An iPhone proprietor’s on-wrist companion
There’s no denying that in the event you personal an iPhone, the Apple Watch Series 9 is one of the best smartwatch you should buy proper now. It works seamlessly with smartphones and providers like Apple Fitness+, delivers helpful well being monitoring, and has appreciated emergency options. But it doesn’t work with Android gadgets, which is a non-starter if in case you have one.
ForWorks seamlessly with Apple devicesFully carbon-neutral choiceIntuitive usability options like double tapCan get one with mobileAgainstExpensiveBattery life is not greatDoesn’t work with Android telephones
Google’s first foray
While the Google Pixel Watch marks Google’s first foray into the smartwatch {hardware} house, there’s additionally the legacy of Fitbit behind it. The watch works with the Fitbit app, which is ever-changing to suit extra inside the Google ecosystem. It’s a shocking watch with a spherical face that may make the perfect companion in the event you personal a Pixel smartphone.
ForHandy entry to Google appsWorks seamlessly with different Pixel devicesCan get one with mobileIntegrates with the Fitbit appAgainstNot nice battery lifeUses a proprietary wi-fi chargerScreen not as brilliant
The Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Google Pixel Watch is an fascinating comparability. One is made for Apple, the opposite for Android, although most ideally, with a Google Pixel telephone. If you don’t have an iPhone, the Apple Watch Series 9 isn’t an choice. The Google Pixel Watch, in the meantime, works with all sorts of Android telephones.If you’re about to improve your telephone and also you’re deciding between an iPhone and an Android system like a Google Pixel telephone (or perhaps you personal two gadgets, considered one of every OS) and the supported smartwatch may sway your resolution, we’re right here to assist.Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Google Pixel Watch: How they lookWhy you possibly can belief Android Central
Our skilled reviewers spend hours testing and evaluating services and products so you possibly can select one of the best for you. Find out extra about how we check.(Image credit score: Apple)First, let’s look at how these two smartwatches look on the surface. The Apple Watch Series 9 has the standard Apple Watch sq. face with an always-on, edge-to-edge 1.9-inch Retina LTPO OLED show. Apple says the display is twice as brilliant because the earlier era Series 8 Watch at as much as 2,000 nits and provides improved low gentle viewing as properly. It additionally comes geared up with a 484 x 396 display.The entrance crystal is dust-proof and crack-resistant, and on the aspect is the signature Apple Digital Crown you should utilize to navigate menus (it’s additionally a touchscreen, after all) together with the aspect operate button.A brand new addition to the Apple Watch Series 9 is the double faucet characteristic, which lets you pinch your index finger and thumb collectively twice to set off varied actions, relying on the app you’re in. This is likely to be to reply a name, silence an alarm, open a notification, or play/pause music. (Note {that a} restricted model of this characteristic referred to as Pinch is on the market within the Accessibility menu of older Apple Watches as properly.) It’s additionally waterproof, so you possibly can safely go swimming, bathe, and run within the rain with this watch.You can customise the display by choosing from an expansive number of totally different watch face choices within the Face Gallery, together with ones like Modular that comprise tons of knowledge at a look (you possibly can even customise issues to indicate what you need, together with utilizing third-party apps to indicate issues like steps) to enjoyable ones like Snoopy, in addition to inventive ones, astronomy-themed faces, and extra.The Apple Watch Series 9 is available in both aluminum with a Pink, Starlight, Silver, Midnight, or PRODUCT(RED) end or stainless-steel in Silver, Gold, Graphite, or Space Black (Hermes designer version solely). It is available in 45mm or 41mm sizes and works with quite a lot of Apple and third-party watch bands starting from rubber to textile, stainless-steel, and the brand new FineWoven that replaces the previous leather-based bands (Apple now not makes leather-based bands as a part of its dedication to the surroundings).In truth, one huge differentiator right here is that in the event you go for the Apple Watch with an aluminum case and sport loop band, it’s 100% totally carbon impartial, which is one thing you possibly can be ok with. The Watch solely runs for 18 hours per cost, or as much as 36 hours in low energy mode, so get used to charging it each day or nightly.