Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Google Pixel Watch 2

store.google.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 114 posts

Re: Google Pixel Watch 2

#41

Post by wilsonnb3 »

Per footnote 11, the "monthly sleep analysis" requires the FitBit premium subscription.

I am very hesitant to support a smartwatch that locks features behind a subscription, even though I don't particularly care about the sleep analysis.

I don't really see who this is for anyways. If you want a fitness tracker, you are better off with something from Garmin or FitBit. If you want the best smartwatch experience, nothing comes close to the Apple Watch. The Galaxy Watches are cheaper and have more size/style options.

This is just another copycat product line that exists solely because competitors have them and probably won't exist in 3-5 years.

Re: Google Pixel Watch 2

#42

Post by macintux »

clnq wrote: post #11

It's ironic or a bit disingenuous that a device putting constant notifications on your wrist is advertised for stress relief. Not unique to PW2, quite common in tech, but regardless...

I can’t speak specifically to the Pixel products, but my Apple Watch has significantly reduced notification angst for me.

I limit my watch notifications to the most important ones, allow more on the phone but the mute switch is always on, so I’ll check it when I feel like it.

And because I don’t need to drag my phone out of my pocket when important notifications arrive, I can respond or ignore them with much less literal and figurative friction.

Re: Google Pixel Watch 2

#44

Post by ChatGTP »

dcchambers wrote: post #14

I had no idea the battery life on most smart watches is so bad that "24 hours of screen on battery life" is something to brag about. The apple watch is no better. My Garmin Forerunner 945 (a running focused smart watch), more than two years old at this point, gets nearly two weeks of battery life on a single charge, and it's got an always-on screen as well. --- Quick edit: Even the latest Forerunner 965, which has an…

There is almost no point in comparing the two, they're completely different devices.

My apple watch has 4g and can stream spotify for example, I can take phone calls from anyone anywhere.

Re: Google Pixel Watch 2

#45

Post by snoman »

dcchambers wrote: post #14

I had no idea the battery life on most smart watches is so bad that "24 hours of screen on battery life" is something to brag about. The apple watch is no better. My Garmin Forerunner 945 (a running focused smart watch), more than two years old at this point, gets nearly two weeks of battery life on a single charge, and it's got an always-on screen as well. --- Quick edit: Even the latest Forerunner 965, which has an…

As with all things, your usage is the thing that matters. I haven’t worn a watch longer than a day even when watch batteries lasted literal years and sleep tracking doesn’t interest me (I sleep like the dead - it’s great). So whether it’s 3, 5, 7 or more… anything after about a day is just a flex and isn’t particularly interesting to me.

Re: Google Pixel Watch 2

#46

Post by tills13 »

wilsonnb3 wrote: post #41

Per footnote 11, the "monthly sleep analysis" requires the FitBit premium subscription. I am very hesitant to support a smartwatch that locks features behind a subscription, even though I don't particularly care about the sleep analysis. I don't really see who this is for anyways. If you want a fitness tracker, you are better off with something from Garmin or FitBit. If you want the best smartwatch experience, nothin…

Only that feature is locked behind the subscription. Most people will be satisfied by the included nightly sleep analysis.

Re: Google Pixel Watch 2

#47

Post by radlad »

gnicholas wrote: post #27
dcchambers wrote: post #14

I had no idea the battery life on most smart watches is so bad that "24 hours of screen on battery life" is something to brag about. The apple watch is no better. My Garmin Forerunner 945 (a running focused smart watch), more than two years old at this point, gets nearly two weeks of battery life on a single charge, and it's got an always-on screen as well. --- Quick edit: Even the latest Forerunner 965, which has an…

I think the screen quality is very different. Newer Garmins have screens that are more comparable, but if you run them in always-on mode, battery life is a few days IME. I don't leave my screen on, and the battery lasts 5-6 days. I agree that 24 hours is lousy, and I won't buy and Apple/Google watch for this reason.

Can you define newer? Which watch do you have?

I have a Fenix 6s and with Always On mode it lasts about a week. However, if I record activities, I'll need to charge it that night.

At one point, battery life got really bad but a factory reset fixed it.

And the thing still gets updates years after its release!

I once broke my Garmin bike computer screen and they sent me a new bike computer free of charge. Honestly, I'm a big Garmin fan at this point.

Re: Google Pixel Watch 2

#48

Post by alphabettsy »

dcchambers wrote: post #14

I had no idea the battery life on most smart watches is so bad that "24 hours of screen on battery life" is something to brag about. The apple watch is no better. My Garmin Forerunner 945 (a running focused smart watch), more than two years old at this point, gets nearly two weeks of battery life on a single charge, and it's got an always-on screen as well. --- Quick edit: Even the latest Forerunner 965, which has an…

It’s not ideal, but also not that much of an issue.

And for many the Garmin is not a suitable alternative.

Re: Google Pixel Watch 2

#49

Post by teaearlgraycold »

clnq wrote: post #16
asadotzler wrote: post #3

How can people tolerate a watch that's half an inch thick? That's like twice the thickness of my phone.

How can people tolerate charging a watch each night? I can't get behind this idea of having a basket of electronics you need to babysit all the time so they don't run out of battery. Especially when we already have really battery efficient tech, like hybrid watches with e-ink display.

I'm more on the level of wondering why people want a mini smartphone on their wrist. Isn't one in your pocket enough?

I do like having a heart-rate tracker, but having had a couple of fitbits the novelty eventually wears off and the reality that knowing the numbers isn't important sets in.

Re: Google Pixel Watch 2

#50

Post by gentleman11 »

clnq wrote: post #16
asadotzler wrote: post #3

How can people tolerate a watch that's half an inch thick? That's like twice the thickness of my phone.

How can people tolerate charging a watch each night? I can't get behind this idea of having a basket of electronics you need to babysit all the time so they don't run out of battery. Especially when we already have really battery efficient tech, like hybrid watches with e-ink display.

The ai for day of charge is important so that in a few years it will no longer last a day and you’ll be motivated to buy a new device. That and the blatant software obsolescence
Post reply on HN