Smartwatches have evolved beyond simple notification hubs into essential companions for fitness, productivity, and everyday convenience. Google’s Pixel Watch 4 reflects that shift, arriving as the company’s most capable wearable yet. Building on the foundation of its predecessors, it introduces a brighter display, improved performance, and deeper integration with Google’s AI ecosystem. It is designed primarily for Android users, and especially those with Pixel phones, offering seamless connectivity and smarter features tailored to daily routines.
The Pixel Watch 4 is available in two sizes, 41mm and 45mm, catering to different wrist sizes and preferences. The larger 45mm model, which this review focuses on, delivers stronger battery life and a bigger screen for improved readability. Both versions are crafted from 100% recycled aluminium and come in a range of finishes, including polished silver, satin moonstone, champagne gold, and matte black. Paired with soft-touch fluoroelastomer bands, they strike a balance between premium aesthetics and practical comfort, with additional bands available separately for customisation.
A brighter, bolder design with improved durability
The Pixel Watch 4 refines Google’s design philosophy with a sleek, minimalist aesthetic that feels both premium and practical. Its recycled aluminium body keeps weight down without compromising strength, and the curved lines of the chassis create a seamless transition into the display. The domed glass gives the watch a distinctive look while ensuring smooth navigation across the screen. It is also rated IP68 for dust and water resistance and supports up to 5 ATM water pressure, making it suitable for swimming and everyday wear in varied environments.
The centrepiece is Google’s new Actua 360 display, which is 10% larger than before and significantly brighter, reaching up to 3,000 nits. This level of brightness makes a noticeable difference outdoors, making notifications easy to read in bright light and fitness data clear during a run. The AMOLED LTPO panel delivers deep blacks and vibrant colours, while the always-on display ensures essential information is always visible without draining the battery too quickly. Gorilla Glass 5 protects the screen from scratches and accidental knocks, providing durability without compromising its refined appearance.
Comfort is clearly a design priority. The soft-touch fluoroelastomer band is gentle on the skin and comfortable for extended wear during workouts, office hours and daily activities. Both small and large band sizes are included in the box, accommodating a wide range of wrist sizes. The watch’s understated design makes it versatile enough to pair with formal attire or gym gear, while additional bands allow users to personalise its appearance to suit different occasions.
Interaction with the device is intuitive and responsive. The rotating crown allows for precise scrolling, while the side button offers quick access to apps and menus. Haptic feedback feels subtle and refined, enhancing navigation without distraction. The built-in speaker and microphone enable clear calls and reliable voice interactions, whether summoning Google’s Gemini assistant or responding to messages. Altogether, the design choices reflect Google’s goal of creating a smartwatch that looks good, feels premium, and fits seamlessly into everyday life.
Better performance and battery life for everyday use
Performance is where the Pixel Watch 4 shows some of its most meaningful progress. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 chipset and a Cortex-M55 co-processor, it delivers a smoother and more responsive experience across the board. Apps open quickly, transitions feel fluid, and multitasking is handled with ease. The watch runs on Wear OS 6.0, and Google’s native apps feel better optimised than in previous generations. This improved responsiveness makes everyday tasks like checking notifications, navigating with Maps, or interacting with Gemini more seamless and enjoyable.
Battery life is another area where Google has made significant gains. The 45mm model houses a 455 mAh battery that lasts up to 40 hours with the always-on display enabled. This means it can comfortably last through a full day of heavy use and still have power left for sleep tracking overnight. Battery Saver mode extends the battery life even further to about 72 hours by limiting background activity. While some competitors still offer longer endurance, the Pixel Watch 4’s performance is now much more reliable for real-world use, with fewer compromises on features.
Charging is faster and more convenient than before. The new Quick Charge Dock can bring the watch to 50% in about 15 minutes and fully charge it in around an hour. This makes it easy to top up the battery during a morning routine or while getting ready for a workout. The improved charging speed reduces the need for overnight charging and adds to the watch’s practicality in daily life.
Connectivity is comprehensive and future-ready. The watch supports 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC for Google Wallet payments, and ultra-wideband for improved location-based features. Dual-frequency GPS offers more accurate location tracking, particularly in urban areas or challenging outdoor environments, which is valuable for runners and cyclists. Compatibility extends to most Android phones running version 11.0 or later, though pairing it with a Pixel device unlocks the most seamless and integrated experience.
