Overview
Expert Assessment
Advantages
- Aesthetic and repairable structure
- Luminous domed display
- Rapid and efficient charging
- Outstanding overall user satisfaction
Disadvantages
- Increased price
- Variable AI performance
- Certain software features are exclusive to Pixel 11
Our Conclusion
The Pixel Watch 5 is another chic and feature-rich smartwatch from Google. However, due to minimal hardware advancements from the previous year, it leans heavily on software to attract buyers. Since the software offers a varied experience, and much is not unique to this new iteration, it stands as another 2026 gadget where opting for the nearly indistinguishable Pixel Watch 4 would save you quite a bit.
Price at Review
Starting at $399
Current Best Prices: Google Pixel Watch 5
Essential Information
Before getting into my personal opinions, there are some objective facts about the Pixel Watch 5 aside from the cost increase.
First and foremost, the design remains consistent with the Pixel Watch 4 (and indeed, previous generations of the Pixel Watch). I consider this to be a positive aspect since last year’s version introduced significant improvements.
Chris Martin / Foundy
Basically, it is easy to fix the display and battery, and the charging contacts are positioned on the side for the latest rapid charger.
This year’s new feature is the variety of colors. The Pixel Watch is available in the standard two sizes – 41 and 45mm – but Google has changed it so that the smaller size has a unique color.
Canyon corresponds with the Pixel 11 Pro variants (not the Fold) and you can also choose Fog, Olive, and Obsidian in either size. Keep in mind that these refer to the strap color and are matched with Champagne Gold, Polished Silver, Pyrite (new), and Obsidian cases.
As visible, I opted for the simplest option in Obsidian.
Chris Martin / Foundy
A special edition featuring Steph Curry is available in the US, limited to the 45mm version, and it remains uncertain if this will be released in other markets (the UK did not receive the Fitbit Air version).
What I Appreciate
I briefly mentioned the design earlier, but it deserves reiterating that the Pixel Watch perfectly aligns with my style preferences within the market. Its circular, pebble-like aesthetics appear and feel far more upscale compared to competitors, and everything is logically positioned. Whether a redesign is in order could be a contentious point for another discussion.
Regarding performance, I have experienced the Pixel Watch 5 running flawlessly over the past month. Sure, it occasionally stutters or hesitates briefly, but nothing alarming or out of the ordinary.
While a new chipset would have been a nice addition instead of just an Enhanced version of the same Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen, especially with the Snapdragon Wear Elite available, performance is satisfactory, though a change might have notably enhanced battery longevity.
Chris Martin / Foundy
Concerning battery performance, things are robust, though not groundbreaking, especially in comparison to some smartwatches that can last near a week or beyond. It’s perplexing why companies like Google and Samsung struggle to achieve this when OnePlus has demonstrated it is attainable.
The Pixel Watch 5 provides me with 48 hours of battery life under typical usage. That’s adequate, particularly when you account for the rapid charging and the greatly enhanced dock that Google introduced last year alongside the Pixel Watch 4.
It truly doesn’t require long to replenish – just a few minutes for a quick boost – and I’ve noticed that the connection between the watch and the dock is significantly more reliable than its predecessor.
Chris Martin / Foundy
As you may have gathered by now, there’s not much to discuss regarding hardware enhancements on the Pixel Watch 5. There’s increased memory and storage at 3GB and 64GB respectively (50- and 100% increases compared to before), but I haven’t noticed this affecting my experience.
The variations are mainly on the software front, which brings us into the realm of subjectivity.
On the positive side of things, I’ve consistently found the software on the Pixel Watch to be superb – aesthetically pleasing, easy to navigate, and rich in features. I’ve never perceived the circular display as a disadvantage compared to the Apple Watch.
The Pixel Watch 5 is equipped with Wear OS 7, and it largely follows the same pattern. Google hasn’t made any radical changes that require relearning an operating system but has added and refined various elements from previous versions.
Chris Martin / Foundy
These enhancements and additions feature updated watch face complications along with broadened gestures. I find the latter particularly useful, especially when my hands are full. A wrist flick can take you back, and a double-pinch now performs multiple functions such as scrolling and confirming actions.
The Watch also incorporates At a Glance, providing small notifications at the bottom of the screen. Daily updates include a Morning Brief in addition to various other alerts like an ETA when utilizing Google Maps (anything that shows Live Update on your phone will be viable).
Google Health – the successor to Fitbit and Google Fit – is also noteworthy here. This completely refurbished system might be challenging for longtime users of the previous apps to adjust to, but I find it beneficial. It excels at gathering and conveying data, from step counts to sleep tracking and more, along with accurate GPS navigation.
Chris Martin / Foundy
It has also been beneficial at times to communicate with the Health Coach for specific situations, mainly to temper expectations regarding my fitness. Instead of merely motivating me (or nagging me like many fitness gadgets have historically done) to achieve a target regardless of my situation, I can explain why I might be feeling extra fatigued or overwhelmed.
This interaction-based system (utilizing Gemini) creates a much more amicable and realistic experience. However, accessing it remains one of the few features requiring a Premium subscription.
What I Dislike
Continuing with the software topic, there are some features that don’t sit well with me.
Google has integrated a raise-to-wake feature for Gemini, so when you elevate your wrist to check the time, the screen illuminates blue at the bottom, awaiting an instruction or inquiry. However, I discovered that Gemini seldom recognized my commands.
Looking through the reviewer’s guide, it appears I was not positioned close enough to the device (4 inches seems to be the requirement), yet this feels unnecessary. My initial experience before referring to the guide was pure frustration. Below you can view how Gemini appears when fully activated.
Chris Martin / Foundy
While I didn’t rely on it with the Pixel Watch 4, it’s frustrating that improved smart replies (autocomplete without typing) is exclusive to Pixel phones, specifically the latest Pixel 11 models. The same applies to Proactive Suggestions.
I also encountered AI challenges when utilizing the new ‘create your own watch face’ feature, which employs Google’s Nano Banana engine. I requested a Victorian pocket watch design, but ended up with the image below. After several more attempts, I gave up, realizing it could only modify the numeral’s style rather than create an entire watch face.
Chris Martin / Foundy
Although this has become less of a problem after assessing the Pixel Watch 5 for some time, it’s worth mentioning that key health features were absent at launch and have only recently begun rolling out alongside this review. These include Blood Pressure Trends and Insulin Resistance Trends.
A less crucial point is regarding the default strap. It is definitely comfortable, but I still dislike the design choice that tucks the strap underneath itself. This results in pinching my skin each time I awkwardly thread it through the loop, often forcing me to restart as it dislodges from the notch in the process.
Lastly, the pricing is worth discussing. The Pixel Watch 5 starts at £369/$399 for the smaller 41mm Wi-Fi-only model and goes up to £499/$529 for the 45mm LTE. This creates a dilemma I will address in the conclusion below.
