Google hasn’t officially teased the Google Pixel Watch 5 just yet.
However, mere months away from the supposed launch, a weird, surprising leak has seemingly given us an early peek. Well, if anything, the recent leak is likely to be believed.
If the recent accidental discovery near the island of St. Martin holds any truth, it forces me to revisit my stance. It brings up exactly why I have avoided getting a Pixel Watch for years.
I was a long-time Xiaomi and Amazfit smartwatch user before switching to the Huawei Watch GT4 in late 2023, and I’ve been rocking it for over two years now.
While I love my current smartwatch setup, my status as a Pixel phone user leaves me wanting a complete, unified ecosystem.
Several major concerns have consistently held me back from making the leap. If the Pixel Watch 5 can finally address these glaring issues, I would gladly transition to the wearable Pixel ecosystem.
Pixel Watch series history
Trivia challenge
From the first-gen debut to the latest model — how well do you know Google’s smartwatch journey?
HardwareHistoryFeaturesDesignSoftware
In which year did Google officially launch the first Pixel Watch?
Correct! The original Pixel Watch launched in October 2022 alongside the Pixel 7 series. It marked Google’s long-awaited entry into the smartwatch market after years of speculation and leaks.
Not quite. The first Pixel Watch arrived in October 2022, debuting at the same Made by Google event as the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. It was Google’s first in-house smartwatch after years of running Wear OS on partner hardware.
Which processor powered the original Pixel Watch (2022)?
Correct! The original Pixel Watch used Samsung’s Exynos W920 chip, the same processor found in the Galaxy Watch 4 series. It was a notable choice given that Google had its own Tensor chips for phones at the time.
Not quite. Despite Google using its own Tensor chips in Pixel phones, the original Pixel Watch relied on Samsung’s Exynos W920 processor. The Tensor chip family was not adapted for smartwatch use in the first generation.
What distinctive design shape defines the Pixel Watch series across all generations?
Correct! Every Pixel Watch generation has featured a perfectly circular, domed watch face with a curved glass display. This rounded pebble-like aesthetic has become a signature of the Pixel Watch identity.
Not quite. Google chose a perfectly circular, domed case design for the Pixel Watch lineup, setting it apart from the rectangular Apple Watch and Samsung’s more angular recent designs. The curved glass gives it a smooth, pebble-like look.
Which fitness and health platform did Google integrate into Pixel Watch by acquiring it in 2021?
Correct! Google completed its acquisition of Fitbit in January 2021, and Fitbit’s health tracking software became a core feature of the Pixel Watch experience. The integration brought features like sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, and Fitbit Premium.
Not quite. Google acquired Fitbit in early 2021 and made it the health and fitness backbone of the Pixel Watch. Rather than building health features from scratch, Google leveraged Fitbit’s established platform and algorithms.
How much RAM does the Pixel Watch 2 (2023) contain?
Correct! The Pixel Watch 2 features 2GB of RAM, doubling the 1GB found in the original Pixel Watch. This improvement helped deliver snappier performance and smoother multitasking on Wear OS.
Not quite. Google doubled the RAM in the Pixel Watch 2 to 2GB, up from just 1GB in the original model. The original Pixel Watch received criticism for occasionally sluggish performance, which this upgrade was designed to address.
Which version of Wear OS shipped on the original Pixel Watch at launch?
Correct! The original Pixel Watch launched with Wear OS 3.5, a refined version of the unified Wear OS platform that Google and Samsung developed together. It brought a cleaner UI and better app support compared to earlier versions.
Not quite. The first Pixel Watch shipped with Wear OS 3.5, not the full Wear OS 4 that arrived later with the Pixel Watch 2. Wear OS 3.5 was an incremental update to the unified platform Google co-developed with Samsung.
What was the original retail starting price of the Pixel Watch 3 (45mm) at its launch in 2024?
Correct! The Pixel Watch 3 in 45mm launched at £349 in the UK. The Pixel Watch 3 also introduced a larger 45mm case option for the first time, alongside the standard 41mm size, giving users a choice of screen real estate.
Not quite. The Pixel Watch 3 (45mm) launched at £349 in the UK. The Pixel Watch 3 generation was significant because it was the first time Google offered two size options — 41mm and 45mm — in the Pixel Watch lineup.
Which emergency safety feature, also found on Pixel phones, was added to the Pixel Watch 2?
Correct! The Pixel Watch 2 introduced car crash detection, a feature that uses the watch’s sensors to identify the sudden deceleration and impact patterns associated with a vehicle collision. It can then automatically contact emergency services.
Not quite. Car crash detection was one of the headline new features of the Pixel Watch 2, mirroring the capability already available on Pixel smartphones. The watch uses its accelerometer and other sensors to detect collision events and trigger emergency calls.
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I hate frequently charging my smartwatch
Any improvement to the Pixel Watch 5’s battery life is mostly welcome
One of the primary reasons I skipped the Pixel Watch 4 was its battery life. It can generally last two days, three if you aggressively squeeze out power by disabling features like the always-on display and limiting app notifications and connectivity.
