{"id":484605,"date":"2025-10-09T03:18:16","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T03:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/484605\/"},"modified":"2025-10-09T03:18:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T03:18:16","slug":"a-well-rounded-smartwatch-with-a-surprising-advantage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/484605\/","title":{"rendered":"A well-rounded smartwatch with a surprising advantage"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Everyone uses smartwatches differently. There are the people who wear them all day, those who only wear them when they\u2019re outside, those who only use them while working out and even those who only wear them to bed. In 2025, most smartwatches can do it all and satisfy your needs regardless of how you use them. They perform a lot of basic activity and sleep tracking while serving as excellent passive data gatherers. Google\u2019s latest, <a data-i13n=\"cpos:1;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/wearables\/pixel-watch-4-hands-on-a-long-thoughtful-list-of-improvements-160015292.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:the Pixel Watch 4;cpos:1;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Pixel Watch 4<\/a>, stands strong against rivals like <a data-i13n=\"cpos:2;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/wearables\/apple-watch-series-11-review-a-reliable-wearable-for-when-it-matters-most-120016945.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:the Apple Watch Series 11;cpos:2;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Apple Watch Series 11<\/a> and <a data-i13n=\"cpos:3;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/wearables\/galaxy-watch-8-review-samsungs-best-smartwatch-in-years-155857108.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Samsung\u2019s Galaxy Watch 8;cpos:3;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Samsung\u2019s Galaxy Watch 8<\/a>, and if you look just at those model numbers, it\u2019s impressive how far Google has come in just four generations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">The Galaxy Watch 8 is probably the Pixel Watch 4\u2019s closest competitor, considering they\u2019re both compatible with Android while the Apple Watch only works with iPhones. Comparing them can feel a bit futile, since it\u2019s most likely you\u2019ll buy the watch that works best with your brand of phone (i.e. Pixel watch for a Pixel phone, Samsung for Samsung). But it\u2019s still worthwhile to see how they fare against each other. If you know what a Samsung watch can do, it helps contextualize what should be considered acceptable on, say, your Pixel or Apple watch.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">It bodes well that for the Pixel Watch 4, I\u2019m no longer questioning its fundamental functionality or complaining about its battery life. Rather, I found myself pondering its adaptability and consistency, as well as its strengths over the competition. Unsurprisingly, thanks to its Google and Fitbit heritage, those strengths lie in AI and health tracking. But the Pixel Watch 4 has a surprising advantage that I never saw coming: charging speed.<\/p>\n<p><a data-ylk=\"aid:manual_bdc275f7-1547-4040-ab51-cfb8ab7a62c2_1759931870500;cpos:1;itmId:$350;ll3:product-available;ll4:productoffer-manual;pid:manual_bdc275f7-1547-4040-ab51-cfb8ab7a62c2_1759931870500;pdid:Pixel Watch 4;subsec:commlist;elmt:chooseForMe;itemcost:$350;sellerN:Google;sec:large-product;elm:affiliate_link;itc:0;slk:$350 at Google;pkgt:horizontal-img;pos:1;\" href=\"https:\/\/shopping.yahoo.com\/rdlw?merchantId=0931b986-736e-47bb-80b9-5f6f8f4ef5ae&amp;siteId=us-engadget&amp;pageId=pnr-product-module&amp;contentUuid=bdc275f7-1547-4040-ab51-cfb8ab7a62c2&amp;featureId=manual-entry&amp;itemName=Pixel+Watch+4&amp;merchantName=Google&amp;custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3N0b3JlLmdvb2dsZS5jb20vcHJvZHVjdC9waXhlbF93YXRjaF80IiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJiZGMyNzVmNy0xNTQ3LTQwNDAtYWI1MS1jZmI4YWI3YTYyYzIiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vc3RvcmUuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS9wcm9kdWN0L3BpeGVsX3dhdGNoXzQifQ&amp;signature=AQAAAVGMbcExjTocRD4uhMmdYof7Ax4frndxaaDTb3b1rnGE&amp;gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fstore.google.com%2Fproduct%2Fpixel_watch_4&amp;source=engadget_article_commerce_ctrl&amp;spaceId=1197802876\" class=\"rapid-with-clickid group absolute size-full\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Image for the large product module\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Image for the large product module\" class=\"mx-auto my-0 size-full bg-white object-contain @xl\/p:transition-transform @xl\/p:duration-300 @xl\/p:ease-in-out @xl\/p:group-hover:scale-110 @xl\/p:motion-reduce:group-hover:transition-none\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/62ccf910-a44e-11f0-bfff-53d401081aad.