I Tried the New Google Pixel 2 Smartwatch—Here’s Who I Would (and Would Not) Recommend It To

Wearables like fitness trackers and smartwatches have been around for well over a decade, so it surprised me to learn that Google didn’t throw its (tech-heavy) hat into the ring until 2022. That’s when it collaborated with Fitbit to release the Google Pixel Watch, a quick, stylish device that earned SELF-Certified status after I attempted it out.

Now it’s back with its sophomore offering: the Google Pixel Watch 2 ($350, amazon.com)which guarantees to take health-focused metrics even further while improving a few of its snags (most noticeably, a not-so-great battery life). I got the chance to check this selection too—here’s the way it stacks up against the OG.

How I tested

I based my review of the Google Pixel Watch 2 on criteria beneficial by SELF’s panel of experts, which incorporates aspects like ease of use, accuracy, battery life, water resistance, and special features. I wore the look ahead to nearly a month, and took it off only to charge—meaning I showered, slept, and exercised with it on. I attempted it during a bunch of various workouts, including outdoor runs and walks, strength training sessions, and indoor cycling. For comparison’s sake, I also wore it with the Garmin Venu 3 on my other wrist during a few of my workouts.

Ease of use

I tested the Google Pixel Watch 2 with my Google Pixel 7 phone, which made for a fairly easy setup. (Sorry Apple users, this watch won’t give you the results you want, because it’s Android-only.)

First impressions

Like its predecessor, the Pixel Watch 2 is a rattling attractive device. I attempted it in matte black with an identical band, and it looked so sleek and classy. It has a lower profile than loads of other smartwatches—once I wore it with my Venu 3, the Garmin would normally snag on a sleeve once I was putting on my coat, however the Pixel Watch never did. Google reduced this version’s weight by 10%, so it felt super light too. The watch got here with a silicone sport band, which is waterproof, sweat-resistant, and has a nifty closure (the tip tucks away so it never got here loose for me).

The Pixel Watch 2 operates with the combo of a touchscreen, one haptic button, and one scrolling crown button. There’s a little bit of a learning curve here; different actions do various things. A brief press of the haptic button takes you thru an inventory of your most recently used apps, while an extended press summons your voice-activated virtual assistant. A single press of the crown takes you to your apps, and a double press sends you to your virtual wallet.

And for those who’re right into a learning curve? Lean in your virtual assistant as an alternative, which I did greater than I’d care to confess. Simply press the button and provides it verbal commands—“start a run,” “set a timer,” “text Rob”—and boom: no need to recollect any sort of buttons.

The app

The Pixel Watch 2 requires two apps, a separation that I wish could merge right into a more seamless experience. The Watch app is home for the workings of your device: preferences, display, notifications, safety and emergency contacts, and other apps, plus the flexibility to decide on and reorder which tiles appear in your wrist. To have a look at your health or workout metrics, you’ll need to move over to the Fitbit app. That’s where you’ll find on a regular basis data like steps, activity minutes, and floors climbed, in addition to health-specific info, like heart rate, stress level, and sleep readings.

The watch face

You have dozens of decisions to your watch face. Google seems to favor the understated; I selected the one which displays essentially the most metrics—time, day, date, together with battery level, steps, calories, and heart rate—which was still a bit lower than I had with other brands.