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Pixel Watch 4 Review: The Honeymoon Is Over

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  Published in Humor and Quirks on Monday, December 8th 2025 at 15:28 GMT by CNET

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The Pixel Watch 4 After a Month: The Honeymoon Is Over

Google’s Pixel Watch 4 hit the market in October, and the first month of real‑world use is here. In a deep‑dive review from CNET, the author takes the new Wear OS 4 smartwatch from the showroom to the living room and the gym, and then back to the office to see whether the promises of a “more seamless Google‑centric” experience have lived up to expectations. The verdict is mixed: the watch’s core features have improved, but some of the teething problems that plagued its debut still linger.

1. Design & Build

At a glance the Pixel Watch 4 looks very much like its predecessor, but with a few refinements. The “new generation of materials” gives it a slightly thicker, more premium feel—especially the stainless‑steel 1.5‑inch display that sits on a ceramic‑backed case. The color palette remains the familiar “dark, mid‑tone and a few “pops” for the watch‑face, though the “Pro” variant adds a slimmer 1.4‑inch design with a titanium bezel. The author notes that the new watch is still a bit heavier than the Pixel Watch 2, but the feel is solid and the 1.5‑inch display has a higher contrast ratio than the 1.4‑inch version.

The case houses a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100+ processor, a step‑up from the Snapdragon Wear 4100 in the Watch 2. Battery life improves slightly in the new chipset, but the 420‑mAh cell still cannot keep a fully‑charged watch all week.

2. Wear OS 4 & the New UI

Google’s latest iteration of its smartwatch OS brings a new “Health Hub” layout and a cleaner, more Android‑like look. The author appreciates that the “health hub” is now on the home screen, making it easier to see body‑temperature readings, menstrual‑tracking data, and sleep graphs at a glance. A new “Battery Saver” mode keeps the watch at 50 % charge for days while turning off background services, a nice addition for those who want to preserve battery life.

One of the most significant changes is the improved notification system. The author points out that the watch can now prioritize notifications from Google’s own ecosystem (e.g., Gmail, Maps, and Search) over third‑party apps. However, the review still flags that the watch’s default “Do Not Disturb” settings can be overly aggressive, sometimes blocking calls from the “Phone” app even when a user is actively using the watch for a workout.

3. Health & Fitness Improvements

Google has spent a lot of time polishing the watch’s health sensors. In the first month, the watch’s body‑temperature sensor shows a higher resolution of 0.02°C, giving more accurate baseline measurements than the previous version. Menstrual tracking is now a first‑class feature, and the watch now supports the WHO’s “Blood Pressure” data standard—though it still requires a compatible cuff to sync data.

The author spent a week tracking daily activity. The step counter has become more reliable, with an accuracy rating of 90 % in the CNET review. The new “Smart Workout” mode automatically detects workouts like running or swimming, and the watch’s “Run” app now supports “Dynamic GPS,” which reduces battery drain by only sampling GPS every few seconds. However, the GPS accuracy is still off by up to 6 meters in urban canyons, which may disappoint users who rely on precise route tracking.

4. Battery Life

A 40‑48‑hour battery life in the best case scenario is an improvement from the 36‑hour life of the Pixel Watch 2, but the author notes that heavy usage (constant GPS, heart‑rate monitoring, and a bright always‑on display) can reduce that to just 30 hours. The new chipset is not a silver bullet; the watch still has a “quick‑charge” feature that only restores 70 % of the battery in 15 minutes.

The review links to a Google page that describes the “Battery Saver” mode in more detail: the mode limits background app activity, disables the always‑on display, and turns off the speaker, which can extend battery life by up to two days.

5. Price & Market Position

Google positions the Pixel Watch 4 at $399 for the base model and $449 for the Pro variant—roughly $50 higher than the Pixel Watch 2. The author argues that while the new health features and better integration with Google Fit are compelling, the price remains high for a watch that still lacks the “app‑store depth” of the Apple Watch and the “fitness‑focus” of the Garmin Fenix series.

The article cites a link to the official Google Pixel Store, where the watch can be purchased with a 4‑year battery guarantee—an incentive that might sway users looking for longevity.

6. The Honeymoon Is Over, but There Is Still Room to Grow

Overall, the Pixel Watch 4’s first month of use is a story of incremental improvement rather than radical innovation. Google’s focus on a tighter integration with its own services (Google Maps, Nest, Fit) pays dividends for users who already own Pixel phones or other Google hardware, but the smartwatch still feels like a mid‑tier product that can’t compete with Apple’s dominance or Garmin’s robust fitness ecosystem.

Key take‑aways from the CNET review:

Google has already issued a software update that adds more watch‑faces and tweaks the sleep‑tracking algorithm, and the company promises a full “Pro‑only” firmware overhaul later this year. Until then, the Pixel Watch 4 will likely continue to serve as a solid, Google‑centric smartwatch—great for everyday life but still waiting for the “honeymoon” to fully end.