The Google Pixel Watch 4 is finally better than | Tech News

Google’s first Pixel Watch seemed lovely however barely lasted a working day on a single charge. The Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3 improved the formulation with tweaks right here and there, however the Pixel Watch 4, which was launched in October 2025, is palms down the best model but.

In truth, after testing it for 2 weeks, I imagine it’s the best Android smartwatch you may buy, a product now comfortably better for many Android telephone customers than the favored Samsung Galaxy Watch sequence.

It’s virtually unattainable to inform any of the Pixel Watch generations aside visually, however strapping on the Watch 4 ends up being a great expertise, with an completed total really feel missing on the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, which feels over-engineered each in {hardware} and software program.

The Galaxy Watch tends to try to seem like a conventional watch whereas the Apple Watch is clearly a laptop. I like that the Pixel Watch sits firmly within the center, with a spherical however easy face that whispers ‘gadget’ however at a look is a regular timepiece.

The Pixel Watch 4’s most refined however luxurious enchancment is its domed show. Where the earlier three fashions had domed glass with a flat show beneath, the precise AMOLED show right here is additionally domed. It’s a little exhausting to inform except you utilize a watch face that has numbers that go proper up to the sides, however that look mixed with the actual fact the centre of the show is proper up beneath your finger with no sense of a hole provides to the sensation of high quality right here.

It’s not simply better seems to be both. The Pixel Watch 4 is more repairable due to common screws in its physique. Google nonetheless recommends sending it off to be fixed moderately than doing it your self, however it may imply changing an outdated battery or smashed screen is potential. Older Pixel Watch fashions are very exhausting to repair.

The watch is available in 41mm and 45mm sizes, which price £349 and £399 respectively, or £100 more for every so as to add 4G compatibility. I’ve been testing the latter, which doesn’t dwarf my wrist and I can put on comfortably all day and all evening to trace my sleep. It sits a little manner off the wrist however it’s not too cumbersome. Only EE and Vodafone offer full 4G plans for the Pixel Watch 4, and I used to be unable to check this, however it means you may hyperlink your telephone quantity to the eSIM within the watch to obtain all calls, texts and notifications out and about even with out your telephone on you.

What additionally helps me put on it for therefore long is the wonderful battery life, which is better than on the 45m Pixel Watch 3 (the bigger fashions have bigger batteries). The Watch 4 persistently lasted for about two and a half days of use, a determine solely surpassed on fellow Google WearOS watches by the OnePlus Watch 3, which may stretch to 4 or 5 days.

Testing alongside the new Apple Watch Series 11, I discovered the Apple Watch died after 48 hours, whereas the Pixel Watch saved going for nearer to 60 hours.

Google has, annoyingly for Pixel Watch upgraders, modified the charging puck but again, which means no Pixel Watch era has the identical one. This one is the best but although, a magnetic dock that the watch clips into on its left aspect, turning it into a mini bedside or desktop clock.

Charging is very fast, taking solely quarter-hour to get to 50 %, or an hour for a full charge. It means I can chuck the watch onto the charger even when it’s about to die and know that in a quarter of an hour there might be more than enough juice for an additional day of put on at the least.

It means there are two raised silver charging pins on the left edge of the watch that do make the unit look a little unfinished however it’s well worth the commerce off. A slit in between the pins homes the new speaker, which is crisp and loud enough for speaking to Google Gemini, for those who’re into that.

Google’s newish AI voice assistant is, on a smartwatch, nonetheless best suited to easy requests moderately than a long dialog. I additionally was stunned to listen to a voice blurt out my kilometre cut up instances when on a run, however the bulletins have been pleasantly briefer than different watches that scream out all of your stats unnecessarily. Like all the pieces on this watch, this is tastefully refined.

Most of the delight within the watch could be discovered within the WearOS 6 software program, which Google has totally overhauled from older variations. Based on the Material 3 Expressive design language of Android 16 on Pixel telephones, all the pieces is polished and refined, from watch faces to better notification design and tiles which can be curved on the edges to lean into the round screen design.

Little touches equivalent to WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger notifications briefly displaying the identify and picture of the sender, the color theming you may apply to watch faces that goes throughout the entire interface, or the quite simple and clear screen with very important stats when on a run make it really feel just like the watch is working with you. I additionally discovered the GPS and coronary heart price monitoring correct, and there is full IP68 mud and water resistance for rain, showering or swimming.

All train monitoring is by way of the Fitbit app, which feels better built-in with the software program than in earlier years, each with how stats are introduced on the watch and within the visually up to date Fitbit app for Android (keep in mind the Pixel Watch works with any Android telephone, however not with iPhones).

There’s no steep studying curve, which I didn’t discover with the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, a machine with so many options and menus that it’s exhausting to get used to.

The benefit of a Pixel Watch over Samsung or OnePlus, regardless of these watches being very nicely built-in into the Google ecosystem, is that the Pixel Watch feels utterly in tune with Google apps and providers. You can get flip by flip instructions on Google Maps, which vibrates while you need to make a flip, useful for cyclists. The vibration motor is glorious, with the haptics of this watch the best I’ve utilized in any Android smartwatch. Turning the crown to scroll by means of menus provides tiny buzzes which can be solely matched by the industry-best Apple Watch. Bravo, Google.

Third get together app choice is additionally great. I used Nike Run Club, Strava, AllTrails Pocket Casts, Spotify and WhatsApp with no points. Fingers crossed it means builders will proceed to put some love into these apps in a world the place Apple Watch apps have been decidedly superior for years.

I reviewed the matte black aluminium watch with black band, which I believe seems to be great. This 12 months, your color selections are completely different relying on the scale you go for, with the bigger 45mm additionally out there in satin moonstone aluminium (gray) with matching band, or a polished silver aluminium with white band.

The smaller 41mm additionally is available in black or silver, however two different choices of silver with a purple band or a champagne gold with lime inexperienced band.

I do not hesitate to advocate the £399 45mm Pixel Watch 4 because it is the best Android smartwatch I’ve ever examined in a secade of doing so. It works best with a Pixel telephone, and apps such because the Camera control app or Recorder are Pixel solely, however will seamlessly work whichever Android handset you’ve gotten. 

With improved battery life, haptics and software program in a {hardware} design that is totally refined, you will not be upset.