{"id":1823,"date":"2025-09-04T17:35:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T17:35:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/1823\/"},"modified":"2025-09-04T17:35:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T17:35:08","slug":"pixel-watch-4-announced-whats-new-whats-not","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/1823\/","title":{"rendered":"Pixel Watch 4 announced: What\u2019s new, what\u2019s not?"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the Made by Google 2025 event<\/a>, Google officially unveiled the Pixel Watch 4. Thanks to a steady stream of Pixel leaks<\/a>, we had a pretty good idea of what to expect. Mashable also got the chance to preview the new smartwatch at a recent event, and we can finally share a detailed first look at the new wearable. <\/p>\n

We can also share some good news: The Pixel Watch 4 won’t arrive with a price increase. The 41mm version starts at $349.99, and the 45mm version starts at $399.99. You can pre-order them now at the Pixel Store<\/a> and Amazon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Google\u2019s sleek smartwatch line is back, and this year\u2019s model brings a suite of upgrades designed to smooth over some of the rough edges from last year\u2019s Pixel Watch 3<\/a>. The Watch 4 promises longer battery life, noticeably faster charging, improved health and fitness features, and a fresh set of eye-catching color options to go with its minimalist design. It’s a solid alternative to the recently released Galaxy Watch 8<\/a>, with its love-it-or-hate-it “squircle” design.<\/p>\n

\"woman<\/p>\n

\n Left:
\n Credit: Joe Maldonado \/ Mashable\n <\/p>\n

\n Right:
\n Credit: Joe Maldonado \/ Mashable\n <\/p>\n

SEE ALSO:
\n
\n Pixel 10 announced: Specs, pricing, preorder details<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

On paper, the Pixel Watch 4 looks like a clear step up from the Watch 3 \u2014 but it\u2019s not a total reinvention. Much of the functionality remains the same, meaning last year\u2019s model is still perfectly serviceable if you\u2019re not itching to upgrade. That said, if you\u2019re debating whether the Watch 4 is worth the leap, here\u2019s a breakdown of what\u2019s changed, and what hasn\u2019t changed, with Google\u2019s latest flagship smartwatch and fitness tracker<\/a>.<\/p>\n

New: Bigger display, longer life, faster charging<\/p>\n

The Pixel Watch 4 is also getting a bump in display tech. Google says the new screen is roughly 10 percent larger than the Watch 3, with a nearly edge-to-edge design that makes the updated Wear OS 6 and Material 3 Expression UI look and feel more animated and lively. On top of that, brightness has been cranked up considerably, topping out at a dazzling 3,000 nits compared to the Pixel Watch 3\u2019s 2,000. That means better visibility outdoors and sharper contrast when you\u2019re checking notifications on the fly.<\/p>\n

\n Mashable Light Speed\n <\/p>\n

Battery life has also seen some fine-tuning. On the 45mm model, the Pixel Watch 4 promises up to 40 hours of runtime, while the smaller 41mm version manages about 30 hours. Kick in Battery Saver mode and you\u2019re looking at 72 hours on the 45mm and 48 hours on the 41mm. Charging is faster too: Google claims the Watch 4 can jump from 0 to 50 percent in just 15 minutes, a nice improvement over the Watch 3, which took 24 minutes to hit the same mark.<\/p>\n

Finally, if you’re a fan of the Google Gemini AI chatbot, a Google press release says the Pixel Watch 4 is “our best watch for experiencing Gemini.” Of course, Google would say that.<\/p>\n

\"close-up<\/p>\n

Credit: Joe Maldonado \/ Mashable\n <\/p>\n

\"close-up<\/p>\n

Credit: Joe Maldonado \/ Mashable\n <\/p>\n

SEE ALSO:
\n
\n Pixel 10 Pro & Pro XL announced: Specs, pricing, preorder details<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Not new: Fitness and health features<\/p>\n

When it comes to health and fitness, the Pixel Watch 4 sticks to the same playbook as its predecessor. You\u2019re still getting the deep Fitbit integration that tracks heart rate, sleep, SpO2, stress, and workouts, plus Google\u2019s AI-powered Running Insights for performance feedback. ECG readings, irregular heart rhythm notifications, fall detection, and emergency SOS are also carried over unchanged. <\/p>\n

The Pixel Watch 4 hasn\u2019t introduced any groundbreaking new health sensors or fitness features this year \u2014 it\u2019s largely refining the same Fitbit-driven ecosystem that debuted on the Pixel Watch 3. However, Google has added improved GPS tracking for more precise route mapping and distance measurement, particularly useful for runners, cyclists, and hikers.<\/p>\n

\"close-up<\/p>\n

Credit: Joe Maldonado \/ Mashable\n <\/p>\n

New: Colors<\/p>\n

The Pixel Watch 4 is getting a fresh coat of paint when it comes to design. Google is offering the same two case sizes (41mm and 45mm), and both now come in four finishes: Matte Black, Polished Silver, Champagne Gold, and the all-new Rose Quartz. <\/p>\n

Band options have also expanded, but you\u2019ll still find staples like metal links, woven, leather, and stretch bands. Google is also adding new shades across the board to better complement the updated cases. It\u2019s not a radical redesign, but the new colorways give buyers more flexibility to mix and match and lean into either sporty or luxury aesthetics.<\/p>\n

\"pixel<\/p>\n

Credit: Joe Maldonado \/ Mashable\n <\/p>\n

\"close-up<\/p>\n

Credit: Joe Maldonado \/ Mashable\n <\/p>\n

Pixel Watch 4: Release date, pricing, and pre-order<\/p>\n

The Pixel Watch 4 is available for pre-order now, but a Google spokesperson told us the new smartwatch won’t ship and appear on store shelves until Oct. 9. You can pre-order the watch at Amazon, the Pixel Store, and other retailers.<\/p>\n

Pixel Watch 4, 41mm: $349.99 for Wi-Fi and $449.99 for LTE<\/p>\n

Pixel Watch 4, 45mm: $399.99 for Wi-Fi and $499.99 for LTE<\/p>\n

\n Topics
\n Google<\/a>
\n Smartwatches<\/a>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"At the Made by Google 2025 event, Google officially unveiled the Pixel Watch 4. Thanks to a steady…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1824,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[356,111,139,69,145],"class_list":{"0":"post-1823","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gadgets","8":"tag-gadgets","9":"tag-new-zealand","10":"tag-newzealand","11":"tag-nz","12":"tag-technology"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1823"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1823\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}