Google Pixel Watch 2 Is Not What They Promised Us [Review]

Are you looking for details about whether the Google Pixel Watch 2 is worth buying or not? You came to the right place, and we’ll check into the strengths and weaknesses of this new smartwatch after testing it for a week together with the Google Pixel 8 Pro. Unfortunately, we are not in partnership with Google, and I have to buy these myself, but this is merely for the sake of disclosure and has no impact on the review of the Google Pixel Watch 2.

Testing out Google’s new smartwatch: Pixel Watch 2 review

To best reflect my opinion and findings, it may be interesting for you to know that I usually use Google products and software daily and that Google hardware ties in well with Google software, but I am not able to anticipate how useful the Google Pixel Watch 2 would be if you’re not invested in the Google software ecosystem. The first and last time I had a smartwatch was in 2014 when Google provided only the OS and sold third-party devices from brands such as Samsung.

Over time and given their steps into the smartphone market, they also established a foothold in the peripherals market. After acquiring the Fitbit software and hardware, it was only a matter of time before they would attempt once more to sell Google-branded smartwatches, and after skipping their first Google Pixel Watch model, I originally thought that would have been enough time to iron out any issues, but I was wrong.

Design and haptics

There are a few color options, but the core is not that different if you compare them. I can, however, say that both the band they provide you and the device are comfortable to wear and look fine. If you are unhappy with the band or the aesthetics, you could purchase other bands or even some cases for the Pixel Watch 2.

As the product was only just released, the market is not that saturated, but given a few weeks, I am sure there will be plenty of providers for accessories or swap parts. The size and shape of the Google Pixel Watch 2 are suitable for people of all genders, in my opinion, but as mentioned above, customizations should be possible by using alternative bands and cases for the device so you can turn it into a rugged bulky watch or a sporty watch as per your preferences.

Responsiveness

I am generally okay with how the device responds to input, and the display has an average refresh rate that doesn’t look too choppy, but during the tests, it was noticeable that sometimes the watch wouldn’t register a touch, tap, or swipe. Especially in the rounded corner area, it’s possible that it would not react to your input, and given that this is not a budget device, I don’t feel this is really acceptable.

If you’re looking at notification responsiveness, it’s worth noting that sometimes it can take several hours for a notification to appear on the Pixel Watch 2, which also defeats the purpose of having the watch as a quicker means to assess notifications from your smartphone. If they want to compete with companies like Apple, they can’t put something like this on the table and hope for the best.

The Google and Fitbit world

Everything about the Google Pixel Watch 2 is tightly tied in with software and solutions from Google and Fitbit, also owned by Google. They want you to use the Fitbit premium plan and try to get you hooked on the features with a free 6-month membership. All of that is naturally not an issue as long as it’s transparent to the user and as long as they can decide to continue this paid membership if they don’t want to.

To me, the value of this is about being mediocre. While I am okay with how the apps work and how the data is reported to me, I may not go for the premium plan after the trial ends. You should check that for yourself and be honest with yourself if this really adds enough value to your day.

Google Pixel Watch 2 features to love and hate

Looking at their website and marketing we learn a few things about what they want to be known for and what they consider key aspects of their solution.

• Health and wellness tracking: The watch offers comprehensive health tracking features like heart rate monitoring, skin temperature tracking, and stress detection. These features can provide valuable insights into the user’s health status and potentially help them manage their well-being more effectively. The improved accuracy of heart rate tracking during vigorous activities is a significant plus for fitness enthusiasts.
• Stress management: The ability to detect signs of stress and offer solutions could benefit consumers in today’s fast-paced world. Including Fitbit’s in-app tools and guided breathing sessions adds value to the stress management functionality.
• Voice command: The “Hey Google” voice command feature offers hands-free assistance, increasing the convenience factor for the user. It works okay, but if you have phones or Google Home devices around, they are not always doing the right thing on the right device.
• Sleep tracking: The watch’s sleep tracking feature, complete with a Sleep Score and analysis of sleep stages, could offer users a deeper understanding of their sleep patterns, which is crucial for overall health.
• Fitness goals support: Features like Auto Workout mode, Heart Zone Training, and Pace Training could be handy for improving your fitness levels. These features provide real-time support and feedback to help users reach their fitness goals more efficiently.
• Safety features: The Safety Check and Fall Detection features add an extra layer of safety for the user, which can be particularly beneficial for older users or those with specific health concerns. Some features might not be available in your region due to local laws and policies, so it would be wise to check if this is an essential factor for you.

We will explore more details about how useful these are a little further below in the article, but I thought the watch was not motivating me enough to be more active. There is no sense of gamification, and there’s no sense of reward if I work towards the goals. The only thing it does is that it would try to tell you 10 minutes before an hour ends that you didn’t have enough steps tracked yet, but the feature is buggy currently and would only vibrate and chime but not show you a notification, leading to confusion as to what the watch even wanted to tell you just then.

Google Pixel Watch 2 tech specs

No review is complete without looking at the specs, right? And if you don’t care for facts and figures, you can scroll ahead and not bother with the details. We’ll have some more test results for you further below. These are the official specifications from Google, and we do not confirm they are valid.

