Apple Watch Series 12 vs Google Pixel Watch 5
It depends on your phone. iPhone? Get the Apple Watch Series 12. Android? Get the Pixel Watch 5.
Apple Watch Series 12
The best smartwatch for iPhone owners: excellent health and heart-rate tracking, a new daily Readiness score and a bright screen. Battery still lasts about a day.
Google Pixel Watch 5
The best smartwatch for any Android phone: polished, with very accurate GPS, Fitbit health tracking and fast charging. Battery lasts one to two days.
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Each works with only one kind of phone: the Series 12 with an iPhone, the Pixel Watch 5 with any Android phone. Both have ECG and accurate health tracking; the Pixel lasts a little longer and has dual-band GPS, but some of its health coaching needs a paid subscription.
- —You have an iPhone.
- —You'd use a daily Readiness score to plan workouts.
- —You want health tracking as well as notifications and payments.
- —You have an Android phone.
- —You want accurate GPS for runs and walks.
- —You'd like a little more battery.
Key differences
Pros and cons
- +Accurate heart-rate and health tracking
- +Daily Readiness score
- +Bright, always-on screen
- −Battery lasts about a day, so it charges nightly.
- −Looks almost identical to the last two models.
- −Some new features arrive later in software updates.
- −Its GPS isn't as precise as the Ultra's dual-band GPS.
- +Works with any Android phone
- +Very accurate GPS
- +Fast charging
- −Battery lasts one to two days, and GPS drains it quickly.
- −Some health coaching needs a paid subscription.
- −Some features weren't ready at launch.
- −Thick and fairly heavy for its size.
Ready to choose?
- Is the Apple Watch Series 12 worth it?
- Is the Pixel Watch 5 worth it?
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How we reached this verdict
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: Tom's Guide, TechRadar, TechRadar, manufacturer specifications.