Google Pixel Watch hands-on: years of work has come to this

Google Pixel Watch hands-on: years of work, and a Fitbit acquisition, led to this

Google is in the watch game, everyone! It’s hard to even remember when the “Pixel Watch” rumors first started, but I know it was well before Google acquired Fitbit. And honestly it doesn’t really matter now — I put a Pixel Watch on my wrist today. At least, for a short period of time in the demo area following Google’s October hardware event, where it launched alongside the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.

Google’s propensity for simple, near-featureless, hardware design is on full display with the Pixel Watch. The round, pebble-like design is a near-symmetrical sandwich where the glass front flows seamlessly into the metal casing that tapers down to the glass back with little distinction. You get a pop of color to differentiate things in the silver and gold options, but if you go for the black model you’re left with a largely featureless look.

The relentlessly round design is unique compared to the Apple Watch, of course, but while editing these photos I was tripped up a couple of times thinking that I was looking at my Galaxy Watch 5 photos taken a few weeks ago. The aesthetic is particularly bland with the basic rubberized straps, but thankfully Google has a wide swath of other options — from a colorful fabric two-piece strap made of recycled fibers to classy leather and link bracelet options.

I love the way the Pixel Watch straps connect to the case.

The strap attachments themselves are particularly interesting, as they attach to the case in a way I’ve never seen before. Rather than sliding into a slot from the side or attaching with pins, the straps have a curved bracket that matches the curve of the case and slots in seamlessly. You just line them up off-center, push an indentation down, and slot them in with a satisfying click. The effect is a bit lost when you mix and match colors that differ from the case, but if you color-match smartly it looks downright seamless — like the band isn’t removable at all.

Just be ready to pay up: These bands will set you back at least $50. And you may be going with one of Google’s own if you pick up a Pixel Watch early since we don’t know how long it’ll take the accessory makers to show up with compatible straps.

Google Pixel Watch with a recycled loop strap.

Google Pixel Watch with its strap removed.

Google Pixel Watch with two different strap styles.

Google Pixel Watch with a recycled loop strap on its charger.

Taking a glance at the software front, it looks little-changed from what we’ve experienced on other Wear OS 3 watches (Samsung excluded). The general interface, quick settings, notifications, and app listing are all incredibly familiar. The watch faces are unique to the Pixel Watch (at least for now), and you have 18 to choose from — plus, the ability to customize each one. The watch faces lean toward being informational and sporty, but there are a few nice “classic” options that could pair nicely with a more traditional strap style.

Navigating through everything is equally as simple, with that well-sculpted glass making swipes across the interface a breeze. The crown feels great, too, with a nice amount of weight and resistance to it. The single button, which you’ll find on the side above the crown (when worn crown-out on the left wrist) is a bit tough to find blindly, though — it’s nearly flush with the side of the case.

The crown and smoothly sculpted glass make software navigation seamless.

Now, about that bezel. Yes, it’s big! Google does its best to mask the size of the black border around the screen with that aforementioned curved glass and cleverly-designed watch faces that keep color toward the center. But it’s there. This is one of those things where it’s easy to be an armchair hardware designer looking at photos online and thinking it should have a smaller bezel, but honestly when the Pixel Watch is on your wrist, the bezel isn’t going to be a problem.

As expected Google is talking a big game about its integration of Fitbit’s software and services, particularly if you pay up for the Fitbit Premium membership. Your fitness and activity tracking is now contained in Fitbit-branded apps on the watch, though curiously Google Fit does still exist, for now, presumably to help transition folks who are using it already on another watch.

Google Pixel Watch with fitness information displayed.

Google Pixel Watch with a Google Pay notification.

At $349 for the Bluetooth model, and with years of anticipation behind it, Google has a big set of expectations to fulfill with the Pixel Watch. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 comes in at under $300 (retail) with arguably a more robust software experience, more health features, and a proven track record. Google can command a higher price, for sure, but only if it executes on the vision of a unified “Pixel” experience bringing something extra to your wrist. The hardware is undoubtedly well executed, and Fitbit integration could pay dividends, but I need to see how it all comes together in daily use.

I didn’t spend nearly enough time with the Pixel Watch to be able to determine how the Pixel Watch stacks up in all of those critical areas. I really don’t know how smooth or fast the software is day-in and day-out, and when it’s paired to a demo phone in this sort of environment I don’t get any sort of personalized touches like my own apps, messages, or notifications. And perhaps greatest of all, I don’t yet know how battery life stacks up against the competition. All of that will have to come in our full review, which you’ll find back here soon.

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