Everyone uses smartwatches differently. There are the people who wear them all day, those who only wear them when they’re outside, those who only use them while working out and even those who only wear them to bed. In 2025, most smartwatches can do it all and satisfy your needs regardless of how you use them. They perform a lot of basic activity and sleep tracking while serving as excellent passive data gatherers. Google’s latest, the Pixel Watch 4, stands strong against rivals like the Apple Watch Series 11 and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8, and if you look just at those model numbers, it’s impressive how far Google has come in just four generations.
The Galaxy Watch 8 is probably the Pixel Watch 4’s closest competitor, considering they’re both compatible with Android while the Apple Watch only works with iPhones. Comparing them can feel a bit futile, since it’s most likely you’ll buy the watch that works best with your brand of phone (i.e. Pixel watch for a Pixel phone, Samsung for Samsung). But it’s still worthwhile to see how they fare against each other. If you know what a Samsung watch can do, it helps contextualize what should be considered acceptable on, say, your Pixel or Apple watch.
It bodes well that for the Pixel Watch 4, I’m no longer questioning its fundamental functionality or complaining about its battery life. Rather, I found myself pondering its adaptability and consistency, as well as its strengths over the competition. Unsurprisingly, thanks to its Google and Fitbit heritage, those strengths lie in AI and health tracking. But the Pixel Watch 4 has a surprising advantage that I never saw coming: charging sp
The Pixel Watch 4 is a solid smartwatch thanks to its well-rounded suite of features. Its repairable design and super fast charging are laudable bonuses.
- Super fast recharging
- Comprehensive health and fitness tracking
- Bright, beautiful display
- Repairable design
- Gemini wake gesture is finicky
- Must be connected to internet for Gemini to work
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Pixel Watch 4 review: A well-rounded smartwatch with a surprising advantage
Super fast charging meets solid activity and health tracking in an attractive, repairable package.
Cherlynn Low
Managing editor
Wed, October 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM GMT+1
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Cherlynn Low for Engadget
Everyone uses smartwatches differently. There are the people who wear them all day, those who only wear them when they’re outside, those who only use them while working out and even those who only wear them to bed. In 2025, most smartwatches can do it all and satisfy your needs regardless of how you use them. They perform a lot of basic activity and sleep tracking while serving as excellent passive data gatherers. Google’s latest, the Pixel Watch 4, stands strong against rivals like the Apple Watch Series 11 and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8, and if you look just at those model numbers, it’s impressive how far Google has come in just four generations.
The Galaxy Watch 8 is probably the Pixel Watch 4’s closest competitor, considering they’re both compatible with Android while the Apple Watch only works with iPhones. Comparing them can feel a bit futile, since it’s most likely you’ll buy the watch that works best with your brand of phone (i.e. Pixel watch for a Pixel phone, Samsung for Samsung). But it’s still worthwhile to see how they fare against each other. If you know what a Samsung watch can do, it helps contextualize what should be considered acceptable on, say, your Pixel or Apple watch.
It bodes well that for the Pixel Watch 4, I’m no longer questioning its fundamental functionality or complaining about its battery life. Rather, I found myself pondering its adaptability and consistency, as well as its strengths over the competition. Unsurprisingly, thanks to its Google and Fitbit heritage, those strengths lie in AI and health tracking. But the Pixel Watch 4 has a surprising advantage that I never saw coming: charging speed.
Image for the large product moduleGoogle / Engadget
86
100
Expert Score
Pixel Watch 4
The Pixel Watch 4 is a solid smartwatch thanks to its well-rounded suite of features. Its repairable design and super fast charging are laudable bonuses.
