The Pixel Watch and Fitbit connectivity won’t be as strong as some might have imagined.
What you must understand
Some essential Fitbit functions appear to be missing from Google’s most recent Pixel Watch.
Blood oxygen monitoring will be added in a later release but appears to be unavailable at launch.
Automatic workout monitoring may or may not be offered by the Pixel Watch, depending on where you look.
Many tech aficionados have been waiting for Google to release a smartwatch stocked with Fitbit goodies ever since the search engine giant bought Fitbit in 2021. This week, on October 6, Google finally unveiled the Pixel Watch with Fitbit support. It may be pre-ordered and has a starting price of $349.
However, it appears that the Fitbit experience may not be quite complete. Since the Pixel Watch reportedly lacks a few key capabilities, the Fitbit integration is not as flawless as one could wish.
The Pixel Watch lacks some useful functions that Fitbit users have been accustomed to, as noted by Connect The Watts. To mention a few, these include guided breathing, the ability to automatically start, stop, and pause exercises, recording swim strokes, and notifications for abnormal heartbeats.
The Pixel Watch is then contrasted with the Fitbit Sense 2 in the research, with various drawbacks noted in comparison to Fitbit’s most recent wristwatch. The new smartwatch from Google also lacks features like skin temperature sensors, stress management with EDA sensors, and all-day bodily response tracking.
Additionally, it should be mentioned that unlike many of the top Fitbit products, the Pixel Watch is incompatible with iOS.
Connect The 9to5Google story, which referred to the feature comparison between the Pixel Watch, Fitbit Sense 2, and Fitbit Verse 4 from the Google Store comparison page, further supports the Watts’ report. The results are consistent with the study from earlier, since Pixel Watchindeedy seems to be lacking important functions like automatic workout recognition and other characteristics listed.
Contrarily, the Pixel Watch allows automatic workout tracking, according to Fitbit’s website(opens in new tab). Additionally, the Pixel Watch “automatically tracks many activity kinds,” according to its support page, though it is not apparent to what extent. With regard to automatic workout monitoring and if it is available on the Pixel Watch, we have contacted Google for clarity. When we hear back, we will update this post.
The Pixel Watch has a substantial number of sensors built into it, according to Chris Wedel’s initial impressions. It has a number of notable sensors, such as a blood oxygen sensor (which will be usable in a future update), a heart rate sensor, and a multi-purpose electrical sensor for tracking health and fitness activities.
Although it appears there is probably a strategy behind it, it is unclear at this time whether Google purposefully excluded any of these capabilities from the Pixel Watch while they are already accessible on Fitbit devices.
James Park, a co-founder of Fitbit, explains why some capabilities are lacking in an interview with CNET by claiming that the watch’s development team concentrated on the sophisticated heart rate sensor.
He told CNET that as time goes on, “you’ll see new technology and sensors around health and fitness creep into this range of goods.”
He also mentioned the “portfolio strategy,” according to which people opting for a Fitbit gadget rather than an Android handset with greater battery life and health tracking could choose to do so. Still, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that next updates to the Pixel Watch will bring more health-tracking capabilities.
After all is said and done, the Pixel Watch seems to have a lot going for it. Fair enough, this is positioned in a different way than Fitbit smartwatches. It’s undoubtedly a device for consumers seeking a more comprehensive wristwatch experience with Fitbit features. If you think that’s adequate, the Pixel Watch might be worth considering.
