I tested the Pixel Watch 5 and discovered Google’s best smartwatch yet

Has Google made the best smartwatch of 2026 with the Google Pixel Watch 5? While we’re waiting for Apple’s response, we’ve already seen Samsung’s challengers, and the sad thing is, there aren’t many other big-name brands tackling mainstream smartwatches anymore.

It gives the Pixel Watch 5 a fantastic opportunity. Google hasn’t changed the formula, but it didn’t really have to. Instead, refinements, key upgrades, and new health features do the heavy lifting.

I’ve worn it for a few weeks to see if this really is the smartwatch to beat this year.

9/10

Case size

41mm / 45mm

Display

1.2-inch / 1.4-inch

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Accelerated

Case Material

Aluminum

Google continues to refine its smartwatch, and the Pixel Watch 5 is such a complete package, it’s hard to pinpoint anything you’ll really need that’s missing. Except maybe style.

Pros & Cons

• Light and supremely comfortable
• Two-days battery life easily achievable
• Very fast charging
• Google AI Coach makes active living more accessible
• Choice of two case sizes

• Screen glass lacks tactility
• Design may be too plain for some
• Requires Fitbit Premium subscription to use AI Coach

Price, specs, and availability

The Google Pixel Watch 5 is available to buy now from Google’s online store, Amazon, and other retailers.

It comes in two sizes, 41mm and 45mm, and with the option of a 4G LTE connection in addition to the standard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection.

The 41mm Wi-Fi model costs $399 and the LTE version is $499. The 45mm Wi-Fi Pixel Watch 5 costs $429, and the LTE model is $529.

There are four versions, all made of aluminum, but with different finishes and straps. A Stephen Curry special edition is also available, which comes with LTE and a special strap, for $529.

It competes with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9, which starts at $380, and the Apple Watch Series 11 (for owners who want to switch), which also starts at $399. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is considerably more expensive at $700, and is for more active types.

Google Pixel Watch 5 design

Fuss-free, and supremely comfortable

The Google Pixel Watch 5 is as simply designed as a smartwatch can get. It has domed glass, a metal case, and an integrated (proprietary) strap design. There’s a crown on the side which also rotates to scroll through menus, and a hidden button alongside it.

Design is subjective, and while it’s not for me, I understand many others appreciate its simple look.

It’s sized so well. The 12.3mm thickness means it slips under a cuff, I’ve not found it irritating to wear when tracking sleep, and at 62 grams with the strap, it’s never noticeable on your wrist.

The decision not to include any sharp or angular edges or lines is also inspired. Not only does it soften the design, it means it never gets caught on anything, won’t scratch you, and the gentle curve of the aluminum and glass rear ensures supreme on-wrist comfort.

It’s great to see Google continue to offer two case sizes. It’s the 45mm version in our photos, and I had the chance to see a 41mm, which is daintier on the wrist. For reference, the 45mm version is on my 6.5-inch wrist. The 41mm will suit those with wrists considerably smaller.

Google has changed the material for its straps, and while it’s a good thing, the result gets hotter and sweatier than before. It takes far too long to cool down, and I’ve found I often want to take it off for a while. It can make sleep tracking a little uncomfortable on hot nights.

The Pixel Watch 5’s lack of style and identity puts me off, but leave my personal preferences aside, and the Pixel Watch 5 is easily one of the easiest, most comfortable, and inconspicuous to wear smartwatches you can buy.

Google Pixel Watch 5 screen and performance

One is a big hardware fail

The Pixel Watch 5’s screen is adequate, but it falls behind the competition. The domed Gorilla Glass 5 should remain durable enough, but it’s too reflective, lacks truly wide viewing angles, and feels like plastic under your finger.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and the Apple Watch Series 11 — both the standard model and the sapphire crystal version — are smooth and tactile to touch, and in the case of the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, considerably brighter.

That said, if you’ve never used the competition, you’ll be pleased with the Pixel Watch 5’s brightness in most conditions, plus its vivid colors with excellent contrast levels.

