Unveiling the Pixel Watch 4: Domed Display, Fast Charging, and AI

The Pixel Watch 4 marks a clear strategic shift for Google's smartwatches: focusing on display, software experience, and hands-free interaction. Beneath its largely unchanged exterior, the device boasts an Actua 360-degree surround-view display, a redesigned Wear OS 6 based on Material 3 Expressive, Raise to Talk gestures with Gemini, significantly faster charging speeds, and a repairable design – changes that directly impact how users wear and operate the device daily.

Actua 360 dome display: 360-degree surround sound and outdoor visibility.

Google changed the display structure: the entire surface is a single curved glass panel, not just a curved glass covering a flat panel like before. The bezels are slightly thinner, but the big difference lies in the 3D visual effect when viewed directly – the feeling that the watch face "protrudes." It might look strange at first, but after some use, the curvature becomes natural, similar to the experience of switching from a flat to a curved screen.

Overall brightness has increased compared to previous generations, although it's only slightly better than the Pixel Watch 3 in most situations. However, the extra brightness helps to reduce reflections from the dome surface more effectively. On the 45mm version, the ample display space for notifications and content previews is a clear advantage over the 41mm version.

Design and strap: familiar yet refined

The overall design remains largely unchanged, still prioritizing compactness and comfort. The 45mm version offers a better reading experience, while some of the straps on the Pixel Watch 4 tend to be slightly harder to attach than the previous generation and require more force to secure them in place.

Repairability: Major changes over four generations

A significant hardware breakthrough is its repairability. Two screws at each end of the cable connector allow access to the inside for replacing the battery, screen, and other components. While the cost of replacement parts hasn't been released, previous repair demonstrations show a simple operation. This overcomes the "replace if broken" limitation of previous generations and makes extended warranty policies less restrictive.

Wear OS 6 and Material 3 Expressive: a smooth and consistent software experience.

Wear OS 6 retains the familiar navigation structure with Tiles, notifications, and Quick Settings, but the interface has been refreshed with Material 3 Expressive. The color system automatically syncs with the watch face being used, from PIN unlock to notifications and the weather app, providing a more unified and vibrant feel.

Google has added AI-powered smart replies, but the difference from previous contextual suggestions isn't very noticeable. The notification cooling feature is also present but doesn't draw much attention during use, as intended. Notably, in some cases, the watch stops receiving notifications when paired with the Galaxy Z Fold 7; forcing the Pixel Watch app on the phone to close and re-grant notification permissions temporarily resolves the issue.

Raise to Talk with Gemini: a gesture-activated assistant.

The Raise to Talk gesture allows you to raise your wrist to call Gemini without needing a wake-up command or holding a button. After activating this additional step on your phone, the experience is almost instantaneous: asking questions, requesting Google Home control, starting Fitbit workouts… all happen seamlessly. In practice, the feature works reliably most of the time, occasionally not activating correctly, but overall it's still a significant leap forward in convenience.

Raise to Talk relies on new hardware: the Pixel Watch 4 uses a new generation Snapdragon chip along with Google's own co-processor to support this feature. The watch also adds satellite connectivity for secure situations. With these elements, Raise to Talk may not be available on older Pixel Watch models, and this is the most attractive selling point of the fourth generation.

Batteries and charging: eliminate worries with high-speed charging.

On the 45mm version, with the always-on display and Raise to Talk enabled (Hey Google turned off), the device can last nearly two days in testing, even with occasional GPS tracking. The battery life is significantly improved by the new charger: the charging pins are now located on the side, connect via a magnetic base, and offer very fast charging speeds.

In a real-world test, charging from 29% to 95% took only about 23 minutes, enough to make charging virtually invisible in a short schedule like showering after a workout. While the exposed charging pins on the side might not look aesthetically pleasing, this design is less prone to getting dirty than the previous bottom-mounted type. The downside is that this is the third change in charging standard in four generations, negatively impacting the accessory ecosystem.

Fitbit today and tomorrow: simple, automatic, waiting for AI.

The Fitbit platform on the Pixel Watch 4 maintains a simple, easy-to-understand health tracking approach, while inheriting the in-depth running features from the third generation. Automatic activity tracking is more sensitive, frequently recognizing walks and even stop-and-go activities like disc golf. Google claims improved sleep tracking, but the real-world experience doesn't show a significant difference. To fully utilize its features, users still need Fitbit Premium.

Notably, Fitbit's AI-centric upgrade is poised for early access this month. The expectation is an AI-powered "coach" to suggest suitable workouts and maintain motivation, although the new interface design still needs time to be tested.

Quick information board

Pros and cons, compared to Pixel Watch 3

Strengths

• The Actua 360 dome display creates a different visual experience, brighter and easier to read.
• Raise to Talk with Gemini reduces friction during interaction, which is really useful in hands-free situations.
• The design allows for repairs and replacement of critical components.
• It charges very quickly, virtually eliminating any worries about battery life throughout the day.
• The 45mm version displays information comfortably; Wear OS 6 is modern and color-synchronized.
• There is a secure satellite connection.

Limit

• Raise to Talk sometimes fails to activate; notifications occasionally stop on some devices, requiring troubleshooting.
• Charging standards change frequently, impacting the ecosystem of accessories.
• Some straps are more difficult to attach; the exposed charging port on the side may not be aesthetically pleasing to some people.
• The cost of replacement parts is unclear; some advanced Fitbit features require Premium.

Should I upgrade?

If you're currently using a Pixel Watch 3, upgrading isn't really necessary. But for users of the first or second generation, the Pixel Watch 4 is a huge leap forward thanks to its screen, fast charging, Raise to Talk, and repairability.

Prospects

The combination of a hardware platform that paves the way for new interactions, the colorful Wear OS 6 software, and Fitbit's AI-driven approach creates a clear development roadmap for Google's smartwatch ecosystem. The remaining challenge is maintaining a stable charging standard and expanding accessory compatibility to optimize the user experience.