Pros
Super fast recharging
Comprehensive health and fitness tracking
Bright, beautiful display
Repairable design
Cons
Gemini wake gesture is finicky
Must be connected to internet for Gemini to work
$350 at Amazon
Explore More Buying Options
$350 at Target
$350 at Best Buy
What’s new on the Pixel Watch 4
Before I get into that though, let’s quickly go over what’s changed on the Pixel Watch 4. It now has a curved display under its domed glass covering, which makes it look even livelier than before. It’s surrounded by bezels that Google says are 16 percent smaller than the last model’s, allowing its screen to be about 10 percent roomier. The display is also brighter by about 50 percent, now going up to 3,000 nits. That’s the same as Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8, but higher than the Apple Watch Series 11’s 2,000 nits of peak brightness.
Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products.
Pixel Watch 4 review: A well-rounded smartwatch with a surprising advantage
Super fast charging meets solid activity and health tracking in an attractive, repairable package.
Everyone uses smartwatches differently. There are the people who wear them all day, those who only wear them when they’re outside, those who only use them while working out and even those who only wear them to bed. In 2025, most smartwatches can do it all and satisfy your needs regardless of how you use them. They perform a lot of basic activity and sleep tracking while serving as excellent passive data gatherers. Google’s latest, the Pixel Watch 4, stands strong against rivals like the Apple Watch Series 11 and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8, and if you look just at those model numbers, it’s impressive how far Google has come in just four generations.
The Galaxy Watch 8 is probably the Pixel Watch 4’s closest competitor, considering they’re both compatible with Android while the Apple Watch only works with iPhones. Comparing them can feel a bit futile, since it’s most likely you’ll buy the watch that works best with your brand of phone (i.e. Pixel watch for a Pixel phone, Samsung for Samsung). But it’s still worthwhile to see how they fare against each other. If you know what a Samsung watch can do, it helps contextualize what should be considered acceptable on, say, your Pixel or Apple watch.
It bodes well that for the Pixel Watch 4, I’m no longer questioning its fundamental functionality or complaining about its battery life. Rather, I found myself pondering its adaptability and consistency, as well as its strengths over the competition. Unsurprisingly, thanks to its Google and Fitbit heritage, those strengths lie in AI and health tracking. But the Pixel Watch 4 has a surprising advantage that I never saw coming: charging speed.
Google / Engadget
The Pixel Watch 4 is a solid smartwatch thanks to its well-rounded suite of features. Its repairable design and super fast charging are laudable bonuses.
- Super fast recharging
- Comprehensive health and fitness tracking
- Bright, beautiful display
- Repairable design
- Gemini wake gesture is finicky
- Must be connected to internet for Gemini to work
What’s new on the Pixel Watch 4
Before I get into that though, let’s quickly go over what’s changed on the Pixel Watch 4. It now has a curved display under its domed glass covering, which makes it look even livelier than before. It’s surrounded by bezels that Google says are 16 percent smaller than the last model’s, allowing its screen to be about 10 percent roomier. The display is also brighter by about 50 percent, now going up to 3,000 nits. That’s the same as Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8, but higher than the Apple Watch Series 11’s 2,000 nits of peak brightness.
Altogether, the physical changes make Pixel Watch 4 look eye-catching and attractive, and I kept getting compliments from people outside my usual tech-savvy circles. Other hardware upgrades include the new dual-frequency GPS, custom haptics engine and speaker, as well as updated processors and a revamped, faster charging system that places the contact points on the watch’s edge instead of the back. Importantly, though I didn’t test it for this review, the Pixel Watch 4 is more repairable, since you can unscrew its case to replace its display and battery if needed.
Like many non-Apple smartwatches, the Pixel Watch 4 runs Google’s Wear OS, but with some new features like a wrist-raise gesture to trigger the Gemini assistant. The company also improved its algorithms for activity- and sleep-tracking, brought its Material 3 Expressive design languages and new watch faces to the OS and overhauled the Fitbit app to center around an AI coach. However, the redesigned Fitbit app wasn’t available for testing during this review, so you won’t see any evaluations of it here.
One more thing I didn’t try on the Pixel Watch 4: Emergency SOS via Satellite. Google’s smartwatch was the first mainstream wearable to be announced to have satellite communications built in, though Apple released the Watch Ultra 3 with similar capabilities shortly after. Because the setup would result in a call or message being sent to emergency services, I decided against testing the satellite feature for this review.
