Google announced its latest wearable, the Pixel Watch 4, at the same August 20 event where it unveiled the Pixel 10 series. The new Wear OS watch is slated to hit store shelves in October.
The Pixel Watch series has seen incremental updates each year since the first model was released in 2022; the Pixel Watch 3 isn’t that different from the original.
For the Pixel Watch 4, though, Google is introducing a number of pretty appreciable changes. Here’s what’s new in Google’s latest wearable.
7
An improved display
Source: Google
The Pixel Watch 3 whittled down the chunky bezels found on the first two generations, and Google’s Pixel Watch 4 makes them slimmer still.
Google claims that both the 41 and 45 mm variants of the Pixel Watch 4 come with 10% more usable display area than their Pixel Watch 3 counterparts.
There are other improvements, too. The top surface of the Pixel Watch 4’s display glass is now domed to more closely match the device’s overall shape, and the screen can reach a peak brightness of 3,000 nits — a 1,000-nit gain coming from the Pixel Watch 3.
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A new set of colors
The Pixel Watch 4 comes in some brand-new colorways.
The smaller 41-millimeter model is available in Iris, a silver-colored case with a light purple band; Lemongrass, a champagne gold case with a bright yellow-green band; as well as the Porcelain and Obsidian colorways we’re used to.
The larger 45-millimeter version comes in those standard Porcelain and Obsidian colors, as well as one new colorway. The Moonstone version has a blue-gray steel case and matching band.
5
(Another) new charger
Source: Google
The first two generations of Pixel Watch used the same magnetic charging puck. The third generation switched to the same pin-based charger used by Fitbit’s Versa and Sense trackers.
For the Pixel Watch 4’s charger, Google has gone back to the drawing board. The new watch sits upright in an included charging cradle, making it easier to see the watch’s display from a distance while it is charging.
4
Bigger batteries, faster charging
Source: Evan Blass on X/Twitter
Both sizes of Google’s new smartwatch have larger batteries that last longer on a charge and top up quicker than the Pixel Watch 3’s did.
The 41mm Pixel Watch 4 comes with a 325 mAh cell, up from 307 in the Pixel Watch 3. Google says it can power the watch for up to 30 hours with the always-on display active, or up to 48 hours with battery saver on, compared to 24 hours and 36 hours on the Pixel Watch 3, respectively.
The bigger 45mm Pixel Watch 4 sees similar gains, with a new 455 mAh battery — 35 mAh more than the 45mm Pixel Watch 3’s 420 mAh cell. Google claims that the model can go 40 hours between charges with the always-on display in use, or a full three days with battery saver features on.
Both sizes charge faster than the Pixel Watch 3 did, too. Google says either version can get a 50% charge in just 15 minutes, with a full charge taking 45 minutes or an hour, depending on size.
3
A new Qualcomm SoC
The Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3 both used the same chipset: a Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 SoC with a Cortex M33 co-processor. The Pixel Watch 4 uses the new Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 paired with a Cortex M55 co-processor.
That chip update should help facilitate snappier performance and the better battery life we touched on above. It also enables an interesting new feature: the Pixel Watch 4 is the first smartwatch with standalone satellite SOS capabilities.
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On-wrist satellite SOS
Thanks to its new Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 chip, LTE-compatible Pixel Watch 4 models are able to communicate with emergency services over a satellite connection. Google says it’s the first smartwatch on the market to offer that functionality.
We haven’t had the opportunity to test the new watch’s satellite connectivity, but it’ll presumably work like it does on Pixel phones. There, you can communicate with emergency services by text, as well as share your current location.
The same capability in a watch is a niche benefit, but it could be a life-saving one.
1
Enhanced repairability
The three previous generations of Pixel Watch wearables are infamously not repairable. If you break the screen on your Pixel Watch 3, your only option is to get the whole thing replaced.
For the Pixel Watch 4, Google has finally fixed that. As the company shared with Wired, the new model can be easily disassembled to replace components like the display glass and battery.
That does a lot for the wearable’s longevity; on a long enough timeline, every smartwatch’s battery will give out eventually.
Available for pre-order right now
The Pixel Watch 4 was announced along with the Pixel 10 on August 20. You can’t get your hands on one just yet, but you can pre-order one now from Google or retailers like Best Buy.
Pricing remains the same: the 41mm model starts at $350, while the 45mm version is available from $400. General availability starts on October 9.