For the past three weeks, I’ve been walking around with a Pixel 4 Watch on one wrist and an Apple Watch on the other. That Pixel Watch, loaned to me by Google, is the latest iteration of Google’s smartwatch designed to work with Android phones. I’ve tested the three previous versions of Google’s watch, and the new one stands out with a new design and some important new features.
In 2021, Google bought Fitbit. Since then it has incorporated Fitbit fitness and health features into its Pixel watches. Unlike other Fitbit products, including the Sense 2 and Versa 4 watches, the Pixel brand only works with Android phones, just as the Apple Watch only works with iPhones. I am testing it with the new Pixel 10 phone, but it’s designed to work with any Android phone running Android 11 or newer. Most other smart watches and fitness trackers work on both platforms.
New features
The first thing you notice is a “domed display,” which not only provides more screen real estate but makes it easier to see the display from almost any angle. It’s not a game changer, but it’s a nice touch.
Another change this year is a new magnetic charging dock, enabling the watch to stand upright so it’s visible as a clock as it charges. It’s also fast. Google says you can get a 50% charge in 15 minutes.
At 3000 nits, the screen is now 33% brighter than last year, which could be useful if you’re using it outside on a sunny day, although I’ve never had trouble viewing an older Pixel or Apple Watch, which are both rated at 2000 nits.
Battery life has also been improved. Google says, “up to 40 hours” for the larger 45 MM version and 30 hours for the smaller 41 MM size. I didn’t measure it, but I’ve been getting about two days on a charge, which is a lot more than I can say for the Apple Watch, which needs to be charged at least once a day.
Like the Apple Watch, the Pixel plays host to numerous apps, some from Google and some from other providers. And there is an option to get a watch with LTE, which means it can connect to the internet and make calls even if you don’t have your smartphone with you and don’t have a Wi-Fi connection.
Health and fitness
As I mentioned, Pixel watches are integrated with Fitbit, which gives them numerous ways to record and report health and fitness information. One thing I like about the Pixel over the iPhone is that most of the data collected by the watch can be displayed on the watch itself. The iPhone requires you to look at your phone for many of its reports. For example, the Pixel watch has a Fitbit Today app that shows cardio load, a readiness score, calories burned, exercise reports, overnight blood oxygen and more data right on the watch screen. In fact, there is so much information on the watch that you don’t need to carry your Android phone to assess how you’re doing.
Another thing I like about the Pixel watch is real time pulse rate, which is especially useful while exercising. You can glance at your watch and immediately know your pulse. The Apple watch updates it periodically but doesn’t give you a pulse in real time unless you’ve set it to record an exercise. Even then, there is often a delay. One reason for the delay is to save battery life, but Pixel manages to avoid delays and get even better battery life than the Apple Watch.
The watch does a good job tracking your sleep. It measures total sleep time, sleep stages (light, deep, REM, and awake), and provides an overall sleep score that reflects sleep quality. You can see time awake, resting heart rate, and heart rate variability through the night, along with trends over time. A new skin temperature sensor adds insight into nightly temperature deviations, which can indicate illness or recovery status.
Google says the Pixel Watch 4 is 18% more accurate in identifying sleep stages than its predecessor, thanks to better algorithms and sensor calibration.
Pricing and cheaper alternatives
Though a bit less expensive than Apple’s watch, the Pixel Watch is still on the high side, starting at $349 for a 41 MM version with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi but no LTE cellular connectivity. The LTE model adds $100. The larger 45 MM watch is $50 more, which, if you don’t mind a larger watch, is worth it for readability and better battery life.
Another option is the Fitbit Charge 6 ($149), a slim fitness tracker that pairs with the Fitbit app on both iOS and Android. It provides detailed sleep and health tracking, including overnight SpO₂, ECG with AFib alerts, skin temperature, stress (EDA), and sleep-stage analysis while remaining lighter and more comfortable to wear at night than most smartwatches. The Charge 6 also supports Google Wallet for contactless payments, Google Maps and smartphone notifications.
If you search “smartwatch” on Amazon, you’ll find numerous offerings starting for as little as $18.99. If you’re interested in one of these, read the reviews and make sure they’re returnable (Amazon usually gives you 30 days). I’ve tried a couple of cheap watches, and, although not as polished as ones that cost hundreds of dollars, they usually do a reasonable job at tracking heart rate and exercise and are great for telling time. And even more cheap watches can ring your phone at full volume even if the ringer is turned off. That alone is worth $20 or so.
Larry Magid is a tech journalist and internet safety activist. Contact him at larry@larrymagid.com.