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"720\" width=\"1280\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"absolute -right-0.5 bottom-0 rounded-bl-none rounded-br-lg rounded-tl-lg rounded-tr-none bg-white\/90 px-3 py-2 text-[10px]\/3 text-battleship\">Google \/ Engadget<\/p>\n<p>The Pixel Watch 4 is a solid smartwatch thanks to its well-rounded suite of features. Its repairable design and super fast charging are laudable bonuses.<\/p>\n<p> Pros<\/p>\n<ul class=\"mt-2 pl-6 leading-relaxed @xl\/p:text-lg\/[30px]\">\n<li class=\"list-disc\">Super fast recharging<\/li>\n<li class=\"list-disc\">Comprehensive health and fitness tracking<\/li>\n<li class=\"list-disc\">Bright, beautiful display<\/li>\n<li class=\"list-disc\">Repairable design<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Cons<\/p>\n<ul class=\"mt-2 pl-6 leading-relaxed @xl\/p:text-lg\/[30px]\">\n<li class=\"list-disc\">Gemini wake gesture is finicky<\/li>\n<li class=\"list-disc\">Must be connected to internet for Gemini to work<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a data-ylk=\"aid:manual_bdc275f7-1547-4040-ab51-cfb8ab7a62c2_1759931870500;cpos:1;itmId:$350;ll3:product-available;ll4:productoffer-manual;pid:manual_bdc275f7-1547-4040-ab51-cfb8ab7a62c2_1759931870500;pdid:Pixel Watch 4;subsec:commlist;elmt:chooseForMe;itemcost:$350;sellerN:Google;pos:3;sec:large-product;elm:affiliate_link;itc:0;pkgt:horizontal-cta-1;slk:$350 at Google;\" href=\"https:\/\/shopping.yahoo.com\/rdlw?merchantId=0931b986-736e-47bb-80b9-5f6f8f4ef5ae&amp;siteId=us-engadget&amp;pageId=pnr-product-module&amp;contentUuid=bdc275f7-1547-4040-ab51-cfb8ab7a62c2&amp;featureId=manual-entry&amp;itemName=Pixel+Watch+4&amp;merchantName=Google&amp;custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3N0b3JlLmdvb2dsZS5jb20vcHJvZHVjdC9waXhlbF93YXRjaF80IiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJiZGMyNzVmNy0xNTQ3LTQwNDAtYWI1MS1jZmI4YWI3YTYyYzIiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vc3RvcmUuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS9wcm9kdWN0L3BpeGVsX3dhdGNoXzQifQ&amp;signature=AQAAAVGMbcExjTocRD4uhMmdYof7Ax4frndxaaDTb3b1rnGE&amp;gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fstore.google.com%2Fproduct%2Fpixel_watch_4&amp;source=engadget_article_commerce_ctrl&amp;spaceId=1197802876\" class=\"peer clear-right box-border block w-full min-w-60 rounded-[40px] px-7 text-center hover:no-underline hover:opacity-100 active:opacity-60 @xl\/p:w-9\/12 rapid-with-clickid commerce-cta-btn-primary bg-article-ui-button py-3 font-semibold leading-5 text-article-ui-button-label hover:bg-article-ui-button-hover hover:text-grey-hair active:bg-article-ui-button-hover active:text-grey-hair peer-[&amp;]:mt-3 dark:bg-white dark:text-batcave dark:hover:bg-bob dark:focus:bg-bob dark:active:bg-bob\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">$350 at Google<\/a>What\u2019s new on the Pixel Watch 4<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Before I get into that though, let\u2019s quickly go over what\u2019s changed on the Pixel Watch 4. It now has a curved display under its domed glass covering, which makes it look even livelier than before. It\u2019s surrounded by bezels that Google says are 16 percent smaller than the last model\u2019s, allowing its screen to be about 10 percent roomier. The display is also brighter by about 50 percent, now going up to 3,000 nits. That\u2019s the same as Samsung\u2019s Galaxy Watch 8, but higher than the Apple Watch Series 11\u2019s 2,000 nits of peak brightness.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Altogether, the physical changes make Pixel Watch 4 look eye-catching and attractive, and I kept getting compliments from people outside my usual tech-savvy circles. Other hardware upgrades include the new dual-frequency GPS, custom haptics engine and speaker, as well as updated processors and a revamped, faster charging system that places the contact points on the watch\u2019s edge instead of the back. Importantly, though I didn\u2019t test it for this review, the Pixel Watch 4 is more repairable, since you can unscrew its case to replace its display and battery if needed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Like many non-Apple smartwatches, the Pixel Watch 4 runs Google\u2019s Wear OS, but with some new features like a wrist-raise gesture to trigger the Gemini assistant. The company also improved its algorithms for activity- and sleep-tracking, brought its Material 3 Expressive design languages and new watch faces to the OS and <a data-i13n=\"cpos:4;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.google\/products\/fitbit\/fitbit-ai-personal-health-coach-preview\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:overhauled the Fitbit app to center around an AI coach;cpos:4;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">overhauled the Fitbit app to center around an AI coach<\/a>. However, the redesigned Fitbit app wasn\u2019t available for testing during this review, so you won\u2019t see any evaluations of it here.