Hands on with the new Pixel Watch 4 features

SOURCE | 8 months ago

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After a week with the new Pixel Watch 4, here are a few of my favorite things.

A split image showing Google Pixel Watches. The left panel features close-ups of the watch in two different colors, while the right panel shows a person wearing the watch while holding a bouquet of flowers.

The new Pixel Watch 4 is officially on shelves: It comes with tons of new features, including emergency satellite communications, a replaceable battery and display and more. It also has a number of design upgrades and updates; after a week with Pixel Watch 4, here are some of my favorite things about the new device:

1. A snappy, convenient charger

The Pixel Watch 4’s new charging dock has quickly become one of my favorite features — I love the way the watch magnetically snaps right into place. Plus, the display auto-rotates to show the time, turning it into a nifty little clock for my nightstand. I like to read for an hour before going to sleep, but my watch doesn’t need that much time: Now, a quick 15-minute charge is all I need to get enough power for my morning run. I have the 41mm watch, which lasts 30 hours, plus another two when I use Battery Saver mode.

A Google Pixel Watch with a light-colored band sits on its white charger on a wooden shelf, its screen showing it is 87% charged.

2. A brighter, bigger, bolder display

Adaptive Brightness is a huge help when I’m out running on sunny days. In the past, I’ve had trouble seeing my display while wearing sunglasses — which can be a problem if I’m trying to glance at my pace or see how far I’ve run. Adaptive Brightness turns things up a notch (up to 3000 nits in broad daylight) so I can always see what I need to. And those settings won’t just stay there once I’m back indoors — it will automatically adjust as needed. The Material 3 upgrade helps, too: Notifications and text are bolder and better organized. The larger display certainly doesn’t hurt, either.

3. Color themes to match my moods

I love the color theming option on Pixel phones, and now it’s available for Pixel Watch, too: This simply means you can choose a set color scheme to give your display a unique aesthetic. I had fun trying out a new one each day before settling on the Jade option — for now, at least. No matter what app, watch face or notification comes through, it all shows up in lovely, complementary colors.

A person wearing a Google Pixel Watch with a light-colored band, with the screen showing the Color theme settings and the Jade option selected.

4. Instant access to Gemini

With Pixel Watch 4, I can get help from Gemini even when my phone's in my pocket. Setting it up is simple through the Pixel Watch app, where you can also manage voice commands and turn personal results on or off.

A smartphone screen showing a prompt to set up Google Assistant, with text that reads, Now say Hey Google, what's the weather tomorrow?

I especially relied on the raise-to-talk feature. It’s great for when my hands are full — like asking for a weather update while walking the dogs, or setting a timer while cooking.

5. An even better workout buddy

The Pixel Watch 4 now has better activity detection, so it knows when I’m running or walking even if I forget to log my workout. It just sends me a notification with an accurate summary and asks if I’d like to add it. The new swimming feature is also handy — it automatically turns on Water Lock when submerged and ejects the water when I’m done. Plus, I can add custom metrics to the display and keep track of my workout even when I’m in the pool. While my local community pool may be closing for the season, I’ll easily find a new workout to track. With 50 different exercise options on the Pixel Watch 4, the only question is: Am I ready to join a pickleball league?