(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)When it involves the Google Pixel Watch, it’s smaller and lighter. It extra resembles a traditional wristwatch: you may suppose it was one, actually, at first look till you notice the smarts which can be housed inside. It has a rounded face with a smaller 1.24-inch AMOLED (450 x 450) always-on show with half the brightness of the Apple Watch Series 9 at 1,000 nits. But Android Central’s Andrew Myrick says in his assessment that it’s “quite vibrant and pleasing to look at.”You also can customise the display on the Google Pixel Watch, however the collection of watch faces is proscribed to simply eight decisions. You can, nevertheless, add issues and modify the accent colours. But there isn’t the identical degree of customization you’d get with an Apple Watch. Additionally, swipe left and proper to toggle amongst Tiles of knowledge. Interestingly, whereas smartwatches that run Google Wear OS 2 or larger do work with some gestures, the Google Pixel Watch doesn’t.The show is scratch- and splash-resistant, so you possibly can swim with it too and the Watch itself is comprised of recycled stainless-steel, so there’s an environmental element to it as properly, although this watch isn’t totally carbon impartial. This watch additionally has a aspect rotating crown for navigating menus, and Myrick loves the haptic suggestions you get from it, he wrote in his assessment. Along with the crown is a hidden button that can be utilized to open just lately used apps, press and maintain to make use of Google Assistant, and extra.Made of recycled stainless-steel, the Google Pixel Watch is available in Champagne gold with a Hazel Active band, matte black with an Obsidian Active band, polished silver with a Chalk Active band, or polished silver with a Charcoal Active band. You get fewer decisions however the colours are all fairly traditional ones, and you may all the time swap out the band in order for you. It runs for as much as 24 hours per cost, so that you could possibly recharge this watch much less continuously, however it can nonetheless want a battery enhance each day. Like the Apple Watch Series 9, it makes use of a proprietary charging puck.Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Google Pixel Watch: Running down the specsBefore delving into efficiency and health options, let’s have a look at the specs of those two smartwatches, in contrast side-by-side.Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0 Apple Watch Series 9Google Pixel WatchCompatibilityiOS 17 or largerAndroid 8.0 or higherOSwatchOS 10Wear OS 3.5ColorsAluminum (pink, Starlight, silver, Midnight, PRODUCT(RED)), Stainless Steel (silver, gold, Graphite, or Space Black for Hermes designer version solely)Champagne gold/Hazel, matte black/Obsidian, polished silver/Chalk, polished silver/CharcoalSwappable BandYesYesBattery LifeUp to 18 Hours (36 Hours in Low Power Mode)Up to 24 hoursAppApple Watch, Apple Fitness, Apple HealthFitbit app, Google Home appHeart Rate MonitoringYesYesStress TrackingYesNoGPSBuilt-inBuilt-inSleep MonitoringYesYesSwimproof5ATM5ATMPhone NotificationsYesYesBlood OxygenYesYesHeart RateYesYesMobile PayYesYesStorage64GB32GBScreen Size1.9 inches1.24 inchesScreen KindRetina LTPO OLEDAMOLEDScreen Decision484 x 396450 x 450Peak Brightness2,000 nits1,000 nitsDimensions1.77 x 1.5 x 0.42 inches1.61 x 1.61 x 0.48 inchesWeight42.3 grams (41mm), 51.5 grams (45mm)36 gramsApple Watch Series 9 vs. Google Pixel Watch: The core options(Image credit score: Apple)Now comes right down to the core options of those two smartwatches. The Apple Watch Series 9, as famous, solely works with iPhones: this consists of the iPhone Xs and later, so in the event you’re hanging on to an previous iPhone 8, you’ll have to improve if you wish to use it. And if in case you have an Android telephone, it’s fully out of the query.The Apple Watch Series 9 is powered by the S9 SiP dual-core CPU that comprises 5.68 billion transistors and a brand new 4-core Neural Engine that processes machine studying. Put merely, it might run effectively and provides quick responses to button pushes and actions, in a position to sustain together with your each day wants. This consists of enhanced Siri efficiency, with quicker processing while you ask questions or request actions like to start out a exercise. Later this 12 months, Apple is including the flexibility so that you can ask Siri about your well being knowledge, like what number of hours you slept final night time or what your resting coronary heart charge is.Running on watchOS 10, the Apple Watch Series 9 consists of all the brand new options that include the newest OS, starting from superior biking metrics to Smart Stacks that present vital info at a look with a easy flip of the Digital Crown or swipe up from the house display. You also can press the aspect button to go proper to the management middle.There