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">One more thing I didn\u2019t try on the Pixel Watch 4: Emergency SOS via Satellite. Google\u2019s smartwatch was the first mainstream wearable to be announced to have satellite communications built in, though Apple released the Watch Ultra 3 with similar capabilities shortly after. Because the setup would result in a call or message being sent to emergency services, I decided against testing the satellite feature for this review.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">If you\u2019re new to smartwatches or considering your first one, check out our <a data-i13n=\"cpos:5;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/wearables\/best-smartwatches-153013118.html#factors-to-consider-before-buying-a-smartwatch\" data-ylk=\"slk:smartwatch buying guide;cpos:5;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">smartwatch buying guide<\/a> for details on what to expect of a device in 2025. By and large, though, this review won\u2019t cover the basics of what a smartwatch does and what apps or features are typically available.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"The Pixel Watch 4 laying on its charger, showing the time is 4:15PM and it's 54 percent charged. The screen also says there is 30 minutes left to fully charge the watch and a ring around its display shows charging progress.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"576\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"fig-image-round\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/36046b00-a455-11f0-b8fa-0ae49597e3b3.jpeg\"\/>Sam Rutherford for EngadgetFast-charging is so good that I no longer worry<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">I never thought I\u2019d be such a fan of short charge times, but Google\u2019s latest wearable is so fast at refueling that I\u2019ve actually changed my behavior around it. I typically place my smartwatch (usually just the most recent Apple Watch I\u2019ve tested) on my kitchen island so that I see it when I grab my pre-bedtime cup of water and remember to put it on the charger overnight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">With the Pixel Watch 4, I\u2019ve started to just drop it on the charger when I wake up, and by the time I\u2019m done brushing my teeth, washing my face and changing into my gym clothes, it\u2019ll have plenty of power for about half a day. I can\u2019t say the same for the Apple Watch, though the Series 11 has respectable charging speeds that allow me to get enough for a morning walk and a workout after about 10 minutes of being plugged in.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">For the actual numbers, you can read my colleague Sam Rutherford\u2019s story where he meticulously charted the charge time of the larger 45mm model of the Pixel Watch 4 he\u2019s been using. It jives with my experience, where, after just six minutes, my device went from 37 percent to 62 percent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">I was also impressed when I saw an alert on the watch\u2019s face that told me the charger wasn\u2019t actually plugged into an outlet. I\u2019ve been burned in the past when I placed other smartwatches on their charging pucks, only to come back an hour later and realize it hadn\u2019t actually been charging because I didn\u2019t connect the cable to a socket. This feature felt like a particularly thoughtful touch on Google\u2019s part.<\/p>\n<p>The Pixel Watch 4\u2019s battery life<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">With such quick recharging, it can feel like a long-lasting battery isn\u2019t as important. But the Pixel Watch 4 still manages to deliver respectable runtimes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">In general, I preferred to let the Pixel Watch 4 get a full charge, because I noticed its battery doesn\u2019t get me through a whole day after just a few minutes on the dock. But when I took it off the charger at 3:35PM one Friday afternoon, it managed to last all through Saturday night, going from 100 percent to 22 percent by 9PM the next day. That\u2019s after a full day of passive activity tracking, where the watch noted that I had burned about 3,000 calories, hiked 6.73 miles and climbed the equivalent of 128 floors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">The Pixel Watch 4 typically lasts about as long as the Apple Watch Series 11. Both devices clock about a day and a half, depending on how frequently I use features like Gemini or the remote control view for the phone\u2019s camera. That runtime also seems similar to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, which my colleague Amy Skorheim reviewed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Considering Google rates the 41mm version of the Watch 4 to last about 30 hours on a charge, the experience I had mostly surpasses that estimate. Of course, battery performance usually deteriorates over time, so my brand new review unit will likely get a little less long-lasting after a while.