A Surprising Result! Pixel Watch 2 vs Apple Watch

Summary

The Pixel Watch 2, Google's second-generation smartwatch, is reviewed in this video, focusing on battery life, design, performance, and fitness. The watch has improved battery life, lasting over 24 hours with an always-on display and heart sensor. It has a sleeker design with better haptic feedback and durability, scoring high in build quality and comfort. Performance is satisfactory with a responsive interface and quick notifications. The integration of Fitbit for fitness tracking is a plus, but the watch falls short in swim workout tracking and available metrics. Overall, it's the reviewer's top pick for an Android smartwatch, despite some fitness tracking limitations.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Pixel Watch 2 is Google's second attempt at creating a smartwatch that can compete with the Apple Watch.
• 🔋 The battery life of the Pixel Watch 2 has been significantly improved, offering over 24 hours with the always-on display and heart sensor active, and up to 36 hours in regular use.
• 📶 The watch performs well on cellular usage, providing around 10 to 12 hours of battery life, which is suitable for a full day without needing to recharge.
• 🔌 Charging has been sped up, with 12 hours of charge achieved in just 30 minutes using the new charging puck, although the charging method is noted as somewhat frustrating.
• 🛠 The build quality and design of the Pixel Watch 2 are praised, with the watch surviving durability tests and offering a comfortable, smaller form factor compared to other smartwatches.
• 💻 The watch's performance is noted as a strong point, with no lag or slow-downs in the interface, and improved UI gestures for ease of use.
• 🆘 New safety features such as check-ins and medical ID are highlighted, showing Google's focus on user safety and health.
• 🗣️ Google Assistant is integrated into the watch, offering a superior voice assistant experience compared to Siri, with context-aware capabilities.
• 🏃‍♂️ The Pixel Watch 2 has transitioned from Google Fit to Fitbit for fitness tracking, providing a comprehensive app for tracking various health metrics.
• 🏊‍♂️ While the watch has improved fitness tracking features, including heart rate and skin temperature monitoring, the swim workout feature is limited and the available metrics during workouts are less extensive than other devices.
• 🏅 Overall, the Pixel Watch 2 is considered the reviewer's favorite Android smartwatch of the year, offering a refined experience and addressing many of the issues from the first generation.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is a review of the second-generation Pixel Watch, comparing it with the Apple Watch and evaluating its performance, battery life, design, and fitness capabilities.

What were the issues with the first-generation Pixel Watch according to the script?

The first-generation Pixel Watch had issues with battery life, where it couldn't last a full 24 hours on a single charge, often dying overnight.

How does the battery life of the Pixel Watch 2 compare to its predecessor?

The Pixel Watch 2 has improved battery life, offering over 24 hours on a single charge with the always-on display and heart sensor running, and up to 36 hours of usage reported by the reviewer.

What is the charging time for the Pixel Watch 2 to achieve 12 hours of battery life?

The Pixel Watch 2 can achieve 12 hours of battery life with just 30 minutes of charging using the new charging puck.

What design aspects of the Pixel Watch 2 does the reviewer prefer?

The reviewer prefers the smaller form factor of the Pixel Watch 2, its light weight, improved haptic feedback on the digital crown, and the clear screen.

How does the build quality of the Pixel Watch 2 fare in durability tests?

The Pixel Watch 2 performed well in durability tests, with the back of the watch bending instead of shattering due to its metal material, although the screen did shatter like other smartwatches.

What is the general performance of the Pixel Watch 2 in terms of speed and usability?

The Pixel Watch 2 has good performance, with no reported lag or slow-down in the interface, responsive swipe gestures, and quick notification interactions.

What new features does the Pixel Watch 2 have for safety and health monitoring?

The Pixel Watch 2 introduces safety check-ins and medical ID features, allowing users to set timers for check-ins and share location and contact emergency services if needed.

How does the Google Assistant on the Pixel Watch 2 compare to Siri?

The Google Assistant on the Pixel Watch 2 is considered better than Siri, being more contextually aware and not requiring users to repeat themselves as often.

