Introduction: a true turn in the Android smartwatch space
Five years ago, Android smartwatch reviews were dominated by a narrow set of options and plenty of compromises. Today, Google’s Pixel Watch 4 changes the conversation. Priced at $349.99, it isn’t just a hardware refresh; it’s a thoughtful rethink of what an Android smartwatch should be. From a repairable chassis to a brighter domed display and a more capable health and fitness stack, the Pixel Watch 4 makes a compelling case for itself as the best all-around Android wearable yet.
Design and display: a refined, more capable look
The Pixel Watch 4 doesn’t abandon its predecessor’s silhouette, but up close you’ll notice meaningful refinements. The domed Actua 360 display curves more noticeably on the 45mm model, and bezels are 16% thinner, delivering roughly 10% more screen real estate. The refresh coincides with Google’s Material 3 Expressive design, which threads brighter, more generous tiles across the edge of the display and leans into larger, rounder UI elements. The result is a watch that feels modern without shouting for attention. In pairing with a Pixel phone, color themes align for a cohesive, unified look on your wrist.
Brightness now tops 3,000 nits, making the Pixel Watch 4 easily legible in bright sun—on par with premium rivals and a welcome upgrade for outdoor workouts and quick glances on the move.
Hardware and performance: longer life, faster charging, smarter internals
Under the hood, the Pixel Watch 4 features bigger batteries and a faster processor, aided by Wear OS 6’s performance gains. The result is a watch that delivers noticeably longer life and improved responsiveness. In practical use, most users can expect around 36–42 hours with the always-on display enabled, and about 45 hours on the larger 45mm model on a typical cycle. Fast charging is a standout, with a dramatic jump from low to high charge in under an hour—Google even touts a 97% fill in roughly 34 minutes from a 14% start.
Repairability is a new and welcome addition. The watch uses accessible screws, and both a battery and display are accessible for replacement. This aligns with contemporary maker culture that values longevity and repair over disposable electronics. Google confirms that third-party repair options will become available through iFixit and official Google repair channels, reducing total cost of ownership over time.
Wear OS 6 and Gemini: a smarter assistant on your wrist
Wear OS 6 brings a Material 3 Expressive refresh that makes the interface feel more tactile and responsive. The Gemini AI on the Pixel Watch 4 is more capable than previous iterations, with a new Raise-to-Talk gesture that wakes Gemini without any dramatic arm movements. The revamped Gemini Tile lets you save two shortcuts for frequent queries, such as “summarize my last email” or “turn off all my lights.”
Smart Replies offer more personalized responses, though practical limitations exist depending on which Pixel phone you pair with (Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 9, or Pixel 10 series). Notification management also gains a new angle with a cooldown feature intended to reduce notification fatigue, though real-world use may vary based on your Nest and other smart-home devices.
Health and fitness: more capable sensors and smarter tracking
Health tracking on the Pixel Watch 4 receives a significant upgrade. Activity detection is more automatic: the watch can identify certain cardio activities automatically for at least 15 minutes and then surface a recap within an hour. This is a welcome improvement for casual runners and walkers who don’t want to fiddle with manual start/stop logs. The dual-frequency GPS promises more accurate route mapping in challenging environments, from dense urban canyons to thick forests. In testing, it offered improvements over prior Pixel Watch runs, though maps aren’t yet on par with Fitbit’s strongest rivals in all scenarios.
New to the mix is a potential health ecosystem win: Fitbit Health Coach AI features are on the horizon (not fully available at launch), and the Pixel Watch 4 continues to leverage Fitbit data with Google’s Health Connect API for broader third-party integration. Emergency satellite SOS remains a safety feature, useful as a backup in areas without cellular coverage, though it’s not a substitute for traditional emergency services in most scenarios.
The bottom line: should you upgrade to Pixel Watch 4?
If you’ve been waiting for a Google wearable that truly competes with the best in Android smartwatches, the Pixel Watch 4 is hard to ignore. It nails battery life, refines the software experience, and improves the hardware in meaningful ways—especially with repairability and a brighter, more legible display. The price is competitive, and while Gemini still has its rough edges, the overall package positions Google as the current leader in Android wearables, at least for most users who value a cohesive, software-forward experience.
Considerations and caveats
- Charging remains proprietary, with a third dedicated charger introduced in as many years.
- Gemini performance can vary; it shines in certain tasks but remains less consistent for complex multi-step queries.
- Maps accuracy improves, yet some edge cases still show room for refinement compared with the best GPS ecosystems.
