ON TEST
GOOGLE PIXEL WATCH
Alex Hughes straps on Google’s first smartwatch to see if the tech giant has a future in wearables
E verything points to the idea that Google should be a dominating force in the world of wearables. Google owns the massive wearable brand Fitbit; it’s the maker of Wear OS, the software that most Android smartwatches run on; and it’s Google, one of the biggest names in technology! So it’s surprising that Google hasn’t made a smartwatch… until now.
The Google Pixel Watch is the brand’s first smartwatch. But with a hefty £339 price tag and some tough competition, is this the future of wearable tech or yet another device we’ll forget about in a few years? I spent some time with it to find out.
DRESS TO IMPRESS
The watch looks great. It’s one of the best-looking smartwatches out there, dare I say. It’s sleek, stylish and – compared to other smartwatches – manages to actually look like a watch, rather than a computer strapped to your wrist.
The face features a curved screen that blends into a silver metal back. Two detachable strap connectors fit into each side and easily pop in and out if you want to try a different look.
Google has done a great job at making the watch comfortable to wear. It’s light and the strap fits well without feeling tight. This is especially useful when exercising or sleeping, places where other wearables can quickly become uncomfortable.
While it isn’t tiny, it’s certainly smaller than your average smartwatch, which makes for a sleek design, but it isn’t ideal when you’re trying to use a display with already itsy-bitsy icons. Complicating matters further is the fact that a significant portion of the face isn’t actually a usable screen, but a large bezel that wraps around it. Google does a great job at hiding this with a blacked-out backing on most apps and functions. But as you jab and poke at the screen trying to press buttons or type, its size quickly becomes frustrating.
“Emails, maps, notes and other productivity options are especially well implanted in the watch”
YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE
The biggest disappointment of this watch is the battery life. Google claims it can last 24 hours, but I was never able to achieve this. If you plan on only wearing the watch during the day and charging it each night, then you’ll manage to get by.
The problem of battery life is most obvious when making use of the watch’s sleep-tracking function. By the time I was going to bed each day, the charge would be down to between 20 and 40 per cent.
I was having to charge it for an hour or so before sleeping, and then again in the morning once I woke up. It’s not the end of the world, but makes life difficult if you’re a ‘roll out of bed at the last minute’ kind of person.
The watch does charge quickly, though. Google claims that you can get up to 50 per cent in 30 minutes, and I achieved similar charge times. Note, however, that Google supplies a charging cable for the watch, but says third-party chargers can’t be used.
There is a battery-saving mode, but this turns off some of the watch’s most useful functions, such as the ability to turn on the screen when you flick your wrist and the always-on display.
Battery life could be improved in the future through updates. Right now, the watch tracks your heart rate constantly, unlike most smartwatches that monitor it periodically. Why you’d need to know your heart rate at every second, I have no idea, but it can’t be good for battery life.
FEATURES
This is, hands-down, one of the best examples of Android smartwatch software. While that sounds like a big claim, it’s more a reflection on a history of somewhat poor attempts from different brands.
On the watch’s home screen, you’re presented with a customisable face. There is an overwhelming amount of choice here, ranging from simple clock faces, to the always dangerous custom-image option. From the home screen you can also swipe to access ‘tiles’, which are your most-used functions. Quick buttons for the torch, Google Pay and other tools are also accessible here, along with notifications.
Google really wants you to know that it owns Fitbit with this watch, chucking the prefix ‘Fitbit’ at everything to keep that brand recognition alive. You can use ‘Fitbit ECG’, ‘Fitbit today’ and ‘Fitbit exercise’ to track a wide range of health stats.
Through the Google Play app store, you can download a huge list of other apps and most work really well with the watch. Emails, maps, notes and other productivity options are especially well implanted in the watch, using intuitive layouts and designs.
VERDICT
The Google Pixel Watch is almost the perfect Android smartwatch. This is a good sign that Google is heading in the right direction with wearables.
The watch looks and fits great, offers all the important features of a smartwatch and, while it comes together a bit awkwardly, the integration of Fitbit helps to offer a full range of fitness tracking.
The battery life and the small screen hold the watch back from its full potential, however. Hopefully, software updates or future iterations can take the Google Pixel Watch to a level where it can fight Samsung and Apple for that top spot.
Google Pixel Watch, £339, store.google.com
RATING: 3/5
PROS
• Stylish design • Comfortable fit • Fitbit integration
CONS
• Poor battery life • Small display• Can’t use third-party chargers
THE BEST ALTERNATIVE SMART WATCHES
Apple Watch 8
Apple has been dominating the smartwatch market for a while. The Apple Watch 8 is the brand’s best overall smartwatch, blending features and price for a comfortable package. It has a solid battery life, great GPS tracking, the ability to track everything from ovulation to ECG and blood oxygen, and the integration of a host of workouts. It’s a less conventional design than most smartwatches, but looks great.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Samsung is the biggest Android smartwatch brand, so perhaps Google’s main rival. The Samsung Galaxy 5 Pro is made for fitness enthusiasts looking to track every bit of exercise. It has advanced GPS and a huge battery life to get you through multiple days. Its look is rugged rather than glamorous.
Fitbit Versa 3
If you’re looking for something a bit more affordable, Fitbit could be the way to go. It’s Google-owned, but focuses on affordability and features over design. The Versa 3 includes built-in GPS, is both lightweight and comfortable and has plenty of fitness features. You’ll need a Fitbit subscription to access the best features, but the watch still performs well without this.