The Google Pixel Watch 2, launched in October 2023, arrived as a direct successor to Google’s first smartwatch, aiming to address key criticisms while building upon its established design and software strengths. It marked an evolution with significant internal upgrades, a greater emphasis on health and fitness through deeper Fitbit integration, and refinements to the user experience.
Key Enhancements and Features:
- Design and Build: The Pixel Watch 2 maintained the signature minimalist and rounded 41mm casing of its predecessor but transitioned from stainless steel to 100% recycled aluminum. This change made the watch noticeably lighter (31 grams without the band, down from 36 grams), enhancing comfort. While retaining the same 1.2-inch AMOLED display size (320 ppi) with its distinctive domed Corning Gorilla Glass 5, the Pixel Watch 2 boasted a brighter screen, capable of reaching up to 1000 nits for better outdoor visibility. The haptic crown was also refined for smoother scrolling and tactile feedback. It launched in several color combinations: Matte Black/Obsidian, Polished Silver/Bay, Polished Silver/Porcelain, and Champagne Gold/Hazel. Durability was also improved with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, alongside the existing 5 ATM water resistance.
- Performance Boost: A significant upgrade came in the form of the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 processor, paired with a Cortex M33 co-processor and 2GB of RAM. This delivered a much-needed performance uplift, resulting in smoother animations, faster app loading times, and overall a more responsive experience compared to the Exynos chip in the first model. Storage remained at 32GB eMMC flash.
- Battery Life and Charging: Addressing one of the primary concerns of the original, the Pixel Watch 2 featured a slightly larger 306 mAh battery (up from 294 mAh). Coupled with the more power-efficient processor, Google advertised 24 hours of battery life even with the always-on display activated. Charging also saw improvements, with the ability to reach 50% charge in about 30 minutes and a full charge in approximately 75 minutes, thanks to a redesigned magnetic charging puck that uses pogo pins for a more secure connection (forgoing wireless charging).
- Advanced Health and Wellness Sensors: The Pixel Watch 2 significantly expanded its health tracking capabilities with new and improved sensors:
- Multi-path optical heart rate sensor: Designed for more accurate heart rate tracking, particularly during vigorous exercise.
- Skin temperature sensor: Allowing users to track variations in their skin temperature, which can offer insights into wellness and be used by Fitbit’s stress management system.
- Continuous Electrodermal Activity (cEDA) sensor: This sensor measures tiny changes in sweat levels to help identify potential signs of stress, integrating with Fitbit’s stress management tools to provide notifications and guidance.
- It retained essential sensors like SpO2 (blood oxygen), an ECG app for atrial fibrillation detection, an altimeter, compass, gyroscope, and accelerometer.
- Software and Fitbit Integration: Launched with Wear OS 4.0, the Pixel Watch 2 offered an enhanced user interface with features like dynamic theming, improved notifications, and easier watch-to-phone transfers. Google has continued to provide updates, with the March 2025 software update bringing Wear OS 5.1. Fitbit integration was even deeper, offering features like:
- Stress Management: Utilizing the new cEDA and skin temperature sensors.
- Workout Enhancements: Auto Workout mode, Heart Zone Training, and Pace Training.
- Sleep Tracking: Detailed Sleep Score and Sleep Profile analysis.
- Six months of Fitbit Premium were typically included with purchase.
- Enhanced Safety Features: The Pixel Watch 2 introduced more robust safety tools, including Safety Check (which allows users to set a timer for an activity and automatically alert emergency contacts if they don’t check in), Emergency Sharing, Fall Detection, and Medical Information display. LTE models with Fitbit Premium could also utilize Safety Signal, allowing access to emergency features even without a paired phone or active data plan.
- Connectivity: The Pixel Watch 2 featured Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz), NFC for Google Wallet, and comprehensive GPS (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS). An LTE model was also available.
Pricing and Reception:
Upon release, the Pixel Watch 2 was priced at approximately $349.99 for the Wi-Fi version and $399.99 for the 4G LTE version in the United States.
The Pixel Watch 2 was generally well-received by critics and users, who praised its significantly improved performance, enhanced battery life (though still often a daily charge for many users), more accurate health tracking, and the introduction of new sensors. The lighter aluminum build and refined crown were also seen as positive changes.
However, some critiques remained, including the single 41mm size option which might not appeal to users preferring larger watch faces, and the proprietary band mechanism. While charging was faster, the move to a pogo pin charger meant no compatibility with the first-gen’s wireless charger.
Overall, the Pixel Watch 2 was considered a more mature and well-rounded smartwatch, successfully addressing many of the shortcomings of its predecessor and offering a compelling option for Android users, especially those integrated into the Google and Fitbit ecosystems.