I wore the Google Pixel Watch 5 for a week - it's one of my favourite watches for Android users this year, but I have one complaint

It's been a big few weeks for the world of fitness trackers, and the Google Pixel Watch 5 is the latest to come across my desk. As woman&home's digital health editor, I've been testing these watches for the past six years.

While I've often included Google Pixel Watches in my round-up of the best Fitbits since they used the original Fitbit app to store and display health data, there's a new one now. The introduction of the Google Health app has brought them into a world of their own, and it's better than ever before.

The Google Pixel Watch 5 also comes with new and improved fitness insights, sleep monitoring, AI integration, and smartwatch features. It's truly an all-singing, all-dancing digital companion for every part of life. Now, if only they could make the battery last longer.

Google Pixel Watch 5 review

What is the Google Pixel Watch 5 like to wear?

The Google Pixel Watch 5 sits flush on the wrist. I tested the smaller 41mm option and found it to be very comfortable and unobtrusive during my daily life. For those who want a larger screen or have larger wrists, the device is also available in a 45mm option.

Each comes with a choice of two silicone bands. These interlock like the old-school Fitbit Infinity bands, so they feel secure and stay out of the way.

I've also tested the Google Pixel Watch 3 and Watch 4, so I immediately noticed that the design hasn't changed all that much. There are new watch faces to try - should you choose the Modular face, you'll find the display of steps, active minutes, heart rate, etc is clearer to read.

Fitness and workout tracking on the Google Pixel Watch 5

Since releasing the Google Pixel Watch 4, the brand has introduced Google Health. I first tested it on the Fitbit Air and was very impressed by the new health and fitness features. For example, with the Premium subscription, you can use Gemini to create a workout plan based on your goal, and the weekly overview will prescribe workouts to follow. It's a genuine improvement. Rather than simply logging workouts, it tells you how to improve your routine and actually improve your fitness.

I took the watch out running a few times as well, and I found it clearer to read than many other devices. I also liked how you can customise the data screens to display the information you want first.

When the Google Pixel Watch 5 launched, I heard about a strength training feature that would let you take a workout suggestion (or create your own) and send it to your watch. You'd be able to log reps and sets and follow along with the workout, as you can already with the cardio workouts. Google says this is launching in September, so I'm keeping an eye out, as this will be the first smartwatch of the calibre to do so.

My only comment would be that watches like the Coros Pace 4 have been doing this for ages, and even better, you can start a workout on your watch and record the reps, sets, and rest time. With strength training more popular than ever before, it seems like a miss from such a tech giant.

The GPS tracking has also improved for city dwellers like myself, with double the accuracy in urban environments. While you may be better off with a Garmin watch in the deep countryside, for trails and city running or walking, this is a big win. I like to run through areas with high-rise buildings, and where many of my running watches have lagged or completely disconnected from GPS, this one held firm.

Sleep tracking on the Google Pixel Watch 5

Sleep tracking features on the Google Pixel Watch 5 mostly sit in line with previous models, but they are more accurate - by as much as 15% for sleep stage accuracy, according to the brand. There's also a Smart Wake Alarm. With this, the watch buzzes to wake you up at the ideal time in the morning based on your sleep stages.

There's also a new feature that provides insights into your breathing patterns during the night. The Sleep Breathing Quality metric in the Google Health app is useful if you're concerned about conditions like sleep apnea. While it can't diagnose, it will flag breathing disturbances and create a monthly overview of patterns, which you could then take to your doctor.

You'll see standard insights, including duration and quality of sleep, too. The design of the Google Health app makes viewing all of these easy to understand, even if you're totally new to tracking your sleep.

Smartwatch features on the Google Pixel Watch 5

What makes the Google Pixel Watch a great choice for Android users and the natural pick for anyone with a Google phone is its smartwatch features. Almost anything I can do with my Google Pixel 11 phone (which came out at the same time as the watch), I can do on my watch. This includes making a phone call, texting, using third-party apps like Spotify through my workout headphones, setting an alarm, or creating a route on Google Maps. It even has a torch.

Naturally, Gemini and the Google Pixel Watch 5 go hand in hand. While the AI companion was introduced on the previous version, it's improved here massively and has become scarily helpful. Proactive Suggestions is the biggest upgrade in my view. This takes into account key information like location, calendar, and messages to display what you actually need. For example, when I pulled up to the train station recently, my ticket popped up from the app on my watch so I could just tap through the gate without having to get my phone out.

It's also more hands-free than previous models. Gesture-led actions are something that many smartwatches have done before, but I've only ever really used them when testing previous models of this watch. I started using them more on this device, and then I used them for everything I could. Most often, I raised my wrist to speak to Gemini, gave it instructions (like 'Open a running workout') and then pinched to start it, pause it, and end it. I found my pacing and distance were more accurate than if I'd stopped and done it manually.

It might not sound like much, but when I started doing it in everyday life, it was game-changing. For example, one time I replied to an urgent text, hands covered in banana bread batter, without having to wash my hands, find my phone, and reply.

Of course, all of this requires setting up. I did have to play with the functions for a while, and some can be frustrating to set up if you're not so tech-savvy.

What's the downside of the Google Pixel Watch 5?

The Google Pixel Watch 5 in the 41mm case has up to 30 hours of battery life with typical use and always-on display, and up to 48 hours in Battery Saver Mode. The larger design offers up to 40 hours with normal use and 72 hours in the lower power mode.

It's more than the Apple Watch Series 11, but still, it's not good enough. Regardless of size, you still get less than two full days of regular use. I felt like my watch spent more time on the charger than on my wrist. I had to take it off to charge it regularly, leaving steps, workouts, and nights of sleep untracked.

The day someone creates a device with at least a week of battery life and the full suite of smartwatch and fitness tracking features, I'll give it five stars.

That said, I wouldn't let the battery put you off buying the device. It is the only downside I found during my week of testing, and it has more battery life between full charges than similar smartwatches. You can also get about 15 additional hours with just 15 minutes on the charger, which is impressive.

The w&h verdict: Is it worth upgrading to the Google Pixel Watch 5?

If you're looking to upgrade from a Fitbit, a Google Pixel Watch 3, or you want a smartwatch to pair with your Google phone, then it's certainly worth the jump. At £369, this device sits on par with other premium smartwatches.

If you're using the Google Pixel Watch 4, I'd do a serious deep dive into what updates you can install to use some of the newer features on your older device. You will be able to get some, but not others. For example, the new strength training feature will only likely be available on the Watch 5.

Many features are available on the Google Fitbit Air - the only fitness tracker I've given a 5-star review to. It's a fitness tracker rather than a smartwatch, and it's a band, so it doesn't have a face. You'll lose out on a lot of functionality, right down to the basics like telling the time. However, it is worth comparing for price and the features you want.

New insulin resistance features for early detection (rather than monitoring diabetes) and blood pressure monitoring are also new to this watch in the Health Guardian features, a plus for those monitoring health conditions.

I've loved using this smartwatch over the past week. The AI functions don't feel forced, and they are not complicated to use once you get going - same with the rest of the watch. It fits seamlessly into everyday life, and all are optional.