Pixel Watch 2 Review

The Pixel Watch 2 was introduced again in October with the brand new Pixel 8 Professional and Pixel 8.

It has launched with two variants, they’re each the identical dimension and design, however one is Bluetooth/WiFi whereas the opposite additionally has 4G/ LTE connectivity through an eSIM.

The Pixel Watch 2 is accessible for £349, which makes it a bit dearer than the Samsung Galaxy Watch6, however cheaper than the Basic fashions, and it’s also cheaper than the Apple Watch Sequence 9.

I’ve been utilizing the Pixel Watch 2 with my Pixel 8 Professional for the previous couple of weeks. It’s a nice Put on OS watch, however there’s numerous room for development. Google shall be beneath elevated stress as there are lastly a rising variety of first rate Put on OS watches to select from.

Specification

	Pixel Watch 2
Dimensions	41 x 41 x 12.3 mm (1.61 x 1.61 x 0.48 in)
Weight	31 g (1.09 oz)
Construct	Glass entrance (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum body 50m/5ATM water-resistant (IP68)
SIM	eSIM
Show	1.2 inches AMOLED, 1000 nits (peak) 450 x 450 pixels (~320 ppi density) At all times-on show
OS	Android Put on OS 4
Chipset	Qualcomm 5100 Cortex M33 co-processor
Storage / RAM	32GB 2GB RAM eMMC
Speaker / Mic	Constructed-in microphone Constructed-in speaker
4G LTE	4G LTE and UMTS with eSIM
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 5.0, A2DP, LE NFC
GPS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
Sensors	Compass Altimeter Pink and infrared sensors for oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring Multipurpose electrical sensors appropriate with ECG app Multi-path optical coronary heart price sensor 3-axis accelerometer Gyroscope Ambient gentle sensor Electrical sensor to measure pores and skin conductance (cEDA) for physique response monitoring Pores and skin temperature sensor Barometer Magnetometer Extremely Wideband (UWB) help
Interplay	Aspect button Haptic crown Premium haptics
Battery	306 mAh 24 hours with always-on show
Charging	Magnetic 80% in 45 min

Pixel Watch vs Pixel Watch 2

Design

• The Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 have the identical 41mm case dimension and minimalist round design.
• The Pixel Watch has a stainless-steel physique, whereas the Pixel Watch 2 makes use of a lighter aluminium alloy.
• They’ve the identical show dimension and determination. The Pixel Watch 2’s crown is smoother to rotate.

{Hardware}

• The Pixel Watch 2 has a more recent and quicker Snapdragon W5 processor in comparison with the Exynos chip within the unique. This improves efficiency and battery effectivity.
• The Pixel Watch 2 has a barely bigger 306 mAh battery versus 294 mAh within the Pixel Watch.
• Extra sensors within the Pixel Watch 2 embrace EDA for stress monitoring and pores and skin temperature.
• Multipath coronary heart price module with 5 photodiodes & 5 LEDs

Software program & Options

• Each run Put on OS. The Pixel Watch 2 launches with Put on OS 4.
• Computerized exercise detection and extra superior coronary heart price coaching options are unique to the Pixel Watch 2.
• Fitbit integration is deeper within the Pixel Watch 2 with extra metrics like Each day Readiness Rating.
• Actual-time security verify characteristic, alerting emergency contacts when you don’t verify in.
•  Background irregular coronary heart price notifications

Battery Life

• Google claims each watches present 24 hours of battery life.
• Nonetheless, the Pixel Watch 2 is predicted to final 24 hours with always-on show enabled versus with out always-on show for the Pixel Watch.
• Sooner charging on the Pixel Watch 2 gives 50% cost in half-hour.

Design and Construct High quality

The Pixel Watch 2 retains the identical minimalist, round design as the unique Pixel Watch.

The general look is engaging and inoffensive, it’s maybe just a bit boring. The plain design ought to at the very least imply it doesn’t stand out an excessive amount of, no matter what you’re sporting. Presumably, it has extra mass enchantment than a few of the extra stylised choices on the market as properly.

