Pros & Cons
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- Stunning curved display
- More than two days of battery life
- Built-in Gemini for voice control
- Accurate exercise, sleep tracking
- Emergency satellite communication
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- No new sensors
- Few software upgrades over its predecessor
- Daily run recommendations are paywalled
Google Pixel Watch 4 Specs
| Battery Life | 56 hours (tested) |
| Display Size | 1.27 inches/1.46 inches |
| Display Type | AMOLED |
| Fitness Features | Accelerometer |
| Fitness Features | Barometer |
| Fitness Features | Blood Oxygen Monitor |
| Fitness Features | ECG |
| Fitness Features | GPS |
| Fitness Features | Gyroscope |
| Fitness Features | Heart Rate Monitor |
| Fitness Features | Light Sensor |
| Fitness Features | Pedometer |
| Fitness Features | Temperature Sensor |
| Phone Call Capacity | |
| Phone OS Compatibility | Android |
| Processor | Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 processor with a Cortex-M55 co-processor |
| Separate App Store | |
| Watch OS | Wear OS |
The $349.99 Google Pixel Watch 4 makes a strong first impression. It features the same curved glass design as previous generations, but the display itself is now domed as well, improving visibility when viewing the watch at an angle. Additionally, Google has slimmed the bezels, allowing for a larger active screen area. The screen looks elegant and is implemented smartly, with apps dynamically changing the scale of information as you scroll to fit the curves of the watch. In addition, the Pixel Watch 4 incorporates useful tools such as Gemini and emergency satellite communication, and its battery lasted over two days in testing. That said, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 remains our Editors’ Choice winner for Android watches, thanks to its more robust feature set and free AI health insights. However, the Pixel Watch 4 is a compelling alternative for you if you prioritize style or battery life.
Size and Price: Commendable Consistency
The Google Pixel Watch 4 starts at $349.99 for the 41mm model and $399.99 for the 45mm version. Base models feature Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, while 4G LTE support is available for an additional $100. LTE versions come with two years of complimentary cell service, and all models include a free six-month trial of Fitbit Premium, which gives you access to AI-generated daily run recommendations and a library of audio and video workouts. Otherwise, LTE service pricing varies by carrier, and Fitbit Premium costs $9.99 per month.
The smaller 41mm model is available in Polished Silver Aluminum with an Iris (periwinkle) or Porcelain (off-white) band, Champagne Gold Aluminum with a Lemongrass (yellow) band, or Matte Black Aluminum with a matching band. The 45mm model is available in Satin Moonstone (bluish-gray) or Matte Black Aluminum with a matching band, or Polished Silver Aluminum with a Porcelain band. All models ship with an Active Band, but Google offers numerous accessory straps (sold separately), including a new Gradient Stretch Band. Google sent me the 45mm Pixel Watch 4 in Satin Moonstone.
At launch, the Pixel Watch 3 was offered with the same pricing structure; however, Google has since discounted its older model, which now starts at $249.99, to maintain its relevance next to its successor. Google deserves credit for keeping the Pixel Watch 4 at the same starting price as its predecessor.
Samsung bumped its base (40mm) Galaxy Watch 8 to $349.99, up from $299.99 for the Galaxy Watch 7. Still, the larger (44mm) Galaxy Watch 8 costs $379.99, which is $20 less than Google's counterpart. Additionally, Samsung only charges an extra $50 for LTE support. Both smartwatches undercut Apple's Series 11, which starts at $399.
To use the Pixel Watch 4, you need a phone with Android 11 or newer. Like its predecessor, a few features on the watch only work if paired with a Pixel phone, specifically camera controls and call screening. However, most of its main lifestyle and exercise tracking capabilities are compatible with any Android handset. The Galaxy Watch 8 reserves some of its capabilities for Samsung phones, including sleep apnea and snore detection, as well as certain gesture controls.
Design: Leaning Into the Curve
The main difference between the Pixel Watch 4 and its predecessor is obvious at first glance. Its new curved display has 16% smaller bezels and 10% more active screen area than the Pixel Watch 3, according to Google. It’s brighter as well, with a maximum light output of 3,000 nits up from 2,000 nits. The Actua 360 display utilizes the same AMOLED technology as the previous generation, covering the DCI-P3 color space, ensuring it’s equally sharp and vibrant.
In person, the curved display looks striking, and it's my favorite design choice of any smartwatch that I’ve tested this year. Information is visible at a glance, even at a sharp angle. Text on the perimeter slightly bends around the edges, adding a sense of depth to the familiar curved glass on top. Elements of the user interface have been customized to accentuate the curve. When scrolling through the app drawer, items at the bottom and top shrink, adding visual weight to options in the middle. The effect carries over to certain apps, information tiles, and web pages, with the size of the displayed items dynamically shifting to match their current spot on the screen as you scroll. The curved edges respond quickly to touch controls as well.