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Two screenshots of the Fitbit app. The one on the left shows the main dashboard of a person's overall stats on Saturday, October 6. The one on the right shows the sleep page on the same day, with a score of 81 assigned and a total of 6 hours and 24 minutes logged. Below that is a chart with the sleep stages on a timeline.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"fig-image-round\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/709b6eb0-a457-11f0-bfdd-cd8a5b3d270e.jpeg\"\/>Sleep tracking: A tale of insomnia and naps<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">I wouldn\u2019t usually dwell on a feature that has been around for generations of a device, but Google did update its sleep-tracking algorithms for the Pixel Watch 4, calling it \u201cour most accurate sleep-tracking.\u201d Plus, as Apple only just introduced Sleep Score on the Series 11, I thought it was a good opportunity to compare the two.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Both companies thoughtfully limit the brightness of their watches\u2019 displays when you\u2019re in bed, and tuned their software in response to your usual bedtimes so you won\u2019t be awoken by endless notifications while sleeping. They all deliver sleep scores and readouts of the zones you cycled through while you rested, too, to help you get better insight on your slumber.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">While I prefer Apple\u2019s presentation of the sleep score in a ring with three segments to indicate areas of potential improvement, I find Google\u2019s charts more readable and specific data easier to find. I\u2019m not going to spend too much time complaining about an app\u2019s layout, though, since it largely has to do with getting used to the way a company organizes its info. What\u2019s more important is how their devices count your sleep, and whether they do so accurately.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">In anticipation of a long day that would start at about 4:45AM, I went to bed at about 10PM, only to wake up at 1:57AM, unable to fall back asleep. I counted sheep, told myself to fall asleep, got angry at myself for not being able to sleep and peeked at my phone, which showed me that it had been an hour since I woke up. I finally drifted off after some time, waking up when the Pixel Watch 4 dragged me out of a dream by buzzing relentlessly on my wrist. In my half-awake state, I actually thought the vibration was part of the dream and almost went back to sleep, until I remembered it was the silent alarm I had set for 4:45AM.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Color me shocked when I saw my sleep score was 81 \u2014 deemed \u201cGood\u201d by the Pixel Watch 4 due in part to my accumulating six hours and 24 minutes of rest. I immediately dug into the sleep chart to see if my hour awake had been misattributed to sleep. It had been. The device did pick up many moments of restlessness, saying that movement was detected during 9 percent of my sleep. But it couldn\u2019t tell that despite my lying fairly still, I had been, sadly, wide awake.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">I can\u2019t penalize Google or Fitbit too heavily for that. Most sleep trackers can\u2019t tell between periods of sleep and complete stillness either. Google said lying awake but very still in bed before you sleep can sometimes be tracked as sleep, and that it\u2019s a known limitation of the algorithm that it\u2019s working on improving for future iterations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Another area for improvement: napping. On the way home to New York from Lake Placid, I passed out for about an hour at 9PM. Since that was late enough to count as bedtime for some people, I hoped that the Apple Watch and Pixel Watch would both take those minutes into consideration. But neither did.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">With the Pixel Watch 4, I found out later that naps during the day would be counted, they just had to last at least two hours. Two-hour naps? In this economy?? I don\u2019t know who else has the time but a quick hourlong lie-down is big for me.