5G, which competes against the affordable Google Pixel 6a rather than the Pixel 7 and Pro.

If Google wants to rival the iPhone, it needs to do better than half as many years of OS updates.

Granted, there’s still one benefit to owning a Pixel — you get software updates sooner than the rest. Android 13, for example, hasn’t made its way to most non-Pixel smartphones just yet. Even though Google hosts a beta program every year, most manufacturers only seem to accelerate development after the stable release.

However, faster updates don’t compensate for a shorter support window. I’d also argue that many Pixel owners, at least today, buy into the ecosystem for Google’s clean and feature-rich Pixel UI. These discerning users are more likely to compare their smartphones’ software longevity against the gold standard. If Google wants to sell a premium experience that rivals the iPhone, it needs to do better than half as many years of OS updates. And more importantly, we still need Google to lead by example and keep the Android industry on its toes. I doubt Samsung and Xiaomi would’ve improved their policies if it wasn’t for the competition.

All in all, I hope Google considers upping its commitment to long-term software updates across the Pixel ecosystem — if not for the benefit of customers, then at least for the environment. Smartphone hardware has reached the point of diminishing returns, and with Google’s self-repair and other sustainability initiatives, we should have the choice to continue using our existing hardware for longer.

See also: It’s time to ditch our fascination with the yearly upgrade cycle