Apple and Google both have flagship watches and you might be wondering, which should you buy? We compare the hardware and the key features of the two.
As the competition grows between Apple and Google’s latest handsets, the two tech giants are also racing to build the best smartwatch on the consumer market. The Apple Watch Series 9 and Google Pixel Watch 2 are two of the latest models to enter the market, boasting a powerful chip, vivid displays, and an ample battery life. But which smartwatch is best suited for you, and how do they compare against one another in different metrics?
While Google’s first iteration of the Pixel Watch was surprisingly convincing, the company has continued to bring out the best features of the watch, including an improved battery life and added sensors. After taking over Fitbit in 2021, the smartwatch offers synchronization with the Fitbit app, so you can easily stay on top of your fitness goals. Apple’s Series 9 Watch also packs plenty of sensors for monitoring your health in addition to a bright display and its latest custom-made processor.
We’ll be exploring what features are packed inside Apple and Google’s latest smartwatch inventions, so you know which company to put your money behind.What is the Apple Watch Series 9?
The Apple Watch Series 9 is Apple’s latest version of its smartwatch lineup, boasting an improved processor and one-handed gestures over its older iterations. Rather than a complete overhaul of design, the smartwatch focuses on improvements made to the Series 8 and Series 7 models. While it may not look like much has changed on the outside, there are a few notable differences between the Apple Watch Series 9 and Series 8 model that may attract some Apple fans.
The watch, made available for sale in late September 2023, features the new S9 SiP dual-core processor with a 4-core neural engine for handling machine learning tasks faster. The watch’s maximum brightness levels are a significant improvement at 2,000 nits, double the Series 8’s offering of 1,000 nits. Built on Watch OS 10, the Series 9 offers a redesigned interface from the previous operating system, the Watch OS 9, with a collection of new watch faces and compass tools.
For maximum protection against dust, the Apple Watch Series 9 has an IP6X rating, and it’s claimed to be water-resistant up to 50 meters. So, you shouldn’t run into any issues when using your Apple Watch for intense workouts.What is the Google Pixel Watch 2?
Google, owner of Fitbit, has a tempting alternate offer for Android users with its Pixel Watch 2. Similar to Apple, the watch carries a striking resemblance to its earliest model, the Google Pixel Watch, but boasts a better battery life, faster CPU, and a skin temperature monitor.
Due to its recycled aluminum design, The Pixel Watch 2 (weighing 1.09oz) is lighter than Apple’s Series 9 offering, which is ideal if you dislike wearing something too heavy on your wrist. The watch packs in 2GB of RAM but only half the storage of the Series 9 Watch. That being said, the Pixel Watch 2’s 32GB storage space is still an ample amount compared to other smartwatches, such as the Galaxy Watch 6’s 16GB.
Brightness-wise the smartwatch is on par with Apple’s previous smartwatch iteration, the Series 8, reaching a peak brightness of 1,000 nits, not quite the offering from the Series 9. So, you might not be guaranteed the same visibility in bright and darker places that Apple’s Watch Series 9 offers.
