Alongside the new Pixel 10 phone series, Google launched the Pixel Watch 4 at its Made by Google event this week. Marking the biggest update to the Pixel Watch yet, the Pixel Watch 4 has a new look and plenty of new features.
Equipped with domed Actua 360 display that’s physical curbed to provide a larger active area and edgeless experience, the screen is also easier to see in direct sunlight since it’s 50% brighter than the predecessor at 3,000 nits peak brightness. Material 3 Expressive also allows for greater personalization through new clock faces and glanceable UIs. The new custom haptic engine is stronger while there’s an upgraded custom speaker as well.
The watch supports standalone Satellite Communication. It also incorporates direct access to Gemini in the device, and all you have to do is raise your wrist to speak a command or question. Like the Pixel Watch 3, it retains the loss of pulse detection feature.
Pixel Watch 4 can last for up to 30 hours perf charge for the 41mm version and 40 hours for the 45mm, which is 25% longer than the Pixel Watch 3, though still means you’ll have to charge every day and-a-half or so. There is still Battery Saver mode as well, which allows you to extend the life to up to three days. The watch comes with a Quick Charge Dock that charges it 25% faster than the Watch 3, so you can get from 0-50% in just 15 minutes.
Powered by a new Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Wearable Platform, and Google’s next-gen ML-powered co-processor, it offers 25% faster performance at half the power.
The durable watch features custom Corning Gorilla Glass and an Aerospace-grade aluminum housing, and it’s water-resistant up to 50 metres. For the first time, it’s also serviceable with a replaceable battery and display.
Pixel Watch 4 LTE is also purportedly the first smartwatch with standalone emergency satellite communications. Powered by the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2, it can connect you to emergency services through a series of geo-stationary satellites, dispatching help to your location, even when you’re off the grid.
In terms of health tracking, you get smarter sleep tracking using new advanced machine learning models. Google says it’s 18% more accurate at classifying your complete sleep cycle, tracking time spent in each stage of sleep. A new skin temperature sensor detects when you’re out of your personal range to help indicate changes in your wellbeing, like when you might be falling under the weather.
New dual-frequency GPS enables accurate route tracking in even the toughest environments, like a downtown city run or tree-dense hike. Real-time bike stats from the Fitbit app can serve as a heads-up display on your handlebars for cycling. There are also new exercise modes from which to choose, bringing the total number up to more than 50, including new ones like pickleball and basketball. Forget to initiate a workout before you start? The watch uses AI to automatically detect and classify your activity and send you a recap. The watch retains existing health and wellness features, too, like stress management, cardio and target load, ECG assessment, health metrics dashboard, morning brief, and more.
With this watch, Google is introducing a personal AI health coach built with Gemini that provides proactive fitness and sleep coaching and on-demand guidance, uniquely tailored to your goals and real-life circumstances based on metrics from your Pixel Watch. A preview is available this October for owners of Pixel Watch or Fitbit devices in the U.S.
New on-device AI capabilities include Smart Replies, which offer AI-powered responses, contextually tailored to your conversation. With Gemini on your wrist, you can Raise to Talk to get help or answers, even when your hands are full.
The Google Pixel Watch 4 is available now for pre-order and will officially launch starting October 9. Pricing in Canada is $480 for the 41mm version and $600 for the 41 mm LTE, and $550 for the 45mm or $680 for the 45mm LTE. It comes in colours to complement Pixel phones as well as a variety of new accessory bands.