Google has officially launched the Pixel Watch 4 at its Made by Google event, introducing a range of enhancements including a domed display, standalone satellite communication features, and improved health and fitness tracking capabilities.
The Pixel Watch 4 will be available in two sizes: a 41mm version starting at $349 for the Wi-Fi model and $449 for the LTE model, and a 45mm version starting at $399 for Wi-Fi and $499 for LTE.
One of the key design improvements is the Actua 360 display, which is physically curved to provide a 10% larger active area and a virtually edgeless appearance due to 16% smaller bezels. The display also boasts a 50% increase in brightness, reaching up to 3,000 nits.
A significant feature of the LTE-enabled Pixel Watch 4 models is the standalone emergency satellite communication. This allows users to connect to emergency services via geo-stationary satellites, providing a crucial lifeline in situations where traditional cellular networks aren’t available. The satellite communication is underpinned by the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Wearable Platform.
Google has integrated enhanced AI capabilities into the Pixel Watch 4. Users can now access Gemini by simply raising their wrist, eliminating the need to press a button or use the “Hey Google” command. This feature aims to provide quick access to assistance and information, particularly when users are engaged in activities like carrying groceries or walking a pet. The watch also includes on-device AI features such as Smart Replies, which offer AI-generated responses tailored to specific conversations.
Battery life has also seen a boost, with Google claiming a 25% improvement over the previous model. The 41mm Pixel Watch 4 offers up to 30 hours of battery life, while the 45mm version extends this to 40 hours. A new fast-charging dock is included for convenient and rapid charging.
The Pixel Watch 4 maintains its water resistance up to 50 meters and, for the first time, is designed to be serviceable, with the battery and display being replaceable.
Internally, the watch is powered by Google’s next-generation ML-powered co-processor, which is reported to be 25% faster while consuming half the power. This contributes to improved performance and efficiency across various functions.
In terms of health and fitness tracking, the Pixel Watch 4 offers enhancements in sleep cycle classification, achieving 18% greater accuracy in tracking complete sleep cycles and time spent in each sleep stage. A new Skin Temperature sensor has been added to aid in detecting changes in the user’s overall well-being.
The inclusion of dual-frequency GPS in the Pixel Watch 4 enables more precise route tracking, even in challenging environments such as urban areas or dense forests.
Google has also incorporated AI-driven automatic workout detection and classification. The watch can now intelligently recognize and categorize activities, even if the user forgets to manually initiate workout tracking. New exercise options, including basketball and pickleball, have been added to the supported activity list.
Further expanding its health and fitness capabilities, Google is introducing a personal AI health coach. This feature provides users with access to personalized fitness and sleep coaching based on data gathered from their Pixel Watch. The goal is to offer a 24/7 AI-powered health advisor that delivers on-demand guidance tailored to individual goals. Users can pose questions such as, “Is this cold plunge actually good for me?” or “What’s the best way to fight jet lag?”
A preview of the health coach feature is scheduled to launch in the U.S. this October for users of Fitbit devices and Pixel Watches.
The Pixel Watch 4 is available for preorder immediately and will be available in stores starting October 9.
