Image: Syced / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
In short: Wear OS 7 is the new version of Google's smartwatch platform. Gemini becomes more personal by learning from past chats and linked Google services. Simple commands such as timers or starting a workout now work offline. The double-pinch gesture does much more, and a wrist turn acts as a back gesture. The Pixel Watch 5 ships with Wear OS 7 and costs from €419.
Gemini on the wrist
Gemini can draw on Gmail, Calendar, YouTube and Google Photos, so it can answer questions about appointments or tracking numbers. According to ComputerBase, it uses the same AI model as on the phone, and "raise to talk" has been improved. Timers, workouts and Do Not Disturb work offline; more complex requests need the phone or the LTE eSIM. Proactive suggestions in messages require a paired Pixel 11. Think about which data you want to share with the assistant.
Gestures and GPS
The double pinch opens At a Glance and notifications, scrolls Gemini answers and workout stats, flips through Google Wallet cards, switches Google Maps views and controls the Recorder app. A wrist turn works as a universal back gesture. GPS tracks are more accurate and appear in the new Google Health app.
Pixel Watch 5
| Model | Wi-Fi | LTE |
|---|---|---|
| 41 mm | €419 | €519 |
| 45 mm | €449 | €549 |
It gets 3 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage and a processor Google says is 12 percent faster. In ComputerBase's test, the 45 mm model lasted about two days, or 1.5 days with GPS and LTE. Battery, display and sensors are replaceable, and iFixit gives it 9 out of 10. A Workout Builder for strength training and Health Guardian alerts are part of the package; health hints are not a diagnosis.
Charging and sleep
The watch still charges through small contacts on the side rather than wirelessly through the back; the magnetic USB-C dock puts it into a bedside mode. Google promises 15 percent more accurate sleep analysis, and a new Smart Wake feature aims to wake you during a lighter sleep phase so getting up feels easier.
Older watches and buying advice
Earlier Pixel Watch models also benefit from Wear OS 7 and the new Health app; the update rolls out in waves. Wear OS only works with Android phones. If you need longer battery life, look at the Fitbit Edge, and for Samsung see the Galaxy Watch9. More in the Wear OS section.
Sources
