- Your phone may soon alert you if you've left your Google Pixel Watch behind, according to an Android Authority teardown.
- This mirrors another rumored feature, which would have your Pixel Watch alert you in the opposite scenario.
- Apple has provided this sort of feature for years, but Google is quietly catching up.
I liked the Google Pixel Watch 4 when I reviewed it. It has a sleek design and innovative features, including replaceable batteries, a domed display, and satellite connectivity.
However, it lacks certain functionalities that the best Apple Watches and best Samsung watches already offer, such as 'forgotten device' notifications.
These notifications alert your device if it has been separated from another device in its ecosystem. For instance, if you leave your phone behind in a restaurant, your smartwatch will notify you when the connection is lost, and vice versa. Currently, the Pixel Watch does not support this feature, but Android Authority has discovered lines of code in its companion app suggesting that such a feature could be on the horizon.
The code indicates that your phone will notify you if your Pixel Watch is left behind, and a previous teardown last June by Android Authority suggested that this feature may also work in reverse.
It appears that only specific models of the Pixel Watch will support this feature, and both devices will need Bluetooth enabled for it to function. Additionally, the feature would automatically lock the left-behind device, enhancing security.
At this time, it is unclear when this feature will be available to Pixel Watch users. However, given that it seems to have been in development for several months, it is likely that we may have to wait for the Google Pixel Watch 5 for its debut, potentially as a selling point for the upgrade.
Google's Quietly Catching Up to Apple
Useful additions like 'left behind' notifications and other background features that enhance smartwatch usability are exactly what Google needs to attract users to the Android ecosystem.
While much of Google's attention is currently on Gemini, it seems its smartwatch has been somewhat overlooked. This is unfortunate, as Google's flagship smartwatch has been improving steadily each year, and it is now at a point where I would genuinely recommend most Android users consider the Pixel Watch for their smartwatch needs.
They offer various sizes, longer battery life, excellent fitness features via Fitbit, appealing design options, and repairability. Coupled with an ecosystem that functions as well as Apple's, the Pixel Watch stands as a true competitor to the Apple Watch in terms of quality.