are loads of usability upgrades that make navigating menus and utilizing the watch less complicated, from paying for objects at a retailer to beginning a exercise and even snapping a photograph out of your linked iPhone. Additionally, the Apple Watch Series 9 has a 2nd-gen Ultra-Wideband chip that may present the exact instructions to the place your lacking iPhone is must you misplace it.Naturally, the Apple Watch works seamlessly with different Apple gadgets and providers, from Apple TV to Apple HomePod, iPad, MacBook, Apple Music, and extra. In the 64GB storage, you possibly can switch downloaded Apple Music playlists and podcasts to hear with out your telephone.There is an choice to get an Apple Watch Series 9 with mobile so you should utilize it with out having your telephone with you, like at a health club or whereas out for a morning run. There are additionally added security options, together with Emergency SOS, Crash Detection, Fall Detection, and new this 12 months, Roadside Assistance (U.S. solely). Some, nevertheless, require an additional satellite tv for pc subscription to have the ability to hook up with emergency providers with out Wi-Fi or perhaps a mobile connection. But Apple is providing free trials with new purchases.(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Comparatively, you should utilize the Google Pixel Watch with extra gadgets, together with Android gadgets working OS 8.0 or larger. You can technically use it with an iPhone, but it surely’s not a supported telephone model. So, you’ll be capable to sync with the Fitbit app on an iPhone, for instance, however you gained’t be capable to get issues like notifications.The Google Pixel Watch runs Google Wear OS 3.5, which affords the flexibility to entry tons of Google apps, together with Maps, Wallet, Assistant, Gmail, and Calendar. You also can obtain extra from the Google Play retailer, together with apps to comply with exercises, like Runtastic, or hearken to music via apps like Spotify. This is a giant promoting characteristic for the Google Pixel Watch because you get seamless integration with a ton of Google providers you most likely already use.You can get the Google Pixel Watch in a 4G LTE mobile variant as properly (a present promotion reveals two years of free knowledge with a brand new buy), which lets you join on-line with out having your telephone with you. It has an Exynos 9110 SoC Cortex M33 co-processor. For security, you possibly can ring your telephone from the Pixel Watch, ring the Watch out of your Pixel Buds, and use Find My Device if in case you have misplaced one thing. The Watch additionally has fall detection and emergency SOS.It’s value noting that the Google Pixel Watch comes with three months of YouTube Music Premium for listening to music. Along with the seamless integration with different Pixel gadgets, together with Pixel telephones and Google Pixel earbuds, you should utilize the Watch to manage appropriate good residence gadgets, doing issues like turning the lights on and off out of your wrist.Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Google Pixel Watch: Health and wellness(Image credit score: Apple)Apple provides its personal health subscription service referred to as Apple Fitness+ (it comes with a trial subscription) you can entry from the watch itself and from the Fitness app to comply with together with and monitor all sorts of exercises. This, nevertheless, comes with an added subscription charge. But the exercises are expansive, together with every part from kickboxing to HIIT, energy coaching, yoga, and even mindfulness workout routines. It seamlessly connects to the watch as quickly as you queue up a exercise, and you may set your individual customized exercise plans.Even with no Fitness+ subscription, you possibly can monitor all the everyday metrics with the Apple Watch Series 9, together with exercises, steps, energy burned, sleep, coronary heart charge (together with receiving high and low coronary heart charge notifications), blood oxygen, ECG, temperature, and extra.Apple focuses on its Rings versus primary steps. You have three rings it’s essential to work in the direction of closing every day: Move (energy burned), Exercise (train minutes), and Stand (stand minutes). You can modify these figures to satisfy you at your private health degree or objectives and really feel a way of satisfaction while you shut them.You can join with mates within the Apple Fitness app, interact in competitions, and see the way you stack up. The Apple Health app, in the meantime, gives all the small print about your well being metrics, offering comparisons daily, over weeks, months, and even years. Use the Apple Watch app to regulate settings for the watch, add third-party apps, and extra.