Pixel Watch 5 Loses Upgrade Appeal as Battery Stays at 30 to 40 Hours
Updated
Updated · Android Police · Sep 20
Pixel Watch 5 Loses Upgrade Appeal as Battery Stays at 30 to 40 Hours
3 articles · Updated · Android Police · Sep 20
Summary
Google’s latest smartwatch failed to win over one prospective buyer because its battery life barely moved from the prior generation, prompting the reviewer to skip the Pixel Watch 5.
30-hour endurance on the smaller model and 40 hours on the larger one match last year’s broad range, leaving real-world use at roughly a day to a day and a half.
That shortfall matters most against week-long alternatives already in the reviewer’s rotation, including a Huawei Watch GT 4 and Fitbit Air, which reduce charging anxiety.
100-hour battery claims from rivals such as the OnePlus Watch 4 underscore the gap, fueling calls for Google to offer a thicker or 'Ultra' Pixel Watch with meaningfully longer endurance.
The reviewer still praised the Pixel Watch 5’s polish, sideways charging and new health tools, but said Google needs bigger core-function gains before the line becomes a compelling upgrade.