Google Pixel Watch 2 Intro
Google’s first Pixel Watch last year was the one that set the wheels in motion, and while it did not quite meet the expectations that come along a mythical gadget that finally becomes real (the coveted Google watch!), it was a good first attempt. The round design with curved glass looked clean and stylish, as if taken from Jony Ive’s lost notebook, the heart rate measurements were precise, the interface was fine and best of all, Google did not abandon it after the first try!
Google also promises up to 40% more accurate HR measurements (especially in vigorous activities) and the extremely weak magnetic charger from the first generation is replaced with a new charger with pins that snaps securely to the watch, so it won’t slide off of it. And the price remains the same at $350 for the base model, and $400 for one with cellular/LTE connectivity. I have been using the Pixel Watch 2 for about a week now, and spoiler alert: I like it! But some issues have remained, so let me tell you all about it!
What’s new about the Google Pixel Watch 2
- All-new, quad-core CPU
- Aluminum case instead of stainless steel
- Skin temperature sensor
- Continuous electrodermal activity (cEDA) sensor
- All-new heart rate sensor
- Improved battery life and charging speed
Table of Contents:
Google Pixel Watch 2 Unboxing
Pixel Watch 2 box contents
Inside a very clever box which unfolds in a really cool way, you will find the Pixel Watch 2, a sport loop band in a large and smaller size, the new magnetic charger with pins, and user manuals.
Google Pixel Watch 2 Specs
| Specs | Google Pixel Watch 2 |
|---|---|
| Size, Weight, Materials | 41mm round aluminum case 31 grams without the band Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Processor, RAM, Storage | Qualcomm 5100 chip Cortex M33 co-processor 2GB RAM 32GB storage |
| Software | WearOS 4 |
| Battery and Charging | 306mAh 24-hour battery w/ always-on 50% in 30 mins |
| Sensors | Compass Altimeter Red and infrared SpO2 sensors for Electrical sensors (ECG) Multi-path optical HR sensor 3-axis accelerometer Gyroscope Ambient light sensor Electrical skin conductance (cEDA) sensor Skin temperature sensor Barometer Magnetometer |
Google Pixel Watch 2 Design & Sizes
Same on the outside, but with a lighter aluminum case
Speaking of the screen, specs suggest that it’s the same as on the first-gen Pixel Watch. It is a 1.2-inch OLED screen with a prominent border around it and 1000 nits of peak brightness. As mentioned above, the Corning Gorilla Glass 5 is its only layer of protection against scratches and cracks, but having used the Pixel Watch for many months, I can say it’s surprisingly durable.
The bad news is that the Pixel Watch 2 still comes in one small-ish 41mm size only. This one looks fine on smaller wrists, but tiny on a large wrist, and considering many people are upset about this, we hope Google will finally release a larger version next year. At least, you do get a small and a large band in the set, however.
Water resistance is rated at 5ATM – a typical rating for premium smartwatches. In plain words, the Google Pixel Watch 2 can be used safely in a pool. Like most watches I use, I have also used it for open water swimming and it did absolutely fine, just remember to give it a good rinse after use. And for the divers out there, the 5 ATM water resistance rating technically means it can resist water pressures up to 50 meters deep, but we would not count too much on this one as a dive watch (shallow water should be fine though).
Annoyingly, the Pixel Watch 2 does not lock the screen when used in water, so if you take it to the shower like I did, the water may trigger some accidental actions. I had mine start navigating me to a random destination while I was showering, for example.
Google Pixel Watch 2 Bands
More bands to choose from than last year
Unsurprisingly, the Pixel Watch 2 sticks to the same proprietary band attachment mechanism. Some people seem to be frustrated with Google’s solution, but I think once you get the hang of it, you’ll find taking the bands off and putting them on again rather easy.
The “Active Sport” band that the watch ships with has a soft finish and feels very comfortable, but my go-to choice for a smartwatch band is a woven or stretch band, which you do have to buy separately. I wish Google allowed the selection of the band right away when you make the purchase.
Google Pixel Watch 2 Software & Features
Finally, some new watch faces with more complications!
The Pixel Watch 2 is one of the very few smartwatches running the latest WearOS 4 by Google (Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 6 is the other big name that has it). The new OS brings along improved, more functional notifications and six new watch faces to pick from.
