Google Pixel Watch 4 review: a smart buy for late 2025

Gareth Whitcombe • September 26, 2026 00:21

On 20 August 2025, Google unveiled the Pixel Watch 4, its latest smartwatch. While its shape remains unchanged, it has been refined once again.

Launching a smartwatch in 2025 is almost standard practice. Few smartphone makers have yet to give it a go. Google took the plunge in 2022, and the brand has improved steadily ever since, to the point of becoming a benchmark on Android.

Over four years, the company has established itself despite intense competition. With the Pixel Watch 4, Google offers one of the smarter purchases for the end of the year.

Versatile, it is well suited to everyday use and handles notifications superbly. But can it meet the demands of more athletic users?

After a month of testing, here is my verdict on the Pixel Watch 4: a smartwatch that won me over in (almost) every respect.

In summary

A straightforward ecosystem

There is only one requirement for testing a Pixel Watch 4: an Android phone running at least Android 11. So there is no iPhone involved in this test. Fortunately, I have used a Pixel 9 as my personal phone for more than a year, allowing me to try the watch in its natural ecosystem.

The watch pairs with the phone quickly and setup is uncomplicated. The initial experience is deliberately straightforward, with only the essential information needed to find your way around without feeling overwhelmed. Small notification animations add a touch of visual flair, which is a welcome detail, especially at first.

Once on the wrist, the Pixel Watch 4 is quick to get used to. It has a refined circular design and two controls. Alongside the haptic crown, there is a second flat button positioned just above it. It is a simple yet highly practical arrangement.

You will not feel lost with this watch, even if you are switching from another manufacturer, such as Apple. The first few days with the Pixel Watch 4 therefore feel like a real fairy tale. Moving around the interface is genuinely enjoyable, while the display is bright and easy to read. During my month of testing, I encountered no issues on that front.

A beautifully designed Pixel Watch 4

Must technology be attractive? I will not answer that question here, but Google clearly has a firm view on the matter. The Californian giant does not merely offer a practical smartwatch; it also sells a handsome object.

Stylish in every setting, the Pixel Watch 4 sits proudly on the wrist. Its large display provides a viewing area of 896 mm or 1140 mm², depending on the selected model (41 or 45 millimetres).

The OLED panel remains perfectly legible in every situation. Compared with the Pixel Watch 3, the watch display is slightly larger thanks to thinner bezels.

An accessible price

As mentioned above, the smartwatch market has become a genuine jungle. Manufacturers are becoming increasingly inventive in their efforts to win over the public.

Yet no amount of technology can conceal the most important consideration: the price. Google understands this perfectly and positions its product between two worlds. It is accessible, with prices starting at €399 for the 41 mm version and €449 for the 45 mm model, while remaining expensive enough to claim solid build quality and a degree of expertise.

For the festive season, receive a €70 discount while stocks last, until 31/12.

AI on your wrist

Although reading notifications is simpler on the Pixel Watch 4, it is the AI integration that truly sets the watch apart. This is a particularly interesting addition to Google's smartwatch: there is no longer any need to open the Gemini app or say “Hey Google” to use the service.

The watch microphones are ready to hear your request as soon as you turn your wrist. It is smooth and convenient, representing a real time-saver for users. If you would rather not be “listened to” by Google whenever you use your watch, this option can be disabled in the Pixel Watch 4 settings.

Battery life falls short

Ultimately, the watch's only real weakness is its battery life. Google has nevertheless made progress. While the Pixel Watch 3 could not exceed 24 hours on the wrist from a single charge, this Watch 4 comfortably lasts for two full days.

With moderate use, you may even reach the end of a third day on the same charge. That is good, and far better than before, but it is still somewhat limited. For more active users, features such as GPS will drain the battery quickly.

You will probably need to recharge every 36 hours for peace of mind. That was the case during my test, which included five GPS-based sporting activities per week, each lasting around 1 hour.

A word now on charging. It is done using a new puck, supplied with the watch. This allows the watch to charge while resting on its side rather than lying flat on a table (see image above).

It looks good and is much more convenient for checking the time while charging. With a suitable mains adapter, charging takes only a few dozen minutes. It is a small habit to adopt every 2/3 days. You get used to it, but it is clearly not ideal.

Reliable data

With its rounded, “premium” appearance, the Pixel Watch 4 does not necessarily meet every expectation of a sports watch. However, it has the required toolkit. The watch includes all the usual sensors - a compass, altimeter, pulse oximeter, heart-rate monitor, accelerometer and gyroscope - as well as a GPS chip and a skin-temperature sensor.

After collecting a month of figures, I can confirm that the watch is highly accurate. It provided very consistent health data, including heart rate and sleep score, (although without a second assessment, it is impossible to say with certainty whether these figures are correct or not).

It was during my sporting sessions that it struggled slightly. The GPS is good, but not flawless. On a familiar 5-kilometre route, the watch records 5.13 km. The urban route, with its buildings and narrow streets, did not help.

Out in the countryside, GPS accuracy improves, with differences of only a few metres compared with a specialist sports watch, the Coros Pace Pro, which was used as the comparison device for this test.

Should you buy the Pixel Watch 4?

So, should you buy the Pixel Watch 4? Is Google's new watch worth its price? My answer to both questions would be: it depends. If you need a smartwatch for your Android smartphone, the Pixel Watch 4 is an excellent option.

That said, it is worth checking whether your smartphone manufacturer already offers its own smartwatch. Pixel owners will, quite logically, be this watch's first customers. It is a good way for them to complete their Google ecosystem. From a technical perspective, I have very little to criticise. It delivers what is expected, with some excellent surprises - the display and design - alongside less impressive elements, chiefly battery life.