Google Pixel Watch 5 Wins Editors' Choice at $399 as Gemini AI Outruns Galaxy Watch 9
Updated
Updated · PCMag · Aug 19
Google Pixel Watch 5 Wins Editors' Choice at $399 as Gemini AI Outruns Galaxy Watch 9
3 articles · Updated · PCMag · Aug 19
Summary
$399 Pixel Watch 5 earned an Editors' Choice nod for Android smartwatches, with the review citing Gemini-centered features and smoother performance as the key edge over Samsung's $379.99 Galaxy Watch 9.
A new Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Accelerated chip lifts CPU speed 12% and overall performance 20%, while 3GB of RAM and 64GB of storage help the watch answer multi-app Gemini queries within seconds.
Battery life stayed roughly flat despite the upgrade—56.5 hours in testing on the 45mm model—but charging improved sharply, reaching full in 45 minutes versus 108 minutes for the Galaxy Watch 9.
Google also leaned on AI health features, including a $9.99-a-month Health Coach and upcoming Health Guardian alerts, though many software gains and GPS improvements will also reach the Pixel Watch 4.
The main tradeoff is value: hardware, sensors and design changed little from last year, yet the base price rose $50 from the Pixel Watch 4 to match the $399 Apple Watch Series 11.