The Pixel Watch proves that Wear OS isn’t bad. It just needs some work.

There was a consensus for a long time among the participants. Wear OS watchUsers thought the platform was not good. This thinking was mainly due to stuttering, slowness, strange error, frequent disconnection of phones, and the lack of integrated health and fitness services. Google’s on-and-off working relationship with it, with updates one morning and neglect the next.

Then came the Google-Samsung & Galaxy Watch 4 partnership, which signaled Google’s commitment to long-term partnerships. Wear OSThe platform is not agile at a practical level. It was one the first instances of Google software running on watches that could be responsive, smooth, and competitive with the best. The best smart watches.

After one year, Galaxy Watch 5Reinforce this impression, but it sure does. pixel clockYou have already established. Wear OS feels mature and stable, even without Samsung’s bells-and-whistles. The Pixel Watch was the first time I really enjoyed using an Android smartwatch. I can see a lot more promise in Wear OS. It’s just that it lacks a few things.

After eight years of wearing various Wear OS watches, the Pixel Watch was my first experience with a stutter-free watch. The Galaxy Watch 4It was close, but still far behind in some areas. The new Google Watch, however, is extremely fast and smooth. I haven’t experienced any hiccups or crunchy moments over a month. It’s easy to get used the main interface, which is simple with just one-button swipes. Up to google assistantAs long as your phone is connected, it will be fast and accurate (more details to come).

Fitbit activity tracking with built-in steps, stair, sleep, heart rate and other exercises is also available without me lifting a finger.

Google has also ensured that the Pixel Watch is compatible with its ecosystem. The camera shutter control allows you to remotely take photos using your smartphone. Pixel 7 ProThe Google Pixel Buds ProConnect to the watch immediately because it’s already paired my phone and some other apps (like Google Maps). sitemapperAutomatically transfer my navigation instructions from my phone screen onto the watch screen. The phone and watch also sync well with notifications sounds. The watch vibrates when I wear it. However, the phone turns off when I’m not wearing it.

Overall, the experience seems solid. But that’s it. Wear OS 3.5 is nothing new, and Wear OS has been around for many years. While Apple and Samsung are busy enhancing their ecosystem integration and adding new features to their smartwatches and smartphones, Google provides us a solid foundation which is missing a million other pieces.

I get annoyed when a feature or app isn’t working on my Pixel Watch. Google Maps, for instance, doesn’t support transit direction. You can’t even get public transport notifications from your phone app to show up in the Wear OS app. Or, if you open a Google Calendar Event with a location you’ve selected on your wrist, you can’t tap it to go there – regardless of how you navigate.

GIF and voice feedback support are not available in messaging apps such as Google Messages and default WhatsApp. If you and your family use them a lot, it will require you to reach for your smartphone more often to have a conversation. This can negate the benefits of messaging on the watch. (In my personal observation, the use of phonetic notes is very high among people who speak languages ​​other than English, especially languages ​​with non-Latin alphabets.)

Other built-in applications also lack minor functions. Google Wallet does not allow you to show gift cards or loyalty cards. The Google Home app can’t organize your smart phones or pin your most frequently used ones to the top. Google Assistant can do squat without a phone connection — even when the watch itself has a Wi-Fi connection, you can’t set a simple timer with voice.

Even the Fitbit’s features are lacking, even though I expected them to be excellent given Google’s purchase. There is no active exercise recognition in the middle or end of an activity, no menstrual tracking, and most stats are tied to your phone at the moment. The wrist app is missing many vital information, such as daily standby points and stress management, breathing rates, water, food logging, and other important stats.

Google’s ecosystem integrations seem like a two-step forward, one-step back deal. Cross-device unlock is not possible. Android phoneOr ChromebookYour watch. The Do not disturb settings and bedtime mode can’t be synced between your phone and your watch. When you launch the camera app on your phone, you don’t get a friendly reminder to open the controller on your wrist. You won’t be able to control your home smart speakers with Google Cast from the watch.

Google’s Wear OS app is still very limited in customization. We need more watch faces styles and designs, more colors, and more app tile options. I’d like one for Reminders and a World Clock, Citymapper and Todoist. I also need options for pining my most-used apps on the apps list and custom button shortcuts that let me quickly launch my favourite apps.

The pixel clockI was left with mixed feelings. The most obvious is the clash between my amazement at the Wear OS experience when it works and my frustration at all it lacks. This is a solid foundation, but it must be tapped as soon as possible.

Part of me wants Google’s first smartwatch to be forgiven, but the other can’t forget that we weren’t around in the early days WearOS. It was launched eight years ago, and we are now on version 3.5. We are happy that it is now usable and that we have a solid foundation. The competition has also made great strides in the meantime.

Google cannot be considered Google’s first rodeo. Therefore, the company must catch up fast. We promised Wear OS annual updatesEven though the Pixel phone has a quarterly feature drop for the watch, it remains to be seen whether Google can use these updates to bring its smartwatch ecosystem up to par with Apple and Samsung.