At least six months of wait stand between us and the Google Pixel Watch 4 at the moment. However, we already have some key info from industry sources and Google hints for what to expect from the Pixel Watch 3 successor later this year.
Even though I gave the Pixel Watch 3 a glowing review, thanks to several key upgrades over the Watch 2 like the new 45mm size option and new Google-ecosystem apps, it’s still a work in progress with room to grow.
Though the Pixel Watch 4 likely won’t arrive until late summer or fall next year, we’ve heard from a Qualcomm source about some potential paths Google could take with the next watch’s hardware. And Google itself claimed that future Pixel Watches should have a design change to improve repairability.
Otherwise, this early Google Pixel Watch 4 guide will discuss Google and Fitbit patents that could influence its design, as well as our wishlist for what Google should change for the Watch 4.
Google Pixel Watch 4: What we know so far
The Pixel Watch 2 and 3 use the 4nm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chipset with Arm cores. But in 2023, Google and Qualcomm announced a RISC-V partnership, where they’d coordinate on developing the next Snapdragon Wear chipset using open-source, custom RISC-V cores.
This year, we interviewed Qualcomm VP of wearables Dino Bekis about the Qualcomm-Google partnership, when he discussed the “feature-focused” and “AI-driven” Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 chipset coming “next year” (meaning 2025). According to Bekis, this chip would deliver”more compute capability” and “headroom” for a significant boost over the Gen 1.
He says Qualcomm and Google are currently “working on” making Wear OS software compatible with RISC-V, which has the potential to make Wear OS watches last much longer with the same capacity. In theory, this new system and improved battery life would apply to the Pixel Watch 4!
Bekis also mentioned that Qualcomm’s new custom Oryon cores could be scaled down to the wearable level, meaning future Pixel Watches could get similar custom silicon cores as those found in the Snapdragon 8 Elite. But we don’t know the timeframe for this, and it may not be ready for the Pixel Watch 4.
In October, an internal Google document leaked suggesting that the Pixel Watch 5 (no, not the 4) could use a custom wearable Tensor chip with one ARM Cortex-A78 core and two ARM Cortex-A55 cores. For context, the Galaxy Watch 7‘s Exynos W1000 SoC uses these same cores, but has four A55s, making the Watch 5 preemptively underpowered.
This news surprised us because it suggests Google might abandon RISC-V in exchange for cheaper, self-designed Tensor that aligns more with Galaxy Watches. A Pixel Watch 4 with a new 3nm Tensor chip would still be faster than the 4nm Snapdragon chip, if Google goes this safe route instead — even if it would be disappointing.
Outside of the processor, the only other official Pixel Watch 4 hint comes from Google, which responded to criticism that the Pixel Watch 3 is unrepairable; if a screen cracks or the internals break and it’s under warranty, Google will send you a new watch and throw the defective one away.
After people argued that this was unsustainable, a Google rep at a climate panel said they are “thinking about” how to make the Pixel Watch design repairable to align with their environmental policies. Hopefully the Pixel Watch 4 will be the first to receive that redesign, but there’s no timetable for it.
Google Pixel Watch 4: Rumors and patents
Google patents dozens of ideas per month, many of which will never see the light of day in a commercial product. That said, there are a few Pixel Watch and Fitbit patents we’ve spotted that we’d like to see in the Pixel Watch 4, in theory.
The most bizarre and intriguing Pixel Watch patent is one where Google turns its rounded-edge bezel into a squeezable, touch-sensitive control interface. In the exhibits below, you can see how Google envisions you tapping or sliding specific portions of the Pixel Watch edge to trigger actions like music controls, a flashlight, or a favorite app.
You could squeeze the screen to pause a song or open a notification, potentially instead of using the Pixel Watch 3’s trademark crown. The patent includes a long list of potential actions based on the length, direction, speed, or location of your swipe or squeeze, which sounds a bit too complicated to work in practice but still sounds intriguing.
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We highly doubt the Pixel Watch 4 would ditch its crown, but using the bezel edge for controls isn’t that different from what Samsung does with its digital touch bezel on the Galaxy Watch 7.
Another intriguing patent comes from the Google-owned Fitbit, claiming the idea for a smartwatch “Fit Score” that informs the user how well the watch’s bottom sensors can read your health data based on how snugly you’re wearing it, as well as “differences in wrist size, skin color, hair density, BMI, fat percentage, and the likes.”
The Pixel Watch 4 would need a “Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS)” that would adjust your data if it detected that your watch wasn’t fitted properly; for example, it would disregard low SpO2 warnings if your watch comes loose while you’re sleeping.
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Another Fitbit patent that uses on-wrist games to monitor your mental health could be a nice feature, but we’re focusing more on potential Pixel Watch 4 hardware changes. On that note, Fitbit has patented several blood pressure monitoring systems in the past few years, including one this August. We know Google wants to implement these sensors soon; we just doubt it’ll be consumer-ready by the Pixel Watch 4.
We also saw a Fitbit patent for detecting arterial stiffness as a warning sign for cardiovascular issues.
Beyond these long-term plans and ideas, we don’t know yet what Google has planned for the Pixel Watch 4; Google itself probably doesn’t know yet. So let’s discuss what they should do.
