I didn’t anticipate the Google Pixel Watch 2 battery life to impress me. Google claimed that its second-generation smartwatch had the identical 24-hour battery life as earlier than, however now it could final that lengthy with the always-on show enabled. And whereas I’d definitely think about that function an vital comfort, I used to be extra involved in regards to the workout-tracking battery drain.
After I examined the debut Google Pixel Watch, GPS-based exercise monitoring brought on my unit’s battery to drop roughly 20% per hour. By my testing, this meant the Pixel Watch would solely final 5 hours whereas monitoring my location. Whether or not it’s for strolling, working, biking or a mixture of the three, the battery efficiency left me with low expectations for the Pixel Watch 2.
Regardless of my lack of optimism, I made a decision to journey the size of Manhattan by foot — colloquially generally known as strolling from the tippity high to the tippity backside — carrying the Pixel Watch 2. I began my 14-mile journey with 100% battery life round 11 a.m., satisfied that the watch wouldn’t final till the time I made it right down to Battery Park, the island’s southernmost level.
Whereas on the stroll, I recorded a 1-hour check-in that you may see in my Google Pixel Watch 2 overview on YouTube. To my shock, the Pixel Watch 2 battery had solely dropped about 10%. This instructed to me that the change from a Samung Exynos processor to the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 resulted in additional than simply higher effectivity for powering the at all times on show. It meant that different battery-draining options, equivalent to steady GPS connection, additionally may run with a lesser influence on the watch’s stamina.
My stroll included a number of stops, each for sightseeing and snacks. I may’ve accomplished the journey in 4.5 hours with out pause, but when my toes could be blistered for days after, I wished to make it a worthwhile expertise. As such, I made it to my vacation spot (a westward Statue of Liberty lookout level) at 5:30 p.m., or 6.5 hours later.
Ankles and calves aching, I regarded down at my wrist, anticipating my Pixel Watch 2 to be in a low battery state after monitoring my location throughout Manhattan all day. But my battery life was at 35%, not even within the warning zone. All through the complete stroll, the watch continued to empty at 10% per hour.
So whereas my watch wouldn’t have lasted a full 24 hours, strolling 14 miles in a day isn’t thought of “regular use.” As an alternative, with GPS actively related and monitoring my location, the watch would final 10 hours whole. That’s doubled from my expertise with the unique Pixel Watch, demonstrating a level of enchancment I wasn’t essentially anticipating.
Does it nonetheless lag behind most of the greatest smartwatches and greatest sports activities watches? After all. I just lately examined the Garmin Venu 3 with 14 days of battery life in regular use, and as much as 26 hours of use with steady GPS. However it’s a step in the best path for Google’s smartwatch, and at the very least means now you may exit on a day’s journey with out concern of your watch dying.
