I’ll be honest — I didn’t expect to walk away from this weekend impressed by the new Pixel Watch 4. I packed it up, synced it to my Pixel Fold, and headed out for a four-day trip to really see how it handled real-world use. There was just one small problem: I forgot the charger. Yep, I left the only OEM cable it works with sitting neatly on my desk at home. This thing doesn’t support reverse wireless charging like some older smartwatches do — so I figured I’d be wearing a dead bracelet by Saturday.
But that’s where the first big surprise hit.
Battery Life That Outlasts Expectations
I left Friday morning with an 85% charge, and by Monday morning — nearly four days later — I still had 4% left. That’s not standby time; I used it all weekend long for notifications, activity tracking, and sleep monitoring. No charger, no battery anxiety, no problem.
When I finally plugged it in Monday morning, I decided to test how fast it would charge. From 4% to 58% took exactly 15 minutes. And even after an unexpected mid-charge software update, it still hit 100% in about 50 minutes flat. For reference, my Samsung Watch Ultra takes over an hour — and it’s not even close.
So yeah, Google’s done something right here. For a compact smartwatch with that sleek design, lasting an entire long weekend is seriously impressive.
Comfort, Design, and Daily Use
Once I got past my battery test anxiety, the first thing I noticed was how lightweight and comfortable the Pixel Watch 4 feels. Compared to the Samsung Watch Ultra, this thing is a feather. I didn’t even realize how much bulk I’d been lugging around until I switched. Both are 45mm watches, but because Google’s bezels are thinner and the face feels more open, the Pixel actually looks bigger on the wrist — in a good way.
I’ll admit, the watch band isn’t my favorite. It’s a little awkward to fasten one-handed, but once it’s on, it’s secure and comfortable. It’s water-resistant too, so no worries about a dip in the pool or a sweaty hike.
The 3,000-nit display is gorgeous. Even in bright California sunshine, I had zero trouble reading it. The smooth “Material You” interface looks modern, colorful, and easy on the eyes — definitely a visual upgrade from Samsung’s utilitarian menus.
Charging, Compatibility, and Everyday Features
Here’s a big one: the Pixel Watch 4 works perfectly on non-Pixel phones. I paired it to my Honor Magic V5, and every feature — even the ECG — worked flawlessly. No hidden “Pixel-only” restrictions like Samsung pulls when you use their watches with other Android devices. I could monitor my heart rhythm, check notifications, run apps, and control music without missing a single feature. That’s huge.
As for charging, Google’s charger may be proprietary, but it’s fast and reliable. I still wish it had the option for reverse wireless charging from a phone, though. Samsung used to offer that, but they removed it on the Ultra series, which still doesn’t make sense.
Fitness, Health, and Fitbit Frustration
Health tracking is accurate and easy to view directly on the watch. You get steps, heart rate, and sleep data with smooth animations and clear visuals. The sleep analysis screen is fantastic — I averaged around six hours per night, and it even showed my REM cycles clearly.
My only gripe? It relies on Fitbit. The watch itself is great, but once you open the Fitbit app on your phone, you get bombarded with ads to “Try Fitbit Premium.” I just want my stats, not a $20-a-month subscription pitch. Thankfully, you can bypass most of that by viewing data directly on the watch or tapping “Open on phone” to go straight to your results without navigating Fitbit’s upsell maze.
Gemini vs. Siri (and the Pixel Advantage)
Voice assistants are another area where Pixel crushed it. I did a quick test between Google Assistant (Gemini) and Siri on my Apple Watch.
Siri struggled to connect twice before finally telling me it was cloudy. Gemini nailed it instantly — complete with extra context, details, and a smooth voice response.
Siri did inform me of a flood warnings in Anaheim — Gemini didn’t mention it until I specifically asked. Gemini, on the other hand, immediately confirmed a flash flood watch with the full schedule and area details. That’s the kind of real-world smarts I want in a smartwatch.
My 72-Hour Verdict
After three full days of use, here’s my takeaway: the Pixel Watch 4 might be the best all-around Android smartwatch right now. It’s light, fast, beautiful, and lasts longer than I ever expected.
It doesn’t hide features behind brand loyalty walls. It doesn’t weigh your wrist down. And even if you forget your charger (like I did), you’ll still make it through the weekend just fine.
Would I still wear my Samsung Watch Ultra? Sure — it’s a beast. But the Pixel Watch 4 feels more natural, modern, and effortless. And for the first time, I can honestly say Google’s watch is no longer playing catch-up — it’s setting the pace.