Google Pixel Watch 4 wishlist
The Google Pixel Watch 3 still ranks second among the best Wear OS watches, closely matched to the Galaxy Watch 7. But if Google wants to surpass its Wear OS partner with the Google Pixel Watch 4, it should improve on its predecessor with our suggestions below.
Better battery life
The Pixel Watch 3 uses the Wear OS Hybrid Interface and efficient XML watch faces to extend its battery life; even though it’s only rated to last 24 hours with AOD, we’ve found the Watch 3 45mm can last two days in normal conditions.
Still, compared to the best Android watches, you’ll find plenty of rival options like the OnePlus Watch 2 or Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra that last three or four days per charge. They may have larger capacity, but the fact remains that people want consistent battery life, which is why many people buy fitness watches that last a week or two.
If Google can improve Wear OS’ efficiency even further with a new chipset, that would be a significant game-changer.
Add a new CPU
We already brought this up in the first section, but we’re expecting Qualcomm to announce a new Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 SoC in 2025, either with RISC-V or Oryon cores. That would be a natural candidate for the Pixel Watch 4, with Google helping to code Wear OS for new hardware.
Google could also go the Tensor route, adding a more powerful (but outdated) Arm Cortex-A78 like the Galaxy Watch series uses. This would allow Google and Samsung to continue to coordinate closely on software, since their hardware would remain aligned.
Whatever choice Google makes, it can’t keep using the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 in 2025; it needs to add a new chipset to keep adding new software capabilities and (ideally) add more NPU processing power to enable new Gemini AI tricks on your wrist.
Dual-band GPS and new sport focuses
The Pixel Watch 3 has some fantastic running-focused software like custom run workouts, Fitbit Premium AI-generated daily run workouts, weekly cardio load tracking versus your target load, running form analysis, and a Morning Brief showcasing your Daily Readiness to work.
Unfortunately, Google didn’t give the Pixel Watch 3 dual-band GPS, so it struggled with location accuracy during our tests and gave inaccurate mileage results. Since Samsung and Apple have begun to add dual-band capabilities to their watches, we really hope the Pixel Watch 4 follows suit.
Google could also piggyback on its new offline Google Maps capabilities (added with Wear OS 5) and offer proper downloadable courses on the Pixel Watch 4 for runners, hikers, and cyclists.
We also want to see Fitbit’s capabilities improve for indoor workouts. Compared to Garmin or Samsung watches that can count your reps for strength training, the Pixel Watch 3 can only track basics like calories and time; the Watch 4 should put greater focus in this area.
A proper wheelchair mode
It’s unconscionable that so few smartwatch brands and operating systems have implemented a wheelchair mode. Folks like Android Central’s Jerry Hildenbrand can’t get excited about watches that only offer “steps” instead of “pushes” and have move alerts that insist you stand up when you can’t.
That’s why the Garmin Venu 3, with its dedicated wheelchair mode that judges things like aerobic energy differently to take disability into account, is such a great option. And it’s disappointing that we haven’t seen a similar tack taken by other watch brands. Ideally, when the Pixel Watch 4 tracks your Fitbit Active Zone Minutes, it’ll give wheelchair-bound folks a tailored experience.
New health data
While the Pixel Watch 2 added some exciting health-tracking tricks like continuous body response (cEDA), passive irregular heart rhythm warnings, and skin temperature, the only new health feature the Pixel Watch 3 offers is the Loss of Pulse feature that uses the PPG and wear detection to determine if you’re experiencing a cardiac event and call emergency services for you.
We love this feature, but we hope that Google and Fitbit can bring new health data with the Pixel Watch 4 outside of emergencies. We wrote above about Fitbit patents for blood pressure or arterial stiffness, which are possible candidates.
Samsung recently gave its Galaxy Watch 7 blue, yellow, violet, and ultraviolet LEDs to enable new health data like the AGEs Index, which are “products formed when sugar interacts with proteins or fats in the bloodstream.” A high Index corresponds with potential “diabetes, heart disease, and renal failure” issues, making it useful as a preventative metric.
The Pixel Watch 4 doesn’t have to track AGEs specifically, but it’s the type of thing we’d like Google to focus on so competitors don’t leave it behind. It could also copy Samsung’s BIA sensor for body composition data.
We have plenty of other potential requests for the Pixel Watch 4. One colleague with the Pixel Watch 2 says he wants Google to improve notifications, making them visible without always having to turn your wrist or tap the screen. Another said jokingly that he wants the Pixel Watch to morph into a smart ring at night; we know there’s a potential Fitbit Ring in development, so maybe we’ll see that alongside the Watch 4.
The Pixel Watch 3 succeeded on the strength of its attractive design, excellent software, reliable health sensors, and decent battery life. The Watch 4 can offer a very similar experience and keep people happy, so long as it delivers a proper hardware boost to keep it relevant.
No need to wait
The Google Pixel Watch 4 might make some of the fixes above, but the Pixel Watch 3 is already a great improvement in its own right. You get a new size option, revamped display, faster Wi-Fi downloads, faster charging speeds, and other upgrades. It’s one of our favorite watches of the year so far.
