Google Pixel Watch 2: Price, features, availability, colors, and more

Almost like clockwork, Google launched the Pixel Watch 2 a year after it first entered the smartwatch market with the original Pixel Watch. The new wearable takes several cues from its predecessor — the Pixel Watch 2 is an evolutionary tale. It looks identical to the first generation but matures inside with additional sensors, Qualcomm processing, new safety and fitness features, enhanced durability, and a bigger battery. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Google Pixel Watch 2.

Pixel Watch 2: Release date, price, and availability

• Pixel Watch 2 Wi-Fi: $349 / €349 / £349
• Pixel Watch 2 LTE:  $399 / €399 / £399

Google launched the Pixel Watch 2 on October 4 at its Made By Google event, where the company also revealed the Pixel 8 series. The Pixel Watch 2 is available in two models — one with LTE connectivity and another with only Wi-Fi connectivity. While Google has spruced up the smartwatch with several new goodies, the one thing that remains consistent is the price of both Pixel Watch 2 models.

The base Pixel Watch 2 Wi-Fi variant costs shoppers $349, while the Pixel Watch 2 LTE version costs $399. The device is available in the same nine countries where Google initially launched the Pixel Watch. That means you can pick up the new wearable in the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland (Wi-Fi only), Japan, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. The company also expanded the Pixel Watch 2’s availability to Austria (Wi-Fi only), Belgium (Wi-Fi only), Denmark, India (Wi-Fi only), Italy (Wi-Fi only), Netherlands (Wi-Fi only), Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland (Wi-Fi only).

Pixel Watch 2: Colors, bands, design, and size

The Pixel Watch 2 still uses a 41mm dial that is 12.3mm thick. These are the same dimensions as the first Pixel Watch but in a slightly lighter 30g body. Google says the 100% recycled aluminum housing has contributed to the smartwatch weighing six grams less than its predecessor. We found the device sleek and comfortable during our Pixel Watch 2 review period.

You still get the same domed cover glass, which the company claims is thinner this time around. We didn’t really notice any difference. Unfortunately, the domed screen is susceptible to damage because of its shape. So, making the glass thinner might not have been the best decision, especially since Google’s repair policy for its smartwatches is essentially non-existent. As a result, one of our top Pixel Watch 2 tips is to clad your wearable in a protective case.

Anyhow, it’s not all worrying news regarding the design of the Pixel Watch 2. Google secured an official IP68 water and dust resistance rating for the smartwatch, something we sorely missed on the Pixel Watch. The newer model can now withstand immersion in water of up to 1.5m in depth for at least 30 minutes. So yes, you can take it swimming, provided you also pair it with a water-resistant Pixel Watch 2 band.

The Pixel Watch 2 comes in the following color/band options:

• Polished Silver/Bay band
• Polished Silver/Porcelain band
• Matte Black/Obsidian band
• Champagne Gold/Hazel band

The assortment of bands includes new Metal Slim and Active Sport bands. You can also pick up other types of bands, including Crafted Leather, Two-tone Leather, Metal Mesh, Metal Link, Stretch, and Woven. If you’re not happy with Google’s offerings, a host of third-party Pixel Watch 2 bands are also available.

The small Active bands fit wrists measuring 130-175mm around, while the large ones fit wrists 165-210mm around. You’ll get one of each in the box. All the Pixel Watch 2 bands are also compatible with the first Pixel Watch, except for the Metal Mesh and Metal Slim bands.

Pixel Watch 2: Features

Time to count everything new on the Pixel Watch 2. To begin with, the Pixel Watch 2 offers automatic workout start and stop reminders for seven common workouts, including running, outdoor cycling, and more. You can also use the Fitbit Exercise app to start additional workouts and view real-time workout data on the Pixel Watch 2. But that’s stuff we also saw on the previous Pixel Watch. Below are all the key new fitness tracking and smartwatch features on the Pixel Watch 2.

All-new multi-path heart rate sensor

Google fitted the Pixel Watch 2 with a new multi-path heart rate sensor for improved signal quality. The sensor uses multiple LEDs and photodiodes to measure the pulse signal from different angles to provide multiple estimates of your pulse. This is great for exercising, as the sensor automatically switches between single and multi-path modes based on your workout’s intensity. Google says the Pixel Watch 2 offers Fitbit’s most accurate all-day heart rate tracking thanks to the sensor, and based on our review, we’d agree. Compared to our chest strap, the device’s sensor nailed heart rate accuracy during various workout types. It also powers other fitness features such as sleep tracking, high and low heart rate notifications, and Daily Readiness Score.

