Google’s latest foray into the premium smartwatch arena arrives with the Pixel Watch 4, a device aiming to solidify its position as the top Android contender. While a quick glance might suggest little has changed from its predecessor, the Pixel Watch 3, a deeper dive into this Google Pixel Watch 4 hands-on review reveals a host of significant upgrades. From a stunning new display and an updated chipset to extended battery life with rapid charging, enhanced fitness tracking, and the intuitive Wear OS software with Material 3 Expressive design, Google has packed considerable innovation beneath that familiar domed glass.
Starting at an accessible $349 for the 41mm variant, the Pixel Watch 4 certainly presents a compelling case. But does it truly deliver on its promise? Let’s explore the details.
Design: Familiar Elegance, Minor Hurdles
True to form, the Pixel Watch 4 retains the same distinctive design that made its predecessors stand out. The domed glass, gracefully crowning the device and wrapping around its edges, continues to impress with its unique and beautiful aesthetic. The body, crafted from aluminum, offers both polished and matte finishes depending on your chosen color. Available in 41mm and 45mm sizes, the watch is remarkably svelte and lightweight, often making you forget you’re wearing it at all. However, some aspects of the design present minor challenges; the rotating crown and side button were noted as somewhat difficult to manipulate due to their size and stiff press.
A point of contention remains the proprietary strap connector. While the mechanism is theoretically simple, the tiny release button proved frustrating to operate in practice. The default fluoroelastomer strap is comfortable, but the reliance on a proprietary system inherently limits third-party strap options compared to other popular smartwatches. While the overall build quality and finish are excellent, the use of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 instead of more durable sapphire crystal means extra caution is advised to protect the largely glass exterior from bumps and scratches.
Display: A Visual Masterpiece with Glare
The Pixel Watch 4 boasts a truly exceptional AMOLED LTPO Actua 360 display. With 320 PPI, DCI-P3 color support, and a peak brightness of an astounding 3000 nits (down to 1 nit), alongside a dynamic 1-60Hz refresh rate, it’s a feast for the eyes. Google’s ‘Actua 360’ moniker refers to its curved panel, seamlessly following the domed glass and offering 10% more screen area than the Pixel Watch 3, despite the identical watch size. This fusion creates an illusion that elements are ‘floating’ on the watch face, making the Pixel Watch 4’s display arguably the best in its series.
However, this innovative design isn’t without its quirks. The curved glass makes the display prone to reflections, earning it the nickname “Glare City.” This can obscure intricate watch face complications, particularly those near the circumference. Another minor annoyance observed in this Google Pixel Watch 4 hands-on review is the approximately one-second delay in screen activation when raising your wrist, which feels like an eternity when you just want a quick glance at the time. Thankfully, an always-on display mode, enabled by default, mitigates this.
Software and Performance: Smooth Sailing, Dual App Demand
Running the latest Wear OS 6.0, the Pixel Watch 4’s software is both visually appealing and powerful. It beautifully embraces the curved display, with UI elements and fonts arcing to match the screen’s contours, enhancing the domed aesthetic. While Google offers a plethora of watch face designs with extensive customization, some may find them a bit esoteric or overly busy. The good news for Android users is the freedom to explore third-party options via the Play Store.
Performance from the new Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 chipset is decent, providing a consistent experience after an initial brief hitch upon startup. Compatibility is excellent; the watch seamlessly transferred between a Pixel 10 Pro XL and a OnePlus 15 during testing. A notable criticism, however, is the requirement to install both the Pixel Watch app (for basic settings) and the Fitbit app (for all fitness tracking) to fully utilize the device. On a positive note, haptics are firm and precise, and both the speaker and microphone deliver clear audio.
Health and Fitness Tracking: Comprehensive, with a Step Count Quirk
The Pixel Watch 4 is packed with sensors, enabling comprehensive health and fitness tracking. It monitors heart rate, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), skin temperature, and can perform ECGs while checking for signs of arrhythmia, in addition to basic step counting, sleep, and stress tracking. All this data is primarily accessed through the Fitbit app, though limited information is available on the watch itself without the phone app.
While heart rate and SpO2 readings consistently matched other devices like the OnePlus Watch 2 and medical-grade equipment, step tracking was found to be a bit generous, especially without GPS active or when in moving vehicles. GPS performance, however, is excellent, achieving rapid satellite lock both with and without a paired smartphone. Sleep tracking also appeared consistent with real-world experience.
Experiencing the Google Pixel Watch 4 hands-on review: Battery Life and Charging
Google claims an improved 30 hours of battery life for the 41mm Pixel Watch 4, thanks to larger batteries and optimized software/hardware. In practical usage for this Google Pixel Watch 4 hands-on review, the watch comfortably lasted two days with all features (always-on display, constant heart rate, sleep, SpO2 tracking) enabled, provided extensive GPS use was avoided. However, just a couple of hours of GPS activity meant needing a charge by the end of the day. This highlights a difference from dual-mode watches like the OnePlus series, which offer extended low-power modes.
The saving grace is the exceptionally fast charging. The 41mm model reaches 50% in about 15 minutes, 80% in 25 minutes, and a full charge in roughly 45 minutes. This means even if you forget to charge overnight, a quick top-up before leaving the house can provide a full day’s power. The new proprietary charger is simple to use and features a helpful bedside mode, notifying your phone upon full charge.
Conclusion: A Strong Contender for Android Users
The Pixel Watch 4 stands as a genuinely great smartwatch. Its design, though familiar, remains distinct and attention-grabbing. The software experience is polished and visually compelling, while the majority of its health and activity tracking features perform admirably. While battery life isn’t groundbreaking compared to some competitors, it’s certainly decent for a device of this size, weight, and functional richness.
For those in the market for a premium smartwatch to pair with their Android smartphone, the Google Pixel Watch 4 is an easy and highly recommended choice, offering a refined and capable experience.
Image Credit: GSM Arena