If you’re new to smartwatches or considering your first one, check out our smartwatch buying guide for details on what to expect of a device in 2025. By and large, though, this review won’t cover the basics of what a smartwatch does and what apps or features are typically available.
Fast-charging is so good that I no longer worry
I never thought I’d be such a fan of short charge times, but Google’s latest wearable is so fast at refueling that I’ve actually changed my behavior around it. I typically place my smartwatch (usually just the most recent Apple Watch I’ve tested) on my kitchen island so that I see it when I grab my pre-bedtime cup of water and remember to put it on the charger overnight.
Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products.
Pixel Watch 4 review: A well-rounded smartwatch with a surprising advantage
Super fast charging meets solid activity and health tracking in an attractive, repairable package.
Everyone uses smartwatches differently. There are the people who wear them all day, those who only wear them when they’re outside, those who only use them while working out and even those who only wear them to bed. In 2025, most smartwatches can do it all and satisfy your needs regardless of how you use them. They perform a lot of basic activity and sleep tracking while serving as excellent passive data gatherers. Google’s latest, the Pixel Watch 4, stands strong against rivals like the Apple Watch Series 11 and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8, and if you look just at those model numbers, it’s impressive how far Google has come in just four generations.
The Galaxy Watch 8 is probably the Pixel Watch 4’s closest competitor, considering they’re both compatible with Android while the Apple Watch only works with iPhones. Comparing them can feel a bit futile, since it’s most likely you’ll buy the watch that works best with your brand of phone (i.e. Pixel watch for a Pixel phone, Samsung for Samsung). But it’s still worthwhile to see how they fare against each other. If you know what a Samsung watch can do, it helps contextualize what should be considered acceptable on, say, your Pixel or Apple watch.
It bodes well that for the Pixel Watch 4, I’m no longer questioning its fundamental functionality or complaining about its battery life. Rather, I found myself pondering its adaptability and consistency, as well as its strengths over the competition. Unsurprisingly, thanks to its Google and Fitbit heritage, those strengths lie in AI and health tracking. But the Pixel Watch 4 has a surprising advantage that I never saw coming: charging speed.
Google / Engadget
The Pixel Watch 4 is a solid smartwatch thanks to its well-rounded suite of features. Its repairable design and super fast charging are laudable bonuses.
- Super fast recharging
- Comprehensive health and fitness tracking
- Bright, beautiful display
- Repairable design
- Gemini wake gesture is finicky
- Must be connected to internet for Gemini to work
What’s new on the Pixel Watch 4
Before I get into that though, let’s quickly go over what’s changed on the Pixel Watch 4. It now has a curved display under its domed glass covering, which makes it look even livelier than before. It’s surrounded by bezels that Google says are 16 percent smaller than the last model’s, allowing its screen to be about 10 percent roomier. The display is also brighter by about 50 percent, now going up to 3,000 nits. That’s the same as Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8, but higher than the Apple Watch Series 11’s 2,000 nits of peak brightness.
Altogether, the physical changes make Pixel Watch 4 look eye-catching and attractive, and I kept getting compliments from people outside my usual tech-savvy circles. Other hardware upgrades include the new dual-frequency GPS, custom haptics engine and speaker, as well as updated processors and a revamped, faster charging system that places the contact points on the watch’s edge instead of the back. Importantly, though I didn’t test it for this review, the Pixel Watch 4 is more repairable, since you can unscrew its case to replace its display and battery if needed.
Like many non-Apple smartwatches, the Pixel Watch 4 runs Google’s Wear OS, but with some new features like a wrist-raise gesture to trigger the Gemini assistant. The company also improved its algorithms for activity- and sleep-tracking, brought its Material 3 Expressive design languages and new watch faces to the OS and overhauled the Fitbit app to center around an AI coach. However, the redesigned Fitbit app wasn’t available for testing during this review, so you won’t see any evaluations of it here.