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Meanwhile, the Apple Watch was <a data-i13n=\"cpos:6;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/gizmodo.com\/apple-watch-automatic-sleep-1851546252\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:reported;cpos:6;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">reported<\/a> to be able to <a data-i13n=\"cpos:7;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/lifehacker.com\/tech\/your-apple-watch-can-track-your-naps-with-watchos-11\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:track naps in a watchOS 11 beta;cpos:7;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">track naps in a watchOS 11 beta<\/a>, but I\u2019m still waiting on official word and details about that.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Like I said at the start of this review, sleep-tracking isn\u2019t a major reason I use smartwatches. For those, like Sam, who do, the Pixel Watch 4 will be quite satisfying. Sam noted that the device was mostly accurate in his experience, and detected when he had to get up to feed his baby at night. Plus, it\u2019s light and comfortable enough to wear to bed (when paired with the right strap), and its battery will last all night. Add the fast charging we\u2019ve already raved about and it seems like there\u2019s almost no reason to not have the Pixel Watch 4 on your wrist at all times.<\/p>\n<p>A word on alarms, timers and stopwatches<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">I also like that on the Pixel Watch, I was able to set an alarm to wake me with just vibration and no sound, so I could get up earlier than my partner before we left for our five-hour drive to Lake Placid. I could not find this on the Apple Watch \u2014 though I did have the option to allow the alarm to break through silent mode. It\u2019s just another way the two companies differ, and I imagine they\u2019ll both copy each other and add the respective missing features soon enough.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"A composite of the app drawers on the Pixel Watch 4 and Apple Watch Series 11, showing their app icons.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"fig-image-round\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/a248db90-a453-11f0-af99-0cb7107b1876.jpeg\"\/>Google \/ Apple \/ Engadget<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">One thing I do wish Apple would change: the icons for the Stopwatch, Timer and Alarm apps on watchOS. All three of them are represented by orange circles in the app drawer, with slightly different versions of circles with clock hands in them. They\u2019re not labeled, either, so if you\u2019re not in the List view you\u2019ll have to guess which of these three orange orbs is the time-related app you want, and go back and forth until you find the right one.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Google is only slightly better at this, since it uses an hourglass to represent the Timer and the Alarm and Stopwatch icons are a bit more distinct from each other. Plus, Alarm sits at the top of the Pixel Watch\u2019s drawer, whereas the Stopwatch and Timer are closer together near the bottom. They\u2019re clearly organized alphabetically, since other options near the top are Contacts, Calendar and Camera while Recorder, Settings and Spotify are at the end with Stopwatch and Timer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Meanwhile, all of Apple\u2019s first-party apps are at the top of the watchOS app drawer and if you throw in the other orange circle that is the World Clock, you\u2019ll have four cheesy orbs sitting in close proximity to each other like Ritz crackers.<\/p>\n<p>Gestures and Gemini \u2014 convenience with some caveats<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Samsung\u2019s Galaxy Watch 8 was the first smartwatch to have Google\u2019s Gemini onboard, but when the Pixel Watch 4 launched, it brought the \u201craise to talk to Gemini\u201d feature with it. This allows for convenient hands-free communication with the AI, so long as you have an internet connection, anyway.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">When I left my Pixel 10 Pro in a locker and went for a quick riverside walk, I wasn\u2019t able to get the assistant to set a timer so I knew when to start heading back. This isn\u2019t just about the wrist-raising gesture \u2014 Gemini simply won\u2019t work on the Pixel Watch 4 if it\u2019s not online, whether that be via a tethered phone or its own cellular connection. In contrast, while I did have to long-press the Apple Watch\u2019s knob or say \u201cHey Siri,\u201d I was at least able to get it to set that alarm, even when I put it (and the iPhone it was linked to) on Airplane mode.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">This isn\u2019t a dealbreaker, but it\u2019s frustrating if you don\u2019t have an LTE version of the watch and decide to leave your phone at home. Sure, you can touch the screen and use the app to set that timer, but I don\u2019t want to have to stop, lift up my wrist and select the number of minutes my countdown should run.