What are the fitness capabilities of the Pixel Watch 2, and what are some limitations?

The Pixel Watch 2 tracks heart rate, skin temperature, and stress, and auto-detects workouts. However, it has limitations in swim tracking and the available metrics shown during workouts compared to other fitness trackers.

What is the reviewer's overall opinion of the Pixel Watch 2 as a smartwatch?

The reviewer considers the Pixel Watch 2 to be their favorite Android smartwatch of the year, better than the Galaxy Watch 6, especially for those interested in a smartwatch rather than a fitness watch, except for swimmers.

Outlines

00:00

🔋 Battery Life and Charging Improvements

The script discusses the improvements in battery life for the Pixel Watch 2, Google's second-generation smartwatch. The first-generation watch suffered from insufficient battery life, often dying overnight. The new model addresses this issue, offering over 24 hours of battery life with features like the always-on display and heart rate monitoring active. The reviewer also mentions achieving approximately 36 hours of battery life, providing flexibility in charging times. Additionally, the watch's battery performance remains strong during cellular use, with an estimated 10 to 12 hours of usage possible. The charging speed is also commendable, with 12 hours of charge achievable in just 30 minutes using the new charging puck, despite the reviewer's frustration with the alignment of the charging pins.

05:00

🛠 Design, Comfort, and Durability

The second paragraph focuses on the design, comfort, and durability of the Pixel Watch 2. The reviewer prefers the smaller form factor compared to the bulkier Apple Watch Ultra and appreciates the improved haptic feedback on the digital crown. The screen is clear, although the reviewer notes the persistent presence of bezels that do not extend to the edges, unlike other smartwatches. The selection of watch faces and bands has expanded, with compatibility with first-generation bands and a new stretch band option. Concerns about build quality due to Google's apparent generosity in giving away watches are dispelled after the reviewer subjected the watch to durability tests, finding it to be resilient up to the point of failure, which was similar to the Apple Watch Ultra. The material on the back of the watch contributes to its durability, bending rather than shattering under stress.

10:01

🚀 Performance and User Experience

The third paragraph delves into the performance of the Pixel Watch 2, highlighting its general speed of use and responsiveness. The reviewer is pleasantly surprised by the watch's performance, with no lag or slow-downs during navigation and interaction. The UI is intuitive, with swipe gestures working effectively. Notifications are quick to arrive and easy to interact with, and new features like safety check-ins and medical ID are noted as valuable additions. The Google Assistant is praised for its contextual awareness and voice recognition capabilities, although there are minor issues with account integration and feature limitations. The reviewer also expresses concerns about the potential removal of features from Google Assistant and the introduction of a new AI system.

🏃‍♂️ Fitness Tracking and Partnership with Fitbit

The final paragraph discusses the fitness tracking capabilities of the Pixel Watch 2 and its partnership with Fitbit. The watch has transitioned from Google Fit to Fitbit's ecosystem, offering a comprehensive app for tracking health and fitness data. The Fitbit app is user-friendly, allowing customization of the information displayed. While a premium subscription is available, it does not lock away essential features. The watch includes a heart rate monitor, skin temperature sensor, and stress monitor, which perform well for most activities. However, the swim workout feature is limited, and the available metrics during workouts are not as extensive as those offered by other fitness trackers. Despite these limitations, the watch accurately tracks activities and could suffice for most users, unless they are swimmers or require more detailed fitness tracking.

Keywords

💡Android Watch

An Android watch is a smartwatch that operates on the Android operating system, designed to be compatible with Android smartphones and other devices. In the video, the Android watch is being compared to the Apple Watch, highlighting the capabilities and improvements of the second-generation Pixel Watch 2, which is Google's attempt to create a smartwatch that rivals the Apple Watch in terms of functionality and user experience.

💡Pixel Watch 2

The Pixel Watch 2 is Google's second-generation smartwatch, which is the focus of the video. It aims to address the issues found in the first generation and compete with the Apple Watch. The script discusses its improvements in battery life, design, performance, and fitness tracking, which are key aspects of a smartwatch's appeal to consumers.

