It’s a Fitbit smartwatch at its heart with a lot of Google seasoning.
The Android wristwatch we’ve been expecting for a very long time is Google’s Pixel Watch. Its pebble-like structure suits everything and it is lightweight, slender, and comfortable to wear. Some may argue that the Pixel Watch’s 41mm size is a little too tiny and that Google should provide more sizes like other smartwatch manufacturers, but in all honesty, I believe the Pixel Watch is the ideal size.
Unfortunately, my enthusiasm for the Pixel Watch doesn’t go much beyond that. The wristwatch feels demo-like in every other way, like an Android gadget that is running the beta. The issue with betas is that although it’s entertaining to run them and stake out a position as the first to market, they also serve as a lesson in why you might decide to hold off until the wrinkles are ironed out.
The Pixel Watch undoubtedly has flaws, but not all of them are detrimental. It’s a terrific place to start if you’re an Android user and you’re thinking about getting a wristwatch for the first time but Samsung isn’t appealing to you. But if you’ve already determined that you enjoy what you’re wearing, I wouldn’t jump just yet.
What I dislike about the Apple Watch is that the bands are proprietary, which is annoying. Because I can buy inexpensive watch bands from Amazon and switch them out, I like the Samsung Galaxy Watch. Even though there is a little learning curve, the Pixel Watch’s clasping mechanism is pleasant and robust. The Apple Watch also did. Both are easier to use than the way Samsung handles watchbands on a normal basis, but I’d rather fight with that and get what I want. There will hopefully be additional third-party Pixel Watch band alternatives if the Pixel Watch is successful in selling units.