Google Pixel Watch 4 launches with satellite connectivity, longer battery life and replaceable battery
Google has just unveiled the successor to the Pixel Watch 3. While the design appears largely unchanged at first glance, the housing has been fundamentally redesigned, which is expected to confer several significant advantages. Firstly, not only is the glass curved, but also the OLED panel itself, allowing Google to create a 10% larger display with 16% smaller bezels.
Brightness has increased by 50% to 3,000 nits, and refresh rate can be adjusted from 1 Hz to 60 Hz. Gorilla Glass 5 protects the screen from scratches. Secondly, on the side opposite the digital crown, there are two new pins that are used to charge the Pixel Watch 4, allowing the watch to be charged upright so that the display remains visible. Thirdly, the new housing is officially repairable: at least the display and battery can be replaced if necessary, and it is still water resistant up to 5 ATM.
Pixel Watch 4 can make emergency calls via satellite
The Pixel Watch 4 is powered by the brand-new Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2, which offers the same performance as the older W5 Gen 1, but enables satellite emergency calls, although this is only available on the more expensive LTE model of the Pixel Watch 4. Google has paired the chip with a new co-processor that is said to be 25% more powerful, yet consumes only half the power. This, among other things, allows Google to increase battery life by 25% to 30 hours for the 41mm model and 40 hours for the 45mm model.
The improved fast charging charges the Pixel Watch 4 from 0 to 50% in 15 minutes. The vibration motor is 15% more powerful, and the speaker has also been improved to make interactions with Google Gemini more enjoyable. Google touts a more accurate GPS module, while the smartwatch supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC and ultrawideband (UWB). In addition to an ECG, the Pixel Watch 4 also provides a cEDA sensor for stress tracking and a skin temperature sensor.
Prices and availability
The Google Pixel Watch 4 is now available for pre-order via the Google Store, but delivery will not begin until October 9. The 41-mm model costs $349 and the 45-millimeter version model $399. An integrated LTE modem is available for an extra $100. Both models are available in silver and black, with gold only available for the smaller model and blue only for the larger model.
Source(s)
Google (Press release | Google Store)
