Google's Pixel Watch 5 arrives with only minor hardware tweaks but promises substantial software-driven improvements, including expanded health tracking and AI features built on Google Health and Fitbit's AI coach. However, The Verge's review finds the device's most notable new capabilities are not yet available, leaving reviewers unable to properly assess whether the watch justifies its price at launch.

The watch keeps the same case sizes as its predecessor, with only slight boosts to chip and battery, plus a new pyrite satin finish, while costing $399.99 — $50 more than last year's model. Its headline health features, such as blood pressure and insulin resistance trends, sleep breathing quality, and strength training cues, won't roll out until next month, and breathing emergency detection remains pending FDA clearance in the US (though it will launch in Europe). Other updates include Wear OS 7, offline Gemini, improved gesture controls, AI watchfaces and better GPS mapping, which the reviewer describes as solid refinements rather than groundbreaking changes, with GPS performance standing out as a highlight so far.