💡Battery Life

Battery life is a critical feature for smartwatches, as it determines how long the device can be used between charges. The video script discusses the first-generation Pixel Watch's battery life issues and how the Pixel Watch 2 has improved, offering over 24 hours of battery life with features like the always-on display and heart rate monitoring.

💡Charging

Charging refers to the process of replenishing the battery of a device. The script mentions the improved battery life of the Pixel Watch 2 and also touches upon the charging experience, including the rapid charging capability and the frustrations with the charging puck's design.

💡Design

Design in the context of the video refers to the physical appearance, comfort, and build quality of the smartwatch. The Pixel Watch 2 is praised for its smaller form factor, improved haptic feedback, and durability, which are important for user satisfaction and the overall smartwatch experience.

💡Performance

Performance in a smartwatch context involves the speed and responsiveness of the device's interface and features. The script highlights that the Pixel Watch 2 has improved performance compared to many Android watches, with no lag or slow-downs, making it more user-friendly and efficient.

💡Fitness

Fitness is a key feature for many smartwatch users, encompassing health tracking, workout monitoring, and related functionalities. The Pixel Watch 2's fitness capabilities are discussed, including heart rate monitoring, skin temperature, and stress tracking, as well as the transition from Google Fit to Fitbit for fitness management.

💡Smartwatch

A smartwatch is a wearable device that provides a range of functions beyond timekeeping, often integrating with a smartphone to offer notifications, apps, and health tracking. The video script uses the term to describe the type of device being reviewed and compared to the Apple Watch, emphasizing the importance of a good smartwatch in today's technology landscape.

💡Apple Watch

The Apple Watch is a line of smartwatches developed by Apple Inc. It is used in the script as a benchmark for comparison, given its reputation as a leading smartwatch in the market. The video discusses how the Pixel Watch 2 aims to provide similar capabilities and user experience.

💡Fitbit

Fitbit is a company known for its fitness tracking devices and apps. In the context of the video, Fitbit has partnered with Google for the Pixel Watch 2, providing the fitness tracking features and app integration. The script discusses the transition from Google Fit to Fitbit and the implications for users.

💡Google Assistant

Google Assistant is a virtual assistant developed by Google, capable of performing various tasks such as answering questions, managing schedules, and controlling smart home devices. The script mentions the integration of Google Assistant in the Pixel Watch 2, highlighting its improvements and the user experience it provides compared to other voice assistants.

Highlights

Pixel Watch 2 is Google's second-generation smartwatch, aiming to address issues from the first generation.

The Apple Watch is considered the best smartwatch, but many are interested in switching to Android.

A good smartwatch is defined by four categories: battery life, design, performance, and fitness.

Pixel Watch 2 has improved battery life, lasting over 24 hours with always-on display and heart sensor running.

The watch achieves up to 36 hours of battery life, offering flexibility in charging times.

Cellular use battery drain is around 8-9% per hour, allowing 10-12 hours of pure cellular use.

Pixel Watch 2 charges rapidly, achieving 12 hours of charge in just 30 minutes.

The charging puck is frustrating to use due to alignment issues and the lack of a universal charging standard.

The smaller form factor of the Pixel Watch 2 is preferred for its comfort and lightness.

The watch has improved haptic feedback and a clear screen, though the bezels are still noticeable.

A wide selection of watch bands is available, and the Pixel Watch 2 is compatible with first-generation bands.

Durability tests show the Pixel Watch 2 has strong build quality, surviving until the end like the Apple Watch Ultra.

The back of the watch is made of a metal material that bends rather than shatters, unlike other watches.

The screen on the Pixel Watch 2 shatters in durability tests, similar to other smartwatches.

Performance of the Pixel Watch 2 is improved, with no lag or slowness in interface or swipe gestures.

Notifications and new features like safety check-ins and medical ID are responsive and easy to use.

Google Assistant on the watch is superior to Siri and is contextually aware, making it more user-friendly.

Minor annoyances with Google Assistant include limited integration with Google Workspace accounts.

