Google Pixel Watch 4: My Smartwatch Redemption
▼ Summary
– The author previously avoided smartwatches like the Apple Watch due to infrequent activity, a lack of need for notifications, and daily charging concerns.
– The Google Pixel Watch 4 features an improved curved display with thinner bezels, higher brightness, and the author prefers the larger 45mm model for its battery and screen.
– The watch offers excellent battery life, lasting over a day with lighter use, and supports very fast charging that can provide a significant boost in just minutes.
– Its fitness tracking is adequate for general activities but lacks specialized modes for gym equipment and can be inconsistent with metrics like floor counting and automatic workout detection.
– The overall software experience is positive with a refreshed design and useful gestures, but the standout features that convinced the author to wear it regularly are the combination of strong battery life and rapid charging.
For years, my wrist was home to either a simple analog timepiece or a basic fitness band, devices that handled timekeeping and step counting without demanding much thought. The idea of a full-featured smartwatch never appealed to me; daily charging seemed like a chore, and a constant stream of notifications felt unnecessary for my lifestyle. Testing the Google Pixel Watch 4, however, has genuinely shifted my perspective, making a compelling case for wearing a smartwatch every day.
My preference has always leaned toward circular watch faces, a design that feels classic and intuitive. The Pixel Watch 4 honors this with its attractive curved domed Actua 360 display, which features noticeably thinner bezels than its predecessor. My review unit was the 41mm model, though I’d personally choose the 45mm option for its larger screen and potentially better battery capacity. The display itself is exceptionally bright, reaching a peak of 3,000 nits, which makes checking the time or your stats in direct sunlight completely effortless.
Battery performance proved to be a standout feature. Even with the smaller 41mm case, I consistently achieved more than a full day of use during periods of lighter activity. While it uses a proprietary charging puck, the system’s speed largely compensates for that limitation. Google promises a charge from zero to fifty percent in just fifteen minutes, with a full charge taking about forty-five minutes. In real-world testing, my results came impressively close to those figures. This rapid charging capability is a game-changer; you can top up the battery significantly during a short coffee break or while getting ready in the morning, alleviating much of the range anxiety associated with wearables.
My primary use involved tracking activities like walking and pickleball sessions. The watch provided standard data such as calorie burn but offered few deeper insights into sports-specific movements. When I began gym workouts, I found the exercise modes somewhat generic, lacking dedicated settings for specific equipment; you instead choose from broader categories like strength training or core workouts. Features for runners are more developed, though the watch’s automatic detection of cardio sessions after fifteen minutes of continuous activity was inconsistent during my walks. Similarly, the floor count metric was often inaccurate, overcounting on simple strolls and undercounting when I actually used stairs.
I’ve never been one to wear a device to bed, but I made an effort with the Pixel Watch 4 to access its sleep and daily readiness analytics. After an adjustment period, I grew accustomed to it. The daily summary on the watch face, however, is quite basic. More detailed suggestions and data appear in the companion Fitbit app, but the insights offered there feel limited. As competing fitness platforms integrate more advanced AI, this is an area where Google has clear room for improvement.
On the software front, the new Material You interface is visually refreshing and integrates seamlessly with my other Pixel devices. The weather app is particularly well-designed, presenting forecasts in a clean, attractive format. A minor complaint is the limit of only three workout types accessible via the quick-start menu. Having Gemini accessible by raising my wrist is a neat trick, useful for setting timers or asking quick questions, though I didn’t find myself relying on it constantly. A recent software update introduced intuitive pinch gestures to dismiss notifications or control media, along with a wrist-flick motion to reject calls, small touches that enhance daily usability.
While I noted a few shortcomings in fitness tracking, they rarely impacted my overall positive experience. The combination of stellar battery life and incredibly fast charging is what ultimately won me over, transforming my view of what a smartwatch can be. The fantastic display and polished software experience represent a solid upgrade from previous models. All things considered, the Google Pixel Watch 4 stands out as one of the most compelling smartwatches available for Android users.
(Source: TechCrunch)
