Fitbit owner Google wants you to buy its watch, but there are teething problems

Google’s first entry into the smartwatch market has arrived. Is it worth the $549 or is it simply a remote control for the Google’s Pixel mobiles?

The dial of the new Google Pixel Watch.

More than 18 months after acquiring Fitbit, Google has finally entered the smartwatch market, but its first entrant isn’t without its problems.

Like a lot of new tech products and the company’s past two phones, sage is again the new black when it comes to the Google Pixel Watch.

The $549 smartwatch ($649 for LTE) is packed with the latest Wear OS features and technology, including Bluetooth® 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz and NFC technology.

For those who like to grab a morning coffee while off on a run and without their wallet or phone, adding a debit card to Google Wallet is handy.

Unlike some smartwatches, the Pixel allows users to bring music with them on the go without their phone or an eSim installed. However, users must download playlists.

The feature would be great if it were not for the watches’ issues connecting to Bluetooth devices. The model tested by The Australian struggled to pick up older Bluetooth devices but it did reveal the name of a new neighbour by detecting their mobile phone – a small perk that might help one remember the names of nearby colleagues.

Google has finally entered the smartwatch market with its Google Pixel watch.

While the watch does have an in-built speaker, its uses are limited to certain apps based on developer permissions. What does that mean? Users can listen to podcasts on speaker via the Wear Casts app but Spotify is limited to Bluetooth speakers or earphones – to which the watch doesn’t always connect.

As for when users might blast a podcast from their wristwatch? Perhaps on a hammock with their hands behind their head.

The forgetful types will enjoy the “find my phone” feature which allows the user to call their mobile so long as it’s connected by Bluetooth.

The company markets the new watch as “Help by Google. Health by Fitbit” – the aftermath of a $US2.1bn ($3.3bn) acquisition which sparked an ACCC query.

As you’d expect, a lot of Fitbit’s apps, including ECG, Exercise and Fitbit Today, come pre-loaded; as does YouTube Premium which one cannot use without a premium membership.

A user’s heart rate and the number of steps taken are but two of about a dozen tiles a user can swipe through or have permanently on the resting face.

If you’re planning to accessorise then there are ways and means.

The watch has several exercise modes to chose from when going on a run or lifting weights – for users who like to monitor themselves during exercise.

The watch is water resistant – Google says up to 50m deep – for those concerned about sweating during exercise while wearing the watch.

It also uses Fitbit’s sleep technology to monitor your sleep, which might be helpful if anyone actually wore any watch let alone a smartwatch to bed.

The Google Pixel Watch has a 41mm face and is about 12mm thick. It’s easy enough to scroll through once the user unlocks the watch with a swipe function.

A nice addition is the watch’s dial which can be used to scroll from the resting face to notifications or settings.

When playing music it can be used to adjust the volume too – an ode, of sorts, to better times and older devices perhaps?

The verdict? If you need a little help locating your phone every once in a while and enjoy getting around without your mobile while listening to music then it might be one to buy.
Or not.

Originally published as Fitbit owner Google wants you to buy its watch, but there are teething problems