Pixel Watch 2 has moved from Google Fit to Fitbit for fitness tracking, offering two apps for management.

The Fitbit app provides comprehensive information and customization options for fitness tracking.

A premium Fitbit subscription offers additional features like daily readiness scores and guided workouts.

The watch includes a heart rate monitor, skin temperature sensor, and stress monitor that perform well.

Automatic workout detection is accurate, but swim workout tracking is limited to time only.

Pixel Watch 2 is a good smartwatch for most people, but may not be the best fitness watch, especially for swimmers.

The Pixel Watch 2 is the reviewer's favorite Android smartwatch of the year, surpassing the Galaxy Watch 6.

Transcripts

I have been waiting for an Android watch

that is as capable as the Apple watch So

today we're going to look at the pixel

Watch 2 Google's Second Generation and a

second chance at fixing the issues with

their first generation watch and we've

heard it all before that the Apple watch

is the best smartwatch on the market but

it is quite clear to me from other

videos I've made on this channel that a

lot of people are interested in

switching to Android from Apple so to

make this a fair comparison I wanted to

Define what really makes a good

Smartwatch and it really comes down to

four categories you've got battery life

design performance and fitness so

starting with battery life and also

charging now this was something that

played the first generation pixel watch

where I wasn't able to get a full 24

hours out of a single charge I tried

multiple times I tried switching the

screen off and turning the brightness

down and all sorts but it would always

die like overnight whilst I was sleeping

which would then put me in a predicament

far too often where I have to then

remember to charge my watch whilst

getting ready in the morning and then

remember to put it back on again before

going to the gym and using it for

workouts and that's if I even had enough

time to charge it in the first place now

the good news here is that they've

solved the problem this time around with

the watch now getting over 24 hours of

battery life in a single charge and

that's with the always on display and

still with their heart sensor running

every second which was kind of the thing

that everyone thought was killing the

battery life in the first time around

now I'm actually getting more like 36

hours of battery life with this watch

which is really great because it means I

can have some flexibility on when I want

to charge it you know if I forget to

charge first thing in the morning then

I've got time to do it later in the day

and that great battery performance also

extends to when it's on Cellular use

only now I seem to be losing around 8 to

9% every 1 hour of being on cellular so

at most I'm able to get anywhere from 10

to maybe 12 hours of pure Cellular use

from the watch which is actually really

really good it's enough for me to like

leave for work in the morning forget

your phone do a full day at work and

then come home and then pick your phone

up again something that was only really

possible if you used Garmin with like

their insane 20 plus day battery life or

the Apple watch Ultra that I managed to

get a full 24 hours on LTE you know on

cellular usage as well and the charging

is also pretty rapid too on the pixel

watch you get 12 hours of charge in just

30 minutes of to charging and that is

using their new charging puck which in

itself is quite a frustrating charger

because it's not just these four pins

you have to line them up in the correct

position so every time I try and do this

every day it involves a few seconds of

like faing around before remembering or

getting it in the right direction also I

don't quite understand why between like

Apple and Samsung and Google and Garmin

like every watch seems to have its own

specific charger I kind of wish everyone

would just adopt one charging standard

and stick with it like we've finally

done with USBC across you know all

phones now okay so battery let's go from

1 through 10 three one is 12 hours of

battery life so the pixel scores a 3 out

of 10 but it's not all about the battery

life that's only parts of the puzzle

what about the way it's built it's

design looks and the Comforts well in