It has a 41mm aluminium case that sits comfortably on the wrist. I’ve skinny boney wrists, and it’s a good dimension for me, it might look a bit small if in case you have very thick wrists and forearms.

The domed glass entrance flows easily into the physique to create a refined pebble-like form. This provides the Pixel Watch 2 a extra versatile look in comparison with chunkier, rugged smartwatches. The curved design makes it appear and feel thinner than its 10.7mm depth.

The Pixel Watch 2 is 10% lighter than its predecessor at simply 31g. That is due to the lighter aluminium alloy case as a substitute of chrome steel. The lowered weight additional enhances consolation, particularly for twenty-four/7 put on. You barely discover it in your wrist.

Google affords the Pixel Watch 2 in 4 color choices to go well with completely different tastes – Matte Black, Polished Silver, Champagne Gold and Charcoal. I acquired the matte black color which once more is sweet and refined however a bit boring.

It retains the identical 1.2” always-on AMOLED show as the unique Pixel Watch. The decision stays crisp at 320ppi whereas the slim bezels present a clear, trendy aesthetic.

The facet button and rotating crown have been refined to really feel smoother and extra premium. The haptic suggestions from button presses gives a satisfying tactile expertise.

The Pixel Watch 2 achieves an IP68 score for mud and water resistance. It might additionally stand up to depths of as much as 50 meters underwater, as earlier than.

General, the Pixel Watch 2 retains the superb consolation, compact styling and versatile design of the primary mannequin. The lighter construct improves wearability, whereas the color choices add stylistic flexibility.

Put on OS 4

The Pixel Watch 2 launches with the most recent Put on OS 4 software program, bringing useful enhancements over Put on OS 3.5 on the unique Pixel Watch and different competing Put on OS watches, such because the Ticwatch Professional 5

• Transfers and Backups – Put on OS 4 introduces the flexibility to switch your knowledge, settings and watch faces to a brand new telephone with out resetting your watch. It’s also possible to again up your watch earlier than upgrading to a brand new one. This makes switching between telephones or watches a lot smoother.
• Notifications – Notifications have been upgraded with sensible hyperlink recognition for telephone numbers and addresses. Now you can take actions like calling a quantity instantly from a notification in your wrist.
• Accessibility – Put on OS 4 brings higher text-to-speech help, daring textual content formatting and improved magnification capabilities for these with visible impairments.
• Google Calendar App – There may be now a devoted Google Calendar app as a substitute of the earlier Agenda app. You may view your schedule for the following 30 days and begin navigation to occasion places.
• Security Options – The brand new Security Verify characteristic enables you to verify you’re protected after a specified time frame. It might notify emergency contacts when you don’t reply. Emergency Sharing can be accessible to rapidly contact emergency providers.
• Efficiency – Below the hood, Put on OS 4 gives bug fixes, battery life optimisations and normal efficiency enhancements over Put on OS 3.5.

Whereas not revolutionary adjustments, these Put on OS 4 upgrades deal with ache factors like watch transfers and backups. Additionally they add useful new security capabilities to the Pixel Watch 2. These sticking with the unique Pixel Watch will get Put on OS 4 later this 12 months.

Google Watch App, Fitbit App & Google Match Create a Disjointed Expertise

The Pixel Watch 2 has extra options past what’s native with Put on OS 4. The principle factor is that the watch now has a deep integration with Fitbit in addition to a wide range of options which can be enabled by the varied sensors the watch has.  

Mainly, something well being and fitness-related goes by Fitbit.

I’ve a delicate spot for Fitbit as I used a lot of its early units throughout my weight reduction and health journey.

I’d say the Fitbit app affords a superior expertise to the well being options of most competing manufacturers. It tracks a variety of well being metrics, as do most watches now, nevertheless it lays the information out in a user-friendly manner.

Fitbit additionally has the advantage of a browser UI, which I discover a lot better than a cellular app for analysing knowledge.