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"The Pixel Watch 4 on a wrist held up in mid-air, with its screen saying \" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"fig-image-round\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ea1c4f11-a453-11f0-b7f5-1216142f139d.jpeg\"\/>Cherlynn Low for Engadget<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">There are a few caveats to note when specifically talking about the wrist-raise gestures, too. For one, you\u2019ll have to make sure the Always On Display is enabled, since the system relies on the screen being on to detect changes in movement and state. You\u2019ll also have to be fairly deliberate with the gesture, bringing your wrist to your mouth from about waist-level.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">For the most part the Pixel Watch 4 responded as expected, with the onscreen indicator telling me Gemini was listening when I brought my hand to my mouth. But every now and then, especially when I was sitting down, it would fail to react. There are few situations more embarrassing than sitting in a cafe, repeatedly jerking your wrist up to your face while holding a phone up to get a video of the feature working. I could only hope the other people at the coffee shop where I was writing this review didn\u2019t think I was doing something worse.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Sometimes, the little glowing animation would appear to show that my action was successful, but if I even moved my wrist slightly after that, it would disappear. Also, if you lift your wrist from any screen other than the home page, you won\u2019t see the indicator. But if you confidently speak your request into the ether anyway, you\u2019ll realize Gemini was actually awoken by your gesture.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">With the apps drawer open, I lifted my wrist and asked what the weather was like, and promptly got a response. There was also a light vibration to let me know the watch had heard me. When I raised my hand again and asked \u201chow about tomorrow,\u201d Gemini was quick to tell me it would be rainy in my area. I was impressed by the speedy responses and the fact that I could keep bringing my hand up to my mouth to ask follow-up questions or interrupt an overly wordy response, but I do have to acknowledge that there is a certain finesse that is required to get the gesture right each time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">I was a little perturbed that the action needs to be somewhat deliberate, right up until the one time it accidentally triggered when I flipped my wrist during a call. Out of nowhere, the assistant was responding to my conversation with my therapist. This only happened once during my 10 or so days with the Pixel Watch 4, so the rate of false positives is fairly low. The jerkiness of raise-to-talk to Gemini is a tradeoff I\u2019m willing to make in exchange for fewer accidental triggers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Plus, Google has said this is an initial foray into gesture-based interaction with the Pixel Watch, and it appears to continue to tweak its algorithms for greater accuracy and sensitivity. The Watch 4 may not currently support the double tap and wrist flick gestures that Apple does (or <a data-i13n=\"cpos:8;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/news.samsung.com\/global\/more-than-a-gesture-how-galaxy-watchs-universal-gestures-feature-enhances-accessibility\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Samsung\u2019s pinch-based actions;cpos:8;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Samsung\u2019s pinch-based actions<\/a>). But I\u2019ve been in the industry long enough to remember when Android Wear watches allowed you to flip your wrist to scroll through long notifications. It seems <a data-i13n=\"cpos:9;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/wearos\/answer\/6312406?hl=en#zippy=%2Cscroll-through-notifications\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Wear OS still supports that;cpos:9;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Wear OS still supports that<\/a>, along with a limited set of gesture-based navigation actions. I was able to dismiss notifications and return to the home page by rotating my wrist on the Pixel Watch 4 thanks to the existing \u201cungaze\u201d gesture that\u2019s designed to close an alerting notification.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"The Pixel Watch 4 on a wrist held up in mid-air, with the Gemini logo on its screen.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"fig-image-round\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ea1c4f10-a453-11f0-9a9f-644568ec3fb0.jpeg\"\/>Cherlynn Low for EngadgetAuto workout detection is different, but still here<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Over the years, Google has gone back and forth on its auto-workout-detection system. With <a data-i13n=\"cpos:10;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/google-pixel-watch-review-battery-life-fitbit-heart-rate-sensing-015412121-170012666.