Google has just unveiled the successor to the 4.5-star Pixel Watch 3, with the aptly named Pixel Watch 4.
Considering we’ve hailed the OnePlus Watch 3 as the best Wear OS smartwatch, how does the upcoming Pixel Watch 4 really compare?
Although we’re yet to review the Pixel Watch 4, we have compared the specs to the OnePlus Watch 3 and highlighted the key differences below. Keep reading to see what separates the Pixel Watch 4 from the OnePlus Watch 3, and whether the former looks set to join our best smartwatch guide.
Once you’re done here, make sure you visit our Google Pixel Watch 4 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 comparison.
Price and Availability
Like the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which was also announced at the Made By Google event, while the Google Pixel Watch 4 can be preordered, it won’t be available until October 9. Like its predecessor, the Pixel Watch 4 is available in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm, with the former starting at £349.99/$349 while the latter starts at £399.99/$399.
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The OnePlus Watch 3 launched earlier this year, with a slightly cheaper starting RRP of £319. However, as it’s slightly older, it is possible to find a price drop for the wearable. In fact, at the time of writing, you can snap up the OnePlus Watch 3 for just £259 from the official website.
Pixel Watch 4 has a domed display
In a design revamp, the Pixel Watch 4 features a domed display. Google explains that the Actua 360 display is physically curved to deliver a “10% larger active area and an edgeless appearance with 16% smaller bezels”. Not only that, but the display also reaches up to 3000 nits peak brightness too, which is a vast improvement from the Pixel Watch 3’s 2000 nits.
It also offers a brighter screen than the OnePlus Watch 3, which offers a peak brightness of 2200 nits. Even so, we still found the OnePlus Watch 3’s AMOLED display to be sharp, vibrant and responsive nonetheless.
In fact, while the Pixel Watch 4 offers a max refresh rate of 1-60Hz whereas the OnePlus Watch 3 boasts a smoother 1-120Hz.
Google Pixel Watch 4
OnePlus Watch 3
OnePlus Watch 3 has a much longer battery life
The OnePlus Watch 3 boasts one of the highest battery capacities of other WearOS smartwatches currently on the market. While the Pixel Watch 4 promises up to 72 hours when Extreme Battery Saver is enabled (and for the smaller 40mm model), the OnePlus Watch 3’s 631mAh cell offers even more.
Not only can the Watch 3 last up to 120 hours in smartwatch mode, but it also boasts up to a massive 16 days in RTOS mode. That’s edging into Garmin’s iconic territory too.
Pixel Watch 4 has Loss of Pulse Detection
Launched with the Pixel Watch 3, the Pixel Watch 4 retains Loss of Pulse Detection, which detects if your heart stops beating and automatically contacts the emergency services. In fact, this remains a Pixel-exclusive feature.
This isn’t the only safety feature found on the Pixel Watch 4. There’s also Safety Check, which allows you to share your location with emergency contacts if you fail to respond after a certain amount of time. This is a potentially life saving tool for when you’re out on a sketchy run or when walking alone at night.
Pixel Watch 4 has built-in Gemini
As it’s part of the Pixel series, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the Watch 4 is equipped with Google’s AI assistant, Gemini. Not only is Gemini able to deliver quick responses to your personal questions, but it can also screen your calls and suggest AI-powered text suggestions that are personalised to your usual style.
Plus, interacting with Gemini via your Pixel Watch 4 is easier than ever as you simply need to raise your watch-wearing hand for on-the-go assistance.
Pixel Watch 4 will soon include an AI health coach
Both the Pixel Watch 4 and the OnePlus Watch 3 are predominantly health and fitness trackers that are fitted with an abundance of sensors to monitor everything from heart rate to sleep and even blood oxygen levels.
However, the Pixel Watch 4 is part of the Fitbit family which gives you access to the wide-ranging app library. While there is an optional subscription, coined Fitbit Premium, which unlocks extra workouts and more detailed tracking information, Fitbit allows you to track and receive insights into your data, experiment with new workouts and much more.
Not only that, but US-based and Fitbit Premium subscribers will also benefit from a personal AI health coach. Launching in October, the Gemini-built health coach will offer proactive fitness and sleep coaching, plus on-demand guidance that’s tailored to your specific goals and metrics.
Otherwise, we found the OnePlus Watch 3 works well as a general fitness tracker. It also includes a 60-second Health Check-In tool which checks seven key indications, including ECG, vascular health, mental wellness and more, to deliver a quick report.
Early Verdict
With a new domed display, built-in Gemini support and an upcoming AI health coach, the Pixel Watch 4 looks like a promising successor to the Pixel Watch 3. However, we really enjoyed our time with the OnePlus Watch 3 and hailed the wearable as “fantastic” and ideal for anyone who wants a long-lasting, WearOS smartwatch.
We’ll be sure to update this versus once we review the Pixel Watch 4.