Body Response tracking

Google also equipped the Google Pixel Watch 2 with a cEDA (continuous electrodermal activity) sensor for stress measurement. It helps identify signs of stress in your body so you can reflect on your emotions and take action. Google calls the feature “Body Response tracking,” something we’ve previously seen on multiple Fitbit wearables like the Sense 2 and Charge 6.

Apart from the cEDA sensor, the Pixel Watch 2 also takes cues from the heart rate sensor and a new skin temperature sensor to help identify potential signs of stress. It then offers intervention options, like telling you to walk or do a guided breathing exercise. Overall, our reviewer wasn’t overly impressed with the tool, which she felt lacked insights and guidance.

Safety Check

Wear OS 4

While Samsung already has Wear OS 4 smartwatches on the market, the Pixel Watch 2 was Google’s first smartwatch to get the new software, and it comes pre-loaded with the Gmail and Calendar apps. You can open, view, reply, delete, and archive emails straight from the Pixel Watch 2. You can also view and delete events and respond to Calendar invitations from your wrist. Google also supercharged Assistant with new abilities on the Pixel Watch 2, so you can query Fitbit features like your sleep stats with voice commands. The new software also, finally, adds a backup and restore feature for swapping phones.

Other health and fitness metrics that the Pixel Watch 2 can track include:

• Heart Zone Training to help guide users with voice and haptic cues as they move through four personalized heart rate zones.
• Pace Training to help users stay on pace or return to their ideal pace if they’ve fallen behind.
• SpO2 measurement to monitor oxygen saturation.
• Fitbit ECG for on-demand ECG readings and​ ​assessing signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib).
• Sleep tracking to generate a sleep score reading users can access each morning.
• Fitbit Premium features also come free for six months with a Pixel Watch 2 purchase.

Notably, Google is set to bring three years of updates to the Pixel Watch 2. It’s not as great as Samsung’s lengthier promise for its smartwatches, but it should satisfy most buyers who regularly upgrade their wearables.

Pixel Watch 2 faces

The Pixel Watch 2 adds six new watch Pixel Watch face families. Some are designed to be more simple & discreet, while others are data-rich and customizable. The At a Glance watch face complication delivers contextually relevant information when you need it, like weather and traffic data.

Pixel Watch 2: Battery life

The Pixel Watch 2 now features a 306mAh battery, up from 294mAh on the previous model. The new smartwatch will last for 24 hours with the Always-on Display enabled. The device also ships with a different charger than the previous model. The pogo pin charger powers the watch from zero to 100% in a little over an hour, about 30 minutes faster than the original model. Just 15 minutes on the plug gains 20% battery, enough to track a full night’s sleep. Tracking sleep overnight, our reviewer found the battery drops about 10%. Our reviewer was happy with the improvement, though we’d love to see Google push battery life even further.

Pixel Watch 2: Specs

Google ditched Samsung and equipped the Pixel Watch 2 with a Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 processor. The 4nm quad-core SoC is a big leap from the 10nm dual-core Exynos 9110 processor that powers the Pixel Watch. It delivers speedier processing with its A53 CPU cores and Cortex M33 co-processor, improved power efficiency, and better Wear OS performance. We’ve already seen the processor in action on the OPPO Watch 3 series, a China exclusive.

Elsewhere, the Pixel Watch 2 features the same 1.2-inch 320 PPI AMOLED display with 1,000 nits peak brightness, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz, GPS, 4G LTE (on the LTE model), 32GB storage, and 2GB RAM. You can check the complete Pixel Watch 2 specs in the table below.

Is the Google Pixel Watch 2 worth it?

The Google Pixel Watch 2 is a powerful Wear OS device worthy of consideration. It offers considerable improvement over its predecessor and boasts the best of Wear OS as well as Fitbit. It’s also comfortable, attractive, and reliable.

If you’re investing in a new Google watch for the first time, the Pixel Watch 2 is the best you can get. The processor and battery upgrades alone make it instantly more powerful than the original Pixel Watch. Google also ensures software and security updates land on time, which is a big advantage over other Wear OS wearables. So, if you’re looking to purchase a capable Wear OS smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 2 is a good pick.

If you already own a Pixel Watch, consider whether new features like Body Response tracking, improved heart rate measurement, faster charging, and Safety Check are important to you. As for Wear OS 4, the original Pixel Watch will also get the update.

The market also includes several Pixel Watch 2 alternatives Android users should consider, like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 ($299.99 at Samsung) or Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro ($162.57 at Amazon and $374 at Amazon), and  Garmin Venu 3 ($449.99 at Amazon). Meanwhile, for iPhone users, the best alternative is the Apple Watch Series 9 ($389.99 at Amazon).

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