5 months later, the Pixel Watch 4’s GPS is still my favorite upgrade

I’ve been increasingly impressed with every iteration of Google’s smartwatch lineup. Each year, the company has chipped away at a different weakness, from battery life to overall polish. In that vein, the Pixel Watch 4 brings plenty to the table, but after countless runs, rides, and walks, the upgrade I keep noticing most is GPS.

Last year, the Pixel Watch 3 got very close to being an easy recommendation for runners. Having owned both of the first generations, I  already loved the aesthetic of the line and the robust experience of Wear OS. On the 3, though, Google introduced a secondary case size that better fit my small wrists. It was clear the line was hitting its stride. Yet, what was most notable was that Google absolutely nailed heart rate accuracy.

Throughout my review period and the months of testing afterwards, the Pixel Watch 3’s results consistently held up against even my most reliable chest straps. The data was fantastic for structured training, and I quickly bought into running with a constant eye on my color-coded heart rate zones. In short, the sensor won my heart (pun intended).

But every time I hit the pavement, the GPS gave me pause. It wasn’t wildly inaccurate, but it lacked the reliability that more dedicated athletes depend on. The Pixel Watch 2 wasn’t the sharpest in terms of GPS, and I had been hoping to see improvement, but got more of the same instead. Routes dipped into yards, buildings, and streets, distances didn’t match my control devices, and pace data didn’t always reflect my actual workout.

For neighborhood runs and basic routing, like the map above, it got the job done, and overall, it was fine for my level of casual training, but not nearly as impressive as the heart rate data. That gap made it hard to view the Pixel Watch 3 as a true training tool, even though so much of the experience was great. After months with the Pixel Watch 4, that hesitation is gone.

On paper, the shift to dual-band GPS sounds predictable. It’s a common upgrade brands make and is fairly expected on top wearables. In reality, the bump doesn’t always mean better performance, but dual-band often leads to more consistent results when implemented well. In the case of the Pixel Watch lineup, the upgrade clearly made a difference. The Pixel Watch 4 delivers the level of GPS reliability I wanted to see, finally matching the brand’s top-tier heart rate data.

When I first tested the device, I saw improvement immediately, but I also worried that the upgrade wasn’t as drastic as I hoped. The map above shows an early route with decent accuracy compared to my Garmin Epix. The routes are close, but there was enough variability that I was surprised.

Since then, the watch has calibrated more accurately.  Compared to dedicated GPS watches from Garmin and competition from Apple, my Pixel Watch 4’s routes are now spot on more often than not. The GPS also stays locked in, whether I’m running my usual loop or dipping into areas with heavier tree cover. Meanwhile, total distances come out where I expect them to and align with trusted devices.

On the run above, you can see how it compares to Garmin’s dedicated running watch, the Forerunner 570. Where there is deviation, the Pixel Watch actually proved to be the more accurate device, keeping me on the road rather than slipping into homes. Compared to my Apple Watch Ultra 3, the Pixel Watch consistently delivers clean routes as well.

And to be thorough, the heart rate data is still fantastic as well.

Just as importantly, Google improved GPS performance without a battery penalty. The Pixel Watch 4 holds up through longer sessions and doesn’t force me to rethink my charging routine based on my workouts.

The Pixel Watch 3 proved Google could build a smartwatch that understands fitness, pairing excellent heart rate tracking with a clean, approachable experience. With GPS that holds up to the competition, the Pixel Watch 4 delivers an even fuller package for dedicated athletes, and I’m much more likely to recommend it.