Google’s Pixel Watch 4 (45mm) Puts Gemini on a Domed Wrist

Forty-five millimeters is the size that finally makes Google’s round watch feel finished. The Wi-Fi Pixel Watch 4 in that case starts at $399, though the Moonstone Wi-Fi listing is now sitting nearer $280. The aluminum body is 12.3 mm thick and 36.7 grams without a band, so it sits low on the wrist instead of stacking like a hockey puck.

Actua 360 is the name Google gave the new panel, and the curve is the first thing you notice as you tilt your arm up. The 45mm watch’s AMOLED LTPO screen measures approximately 1.4 inches and has a resolution of 456 by 456 pixels and a decent 320 ppi. The peak brightness is also impressive, peaking at 3,000 nits, allowing you to read that split time in full sunlight without difficulty. Then there’s the always-on mode, which can only manage one nit for nighttime viewing.

Bezels have shrunk by 16% compared to last year’s watch, implying that active area has increased by around 10% within the same 45mm circle. As a lovely touch, the entire device is wrapped in some high-quality 3D Gorilla Glass 5. To top it all off, the 45mm model features IP68 and 5ATM ratings, giving you complete piece of mind that your Actua 360 is fully prepared for showers, pools, accidental dips, and anything else.

Battery longevity is perhaps the single most important reason to choose this size over the 41mm model. We’re talking official estimates of 40 hours even with the always-on display turned on full blast, and an impressive 72 hours in Battery Saver mode. Reviewers who left the screen on all day lasted between 36 and 47 hours, while one user’s lasted 56 hours despite using the workout and sleep tracking features frequently. If your battery runs out, simply put it into the new side Quick Charge station, which is the third one they’ve built in four years. It charges swiftly, roughly 50% in 15 minutes and a full charge in about an hour. If you neglected to charge your device last night, a mere 15 minutes on the dock will carry you through the day.

Wear OS 6 powers the new watch, which has received a great nice facelift thanks to Material 3 Expressive. That means larger tap targets, clearer tiles, and watch faces that make better use of the extra screen, rather than floating in a dark ring like they used to. If you have the Gemini assistant on your wrist, you can wake her up with a raise-to-talk gesture, though it still creeps up on you from time to time. Quick replies are useful for those short texts, and let’s be honest: the Fitbit still handles the health stack like a pro, with over 40 exercise modes, improved automatic workout detection, dual frequency GPS for very clean run and hike traces, an ECG, blood oxygen, skin temperature, and even overnight sleep scoring. If you choose the LTE model, you will also receive satellite SOS for emergencies while you are far from the main path. Wi-Fi-only devices, on the other hand, can do without the radio.

The real news is that it’s repairable. Google designed the shell to allow you to remove the screen and battery without damaging the wearable, and they even sell the components on iFixit. Don’t worry, attempting to do it yourself will not violate your warranty. That’s unusual for a flagship wearable, so there must be some satisfied developers out there.

Under the hood, you’ll find the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2, a Cortex-M55 coprocessor, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage, which should keep Wear OS running smoothly. Connectivity options include Bluetooth 6, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, and ultra-wideband, covering all bases for payments, keys, and phone pairing. Keep in mind that you’ll need Android 11 or newer on your phone.