One more thing I didn’t try on the Pixel Watch 4: Emergency SOS via Satellite. Google’s smartwatch was the first mainstream wearable to be announced to have satellite communications built in, though Apple released the Watch Ultra 3 with similar capabilities shortly after. Because the setup would result in a call or message being sent to emergency services, I decided against testing the satellite feature for this review.
If you’re new to smartwatches or considering your first one, check out our smartwatch buying guide for details on what to expect of a device in 2025. By and large, though, this review won’t cover the basics of what a smartwatch does and what apps or features are typically available.
Fast-charging is so good that I no longer worry
I never thought I’d be such a fan of short charge times, but Google’s latest wearable is so fast at refueling that I’ve actually changed my behavior around it. I typically place my smartwatch (usually just the most recent Apple Watch I’ve tested) on my kitchen island so that I see it when I grab my pre-bedtime cup of water and remember to put it on the charger overnight.
With the Pixel Watch 4, I’ve started to just drop it on the charger when I wake up, and by the time I’m done brushing my teeth, washing my face and changing into my gym clothes, it’ll have plenty of power for about half a day. I can’t say the same for the Apple Watch, though the Series 11 has respectable charging speeds that allow me to get enough for a morning walk and a workout after about 10 minutes of being plugged in.
For the actual numbers, you can read my colleague Sam Rutherford’s story where he meticulously charted the charge time of the larger 45mm model of the Pixel Watch 4 he’s been using. It jives with my experience, where, after just six minutes, my device went from 37 percent to 62 percent.
I was also impressed when I saw an alert on the watch’s face that told me the charger wasn’t actually plugged into an outlet. I’ve been burned in the past when I placed other smartwatches on their charging pucks, only to come back an hour later and realize it hadn’t actually been charging because I didn’t connect the cable to a socket. This feature felt like a particularly thoughtful touch on Google’s part.
The Pixel Watch 4’s battery life
With such quick recharging, it can feel like a long-lasting battery isn’t as important. But the Pixel Watch 4 still manages to deliver respectable runtimes.
Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products.
Pixel Watch 4 review: A well-rounded smartwatch with a surprising advantage
Super fast charging meets solid activity and health tracking in an attractive, repairable package.
Everyone uses smartwatches differently. There are the people who wear them all day, those who only wear them when they’re outside, those who only use them while working out and even those who only wear them to bed. In 2025, most smartwatches can do it all and satisfy your needs regardless of how you use them. They perform a lot of basic activity and sleep tracking while serving as excellent passive data gatherers. Google’s latest, the Pixel Watch 4, stands strong against rivals like the Apple Watch Series 11 and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8, and if you look just at those model numbers, it’s impressive how far Google has come in just four generations.
The Galaxy Watch 8 is probably the Pixel Watch 4’s closest competitor, considering they’re both compatible with Android while the Apple Watch only works with iPhones. Comparing them can feel a bit futile, since it’s most likely you’ll buy the watch that works best with your brand of phone (i.e. Pixel watch for a Pixel phone, Samsung for Samsung). But it’s still worthwhile to see how they fare against each other. If you know what a Samsung watch can do, it helps contextualize what should be considered acceptable on, say, your Pixel or Apple watch.
It bodes well that for the Pixel Watch 4, I’m no longer questioning its fundamental functionality or complaining about its battery life. Rather, I found myself pondering its adaptability and consistency, as well as its strengths over the competition. Unsurprisingly, thanks to its Google and Fitbit heritage, those strengths lie in AI and health tracking. But the Pixel Watch 4 has a surprising advantage that I never saw coming: charging speed.
Google / Engadget
The Pixel Watch 4 is a solid smartwatch thanks to its well-rounded suite of features. Its repairable design and super fast charging are laudable bonuses.