The problem is, the glass does not have the beautiful sheen or ability to resist reflections like sapphire glass, and I think it’s reasonable to expect better on a smartwatch at this price.

I haven’t experienced any performance issues with the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Accelerated, and Wear OS 7 is clear and logical.

That said, I found the range and design of the Tiles lacking. They’re very busy, and it takes a while to get them organized and remove the ones that aren’t useful. Samsung’s interface over Wear OS 7 is better looking, clearer, and faster to organize.

Google has widely integrated the double-pinch gesture into Wear OS and the Pixel Watch 5. It’s used to progress through cards and notifications, confirm actions, and open the notification panel, all without touching the screen.

It’s effective and fun, and you’ll spot an animated icon letting you know it can be used throughout the software. I use it quite a lot, and it’s accurate and surprisingly useful.

Just like every other Google product on the planet, you can talk to Gemini on the Pixel Watch 5 using the app, or a raise-to-talk function.

Google Pixel Watch 5 health and activity tracking

Commit to talking to AI

The Pixel Watch 5 uses Google’s new Health app, which is the showcase for the Google Health AI Coach, which some will have already tried out on the Fitbit Air.

There’s no difference between the experience there and on the Pixel Watch 5. You need to use it to get the most from Google Health, and if you’re not prepared to interact with AI, it probably won’t be for you.

If you do want to chat to the Health Coach, it can prove really fun and useful. You can ask it to generate workouts, add in exercises, understand how to improve, and take a deeper dive into your stats.

AI Coach is very supportive and motivating. By chatting to it, you can set boundaries regarding how hard it pushes you, and it remembers things like medication you take or recurring injuries. It also looks at your sleep and will suggest if it’s time to do more or take a rest.

Google Health is not as hardcore as Garmin’s platform, or as data-heavy. Instead, it’s friendlier and less focused on meeting tough goals like the Whoop fitness band. It’s more lifestyle-based, and edges closer to the experience you get with the Oura Ring and Apple Watch.

However, because it’s so adaptable, if you want to do more, track more intense workouts, track meals, and monitor weight, Google Health will do all this without a problem. I really like this versatility.

Google’s Blood Pressure Trends and Insulin Trends features are not available to test at the time of writing. Features like Car Crash Detection and Fall Detection are onboard.

Just before completing my review, Breathing Disturbance and Loss of Pulse arrived. Setting them up took a few moments, and they work in the background. This range of ‘silent’ health features, which address important health concerns, are all strong reasons to wear the Pixel Watch 5 all the time.

Data is well presented in the app, but crucially on the watch too. There’s a Morning Brief card showing all your sleep data, which, along with the Focus Metrics card (which shows steps, sleep, and a host of other data points) makes it simple to understand your status.

The main Health target for you to reach is based on cardio load, and it sets a weekly goal to meet. It’s somewhat dynamic, but you really have to make an effort to meet it. Here, we circle back to the AI Coach for a good demonstration on how it’s best to use it.

Over the weeks wearing the Fitbit Air and Pixel Watch 5 I haven’t met the Cardio Load target. I asked the AI Coach for some advice. It explained the goal is dynamic and how it’s established, then used my data to show why I’ve found it hard to reach. Finally, it walked me through a personalized activity plan, so the goal would be more achievable.

This is very helpful, and also very motivational, which is a rareity in many health apps. It also highlighted one of the downsides of tracking health and activity on the Pixel Watch 5 using Google Health. It’s quite complicated, and for example, doesn’t do a great job of explaining why you may need a dedicated weekly plan, even if you’re just maintaining exercise levels, until you ask it.

Comparing data with the Oura Ring 5

What to expect from tracking

I tracked a 30-minute walk with GPS using the Pixel Watch 5 and Oura Ring 5 to assess how each compares on stats.

I also tracked sleep with the pair.

The results match what I saw with the Fitbit Air, which is interesting. Not only are the sensors clearly closely aligned, but the algorithm doesn’t seem to alter depending on the device you’re wearing. It’s notable because the Pixel Watch 5 naturally fits closer to the skin on your wrist than the Fitbit Air.

