It is finally here. Google finally released its smartwatch, the Pixel Watch. Android Wear/Wear OS has been around for years, but the platform could only be found on watches from other brands — until now, that is.
That hasn’t necessarily been a bad thing, as there have been some really great wearables in the past. But today is all about the Pixel Watch and Google’s vision of what a smartwatch should be. The watch was available for me to use at the 2022 Made by Google Pixel event. We wanted to share some initial impressions with you about the device before we begin our review.
Google Pixel Watch Price and Availability
Google’s first attempt at creating its own smartwatch starts at $349.99 for the Bluetooth/WiFi model, and $399.99 for 4G LTE. Based on the band choice, the price will adjust. Pre-orders for today are available through Google and other retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Amazon and Best Buy. We’re keeping up with the Best deals on the Pixel WatchFor you, so that you don’t have.
The Pixel Watch is available in a 41mm stainless steel case offering three finishes — Matte Black, Polished Silver, and Champagne Gold. The only option for the fluoroelastomer rubber (rubber), Active Band in Obsidian Chalk, Charcoal and Hazel is available when purchasing the watch. You can also purchase add-ons such as woven, stretch and leather band styles, and later two-metal bands.
Google Pixel Watch Design and Build
Google chose to use a round case for the Apple Watch, instead of the rectangular design. I mention this because the Pixel Watch looks even more like a round Apple Watch in person, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. The 41mm stainless steel case with scratch-resistant 3D Gorilla Glass look amazing in all three colors. However, I prefer the Matte Black option..
3D Gorilla Glass protects the 320 ppi AMOLED screen that is capable of reaching 1000 nits brightness. The ambient light sensor allows for automatic brightness adjustments. This should do well in making the screen usable when in bright lights, but we’ll have to wait until we get some more time with it to see how it holds up in direct sunlight. Seeing your smartwatch’s screen is vital to reading and interacting with it, whether by touch or using the haptic crown. You will also find a side button that is flush with your watch case. This button allows you to access Google Assistant and other recently downloaded apps.
Google had used stainless steel to make the casing. I was worried that it would be heavy. However, the 36g weight is very comfortable for me. The 41mm case is too small for me. I like watches like this watch and have larger wrists. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 ProThe TicWatch Pro 3 UltraI don’t think so, but the size is a good balance that should look great on all wrist sizes.
Pixel Watch will not allow you to choose your band style from the box other than its color at launch. This rubbery active band comes in two sizes: a 130-175mm diameter band and a large 165-210mm band. They work in the same fashion as the Apple Watch, connecting much like it has since its launch. These bands have a pleasant feel to them and they are generally quite comfortable. They don’t feel too thin that they will break easily, nor too thick and stiff.
These other options for bands are also very nice. I love the woven bands, and the way Google used colors from other Pixels to make them. The stretch band does the same. The Lemongrass band is my favorite. They feel great and will hold up well over time. Google had the metal bands on hand at its hands-on event. They felt sturdy and well-made. However, they won’t be available for purchase at launch. There was no official date when they would go on sale.
Google claims that the Pixel Watch’s 294mAh battery will provide up to 24 hours of usage per charge. You can recharge the Pixel Watch using the USB-C magnetic charger cable. Google states that the watch can charge from 0 to 50% in just 30 minutes. The watch can then be recharged to 100% in 50 minutes.
Although the charging process is quick, it takes longer than expected due to the size of the battery. It is 10mah more than the Galaxy Watch 5 40mm, but it is smaller than any other Watch 5 models. It’s also smaller than the cell inside the new Apple Watch 8. It’s also smaller than the cell in the new Apple Watch 8. Up toGoogle priced the watch at $329 after 24 hours. This is quite disappointing when you consider that competitors can get it at least 36 hours. Again, we’ll thoroughly test the Pixel Watch to give you real-world numbers.
