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We will analyze the Pixel Watch 2, focusing on its construction and design, performance, features, and value in this post. If you are pondering if this smartwatch is worth your money, this review will have everything you need to make an educated choice. So, without further ado, let’s get to it! With this review, you’ll explore what makes this device tick.
Overview of the Pixel Watch 2
Google has launched Pixel Watch 2 which is now the successor to Google’s first ever wearable device. As much as the original Pixel Watch, the new version seems to be identical to it but further examination shows that Google has made some important changes. We will analyze these changes in detail further in this review, but we will also address if the changes are worth the price, or if they are simply a regression. While the watch comes with brand new design elements, enhanced safety measures, and improved health monitoring features, the question remains; is it really a fresh upgrade?
Key Highlights of the Pixel Watch 2
- Lightweight and Comfortable Design:
The Pixel Watch 2 features an aluminum body that makes it lighter than its predecessor, providing enhanced comfort for all-day wear. It’s also water-resistant up to 50 meters (5 ATM), making it suitable for swimming and intense workouts. - Bright AMOLED Display:
Equipped with a 1.2-inch circular AMOLED screen, the Pixel Watch 2 delivers sharp visuals with a resolution of 320 ppi and a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits, ensuring great visibility even in bright sunlight. - Improved Performance with Snapdragon W5 Gen 1:
The Pixel Watch 2 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 processor, offering smooth performance and faster app load times compared to the previous model. - Enhanced Fitness and Health Tracking:
It comes with a multi-path optical heart rate sensor, EDA (electrodermal activity) sensor for stress monitoring, and the ability to track your skin temperature. The Pixel Watch 2 also supports automatic workout tracking and has over 40 workout modes, including running, cycling, and walking. - Emergency SOS & Location Sharing:
New to the Pixel Watch 2 is an Emergency SOS feature, which can alert your contacts if you’re in distress. The location-sharing feature can work even without your phone if you have the LTE model, providing extra safety for activities like hiking or walking at night. - Google Ecosystem Integration:
As expected, the Pixel Watch 2 integrates seamlessly with Google services, including Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Photos. It allows you to control smart home devices, set reminders, and access directions with ease. - Battery Life & Charging:
The Pixel Watch 2 offers around 24 hours of battery life with typical usage, which requires daily charging. It uses a proprietary charging dock, which can be a hassle as it doesn’t support wireless charging. - Fitbit Premium Subscription:
To unlock advanced health features like mindfulness sessions, guided breathing, and detailed workout plans, you will need a Fitbit Premium subscription, which is free for six months but costs extra afterward. - Notifications and Customization:
The smartwatch provides customizable notification settings, allowing you to adjust vibration strength and quickly reply to messages through voice or a mini keyboard. The Wear OS platform also offers an easy-to-use interface with customizable tiles and watch faces.
Design and Build Quality
Similar Yet Different: Design Overview
- Case Size & Build:
The Pixel Watch 2 has the same 41mm case as the original Pixel Watch. However, it’s made from aluminum this time around, making it lighter and easier to wear for long periods. Although some people may have preferred the stainless steel from the original, the aluminum body still feels premium and adds to the overall comfort. - Bezels:
The bezels remain relatively thick, which is somewhat disappointing considering many modern smartwatches have been moving toward slimmer bezels. However, the display is mostly black in color, which helps mask the thickness of the bezels. - Gorilla Glass 5 Protection:
Just like its predecessor, the Pixel Watch 2 comes with Gorilla Glass 5 on the display. While this offers protection against scratches, some users were hoping for sapphire glass, which is more durable. However, after weeks of use, the screen still remains pristine, which is a good sign for durability. - Water Resistance:
Water resistance remains an important feature for many users, and the Pixel Watch 2 can handle depths of up to 5 ATM (50 meters). So, you can confidently wear it while swimming or during intense outdoor workouts.
Straps
- Comfortable and Easy to Adjust:
The watch comes with both small and large straps in the box. The silicone material is lightweight and comfortable, making it ideal for extended wear, whether you’re running errands or sleeping. The small strap fit perfectly for those with thinner wrists, and the larger strap should work for people with bigger wrists as well.
Display: Screen Performance
The Pixel Watch 2 features a 1.2-inch circular AMOLED display, which is the same size as its predecessor. While the display looks great, there are a few things worth noting:
- Resolution:
The screen has a resolution of 320 ppi, which provides sharp text and crisp visuals. However, if you have vision issues or prefer larger text, this might not be the ideal watch for you. - Brightness:
One major perk of the Pixel Watch 2’s display is its brightness. It can reach up to 1,000 nits, which is ideal for outdoor use, even in bright sunlight. Whether you’re jogging during the day or just using the watch outside, the auto-brightness feature will adjust to your surroundings. - Watch Faces:
The watch comes with several built-in analog and digital watch faces. These faces are highly customizable, allowing you to tweak things like colors and complications (the extra data displayed). One standout feature is the Google Photos watch face, where you can upload up to 30 of your favorite images for display. Unfortunately, you cannot stream recent photos directly to the watch. - Wear OS:
The Pixel Watch 2 runs on Wear OS, Google’s smartwatch operating system. The software is intuitive and easy to navigate. You can swipe left and right to access various tiles, which are mini widgets that provide at-a-glance information. Tapping one of the tiles will open the corresponding app.
