Summary
In 2022, Google made its long-awaited debut in the smartwatch space.
ThePixel Watch 2makes some noted improvements, but is it ultimately enough?
I was pretty hard on the original Pixel Watch in my review.
Justin Duino / How-To Geek
Google is Google, and smartwatches arent a new concept.
Needless to say, it left a lot to be desired for a $350 machine.
So, I was very curious to see the improvements made in the Pixel Watch 2.
Google’s Pixel Watch 2 packs a stylish design featuring a 41mm round display, multiple health and wellness sensors, fall detection, and all-day battery life. Get the best of Google and Fitbit on your wrist.
Get the best of Google and Fitbit on your wrist.
The smooth, fully rounded-over shape makes it feel smaller than it really is.
The main design change is the use of aluminum for the bottom casingthe original Pixel Watch was stainless steel.
Justin Duino / How-To Geek
The result is a slightly lighter watch, but five grams doesnt make a big difference.
Its disappointing that Google switched to a lower-quality material for a gear that still costs $350.
Something that didnt change at all is the display.
Justin Duino / How-To Geek
The buttons are also identical this time around.
Ive come around to liking the dial, especially for scrolling through notifications.
The second button, on the other hand, is still not great.
Justin Duino / How-To Geek
One design feature that I was wholeheartedly against on the original Pixel Watch was the proprietary bands.
Im still not a big fan.
I also still found the mechanism not particularly easy to use.
Justin Duino / How-To Geek
I really had to push the locking button down hard to slide out the band.
In general, the Pixel Watch 2 is a very attractive smartwatch.
I like the versatility of a gadget that lives on my wrist.
Justin Duino / How-To Geek
Incremental Improvements in Software
I was pretty disappointed with the software experience on the original Pixel Watch.
Pixel UI is myAndroid skinof choice on phones, but on a watch, it was too barebones.
First of all, Im still a fan of the overall look of Googles Pixel UI.
Justin Duino / How-To Geek
Its a much more cohesive look than One UI on Samsung Galaxy Watches.
That was a glaring omission on the original watch.
The fluidity contributed to the software feeling more finished this time around.
Justin Duino / How-To Geek
For whatever reason, I didnt dislike it as much this time around.
That being said, Pixel UI and the companion app are still very barebones compared to other smartwatches.
Some things seem like they havent been fully thought out.
Justin Duino / How-To Geek
Why does Bedtime Mode disable waking the watch by touching the screen but not the dial button?
The Touch Lock toggle is found in the Quick options, which cant be customized at all.
I have to scroll past a bunch of toggles I never use to get to the Touch Lock.
This is also the case for the app list, which is locked in alphabetical order.
Customizing the Quick controls can be done on Galaxy Watches and every Android phone.
So, the software experience definitely feels more finished, but it’s still not all the way there.
Fitbit is very good for some things but extremely lackluster for others.
Despite some improvements, this was probably the weakest part of the Pixel Watch 2 in my testing.
First, Ill start with the new and improved features.
The new sensor gets around that with multiple read points.
The Pixel Watch 2 also has Fitbits body-response and skin temperature sensors.
Fall Detection, Emergency SOS, and Safety Check are all present as well.
Oh, and the Fitbit app on the watch can finally automatically detect some workouts now.
The Fitbit app is simply not for serious fitness tracking.
Lets look at some examples.
Recently, I started swimming, so I used the Pixel Watch 2 and Galaxy Watch 5 for tracking.
Here are the readouts I got from Fitbit and Samsung Health (not for the same swim).
Samsung blows Fitbit out of the water, and its the same story for other activities, too.
Now, Fitbit isnt bad ateverything.
The Pixel Watch 2 is comfortable enough to wear while sleeping, and I really liked Fitbits sleep tracking.
Unlike activities, Fitbit actually gives you a lot of information about your sleep.
I honestly never bother with sleep tracking unless Im using a Fitbit unit.
That information, along with activities, is taken into account for a daily Readiness score.
I found that helpful for knowing when I should take a break from strenuous activities.
In general, I think Fitbit is much more focused on health and wellness than fitness and activity tracking.
Its disappointing to need a third-party app for serious activity tracking.
The W5 is supposedly more powerful and efficient, and that checked out in my testing.
As mentioned earlier, the UI felt very smooth and snappy.
In my real-world testing, I had no problem going a full 24 hours on a charge.
That often included activity and sleep tracking.
The one downside on the battery front is the new magnetic pogo-pin charger.
Some people were annoyed about the switch away from wireless charging, but thats not my gripe.
In reality, smartwatch wireless chargers are never cross-compatible, which partially defeats the purpose anyway.
My problem with the new charger is it can only be connected in one specific orientation.
That was annoying to work around at times.
Should You Buy the Google Pixel Watch 2?
Theres no question that I enjoyed my time with thePixel Watch 2more than I did with the original.
Performance is better, battery life is better, and the software is better.
The Pixel Watch 2 offers slightly better performance, a better design, and nicer-looking software.
If price were no concern, Id go for the Pixel Watch 2.
The design of the Pixel Watch 2 has really won me over.
Its a bit futuristic but also classic, and its super comfortable to wear.
The problem is priceisa concernthe Pixel Watch 2 is too expensive.
This gear should not be priced similarly to an Apple Watch.
For $250 or even $300, the Pixel Watch 2 would be much easier to recommend.