With this, you sacrifice the experience by not fully utilizing important functionalities. And I hate that I have to wake up every time I need to check the time or notifications on my smartwatch, which is counterproductive if you’re busy.
It doesn’t have a bad battery when compared to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 or Apple Watch Series 11. But that is still far from an ideal runtime for my daily routine, especially since most smartwatches I’ve used last five days or more between charges.
But more than the battery life, having to charge my device frequently is one of the things I genuinely hate – especially when it fills up slowly. Having to grab a dedicated charging puck adds another tedious chore to my day.
While I like how the Pixel Watch 4 offers charging with the new dock and faster charging, it’s still not a practical solution if you set aside time every day to top up its juice.
I acknowledge that battery endurance is highly subjective, and some users do not mind daily charging.
I’m not asking Google to match the week-long battery of Garmin’s adventure and running smartwatches. But I’d love to see them add a day or achieve three to four days in smartwatch mode without disabling many features.
I think it would be plausible if Google modestly upgraded the battery capacity paired with deeper Wear OS optimization and a more efficient processor.
I also don’t mind the Pixel Watch 5’s thickness and weight remaining unchanged, as long as we see a meaningful improvement in battery life.
With such enhancements, it might even match the rated average endurance seen on the screen-less Google Fitbit Air.
It’s time for Google to balance durability and design
Even if it costs tweaking the curved profile
I readily admit that the Pixel Watch’s design language immediately caught my eye. The pebble-like domed shape provides a sleek, unique aesthetic that stands out.
It feels incredibly refreshing compared to the thick, classic style of most traditional smartwatches. While many prefer this refined look, I constantly worry about accidentally shattering that exposed glass compared to the flat display.
I tackle many household chores and exercise regularly at home. It is quite normal for my current smartwatch to bump against hard objects or sustain scratches.
Thankfully, the chunky build and thick bezels on my Huawei Watch GT 4 provide excellent protection against everyday wear and tear.
Given the Pixel Watch’s convex display, I am genuinely uncertain how it will withstand constant bumps.
Don’t get me wrong. I could install a third-party case, but that completely spoils the premium aesthetic I wanted in the first place.
I’m not sure how Google will do it, but I’d love to see a tougher glass for better protection from accidental impacts, even if it would involve adjusting the Pixel Watch’s pebble-like design.
Google’s premium subscription should go
All features should be available and not tied to a paywall
In recent years, Google has made massive strides in refining the biometric sensors and algorithms powering its wearables. We are seeing more life-saving alerts and vital wellness tracking tools than ever before.
What completely baffles me is the decision to lock newer AI capabilities behind the Google Health Premium subscription.
This forces users to pay extra for advanced fitness coaching, sleep insights, and full guided sessions, which I feel is distinctly anti-consumer.
Many competing brands offer these exact insights entirely for free without a lingering paywall.
I could fathom this strategy if the hardware only cost a fraction of the price, but it’s hard to justify and simply frustrating if you’re paying north of $400 for the hardware and still don’t get full access to all health and fitness tracking features.
There is also the glaring issue of region-locked breakthroughs in select countries. Many international users end up with basic tools while newly announced features take months to arrive, if ever.
Take the satellite messaging feature on the Pixel Watch 4 as a prime example. It shipped immediately in the US but took over half a year to slowly roll out elsewhere.
While I understand that regulatory clearance takes time, this approach creates a deeply fragmented user experience.
Google needs to prove with the Pixel Watch 5 that it is committed to universal feature parity.
I wore the Pixel Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 8, and this is the one I’d buy
It’s really close between these two top smartwatches, but one just edges the other out
Google should prioritize reliability
Quality is always better than quantity
I have to give Google credit for shipping waves of timely updates and novel features. Unfortunately, this rapid cadence has often led to frustrating bugs and software flaws.
This instability subsequently leaves a very sour taste in the mouths of dedicated users. One notable example was when step counting and sleep tracking were entirely messed up following a patch.
To make matters worse, it took several weeks for Google to push the necessary fixes. Add in the widespread battery and charging issues from the past, and it feels like a disaster.
Google desperately needs to hear this specific feedback. While everyone loves flashy new features, the vast majority of users will always prioritize rock-solid reliability.
Perhaps the Pixel Watch 5 will finally iron out these persistent flaws. And if it actually does so, I hope Google doesn’t take the opportunity to hike the price of its next Pixel smartwatch.
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- Case Material
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Aluminum
- Case size
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41mm / 45mm
- Display
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AMOLED
- CPU
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Snapdragon W5 Gen 2
- RAM
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2GB
The Google Pixel Watch 4 is on sale at major retailers. Save up to $40 on all variants.
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- Case size
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40mm/44mm
- Colors
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Graphite/Silver
- Display
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1.3-inch/1.5-inch Super AMOLED
- CPU
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Exynos W1000
- RAM
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2GB
Samsung and major retailers are slashing the price of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8. The latest One UI smartwatch drops to as low as $290.