Regardless of which model you choose, the case is made of aerospace-grade aluminum, and the display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. The domed glass of Pixel Watches has long raised durability concerns, and the curved display only accentuates that worry. However, this fourth-generation model is the first to be fully serviceable. Google says you can replace the display or the battery if something does go wrong. You can opt for an optional warranty if you wish, but it's generally easier to repair the most vulnerable pieces yourself if you have the necessary know-how, or through your preferred repair shop.
The Pixel Watch 4 otherwise matches the durability of its predecessor with an IP68 weather-resistance rating and 5ATM of water resistance. It can survive underwater depths of up to 164 feet and can automatically engage its water lock when submerged. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 meets those resistance specs and adds a MIL-STD-810H certification, meaning it can endure extreme temperature changes and other environmental stressors such as vibration and shock.
In practice, both the Pixel Watch 4 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 survived my testing without any noticeable scratches or wear. I wore both at night, while traveling, in the shower, and when lifting weights. I didn't intentionally bang weights against either one, but it occasionally happened to both during my CrossFit workouts, and they survived the impacts.
Throughout my testing, the Pixel Watch 4 felt comfortable and light on my wrist. Both sizes are 12.3mm thick, with the larger model weighing 1.29 ounces and the smaller 1.09 ounces. Those measurements mostly match those of the Pixel Watch 3, although the larger version of that model weighs 1.31 ounces.
Internal Components and Sensors: Upgraded for Satellite Communications
Under the surface, the Pixel Watch 4 largely retains the same set of sensors as its predecessor. That includes an accelerometer, an altimeter, an ambient light sensor, a barometer, a compass, an electrical sensor to measure skin conductance (cEDA) to gauge stress, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a multi-path optical heart rate sensor, and a skin temperature sensor. It can also monitor blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) with red and infrared sensors, and take an ECG with multipurpose electrical sensors.
To improve location-tracking accuracy when surrounded by tall buildings or trees, it features a dual-frequency GPS, unlike the single-band signal on the Pixel Watch 3. The skin temperature sensor has also been upgraded, with Google promising an 18% improvement in accuracy.
The Pixel Watch 4 features a dual-processor architecture similar to its predecessor, but both chips have received an upgrade. The Watch 4 features a Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Processor with a Cortex-M55 co-processor, both of which are newer than the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 5100 processor and Cortex-M33 co-processor found in the Watch 3. In addition to improved speed and efficiency, the new chipset on the Pixel Watch 4 introduces a relatively unique feature to smartwatches: Satellite connectivity.
In the event of an emergency, the Pixel Watch 4 can call for help using satellite technology. This means you can contact emergency services through the watch if you’re away from your phone and out of range of cell service. I demoed the feature via the Safety and Emergency menu in the Pixel Watch companion app on my phone. The demo requires you to have a clear view of the sky and then move your wrist in the indicated direction until a satellite is found.
Moving my wrist around like an old-school antenna felt awkward, but the process is quite similar to the feature on the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Apple's implementation is more flexible, allowing you to send a text or your updated location to a contact using satellites without needing to contact emergency services. The Pixel Watch 4’s version only allows you to contact emergency services, but it’s available on the base model, whereas you need to pay $799 for the premium Ultra 3 to use it on Apple’s side.
Aside from the new processor, the Pixel Watch 4 has the same 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage as the Pixel Watch 3. It features a new haptics engine for enhanced feedback and a new speaker for clearer audio.
Setup and Controls: A Familiar Feel
Using the Pixel Watch 4 on a day-to-day basis feels similar to that of the Pixel Watch 3. It follows the same setup process and features the same control scheme. The watch ships with a new quick-charge docking station instead of a magnetic puck, a quick start guide, warranty information, and small and large versions of your selected watch band.
Attaching the watch band is easy once you know what you’re doing. To secure the band to the watch, press the button on the side of the watch face using the band, then slide it into the slot to lock it in place. Pressing the button with the band installed allows you to slide it back if you want to switch to a different strap. The button is easy enough to press even with short nails.
To power on the watch, hold down the crown for three seconds. From there, use the Google Pixel Watch app on your phone to sync the smartwatch and complete the setup process. The app guides you through the process, which involves signing in to your Google account, reviewing the terms and conditions, and setting various permissions, such as location. You’ll then indicate your wrist of choice and the orientation of the buttons, and then you can sync the watch to the Fitbit app for exercise and sleep tracking.
Next, the app guides you through the various safety features of the watch, including satellite communications, earthquake alerts, pulse loss detection, emergency contacts, and automatic emergency location sharing. You can then optionally set up an unlock pattern or PIN and Google Wallet, and the app will prompt you to download a customizable list of recommended apps. The watch then updates its software and installs the apps of your choosing to finish the process.
