Google Pixel Watch 2

Display

While we initially felt disappointed with this choice, day-to-day use revealed that the impact was minimal. The glass curves create an illusion, making the device edge appear closer to the display than it actually is. However, the size limitation becomes noticeable when receiving text alerts—the curves contribute to a slightly claustrophobic feel due to the limited text space on the 320ppi display (compared to the slightly denser 326ppi of the Apple Watch, which also offers more screen real estate).

The watch includes several pre-loaded faces, some with useful complications for direct feature access. To explore more options, you can add additional faces using the Google Watch App on your paired phone.

The watch design maintains subtlety. The chrome crown sits nearly flush with the watch edge, though a tiny bit of the stem is visible. Unlike the Apple Watch, which achieves a flush digital crown, the Pixel Watch’s crown remains pressable.

Above the crown, the Pixel Watch button is discreetly placed. Initially, we had to feel around for it, but it soon became second nature. A quick press accesses Recent apps, while a long press activates Google Assistant.

The stainless steel body features microphone holes and a lengthy speaker slot. Although not officially labeled as ‘waterproof’ by Google, the smartwatch is rated for depths of up to 50 meters—though we didn’t test it by taking a swim.