Pixel Watch 5 Offers Improved Features but Price Hike May Be a Turnoff

The Pixel Watch 5 is an iterative upgrade to its predecessor, offering improved features and accuracy in health tracking. With a starting price of $399, it's available for preorder but may be a tough sell due to a $50 price hike from the previous model.

One of the standout features of the Pixel Watch 5 is its Gemini capabilities, allowing users to interact with their watch hands-free using voice commands. This feature has been improved with offline capabilities, enabling users to perform tasks like starting workouts or setting timers without relying on a data connection.

The watch also boasts an updated Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Accelerated processor, which provides a 12% boost in CPU performance compared to its predecessor. Additionally, the Pixel Watch 5 features increased RAM and onboard storage, making it more efficient for users.

Google's Health Guardian feature is another significant improvement, recognizing signs of breathing emergencies and automatically contacting emergency services if necessary. The watch also tracks blood pressure and insulin resistance trends over time, although these features have not received FDA clearance and will be available in a software update later this fall.