(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)For exercises with the Google Pixel Watch, you should utilize your individual and monitor them from the watch, as you possibly can with the Apple Watch Series 9. You also can select from Fitbit exercises, although you’ll want a Fitbit Premium subscription (trial included with buy). The choice isn’t as sturdy as Apple Fitness+, and the manufacturing worth isn’t as excessive. Nonetheless, with a Fitbit Premium subscription, you get entry to an honest selection, which additionally consists of issues like vitamin info, mindfulness workout routines, and extra options.The Pixel Watch tracks the same old like exercise, steps, sleep, calorie burn, blood oxygen, coronary heart charge, ECG, and extra (there’s no stress monitoring). You get extra stats in the event you join the Fitbit Premium subscription, together with a Readiness Score that permits you to know in case your physique is able to train or in the event you ought to take a relaxation day, together with extra detailed sleep evaluation, even evaluating your sleep patterns to that of an animal. Fitbit Premium consists of different upgrades like detailed well being evaluation studies as properly.One factor value noting with the Google Pixel Watch is that Google just lately eradicated a couple of favourite options from the Fitbit app, together with competitors. This means there’s no option to compete with mates and monitor your progress from the Fitbit app when sporting a Google Pixel Watch. This could possibly be a deciding issue for individuals who want or need the motivation to compete with mates. You can, nevertheless, nonetheless join with mates and see their each day step counts.Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Google Pixel Watch: Which must you purchase?(Image credit score: Chris Wedel/Android Central)When it involves the Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Google Pixel Watch, it feels like a straightforward resolution. Have an Apple iPhone? Go with the Apple Watch Series 9. Have a Google Pixel or different appropriate Android telephone? Go with the Pixel Watch. But in the event you’re trying to purchase a brand new telephone and also you aren’t tied to both, or perhaps you’ve got an iPhone for work and Android system for private use (or vice versa), you is likely to be contemplating each.All round, the Apple Watch Series 9 is a greater smartwatch. It has extra options, a bigger, nicer, brighter display, and an ultra-fast processor. The Google Pixel Watch does provide some benefits, together with the smaller, sleeker design which may higher swimsuit those that don’t need one thing so giant on their wrist. It additionally comes with loads of helpful Google integration options together with the ability of Fitbit software program behind it. After attempting quite a few smartwatches, I nonetheless discover that Fitbit gives probably the most correct and detailed sleep monitoring round.Keep in thoughts that the Google Pixel Watch 2 is rumored to be launching later this 12 months and can purportedly boast loads of upgrades. Based on leaks, this might embrace a pores and skin temperature sensor and EDA sensor, a consumer interface revamp with the Fitbit app, real-time translation, clearer coronary heart charge zones whereas exercising, and extra. Again, these are simply rumored upgrades for now. Nonetheless, with the expectation {that a} Google Pixel Watch 2 is coming, you’re finest to attend for that mannequin to resolve.For now, in the event you’re anxious to get onto the premium smartwatch bandwagon and also you personal an iPhone, the Apple Watch Series 9 is a giant funding, but it surely’ll be value each penny. With that mentioned, you’ll nonetheless get an excellent and related expertise with the Apple Watch Series 8. If you need to save a couple of bucks, think about purchasing round for offers on that model.Additionally, if in case you have an Android telephone and need to think about different choices, take a look at our collection of one of the best Android smartwatches you should buy, which incorporates fashions throughout all totally different worth factors. If you like the Fitbit ecosystem (although be conscious that loads of modifications are coming), you can too select among the many finest Fitbits.
The all-around winner
The Apple Watch Series 9 is an all-around profitable smartwatch with a robust processor, good new usability options, and a stacked working system that may impress. But be aware that it solely works with iPhone, so if in case you have an Android, you’ll should look elsewhere.
Wait for the brand new one
The Google Pixel Watch is a first-generation mannequin, and in the event you’re searching for premium smartwatch, you’re higher off going with one thing else, or ready for the extremely anticipated Google Pixel Watch 2, which is rumored to be popping out this 12 months.