One wonderful thing about Fitbit is that there’s good third-party integration. I used to be capable of hyperlink each Strava and Withings. With Withings, I might import all my historic knowledge.

It’s removed from excellent, although. You will have the Fitbit app and a separate watch app. You then have Google Match actions listed within the UI, together with Match Breath, Objectives, Coronary heart Price, and Exercise. This creates a disjointed expertise and messy UI. Every part must be completed beneath Google Match or Fitbit.

Then, you might have the difficulty with the truth that most of the Fitbit options are walled off right into a subscription, which prices $9.99 per thirty days.  You may see a full checklist of options comparing the free plan to the premium plan here.

Some necessary options for me which can be lacking from the free plan embrace:

• Each day Readiness Rating
• Detailed evaluation of sleep (Sleep Particulars and Sleep Profile)
• Wellness Report

These are included freed from cost on some competing units. All wearables I’ve used provide fairly detailed sleep evaluation freed from cost. Garmin has issues like readiness rating and physique battery.  

Options I don’t thoughts which can be walled off embrace:

• Recipe and Meal Hacks
• Mindfulness Periods
• Exercise Movies and Audio Periods

I feel it’s comprehensible that these options would incur a price.

You get 6 months free FitBit Premium, so you may at the very least strive it out.

Chipset Efficiency

• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon W5100
• Manufacturing course of: 4nm
• CPU: Quad-core Cortex-A53 as much as 1.7GHz
• GPU: Adreno 702
• Reminiscence: 2GB RAM
• Storage: 32GB

The Pixel Watch 2 makes use of the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5100, switching from the Samsung Exynos 9110 used on the unique. The brand new chipset is a major improve from its predecessor, promising to be considerably extra highly effective whereas additionally being extra vitality environment friendly.

Throughout my time with the watch, the general efficiency has been glorious, the watch is responsive, apps load rapidly, and the battery lasts the claims 24 hours with the always-on show enabled.

Pixel Watch 2 UI and Apps

Like most smartwatches, you may alter the best way it seems utilizing completely different watch faces. You get a bunch of inventory ones or you may obtain them from the Play Retailer. Third-party ones typically incur a price.

The contact show permits you to swipe left and proper to undergo the varied display screen akin to steps, sleep, climate and so on. Swiping from the highest down offers you entry to the short settings and swiping up brings up all of the notifications.

I’ve not reviewed a Put on OS look ahead to some time. The app choice is way superior to apps accessible on watches just like the Huawei Watch GT 3 Professional, which runs HarmonyOS, or final 12 months’s Xiaomi Watch S1 Professional, which runs MIUI Watch OS and had only one installable app once I reviewed it.

That being stated, the apps accessible are nonetheless fairly restricted and much behind the likes of Apple. You may set up apps instantly out of your watch or through your telephone.

The watch has plenty of helpful apps, some preinstalled, some from the Play retailer, these included:

• Calendar: Native help for Google Calendar is nice for ensuring I don’t neglect about issues
• Digital camera App: I’m not a lot of 1 for selfies however the digital camera app is a superb little characteristic because it offers you a correct viewfinder fairly than only a shoot button.
• Google Maps: I like the Google Maps app as it’s way more discrete than holding your telephone. You may change between written instructions and an arrow or the map overview.
• Google Pockets: Considerably higher than Garmin Pay
• Google House: Helpful if in case you have arrange favourites and automations permitting you fast entry to your Google House features.
• House Assistant: Direct management of House Assistant units. Nonetheless, it’s a little complicated to arrange on the watch.
• Spotify: Permits you to obtain playlists and management your music, together with altering playlists and so on
• WhatsApp: Permits you to learn messages and reply. You may simply do voice notes.
• YouTube Music: Permits you to obtain playlists and management your music, together with altering playlists and so on

Strava is accessible to obtain, and it data your actions instantly into Strava, however the Fitbit train choices are higher, and you’ll sync Fitbit to Strava. Any actions you monitor in Strava don’t present in Fitbit, so you’re greatest sticking with Fitbit for all of your actions.

