Pixel Watch 5 are the first Google watch I've tried. They surprised me in many ways

In several of my previous texts, I’ve mentioned that I’m not a fan of smartwatches. I like to wear my analog watches and combine them with a Fitbit Air band, which tracks my health and sports activity without disturbing me. However, I wanted to try the new Pixel Watch 5 – partly because I like the Google ecosystem and actively use Pixel phones, but also because I hadn’t worn a Pixel Watch yet and was curious what impression they would leave on me. And I can tell you right away that it was very pleasant. 

Successful Design Craftsmanship

I haven’t worn smartwatches as nice as the Pixel Watch 5 before. I’m not an opponent of Samsung’s square-round design, and I can appreciate the craftsmanship of Huawei models, but no other piece has appealed to me as much as Google’s new release. This is mainly due to the absence of a bezel and any other elements that would make the watch “overdone.” The Pixel Watch 5 looks sleek and simple, yet stylish. Instead of the 45mm variant I tested, the 41mm version would suit me better, as I have smaller wrists.

As for materials, the Pixel Watch 5 features a glossy aluminum body and a plastic strap, which is very pleasant to the touch. The entire front is made of glass, with the display taking up most of it, featuring thin bezels. The construction also includes a rotating crown, which in my opinion should be on every watch, and one control button. The weight of the 45mm variant of the watch is 36.7 g without the strap.

Pleasant Environment that Will Delight Every Pixel Owner

I’m particular about the user interface, and it’s one of the main reasons I use Google Pixel as my primary smartphone. The developers from California are simply masters of design, and Pixel UI looks luxurious and polished on phones. 

When I first launched the Pixel Watch 5, I felt right at home. The Material Design interface looks great, and that’s why I’m sure the watch’s UI will delight anyone who uses a Google phone. I like the design of the control center, the notification list, the animations for incoming notifications, and other system items. Furthermore, the watch can automatically share Do Not Disturb mode or alarms with the Pixel 11 Pro XL, which I’m currently using. In short, I feel like I’m part of one ecosystem. Everything also works very smoothly, and you practically won’t encounter any lags. 

I also found the gesture control clever, allowing you to open and browse notifications, for example, without having to use your other hand. Even more pleasing was the haptic feedback, which is very similar to what Pixel phones offer. It is incredibly pleasant, and you’ll love controlling the system with the rotating crown because of it.

Google Pixel Watch 5 runs on Wear OS 7, which is based on Android. It also relies on integration with the Gemini assistant, from which you can retrieve information without having to pull your phone out of your pocket (however, a prerequisite for this is to be connected to a Wi-Fi network, as the LTE version of the watch is not sold in our country). For example, I was able to save information to my calendar directly from my wrist, simply by voice command.

Gorgeous AMOLED Display

The display is definitely the pride of the Pixel Watch 5. The watch is equipped with an Actua 360 panel with custom-made 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protective glass, while the always-on function is supported, and the refresh rate can range from 1 to 60 Hz. Thanks to a maximum brightness of up to 3,000 nits, the content is easily readable even in direct sunlight.

The display is precisely what makes the Pixel Watch 5 even more premium. The image appears sharp, and the color reproduction is very pleasing. Moreover, if you turn on the always-on function and set a nice watch face, there’s a good chance you’ll impress someone around you with the watch, as happened to me.

Battery Exceeded My Expectations

The battery life is certainly not as dismal as one might expect from a Wear OS watch. Pixel Watch 5 are, of course, energy-intensive, and you will have to charge them frequently, that’s just a fact. However, I myself was surprised that they didn’t go on the charger every evening. 

Google specifically states that the watch lasts up to 40 hours with the always-on function, but in practice, with less demanding use, I even exceeded the two-day mark. Of course, the fact is that if I were actively handling emails, constantly switching music, or intensely measuring sports activity with the watch, the battery life wouldn’t be this good. However, if you only check notifications, reply to messages, and use an app a few times a day, you’ll get decent numbers. 

By the way, the Pixel Watch 5 charges with a special fast-charging dock, and the charging process seemed very fast to me (you’ll reach 50% in just 15 minutes, and 100% capacity in about an hour). Furthermore, while charging, the Pixel Watch still shows the time, so if you place the charger on your desk, you can quickly tell the time from them.

Price and Availability

A more detailed analysis of the Pixel Watch 5 can be found in our separate review, prepared by my colleague Jakub Kárník. For my part, however, I can say that, apart from the price, perhaps the only reason I won’t actively use the Pixel Watch 5 is my preference for analog watches when it comes to appearance.

The Google Pixel Watch 5 in the Czech market costs CZK 9,990 for the 41mm variant, while the larger 45mm version costs CZK 10,999. LTE models are not available. 

What impressed you about the Pixel Watch 5?