After a month of wearing the Pixel Watch 4 as my ride-or-die, the new-watch luster has faded and we’ve slipped into the comfortable rhythm of an old married couple.
The design still feels timeless and understated, but the parts that truly make this watch tick are under the surface: its intuitive UI, the seamless syncing with my phone and the way it works inside the Android ecosystem. Paired with my Pixel 9 Pro, notifications arrive instantly, health data syncs the moment I open the app and Wear OS updates are delivered faster than on most other watches.
But while the Pixel Watch 4 remains one of my favorite Android watches of 2025, there are some literal kinks in its armor that have started to surface with long-term, real-world use.
Google’s AI voice assistant Gemini on the Pixel Watch 4 can often get triggered by mistake with its raise-to-wake functionality.
A few weeks later, Gemini has mostly faded into the background. Part of that is from the novelty wearing off, but mostly it’s because Gemini keeps missing the mark when I actually need it. It turns out that having an assistant so readily available isn’t always as convenient as it sounds.
Sometimes I have to exaggerate the wrist-raise that triggers it to listen, while other times it wakes up unprompted because I’m emphatically gesturing with my hands like the spirited Latin woman that I am. Often, there’s a noticeable delay before it responds, too. Case in point: I was on a video call with my manager when Gemini suddenly chimed in with an answer to… absolutely nothing either of us asked. It makes the watch feel like it’s eavesdropping, and ready to interject at the worst possible moment.
You can turn off raise-to-wake and switch to a button press or on-screen activation. But for now, I’m leaving it on, hoping that with more time Gemini and I figure out a rhythm — and it’ll learn not to butt into my conversations.
Apparently, I’m a walking durability test
I love the Pixel Watch 4’s domed circular screen. It’s understated and elegant and looks good with just about any watch band (elegant or sporty). The near-180-degree visibility makes it easy to read at a glance without needing to angle your wrist, and the 4,000-nit display is legible on bright midday runs. I’ve been using the 41mm model (also comes in 45mm), and it’s comfortable enough to wear 24/7. During the day, I’d forget I was wearing it because it’s so slim; at night, the bubble screen is a touch more noticeable against the pillow, but not enough to disturb my sleep.
The downside to a watch that’s basically all screen is that it’s more exposed to the realities of life (mine, in particular). As an outdoor enthusiast and a mom of three kids whose personal hobbies include testing the limits of gravity, I can’t afford to be precious about my tech, jewelry or anything. Function over form is the stage I’m in.
During a workout, the numbers on the Pixel Watch 4 change color to match the heart rate zone you’re in.
The Pixel Watch 4 does all the fitness basics, but goes above and beyond on the details. For example, instead of making me hunt through screens for my heart rate zone, the watch simply changes the interface color of my workout to match my heart rate zone so I can quickly see where I’m at in my training without breaking my stride.
I’ve always thought the Fitbit app was one of the most intuitive in the wearable space, but after testing the redesigned version (rolling out publicly next year), it might be the best. Instead of focusing on a single day, it now gives you a full week’s view of your fitness data, which feels far more realistic. If I skip a workout, the broader context keeps me from feeling defeatist and, weirdly, makes me more motivated.
Fitbit’s new “Coach” feature can create custom training plans with video examples for every move.
Coach also has access to your habits and health data to make tweaks on the fly, which is genuinely useful. It flagged that working out past 9 p.m. is counterproductive for me based on my sleep patterns and energy scores. It also recommended skipping my workout on that bad sleep day and opting for a nap instead (which I didn’t have time for, but still appreciated the permission to rest).
But there are limitations. Unlike Gemini, which I can summon at any time on my watch, Coach is only available in the Fitbit app on my phone, making the experience feel oddly passive. I wish it coached me during workouts and nudged me to hit a target zone or told me when it’s time to move to the next exercise in my training plan.
Coach also can’t offer medical advice (which is a good thing), and when I tried to bait it into doing so, it correctly told me to talk to a doctor. Still, handing over so much health data to an AI makes me a little uneasy because I’m not exactly sure what it can be used for down the line.
To be fair, Coach is still in beta and is supposed to adapt as it learns your habits. So, it may improve over time, and the version you eventually receive could look very different from what I’ve been previewing.
A demo of the emergency satellite connectivity feature on the cellular version of the Pixel Watch 4.
I’ve been testing the LTE model, which can contact emergency services via satellite if you’re off the grid and need help. I haven’t been without a cell signal (or in distress, thankfully), but it’s a nice safety net, especially for the price. Similar satellite-enabled watches, like the Apple Watch Ultra 3 or Garmin’s Fenix 8 Pro, cost more than $700, while the LTE version of the Pixel Watch 4 starts at $450.
Closing thoughts
After a solid month together, here’s where I’ve landed: If you’re looking for an Android watch that does pretty much everything well, the Pixel Watch 4 is a solid pick. The 41mm battery still needs work (the 45mm should be better), and if you’re buying it just for Fitbit Coach, I’d hold off: it’s promising, but not quite there yet.
Even without Coach, though, the redesigned Fitbit app alone is enough to get excited about. Add in the sleek design, ease of use and seamless integration, and the Pixel Watch 4 keeps this watch at the top of my list. And if Google does eventually nail the coaching side, it’ll be the cherry on top of an already well-rounded sundae.
I’m sure in another month I’ll have even more gems and quirks to report. That’s just how it goes with wearables you live with day in and day out, especially now that they’re constantly adapting to your habits.
