Pay Instantly with Your Pixel Watch, No Wallet App Needed
▼ Summary
– Google is introducing an “express pay” feature for the Pixel Watch 2 and later, allowing contactless payments without opening the Wallet app.
– Unlike Apple’s similar feature, Google’s express pay requires the user to opt-in and have the watch unlocked to work.
– New companion features for Pixel phones include automatic phone locking and alerts for leaving a phone behind, requiring a Pixel 8 or newer.
– A faster identity check feature is being added for sensitive actions, but it is limited to the Pixel Watch 3/4 and Pixel 8 Pro or newer models.
– The broader March update also brings the Find Hub to older watches, new gestures, and expanded Satellite SOS coverage to more regions.
Making payments with your Pixel Watch just got significantly faster and more convenient. Google is rolling out a major update that introduces “express pay,” a feature allowing Pixel Watch 2 and later owners to tap and pay at retail terminals without first opening the Wallet app. This streamlines the checkout process, bringing the experience closer to using a physical card. It’s a notable enhancement that moves beyond the previous requirement of double-tapping the crown to launch the app before a transaction.
This new functionality mirrors the “express mode” found on Apple Watch, which also permits payments without waking the device. However, there’s an important distinction for Pixel Watch users. You must actively opt-in to enable express pay, and your watch needs to be unlocked for the feature to work. It won’t function from a completely powered-down state. Setting it up is a prerequisite; you can’t simply tap and hope it works on the first try.
The convenience of tap-to-pay without an app was already available for transit payments, but this expansion to general retail is a welcome upgrade. It reduces friction at the point of sale, making the wearable a more seamless tool for everyday purchases.
Beyond payments, the update packs several other useful features designed to enhance the Pixel ecosystem. For users with a Pixel Watch 2 and a Pixel 8 or newer phone, two new safety functions are arriving. Your phone will now automatically lock when it moves out of your watch’s Bluetooth range, adding a layer of security. Perhaps more practically, the watch will also send you an alert if you accidentally walk away and leave your phone behind, potentially saving you from a frantic backtrack.
Google is also refining its security verification process. When your watch and phone are linked, performing sensitive actions, like disabling Find My Device, can now be authorized with a simple PIN entry on the watch. This method is reportedly faster than previous authentication steps. It’s worth noting that this specific PIN feature is exclusive to the Pixel Watch 3, Pixel Watch 4, and the Pixel 8 Pro and later models, excluding the standard Pixel 8 and 8A.
The March update delivers improvements beyond the latest hardware. The original Pixel Watch and other Wear OS watches are gaining access to the Find Hub for locating devices. New one-handed gestures are being added to the Pixel Watch 3 to improve navigation. Furthermore, the critical Satellite SOS feature on the Pixel Watch 4 is expanding its coverage to more regions, including Europe, Canada, Hawaii, and Alaska, offering a vital lifeline in remote areas without cellular service.
(Source: The Verge)
