As part of the recent March feature release, the first-generation Pixel Watch can now track your workouts and heart rate and will even teach you how to relax.
There are six new changes in total, according to Google. The first of them is called Pace Training. Using the wearable's built-in GPS and motion detection sensors, runners can use this tool to set a certain pace they want to maintain while running. If you have a pair of Pixel Buds Pro connected, they will alert you if you start to slow down using auditory and haptic feedback.
The second is Cardiac Zone Training, as mentioned above. This feature monitors how long your heart stays at a given rate, whether resting or active. Their goal is to help people optimize their exercises so they can get the most out of their workouts. Like Pace Training, the tool will notify you when you've jumped from “one heart rate zone to another.”
Never get lost again
Google also saw fit to modify the Pixel Watch's training UI by increasing the font size and making the on-screen colors brighter for easier viewing. Auto start and stop are included in the patch. These two allow the wearable to automatically start a workout whenever it detects that you are doing an activity. For example, when you start running, Pixel Watch will instantly start recording your run without requiring additional information.
To help you refresh after an intense gym session, the new Fitbit Relax app will guide you through a breathing exercise and tell you how long to inhale and when to exhale.
The latter feature doesn't directly relate to exercise, but it's still useful as the Pixel Watch will now show public transportation directions in real time. The company claims that users can see their different public transportation options and departure times, in addition to a “compass-enabled map view.” All of this can be done without having to open Google Maps on your smartphone.
If any of this sounds familiar, it's because the Pixel Watch 2 has had most of these features for some time now. Google is making good on previous promises of continued support for the original device. Does this mean that the first Pixel Watch is now as good as the current model?
No. The gap between the two is certainly smaller now, but the Pixel Watch 2 is still the superior wearable. It's best for monitoring your heart rate and blood oxygen levels, plus it houses a continuous electrodermal activity (cEDA) sensor to detect sudden spikes in stress.
Be on the lookout for the update when it arrives on your Pixel Watch. Google says the patch rollout begins today.
While we have it, check out TechRadar's list of the best smartwatches for 2024.
