Pixel Watch 5 GPS Smashes Expectations in London Marathon Test

Google recently made a bold claim about its Pixel Watch 5's GPS tracking capabilities, stating that it outperforms Apple's Watch Ultra 3 and Garmin's Fenix 8 Pro. To test this assertion, TechRadar writer Mike Sawh conducted an experiment on the London Marathon course.

Sawh ran miles 18-20 of the marathon route twice, wearing the Pixel Watch 5, Watch Ultra 3, and Fenix 8 Pro in alternating runs to ensure accurate comparisons. He uploaded the routes to a comparison tool called iLoveGPX to analyze the GPS tracks.

The results showed that while all three watches experienced some issues with GPS tracking, particularly around tall buildings, the Pixel Watch 5 performed remarkably well. In one run, it accurately plotted Sawh's actual route, whereas the Fenix 8 Pro and Watch Ultra 3 started to drift off course. The Pixel Watch 5 also recorded similar distance data as the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

However, the writer notes that the Pixel Watch 5 did struggle with pacing data, particularly at the beginning of each run. Nevertheless, he concludes that Google's claims about the Pixel Watch 5's GPS capabilities are largely justified.