With its first smartwatch, Google has stepped into a space long dominated by Apple, offering Android users something they have rarely had: a wearable that feels genuinely considered rather than merely functional. The Pixel Watch arrives not as a perfect instrument but as a meaningful first statement — elegant in form, deeply woven into Google's ecosystem, and honest about the distance still to travel. It is the kind of opening move that tells you more about where a company is going than where it has been.
Google Pixel Watch: Android's closest Apple Watch rival, but with notable gaps
The closest Android has yet come to matching what Apple built
Mark
So this is Google's answer to the Apple Watch. How close does it actually get?
Mimi
Close enough that you notice what's missing. The design is elegant, the software integration with Google services is seamless, and the fitness tracking is solid. But the processor feels old, the battery dies every day, and there's a visible bezel around the screen.
Luke
When you say the battery dies every day—is that measured against a standard, or is that just what happened in your two months of testing?
Mimi
It's consistent with what Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Apple Watch Series 8 users experience. Daily charging is the norm for fully featured smartwatches right now.
Mark
What about the waterproofing issue? That seems like a real limitation.
Mimi
It is. You can't swim or dive with it. That's a genuine gap compared to the Apple Watch, which is fully waterproof.
Luke
But the source doesn't say whether that's a hardware limitation or a software choice Google made. Do we know?
Mimi
The specs list it as 5ATM durability, which usually means splash-resistant but not submersible. It's a hardware decision.
Mark
The processor—you mentioned it feels old. Is that affecting everyday use or just edge cases?
Mimi
Occasional slowness in responses. Nothing that breaks the experience, but you notice it. It's the kind of thing that gets fixed in version two.
Luke
And the battery—you said GPS drains it faster. How much faster? Is that a known issue with the Exynos chip or specific to the small frame?
Mimi
The small frame means a smaller battery. GPS use accelerates the drain noticeably, sometimes forcing a recharge by evening. But it charges back up in an hour, which is genuinely fast.
Mark
So if I'm an Android user, should I buy this?
Mimi
If you want the closest thing to an Apple Watch experience on Android, yes. It's the best option available. Just know you'll be charging it every night.
Luke
And if you swim or need your watch to last two days on a charge?
Mimi
Then you're waiting for the next version.
Der Puls
- Android users have long watched Apple Watch set the standard for smartwatches, and Google is now making its most serious bid to close that gap.
- The Pixel Watch's large bezels, aging Exynos processor, and battery that struggles to last a full day with always-on display create real friction for a device priced at €379.
- Google leans hard into its ecosystem strengths — Maps, Assistant, Fitbit health tracking, and broad fitness app support — to compensate for the hardware shortcomings.
- The missing waterproofing and proprietary charging cable add to a list of compromises that keep the watch from feeling fully finished.
- Despite its gaps, the Pixel Watch already ranks among the best Android smartwatches available, with a second generation now carrying genuine anticipation behind it.
With its first smartwatch, Google has stepped into a space long dominated by Apple, offering Android users something they have rarely had: a wearable that feels genuinely considered rather than merely functional. The Pixel Watch arrives not as a perfect instrument but as a meaningful first statement — elegant in form, deeply woven into Google's ecosystem, and honest about the distance still to travel. It is the kind of opening move that tells you more about where a company is going than where it has been.
Google's first smartwatch is the closest Android has come to answering the Apple Watch — and after two months of testing across multiple devices, it reads as a strong opening move rather than a finished product.
The hardware signals that Google took this seriously. The 41mm watch is available in three finishes, each paired with matching Active bands, and its 1.9-inch OLED display is bright and sharp. A digital crown and a hidden button handle navigation and payments, while Google Assistant sits a voice command away. The watch pairs only with Android devices, and within Google's ecosystem, the integration is seamless — Maps feels native, fitness tracking covers 41 workout types, and Fitbit's health platform runs underneath, sampling heart rate every second and offering a built-in ECG sensor. A six-month Fitbit Premium subscription is included, and 32GB of storage handles music from Spotify, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music.
The problems are harder to dismiss. The bezel around the display feels dated, particularly with lighter watch faces. The Exynos 9110 processor lags occasionally, and the 294mAh battery demands a daily charge — sometimes falling short of a full day with the always-on display active or GPS in use. There is no waterproofing, and the proprietary charging cable feels like a missed opportunity.
Set against the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Apple Watch Series 8, the Pixel Watch holds its ground. The processor needs updating, the battery needs extending, and the bezel should shrink — but the foundation Google has built is solid enough that the next generation feels genuinely worth waiting for.
Google's first smartwatch arrives as the closest Android has yet come to matching what Apple built with the Watch—elegant, tightly integrated with its own ecosystem, and genuinely capable. But after two months of testing the Pixel Watch across devices from Samsung, OPPO, OnePlus, and Google's own Pixel 7 Pro, the gaps become clear. It's a strong opening move, not yet a finished product.
The hardware tells you immediately that Google took this seriously. The 41mm watch wears like a refined piece, available in matte black obsidian, polished silver, and champagne gold, each paired with matching Active bands. The 1.9-inch OLED display is bright and colorful, running at 450x450 resolution with a 30Hz refresh rate. Two physical controls—a digital crown and a hidden button—handle navigation, payments, and access to Google Assistant. The design borrows visual language from the Apple Watch without copying it, and that's meant as a compliment. The watch pairs only with Android devices, just as Apple Watch refuses to work with Android phones, and the integration is seamless when you're in Google's ecosystem.
What the Pixel Watch does well centers on that ecosystem integration. Google Maps feels native. Google Assistant responds quickly to voice commands. The watch supports 41 different workout types and pairs with third-party fitness apps like Strava and Komoot. Fitbit's health tracking runs underneath—heart rate monitoring samples your pulse once per second, an ECG sensor is built in, and blood oxygen measurement hardware exists, though the feature hasn't been enabled yet. You also get an altimeter, gyroscope, and compass. A six-month free subscription to Fitbit Premium includes sleep tracking analysis and other health insights. Music streaming works with Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music, though Apple Music and Tidal are absent. Storage is generous at 32GB. Smart home control through Google Assistant or the Google Home app is straightforward. The watch runs Wear OS 3.5 and charges from zero to full in about an hour, which is faster than most competitors.
The problems are harder to ignore. The large bezel around the display feels dated, especially when you use a light-colored watch face or Google Photos as your background—the dark OS usually hides it, but it's still there. The Exynos 9110 processor inside occasionally lags, and the 294mAh battery demands a daily charge. With the always-on display enabled, some users report the watch doesn't make it through a full day. GPS use drains the battery faster still, sometimes forcing a recharge by early evening. The small 41mm frame means a smaller battery than some competitors, though the fast charging partially compensates. The watch lacks waterproofing, so swimming and diving are off limits. And you're locked into Google's proprietary charging cable—wireless charging would have been welcome.
Compared directly to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Apple Watch Series 8, the Pixel Watch holds its own. It's already among the best Android smartwatches available, offering high-end hardware, striking design, and a well-executed operating system. The processor needs updating, battery life needs extending, and the bezel should shrink. But Google didn't need multiple attempts to get the Watch right the way it did with phones. The foundation is solid enough that the second generation feels genuinely worth anticipating. At €379 from the Google Store, it's positioned as a premium device—and for Android users who want what Apple Watch offers but for their ecosystem, it's the closest thing that exists.
Bemerkenswerte Zitate
The Pixel Watch is already one of the best Android smartwatches out there alongside Samsung's Galaxy Watch 5— Reviewer assessment after two months of testing
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