Pixel Watch 4 boosts design and AI features

A close look at design, battery and price differences to help readers decide whether upgrading makes sense.

Pixel Watch 4 strengthens design and AI features

Google keeps the Pixel Watch 4 price in line with the last generation at launch, with the 41mm model starting at 349 dollars and the 45mm at 399 dollars. LTE adds 100 dollars more. The company has since cut the price of the Pixel Watch 3 to 249.99 for the 41mm and 299.99 for the 45mm, making the older model a cheaper entry point on paper.

Design upgrades include a curved Actua 360 display that looks larger thanks to 10 percent more active area and 15 percent smaller bezels, plus a brightness bump to 3000 nits. Both watches use AMOLED panels and cover the same color space, but the Watch 4 introduces a fully repairable design that lets you swap the screen or battery without replacing the whole watch. Battery capacity rises to 325 mAh for the 41mm and 455 mAh for the 45mm, with claimed life of about 30 and 40 hours respectively and a faster recharge with a new charger that can reach 50 percent in 15 minutes. Under the hood, the Watch 4 uses the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 with a Cortex-M55 coprocessor, enabling emergency satellite communication for use when you are out of phone range. It runs Wear OS 6 and ships with Gemini built in, along with the option to wake Gemini via wrist raise to access questions or tasks. Fitness tracking remains strong, with sensors for heart rate, SpO2, skin temperature and more, plus AI driven Daily Readiness, Cardio Load and Target Load features that align with Fitbit Premium.

The Watch 3 still covers core functions and health tracking, and Google notes that Wear OS 6 and Gemini may arrive as updates to the older model. For now, the Watch 4 stands out on features and future capabilities, while the Watch 3 remains attractive for budget-minded buyers.

The Pixel Watch line keeps pushing toward a smarter, more capable wrist computer. The 4 introduces notable upgrades in display quality, repairability and AI features, while also testing a higher price point that may divide buyers. The real question is whether customers value longer term durability and proactive coaching enough to pay for the upgrade. In the long run, a repairable device and stronger AI tools could shift expectations for wearables, nudging the market toward products designed to last rather than necessitating quick replacements.

There is also a strategic edge in how Google handles software updates. Wear OS 6 and Gemini on the Watch 4 may tempt early adopters while leaving the Watch 3 in limbo until a potential update lands. If updates do reach the older model, price tension could ease for some buyers, but the core decision will still hinge on whether the benefits of AI coaching, satellite connectivity and a longer lasting build justify the extra cost.

Highlights

The race for the wrist is less about a single feature and more about how value compounds over time.