I, like many others, was excited to see the Google Pixel Watch revealed at Google I/O 2022. I’ve been following rumors about Google’s first smartwatch for several years now, so a large part of me is relieved that it’s actually coming.
Which may sound strange, as I won’t even be able to use the Pixel Watch. At least, not with my current smartphone. Don’t get me wrong – I knew there was a very strong chance the Pixel Watch would only be compatible with the best Android phones. So who’s to say the Pixel Watch won’t be the first smartwatch I give up on my iPhone?
I’ve been a user of Apple Watch for many years now, turning it every year as the best Apple Watch or when I test the best smartwatches for Android. When I review Models like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, switching to an Android phone is temporary. I always return to my iPhone and Apple Watch.
(image credits: google)
But the Pixel Watch can change that. Maybe it’s all the anticipation surrounding the official announcement, but it’s one smartwatch that gets me excited and it’s still not out. I almost jumped out of my seat when I saw Rick Osterloh pull up his sleeve to reveal the Silver Pixel Watch on his wrist.
Borrowing Fitbit Activity Metrics and Fitbit Premium tools, the Pixel Watch can rival or at least match the Apple Watch on health and fitness features.
It looked really good. The round display sat flush at the wrist, or curves more toward the wrist. I’ll say the in-screen bezel appears thicker than I expected, especially compared to the nearly bezel-free Apple Watch 7, but I won’t bother about that until I try the Pixel Watch myself takes it.
However, what I got from the design is the promise of adding Fitbit fitness-tracking features. I’ve always thought that Google Fit was a major drawback of Wear OS watches. But by borrowing activity metrics and Fitbit Premium tools from the best Fitbit devices, the Pixel Watch could rival or at least match the Apple Watch on health and fitness features.
It’s unclear whether Wear OS 3 smartwatches will benefit from Fitbit later. If they don’t, it would make a compelling case for choosing the in-house Google smartwatch over third-party alternatives.
In addition, the Pixel Watch is touting the most optimized Wear OS experience ever for an Android smartwatch. It will work with Google Assistant, Google Maps and the new Google Wallet.
Unless the Pixel Watch is an extension of a Pixel phone or other Android phone, the way the Apple Watch is an extension of the iPhone, with a sleek look at the Fitbit features on-board it might be enough for me to switch. But I’ll have to test it myself to be sure.
The Pixel Watch is coming alongside the Pixel 7 series in the fall. So now we wait.