- Super fast recharging
- Comprehensive health and fitness tracking
- Bright, beautiful display
- Repairable design
- Gemini wake gesture is finicky
- Must be connected to internet for Gemini to work
What’s new on the Pixel Watch 4
Before I get into that though, let’s quickly go over what’s changed on the Pixel Watch 4. It now has a curved display under its domed glass covering, which makes it look even livelier than before. It’s surrounded by bezels that Google says are 16 percent smaller than the last model’s, allowing its screen to be about 10 percent roomier. The display is also brighter by about 50 percent, now going up to 3,000 nits. That’s the same as Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8, but higher than the Apple Watch Series 11’s 2,000 nits of peak brightness.
Altogether, the physical changes make Pixel Watch 4 look eye-catching and attractive, and I kept getting compliments from people outside my usual tech-savvy circles. Other hardware upgrades include the new dual-frequency GPS, custom haptics engine and speaker, as well as updated processors and a revamped, faster charging system that places the contact points on the watch’s edge instead of the back. Importantly, though I didn’t test it for this review, the Pixel Watch 4 is more repairable, since you can unscrew its case to replace its display and battery if needed.
Like many non-Apple smartwatches, the Pixel Watch 4 runs Google’s Wear OS, but with some new features like a wrist-raise gesture to trigger the Gemini assistant. The company also improved its algorithms for activity- and sleep-tracking, brought its Material 3 Expressive design languages and new watch faces to the OS and overhauled the Fitbit app to center around an AI coach. However, the redesigned Fitbit app wasn’t available for testing during this review, so you won’t see any evaluations of it here.
One more thing I didn’t try on the Pixel Watch 4: Emergency SOS via Satellite. Google’s smartwatch was the first mainstream wearable to be announced to have satellite communications built in, though Apple released the Watch Ultra 3 with similar capabilities shortly after. Because the setup would result in a call or message being sent to emergency services, I decided against testing the satellite feature for this review.
If you’re new to smartwatches or considering your first one, check out our smartwatch buying guide for details on what to expect of a device in 2025. By and large, though, this review won’t cover the basics of what a smartwatch does and what apps or features are typically available.
Fast-charging is so good that I no longer worry
I never thought I’d be such a fan of short charge times, but Google’s latest wearable is so fast at refueling that I’ve actually changed my behavior around it. I typically place my smartwatch (usually just the most recent Apple Watch I’ve tested) on my kitchen island so that I see it when I grab my pre-bedtime cup of water and remember to put it on the charger overnight.
With the Pixel Watch 4, I’ve started to just drop it on the charger when I wake up, and by the time I’m done brushing my teeth, washing my face and changing into my gym clothes, it’ll have plenty of power for about half a day. I can’t say the same for the Apple Watch, though the Series 11 has respectable charging speeds that allow me to get enough for a morning walk and a workout after about 10 minutes of being plugged in.
For the actual numbers, you can read my colleague Sam Rutherford’s story where he meticulously charted the charge time of the larger 45mm model of the Pixel Watch 4 he’s been using. It jives with my experience, where, after just six minutes, my device went from 37 percent to 62 percent.
I was also impressed when I saw an alert on the watch’s face that told me the charger wasn’t actually plugged into an outlet. I’ve been burned in the past when I placed other smartwatches on their charging pucks, only to come back an hour later and realize it hadn’t actually been charging because I didn’t connect the cable to a socket. This feature felt like a particularly thoughtful touch on Google’s part.
The Pixel Watch 4’s battery life
With such quick recharging, it can feel like a long-lasting battery isn’t as important. But the Pixel Watch 4 still manages to deliver respectable runtimes.
In general, I preferred to let the Pixel Watch 4 get a full charge, because I noticed its battery doesn’t get me through a whole day after just a few minutes on the dock. But when I took it off the charger at 3:35PM one Friday afternoon, it managed to last all through Saturday night, going from 100 percent to 22 percent by 9PM the next day. That’s after a full day of passive activity tracking, where the watch noted that I had burned about 3,000 calories, hiked 6.73 miles and climbed the equivalent of 128 floors.
The Pixel Watch 4 typically lasts about as long as the Apple Watch Series 11. Both devices clock about a day and a half, depending on how frequently I use features like Gemini or the remote control view for the phone’s camera. That runtime also seems similar to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, which my colleague Amy Skorheim reviewed.
