I like my Pixel Watch. It’s like a satisfyingly symmetrical black pebble that may inform the time, date, climate, and a large number of health-tracking metrics in all method of trendy methods. Within the lead-up to the large reveal throughout the Google October occasion, I declared the state of Google’s first smartwatch can be the solely situation stopping me from choosing up the Pixel 7. However I used to be bought after the tech big gave a rundown of what the wearable might do.
Seamless connectivity to your Pixel gadgets? Examine. Built-in Fitbit health and well being monitoring proper in your wrist? You bought it. Useful apps like Google Maps and YouTube Music to pay attention even when offline? Accomplished and achieved. All this wrapped up in a superbly compact design makes for a promising smartwatch. However pay attention — I ain’t no schmuck.
I knew full properly that the Pixel Watch is a first-generation smartwatch, which means it’ll inevitably include just a few ache factors. That outdated Exynos 9110 SoC — a four-year-old chip used within the first Samsung Galaxy Watch in 2018 — and surprisingly massive show bezel had been already sturdy indications that Google’s wearable wouldn’t be good. However that is comprehensible for a first-gen machine, and the Pixel Watch nonetheless made sufficient of an affect to show heads.
I used to be fortunate sufficient to get the Pixel Watch without spending a dime in a limited-time deal, so I don’t really feel as exhausting achieved by when experiencing the smartwatch’s faults. Nevertheless, there’s one factor that irks me: battery life.
Declaring to boast “as much as 24 hours” of battery, that’s fairly a daring declare from a smartwatch fitted with a 294mAh battery capability. Positive, the Cortex M33 co-processor is there to assist out with energy effectivity, however a full day? I’m intrigued. However I do know to take an organization’s claims with a pinch of salt. “Possibly it’s not a full 24 hours,” I informed myself, “nevertheless it have to be comparatively shut, proper?”
Nope, I used to be gravely mistaken. After just a few days of common use, from recording a every day 40-minute exercise to receiving a bundle of notifications and utilizing Google Maps, I discovered I used to be charging my Pixel Watch twice a day — averaging each 5 hours. And that was with out having the At all times-on choice turned on. For a wearable that’s meant to keep in your wrist, that’s not a superb look. So, it received me questioning: how on Earth did Google give you its 24-hour declare?
The declare
As Google notes in its Pixel Watch assist web page, the 24 hour battery life was primarily based on the next elements:
- Receiving 240 notifications.
- Checking the time 280 occasions (tilt-to-wake).
- Making a 5-minute LTE telephone name.
- Doing a 45-minute LTE and GPS exercise with downloaded YouTube music playback.
- Utilizing Google Maps for 50 minutes of navigation related to a telephone by way of Bluetooth.
- Having the watch configured to its default settings (which means the At all times-on show was turned off.
To be sincere, I can’t say I’m well-liked sufficient to obtain 240 notifications over the course of 24 hours, however I’m assured that even when I adopted these elements to a T, my Pixel Watch would barely final half this time. I’m not the one one that has skilled this drain in battery life, both. Numerous critiques, together with sister-site Tom’s Information, might barely eke out anyplace close to 24 hours.
It confuses me how Google might obtain this size of time, and it annoys me that that is what the corporate places as a spotlight. For many who purchased the Pixel Watch outright — in contrast to myself — I can think about this should grind their gears.
All that mentioned, the times once I didn’t actively use my Pixel Look ahead to monitoring my train or utilizing it to navigate round city, I discovered the battery might get me by a complete day with no need a fast cost.
The check
I began to marvel once more: “So, simply how lengthy can the Pixel Watch final if pushed to its limits?” Google packed a few battery-saving options to maintain its wearable’s battery drain at bay, together with Bedtime mode and Battery Saver. To check how lengthy it might final, I made a decision to activate the latter proper after a full cost.
I began the 24-hour check at 10:38 p.m., with Battery Saver mode turned on proper off the bat. This feature turns off the At all times-on display screen and tilt-to-wake to increase the Pixel Watch’s battery life. Not precisely ultimate for a watch, seeing as you need to press the dial in an effort to merely see the time, however the distinction in longevity when turned on is immeasurable. I nonetheless obtained notifications and checking my Fitbit stats, and I barely noticed the share drop.
At 11:45 p.m., I switched on Bedtime mode. This turns off the watch display screen, tilt-to-wake, and contact capabilities, together with limiting the notifications obtained. Whereas it will be good to have this achieved robotically, like on my earlier Apple Watch SE, having this selection enormously extends the Pixel Watch’s battery all through the night time.
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After waking up the subsequent day and checking how a lot the smartwatch’s battery had plummeted at 8:43 a.m., I discovered it nonetheless had 77% left within the tank. That’s very promising, nevertheless it nonetheless had greater than 12 hours to go if it might truly attain the 24-hour mark. With Battery Saver nonetheless turned on, I went about my day receiving notifications and the hourly “ensure to get these steps in” Fitbit alerts.
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Lastly, 10:48 p.m. arrived and I checked on its battery: 42%. A full 24 hours and the Pixel Watch nonetheless had just below half of its battery left. Nicely, properly, Google, it seems your smartwatch can transcend your claimed time.
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I made a decision to see simply how for much longer it might final. I put it into Bedtime mode just like the night time earlier than, and at 10:38 a.m., the battery was all the way down to 16%. After one final test at 1:13 p.m., it was on its final legs at 8%, which is once I wanted to zap it with some juice earlier than heading out for the afternoon. This check of mine reveals that the Pixel Watch can final over 40 hours with no cost. However, after all, these had been in the best circumstances.
The great and the ugly
Now, whereas this private check reveals Google’s Pixel Watch can transcend 40 hours, I don’t suggest retaining its Battery Saver mode on always. It defeats the aim of a superb smartwatch — like with the ability to simply see the time, date, climate, and extra at a look. Plus, I need to have the ability to have a look at Google’s trendy watch faces with out having to click on a button; it’s a part of its trend assertion.
With this in thoughts, I’ve come to know why the tech big determined to state that it lasts “as much as 24 hours.” However I nonetheless suppose it’s mistaken, particularly for the common consumer that may use a smartwatch in a traditional method. If an At all times-on choice is on the market and it’s made to trace your exercises and sleep patterns, I shouldn’t have to fret concerning the smartwatch’s battery life if I exploit these options.
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That’s the ugly half; there’s loads of good within the Pixel Watch. My testing additionally included how briskly it could actually cost, and it’s depraved. From 36%, it took simply over 40 minutes to cost to 100%, and that’s method quicker than what I might get on my earlier Apple Watch. And, as proven in my check, Google’s battery-saving options work like a appeal, and that’s one thing Apple solely launched within the Apple Watch Sequence 8 with the brand new Low Energy Mode.
I nonetheless would suggest the Google Pixel Watch, particularly for individuals who picked up the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Professional. To me, the lesson to remove from all of it is: battery life claims from corporations could be hogwash, even when they undersell.
