Google’s Pixel Watch 5 retains the company’s familiar circular design while introducing a set of software changes, additional storage and updated health features. A Tech Advisor review published on September 30 examines the smartwatch after several weeks of testing and finds that most of the changes compared with the Pixel Watch 4 are focused on software rather than major hardware changes.
The Pixel Watch 5 is available in 41mm and 45mm sizes, with the design remaining largely unchanged from its predecessor. Tech Advisor notes that the display and battery are repairable, while the charging contacts have been moved to the side for use with Google’s latest fast charging dock. The watch is available in colours including Canyon, Fog, Olive and Obsidian, with different casing options depending on the configuration. There is also a Steph Curry Special Edition in the United States, although availability in other markets remains uncertain. The review found the watch comfortable and stylish, while its performance remained smooth during regular use. Google has retained the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Accelerated platform rather than moving to a newer Snapdragon Wear Elite chip. The review noted that performance is generally sufficient for everyday use, although a newer processor could have provided additional opportunities for improvements, particularly in battery efficiency. The Pixel Watch 5 provides around 48 hours of battery life under typical use according to the reviewer, while its fast charging system allows users to quickly restore battery capacity when needed. Storage and memory have also increased, with the watch offering 3GB of memory and 64GB of storage.
Software is a larger part of the Pixel Watch 5 experience. The smartwatch runs Wear OS 7 and introduces updated watch face complications, expanded gesture controls and At a Glance information displayed near the bottom of the screen. Gestures include wrist movements and double-pinch actions that can be used for functions such as scrolling and confirming actions. Google Health has also replaced Fitbit and Google Fit within the watch experience, providing information covering activities such as steps, sleep and GPS tracking. The Health Coach, which uses Gemini, can respond to information provided by the user and adjust its guidance according to factors such as tiredness or a busy schedule. However, access to the Health Coach requires a Google Health Premium subscription. The review also identified limitations with some of the artificial intelligence features. Gemini can be activated through a raise-to-wake function, but the reviewer found voice recognition inconsistent during testing. Some smart reply and Proactive Suggestions features are also limited to Pixel smartphones, including the latest Pixel 11 models. Google has additionally introduced an artificial intelligence based tool for creating customised watch faces, although the review found that its capabilities were more limited than expected.
Health features are another part of Google’s software focus for the Pixel Watch 5. Some Health Guardian features were not available when the smartwatch initially launched but began rolling out later. Tech Advisor reported that Blood Pressure Trends and Insulin Resistance Trends were being introduced through software updates, with compatible features also being made available to earlier Pixel Watch models. The Blood Pressure Trends feature does not provide a conventional blood pressure measurement but uses pulse and motion information to estimate longer-term trends, while Insulin Resistance Trends analyses physiological information collected over multiple weeks. Google has also introduced Breathing Emergency Detection in selected European markets. The Pixel Watch 5 starts at £369 or $399 for the smaller Wi-Fi model and reaches £499 or $529 for the 45mm LTE version, according to the Tech Advisor review. With the hardware remaining close to the previous generation and several software improvements also extending to older Pixel Watch models, the review highlights pricing and feature availability as important factors for consumers comparing the Pixel Watch 5 with the Pixel Watch 4.
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