Apple’s newest lineup of Apple Watches drummed up fairly the hype once they had been introduced throughout its annual iPhone event. Apple unveiled a number of new options, like emergency SOS communications through satellite tv for pc connectivity and FDA-cleared hypertension detection.
I used to be bodily current in Steve Jobs Theater, and as I watched Apple unveil these options, I could not assist however examine the brand new watch to Google’s Pixel Watch 4. Apple’s new satellite tv for pc SOS function bears some placing similarities to Google’s standalone satellite tv for pc connectivity, for instance.
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It made me marvel, what different similarities (and variations) do the 2 competing smartwatches have? And which of the most recent fashions do you have to purchase?
First: a bit about privateness
The Apple Watch SE 3 (left), Apple Watch Extremely 3 (center), Apple Watch Sequence 11 (proper).
Nina Raemont/ZDNET
Earlier than I delve into the precise specs, I wished to say an enormous distinction between the 2 manufacturers: privateness. Smartwatches gather plenty of well being knowledge, together with coronary heart fee knowledge, menstrual cycle knowledge, blood oxygen, sleep, and extra. That is a number of the most beneficial knowledge you can provide up.
A recent report printed by VPN Mentor rated Apple’s data-sharing practices as “wonderful” whereas Google’s had been rated as “good.” Apple shares knowledge solely with person permission, and claims to by no means promote knowledge.
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Google shares your knowledge inside its ecosystem, and performs opt-in third-party sharing, however no advert focusing on. Additionally word {that a} “Good” score is best than different manufacturers’ merchandise, like Samsung or Meta, each of which have acquired “poor” rankings for his or her data-sharing to generate customized advertisements or biometric knowledge sharing with restricted opt-outs.
Nonetheless, if knowledge privateness is of the very best significance to you, it is important to maintain this stuff in thoughts earlier than placing a well being tracker in your wrist. Now that that is out of the best way, let’s examine.
Specs
| Apple Watch Sequence 11 | Google Pixel Watch 4 | |
| Brightness | 2,000 nits | 3,000 nits |
| Weight | 42mm: 30.3g, 46mm: 37.8 grams | 41mm: 31g; 45mm: 36.7g |
| Processor | S10 chip with 64‑bit dual-core processor | Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 |
| Reminiscence | 1GB reminiscence, 64GB storage | 2GB reminiscence, 32GB storage |
| Battery | 24 hours with always-on enabled | 30 on 41mm, 40 hours on 45mm with always-on enabled |
| Sizes | 42mm, 46mm | 41mm, 45mm |
| Colorways | Rose Gold, Silver, Jet Black, Area Grey | Matte Black, Polished Silver, Champagne Gold, Satin Moonstone |
| Value | Beginning at $399 | Beginning at $350 |
You should purchase the Apple Watch Sequence 11 if…
1. You favor a thinner, lighter watch
I’ve gone arms on with each the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Pixel Watch 4. Whereas I used to be excited by a few of Pixel’s function updates — like its brighter show — one {hardware} hurdle I could not bounce over was its sheer thickness.
The Sequence 11 is skinny and feels gentle to put on. The Pixel… doesn’t. Whereas I have not gotten to check out the Pixel Watch 4 for various minutes (throughout demos of the product) I slept with the Pixel Watch 3, which is analogous in construct. The thicker case and round construct of the Watch 3 made it tougher to sleep with in comparison with the Apple Watch Sequence 11.
2. You need superior well being capabilities
Apple has made investments in its well being initiatives in recent times, gathering FDA clearance for a number of options, together with listening to loss in its AirPods Pro, sleep apnea detection, and the just lately unveiled hypertension detection.
As a well being machine, I might suggest Apple’s Sequence 11, which I might describe as a well being tracker initially, versus the Pixel Watch 4, which I might describe as an AI smartwatch that simply so occurs to have superior health-tracking capabilities.
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There isn’t any higher instance of this than Apple’s hypertension detection function. Over 30 days, the smartwatch tracks your blood stress and notifies you if you happen to’re above the edge. It is a distinctive function to Apple, and I do not see another wearable providing a hypertension detection fairly prefer it.
Pair it with sleep apnea detection, or Apple’s just lately re-implemented blood oxygen monitoring, and the result’s a complicated suite of licensed options. Competing well being wearables, like Samsung or Google, pale compared to Apple’s well being wearable analysis and improvement.
You should purchase the Pixel Watch 4 if…
1. You need a longer battery life
What good is a smartwatch round your wrist if it is lifeless? The Apple Watch Sequence 11 acquired six extra hours of battery life on this improve, from 18 to now a full day’s value, however the Pixel Watch 4 nonetheless beats it, with 30 hours of battery life complete.
2. You do not need to pay additional for satellite tv for pc communications
Each Apple and Google unveiled satellite tv for pc connectivity options on their smartwatches, permitting customers to ship messages and get assist with out a telephone close by. The one distinction is its exclusivity to Apple’s higher-end Extremely 3. The Pixel Watch 4, then again, will get this function at no additional price or Extremely improve.
Additionally: The 10 Apple Watch features that convinced me to switch to the wearable full-time
3. You need a brighter show
Apple’s Sequence 11 has a peak brightness of two,000 nits, whereas the Pixel Watch 4 presents 1,000 nits extra. Each watches are nonetheless loads vibrant regardless of their nit distinction, and until you had been evaluating the 2 on a very vibrant day, you won’t even discover. Out of all of the specs to nitpick (pun supposed), this is likely to be the least instantly noticeable.
4. You need to pay much less for an equally succesful machine
The Pixel Watch’s beginning value begins at $350, whereas the Apple Watch Sequence 11 begins at $400.
