After a myriad of leaks and rumours, the Google Pixel Watch 4 is finally here along with the all-new Pixel 10 series, and it brings a few improvements over the previous generation. However, for those who own the Pixel Watch 3, it could be confusing to figure out if the Pixel Watch 4 is worth upgrading to. Therefore, here's everything new the Pixel Watch 4 brings over the Pixel Watch 3.
Pixel Watch 4 brings design changes and a brighter display
Starting with the most evident of changes, the design. The Pixel Watch 4 gets a slightly different design in contrast to the Watch 3. For starters, the contact points for charging have been moved to the left side of the watch on either side of the speakers, and the Watch 4 gets a different charging dock.
For those unaware, Google last made changes to Pixel's charging mechanism on Pixel Watch 2, where it introduced golden contact points at the back and on the puck for data transfers. The display and the band mechanism on the Watch 4 remain the same. There are two sizes on offer still – 41 mm and 45 mm.
The display brightness on the Pixel Watch 4 has been bumped to 3,000 nits from 2,000 nits on the Pixel Watch 3, which should make the display more legible under direct sunlight. The display itself has slimmer bezels than the Pixel Watch 3.
Lastly, Google is bringing new band colours to the Pixel Watch 4 to complement the new Pixel 10 series colours. These include Limoncello, Indigo Blue and Iris for the sports bands and Obsidian, Porcelain and Moonstone for active bands.
Pixel Watch 4 gets a new Processor
The Google Pixel Watch 4 features the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 processor. It's 20% smaller and is more of a refresh than an upgrade from the W5 Gen 1 on the Pixel Watch 3. It's still manufactured on a 4nm process and has 4x Cortex-A53 cores.
While the SoC won't perform better than the W5 Gen 1, Qualcomm claims it improves GPS precision by 50%. Besides, the new Satellite Connectivity feature arrives courtesy of the W5 Gen 2 upgrade (more about that later).
Pixel Watch 4 gets a bigger battery with a different charging dock
The Pixel Watch 4's 41 mm variant gets a 327mAh battery, whereas the 45 mm variant gets a 459mAh battery. That's around 7% and 9% increase in capacity from last year, which should mean the Pixel Watch 4 should last a bit longer than the Pixel Watch 3.
Google also claims the Pixel Watch 4 charges 25% faster. The Pixel Watch 3 also got a decent charging speed bump over the Pixel Watch 2, and the 25% increase in the Pixel Watch 4 could be attributed to the new charging dock.
Speaking of which, the new charging dock charges snaps onto the Pixel Watch 4 on the left. While it solves the inconvenience of trying to align the current dock, it may also be prone to damage because of exposed pins. Not to mention, if you own a Pixel Watch 2 or Pixel Watch 3, you need to chuck your existing charging dock into the bin.
Pixel Watch 4 Gets Emergency Satellite Connectivity
The Pixel Watch 4 could be the first Pixel Watch to feature Emergency Satellite Communication. This was made possible thanks to a new Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 chipset. The feature works just like it does on the Pixel phones.
Initial rumours suggested the arrival of a new health feature called Breathing Emergencies on the Pixel Watch 4. It's a feature that could alert users when their SpO2 levels are at dangerous levels. Google did not reveal anything about the feature, but it could be coming soon in the future. It may join the Loss of Pulse detection feature that Google introduced in the Pixel Watch 3.
Pixel Watch 4 is more repairable
While owners of Pixel Watches have had very less to complain about, Google's solution to broken Pixel Watches has been "send it to us and we'll replace it for extra cash". While it's slightly more convenient, it doesn't exactly go with Google's frequent claims of being an environmentally friendly company.
That finally changes with the Pixel Watch 4 as it finally gets a user-replaceable display and battery (check). No more mailing in your broken Pixel Watch to Google. Now that we think about it, the switch to side-mounted charging could be to make replacing your Pixel Watch's battery a bit easier?
Should you get the Pixel Watch 4 over the Pixel Watch 3?
Before we get into if it's worth purchasing the Pixel Watch 4 over Pixel Watch 3, let's look at all the specifications in detail.
Specification | Pixel Watch 4 | Pixel Watch 3 |
|---|---|---|
Dial sizes | 41 mm and 45 mm | 41 mm and 45 mm |
Display | 41 mm: 1.2-inch 408 x 408 pixels 60 Hz OLED | 45 mm: 1.4-inch 456 x 456 pixels 60 Hz OLED display. Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection | 41 mm: 1.2-inch 408 x 408 pixels 60 Hz OLED | 45 mm: 1.4-inch 456 x 456 pixels 60 Hz OLED display. Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 |
Battery | 41 mm: 327mAh | 45 mm: 459mAh, 25% faster charging than Pixel Watch 3 | 41 mm: 307mAh | 45 mm: 420mAh |
Sensors | Heart rate, SpO2, Compass, Altimeter, ECG, Gyroscope, Ambient light sensor, cEDA, Baromater, Magnetometer | Heart rate, SpO2, Compass, Altimeter, ECG, Gyroscope, Ambient light sensor, cEDA, Baromater, Magnetometer |
Software | Wear OS 6 with 3 years of updates | Upgraded to Wear OS 6 with 2 years of updates remaining |
Colours | Chassis: Black, Silver and Gold Sport bands: Indigo, Limoncello and Iris Active bands: Obsidian, Porcelain and Moonstone | Chassis: Matte Black, Silver and Hazel Sport bands: Wintergreen, Peony Active bands: Obsidian, Porcelain, Rose Quartz and Hazel |
Price | 41 mm: Rs 39,900 45 mm: Rs 43,900 | 41 mm: Rs 39,900 45 mm: Rs 43,900 |
With the Pixel Watch 4 bringing a decent set of improvements, you may wonder, "Is it worth upgrading from the Watch 3?" The short answer is no. But if you own the original Pixel Watch or the Watch 2, then the Pixel Watch 4 is definitely an upgrade.
The Pixel Watch 3 still offers a good performance and display with about 1.5 days of battery life. The Watch 4 may last a bit longer and gets an even brighter panel, but those are only minor upgrades. Plus, with the Watch 3 being as year older, you can usually find it at a much lower price, making it the better value overall.
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