Google Pixel Watch vs. Apple Watch Series 8: The Pixel excels as a smartwatch but the Series 8 can do even more

The Pixel Watch and Series 8 have some notable physical differences, the most obvious one being the case and display shape. The Pixel opts for a circular display with taller rounded edges, whereas the Series 8 has a flatter rectangular screen with a narrow, albeit more visible, bezel. 

This gives the Pixel a more "traditional" look. But functionally, both of them serve as fairly straightforward watches, with always-on display capability and customizable faces.

Both watch bands are also quite standard, with the Pixel utilizing a rubber sport band in four colors, and the Series 8 offering a wide variety of options at purchase, including silicone options, braided bands, and leather straps (as well as a few designer choices from Hermes).

The Series 8 is also compatible with a wide range of interchangeable bands, too. This includes leather Apple Watch straps, metal Apple Watch straps, and designer Apple Watch Straps. 

The Pixel is one of the best pure smartwatches on the market, mostly due to the versatility of Wear OS. With just about every essential Google app at its disposal — including Google Maps, Google Wallet for contactless pay, and Google Assistant — the device functions as a fantastic companion to most Android phones.

The Series 8 is similarly effective when it comes to integrating with iOS, with several apps available out of the box as well as from the App Store for download. It's our top pick for the best Apple Watch in general.

However, since not every app from the App Store is compatible with the Apple Watch, where we really found the Series 8 had an advantage was with its functionality as a fitness and health tracker (more on that below). 

Overall, both devices function well when it comes to everyday integration into their respective ecosystems, so considering whether Google Suite or iOS is a bigger part of your day-to-day work can help you decide between them.

Put plainly, the Pixel Watch doesn't compare at all when it comes to health and fitness. It was one of our worst fitness tracking experiences when we reviewed it. This was mostly due to its faulty GPS connectivity.

The device relies on GPS to accurately keep track of your progress as you start, but it doesn't actually wait to see if you've got a reliable connection. Instead, it just tracks your progress anyway, meaning it often miscalculates and misjudges what you've done. This proved to be a frustrating way to determine running or cycling improvements in both pace and distance.

Aside from this, the Google Pixel has a lot of similarities with its Fitbit cousins, making use of heart rate sensors, blood oxygen monitoring, and even allowing you to use the Fitbit app itself. However, due to the shortcomings we mentioned before, the Pixel doesn't compete at all with the best Fitbit devices regarding fitness tracking.

The Apple Watch Series 8 is in a different league entirely here, with results comparable to some of the best fitness trackers you can buy. It uses the same sensors found on the Pixel Watch and most Fitbit devices, and excels in large part due to the extensive iOS Health app. The app acts as a centralized database of all tracked health and fitness data and even has integrations for health records, body measurements, and more. 

The Series 8 also offer supplementary features like a Medications app and in-depth sleep tracking insights (a feature that, in contrast, is only available via Fitbit Premium on the Google Pixel Watch).

This is in addition to the Series 8's premium experience of tracking activities. It offers a wide range of available workouts and we've found its built-in GPS to be one of the best of any wearable we've tested. It syncs in a matter of seconds and routinely delivers accurate data. 

The Series 8 is by far and away a better health and fitness tracker compared to the Google Pixel Watch. 

The Pixel Watch and Series 8 have somewhat similar limits on battery life, with both requiring a recharge after a full day's regular use.

On paper, the Pixel Watch lasts slightly longer: up to 24 hours of life compared to the Series 8's max of 18, but this becomes somewhat of a negligible difference in practice, especially when compared to the lifespans of other wearable devices like the Apple Watch Ultra or Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro.

The Series 8 has a slight advantage in that Low Power Mode gets you up to 36 hours. Unfortunately, we found that this mode severely limits the functionality of the watch, to the point you'd be better off going for a different watch entirely if battery life is a major concern.

Ultimately, the most important factor to consider when comparing Google's Pixel Watch to Apple's Series 8 is which kind of phone you're already using. Android users will get full functionality out of the Pixel Watch, while the Series 8 integrates seamlessly with the iOS and macOS ecosystem most iPhone users already enjoy.

If you're basing your decision entirely on the merits of each smartwatch, the decision instead boils down to lifestyle compatibility. If health and fitness are a top priority, and tracking associated metrics is a must for you, then the Series 8 is a clear choice. 

And while the Google Pixel Watch does offer a premium smartwatch experience, the Series 8 is impressive in its own right and is still one of the best smartwatches you can buy. Outside of this, WearOS makes the Pixel Watch a fine option for anyone seeking the customizability and versatility of Android in a wearable form. The slightly lower price tag also makes it the more appealing of the two, as is often the case with Android devices.