Google Pixel Watch 4 has potential to steal the show, thanks to its good looks and sharp brain

India Today

10 hours ago

The smartwatch market has long been dominated by Apple and Samsung, but Google is slowly and steadily catching up with its Pixel Watch line. The new Pixel Watch 4 was announced alongside the Pixel 10 phones, and it feels like the company's most confident attempt yet at building a true flagship wearable. What you get here is an elegant design with a bright and sharp screen, a more capable chip under the hood, and the arrival of Gemini as a proper on-wrist assistant. Additionally, Google has baked in a slew of fitness tracking features, better battery life and even satellite connectivity. The result is a smartwatch that not only looks the part but is also clever enough to keep up with you — at least in theory.advertisementOn the surface, Google has stuck with the familiar circular design — 41mm and 45mm sizing — but given it a touch more refinement. The bezels are slimmer, the screen area is larger, and the curved dome display is now brighter than ever, with a peak brightness of up to 3,000 nits. The domed glass doesn't just look striking and pretty; it is claimed to create a wider viewing angle and make the screen appear almost seamless at the edges.On the inside is where the real magic happens, and this is where the Pixel Watch 4 has seen some of its biggest upgrades. It runs on the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 platform, paired with a dedicated co-processor that handles AI tasks efficiently. Google says this co-processor helps keep battery life in check while delivering faster, smoother performance. The Pixel Watch 4 is claimed to have up to 30 hours of battery life on the smaller model and up to 40 hours on the larger one, which is a solid jump in terms of endurance over the Pixel Watch 3. On top of this, there's also faster charging, with a 50 per cent charge possible in around 15 minutes if you're in a rush. A new charging dock comes in the box, though you'll need a higher-wattage plug to take full advantage.
However, what makes the Pixel Watch 4 particularly interesting is how it mixes health features with intelligence. Fitbit's tools remain central, but they're joined by a personal AI health coach powered by Gemini. And this coach doesn't just track your steps or heart rate, it aims to interpret all your health data in context. It can suggest whether you should prioritise sleep over squeezing in another workout, or offer guidance on improving fitness based on recovery. The AI health coach feature is going to launch as a preview in October through the Fitbit app.On the safety side, the Pixel Watch 4 became the first smartwatch that can connect directly to satellites without needing a paired phone. In an emergency, it can share your location and call for help, even if you're far from mobile coverage. Especially for hikers, athletes or anyone who spends time off the grid, this could be a genuinely life-saving feature. Dual-frequency GPS has also been added, promising more accurate tracking on trickier routes.Probably the star of the show here, Gemini is built directly into the watch, and you can summon it simply by raising your wrist, without even saying a word. Google says the stronger haptic feedback and clearer speaker mean responses are easier to hear and feel, making it more practical to use when your hands are full. Features like AI-powered Smart Replies should also help streamline messaging without reaching for your phone.advertisementDurability has also been taken care of with the Pixel Watch 4, as it uses Gorilla Glass 5 and aerospace-grade aluminium for its construction. It's also water-resistant up to 50 metres. For the first time ever — and this is where other companies should take notes — it's also serviceable, meaning its battery and display can be replaced if needed.All things said, the Google Pixel Watch 4 feels like a well-balanced package, and we don't just say this in terms of a design refresh or a spec bump, but a smartwatch that looks stylish, along with having practical features. Of course, it's still early days to say whether it can lure users away from Apple or Samsung, but for what it's worth, the Pixel Watch 4 has the potential to steal the show, and it makes a strong case as the most complete Pixel Watch yet.- Ends