I compared flagship smartwatches from Google and Apple: Here’s the clear winner

A new Pixel Watch is hitting the shelves right in time for marathon season. Google unveiled the Pixel Watch 4 at its annual Made By Google event in New York on Wednesday. 

The watch comes packed with several upgrades that rival its predecessor, like a revamped Fitbit experience, updates to Gemini, and a brighter display. Retailing at $350 for the 41mm and $400 for the 45mm, the smartwatch is available for preorder now and ships October 9. 

Also: Everything announced at Made by Google 2025: Pixel 10 Pro, Fold, Watch 4, and more

The big question is: How does it fare against its iOS competition? I evaluated the Pixel Watch 4 and Apple Watch Series 10’s spec sheets, tested out their new features, and took into account my preferences reviewing smartwatches to compare the two tech giants’ wearables. 

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Specifications

You should buy the Pixel Watch 4 if…

1. You want a punchier AI experience 

The Pixel Watch 4 is getting a fresh upgrade with Gemini infused into several parts of the smartwatch. Gemini arrived on earlier Pixel Watches back in July, but the new Pixel Watch 4, with a chip built for AI processing, offers up more intelligent capabilities. The AI on the Pixel Watch is more forward-facing than Apple’s approach to AI, which tends to be subtler. 

Also: I tried Pixel Watch 4 – and these are my 7 favorite upgrades in Google’s new watch

Users can choose from several AI-powered smart replies in Messages for quicker responses on the go, and you no longer have to say “Hey Google” to activate Gemini — all that’s needed is raising your watch arm to your mouth to speak. 

2. You want an upgraded health and fitness tracking experience 

If you’re interested in buying a smartwatch for fitness-tracking capabilities, Google’s Fitbit revamp that arrives in October might be another reason to opt for the Pixel Watch 4. 

Fitbit Premium, a paid membership part of the Google health-tracking ecosystem, is evolving to not just track your workouts and sleep, but also become a wearer’s personal AI health coach. The health coach takes into account your exercise goals, sleep, and activity patterns to create a routine that works for you. 

Users can also ask the health coach questions or make adjustments to plans based on their conditions — for example, if they pulled a muscle during an exercise and want to find lower intensity alternatives for the next workout. 

Also: The 5 tech gadgets that got me through marathons and obstacle courses (and how they work)

Fitbit’s sleep staging algorithm gets a refresh with a new algorithm focused on capturing precise sleep duration and stages during a wearer’s night’s rest. This is supplemented by the sleep-tracking and skin temperature sensors on the Pixel Watch 4 that Google says have increased in accuracy. 

The watch suggests desired bedtimes that account for your sleep duration history and activity level. If you completed a grueling, high-intensity workout one afternoon, it might suggest an earlier bedtime to prime you for recovery that night. 

3. You want a replaceable battery 

For the first time, Google is making its Pixel Watch 4’s serviceable for battery replacement. This is a great development that will extend the life of these smartwatches by several years and hopefully address issues of e-waste. It also could mean that, when you buy the Watch 4, you won’t have to buy another watch for a while. 

4. You want a standalone satellite SOS 

Outdoor enthusiasts are in for a treat. Certain Apple Watch models, like the Ultra Watch 2, have satellite functions for navigation in places without cellular connectivity, but the Pixel Watch 4 has a unique satellite feature of its own, powered by the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 processor. Unlike smartwatches that require a phone’s cellular connectivity to initiate satellite communication, the Pixel Watch 4 offers standalone satellite communications — the first of its kind. The feature is available on the Pixel Watch 4 LTE. 

Also: The best satellite phones: Expert tested and reviewed

That means it doesn’t need to be connected to a smartphone to be connected to satellites, and the feature works by connecting its processor to geostationary satellites in the sky for off-grid assistance. There are rumors that the next Apple Watch will get this functionality, but it is currently unavailable on any Apple Watch. 

You should buy the Apple Watch Series 10 if…

1. You want a more comfortable watch 

Apple has its sights set on making its watches slim, light, and comfortable. I love my Series 10 for that very reason — I can wear it as I exercise, work, and sleep, and it’s unobtrusive. The Pixel Watch 4, on the other hand, is a chunky device. Last year, Apple announced that it made the Series 10 its thinnest watch ever to be easy to wear while sleeping, exercising, or on the go. 

If you think the discomfort level of a smartwatch will inhibit continuous wear, I’d recommend the Apple Watch Series 10 over the Google Pixel Watch 4. 

2. You want subtler AI functionality 

It’s widely known that Apple is cautiously dipping its toes into AI features — and taking its time to do so. The AI features on the Apple Watch are helpful but subtle. 

Also: I’m a longtime iPhone user, but Google just sold me on the Pixel 10 with these features

A great example of this is Apple’s updates to the Smart Stack, which provide helpful suggestions and app activations based on contextual data and routines. When it notices you’re at the gym, it might initiate a strength training session through the Fitness app. But these are small, subtle suggestions. 

The same thing applies to Workout Buddy, which gently provides encouragement, stats, and notifications during and after a workout. It’s not offering up AI-powered training plans or factoring in your daily readiness — at least not yet. 

Alternatives to consider