The new watch faces are a very welcome upgrade, as previously there were no options for those of us who like many complications on a watch face. You now have two options that allow you an Apple Watch-like information-dense experience with complications.
Unfortunately, your choice of complications remains very limited. First party apps like Google Weather don’t offer as much information as you can get on rival Apple Watch: wind speed and other weather essentials are missing. There are also quite a few third-party apps that offer useful complications on the Apple Watch, which you will not find here, but we will hopefully see more developers jump on the platform now that Google has shown serious commitment.
However, you might be a bit more excited about the Watch 2’s new health and fitness tracking features. For example, the watch has Fitbit’s Body Response feature which leverages a new continuous electrodermal activity (cEDA) sensor to detect stress, be it positive or negative. When stress is detected, the Watch 2 will invite you to reflect on your experiences and take a moment to unwind with a guided breathing or a mindfulness session.
Pixel Watch 2 Heart Rate Tracking and GPS accuracy for workouts
The new Heart Rate Zone Coaching and Pace Training features are designed to help you maintain depending the right pace, depending on the type of exercise and fitness goals set. It can alert you if you’re out of the optimal heart rate zone, thus letting you know if you should speed up or slow down.
Pixel Watch 2 for Sleep Tracking
The watch does a very good job tracking your sleep and it displays a good amount of data in the Fitbit app (but more advanced sleep metrics are only available with a Fitbit Premium subscription).
Google Pixel Watch 2 Battery and Charging
A much-needed battery life boost
The Pixel Watch 2 and its new magnetic charging puck. Image credit – PhoneArena
Google says that the Pixel Watch 2 lasts longer between charges. With its newer processor and ever so slightly larger, 306mAh battery, it should be able to last 24 hours per charge with always-on display enabled. In my real world use, with one workout of around 40 minutes to an hour, the watch lasted a full day, but close to bedtime I was down to somewhere between 30% of 20% battery levels, so I had to give it a quick top-up to ensure the watch will be able to track a full night of sleep. On a Friday which stretched to the smaller hours, I also had to charge it up towards the end of the day. I have set the brightness to the maximum level which I felt was necessary, but I will be testing this over time and update this section with more impressions.
Overall, though, that’s still not an excellent endurance rating, but it’s comparable to how long an Apple Watch lasts.
Charging on the Pixel Watch 2 is now a bit faster: you still get 50% charge in 30 minutes, but you reach 80% now in just 45 minutes, while the first-gen model took 55 minutes. The time for a full charge remains 80 minutes on the Pixel Watch 1 and Pixel Watch 2, according to Google.
Another welcome change is the new magnetic charging puck, which now holds the Pixel Watch 2 firmly. Last year’s Pixel Watch had weaker magnets in the puck, and it was common for it to come off by accident. On the downside, I noticed that the new puck will only stick to the Watch 2 if it’s rotated with the cable below the crown.
Google Pixel Watch 2 Models and Prices
There are two models to pick from: a base Pixel Watch 2 with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi ($349) and an LTE-capable model with eSIM ($399). While the cheaper variant lets you make calls and send texts only when paired to your smartphone (the watch has built-in microphone and speaker), the LTE-enabled Watch 2 can do all of that on its own – for example, when you leave your bulky phone at home during a morning run.
Google Pixel Watch 2 Summary
After a week of using the Pixel Watch 2, I found it to be a nice upgrade over the original, but owners of the first generation probably won’t find enough reasons to upgrade. And that’s okay, smartwatch innovation is happening at a slower pace, but we also stick to our watches for longer, so it kind of evens out.
But what some downsides remain. I am mostly disappointed that there is no larger size option. Will we get one next year? I don’t know and I am not sure how this particular round design will scale to a larger size, but that remains number one on the wish list for the Pixel Watch 3.
Second is the frustrating repairability situation. The Pixel Watch 2 is NOT repairable, full stop, as per Google itself. The beautiful domed glass design probably has something to do with that, but you should just know that you have to be extra careful with it and also that battery replacements are not an option.
Third is the Fitbit Premium subscription. At $10 a month, it feels very overpriced! Having advanced metrics and stress tracking is nice, but the price should be at least half the current one, or most people will just pay for Netflix instead.