There are additionally different helpful apps which I didn’t strive, together with AllTrails, OS Maps, and Komoot.

As a Garmin consumer, I do love the superior performance a correct smartwatch affords.

Outside Health / Strava Export

As a eager health fanatic, the well being and health options of any wearable are important for me. One of many massive points I’ve with competing choices is the poor third-party integration.

At first, it wasn’t clear methods to hyperlink Fitbit to different providers. The simplest factor to do is to Google the service you wish to combine with Fitbit. For Strava, you may use this page, and for Withings, you may use this page.

The Fitbit train app is primary in comparison with the likes of Garmin, however higher than the Strava app. You may customise what stats get displayed akin to:

Distance, Elapsed Time, Coronary heart Price, Tempo, Tempo Common, Energy Burned, Steps, Elevation, Elevation Acquire, Lively Zone Minutes.

It’s also possible to use pacer zones to observe your tempo. I actually need to decelerate my lengthy runs so this can be a characteristic that might be actually helpful for me (or conversely, when I’m aiming for a sure tempo throughout an occasion)

GPS Accuracy

For GPS accuracy, I examined towards the Garmin Fenix 6 Professional, and since I solely used two units, it’s a little tough to inform for positive which watch is extra correct.

On my first Strava run, the Pixel recorded 6.19 mi whereas the Garmin recorded 6.26 mi. This might be a consumer error with me not beginning/ending them on the identical time, however underreporting distance is a significant issue for eager athletes as it could actually imply an occasion might not get counted accurately. My 10K PB wasn’t recorded in Strava with my Garmin for this precise downside. I used to be furious.

Plotting the GPS route towards one another reveals no important issues with the Pixel watch GPS accuracy. At one level, it does appear to stray away from the Garmin line, however it isn’t too unhealthy.

Optical Coronary heart Price Accuracy Throughout Train

Each system I’ve ever used struggles with coronary heart price accuracy throughout health utilizing the wrist-based optical sensor. The identical is true right here.

I at all times put on a chest strap with my Garmin for improved accuracy. Plotting the outcomes towards one another reveals important variations in outcomes with as much as a 25bpm distinction at completely different elements of my run.

I’ve skinny, boney and furry wrists, which provides to the accuracy issues. Different folks might have much less accuracy points.

Cadence & Different Working Metrics

Well being Monitoring

The well being monitoring options are glorious; you might have a very good array of sensors, and Fitbit have numerous expertise in well being monitoring. The UI is user-friendly, and the element is superb.

I’d like a bit extra element beneath the center price part. The dashboard reveals high and low, however then, beneath the small print part, it isn’t as clear. I don’t know how they work out resting coronary heart price. On the time of writing, Garmin tells me 42bpm whereas Fitbit says 56bpm. Garmin appears to make use of readings if you are asleep, which I don’t assume is technically correct, however I’ve seen my HR decrease whereas sitting at my desk than what’s reported in Fitbit. I suppose the necessary factor is to maintain it in a wholesome vary and the pattern of your HR.

There doesn’t seem like a technique to disable any of the well being monitoring options. Particularly, there’s no use for normal SpO2 readings in case you are a wholesome individual. It’s not clear if that is 24/7 monitoring, however it might be good to have some management as it could actually have a major affect on the battery.

The pores and skin temperature makes use of the brand new pores and skin dermatological sensor for correct temperature readings fairly than an informed guess, which the unique Pixel Watch did. The readings shall be fascinating to see if/when I’m sick. Hopefully, it might give some prewarning if I’m coming down with one thing or at the very least verify I’m sick. It’s not very fascinating if you end up wholesome.

Coronary heart Price Variability is one thing that’s alleged to be crucial for monitoring your health, particularly for the traits in your health and to gauge your situation. Garmin promotes this extensively and it’s good to see on the Pixel.

