It’s easy: Say “smartwatch,” and most of the people will consider an Apple Watch. In consequence, Apple’s wearable has turn out to be the commonplace by which all different smartwatches and health trackers are judged, and it’s simple to see why. The newest addition to the road, the Apple Watch Sequence 9, is a masterclass of kind and performance — because it has been for a very long time, to be fully truthful. In consequence, the Sequence 9’s lack of adjustments belies an admission from Apple that “what ain’t broke shouldn’t be mounted,” and whereas that offers you little cause to improve from an older Apple Watch, it’s additionally a testomony to Apple’s reluctance to upset the apple cart with a giant redesign.
Due to the Apple Watch’s dominance, different smartwatches can have a troublesome time making an affect on the scene. Google tried to make headway into the smartwatch market with the Pixel Watch, however it’s solely with this 12 months’s Google Pixel Watch 2 that it’s actually making a powerful go of it. Whereas the primary Pixel Watch was a disappointment, the Pixel Watch 2 is definitely an excellent wearable machine and genuinely a product it is best to take into account shopping for.
Usually, at this level, we’d clarify that we’re placing these two head-to-head so you’ll be able to determine which you should purchase. Besides that doesn’t actually apply right here. The Pixel Watch solely pairs with Android telephones. The Apple Watch solely pairs with iPhones.
As an alternative, consider this as a geekier model of bashing toys collectively. It’s a playground argument in the identical vein as The Undertaker vs. Sting: it is going to by no means occur, however we’ll argue about it till the cows come residence.
Right here’s how the Google Pixel Watch 2 measures up in opposition to the Apple Watch Sequence 9, only for enjoyable.
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs. Apple Watch Sequence 9: specs
| Google Pixel Watch 2 | Apple Watch Sequence 9 | |
| Supplies | Aluminum with Gorilla Glass 5 entrance glass | Aluminum with Ion-X entrance glass
Stainless Metal with Sapphire entrance crystal |
| Dimensions and weight | 41 x 41 x 12.Three mm, 31 grams | 41mm: 41 x 35 x 10.7 mm, 31.9–42.Three grams
45mm: 45 x 38 x 10.7 mm, 38.7–51.5 grams |
| Colours | Polished Silver, Matte Black, Champagne Gold | Aluminum: Midnight, Starlight, Silver, Pink, (Product)Purple
Stainless Metal: Gold, Silver, Graphite |
| Show | At all times-on AMOLED
1,000 nits peak brightness |
At all times-on Retina LTPO OLED
2,000 nits peak brightness, 1 nit lowlight |
| Processor | Snapdragon Qualcomm 5100 | S8 SiP with 64-bit dual-core processor with 4-core Neural Engine |
| Sensors | Blood oxygen sensor
Electrical coronary heart sensor Physique temperature sensor, Compass At all times-on altimeter Ambient gentle sensor Pores and skin conductance |
Blood oxygen sensor
Electrical coronary heart sensor Physique temperature sensor, Compass At all times-on altimeter Ambient gentle sensor |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou |
| Connectivity | LTE (some fashions), Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Bluetooth 5.3 | LTE (some fashions), Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Extremely Wideband | Sure | Second-generation Extremely Wideband chip with Precision Discovering for iPhone 15 |
| Battery life | Li-Ion 306 mAh | 41mm: Li-Ion 282 mAh
45mm: Li-Ion 308 mAh |
| Quick charging | Sure | Sure |
| Software program | Put on OS 4 | watchOS 10 |
| Sturdiness |
50m/5ATM water-resistant
Licensed IP68 mud and water resistance |
50-meter water resistance (ISO commonplace 22810:2010
Licensed IP6X mud resistance |
| Value | Ranging from $349 | Beginning at $399 |
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs. Apple Watch Sequence 9: design and show
- 1.
Google Pixel Watch 2 - 2.
Apple Watch Sequence 9
Neither of those smartwatches makes vital adjustments from its earlier model, so each might look just a little acquainted. The Pixel Watch 2 is available in a single 41mm measurement, which is disappointing in case you have bigger wrists. The aluminum construct means it’s light-weight, and the gently curved dome display and again plate imply it’s a cushty smartwatch that’s good for 24/7 put on. Sadly, it’s not a very high-quality construct, and there’s no possibility for a harder chrome steel construct with sapphire glass, in contrast to the Apple Watch. It’s a design that’s … superb. There’s not a lot to dislike concerning the Pixel Watch 2, however that additionally means there’s not a lot to like both.
That’s not one thing you’ll be able to say concerning the Apple Watch. Whereas there’ll clearly be individuals who don’t just like the design, in case you do, you’re going to search out one thing you’re keen on. It is available in two case sizes and likewise has the choice to improve the physique to a chrome steel body and sapphire glass. It’s extraordinarily snug, most likely being probably the most wearable wearables yow will discover.
A giant benefit the Apple Watch has over the Pixel Watch is the a lot, a lot smaller bezel across the show. The Pixel Watch has a thick black border round its display, and that’s merely not the case with the Apple Watch.
The Pixel Watch’s AMOLED show is kind of small for the watch’s measurement, at 1.2 inches, although it does have a powerful 320 pixel-per-inch (ppi) pixel density and a most brightness of 1,000 nits. It’s put to disgrace by the Apple Watch’s OLED show, although. The ppi is analogous at 326, however the equally sized 41mm body has a a lot bigger 1.69-inch show, whereas the 45mm variant has a a lot bigger 1.9-inch show. It additionally has a most brightness of two,000 nits, making it a lot brighter than Google’s watch, giving it a severe benefit beneath robust lights.
It is a no-contest: the Apple Watch Sequence 9 wins right here.