terms of the design I actually prefer

this like smaller form factor speaking

of someone who has worn an Apple Watch

Ultra for the last year or so having a

watch with a much smaller form factor is

actually a really pleasant experience

it's small it's light it's not as bulky

it's nicer to sleep with and actually

they really improved the haptic feedback

on the digital Crown as well I just

really like where pixel are going with

like the haptic lately now in terms of

the screen itself it's really really

clear to read although I do remember

last year everyone was talking about

like these huge like bezel around the

outside now I haven't seen anyone

mentioned them this year but it is still

a shame that the screen doesn't go

always to the edges like you do on many

other SmartWatches nowadays now there's

also a pretty wide selection now of

stock watch faces and you can of course

download one of like many of them from

the Play Store and you can fit a good

amount of information on the screen if

you want to there's another Plus for the

watch this year which is their ever

growing selection of watch bands now

I've just ordered a stretch band for

this watch so I'm not a huge fan of

these kind of watch bands that tuck in

under but I like the way Google is going

with having a wide selection of bands

and also the fact that the pixel Watch 2

is compatible with the first generation

pixel watch bands as well now the one

negative thing that I thought would be a

concern of mine was the build quality of

the pixel Watch 2 because if you bought

a pixel 8 Pro at launch you were

basically given a free pixel watch and

Google seems to be very very quick at

giving these watches out to people so

even though this starts at £350 here in

the UK or £ 399 for the LTE version

which I have here it feels like it

probably isn't isn't going to be worth

that much if you know if they're giving

them away but I'm impressed I'm actually

really impressed because I recently put

the pixel Watch 2 through a series of

like pretty challenging like durability

tests and the pixel watch survived until

the very end and lasted just up until

the same point as the Apple watch Ultra

did which actually is pretty incredible

now the thing that impressed me the most

on the pixel watch in particular was

that on all the other watches I tested

the back of the watches completely

shattered whereas on the pixel watch it

didn't due to the material it's kind of

more of metal material rather than glass

on the back here so it simply like bent

and still got trash but it didn't

shatter like any of the other watches

did although when it did come down to it

the screen on the front did shatter on

the pixel watch whereas the other smart

watches I tested didn't shatter but

overall pixel Watch 2 build quality

design and whole comfort thing I'm going

to score a 7 out of 10 that small it's

comfortable I like it but the big one

that counts for a lot of what makes a

smartwatch a really good Smartwatch

performance which is something that a

lot of Android watches I've come across

a shockingly poor rats but just before

we talk about that I want to thank the

sponsor of today's video keeper who make

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that means when I use my Windows PC at

home my Mac laptop for work my pixel

tablet my Android or my iPhone depending

on what day of the week it is I can

still easily get to all of that critical

information that allows me to use unique

passwords for everything I use there's

an even new technology that's starting

to make waves where you'll never need to

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called pass keys and it uses your

password manager to store this Pass key

so when you log in it talks to your

password manager which then provides the

key and then logs you in now it is far

more secure since you now have no

password that can be guessed or you can

be like tricked into giving away but it

does mean even more than ever you want

to be storing those pass keys on

something that works across any device

instead of storing on your phone or in

your browser which only works in that

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passw manager that remembers everything

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subscription and again huge thank you to