| Google Pixel Watch | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 41mm diameter, 12.3mm high |
| Weight | 36g without the need for a band |
| Colors | Matte Black, Polished Silver, Champagne Gold |
| Materials | Fluoroelastomer active band, recycled stainless steel case of 80% |
| Display | 320ppi AMOLED. 1000 nits maximum luminosity Custom 3D Corning Glass 5. |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0. Wi-Fi b/g/n2.4GHz, NFC, optional 4GLTE |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo |
| Batteries | 294mAh, up 24 hours of usage |
| Processor | Exynos 9110, Cortex M33 co-processor |
| Software | Wear OS 3.5 |
| Storage | 32GB, 2GB SDRAM |
| Sensors | Altimeter and Compass |
| Interactivity | Touch, Side button, Haptic crown. |
| Speaker and Microphone | ✔ |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM |
The Pixel Watch launches with Wear OS 3.5 and an Exynos 9110 SoC. This processor will be tested starting in 2018. This was the last time it was seen in the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3It is a great watch for its age. The Pixel Watch is equipped with 32GB storage and 2GB RAM.
Google claims that the watch features “premium” haptics. I was able to feel the vibrations when I used it. One of the Googlers who was on hand explained the haptics to me. It will vary depending on what’s happening on the watch. The haptic crown is used to scroll through menus, but it’s only a brief tap that makes it more obvious for an incoming message.
The wearable has sensors that include a compass and altimeter as well as a blood oxygen sensor, heart rate and multipurpose electrical sensor to track your health and fitness. No temperature monitoring as on the Apple Watch Series 8 series or the Galaxy Watch 5 Series. Samsung’s feature isn’t yet active but the hardware is ready for use. The Pixel Watch is water resistant to 5ATM, which means it can withstand most moisture.
Google Pixel Watch Software Impressions
Google hasn’t always opted for the best hardware in its devices. Instead of relying upon software magic to make a difference in a crowd, Is the Pixel Watch also following this path? It is.
The watch will integrate seamlessly with your Google account. However, the smartwatch can be used with any Android device that runs software version 8.0 and higher. Sorry, Apple Pixel Watch lovers are not allowed to love Pixel Watch. It is unclear if there will any special features or integration with Pixel phones like Galaxy Watches with Samsung smartphones.
Wear OS 3.5: How well does it work or not? For that, we’ll wait to share our complete review once we have had more time with it. Google says that the new Wear OS experience was designed to be fluid and intuitive. It provides you with all the information you need in a single tap, swipe or voice command. The new interface and rich notifications allow you to see more in a glance, so you are always connected whether you’re at work or at home.
The Fitbit integration with the Pixel Watch is unique in terms software and hardware. Since the beginning, this was something we waited for in Wear OS. Google purchased the fitness and health brand Health and Fitness Wearables in January 2021.
Fitbit’s data chops will be in full effect on the Pixel Watch without mentioning if or how Google’s own Fit platform is involved. Fitbit’s data will be available on the Pixel Watch. It will collect your heart rate, blood oxygen and activity information, as well provide insight into your overall health. You’ll have 40 workouts to choose from for the watch to track, and Fitbit will provide you with a Daily Readiness score to help you get the most from your day.
Fitbit tracks your health and fitness data continuously. It will provide stats and progress to help you compare it with previous data in order to achieve your fitness goals. Fitbit will analyze data from the Pixel Watch to detect atrial fibrillation.
According to Google, “Experts across Fitbit and Google Research and Machine Intelligence worked together to develop an innovative machine learning–based approach to heart rate tracking which informs key metrics from calories and Active Zone Minutes to Daily Readiness and sleep.”
If you are looking for more information and tracking of your health and fitness, Fitbit Premium is the right choice. Google will give you a 6-month free trial of the service with your purchase of a Pixel Watch. If you’re unfamiliar with Fitbit Premium, check out our Breakdown of the service. Still, in short, you’ll get deeper insights into the health data monitored by the watch with things like a Wellness Report, more detailed sleep-tracking info, and more. You can also access more than 800 workouts and more than 200 mindfulness sessions.
Google’s first venture into smartwatches remains a mystery. However, my initial impressions are positive. However, I was not happy that the battery life is only 24 hours. Also, we’ll need to see how it looks with any watch face, other than black, and what those bezels actually look like.
Both from a hardware perspective and feature standpoint, the Pixel Watch looks great. The overall design is great, and the Google-y software magic may be the main difference between other wearables. Android Central will be providing lots of tips and a review.
