Google is well-known for its search engine, email service, and Pixel smartphones, but now the company is branching out with a new Pixel Watch. Featuring Wear OS 3.5 (the latest version) and the best of Google integrations like Google Maps for navigation and Google Wallet for contactless payments, Google’s first-ever smartwatch sounds promising for Android users.
Plus, Google acquired Fitbit last year, which means you can see all the popular fitness tracking features in the new Pixel Watch. The watch will monitor blood oxygen levels, count your steps and calories burned, and track your sleep patterns. You can also interact with Google Assistant for hands-free use. But to fully enjoy all these features, you need good battery life with quick and easy charging options — so you can guess one of the biggest questions on users’ minds.
Google promises an enhanced battery life with the Pixel Watch, and you get a USB-C magnetic charging cable included for free in the box. But unfortunately, there is no wall adapter for the charger. And you will need one considering the watch features just a 294mAh battery. You can buy a new charger or use an old one that’s compatible with USB-C charging cables.
While this isn’t ideal, it’s similar to many other smartwatches sold today. The Apple Watch Series 8 and Galaxy Watch 5 also come with a charging cable, but just like the Pixel Watch, neither comes with a wall charger to use the cable with. It’s annoying, but it’s also a common trend in the modern wearable world.
Any USB-C-compatible charger will connect with the USB-C magnetic charging cable that comes in the Pixel Watch box. If you already use Google Pixel products, you likely already have a compatible charger that you can use to charge your new Pixel Watch. If not, we recommend the following options.
Using a company’s official products is always a good idea, so we suggest going for Google’s 30W USB-C Power Charger. At 30W, it isn’t the fastest one on the market, but it’s official, affordable, and gets the job done. Made of 50% post-consumer recycled material, it’s also slightly eco-friendly.
Spigen is one of the most well-known tech accessories brands, so you can be sure you’re getting a high-quality USB-C charger. This model offers two ports so you can charge two devices at once, making it ideal for family use. Note that if you charge one device, you get 30W charging, but if you charge two devices simultaneously, they charge at 20W each.
Don’t restrict yourself to these options, though. You can find a good USB-C charger at any store today, so you’re sure to find something that fits within your budget and suits your needs. If you’re on a tight budget but still want to make the most out of the new Pixel Watch, you don’t even have to buy a new charger. If you’re an Android user with a USB-C smartphone, you can repurpose your phone’s charger to charge the Pixel Watch, and it’ll work just fine while saving you $25 to $40.
The OnePlus Buds Clip are a new pair of open-ear earbuds built around a simple convenience. They join Sony’s LinkBuds Clip in the growing ear-cuff category, but either OnePlus bud can go on either ear.
Sensors recognize how the earbuds are being worn and route the audio channels accordingly. There’s no label to check before putting them on, and the feature also works when only one bud is used.
We buy fitness bands and activity trackers to keep tabs on our exercise, but it is easy to forget to start tracking or switch modes when moving between different activities. For Fitbit and Pixel Watch users, that could soon become a lot less annoying, as Google is rolling out a major upgrade to automatic activity tracking that can recognize more than 100 types of exercise, up from just 10 before.
Google first showed off the improved tracking earlier this month alongside the Fitbit Edge. It is now coming to Fitbit Air and the Pixel Watch 3, 4, and 5, and Google claims the added context behind the system makes workout detection nearly twice as accurate while cutting missed activities by more than half. Fitbit Edge will support it too.