To control the watch, swipe up on the home screen for notifications. Swipe down for a quick panel of settings, including various modes such as Battery Saver, Do Not Disturb, and Sleep, as well as other features like Water Lock, Flashlight, and an option to broadcast your heart rate to nearby fitness devices.
Swipe right from the left edge to go back a page as you browse. Swipe left or right on the home screen to scroll through a customizable list of information tiles; options include Alarms, Contacts, Exercise, Google Maps, Safety Check, Sleep, and Weather. For this Wear OS generation, these tiles have been condensed to display more information, whereas they typically only showed a single stat in the past.
Rotate the crown button on the side to scroll through web pages or your app drawer. Press it when on the home screen to open your app drawer, or from any other screen to return to the home screen. Double-tap the crown to access Google Pay, press it five times to start an SOS call, or hold it down to access the power menu. The side button opens a list of recently used apps with a single press, or summons the watch’s digital assistant when you press and hold.
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You can change the watch face by long-pressing the screen or using the Pixel Watch app on your phone. That app also lets you customize tiles, the quick menu, physical controls, and other settings, such as notifications, as well as enable additional safety features, including atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) detection.
Once the watch is set up, you can mostly ignore the Pixel Watch app, and you’ll instead interact with the data collected by the watch in the well-organized Fitbit app. The main Today tab of the Fitbit app displays a curated overview of your stats, allowing you to dive into any one in particular with a tap. The Coach tab offers curated workouts with a Fitbit Premium membership, while the You tab allows you to manage your profile and membership settings.
I wish I could manage my watch and access my health data from a single smartphone app, but Apple and Samsung watches both require using three apps instead of two, so Google is more efficient in this regard.
Battery Life: 56 Hours
The Google Pixel Watch 4 notably outperforms Apple and Samsung’s recent flagship smartwatches in battery life and has an increased capacity compared with its predecessor. The 41mm model now features a 325mAh battery, compared with 306mAh in the smaller Watch 3, and the 45mm model has increased to 455mAh from 420mAh in the previous generation. Google has adjusted its battery estimates accordingly, with the smaller model now expected to last up to 30 hours and the larger model 40 hours, up from 24 hours for both Pixel Watch 3 sizes.
In testing, the 45mm Pixel Watch 4 lasted an impressive 56 hours with the always-on display enabled. During that time, I downloaded apps, sent texts, tracked my sleep, and used the GPS multiple times to track workouts. Even with medium to heavy use, you can safely plan to charge the larger Pixel Watch 4 every other day. The larger Pixel Watch 3 lasted 46.5 hours with similar usage in my testing. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 requires a daily charge, as it typically lasts only 26 hours in real-world usage. The Apple Watch Series 11 powered through 43 hours.
The Pixel Watch 4 also recharges quickly, going from 5% remaining to a full battery in 43 minutes using the included stand and my own 18W brick (not included). I like the design of the stand, which is a departure from the flat magnetic puck used by most other smartwatches. The Pixel Watch 4 rests on its side in the stand, with the crown facing up, and transforms into a small display while charging, showing the current time, charge level, and any upcoming alarms.
The watch will send a notification to your phone if you place it in the stand incorrectly, a small but useful feature. It’ll also notify you when it’s fully charged, but that feature is more typical.
Lifestyle Features: Gemini and More
You can use the Pixel Watch 4 for all of the basic tasks that you’d expect, like making calls, sending texts, downloading apps, paying for things in stores with a tap, sending emails, accessing your calendar, and more. The Google Play Store offers access to a wide variety of apps, including AllTrails, Audible, Calm, Deezer, Komoot, MyFitnessPal, Spotify, Strava, and Todoist. The Apple App Store has even more in terms of sheer volume, but Google’s ecosystem has functionally caught up and has all of the major third-party options.
The notifications on the Pixel Watch 4 are especially colorful and rich, making full use of the curved display to show as much information as possible. You can tap them to pull up the relevant app or respond to messages. The Pixel Watch 4 will automatically trigger a notification cooldown if you’re receiving rapid pings from a single app. Plus, Google’s software is pretty adept at generating auto responses that sound like you, so that you can respond to texts with a quick tap.
The Pixel Watch 4 also provides easy access to Gemini, Google’s conversational and generative AI. You can access Gemini via the watch app, tile, a long press of the side button, or by simply raising your wrist (an optional gesture you can enable).
You can even interact with the watch’s apps through Gemini voice controls. For instance, you can send texts, add an appointment to your calendar, search for a location in Google Maps, control smart home devices with the Google Home app, and more, all by voice.
In testing, the raise-to-talk feature worked well, though it was occasionally too sensitive and started listening when I only wanted to check the time. That said, if I didn’t say anything, it would turn off the mic after a second. It heard my commands clearly and reliably, and made using the watch easier and more intuitive.
