I refuse to buy a Pixel Watch until Google changes these 5 things

I’ve tried smartwatches from every major brand, and have run nearly 2,000 miles with a smartwatch on my wrist. There are plenty of excellent options on the market — I usually switch between wearing a Garmin, an Apple Watch, or a Galaxy Watch on my wrist. I enjoyed my time trying out OnePlus and Withings watches, too. Google’s Pixel Watch is the one smartwatch model that never felt right, and after playing around with the Pixel Watch 5 in a hands-on session, I’m still not ready to buy one.

Google is really starting to tempt me. The domed Actua 360 display looks absolutely gorgeous, especially when paired with a polished silver aluminum case and metal band. The accuracy of the Pixel Watch’s dual-frequency GPS can hang with the best fitness watches on the market. Plus, Google’s fitness and health suite is finally fit to compete with Apple and Samsung’s offerings. Despite all the improvements, I can’t replace my smartwatches with a Pixel Watch until Google makes these five changes.

A thinner, refreshed case

The core design of the Pixel Watch has remained the same since its inception, and it’s not my favorite look. Google calls it a “water droplet” design, and to the company’s credit, newer Pixel Watch models execute it better thanks to a matching domed display. Still, I have both aesthetic and functional concerns about the Pixel Watch design. From a visual perspective, I prefer the flatter and rugged designs of watches like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to the curved chassis of the Pixel Watch 5 and Apple Watch Series 11.

More importantly, the Pixel Watch 5’s thickness of 12.3mm is untenable. That’s the smartwatch’s official thickness, and like Apple and Samsung, Google doesn’t count the full thickness of the sensor bump on the back in its dimensions. So, the Pixel Watch 5 is actually a bit larger than that. The Galaxy Watch 9 measures 8.6mm thick, and the Apple Watch Series 11 measures 9.7mm thick.

Google is far behind in this area, and I’ve found the Pixel Watch to be uncomfortable to wear as a result. We’re five generations in, and the Pixel Watch 5 has the same thickness as the original model. From a durability perspective, I worry that the domed glass and thick case make for a dangerous combination — if you hit your watch on something, the glass is the first to make contact with it. Watches like the Galaxy Watch 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 have a metal border that safeguards the glass and displays better.

I’d love to see a new, slimmer design for the Pixel Watch that’s a bit more rugged. That would certainly entice me to leave my Apple and Samsung smartwatches behind.

A better accessory and charging ecosystem

Google hasn’t changed the thickness or general design of the Pixel Watch over the years, but I can’t say the same about its chargers. Through five generations of Pixel Watch, there have been three different chargers. The original Pixel Watch had a wireless charging puck, the Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3 had a pin-based charging puck, and the Pixel Watch 4 and Pixel Watch 5 have a magnetic pin charging dock. As a longtime Apple Watch wearer who can use my Apple Watch Sport (2015) charger with my Apple Watch Ultra 3 (2025), I consider Google’s smartwatch charger drama preposterous.

If I were a loyal Pixel Watch customer, I’d be very frustrated about having to change chargers every few generations. Moreover, the inconsistency is killing the Pixel Watch accessory ecosystem. Take the Belkin Qi2 Modular Charging Dock, for instance. This dock lets you use any Apple, Samsung, or Google smartwatch charging puck you already own. However, it doesn’t work with the Pixel Watch 4 or Pixel Watch 5, since Google’s dock won’t fit.

It’s just one example of Pixel Watch users missing out on great charging accessories, partly because Google settled on a charger design that’s bound to be incompatible with most of them. I’d rather not buy a Pixel Watch and have to worry about a messy charging solution. To earn my money, Google should return to a classic wireless charging puck.

I’ve also worn Google’s fluoroelastomer Pixel Watch bands, and they aren’t as comfortable as others I’ve tried. To be fair, the Pixel Watch 5 ships with a second-generation Google Sport Band, and it uses a new Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (HNBR) material. Perhaps it’s more comfortable than the older ones. Regardless, I still find Google’s first- and third-party watch band offerings to be limited, especially compared to Apple’s.

Longer battery life

The Pixel Watch’s battery life is a major problem for me. I’ve been spoiled by wearables like the Fitbit Air and Garmin Enduro 3 that I can count on to last a week between charges, if not longer. They’ve even made my Apple Watch Ultra 3’s multi-day battery life seem lackluster. Google certainly isn’t the only smartwatch maker that could stand to improve battery life, but the short runtime is one reason I’m holding out on buying the Pixel Watch 5.

The latest 45mm model claims to provide up to 40 hours of battery life with the always-on display active. The more you use certain features, like GPS and workout tracking, the shorter real-world battery life will be. The smaller 41mm model’s battery life is understandably shorter, and has an advertised rating of up to 30 hours of battery life with the always-on display on. These figures are about the same as my Galaxy Watch 8, and I need to recharge it nightly.

With my Apple Watch Ultra 3, I can forget to charge it without missing a day of activity and workout tracking. It’s surprisingly thinner than the Pixel Watch 5, so I don’t see any reason why Google can’t boost battery life.

Improved Wear OS tiles

I’ve used Wear OS on both Samsung and Google smartwatches, and I prefer One UI Watch. With One UI 8 Watch and newer, you can add multiple tiles to a single page, helping you do more on your Galaxy Watch from the watch face. I can swipe to the left and see a page with five health widgets, a page with four fitness widgets, and another page with four basic widgets. This allows me to check my activity stats, start workouts, check the weather, and monitor the status of my connected devices — all from a few data-dense tile pages.

When I use my Galaxy Watch 8, I barely open Wear OS apps at all. Everything I need is available right on my tile pages, and it’s only a swipe away. The experience isn’t the same on the Pixel Watch. Google tends to show only as much data as can fit on a single Pixel Watch screen. I can’t scroll or swipe to see more information without launching the full app. A tile on a Pixel Watch shows only my step count, whereas a One UI Watch tile shows my step count, active time, and calories burned — and it’s just one of many tiles on a scrollable page.

Google should take a page out of Samsung’s book for Wear OS on the Pixel Watch. The hardware is finally starting to catch up, but Google’s software isn’t nearly as data-dense as it needs to be to compete with One UI Watch, watchOS, or Garmin OS.

A Pixel Watch Ultra model

Google could make my dream Pixel Watch without touching what fans love about the current models. All it has to do is add a “Pixel Watch Ultra” to the lineup. Apple and Samsung did it, and it paid off. They have affordable and stylish smartwatch models for everyday users, and the Ultra variant for power users or those who simply like a rugged look. In my case, I want a more durable design, longer battery life, and better software.

A Google Pixel Watch Ultra would hit all those notes and leave the regular Pixel Watch’s design and features intact for those who love it. I already think Google has the display and sensor hardware ready for an Ultra watch; the company just needs to put it in a rugged package. The Pixel Watch 5’s display has a 1-nit minimum brightness and a 3,000-nit peak brightness, matching the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Both watches have dual-frequency GPS and advanced electrical and optical heart sensors.

The foundation is there. Put it all in a new smartwatch case, throw in a bigger battery, and enhance the software, and I won’t just buy a Pixel Watch — I’ll pay more for one.