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:the original Pixel Watch;cpos:10;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the original Pixel Watch<\/a>, the device didn\u2019t bother to tell you if it noticed you had gone on a walk. You\u2019d have to go into the Fitbit app a few hours later to see that session. That changed with the Pixel Watch 2, which brought reminders to start a workout for seven types of activities including running, walking, rowing and outdoor biking. The Watch 3 improved upon that by being quick on the uptake, suggesting I had been active as soon as I had been moving for 10 minutes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">On the Watch 4, Google changed its approach (again). At first, it no longer appeared to automatically track my daily 20-minute walks to and from my gym. But because I remembered my experience with the original model, I went to the Fitbit app on my phone and was relieved to see a suggested workout logged there.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Subsequently, I discovered that the Watch 4 would prompt me to confirm detected periods of activity, but only 30 minutes after I was done. The idea is that the prompt to record a walk or impromptu run might interrupt your flow, and while I can understand that rationale, I wish there was an option for me to just set it how I prefer it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">The good news is that in my time with the Pixel Watch 4, I never felt shortchanged. As long as they lasted at least 15 minutes, pretty much all my extended walks were accurately logged (minus the location information, which makes sense from a privacy perspective). I also wore a Galaxy Ring during my review, since in my experience that\u2019s the most accurate at tracking every little walk I take, and the two devices usually matched up. The Apple Watch, meanwhile, barely ever registered any of my walks, and I always needed to remember to manually start an Outdoor Walk workout.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">With its new dual-frequency GPS, the Pixel Watch 4 is better at mapping out my routes than its predecessors, especially in building-dense cities like the one I live in. I never noticed a significant delay in the watch latching onto a signal, even as I walked out of a small tunnel into the skyscraper-rich Newport area of New Jersey.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Two screenshots showing the Fitbit app's exercise section for the period of September 28 to October 4. The first one is the top part of this page, saying the user had met five out of their five target exercise days. The rest of this and the second screenshot show logged activities, including walks, HIIT, strength and circuit training.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"fig-image-round\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0bcf8780-a459-11f0-b6ef-f5bd3c244fe4.jpeg\"\/>Stress-detection, messaging and more<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Each of this year\u2019s new smartwatches has some unique features. Samsung has its antioxidant index test, Apple has hypertension notifications and Google has had loss of pulse detection and body response alerts. That latter basically notices changes in your electrodermal activity and prompts you to note if you\u2019re feeling particularly stressed or excited. It\u2019s been around <a data-i13n=\"cpos:11;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/pixel-watch-2-review-not-leading-the-way-but-no-longer-lagging-170007702.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:since the Pixel Watch 2;cpos:11;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">since the Pixel Watch 2<\/a>, and isn\u2019t enabled on the fourth-generation device by default so you won\u2019t have to worry about it pinging you too much. I had it activated and was buzzed several times most days to think about my mood, and each evening I\u2019d have a nice log of how many times I was agitated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">There are quite a few new features on the Pixel Watch 4 that I won\u2019t spend too much time evaluating. The real-time streaming of your bike workout stats to your connected phone is one example. Like Apple\u2019s version of this feature, it works and makes it easy to see your stats safely on a mounted handset during your ride.