Google Pixel Watch 5 battery and charging

A serious reason to buy

Both battery life and charging are Pixel Watch 5 strengths. The 45mm model’s battery has consistently lasted for two full days on a single charge, and that includes sleep tracking for two nights and tracking a single 30-minute workout with GPS.

It’s efficient too, with a single 30-minute GPS walk taking just 3% of the battery, and a night’s sleep barely registering any battery consumption at all. Battery use time may vary if you buy the smaller 41mm version.

The smartwatch uses the same charging plinth introduced with the Pixel Watch 4, where the screen is supported in an upright position so you can see it. The magnets are strong enough to keep the watch in position, but the charger itself is plastic and very light.

Performance is excellent. I usually put the Pixel Watch 5 on charge when I see the 20% battery warning pop up, and it takes 35 minutes to zip back up to 100%. Google’s estimation of 45 minutes to charge from 0% is also accurate.

The long battery life and fast charging remove a lot of the friction from smartwatch ownership, and I have not worried about either during my time with the Pixel Watch 5. Both are strong reasons to buy.

It’s much faster charging than the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, while the battery life itself isn’t all that different.

The Fitbit Air problem

A money-saving alternative

Before you go ahead and buy the Pixel Watch 5, take a moment to think about whether you really, absolutely need a screen on your wrist. If you don’t, but do still want to enjoy the Google Health AI Coach, then the Fitbit Air may be for you.

I’ve got a lot of value from the AI Health Coach’s feedback, and it has genuinely kept me motivated to continue a morning exercise routine. I wonder if I didn’t have the AI Coach whether I would have remained so consistent.

However, I love wearing non-smartwatches, and that’s where the Fitbit Air comes in. It lives on my right wrist, leaving my left wrist free for whatever watch I want, without losing the AI Coach’s input. It’s also far less noticeable for sleep tracking too.

I can live without notifications on my wrist, especially on the weekend, and there doesn’t appear to be any difference in results or data between the two. The Fitbit Air will also get the new blood pressure and insulin trend features. It misses out on things like Car Crash Detection though.

The other consideration is live information when you’re working out. I’ve been trying to spend more time in heart rate zones two and three when exercising, and the Pixel Watch 5’s workout screen shows this information all the time. You have to look at your phone to see the same information when using the Fitbit Air.

While you still need to pay the $10 per month subscription to Fitbit Premium to get the AI Coach on both the Pixel Watch 5 and the Fitbit Air, it’s far cheaper to buy the $100 Fitbit Air than the $400 Pixel Watch 5.

Both devices let you enjoy Google’s headline health features, but one may suit your lifestyle better, so it’s worth considering each one before making a final decision.

Should you buy the Google Pixel Watch 5?

Yes, you should buy the Google Pixel Watch 5. Battery life is a nonissue due to the superb charging performance, the Health AI Coach makes tracking your activity and lifestyle simple and rewarding, and the performance and software are both excellent.

It’s a shame the glass over the screen isn’t very pleasant to touch and suffers from a lot of reflection, and I can’t live with the plain design all day, every day.

It’s also unfortunate the headline health features aren’t available to test yet. Yes, they’re coming, but they’re also coming to the much cheaper Fitbit Air. For some, this will be a reason to hold off buying, as if the Fitbit Air performs identically, it’ll save someone quite a lot of money.

You’ve also got to commit to the $10 per month Fitbit Premium subscription to get the most from Google Health and use the AI Coach.

I can put all this aside and embrace what is a superb smartwatch, which I’ve found genuinely improves my everyday life through motivation to move more, useful notifications, and never worrying about battery life. You’re going to love it.

9/10

Case size

41mm / 45mm

Display

1.2-inch / 1.4-inch

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Accelerated

Case Material

Aluminum

The Google Pixel Watch 5’s long battery life and very fast charging make it effortless to own and use, the growing suite of health features makes it more useful than ever, and the AI Coach has the unusual ability to motivate and encourage people to move more. It’s a fantastic buy.