Pixel Watch 4 — Why the Charger Is the Real Star

The Pixel Watch 4 is one of the best-looking smartwatches on the market thanks to a larger, curved glass display and slimmer bezels — but the most meaningful upgrade isn’t the screen: it’s the charger.

What changed

• New charging cradle swaps charging pins for two side contacts, which makes alignment effortless and places the watch vertically so the screen can double as a small bedside clock.
• Charging speeds are dramatically improved — in real-world testing the Pixel Watch 4 reached ~94% in 30 minutes, while the Pixel Watch 3 was around ~58% at the same point.
• Improved charging curve and faster top-up times mean daily recharging is no longer a chore; owner reports ~2.5 days of battery with always-on display enabled.
• Minor gripe: the cradle uses a captive cable rather than a USB-C port, so you can’t easily swap the cord if it’s damaged.

Why it matters

Previous Pixel Watches had either slow wireless pucks or finicky pin cradles that required exact alignment. The Pixel Watch 4’s cradle combines convenience with speed — cutting daily top-up time roughly in half and making battery life a non-issue for most users.

Quick verdict

If you care about looks and practicality, the Pixel Watch 4 is a strong pick — its charger upgrade transforms the ownership experience more than other incremental hardware tweaks.

Where to buy / more info

Official product page (Google Store): https://store.google.com/config/pixel_watch_4?hl=en-US

Discussion

Is a faster, fuss-free charger enough for you to upgrade from an older Pixel Watch or another brand? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Note: This post summarizes a review originally published by Engadget. Links to the original RSS feed have been removed; only official product/retailer pages are linked.