keeper for keeping me in a job thanks so

much so to begin with in terms of

performance we are talking about the

general speed of use how quick it is to

navigate around and use the watch in

general because the typical use case for

for any watch is that you don't really

use it 80 to 90% of the time and when

you do interact with it it's usually

only for a few seconds at a time like

checking the time starting a timer or a

workout using the voice assistant

whatever it might be and the pixel watch

is actually not that bad in fact I don't

really have anything bad to say about

the pixel watch which surprised even

myself now not once have I had the

interface lag or slow down or just take

too long to do something swipe gestures

also work pretty well it's not the

fastest thing ever it could be a little

bit more responsive but I wouldn't call

it slow now they also seem to have

nailed small things in the UI that make

an Apple Watch just so easy to use which

is actually something that Samsung have

failed in my eyes quite a few times to

do where you have to swipe exactly like

horizontally to get the watch to do

something for you so swiping left or

right at just the slightest angle on a

Galaxy watch won't do anything but

they've got that down on the pixel watch

you can kind of swipe in from an angle

and that still works now notifications

also come through quickly they're easy

to interact with easy to respond to and

we've also got the new safety check-ins

and the medical ID features which are

really nice additions to see on the

pixel Watch 2 now the safety check-in

feature in particular for those of you

who are walking home alone like late at

nights you can basically set a timer for

how long until you need to check in and

if you don't then it will share your

location and contact your emergency

contacts and dial the emergency services

so it's great to see Google taking steps

towards looking after us you also get

the Google Assistant here on the watch

which brings the best voice assistant

within easy reach now it's better than

Siri by a long shot and it's

contextually aware so you don't need to

continually repeat yourself couple of

minor annoyances though if I sit here

and say hey turn off the boys room

lights sorry it looks like the boys room

TV isn't available right now uh turn on

the boys room

lights now I also have a a Google

workspace account for work and a

personal Google account but I can't get

that workspace account to really well

work that well it's always really

Limited in terms of what it can do so

when I ask Google what's on my own

calendar today you can only read it from

my main calendar not my work calendar

now I've also heard lots of stories of

Google reigning back Google assistant

and actually removing features that it's

had for years James kimbery who runs

kimbery it basically called it the worst

thing Google has ever released and he's

hoping at least that Google will at some

point replace it with Google bar the new

like AI system but given the kind of

awful launcher the Humane AI pin how

much

protein a half a cup of vins has 15 g of

protein I'm not really sure I want AI

involved in Voice Assistant stuff just

yet but with that aside Google assistant

is good and just the pixel watch overall

is just so much more refined this year

and I'm glad to see that they've taken

user feedback on board to improve things

for the better so 7 out of 10 for the

performance but let's not get too

carried away with ourselves let's talk

Fitness now so with the pixel watch

Google has totally moved away from

Google Fit to fitbits and essentially

you have two apps to manage your watch

you've got the watch app to actually

manage and configure your watch and then

the Fitbit app kind of like apple has

their like watch app and their health

and their fitness apps and the fitb app

itself isn't too bad it gives you like

all the information that's important to

you you can tell it what you want to see

when you load up the app whether you

want to focus on your sleep getting more

active managing your weight your food

whatever it might be now there is also a

premium Fitbit subscription that it will

prompt you to sign up for and this works

in a similar way to a lot of other third

party fitness trackers like the Aur ring

the whoop strap and so forth where it

will give you a daily score for your

Readiness or your stress and like

trending sleep data and like a library

of guided workouts which for most people

you don't need so you don't have to sign

up to Fitbit premium it doesn't lock

anything like vitally important away now

this year the pixel watch has a heart

rate a skin temperature and a stress

Monitor and for the most part these work

pretty well like I actually like how the

heart rate monitor tracks every second

something which last year came at the

cost of significantly less battery life

so it's good to see them fixing that one

this year now what this means is that if

you're doing a like a hit workout or

perhaps want to track really closely to

a c certain heart Zone when you're

training you'll be able to do this more

accurately than most other SmartWatches

which don't take readings as often as

the pixel watch does now I also found

the pixel watch also detecting workout

be pretty good like going on a walk or a

run and it will pick up and start the

workout from near enough when you

actually started your workout now this

works well for me since my health

insurance gives me free drinks and loads

of discounts when I actually do certain

workouts each week so I've been able to

collect more points when wearing this

watch but the only thing that I still

get frustrated with on the pixel watch

actually it's two things now firstly the

swim workout does nothing except track

the time even though it has a setting to

set the length of the pool so you'd

think you'll be able to track the number

of lengths I SW but outside of this the

available metrics you can show during a

workout are really quite Limited in

comparison to really any other

Smartwatch or Fitness tracker now

considering the partnership with Fitbit

here it's kind of disappointing but to

be fair it will do the job for most

people and quite accurately at that but

if you want a smartwatch that's also a

good Fitness Watch like depending on the

type of activities you're doing you

might want to try one out before you

commit to actually buying one so I'm

going to score 5 out of 10 for Fitness

overall with pixel Watch 2 but as to

whether it is a good watch for Fitness

I'd argue for most people who are

interested in a smart watch not a

fitness watch then this actually checks

all of the boxes unless you're a swimmer

but that's kind of Point aside the pixel

watch this year is most definitely my

favorite Android Smartwatch of the year

like better than the Galaxy watch 6 in

my opinion but do you disagree let me

know why down in the comments below just

be nice about it please and I'll see you

in the next one

bye-bye