Smartwatches in 2025 are pretty darn good at, well, everything. Whether you’re a fitness fanatic, a sleep tracker, or just someone who wants notifications on their wrist, there’s a wearable for you. Google’s newest contender has entered the chat, the Pixel Watch 4 as a standout alternative to the Apple Watch and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch and this fourth-gen device gives you more reasons to choose it over its competitors than ever before.
Comparing the Pixel Watch 4 to other devices, isn’t fair as it has finally blossomed into a device that sits in its own class. Previously most people would just grab the watch that plays nice with their phone, but having used this device with both a Pixel phone and a Motorola it’s safe to say that the barrier is broken and although it’s a beautiful synergy Pixel to Pixel, other devices are more than ok.
First up, the aesthetics. The Pixel Watch 4 sports a curved display under a domed glass cover, making it look even more vibrant than the previous gen. Google’s trimmed down the bezels by 16 per cent, giving you about 10 per cent more screen real estate. Plus, it’s now 50 per cent brighter, hitting a dazzling 3,000 nits making it look seriously sharp. Wearing it daily I’ve been getting compliments from everywhere, specifically about how clear it is, but also about the shape of the watch which makes the device more watch-like and fashionable with anything else you wear. This was one of the reasons I preffered some of the hybrid watches prior to this one, but Google has nailed the full-smart-watch features into a device that is for everyone without coming across as a toy..
Under the hood, there’s dual-frequency GPS, a custom haptics engine and speaker, updated processors, and a revamped, faster charging system. And here’s a massive win for the eco-conscious (or just clumsy) among us: the Pixel Watch 4 is more repairable. Not that I’ve tried but apparently you can actually unscrew the case to replace the display and battery if needed. Cheers to that, Google!
Software-wise, it’s running Wear OS with some neat new tricks, like a wrist-raise gesture to summon the Gemini assistant. This is a far more useful option than I originally gave it credit for and the mic and speaker clarity even in noisy spaces are the real hero here. You hold the watch up to your mouth to begin asking your question like “where is a good place to get a lunchtime plate of food for someone who is on a budget?” and the watch will respond with first writing out what you’ve told it and then using Google search. Maps or other apps to determine the correct answer or options. It’s genuinely helpful and much closer to being that “Virtual Assistant” than even “Google Virtual Assistant” was. It’s not perfect, sometimes you lift your wrist and nothing happens, or you have a follow up question that goes ignored, but 90% of the time it is really helpful and works great. Gemini is growing daily and is constantly surprising me with what it can do and how natural it feels to use.
Alright, let’s talk about that game-changing charging speed. I never thought I’d be such a fan of quick top-ups, but the Pixel Watch 4 is so fast that it’s genuinely changed my routine. Instead of charging it overnight (because you want it to track your sleep routines), I just popped it on the charger when I woke up. 15 minutes gives you around 15 hours, so by the time I’m ready for some exercise or just taking on the day the watch is ready for it. A full charge got me around 32 hours and that was while the watch was still new so I was playing with it constantly as well. As I got less fidgety with it it was more like 38 hours. The most impressive thing though is that a full charge only took around 45 minutes from empty.
Google’s updated sleep-tracking algorithms are billed as “our most accurate yet.” The device offers a thoughtful feature that dims the display at bedtime and smart notification management. Google’s charts are clearer and more detailed than other devices with similar functionality, so you don’t have to be a sleep scientist to understand it. However, like nearly all trackers, the Pixel Watch 4 struggles to differentiate between sleep and lying still awake, or maybe I’m just dead inside, especially when I’m just being extremely lazy and chilling out with Netflix. To be fair, sometimes I’m so relaxed I wouldn’t be surprised if it tried to call emergency services for me.
The worst part of a smart watch can be all the notifications, it can be extremely frustrating not just for you but for people around you if you are constantly distracted by a new vibration or ding from your device and Google have acknowledged this with the introduction of “notification cooldown” to minimise interruptions after you’ve received too many in a short amount of time. This allows you to be aware but more mindful of the task at hand.
The Pixel Watch 4 isn’t just closing the gap with its rivals; it’s bringing its own unique flavour to the smartwatch market. The design and super fast charging are genuine game-changers. And while the satellite communications aren’t unique anymore, they’re a welcome addition. Throw in Google and Fitbit’s AI and health tracking heritage, and you’ve got what I think is the most formidable smartwatch on the market. In many ways the Pixel Watch is mirroring the Pixel Phones by giving you more reasons to make that change away from IOS if it’s something you’ve been considering.
At A$579 for the 41mm version or A$679 for the 45mm, the Pixel Watch 4 is pretty well priced for what it does, especially if you are looking for features to enhance your fitness you’re getting a well-rounded, attractive, and surprisingly innovative wearable that’s more than just a pretty face.
