Google Pixel Watch hands-on: my new daily driver?

The Pixel Watch is Google’s first truly own smartwatch. First generations of new tech devices are often not fully mature and too expensive. Does that apply to the Pixel Watch as well? Google is no newcomer to the smartwatch business: With Wear OS, the company has been providing the software for watches from various manufacturers for some time, and not too long ago it bought Fitbit. The Pixel Watch is the step into its own hardware.

Design, size and strap

From the very first second, the futuristic and at the same time elegant design won me over. The 41 mm AMOLED display is strongly curved, so from above you can hardly see the transition into the polished stainless steel case. The haptic crown protrudes only slightly, and the side button is barely distinguishable from the case. You have to feel for it, but you get used to it quickly.

For the strap, Google came up with a new clasp technology. The strap effectively merges with the case, and there is no annoying gap between the watch and the strap or your wrist. The clasp is absolutely childproof, even against me: The first time I swapped it, it took me quite a while.

In reality, the watch is quite small. Some find it too small, and tastes differ. It is precisely the size that makes it my new daily smartwatch driver: finally a watch that adorns my wrist instead of sprawling clunkily across it. At 36 g without the strap, it is so light that I could wear it nonstop, even at night.

Battery and charging

The 294 mAh battery is a big shortcoming, because the watch has to charge at least once a day. The even more expensive Apple Watch doesn’t last longer than a day either, even in its eighth generation. Hardly anyone says a word about that, so I don’t go too hard on the Pixel Watch. But you do have to charge it at least once a day.

I turned off most notifications except for calls and important ones, as well as the always-on display. I mainly use the watch as a sleep and workout tracker, for accepting and declining phone calls, and for telling the time. Then the battery lasts up to a day and a half, like on my Galaxy Watch 5.

Apps and Fitbit

Because Google bought Fitbit, you need a Fitbit account. That is where health data such as heart rate, sleep tracking, workouts and cycle end up. In addition, you have to download the Pixel Watch app to pair the watch and set up watch faces and notifications. That is similar to Apple and Samsung. Like Apple, Google sells a premium membership for €10 a month with more detailed sleep analysis and fitness exercises. I don’t need either and get along fine with the free basic version. The app now also includes food tracking. The Pixel Watch works only with Android, not with the iPhone.

What’s missing

The menu navigation is familiar, it’s Wear OS just like on the Galaxy Watch. But there are some negative differences:

• No shortcuts: On the Galaxy Watch, I can hold down the side button and open things like an alarm, a workout or an app. On the Pixel Watch, that doesn’t work.
• No gesture control: Accepting or declining calls or opening apps by gesture isn’t available.
• No automatic workout detection: It is standard on many smartwatches. After an update to the Fitbit app, it now exists, but only in the app. On the watch, you see nothing of it. Maybe it will come with the next update.
• Do Not Disturb: The mode on the smartphone isn’t synced. I have to activate it separately on the watch, and I 100% forget to deactivate it again.
• No wireless charging: The watch charges neither on a charging pad nor on a smartphone with reverse wireless charging. You always have to lug the charging cable around, and with a battery life of 24 hours, that is risky for me.

On the other hand, Google Assistant can control almost everything: alarms and timers, starting a workout or a song, calls, weather, asking for directions or accepting calls. So you may not need shortcuts all that urgently.

What’s good

• Vibration motor: It is fantastic. The watch doesn’t rattle, but delivers the vibration to your wrist gently and solidly. That contributes a lot to whether a smartwatch feels high-quality or cheap.
• Design: Very stylish on the outside and also in Wear OS, with excellent watch faces, workout tracking design and notifications.
• Operation: Very good despite the size, nothing hangs here, and there is no lag on touch input.
• Google apps: Maps, Google Pay and Google Assistant are superbly integrated and run reliably and fast.
• SOS: In an emergency, such as an accident or fall, the watch can call for help. The feature has been on the Pixel smartphones for a while, and Apple copied it last year.

Price and verdict

The RRP is €379 for the Wi-Fi version and €429 for LTE. With the shortcomings mentioned, I don’t find that appropriate, so I wouldn’t recommend the Pixel Watch at this price without reservations. At €250, it would be a different story. The Pixel Watch is an elegant, lovely smartwatch that more than masters the basics and brings a few nice features. For some users, like me, that is completely sufficient.