In the ever-competitive world of smartwatches, where Apple and Samsung dominate with polished ecosystems and endless features, Google has been playing catch-up since the Pixel Watch debuted in 2022. But with the Pixel Watch 4—announced on August 20, 2025, and released on October 9—Google feels like it’s finally arrived. This fourth-generation wearable builds on the solid foundation of the Pixel Watch 3, delivering meaningful upgrades in battery life, display quality, repairability, and AI integration without hiking the price. Starting at $349 for the 41mm Wi-Fi model (up to $499 for the 45mm LTE version), it’s a compelling option for Android users, especially those in the Google ecosystem.
I’ve spent over a month testing the 45mm LTE model alongside my Pixel 10 Pro, pushing it through daily commutes, weekend hikes, swimming sessions, and late-night scrolls. The result? It’s the best Android smartwatch I’ve worn—stylish, reliable, and surprisingly capable for fitness enthusiasts and casual users alike. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it refines it to a near-perfect spin.
Design and Build: Sleek Curves with a Premium Feel
The Pixel Watch 4 sticks to Google’s signature domed, pebble-like aesthetic, but this year, it’s more refined. Available in 41mm and 45mm sizes (a welcome holdover from the Watch 3), it measures 41 x 41 x 12.3mm (41mm) or 45 x 45 x 12.3mm (45mm), with weights of 31g or 37g respectively—light enough for all-day wear without feeling bulky. The aluminum case comes in polished silver, matte black, or champagne gold, and it’s now IP68-rated for dust and water resistance (5ATM for swimming), plus MIL-STD-810H for durability.
The star of the show is the new Actua 360 domed display: a curved LTPO AMOLED panel that wraps around the edges under Corning Gorilla Glass 5, with 16% slimmer bezels and 10% more screen real estate than the Watch 3. On the 45mm model, it’s a 1.4-inch screen with 384×384 resolution and a blistering 3,000 nits peak brightness—readable even in direct sunlight. The curve isn’t just cosmetic; it creates a tactile “depth” illusion when swiping, making interactions feel more immersive than on flat-screen rivals like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8. Google’s Material You design language shines here, with bold, morphing UI elements that embrace the round shape, like watch faces that bleed into the edges.
One nitpick: The included Active Band is functional but bland—silicone with a basic buckle. You’ll want to swap it for one of the 20+ third-party options (Google’s bands start at $59), as the proprietary attachment system locks you in. On the plus side, the new side-mounted Quick Charge Dock is a game-changer: a magnetic puck that shows time, battery status, and your next alarm while charging. No more fumbling with pins.
Overall, it’s a watch that looks high-end on the wrist, blending minimalist elegance with subtle tech flair. If you have smaller wrists, stick to the 41mm; the 45mm feels more substantial for larger frames.
Display: Brighter, Bolder, and Beautifully Curved
As mentioned, the Actua 360 display is a highlight. With always-on display (AOD) enabled, it’s crisp and responsive at 60Hz (up to 120Hz for animations), and the adaptive refresh rate helps conserve power. Swipe through Tiles (Google’s quick-access cards for weather, heart rate, or workouts), and the interface feels alive—colors pop, and rounded elements hug the dome perfectly. In testing, I navigated urban streets and forested trails without glare issues, and the wrist-raise gesture for Gemini activation is buttery smooth.
Compared to the Apple Watch Series 11’s flat Retina display, the Pixel’s curve adds personality, though it might take adjustment if you’re coming from a rectangular watch. Visibility scores high: 4.5/5.
Performance: Snappy and Smart, Powered by Wear OS 6
Under the hood, the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 chipset (with a new Cortex-M55 co-processor for AI tasks) and 2GB RAM/32GB storage deliver fluid performance. Wear OS 6 runs like a dream—no lag in app switching, notifications, or Google Maps navigation. Initial setup stutters during app downloads are the only hiccup, but that’s one-time.
The real magic is Gemini integration: Raise your wrist to summon it hands-free (no “Hey Google” needed), and it handles natural-language queries like “What’s the weather for my run tomorrow?” or on-the-fly translations. It’s context-aware, pulling from your calendar or recent texts, and the optimized speaker makes responses clear even in noisy environments. In a month of use, it cut my phone checks by 30%, especially for quick timers or reminders.