The latest Galaxy Watch models also have access to Gemini, and Samsung has confirmed that the AI assistant will be rolled back to at least the Galaxy Watch 7 via an update. Google hasn’t confirmed whether Gemini will be coming to the Pixel Watch 3.
Exercise Monitoring: Responsive and Accurate
The Pixel Watch 4 offers some fitness-tracking upgrades over its predecessor. It has new exercise models for basketball and pickleball, and you can broadcast real-time cycling metrics from your watch to a compatible display on your bike.
Google promises improved automatic workout tracking speed and accuracy, thanks to AI. The fine print notes that this AI auto-tracking only applies to walking, running, biking, spinning, rowing, elliptical training, and team sports. Google notes that you have to do these activities for 15 minutes straight to trigger recognition, so I’m not quite sure what’s improved here; the Pixel Watch 3 can also automatically track a variety of activities and picked up on exercises like walking fairly quickly in testing.
When manually tracking exercise, the Pixel Watch 4 monitors an impressive array of metrics, especially during runs. I tested it during a 30-minute run, wearing the Apple Watch Ultra 3 on my other wrist for comparison.
The Pixel Watch 4 tracked my route using GPS, as well as my distance, duration, elevation gain, energy burned, and heart rate. After the workout, the Fitbit app showed my heart rate graphed over time, as well as a breakdown of my form, including stride length, step cadence, ground contact time, vertical ratio, and vertical oscillation.
During the run, the Pixel Watch 4 usually stayed within 1 to 5 beats per minute (bpm) of the Apple Watch Ultra 3. It matched exactly more often than not, though when I sprinted at intervals toward the end of the run, the Pixel Watch 4 usually reported the resulting heart rate spike about a second earlier than the Ultra 3. After the workout, the heart rate averages, charts, and maximum values matched those from the Ultra 3 exactly.
I also wore the Pixel Watch 4 and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 for multiple CrossFit workouts. Again, the Pixel Watch 4 reported my heart rate spikes and dips more quickly than Apple's premium watch, but otherwise matched its value in beats per minute (bpm). The Pixel Watch 4 showed higher maximum heart rate values than the Ultra 3 after these workouts, but still remained within 5 bpm.
The Pixel Watch 4 is responsive, accurate, and detailed when it comes to exercise tracking, and the Fitbit app uses that data to provide holistic assessments to help you plan your activities. Fitbit's Daily Readiness Score utilizes heart rate variability, resting heart rate, and sleep to provide you with a sense of how hard you should push your workouts on a given day. Cardio Load provides a rolling seven-day breakdown of your exertion over time alongside guidance on whether you’re under- or overexerting yourself. Target Load uses your Readiness Score and Cardio Load to help you set a specific workout goal for the day.
It takes a few days for your Readiness Score to calibrate, and multiple weeks for the watch to generate your Cardio Load and Target Load. Once the metrics are ready, they provide a helpful, holistic picture that combines dynamic and static information, along with tangible takeaways. Like its predecessor, the Pixel Watch 4 offers access to all three of these metrics for free.
However, Google puts its running plans and tailored workouts behind the Fitbit Premium paywall, whereas Samsung's AI Running and Sleeping Coach features are available on the Galaxy Watch 8 series without any premiums. The Pixel Watch 4 could catch up to Samsung on the AI guidance front once its own coach launches in October, but the Galaxy Watch still has the most health and fitness features of any smartwatch I've tested. You can use the Galaxy Watch 8 to measure your antioxidant levels, your vascular load (an indicator of arterial health), track advanced glycation end products (AGEs, an indicator of metabolic health), and even measure your body composition similar to a smart scale, features that aren't available on Google or Apple smartwatches.
Sleep Monitoring: Nailing the Basics
The Google Pixel Watch 4 is a capable sleep tracker, even though it lacks some overnight features of the Galaxy Watch, such as snore tracking and sleep apnea detection. The refined skin temperature sensor offers improved accuracy compared with its predecessor, and it also tracks your overall sleep duration, time in each sleep stage, oxygen variation, and average sleeping heart rate, just like the previous-generation model.
It displays this information clearly on the watch display and in the Fitbit app. It assesses your sleep with a sleep score out of 100, and a useful graph shows how your sleep stages compare with a typical benchmark. It assesses your restlessness overnight and, after 14 days, provides a breakdown of your long-term sleep patterns. Other than the refined skin temperature sensor, none of this is new to this generation.
To gauge accuracy, I wore the Pixel Watch 4 to sleep over the course of my two-week testing period, while wearing the Apple Watch Ultra 3 on my other wrist. The two watches mostly matched in their assessments, though the sleep scores usually varied by a few points in either direction. Otherwise, the heart rate numbers and sleep stage charts matched almost exactly.