Sorry, Apple and Samsung I test smartwatches for a living, and the Google Pixel Watch 5 specs beat the Series 11 and Galaxy Watch 9 in these five key areas

Date:
Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Description:
Google Pixel Watch 5 launches, and it's packing five core features to help it rise above the Apple Watch Series 11 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 9.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The Google Pixel Watch 5 has landed, alongside a slew of compatible phones including the Google Pixel 11 and its Pro, Pro XL and even Pro Fold variations. While the phones look
great, Its the watch thats drawn my attention, and theres a lot to like here.

Arriving in two sizes (41mm and 45mm) just like in previous years, with Canyon, Obsidian and Fog colored bands, as well as a special NBA-star Stephen Curry-themed edition, the Google Pixel Watch 5 is priced starting from
$399.99 / 369 / around AU$565 (TBC) for the 41mm model, and $429.99 / 399.99
/ around AU$600 (TBC) for the 45mm model, with LTE-capable models costing extra. What do you get for your money? Well, the Pixel Watch 5 has received several quality-of-life improvements over last year's model. These include Googles ever-improving wrist-based Gemini integrations, Google Health's new
AI fitness coach , GPS that can reportedly go head-to-head with the likes of the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro , and a new suite of handy background health features called Health Guardian. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

While I havent gone hands-on with the watch just yet, judging by its specs sheet the Pixel Watch 5 is every inch a competitor to the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9.

Its slightly difficult to compare watches from different ecosystems, but
while its unlikely the quality of a smartwatch is going to be a tipping point for someone changing phones, and possibly tablets or computers to better work within a particular walled garden, these features could be a contributing factor to a decision to switch from Google to Apple or Samsung, or vice
versa. You may like The Google Pixel Watch 5 leaks just keep coming Pixel Watch 5 leak reveals a frustrating spec but theres cause for hope Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 review: slimmer, lighter, better

Lets look at each flagship watchs specs side-by-side below (I've used the larger models for clarity: the 45mm Pixel Watch 5, the 46mm Apple Watch
Series 11 and the 44mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 9), then Ill go through all the unique stuff Googles just announced. Specs comparison table Swipe to scroll horizontally

Watch

Google Pixel Watch 5 (45mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (46mm

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 (44mm)

Price

From $429.99 / 399 / around AU$600

From $429 / 399 / AU$699

$409.99 / 379.00 / AU$699.0

Dimensions

45mm x 45mm x 12.3mm

46mm x 39mm x 9.7mm

46.0 mm 43.7 mm 8.6 mm

Weight

37g (no strap)

38g (no strap)

34g (no strap)

Case/bezel

100% recycled aluminum

Aluminum or titanium (100% recycled)

Armor aluminum

Display

Actua 360 display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5

LTP03 OLED

SuperAMOLED, Sapphire crystal

GPS

Dual Frequency GPS: GPS, Galileo, Glonass, BeiDou, QZSS

L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou

L1+L5 GPS, Glonass, Galileo, BeiDou

Battery life

Up to 40 hours

24 hours

Up to 40 hours

Connection

Bluetooth 6.0, wifi, LTE available

Bluetooth 5.3, wifi, LTE available

Bluetooth 6.0, wifi, LTE available

Water resistance

5ATM, IP68

WR50 and IP7X

5ATM, IP68 As we can see above, one of the key things that we can take away from this years top crop of smartwatches is that theyre all starting to look and feel the same, at least on paper. Similar prices Theres very little separation here in terms of nuts-and-bolts quality. However, there are a few aspects some featured in the table above, some not that help the Pixel
Watch 5 stand out from the pack. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Repairability (Image credit: Google) One of the best things about the Pixel Watch 5, which debuted last year on the Pixel Watch 4, is the fact that its repairable. You can use a standard Torx T2 precision
screwdriver set to disassemble the watch and replace its battery and display, an unusual feature for small, water-resistant electronics like smartwatches but certainly a welcome one, as anything that extends the life of the device and reduces e-waste is a fantastic initiative in our books.

Its a feature wed love to see adopted across the board including by Apple
and Samsung. Battery life (Image credit: Google) While the Google Pixel Watch 5s battery life seems to be roughly equal to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9s offering, both devices handily beat out the Apple Watch Series 11s 24 hour guarantee, even though thats an improvement from the 18 hours of previous iterations. At smaller sizes, the Pixel and Samsung watchs battery lives return to up to 30 hours; still not a lot and a pain point for people used to the likes of the best Garmin watches , but better than Apples offering. What to read next 3 new Galaxy Watch models tipped, with a feature from the Pixel Watch The best smartwatch 2026 7 things we learned from the Google Pixel 11 launch

The Google Pixel Watch 5, like Apple's wearable, offers fast charging, with just one hour until full. However, its also got a neat little charger held over from last year: a dock that allows you to turn your watch into a little upright bedside alarm clock. Cute! GPS This is a tricky one. Practically speaking, there might very little in this competition in terms of GPS accuracy, but Apple is on the back foot here. While Apples Ultra 3 comes with some of the most sophisticated and accurate GPS credentials on the market,
the mainline Apple Watch Series 11 only offers single-band GPS in comparison to the Galaxy Watch 9 and Pixel Watch 5, which offer dual band L1+L5 GPS.

The Google Pixel Watch 5 also connects to more satellite networks than either watch, and is said to match the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro and Apple Watch Ultra 3 in terms of accuracy according to Google. This is yet to be tested in the
field, but Ill run or cycle my usual routes with an Ultra 3 or Fenix 8 Pro once I get my hands on the watch to test this for myself. Satellite comms Speaking of satellites, theyre good for more than just GPS accuracy. While
all three watches have LTE-enabled models, allowing you to add them to your phones data plan (available at an additional cost) the Google Pixel Watch 5 has a feature usually reserved for premium, Ultra-tier watches: emergency SOS satellite communication messaging.

A holdover from the Pixel Watch 4 , satellite connectivity allows you to use the watch to communicate with emergency services using the Skylo satellite network, offering two-way messaging and location sharing. It works without your phone and is optimized for ultra-low power consumption. Insulin Resistance Trends (Image credit: Google) The Google Pixel Watch 5 gets a handful of new features, including blood pressure (long thought of as the
holy grail for optical LED heart rate sensors, blood pressure or hypertension detection is starting to make its way into the smartwatch market now) and, most intriguingly, an Insulin Resistance Trends feature.

This isnt available yet (said to be coming September 2026) but neither
Samsung nor Apple watches have this feature right now. Insulin Resistance Trends is billed as a non-invasive way (unlike continuous glucose monitors, which require needles) to monitor or estimate your bodys efforts to regulate blood sugar.

Google says the feature is 'a personal efficiency meter, giving you a sense
of how efficiently your body absorbs energy from food and manages it throughout your activities.' Eating and drinking spikes your blood sugar, and exercise brings it back down as glucose is used for fuel.

The Insulin Resistance Trends feature works as part of Google's new Health Guardian suite of features, monitoring health trends in the background. Essential for diabetics, its also useful for weight management in general,
and Im intrigued to see the consensus on this feature, and how it works, once it lands. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/health-fitness/smartwatches/sorry-apple-and-samsung- i-test-smartwatches-for-a-living-and-the-google-pixel-watch-5-specs-beat-the-s eries-11-and-galaxy-watch-9-in-these-five-key-areas


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