The respiratory knowledge didn’t report a lot. I feel it’s because it solely seems at a sleep interval of three hours and I’m cursed with waking up rather a lot through the evening.

ECG

With the ability to do an electrocardiogram is a characteristic that’s changing into more and more common on smartwatches. It’s good to have and I’m positive it’s helpful for people who find themselves vulnerable to poor coronary heart well being, however I discover it a type of options that you just use a couple of times and rapidly neglect about (assuming you might have a wholesome studying).

Music

For music, you may obtain playlists on to the watch with YouTube Music or Spotify. Or, you may management what you’re streaming on the watch. The controls are superior to competing choices with generic media management as you may view the playlists and choose them correctly fairly than use play/pause and skip ahead/again.

You may then pair Bluetooth earbuds instantly with the watch. This shall be notably helpful for anybody with the 4G/LTE variant as you may simply exit and do actions with out taking your telephone.

Battery

My typical utilization is comparatively gentle, I don’t actually use most of the apps it’s principally simply notifications and health monitoring. I do way more health than common, although so this can drain the battery fairly a bit.

I discovered that the battery comfortably lasts 24 hours, which is crucial factor. I might usually be left with 15-25% battery, which is an inexpensive buffer to cowl heavier use days.

The day I wrote this evaluation, the watch did notify me it was low on battery simply as I went to mattress. However I had been messing round with the options all day, together with Google Maps plus my typical 2+ hours of health monitoring.

For charging, there’s a proprietary magnetic charger, which I’m on the fence about. I usually hate proprietary fees. I’ll positively lose it in some unspecified time in the future, and I want to recollect to carry it with me anytime I journey. However, the magnetic attachment is powerful, so that you don’t want to fret about it being knocked off the charger. The cost is quick as properly, it takes about an hour for a full cost, so so long as I keep in mind to cost it day by day, it isn’t too annoying.

Value and Various Choices

The Google Pixel Watch 2 is priced at £349 for the Bluetooth/WiFi variant and £399 for the 4G/LTE variant.

The Samsung Galaxy6 Watch sequence is priced at:

• Galaxy Watch:
• Galaxy Watch Basic:

The Ticwatch Professional 5 has an RRP of £330 however is accessible on Amazon for as little as £260 with the on-page reductions.

The brand new Xiaomi Watch 2 Professional is priced at simply £250 for the traditional model or £290 for the LTE model.

Not likely another choice, however for comparability, the Apple Watch Sequence 9 begins at £399.

Or, for a extra health focussed watch, you might have the Garmin Venu 3 accessible from £450, which appears exorbitant contemplating the value of the above smartwatches.

General

The Pixel Watch 2 is an effective Put on OS watch, however not nice.

The general look is engaging and inoffensive. It jogs my memory of the Apple Watch, it’s good, simply not thrilling.

Battery life is suitable and, by all accounts, an enchancment from the poor first-generation battery. Competing choices have bigger batteries, with each Ticwatch and Xiaomi claiming considerably longer battery life. However, they obtain this by having a lot bigger watches, which can restrict the enchantment.

The Fitbit integration offers the watch a well-established and superior well being platform over competing choices, and Fitbit has fairly good third-party integrations. Primarily, it really works with Strava, which I feel is crucial for any watch that desires to deal with health. It additionally works with the likes of Withings.

I’m additionally an enormous fan of having the ability to view all my knowledge through a browser by the Fitbit web site.

Nonetheless, Fitbit partitions off many options with a premium plan, and I discover the general expertise a bit disjointed. Google have half-heartedly pushed Google Match for years, and now they’re all about Fitbit.

Being a Pixel watch, you inevitably get the perfect Put on OS expertise.

General, I feel the Pixel Watch 2 is nice, and I can actually suggest it. I’d say the Xiaomi and Samsung watches deserve severe consideration, however when you want the minimalist look of the Pixel Watch 2, then that is the perfect Put on OS look ahead to you.

Final replace on 2023-11-04 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Pictures from Amazon Product Promoting API