• Housing: 100% recycled aluminum
• Active Band: Fluoroelastomer with soft-touch coating
• Diameter: 41 mm
• Height: 12.3 mm
• Weight: 31 g (without band)
• Connectivity: 4G LTE, UMTS2, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz, NFC
• Geo tracking: GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, Quasi-Zenith Satellite
• Compatibility: Works with most phones running Android 9.0 or newer, requires Google Account and Google Pixel Watch app
• Display: Custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5, 320 ppi AMOLED display with DCI-P3 color, brightness up to 1000 nits
• Small fits wrists 130-175 mm
• Large fits wrists 165-210 mm
• Battery and Charging: 306 mAh (typical) built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, 24 hours with always-on display
• USB-C Fast Charging: 30 minutes to 50%, 43 minutes to 80%, 75 minutes to 100%
• Chip: Qualcomm 5100, Cortex M33 co-processor
• OS: Wear OS 4.0
• Storage and Memory: 32 GB eMMC flash, 2 GB SDRAM
• Sensors: Compass, altimeter, red and infrared sensors for oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring, multipurpose electrical sensors compatible with ECG app, multi-path optical heart rate sensor, 3-axis accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light sensor, electrical sensor to measure skin conductance (cEDA) for body response tracking, skin temperature sensor, barometer, magnetometer
• Audio: Built-in microphone, built-in speaker
• Durability and Water Resistance: Custom 3D Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5, 5 ATM
• What’s in the box: Google Pixel Watch 2, Active Band (small and large), USB-C Fast Charging Cable, Quick Start Guide

You have to know about these 3 issues

While I am not against the brand or product, I was disappointed by a few aspects that should be shared so you can make an informed purchasing decision.

Battery life

One of the most significant issues with the Google Pixel Watch 2 appears to be its battery life. From your testing, it’s clear that the device falls significantly short of the claimed 24-hour battery life, which could be a significant inconvenience for potential users. In the age of smart devices, consumers have come to expect a certain level of performance and longevity, and the Pixel Watch 2’s subpar battery life could certainly be a deal-breaker for many.

An always-on display is a feature that many smartwatch users value for its convenience, but if enabling this feature reduces the battery life to less than 12 hours, it becomes far less attractive. Furthermore, even with the always-on display disabled, the watch doesn’t last a full day, even though I was doing little to nothing on the device that could have consumed a lot of power. This means that users will likely need to charge the watch at least once, if not multiple times, throughout the day, which could be disruptive and inconvenient.

Moreover, the concern about the battery’s potential degradation over time is valid. If the battery performance is weak, further decline could render the device nearly unusable. Replacing a smartwatch battery can be costly and complicated, which could understandably deter potential buyers, and it would void the warranty if you attempted to do something like that.

Today I contacted their support to check if perhaps our test unit has a faulty battery but as of now we have nothing to report and in case this would be a uniquely special case, we will update the article accordingly to reflect the facts. We are also testing another smartwatch right now, and it appears they can easily last up to a week even though they could be considered to be in the price range of a budget smartwatch.

Lack of wireless charging tech

The Pixel Watch 2’s lack of wireless charging capability is another significant drawback. Wireless charging has become increasingly common in recent years, offering users a convenient and flexible way to charge their devices. The fact that the Pixel Watch 2 doesn’t support this feature could be seen as a step backward, particularly given the device’s poor battery performance.

Also interesting: Do You Really Need a Smartwatch?

The need to rely on a specific Google charger that uses a magnetic connection and pins for charging could be seen as an unnecessary inconvenience. Not only does this mean that users must remember to carry the charger with them if they’re away from home, but it also limits the potential for quick, on-the-go top-ups from other devices or generic wireless chargers.

Given that the watch will likely need to be charged frequently throughout the day, the lack of wireless charging could further exacerbate the inconvenience caused by the poor battery life. Knowing that the Pixel Watch 1 had such a feature and they decided against it feels more than controversial.

The delay issue with the stress sensor

The delay in notifications from the stress sensors is another serious concern. A stress sensor in a smartwatch provides real-time feedback to the user, allowing them to take immediate steps to manage their stress levels. However, if the Pixel Watch 2’s stress sensor delivers notifications with a significant delay, it undermines this purpose and reduces the feature’s utility.

Receiving a stress notification 10 minutes after a stressful event is problematic enough, but receiving a notification about a stressful event from the previous day is almost entirely useless. Without any context or immediate relevance, such notifications offer little more than historical data, which doesn’t help users manage their stress at that moment when it occurs.

This issue also raises concerns about the reliability and accuracy of the watch’s other health monitoring features. If the stress sensor delivers delayed notifications, users may understandably question whether the heart rate monitor, skin temperature sensor, or other health features are similarly flawed.

Verdict of the Google Pixel Watch 2

Google has a reputation for being able to deliver good software and good software updates for their products. Hopefully, many of these shortcomings can be addressed with software updates or patches, but it’s also clear that things that concert hardware, like battery capacity, are likely not going to change – unless the overconsumption would have been caused by a software issue, which does not appear to be the case.

In conclusion, while the Google Pixel Watch 2 offers a range of impressive features on paper, these significant drawbacks could seriously impact its appeal to consumers. The weak battery life, lack of wireless charging, and delayed stress sensor notifications are all major issues that potential buyers should consider carefully. The Google Pixel Watch 2 cost range, depending on your location and if you want the LTE version, is from around 330 USD to 490 USD, which is not a budget smartwatch for sure but is still a little more affordable than Apple. On the other hand, users have plenty of alternative makers to consider that all build smartwatches for Android OS. I am generally in favor of the Google Pixel Watch 2, but the battery issue is my biggest deal breaker, and I can’t recommend the product to anyone as of now.

If you’re curious about what the Google Pixel Watch 2 looks like and what the box is like, check out our unboxing video below. I hope this article helped you with your research. And now, excuse me, I must quickly charge my Pixel Watch 2 before it dies.

YouTube: Unboxing the Brand New Google Pixel Watch 2 Smartwatch

Photo credit: All photos were taken by Christopher Isak and the video was taken by Pupu Liang for TechAcute.