Considering Google rates the 41mm version of the Watch 4 to last about 30 hours on a charge, the experience I had mostly surpasses that estimate. Of course, battery performance usually deteriorates over time, so my brand new review unit will likely get a little less long-lasting after a while.
Stress-detection, messaging and more
Each of this year’s new smartwatches has some unique features. Samsung has its antioxidant index test, Apple has hypertension notifications and Google has had loss of pulse detection and body response alerts. That latter basically notices changes in your electrodermal activity and prompts you to note if you’re feeling particularly stressed or excited. It’s been around since the Pixel Watch 2, and isn’t enabled on the fourth-generation device by default so you won’t have to worry about it pinging you too much. I had it activated and was buzzed several times most days to think about my mood, and each evening I’d have a nice log of how many times I was agitated.
There are quite a few new features on the Pixel Watch 4 that I won’t spend too much time evaluating. The real-time streaming of your bike workout stats to your connected phone is one example. Like Apple’s version of this feature, it works and makes it easy to see your stats safely on a mounted handset during your ride.
Google also introduced something called “notification cooldown” which minimizes interruptions after several of them come through in rapid succession. If your group chat is getting particularly fiery, for example, this can help reduce the amount of vibrations and alerts being sent to your wrist after some time. I made my friend Julian Chokkattu at Wired test this out with me and we sent each other single-word messages nonstop for minutes at a time and both of us found notification cooldown kicked in after a few alerts.
Speaking of, the Pixel Watch 4 also features AI-generated suggested replies to messages that support the Wear OS quick reply protocol. Google said this is a first-of-its-kind small language model designed for use on a watch. Because it’s on-device, it won’t require an internet connection to work, though if you’re receiving messages I have to imagine you’re at least connected to cellular. When it did work, it was nice to see the smart reply suggestions instead of the generic canned ones before. But most of the apps I use, like Telegram and Instagram messages, don’t support quick reply. Google also says smart replies won’t work on Workspace or select WhatsApp messaging.
The interface you’re most likely to interact with on any smartwatch is your main watch face, and in general the new watch faces on the Pixel Watch 4 are rich with information and shortcuts. While I wish Google would move away from the cartoonish, rounded fonts in favor of something cleaner and sharper, I like that all its layouts offer plenty of customization options with lots of room for convenient complications. I chose to put my most important stats on my home screen, as well as a shortcut to launch Spotify. I do wish Google would make nicer faces like Apple’s Photos one that has a dynamic clock to better highlight your pictures, instead of the current option on the Pixel Watch that sticks the text in the bottom and calls it a day.
Wrap-up
When I reviewed the Pixel Watch 3, it felt like the first time Google’s smartwatch was on par with the likes of Apple’s and Samsung’s offerings. With the Pixel Watch 4, not only is Google closing the gap even further than it did last year, but it’s also bringing unique tools you won’t find elsewhere. This year’s model differentiates itself with a repairable design, super fast charging and, though it’s no longer the only one on the market to offer this, satellite communications. The first two alone feel like game changers, and even with its limitations, raising your wrist to talk to Gemini is a convenient gesture when it works.
Beyond the new features sit the comprehensive suite of health-related tools that make the Pixel Watch 4 a formidable smartwatch and excellent companion for your smartphone. Wear OS and Material 3 Expressive make for a vibrant, easy-to-navigate interface for a system that can do almost anything your phone can, just on a smaller screen.
At $350, the Pixel Watch 4 is $20 more than the Galaxy Watch 8 (and $50 less than the Apple Watch Series 11). It’s hard to justify that exact price difference and tell you which is a worthier purchase. My recommendation remains the same as ever: Get the watch that’s from the same company as your phone. It’ll be better for you.
Update, October 10 2025, 1:55PM ET: This story has been updated to clarify that either tilt-to-wake or Always On Display have to be enabled for the raise-to-talk to Gemini feature to work. If the AOD is off but tilt-to-wake is enabled, the feature will still function.
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