The new Google Pixel Watch 5 continues the work the company has been doing in the field of user health monitoring and tracking, without losing the elegance of a wristwatch.
With one of the company’s mottos being “elegantly crafted to do it all”, the phrase seems to perfectly describe what the Google Pixel Watch 5 is.
General features of the Google Pixel Watch 5
The new Google Pixel Watch 5 was launched in two variants: 41 mm and 45 mm. For our test, we had the first variant, which weighs only 31g (without the band), making it an extremely lightweight model to wear on the wrist that shouldn’t bother anyone at any time, either because of its weight or size.
In terms of the display, Google kept the curved screen introduced in last year’s model, featuring an Actua 360 display with custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
The watch screen is an LTPO AMOLED panel capable of reaching a peak brightness of 3000 nits, so we can already state that we never had any trouble viewing information on the watch under direct sunlight.
The Google Pixel Watch 5 supports 4G LTE and UMTS connectivity, features Bluetooth 6.0, Wi-Fi, NFC, and satellite SOS communications. Furthermore, it integrates a dual-frequency GPS with 5 location systems.
Inside the smartwatch, we find the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Accelerated processor accompanied by the Cortex-M55. Internally, we have 64GB of eMMC flash memory and 2GB of SDRAM.
Powering the watch is a 332 mAh internal battery, which the company claims can last up to 30 hours with the AOD turned on and up to 48 hours with this feature turned off. Plugged into power with its dedicated charger that connects to the side of the Google Pixel Watch 5, we can get a 50% charge in about 15 minutes and reach 100% in roughly 45 minutes.
In terms of sensors built into the Google Pixel Watch 5, we can find:
- Compass
- Altimeter
- Red and infrared sensors for oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring9
- Multipurpose electrical sensors compatible with the ECG app
- MultipathU10 optical heart rate sensor
- 3-axis accelerometer
- Gyroscope
- Ambient light sensor
- Electrical sensor to measure skin conductance (cEDA) for monitoring body responses
- Far-field skin temperature sensor
- Barometer
- Magnetometer
The watch body is made of 100% recycled aluminum and the band is made of hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) with a soft-touch finish, also featuring a rotating crown on the side of the device.
Regarding durability, in addition to the Corning Gorilla Glass protection on the screen, it also boasts IP68 and 5 ATM certification.
The Google Pixel Watch 5 can be purchased for a starting MSRP of €419 for the 41mm Bluetooth/Wi-Fi version, with the price increasing depending on the size and type of connection desired by the user, reaching a maximum of €549 for the 45mm 4G LTE version.
A screen we are fans of, with gestures to help
Last year we already liked what Google did with its watch displays, and now with the Google Pixel Watch 5, we continue to really enjoy the final result.
The curved Actua 360 display is indeed very beautiful and super elegant. It provides that more traditional wristwatch look (which we prefer over models with other shapes), and the fact that the entire panel follows the curvature of the glass makes everything very well integrated.
Furthermore, the variable brightness between 1 nit and 3000 nits allows for optimal viewing in any environment, whether at night or in broad daylight, while also helping the always-on display (AOD) consume less power.
The 41 mm size might seem small, but it is actually more than enough for everything. The information is more compressed, and we need more swipes to read it all, but in practical terms, there’s nothing that hasn’t been adapted and that proves complicated to interact with. The system is very well designed so that we can control everything with a tap without clicking in the wrong spot.
The system also brought more ways to interact with the watch through gestures, now offering the ability to open some background activities just by pinching your fingers.
In addition, we have more options to scroll through menus, respond to notifications and calls, and overall, gestures feel more responsive on the Google Pixel Watch 5.
Improvements in battery life
Moving from a 45 mm Google Pixel Watch 4 to a 41 mm Google Pixel Watch 5, the first thing we thought we’d see a big difference in was the watch’s battery life.
However, the company improved this aspect this year, and even the 41 mm version manages to have enough battery life to compete with last year’s 45 mm model.
At no point did the battery drop below 35% on normal days (without very strenuous and demanding workouts), which matches what happened with the previous, larger-sized model.
Moreover, with all health monitoring options active (whether for daytime monitoring or sleep tracking), charging the watch is only done in the morning, during the time we are getting ready to leave the house.
The magnetic charger of the Google Pixel Watch 5 offers good charging speed, with the watch reaching 100% in the roughly 45 minutes it takes us to get everything ready before leaving the house in the morning. In the worst-case scenario, if the battery is a bit lower, it reaches around 98%, which is an insignificant difference.
More complete and personalized tracking with Gemini
Something Google has been increasingly investing in is using Gemini to help users achieve better tracking when it comes to their health.
As such, the Google Pixel Watch 5 takes advantage of the company’s AI model to reconcile data analysis with the Google Health app and complements it all with an AI coach.
When we put it all together, we have a daily summary focused on our goals and how we can improve day by day based on the collected data, rather than on general data.
Although this feature is not new, it is more comprehensive with the new measurements achieved by the Google Pixel Watch 5, such as monitoring blood pressure spikes, signs of insulin resistance, or just the general tracking that was already being done previously.
The watch is designed so that Gemini can interact more seamlessly with all parts of the device and thus better track the user’s health. Remembering, of course, that Gemini is an AI model and not a healthcare professional, so the suggestions provided by Google’s model should not be taken as 100% reliable data comparable to advice given by medical professionals.
It looks the same, but it’s better
This year, Google didn’t take any risks with the design of its new devices, nor did it try to reinvent the wheel. The company stood firm on its previous design choices and focused on improving the devices internally while just smoothing out some external flaws.
As such, at first glance, the Google Pixel Watch 5 seems not to have changed at all compared to the previous year. But once we start using it on a daily basis, we see that it is a little different.
Battery life, without a doubt, was where we felt the biggest difference, especially when moving to a smaller model than the one we had. Not only does it hold up quite well throughout the whole day, but it also charges quite quickly and efficiently, on a charger that allows the Watch to act as a bedside clock.
In terms of wearing comfort, the smaller size is always a bonus for small wrists, although the 45 mm model never bothered us. Still, of course, it’s more comfortable being a bit lighter, and even more so for not being more limited in terms of system interaction.
The fluidity of the system is very well crafted, and the Google Pixel Watch 5 makes it feel like everything happens faster right on the wrist. Gemini’s integration facilitates several activities, and we started using the AI model a lot with the watch, especially because it seems faster and responds better to gestures.
These gestures now have more functionality, and can even interact with some background activities without us having to open them manually. All this with greater system speed and fluidity.
Gemini is increasingly integrated into the watch, and this makes us want to use the AI assistant more and more. If on the one hand we are using up the planet’s water, on the other hand our lives are being made easier with small everyday things like turning on the lights or searching for answers with a simple raise of the wrist.
The Google Pixel Watch 5 automatically became one of our favorite smartwatches of 2026 due to the combination of all the points that were improved compared to the previous year, combining design, features, and battery life in a single watch.
The Google Pixel Watch 5 can be purchased for a starting MSRP of €419 for the 41mm Bluetooth/Wi-Fi version, with the price increasing depending on the size and type of connection desired by the user, reaching a maximum of €549 for the 45mm 4G LTE version.
- Muito confortável de usar
- Autonomia para um dia sem cortes no uso
- Carregamento rápido bastante satisfatório
- Preço aumentou sem grande justificação
We thank Google for providing the Google Pixel Watch 5 for review.
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