Google Pixel Watch buyer’s guide: Everything you need to know

The very first of its kind, the Google Pixel Watch represents a new player in the smartwatch arena. With Wear OS 3.5 and onboard Fitbit integration, the device brings a ton of features to users’ wrists, but it also falls short in some significant ways. Find out everything you need to know about Google’s new flagship wearable below.

The Google Pixel Watch officially hit shelves on October 13, 2022. The device features a sleek, circular build with a domed, always-on display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. Unlike many competitors, the smartwatch is only available in one 41mm size option, and frankly, it’s quite small. However, Google offers two variants — a Wi-Fi-only version and a 4G LTE model — and each is available in three colors: Champagne Gold, Matte Black, or Polished Silver.

Under the hood, users will find the latest version of Google’s Wear OS, devoid of any overlays. The crisp, responsive UI is easy to navigate as well as personalize, and users can tap into all the best of Google’s tool kit, including Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Wallet. The device also offers direct access to the Google Play Store for rounding out the experience with third-party apps.

The biggest selling point, however, is the Pixel Watch’s native integration with Fitbit’s ecosystem. Directly tied to the Fitbit app, the watch records key health and fitness metrics including daily activity, heart rate, sleep, Active Zone Minutes, and workouts. Each Pixel Watch purchase even comes with six free months of Fitbit Premium access (as well as three free months of YouTube Music Premium access).

See also: Everything you need to know about Wear OS

However, the Pixel Watch also has some major pitfalls. For starters, battery life is quite awful. Given Fitbit’s association with the device, we had hoped to see much better than 24 hours of use. It’s also missing some of the basic health and fitness tracking tools found on other wearables at this price point. These include auto-detection for workouts and, for now at least, SpO2 tracking.

With these shortcomings in mind, we consider the Pixel Watch under-baked and overpriced. There is, of course, always a chance the Pixel Watch continues to improve with software updates over time. However, as is, the Pixel Watch is hard to recommend. We suggest waiting for a second generation that addresses some of the first’s early misses.

If it feels like we have been talking about Google’s Pixel Watch for years, it’s because we have been. With teasers dragging us along since 2019, expectations were sky-high. Now that it’s here, it’s clear the device does get some things right, but there are many aspects that could have been done much better.

However, we also emphasized that this is very clearly a first-generation device. Our reviewer’s biggest pain points included inconsistent Fitbit integration and missing health and fitness tracking features. We also noted that changing bands is cumbersome, and that “in light of the much better battery specs on other Fitbit devices, the Pixel Watch’s battery life is dismal.”

What other reviewers around the web think

• CNET’s Lisa Eadicicco praises the Pixel Watch’s high-end design as well as its health and fitness tracking offerings, commenting that the watch feels “like a hybrid of Fitbit and the Apple Watch.” However, they also note that the watch doesn’t necessarily bring anything new to the market.
• Kate Kozuch with Tom’s Guide gave the Pixel Watch four stars but admits it both “does and doesn’t live up to the hype.” They appreciate that it is successfully optimized for Google software and that it offers support for popular third-party services. However, Kozuch also recognizes that this is an imperfect device with room for improvement. 
• Likewise, Victoria Song from The Verge calls the watch a “good-but-not-yet-great” option for Android users. They cite the Pixel Watch’s alarmingly quick battery drain and even call into question the device’s durability with images of a cracked screen.

Google Pixel Watch specs

Check out our Google Pixel Watch specs overview below.

Underneath the glass, the Pixel Watch houses a dual-processor architecture, including an Exynos 9110 processor and a Cortex M33 co-processor. It also features 2GB of RAM. Sensors on the device include GPS, an optical heart rate sensor, an altimeter, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, an ambient light sensor, and a blood oxygen sensor (though it currently stands inactive). Support for NFC payments, as well as a built-in microphone and speaker, also help to round out the device’s smartwatch features.

Out of the box, the watch comes with a proprietary magnetic charger. It does not work with other wireless chargers and is not compatible with the flagship Pixel phone’s reverse wireless charging. It also ships with a fluoroelastomer (rubber) Active band. If you want to mix up your look, Google offers three additional proprietary band types:

The Pixel Watch is the cleanest showcasing of Google’s latest Wear OS 3.5. Navigating the Pixel Watch UI revolves around familiar Tiles and a useful app drawer. Users can swipe up for notifications, swipe down for quick settings and controls, and swipe left or right to glance at information or open apps via Wear OS Tiles. The setup is very intuitive and performance on the device is notably smooth without any glitching or stalling. Unfortunately, neither the device’s button nor the rotating crown is customizable.

Fitbit Premium

At purchase, Google offers six months of Fitbit Premium membership with each Pixel Watch. After six months, a Fitbit Premium membership is $10 per month. Users can tap into the following features with Premium access:

• Daily Readiness
• Breathing rate
• Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
• Sleep Restoration
• Stress Management Score
• Health Metric
• Detailed Sleep Score breakdown
• Additional workouts from Fitbit trainers and partner brands in the Fitbit app
• Games and challenges in the Fitbit app
• Mindfulness Sessions in the Fitbit app

The Google Pixel Watch isn’t without its flaws. Luckily, there are plenty of other options available. Below are a few Pixel Watch alternatives worth considering. For a more comprehensive list, check out our dedicated post by clicking here.

• Apple Watch Series 8 ($399): Across the board, the Apple Watch outperforms the Pixel Watch in every way. More importantly, the Google device isn’t compatible with iOS anyway.
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 ($279): Also running the latest version of Wear OS, the Galaxy Watch 5 series offers adequate health and fitness tracking, plus additional features for Samsung Galaxy phone users.
• Garmin Venu 2 Plus ($449): For detailed fitness tracking and recovery tools, Garmin’s Venu 2 offers reliable sensors and a data-rich companion app.

• Google Pixel Watch (Bluetooth + Wi-Fi): $349.99/€379/£349
• Google Pixel Watch (4G LTE): $399.99/€429/£379

The Google Pixel Watch is available now from Google or Fitbit as well as from major third-party retailers. The device is available in both a Bluetooth/ Wi-Fi model for $349.99 and a 4G LTE version for $399.99. As mentioned, the watch only comes in one case size and one case material. It ships with a proprietary USB-C charging cable and an Active band in two sizes.

If you want to personalize your watch with alternative bands from Google, pricing for replacement bands are as follows:

• Active band: $49.99
• Stretch band: $59.99
• Woven Band: $59.99
• Crafted Leather: $79.99
• Two-toned Leather band: $79.99
• Metal bands (coming soon): $199

Unfortunately, the Google Pixel Watch will only be available in the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, and Taiwan. If you choose to purchase a 4G LTE version, verify that your cellular carrier is compatible here.