Unveiling the Google Pixel Watch: A Comprehensive Review and Analysis
The Google Pixel Watch is a smartwatch designed specifically for Pixel phone users, aiming to combine the benefits of Google’s suite of services with Fitbit’s health tracking features. This review will provide a comprehensive analysis of the device’s key features, design, and performance, as well as discussing its pros and cons.
Design
The Google Pixel Watch is characterized by a minimalist design, featuring a rounded face with a 3D glass dome. It comes in three colors: matte black, silver, and gold, and is available in a single size of 41mm. While the watch fits comfortably on smaller wrists, some users may find it too small for larger wrists.
The watch’s design is largely dominated by a thick bezel, which distracts from the display. Despite this, the Pixel Watch is a “dark mode” device, with a black background on all interfaces and watch faces. The only exception is the Google Photos watch face, which allows users to showcase their photos on their wrist.
The watch also features a digital crown on the side, similar to the Apple Watch’s digital crown, and a small button above it that opens recently used apps with a short press. A long press of this button activates Google Assistant.
The Pixel Watch also supports interchangeable straps, which come in seven types in various materials and colors. However, swapping the bands requires a learning curve due to a proprietary mechanism.
Features
The Pixel Watch leverages Google’s suite of services with Wear OS, offering practically every program a person might use on a daily basis. This includes Google Maps, Google Calendar, Google Pay, Google Home, YouTube Music, and Google Assistant. It also supports some third-party apps like Spotify and Strava through the Google Play Store.
The watch ships with Wear 4, the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system for wearables. This version adds support for backups and the ability to switch phones without resetting the watch. It also adds Gmail and Google Calendar to the list of native Wear apps.
The Pixel Watch 2 also introduces a feature called Body Response, which uses a continuous electrodermal activity sensor (cEDA) along with the new skin temperature and heart rate sensor to detect potential stress events. If the watch detects a period of stress, it provides options to manage the stress, such as a guided breathing session or a suggestion to take a walk.
Performance
The Pixel Watch performs reliably with Google apps and Fitbit’s fitness tracking. It accurately tracks sleep and physical activity, and provides detailed health metrics like electrocardiogram readings, sleep tracking, heart rate readings, and blood-oxygen measurements.
However, some users have reported concerns about the battery life. Although the watch promises 24 hours of battery life, actual usage depends heavily on GPS use and activity tracking. Some users have found the battery life to be lackluster.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Google Pixel Watch is a solid first attempt at a smartwatch made specifically for Pixel phone users. It offers a full collection of Google services, reliable Fitbit fitness tracking, and a sleek design. However, its battery life and the limited size may not appeal to everyone. As a first-generation device, there’s room for improvements in future updates.