For power users, offline maps are handy for hikes, but routing isn’t integrated into workouts—stick to your phone for turn-by-turn. Still, 25% faster app loading than the Watch 3 makes it feel premium. Performance: 4.5/5.
Battery Life: The Standout Upgrade You’ve Been Waiting For
If battery anxiety has kept you from smartwatches, the Pixel Watch 4 is your cure. Google claims 30 hours (41mm) or 40 hours (45mm) with AOD on—real-world testing exceeds that. On my 45mm LTE model, I hit 48-56 hours with mixed use: always-on display, hourly heart rate checks, 45 minutes of GPS-tracked runs, and occasional Gemini chats. One weekend, it lasted 72 hours in low-power mode during a light-use trip.
Standby drain is minimal—about 15% over 8 hours of notifications and glances—thanks to the larger batteries (325mAh for 41mm, 455mAh for 45mm) and efficient chip. Streaming music to earbuds or calls via LTE sip power (1-2% per hour), and the dock charges from 0-100% in 43 minutes—faster than the Galaxy Watch 8’s 64 minutes. Early adopters on Reddit report 80+ hours with tweaks like disabling AOD, erasing the “charge every night” dread from prior Pixels.
It’s not infinite like a Garmin, but for a feature-packed Wear OS watch, it’s class-leading. Battery: 5/5.
Health and Fitness Tracking: Accurate and Insightful
Fitbit powers the sensors, and the Watch 4 refines them: optical heart rate, SpO2, skin temperature, cEDA (for stress), ECG, and a new loss-of-pulse detector that auto-calls emergency services. Sleep tracking is Google’s “most accurate yet,” with updated algorithms scoring stages, restlessness, and a daily Sleep Score—on par with the Apple Watch Series 11 in my side-by-side tests.
For workouts, dual-band GPS shines: Accurate lap tracking for swimming (native now, no third-party apps needed) and runs through cities or woods, matching my manually counted 6,500-step walk within 1%. It auto-detects 40+ activities, offers real-time pace alerts, and suggests rest days via Cardio Load. The redesigned Fitbit app (rolling out post-launch) adds AI coaching for runs and readiness scores, though Premium ($9.99/month after 6-month trial) unlocks deeper insights.
Swim-proof to 50m, it nailed pool sessions without fogging. Heart rate during HIIT was spot-on (±2 bpm vs. chest strap). It’s not as athlete-focused as a Garmin Fenix 8, but for everyday fitness, it’s excellent. Health/Fitness: 4.5/5.
Software and Ecosystem: Seamless Google Magic
Wear OS 6 ties everything together: Google Wallet for payments, Maps for offline views, and YouTube Music controls. Safety features impress—fall detection, Safety Check reminders, and LTE-exclusive Satellite SOS for off-grid emergencies (free for 2 years). Pair it with a Pixel phone for perks like 2 years of free Fi data.
Updates promise 3+ years of OS support. It’s Android-only (8.0+), so iPhone users, look elsewhere.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Exceptional battery life (40+ hours real-world)
- Stunning domed display with edge-to-edge viewing
- Intuitive Gemini AI and hands-free activation
- Accurate fitness tracking with dual-band GPS
- Repairable design (swappable battery/display)
- Fast charging and value pricing
Cons:
- Proprietary bands limit cheap swaps
- Some AI features (like full coaching) require Premium
- No rotating bezel or ultra-rugged option
- Curved screen may attract fingerprints more
Verdict: 4.7/5 – The Best Android Smartwatch in 2025
The Pixel Watch 4 isn’t revolutionary—it’s evolutionary, fixing pain points like battery and repairability while enhancing what made the series great: clean design, deep Google integration, and reliable tracking. It edges out the Galaxy Watch 8 for style and longevity (though Samsung wins on free health AI), and it’s a stronger daily driver than the Apple Watch Series 11 for Android loyalists.
Upgrade if you’re on a Watch 1/2 (battery alone justifies it) or want Gemini’s smarts. Skip if you need Garmin-level multisport depth or Apple’s seamless iOS tie-in. At launch pricing (with Black Friday deals dropping it to $249), it’s a no-brainer for most. Google, you’ve nailed it—now keep the software flowing.