The Google Pixel Watch 4 Made Me Like Smartwatches Again

For the past few years, I've only worn either an analogue watch or a Xiaomi Band 6 for basic step tracking and time. I didn't opt for an Apple Watch because I wasn't constantly active, didn't feel the need to check notifications, and didn't want to think about charging it every day.

However, this year, I had the opportunity to test the new Google Pixel Watch 4, and it made me feel like I might start wearing smartwatches again.

I've always had a soft spot for circular watches. One of the first smartwatches I owned was the Moto 360, and I loved its rounded design. The Pixel Watch 4 has a curved, domed Actua 360 display with thinner bezels than last year's model. I tested the 41mm version, but I would personally opt for the 45mm size for better battery life and a bigger display. The display is also brighter, boasting 3,000 nits of peak brightness, making it easier to use in daylight.

Battery Life and Charging

Despite its smaller 41mm model, the Pixel Watch 4's battery life is impressive. I've managed to get more than a day's use out of the watch on days with lighter activities.

Image Credits: Ivan Mehta

Though the Pixel Watch 4 uses a proprietary charger that places the watch on a puck-like cradle, its charging speed makes up for the unique design. Google advertises that you can charge this watch from 0% to 50% in 15 minutes and from 0% to 100% in 45 minutes. While real-world charging times didn't exactly match these numbers, they were pretty close. Fast charging is convenient—you can quickly charge the watch during a short break, like making coffee or doing a quick chore —and have enough juice to last you all day.

Fitness and Software Features

I primarily used the Pixel Watch 4 to track my pickleball sessions and walking. The watch provided basic information, such as calorie burn, but there weren't many in-depth insights into sports-related movement. I recently started going to the gym, and while the watch supports treadmill and elliptical modes, it doesn't have specific modes for particular gym equipment. You have to select from general workout modes such as core training or weights, depending on the type of workout.

For runners, the Pixel Watch 4 offers more advanced features. Still, Delhi's weather has made it difficult for me to test them thoroughly. The watch also detects cardio workouts after 15 minutes of continuous activity. However, its accuracy for walking has been hit or miss. One thing that hasn't been accurate is the floor count. For example, walking to a cafe gave me a very high floor count, while multiple trips up to my terrace were not recorded accurately.

I wasn't initially used to wearing my watch to sleep, but the Pixel Watch 4 changed that. After a few weeks, I started wearing it regularly to track my sleep and readiness scores. However, the watch doesn't provide actionable insights, including sleep or readiness scores, in the daily summary. While the Fitbit app offers suggestions related to readiness, that's about it. As fitness apps increasingly add more AI-driven features, Google needs to improve its offerings in this area.

Design and User Experience

The new Material UI design on the Pixel Watch 4 is refreshing and matches the aesthetic of my Pixel Fold. The weather app is visually appealing, showing both hourly and daily forecasts. My only gripe is that the exercise app only supports three workout types through the quick start function. I can talk to Gemini, Google's assistant, but beyond starting timers, checking sports updates, and beginning a workout, I don't find Gemini essential for my everyday use.

I appreciate the recent Pixel Watch 4 update, which lets me use the pinch gesture to dismiss notifications, play or pause videos or music, and even move my wrist to ignore calls.

Final Thoughts

Despite some minor gripes, none of them affected my daily usage. The display is fantastic, the software and fitness experience are great overall, and the new design is a significant upgrade over the previous generation. The feature that drew me to the watch tost—and kept me switched—is the combination of battery life and fast charging.

All in all, the Pixel Watch 4 is one of the best Android smartwatches available.