Pixel Watch 5: One Week In, the Thickness Is Still the Problem
After a week with the Google Pixel Watch 5, the standout features are promising but some aren't live yet. Here's what works and what doesn't.
Google's Pixel Watch 5 went on sale on August 20, 2026, bringing faster hardware, new colors, and a pair of health features that aren't live yet. After one week of wear, ZDNET editor Nina Raemont found the watch impressive in software depth but frustrating in physical design. At 12mm thick, it remains the clunkiest of the flagship smartwatches. Meanwhile, the two most interesting additions, a guided weight-training circuit and a Health Guardian insulin resistance detector, are both still unavailable to buyers.
What happened
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| On-sale date | August 20, 2026 |
| Watch thickness | 12mm |
| Thickness vs. Galaxy Watch 9 | 4.6mm thicker |
| Battery life (average use) | ~36 hours (1.5 days) |
| Apple Watch Series 11 battery | 24 hours |
| Weight-training feature status | Not yet available |
| Health Guardian / insulin resistance status | Not yet available |
Google released the Pixel Watch 5 today alongside several new color options, including Olive, Canyon, and a Fog (icy blue) band. The hardware runs faster than its predecessor and ships with an upgraded GPS sensor, though that sensor has not been fully tested yet.
Why it matters
The bulk problem is not solved
The Pixel Watch 5 sits at 12mm thick. That is 4.6mm thicker than the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9, which makes a meaningful difference on a wrist. The default silicone band adds to the sensation of tightness. According to Raemont, anyone sensitive to a heavy or snug watch should budget for a breathable third-party band on top of the purchase price.
Battery edges out Apple, matches Samsung
After a week of real-world use, the Watch 5 delivered roughly 36 hours of battery life. That puts it meaningfully ahead of the Apple Watch Series 11 (24 hours) and on par with the Galaxy Watch 9. Google did not make a significant battery upgrade this cycle, but the existing capacity still holds up.
The best features are still coming
Two additions made headlines at launch. The first is a guided weight-training circuit in the Google Health app: the watch walks you through each rep, set, and rest period, shows exercise form, and displays countdown timers, all without needing a phone. The second is Health Guardian’s insulin resistance detection, which Google says can flag potential resistance without a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), a device normally worn on the body to track blood sugar continuously. Neither feature is available at launch. Google has not given a specific date for either.
The weight-training feature is being compared to Fitbod, a dedicated strength-tracking app. If it delivers a comparable experience on-wrist, it would be a genuine differentiator: neither Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 9 nor Apple Watch Series 11 offer anything equivalent, according to Raemont.
Our take
Launching a device with two of its headline features missing is a familiar move in consumer tech, and it deserves some skepticism. Buyers today are paying full price for hardware and waiting on the software that justifies it. The insulin resistance detection is particularly interesting if it holds up under scrutiny, because CGM-free metabolic tracking would be a real step forward. But “Google’s algorithm can detect potential insulin resistance” is a claim that needs peer-reviewed validation, not just a launch blog post. We’d hold judgment on Health Guardian until independent testing is published.
On the bulk: 12mm is not a rounding error. If you are coming from a slim watch or a Galaxy Watch 9, the difference is physical. That is the kind of thing a spec sheet buries and a week on the wrist reveals immediately.
For businesses thinking about AI integration in health and wellness products, the Pixel Watch 5’s on-device AI for metabolic signals points to where wearable data is heading. Whether Google’s health data flows usefully into third-party tools is still an open question worth tracking. If you are building services around health data or AI integration for client workflows, the CGM-free approach is a signal that on-device inference is moving into genuinely sensitive domains.
Keep an eye on the Lumien AI news feed for a follow-up once Health Guardian goes live and independent accuracy data emerges.
What to do about it
- Wait for the full review before buying if the weight-training or Health Guardian features are your primary reason for upgrading.
- Budget for a third-party breathable band if you are sensitive to watch bulk or skin irritation.
- Compare total cost against the Galaxy Watch 9 if thickness is a concern: the Samsung is 4.6mm thinner and has comparable battery life.
- Watch for independent clinical commentary on the insulin resistance feature before treating its readings as medically actionable.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Pixel Watch 5 battery last?
In real-world testing over a week of average use, the Pixel Watch 5 lasted approximately 36 hours (about a day and a half). That is longer than the Apple Watch Series 11's 24-hour limit and roughly on par with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9.
How thick is the Pixel Watch 5?
The Pixel Watch 5 is 12mm thick, which is 4.6mm thicker than the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9, making it the bulkiest of the current flagship smartwatch lineup.
What is the Health Guardian insulin resistance feature on Pixel Watch 5?
Health Guardian is a Google-developed tab on the Pixel Watch 5 that claims to detect potential insulin resistance without needing a continuous glucose monitor. The feature uses the watch's sensors and Google's algorithm. It was not yet available to users at launch on August 20, 2026.
Does the Pixel Watch 5 have a weight training feature?
Yes. Google is rolling out a guided weight-training circuit in the Google Health app that walks users through reps, sets, and rest times with exercise demonstrations and countdown timers, all on the watch itself. The feature was not live at launch and had no confirmed release date as of the initial review.