Advanced health tracking with personalised insights
Health and fitness remain central to the Pixel Watch 4, and this generation brings more precision and depth to tracking and analysis. The watch supports over 40 exercise types, adapting its metrics to different activities such as running, cycling, swimming, and yoga. Dual-frequency GPS ensures accurate distance and route tracking, even in areas where signals are weak, while improved motion and heart rate sensors provide more reliable real-time data during workouts.
One of the most valuable new tools is the Readiness feature, which uses data such as sleep quality, resting heart rate, and heart rate variability to indicate how prepared the body is for physical activity. This helps users decide if they should push harder in a workout or prioritise recovery. The cardio load metric further enhances training by showing how exercise intensity and frequency affect the body over time. These insights are practical and easy to interpret, encouraging smarter training decisions rather than simply presenting raw data.
The Pixel Watch 4’s sensor suite covers a wide range of health metrics beyond exercise. It includes multipath optical sensors for continuous heart rate tracking, SpO2 sensors for blood oxygen monitoring, and ECG compatibility for detecting irregular heart rhythms. A skin conductance sensor monitors stress responses, while a temperature sensor helps track wellness trends and recovery patterns. This level of health tracking gives users a more complete picture of their physical state and progress over time.
Sleep tracking is another area of strength. The watch automatically monitors time spent in light, deep, and REM stages and generates a Sleep Score that reflects the quality of rest. Over time, these insights can reveal patterns that affect recovery, mood, and overall health. However, it’s worth noting that full access to these advanced health insights requires the Fitbit app. At the same time, this may feel like an extra step for those not already in the Fitbit ecosystem. Still, it unlocks detailed analysis and six months of Fitbit Premium for personalised guidance, workout content, and advanced wellness data.
Smarter features and seamless Gemini integration
The Pixel Watch 4 goes beyond fitness tracking to deliver a full suite of smart features that enhance everyday convenience. Central to this is Gemini, Google’s next-generation AI assistant, now more deeply integrated into the watch. Users can raise their wrist and ask questions, control smart home devices, set reminders, or get context-aware suggestions, all without needing to reach for their phone. The improved speaker and refined haptics make interactions smooth and natural, while Gemini’s responses feel faster and more relevant than before.
The watch also extends the capabilities of Google’s ecosystem to the wrist. It pairs exceptionally well with Pixel phones, enabling features such as remote camera control, quick access to Google Recorder, and synchronised calendar and notification management. Google Maps can now be accessed offline, providing reliable navigation without needing a phone connection, and Google Wallet supports contactless payments, transit cards, and access passes. These capabilities make the Pixel Watch 4 useful far beyond health tracking, turning it into a practical everyday tool.
Safety and peace of mind are built into the experience. The Safety Check feature lets users set a timer when heading out for a run or walking alone. If the timer expires without confirmation, the watch automatically shares the user’s location with emergency contacts. This feature is easy to use and provides an added layer of security without requiring manual intervention. It reflects Google’s vision of wearables as proactive devices that support users in more than just fitness or productivity.
The broader Wear OS app ecosystem is steadily improving, with more apps optimised for the platform and tighter integration with Google services. NFC support enables quick payments, while ultra-wideband lays the groundwork for more advanced location-aware features in the future. Combined with responsive hardware and well-optimised software, these features make the Pixel Watch 4 a powerful companion that feels more capable and independent than ever before.
The verdict: Google Pixel Watch 4
The Google Pixel Watch 4 is a significant step forward for Google’s smartwatch lineup. It refines the fundamentals with a brighter, more immersive display, improved performance, and more accurate health tracking, while also adding deeper AI integration through Gemini. These upgrades come together to create a device that is more polished, responsive, and genuinely useful in daily life, supporting fitness, productivity and everyday convenience.
Its premium design and versatile style make it suitable for almost any occasion, while improved durability ensures it can handle more demanding environments. Battery life is now much more practical, and fast charging means less time tethered to the charger. Health and fitness features are comprehensive and genuinely helpful, and the addition of personalised insights like Readiness and cardio load elevates the experience beyond simple activity tracking.
There are still a few limitations. The requirement to use the Fitbit app for advanced health features may feel inconvenient to some, and although battery life has improved, it still lags behind some competitors. However, these drawbacks are outweighed by the many strengths of the watch, particularly its deep integration with Android and Google services, intelligent features, and robust performance.
Starting at S$529 (for the 41mm), the Pixel Watch 4 delivers a polished smartwatch experience that combines intelligent features with strong performance and thoughtful design. It stands out as an excellent option for Android users seeking a premium wearable, and even more so for Pixel phone owners looking for seamless integration across their devices.
