1/7/2023 0 Comments Perfectly clear 3.5I’ve yet to be able to slow the Pixel Watch down during my week of testing. I was quite impressed, as I can’t tell you how many other watches I’ve tested over the years that simply fall on their faces doing those same tasks. On the Pixel Watch, while 20 minutes into an outdoor run, I was able to easily flip between the active Fitbit activity and Spotify to change songs, plus I ran Google Assistant commands to check the weather, set time-based reminders, etc. I feel like that situation puts quite a bit of a strain on most smartwatches, so trying to do other activities while that is running can tell you a lot. I know they customized the chip setup some by adding a co-processor for less intense tasks, but the 9110 doing most of the work hasn’t meant sluggish performance.įor me, testing the performance of a smartwatch usually happens when I’m on a run and GPS is active. The older dual-core Exynos 9110 chip that Google used in the Pixel Watch, which is 4 years old, still runs well. Generally speaking, I think the Pixel Watch looks great, partly because of its design, but also because it fits on the wrist as a watch should. It’s also small enough and those teeth don’t actually offer much grip, so scrolling with it can be a frustrating experience. It’s metal and matches the stainless steel of the case, but its teeth, mushroom top design, and the feel of it rotating aren’t great. If I had a complaint, it’s probably that the rotating crown looks a little cheap. Nothing really looks like this watch and that’s a good thing. While we aren’t fans of proprietary band systems, connecting the band directly to the case has helped in wearability and that unique look I just mentioned. The Pixel Watch has its own unique look, thanks to the watch band connection directly into the watch case. I feel like I’ve been testing nothing but massive watches lately, like the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, Apple Watch Ultra, and my Garmin Forerunner 955, that this smaller size has been a refreshing change. Or at the very least, it blends into my day without getting in the way, like so many smartwatches can do, since so many are excessive in size. The slimness of the Pixel Watch with its manageable case size means I’ve often forgotten that I’m wearing it. I’m not sure I’d quite call it “a round Apple Watch,” because it doesn’t have the fit and finish that Apple has perfected over the years, but it’s closer than any other smartwatch. Then, you toss in stainless steel for a premium weight on the wrist and a well-made band and you’ve got the best design of any Wear OS smartwatch. A 41mm case with domed glass and a slim profile is about the best combination of ideas you could ask for in a smartwatch. See, as I explained in the opening, Google both went for it in specs and also didn’t.ĭesign and size. There’s also a rotating crown, additional side button, speaker, microphone, heartrate sensor, 5ATM water resistance, and a blood oxygen (SpO2) sensor that isn’t quite working yet. You’ll find 32GB storage, 2GB RAM, Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi, GPS, NFC, Wear OS 3.5, and a 294mAh battery that Google claims can last around 24 hours. There’s a 41mm case holding a domed glass AMOLED display that Google won’t give a diameter for, but is at least covered in a custom Gorilla Glass. It comes in silver, black, or gold cases, with all sorts of band options.Īs for specs, everything is powered by an older dual-core Exynos 9110 chip ( from 2018) with a co-processor there to help with lighter loads. The lower price gets you Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, while that higher price gets you the option to connect to a cellular network. The Pixel Watch, in case you already forgot, costs either $349 or $399. If you are ready, let’s get after it – this is our Google Pixel Watch review.īefore we dive in, a small recap is probably needed. I’ve had a Pixel Watch on the wrist for a solid week+ now and that has been plenty of time to share all of the thoughts. And if “safe” isn’t the correct word, let’s just say that Google is very much working on where this watch was meant to end up, which may not be OK to anyone outside of the early adopters who understand this way of life. Still, they went for it or least did in some ways while clearly playing it safe in others. This first attempt at a smartwatch from Google comes with so much hype and a level of expectation that I’m not sure any company is capable of hitting. It’s surprising because I had arrived mentally at a place where I assumed they’d never make one and that Wear OS might disappear without its creator ever giving it a real shot. It’s exciting because this is Google’s first watch, a watch we’ve been begging them to build for a number of years. Sitting down to write a review about the Google Pixel Watch is both exciting and a bit surprising.
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