Own A Google Pixel Watch? 7 Hidden Features You Should Take Advantage Of (and Where To Find Them)

2 days ago

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The Google Pixel Watch 4 is nan astir intelligent smartwatch disposable today.
Some of these features are disposable for previous-generation Pixel Watch models.
Rather than judge nan default settings, research what your watch tin do for you.

I walk a batch of clip testing smartwatches and bounce astir trying nan latest and top features and functions. It wasn't until Google launched a larger exemplary that nan Pixel Watch appealed to maine for longer than nan trial period.

With this year's Pixel Watch 4 supporting longer artillery life, outer SOS connectivity, and nan new Fitbit Premium AI coach, I americium fresh to perpetrate to 1 watch for a longer period.

Also: I recovered a smartwatch that's conscionable arsenic reliable arsenic my Garmin (but overmuch cheaper)

After a fewer weeks of utilizing nan watch, exploring default apps, settings, and different functions, I judge location are respective features everyone should beryllium alert of to bask an optimal Pixel Watch 4 experience.

Let's return a person look astatine immoderate worthy features -- and if you person others to adhd to nan list, please stock them present for america to enjoy.

1. Generative AI successful messages

Despite my agelong history of utilizing mobile technology, I've been slow to adopt AI because I've been excessively engaged to afloat analyse its usefulness and expertise to thief amended my efficiency. I besides for illustration to create original contented and spot my ain experiences.

Also: Amazfit conscionable sewage nan 1 Garmin characteristic I usage each time - and now I'm conflicted

However, location is 1 awesome characteristic I usage each of nan clip connected nan Pixel Watch 4 -- generative AI responses successful Google Messages. The LLM-powered messages are created connected nan device, truthful they look quickly and tin beryllium sent immediately.

A fewer Smart Replies connected nan Pixel Watch 4

When a connection notification appears connected your Pixel Watch, swipe up connected nan notification to spot reply options. You will past spot a fewer Smart Reply options appear. You tin pat connected 1 to nonstop nan reply. So far, I've recovered nan replies to beryllium much useful than emblematic smart replies, specified arsenic Yes, No, I can't respond, Call you later, and others.

2. Customize notifications

Speaking of notifications, smartwatches are fantabulous for helping you triage your communications. However, suppose each azygous exertion connected your smartphone has notifications sent to your watch. In that case, you tin walk a sizeable magnitude of clip interacting pinch your watch, and trim artillery life for much captious functions.

Also: One of nan astir underrated smartwatches I've tested conscionable group a 55-hour artillery life record

Unfortunately, each notifications are enabled by default aft you group up your Pixel Watch. Make judge you spell to nan Watch smartphone exertion and past manually prime nan notifications you want successful nan app settings.

3. Watch faces and complications

One of nan first things I do pinch each smartwatch is customize and optimize nan watch look and complications to supply maine pinch nan champion personification experience. Google's Pixel Watch 4 has immoderate of nan best-looking and champion animated watch faces disposable connected immoderate smartwatch.

Also: Which smartwatch has nan champion information features? I tested them all, and here's really Google fares

The slick animations of nan Concentric watch face, pinch its half-dial layout, person made it my existent default watch face. The larger domed show of nan Pixel Watch 4 makes nan acquisition moreover better.

I highly urge tapping nan edit action successful nan watch look selector to take your preferred watch look color, prime a cool layout, and take nan complications that supply you pinch nan glanceable accusation you need. Complications are disposable for default Google apps and third-party applications. On my Pixel Watch 4, location are presently much than 60 complications to take from, which is simply a immense magnitude compared to astir different smartwatches.

Make judge to negociate and optimize these settings for your Pixel Watch 4

4. Material Expressive Tiles

In summation to nan watch faces, nan Tiles are a cardinal constituent of nan Pixel Watch experience. Swiping near aliases correct from nan watch look takes you done each of nan Tiles that you person selected to look connected your watch.

With nan Pixel Watch 4 -- and nan latest type of Wear OS, pinch Material 3 Expressive quality -- nan Tiles are much tin and beautiful. Some Tiles now person aggregate panels pinch cardinal accusation correct connected nan Tile, making them much useful and informative without moreover having to pat into nan specifications of nan Tile. Actions, specified arsenic create a note, create a list, grounds a sound note, group an alarm, and more, are beforehand and halfway successful nan Tile.

Also: Best humor unit watches: I tested nan apical models that really work

With nan apps I person loaded, location are 39 Tile options connected my Pixel Watch 4. Unlike past Pixel Watch models, location is nary limit to nan number of Tiles you tin have. However, support successful mind you request to swipe near and correct from nan watch look to position nan Tiles.

5. Double-press nan integer crown

The spinning integer crown connected nan Pixel Watch 4 is highly useful for scrolling lists and making selections, but nan double-press action has go 1 of my most-used actions for respective reasons.

I bask Starbucks drinks, particularly during nan fall, pinch chilly mornings that animate maine to prime up a Pumpkin Spice Latte. I've been disappointed that a Starbucks app doesn't beryllium for WearOS. However, you tin simply adhd your Starbucks paper to Google Wallet, making a double-press of nan crown fastener a speedy measurement to salary for your coffee.

Likewise, nan Orca transit paper utilized present successful nan Puget Sound does not activity pinch Apple Pay, but it tin beryllium added to Google Wallet, allowing you to quickly and easy salary for your bus, train, aliases ferry thrust pinch your Pixel Watch 4. Wallet presently supports costs cards, transit passes, loyalty cards, gift cards, and moreover your driver's licence successful 10 states.

6. Turn your Pixel telephone into a motorcycle machine

The Pixel Watch 4 has dual-band, multi-frequency GPS and an meticulous bosom complaint sensor, making it a tin fittingness tracker. Riding a motorcycle while looking astatine your wrist is not nan safest measurement to ride, but Google dealt pinch that rumor pinch nan Pixel Watch 4.

The cardinal Pixel Watch 4 metrics tin beryllium pushed to your Pixel smartphone for biking

Start a motorcycle activity connected your Pixel Watch and past pat to stock nan measurements pinch your phone. Key metrics will look successful ample font connected your Pixel phone, truthful if you person it safely mounted connected your handlebars, you nary longer request to look astatine your watch.

One area that needs Google's attraction is adding mapping output to nan Pixel phone, truthful you tin navigate safely connected your ride, and not conscionable way your wellness metrics.

7. Flashlight

Regular readers cognize I emotion utilizing watches pinch LED flashlights. While nan Pixel Watch 4 does not person this hardware element, a elemental swipe down from nan apical of nan watch look provides entree to nan flashlight fastener that launches a achromatic watch look for a reasonably agleam AMOLED experience.

I personally usage a reddish ray astatine nighttime to support my nighttime imagination and to debar waking my wife. Once you motorboat nan flashlight, quickly pat nan show to make nan surface red. Tap 1 much clip to move disconnected nan light. I would for illustration to spot an disposable mounting to take nan colour you want arsenic nan default, and besides possibly a mounting to summation nan brightness erstwhile you request much light.

Also: Samsung's newest Galaxy Watch 8 sewage maine moving again (and it's already connected sale)

There are plentifulness of different precocious features and settings to research connected nan Pixel Watch 4. As I antecedently posted, nan Pixel Watch 4 offers nan best information features of immoderate different smartwatch, truthful return advantage of those. My ZDNET colleague, Nina Raemont, besides mentioned nan caller Fitbit Premium AI-coaching functions that are coming soon. I can't hold to person nan watch thief motivate maine to train and supply maine pinch applicable guidance and coaching.