Updated
Updated · TechRadar · Sep 11
Pixel Watch 5 Adds $399 Health Upgrades as Battery Life and Gemini Still Fall Short
Updated
Updated · TechRadar · Sep 11

Pixel Watch 5 Adds $399 Health Upgrades as Battery Life and Gemini Still Fall Short

1 articles · Updated · TechRadar · Sep 11

Summary

  • $399 Pixel Watch 5 lands as a modest refresh, with TechRadar calling it the best Android-native watch for new buyers but a weak upgrade for Pixel Watch 3 or 4 owners.
  • Dual-frequency GPS, Breathing Emergency Detection, insulin resistance trends and returning Loss of Pulse Detection drive the gains, while heart-rate tracking also held close to a Polar H10 in testing.
  • Battery life remains the main drawback: Google rates it at up to 40 hours, but the review says daily or near-daily charging is still necessary despite sub-one-hour fast charging.
  • Gemini adds on-wrist voice help and proactive features, yet the review found it often bounced tasks back to the phone and sometimes returned inaccurate results.
  • Google Health also clouds the value proposition, with premium features tied to a $9.99 monthly subscription even as the watch keeps its repairable design and broad Wear OS app support.

Insights

With FDA approval still pending, are the Pixel Watch 5's life-saving emergency features actually ready for everyday users?
Why is Google hiding the best fitness features of a $400 premium smartwatch behind a monthly paywall?
Can AI truly predict insulin resistance without a blood test, or is Google's new smartwatch overpromising on health?