Three generations in, the Google Pixel Watch is amongst our favourite Android smartwatches. It could not sport an Extremely design or ship multi-day battery life just like the OnePlus Watch 2. Nevertheless, Google’s smartwatch stands out for its clear Put on OS expertise, speedy updates, and deep Fitbit integration.
As somebody who has extensively used the Pixel Watch 2 and Watch 3, I might like Google to double down on its smartwatch efforts and enhance the Pixel Watch 4 in lots of key features. In case you are a Pixel Watch fan like me, try the enhancements I wish to see on Google’s subsequent smartwatch.
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5
Slimmer show bezels
Give the Pixel Watch 4 a extra futuristic look
The Google Pixel Watch 3 ships with slimmer bezels than its predecessor. The 41mm mannequin sports activities 16% smaller bezels than the Pixel Watch 2 whereas packing a ten% bigger show. Its 45mm sibling homes a 40% bigger show.
Whereas all this sounds spectacular, there’s room for enchancment. Google ought to intention to attain an virtually bezel-less entrance with the Pixel Watch 4, pushing the bezels to the sting. This may give the watch a extra futuristic look and assist it higher compete in opposition to the Apple Watch Collection 10.
The bezel-less entrance will look even higher on the 45mm Pixel Watch and its greater show. Given the watch’s design, Google might not have the ability to remove the bezels. If that’s the case, the corporate ought to take inspiration from Samsung’s Galaxy Watch lineup and rework it right into a contact bezel. This might enable for fast navigation by way of the UI and scrolling by way of lists.
4
Extra sturdy cowl glass
Ditch the Corning cowl glass for sapphire crystal
Moreover a bezel-less entrance, Google ought to change to a extra sturdy cowl glass on the Pixel Watch 4. It at the moment makes use of Gorilla Glass 5, and whereas Corning’s toughened glass can resist scratches, it’s not so good as the sapphire crystal glass that Samsung makes use of on its Galaxy Watch lineup. The latter gives higher safety in opposition to scuffs and scratches.
A robust cowl glass is much more vital on the Pixel Watch due to its dome-shaped entrance. This design exposes the glass extra to impacts and scratches. On the Galaxy Watch Extremely, the show is protected by raised bezels, guaranteeing the duvet glass doesn’t straight bear the complete affect of bumps or drops.
The Pixel Watch 3 carries the identical 5ATM water resistance score because the Apple Watch Collection 10. This implies you may safely use the watch in as much as 50m deep shallow-water actions like swimming or snorkeling. Google ought to improve this expertise by including a water temperature sensor to the Pixel Watch 4, permitting it to trace the water temperature, time, and depth throughout underwater actions.
3
Repairable design
Present Pixel Watches aren’t repairable
Three years into the Pixel Watch lineup, Google has but to deal with its smartwatch’s greatest design problem. The Pixel Watch isn’t repairable, so in case you break the show, the corporate can solely change it. There is no approach to restore the injury.
That is dangerous not simply on your pockets but in addition for the surroundings. It means Google and its restore companions will discard broken Pixel Watch 3 items as e-waste, even for minor points.
Regardless of the challenges, Google ought to make sure the Pixel Watch 4 sports activities a repairable design, at the very least for frequent damages, like a cracked display. The corporate is contemplating making its smartwatches repairable, however we might not see the fruits of this alteration with the Pixel Watch 4 this yr. If that occurs, the corporate ought to provide clients closely discounted pricing for substitute items.
2
Higher Fitbit expertise
Fitbit fails to nail the fundamentals
The Pixel Watch is the one Put on OS smartwatch to function Fitbit integration. This makes a great Fitbit expertise essential, as you’ll use the app to trace your well being metrics and exercises. Even after launching three generations of the Pixel Watch, the Fitbit expertise on Google’s smartwatch is nowhere as polished appropriately.
For starters, the Fitbit companion app for Android nonetheless lacks a darkish mode, even in spite of everything these years. The app additionally doesn’t present granular controls over the assorted well being options. For instance, there isn’t any approach to flip off sleep monitoring or blood oxygen monitoring. They’re enabled by default, and there is nothing you are able to do about them.
One other puzzling limitation is the lack to see your reside coronary heart charge by way of the Fitbit app, be it on the cellphone or watch. You’ll be able to solely see your reside coronary heart charge by way of a tile on the watch face. Once you open the Fitbit app in your Pixel Watch, it shows your coronary heart charge vary for the day, adopted by the week.
Equally, on-demand blood oxygen measurement isn’t attainable on the Pixel Watch. It tracks your nightly SpO2 ranges, which you’ll be able to view by way of the app, however that is about it.
You’ll be able to view your well being metrics — like respiration charge, coronary heart charge variability, and resting coronary heart charge — over per week, 7-day, or 90-day timeline to see how they’ve improved or worsened. However there isn’t any approach to view the development for an extended timeline, which may very well be a bummer in case you observe any program or are getting ready for a contest.
As a longtime Pixel Watch and Fitbit consumer, I would like Google to do extra with the collected well being information. The Fitbit app would not notify me about modifications in my resting coronary heart charge or sleep sample developments. I solely uncover them once I open the app.
The issue is that you just get this expertise after paying $350 for the watch and one other $10 for Fitbit Premium month-to-month. The expertise is something however premium.
With the Pixel Watch 4, I hope Google focuses closely on bettering the Fitbit expertise, given it’s an integral a part of the watch.
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1
Get on the Gemini bandwagon
As a result of 2025 is all about AI, AI, and AI
Gemini is in every single place. Google built-in Gemini into most of its companies and units, together with Google Search, Drive, Nest audio system, and shows. However the AI-powered chatbot is lacking from the Pixel Watch.
Whereas there may very well be a number of causes behind this, the corporate ought to make Gemini the spotlight of the Pixel Watch 4. For this, it might want so as to add a customized SoC to its smartwatch, one thing a report signifies might solely occur in 2026.
Nevertheless, that shall be too late, and I hope Google makes Gemini the star of the present with the Pixel Watch 4. The AI-powered assistant could be extra helpful on the wearable, particularly with its superior pure language processing and contextual understanding. It ought to allow you to vary the watch’s settings utilizing your voice, change watch faces, and extra.
There’s quite a bit Google can enhance with the Pixel Watch 4
The Pixel Watch 2 was a giant improve over the unique Pixel Watch, switching to quicker internals and delivering longer battery life. Then, in 2024, Google made all the fitting upgrades with the Pixel Watch. It used a brighter and larger show, launched a bigger 45mm mannequin, and improved charging speeds.
Now, with its 2025 Pixel Watch, the corporate ought to handle the opposite shortcomings in its smartwatch lineup to ship an excellent higher expertise to customers. The success of the Pixel Watch can also be vital for the Put on OS ecosystem, as its rising reputation will get extra customers to check out smartwatches.