By Alicia Tripler
Cellular is what I've been waiting for!
I’ve been using the Google Pixel Watch 2 for about 6 months. Prior to this I had a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. The only reason I switched to the Pixel Watch was to test the cellular functionality that allows me to leave my phone at home and utilize the NTW network for calls, messages, and data from my watch. This has been a game changer for me! I like to jog, though it may be more of a love/hate relationship. When I’m jogging or walking, I listen to music for motivation. Previously I would have to prepare by downloading playlists to use them while away from my handset. Now I can stream music from the phone allowing me to change as the mood strikes! The ability to receive calls puts my mind at ease that I can be reached without always having my phone on me. I have already utilized this function many times. This summer it was helpful while doing yardwork and at the lake.
The Pixel Watch app can be downloaded on any Android phone. While I was using it with a Pixel 8 Pro for a while, I am now in a Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus.
The Pixel Watch uses Fitbit as it’s health tracker. When setting up the Pixel watch, you can link your Fitbit account (or set one up). This allows you to track workouts using your watch. In my case, I always forget to start a workout and the watch realizes after about 10 minutes that a workout is in progress and prompts to track.
Samsung naturally uses Samsung Health and I have a history in that app so I recently elected to download an app called Health Sync that allows me to sync the data entered into Fitbit to Samsung Health so I can continue to use Samsung Health for my long-term tracking. I need a little more time to provide a review of this set up. I suspect that I’ll get used to the Fitbit app and migrate to it after more data is collected there.
Another difference is which screens are available. This is true of any change in watch brand, so it takes some time to set up which “Tiles”, as Google calls them, you want to display.
One of the things I am working on is syncing my alarm. The default clock app in the Samsung handset is a Samsung app. So, I’ve downloaded the Google Clock app in order to have the alarm register on my watch as well but I have not been able to make that happen yet. Sounds like I need to spend some time Googling the setup! The watch has its own Alarm app that if set only alerts on the watch itself so that option also exists.
The last thing of note is that the watch can only be placed on the watch charger in one direction. This takes some getting used to because with previous watches I could just connect them with the charger from any direction/angle. But now that I’ve adjusted to it, I don’t give it a second thought. I’ve also found that I do have to charge it every single day, though I have been trying different things and logging workouts that may be more taxing to the battery than lighter use.
There are so many features I have yet to learn about, but in terms of functions I use every day, this Pixel Watch 2 has been fantastic! At $10/mo for a cellular plan, it’s an affordable way to be truly Hands Free!
Check out the Google Pixel Watch here on our website!