Performance and Features
Performance: Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 Chip
- Processor:
Inside the Pixel Watch 2 is the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chip, which provides a solid performance boost compared to the original Pixel Watch. Apps open quickly, and you won’t find yourself waiting around for long load times. It may not be the most advanced chip out there (especially when compared to the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 Plus used in other watches), but it’s more than sufficient for most users.
Notifications and Smart Features
- Notifications:
One of the strongest points of the Pixel Watch 2 is its notification system. You can receive alerts for calls, messages, and apps right on your wrist. The vibration strength for each notification is customizable, and the notifications can be quick-replied using a mini keyboard or voice input. - Google Assistant:
The Pixel Watch 2 integrates seamlessly with Google Assistant. You can use voice commands to check the weather, set reminders, control smart home devices, and more. The watch also has a built-in speaker, allowing you to hear the assistant’s responses. - Smart Home Control:
The watch can control smart devices at home through Google Home integration. While it works well in most cases, there are occasional issues with devices showing up as offline or not connecting correctly. - Location Sharing and Emergency Features:
Emergency SOS and location sharing are among the big upgrades in the Pixel Watch 2. You can share your real-time location with family or friends in case of an emergency, which can be crucial if you’re walking alone at night or hiking. However, Fitbit Premium membership is required for some features, which is a downside if you’re not subscribed to it.
Health and Fitness Tracking
The Pixel Watch 2 is marketed as a fitness-focused smartwatch, and it certainly delivers in that area. Let’s break down the health-related features:
Heart Rate and Stress Monitoring
- Heart Rate Sensor:
The Pixel Watch 2 is equipped with a multi-path optical heart rate sensor, providing accurate heart rate readings throughout the day. It can even track your heart rate while you sleep, giving you insights into your overall health. - Stress Monitoring:
One of the standout features is the electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor. This feature helps measure stress by tracking changes in your skin’s conductivity. While the results might not be revolutionary, the watch will notify you when your stress levels are elevated, helping you manage your stress in real-time.
Fitness Tracking
- Workout Modes:
The Pixel Watch 2 supports 40 workout modes, including running, cycling, walking, and more. While this number is lower than some competitors, it covers all the basics and then some. It also features automatic workout tracking, meaning it will start tracking your activity as soon as you begin exercising, with no need for manual input. - Sleep Tracking:
The Pixel Watch 2 provides detailed sleep tracking. You can see how much time you spend in light, deep, and REM sleep, as well as get insights into how to improve your sleep habits. While some may find this feature a bit intrusive, it’s handy for those who want to improve their overall health and well-being. - Mindfulness Features:
If you’re into mindfulness and relaxation, the Pixel Watch 2 has guided breathing exercises and access to a library of Fitbit Premium content, including mindfulness sessions aimed at reducing stress.
Battery Life
The battery life on the Pixel Watch 2 has always been a point of contention, and while it’s slightly improved, it still isn’t great compared to some other smartwatches on the market:
- Battery Life:
You can expect around 24 hours of use from the Pixel Watch 2 with standard features enabled, such as the always-on display, notifications, and fitness tracking. This means you’ll need to charge it daily—something to keep in mind if you’re hoping for longer-lasting battery life. - Charging Speed:
The charging speed has slightly improved over the original Pixel Watch, but you’ll still need about an hour to get a full charge. This is a bit of a hassle since you’ll likely need to charge it every day. - Power-Saving Mode:
If you’re trying to make the battery last longer, the power-saving mode can be enabled, which disables the always-on display and raises-to-wake features. However, even with power-saving mode on, the battery still drains around 3-4% per hour.
Conclusion: Is the Pixel Watch 2 Worth It?
After spending several weeks with the Pixel Watch 2, it’s clear that this is a solid smartwatch with some great features, but it’s not without its shortcomings. Here’s a summary of the pros and cons:
Pros:
- Lightweight, Comfortable Design
- Bright AMOLED Display
- Seamless Google Ecosystem Integration
- Improved Fitness Tracking
- Emergency SOS & Location Sharing
- Reliable Google Assistant
Cons:
- Expensive Fitbit Premium Required for Full Features
- Battery Life Could Be Better
- Proprietary Charging Dock
- Limited Workout Modes (Compared to Competitors)
Apart from its poor battery life and the requirement for a Fitbit Premium subscription, the Pixel Watch 2 would be more appealing to those that have an existing investment in Google’s products. For those that monitor fitness or require Sophisticated tracking and emergency functionalities, this smartwatch is ideal. Others might prefer the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro and the Galaxy Watch Series from Samsung.
In the end, the Pixel Watch 2 offers a solid mix of style, performance, and fitness features, but whether it’s the right fit for you depends on your specific needs and budget.