Winner: Apple Watch Sequence 9
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs. Apple Watch Sequence 9: efficiency, battery life, and charging
Efficiency isn’t as massive a metric on smartwatches as it’s on smartphones as a result of, effectively, you’re unlikely to be taking part in Resident Evil Village in teeny-weeny-vision in your watch. However a powerful processor nonetheless makes a distinction, because it’s the distinction between your machine feeling swift and snappy and laggy and unresponsive. Each of those watches are winners on this regard.
Whether or not it’s the Apple Watch’s S9 dual-core System-in-Bundle (SiP) or the Pixel Watch’s Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 processor, efficiency is easy and quick. The Apple Watch is probably going the extra highly effective of the 2 chips right here, however that gained’t be apparent in your day-to-day use.
It’s the same story the place the battery life is worried. Each watches final round a day and a half, whereas the Apple Watch can stretch to the top of the second day, however solely with very minimal use and no sleep monitoring. Each may also recharge in round an hour, placing them on roughly even footing as soon as once more. The Apple Watch’s charging puck is greater high quality than the Pixel Watch’s, however that’s the one actual benefit it has right here.
It’s a little bit of a shock, to make certain, however this can be a tie.
Winner: Tie
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs. Apple Watch Sequence 9: software program and options
Right here’s the place the 2 units diverge once more, as you get totally different working programs on each, and one is distinctly higher than the opposite. Put on OS Four on the Pixel Watch works effectively — besides, that’s, for when it doesn’t. Notifications would commonly cease working, and it even randomly restarted itself just a few occasions throughout our assessment interval. As improved as Put on OS is (and it has improved quite a bit), it’s nonetheless not akin to the wonderful watchOS 10. The Apple Watch’s working system is quick and fluid, and every thing is well-placed and sized to make interacting with it in your wrist as simple as it may be.
By way of options, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out the voice assistants. Siri has been by some tweaks since its early days and works very effectively on the Apple Watch. The Google Assistant on the Pixel Watch 2 isn’t notably improved over earlier implementations, however it’s nonetheless nearly as good as Google’s voice assistant at all times is. The Apple Watch additionally has the Double Faucet characteristic, which helps you to management your watch with hand gestures — although the jury’s nonetheless out on whether or not this meets the hype or not.
However the Apple Watch doesn’t want Double-tap to win right here. Relating to smartwatch software program, Apple is king. The Apple Watch takes this.
Winner: Apple Watch Sequence 9
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs. Apple Watch Sequence 9: health and well being monitoring
We’ve reached the purpose in wearable tech the place monitoring now is available in two distinct varieties: Health and well being monitoring. These units have gone in arduous on each varieties of monitoring, and also you’re not going to be let down by both one.
Smartwatches of this value mainly have all the identical health monitoring choices now, together with all the standard strolling, operating, swimming, biking, and different sports activities choices included. Each even have automated health monitoring for quite a few exercises, so it’ll decide up in case you’re operating and begin monitoring even in case you neglect. Useful!
Each even have monitoring for sleep and stress, 24/7 coronary heart monitoring (together with alerts for irregular coronary heart rhythms and excessive and low charges), and blood oxygen. Each even have some spectacular security options too, together with fall detection that notices in case you’ve taken a heavy shock and an emergency broadcast in case you’re in bother. However solely the Apple Watch has automotive crash detection, which is a giant plus.
Each of those units are fairly comparable right here. And actually, that’s the way it must be. However there’s one massive fly within the Pixel Watch’s ointment. The Pixel Watch makes use of Fitbit for its health and well being monitoring, and whereas meaning you get some highly effective monitoring instruments, it additionally means you’re saddled with a subscription charge if you wish to entry all the evaluation. That is the information that Apple (and most different producers) provides you free of charge, and it’s a fairly evident problem whenever you’re evaluating the monitoring skills of those two units. Sadly for The Pixel Watch 2, that’s sufficient for us to tip this over into the Apple Watch’s favor.
Winner: Apple Watch Sequence 9
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs. Apple Watch Sequence 9: value and availability
The Google Pixel Watch 2 is at present obtainable from Google and quite a few retailers and cellphone carriers. It’s solely obtainable in a single case measurement however does are available Polished Silver, Matte Black, and Champagne Gold. Costs begin from $349 and are available Wi-Fi and LTE variations.
The Apple Watch Sequence 9 can also be obtainable now and isn’t as simple an providing. You get to decide on between 41mm and 45mm case sizes but additionally have to decide on whether or not you get the (a lot pricier) chrome steel and sapphire variants, which even have their very own coloration schemes. Costs for these can get very excessive, and just like the Pixel Watch above, you additionally get to choose between Wi-Fi and LTE-enabled variations. You should buy the Apple Watch Sequence 9 from Apple and quite a few retailers and carriers. Costs begin from $399.
Google Pixel Watch 2 vs. Apple Watch Sequence 9: verdict
We’d be mendacity if we didn’t say the Google Pixel Watch 2 isn’t an infinite enchancment over the primary Pixel Watch. It’s merely higher in each manner, however does that make it ok to compete with the Apple Watch Sequence 9? Sadly, no. Relating to smartwatch supremacy, the Apple Watch continues to rule. Throughout the design, software program, health and well being monitoring, and even simply how good it feels, the Apple Watch Sequence 9 wins this comparability hands-down.
However Google’s star could be very clearly on the rise. Simply because it took the Pixel smartphone line a short time to actually get going, you’d be a idiot to dismiss the Pixel Watch as an rising drive throughout the smartwatch zone. And that’s good as a result of nothing makes certain the perfect retains getting higher than a quick younger upstart closing in on it from behind.
The Apple Watch Sequence 9 wins right here, however for the way lengthy will Apple proceed to rule? Solely time will inform.
Editors’ Suggestions