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Google also introduced something called \u201cnotification cooldown\u201d which minimizes interruptions after several of them come through in rapid succession. If your group chat is getting particularly fiery, for example, this can help reduce the amount of vibrations and alerts being sent to your wrist after some time. I made my friend Julian Chokkattu at Wired test this out with me and we sent each other single-word messages nonstop for minutes at a time and both of us found notification cooldown kicked in after a few alerts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Speaking of, the Pixel Watch 4 also features AI-generated suggested replies to messages that support the Wear OS quick reply protocol. Google said this is a first-of-its-kind small language model designed for use on a watch. Because it\u2019s on-device, it won\u2019t require an internet connection to work, though if you\u2019re receiving messages I have to imagine you\u2019re at least connected to cellular. When it did work, it was nice to see the smart reply suggestions instead of the generic canned ones before. But most of the apps I use, like Telegram and Instagram messages, don\u2019t support quick reply. Google also says smart replies won\u2019t work on Workspace or select WhatsApp messaging.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">The interface you\u2019re most likely to interact with on any smartwatch is your main watch face, and in general the new watch faces on the Pixel Watch 4 are rich with information and shortcuts. While I wish Google would move away from the cartoonish, rounded fonts in favor of something cleaner and sharper, I like that all its layouts offer plenty of customization options with lots of room for convenient complications. I chose to put my most important stats on my home screen, as well as a shortcut to launch Spotify. I do wish Google would make nicer faces like Apple\u2019s Photos one that has a dynamic clock to better highlight your pictures, instead of the current option on the Pixel Watch that sticks the text in the bottom and calls it a day.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"The Pixel Watch 4 on a wrist, with its screen showing a trophy graphic and the words \" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"fig-image-round\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/cbfe78c0-a456-11f0-9ffa-250c2727df43.jpeg\"\/>Cherlynn Low for EngadgetWrap-up<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">When I reviewed the Pixel Watch 3, it felt like the first time Google\u2019s smartwatch was on par with the likes of Apple\u2019s and Samsung\u2019s offerings. With the Pixel Watch 4, not only is Google closing the gap even further than it did last year, but it\u2019s also bringing unique tools you won\u2019t find elsewhere. This year\u2019s model differentiates itself with a repairable design, super fast charging and, though it\u2019s no longer the only one on the market to offer this, satellite communications. The first two alone feel like game changers, and even with its limitations, raising your wrist to talk to Gemini is a convenient gesture when it works.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Beyond the new features sit the comprehensive suite of health-related tools that make the Pixel Watch 4 a formidable smartwatch and excellent companion for your smartphone. Wear OS and Material 3 Expressive make for a vibrant, easy-to-navigate interface for a system that can do almost anything your phone can, just on a smaller screen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">At $350, the Pixel Watch 4 is $20 more than the Galaxy Watch 8 (and $50 less than the Apple Watch Series 11). It\u2019s hard to justify that exact price difference and tell you which is a worthier purchase. My recommendation remains the same as ever: Get the watch that\u2019s from the same company as your phone. It\u2019ll be better for you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Everyone uses smartwatches differently. There are the people who wear them all day, those who only wear them&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":484606,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3160],"tags":[4690,1685,15114,867,107905,53,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-484605","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gadgets","8":"tag-apple-watch","9":"tag-gadgets","10":"tag-galaxy-watch","11":"tag-google","12":"tag-pixel-watch","13":"tag-technology","14":"tag-uk","15":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115342050647548693","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/484605","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=484605"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/484605\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/484606"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=484605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=484605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=484605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}