The Google Pixel Watch 2 brings substantial under-the-hood changes. But should you ditch your first-generation Pixel Watch for it? Let’s find out!
The Google Pixel Watch was clearly a laggard when it launched last year. It was easily overlooked beside more tempting options in the Wear OS dominion, and grossly overshadowed by the popularity of the Apple Watch. This year, Google looks to switch things up by bringing massive improvements with the Google Pixel Watch 2 that launched alongside the Pixel 8 Series of phones at Google’s Fall 2023 event.
Borrowing from the Fitbit Sense 2, the Pixel Watch 2 has overhauled fitness tracking sensors and algorithms while the internal hardware is significantly better than not only the first Pixel Watch, but also the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6. It still bears the same uninspiring (or minimal, based on how you perceive it) design, but relies on 100% recycled aluminum for the core.
With these improvements and a price unchanged from last year, the Pixel Watch 2 is more worthy of attention than the first generation. But is it good enough if you already own the Pixel Watch from last year? Let’s help you decide!Google Pixel Watch 2 vs. Google Pixel Watch: specsGoogle Pixel Watch 2 vs. Google Pixel Watch: design
Aesthetically, there are no new visible changes between the second and the first generation of the Google Pixel Watch. Whether that’s a good thing or not depends on what you thought of the original, but if you were hoping Google would change things up this year, that hasn’t happened.
Both smartwatches have identical designs that remain more utilitarian than elegant, with the same dimensions and button placements, especially when viewed from the top. Even the colors and finishes are unchanged from the last generation, so distinguishing the two based on appearance will be tricky. However, there are some subtle differences in their design.
The biggest, but rather inconspicuous, change on the Pixel Watch 2 over the first generation is the shell’s construction material. The Pixel Watch 2 uses aluminum for the case, as opposed to stainless steel on the first Pixel Watch. Google has gone the same route as the Apple Watch Series 9, boasting of 100% recycled aluminum used for the shell as opposed to only 80% of the stainless steel recycled last time.
Because the finishes are still the same, you may not feel a difference in materials in real life, although since aluminum is noticeably lighter than stainless steel, it’s much more comfortable to wear — to the point where you can almost forget it’s on your wrist when combined with the right band. By the numbers, the Pixel Watch 2 now weighs 5 grams less than its predecessor, coming in at only 31 grams (1.09oz) without straps, which, by the way, remain unchanged.
In addition, Google says the buttons are now more refined than last year, while the crown now offers a smoother navigation experience. Lastly, the Pixel Watch 2 uses the same lug mechanism for the bands as the last one, so you can use any bands you previously bought along with the Pixel Watch.Google Pixel Watch 2 vs. Google Pixel Watch: screen
Another aspect of the Pixel Watch 2 that remains unchanged from the last generation is its display. You still get a circular display with a 1.2-inch diameter and curved periphery. The display’s resolution and pixel density are also the same as the last generation. Furthermore, the Pixel Watch 2 still gets 1,000 nits of peak brightness (in bright outdoor settings), even though the indoor brightness will be a lot less.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, considering the display was already crisp and bright enough last time, but the lack of a bigger size option may still bug those with larger wrists. On the positive side, the small display will help conserve the battery life but may still feel like a hassle because of the lack of proper space to work through the settings or interact with incoming notifications — typing on the display being another challenge altogether.Google Pixel Watch 2 vs. Google Pixel Watch: specs
Despite the limited changes on the outside, the inside of the Pixel Watch 2 gets a significant overhaul. First, the Pixel Watch 2 migrates to a much more advanced and efficient Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chip.
Compared to Samsung’s Exynos 9110 — a dual-core chipset used on the first Pixel Watch — the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 gets a quad-core CPU with clock speeds up to 1.7GHz. The chipset is made with a more recent 4-nanometer (4nm) process than the archaic 10nm process used on the Samsung-made chip.
