The new Google Pixel Watch 5 starts at 419 euros for the European market, with an availability date of August 20, 2026 and pre-orders opened yesterday, immediately after the announcement at the Made by Google event in New York. Google's new watch brings double the storage capacity, a new Gemini assistant and a series of improvements in health monitoring, while maintaining the circular design style of its predecessors. It is expected to be in Greek stores in August, with a price corresponding to the European range.
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Price Greece and availability
The new pricing was confirmed by Google’s official announcement and marks the first price increase in the history of the Pixel Watch series. The base 41mm model with Wi-Fi starts at €419, while the 45mm version goes up to €449. The LTE versions cost €519 and €549 respectively, adding over €100 for the built-in cellular connection without relying on a smartphone.
The increase compared to the Pixel Watch 4 is around $50 for the smaller models and $30 for the larger ones. For the European market, the increase is mainly limited to the 41mm models, while the 45mm prices remain almost unchanged. In Greece, official resellers are expected to follow the common European range, with possible fluctuations of 20-30 euros depending on offers and mobile plans for the LTE models.
Pre-orders opened on August 12, 2026, the day of the announcement, and physical availability in stores begins on August 20. There is also a special Stephen Curry Edition for $579 that releases on September 3, but its European availability has not been confirmed.
Google Pixel Watch 5: What's new compared to Pixel Watch 4
The biggest change is the double storage capacity, which goes up from 32GB to 64GB. At the same time, the RAM increases from 2GB to 3GB, an increase necessary to run the new Gemini Intelligence on the device. The processing board remains the same, with the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 in an accelerated version that Google promises 20% faster processing.
The battery grows slightly to 332mAh for the small model and 465mAh for the large, but Google claims the same battery life as its predecessor — 30 hours with Always-On Display on the 41mm and 40 hours on the 45mm, with Battery Saver mode pushing those numbers to 48 and 72 hours respectively. The new Wear OS 7 is said to be 10% more energy efficient, which should make for a better real-world experience.
The design itself remains almost identical, with a circular Actua 360 AMOLED LTPO display at 320ppi and 3,000 nits of brightness. The thickness at 12.3mm and the weight at 31 grams for the 41mm or 36.7 grams for the 45mm remain the same. However, the sport band is upgraded from fluoroelastomer to HNBR rubber, a more durable and skin-friendly material.
Gemini and proactive AI assistant
The flagship marketing move behind the Pixel Watch 5 is the integration of Gemini Intelligence. This is a proactive AI assistant that, according to Google, doesn't wait for you to call it — instead, it tries to predict what you'll find useful based on context (location, time, calendar, conversations) and suggests it to you before you ask.
In practice, the assistant can remind you to buy milk as you pass by the supermarket, summarize a long email that arrived, or suggest canned responses to messages based on what you're reading. Google's official announcement puts Gemini at the center of the upgrade — two full slides are dedicated to it in the marketing materials.
There's one major caveat, though. According to Android Police, the actual Gemini features won't be available on launch day. They're expected "later in 2026," with no specific date. By purchasing the device on August 20, you're essentially paying the extra $50 for a promise rather than a feature.
Advanced health monitoring
The Pixel Watch 5 incorporates the full suite of sensors from its predecessor and adds improvements. It records heart rate via a multi-path optical sensor, blood oxygenation (SpO2), electrocardiogram (ECG), skin temperature with a far-field sensor, electrodermal conductance (cEDA), and a range of environmental measurements via a compass, altimeter, barometer, and magnetometer.
Two features stand out in the new generation. Loss of Pulse Detection detects loss of pulse and automatically calls for help, a feature that first appeared on the Pixel Watch 3 and in Europe was already available in the UK. At the same time, Google is promoting the most accurate sleep tracking to date, with a scientifically validated algorithm that provides sleep stages, breathing rate, a personal sleep score and a morning Insights screen with a readiness score and the day's weather.
For international safety, Google is also including free Satellite SOS for two years from activation, a useful addition for those traveling to remote areas. Rumors of blood pressure and insulin resistance trend measurement were not confirmed in the final version.
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How it compares to Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch
At a starting price of $399, the Pixel Watch 5 sits right where the Apple Watch Series 11 started. The problem for Google is that the Series 11 now retails for $299-$329 in most U.S. stores, creating a significant price gap that makes it difficult to choose. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 starts lower, around $379, with a more mature Wear OS platform.
The advantage of the Pixel Watch 5 is its deep integration with the Android ecosystem, and specifically with Pixel smartphones, as well as the promise of Gemini Intelligence. For users who already have a Pixel phone or are considering buying the Pixel 11 that was announced at the same time, the pairing is extremely tight. For users who aren't invested in an ecosystem, the cheaper Apple Watch with a larger list of apps or the more mature Galaxy Watch remain strong alternatives.
Related: Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold: Pre-orders, price and specs
The issue of security and data protection
Every smartwatch that tracks heart rate, sleep, location, and biometric data creates a rich digital footprint. The Pixel Watch 5 sends data to Google’s cloud services and connects to Google Fit, where your measurements are stored. Greek users should be aware that, under the GDPR, health data is considered a special category with enhanced protection.
Practical safeguards: check the permissions you give to the Fitbit or Google Fit app during initial setup, disable data sharing for advertising purposes if it bothers you, set a strong PIN for the watch itself so that no one else can unlock it if you lose it, and enable two-step verification on the Google account it's connected to. At the same time, Google promises monthly security updates for at least 3 years, according to its policy for Pixel wearables.
A risk that is identified with every new release is phishing scams that exploit the hype. Fake pre-order pages have already appeared promising 50% discounts or gifts. Buying only from the official Google Store or from certified Greek resellers is the only safe way.
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Is it worth the upgrade?
For Pixel Watch 4 owners, the upgrade is hard to justify. The processor remains the same, the design is identical, the battery is only slightly larger, and the headline Gemini Intelligence features aren't available on launch day. The extra $50 is mostly a promise for later.
For users of older Pixel Watches (3 and earlier) or those considering their first smartwatch in the Android ecosystem, the Pixel Watch 5 makes sense. Double the storage capacity, the new Wear OS 7 with improved performance, health features with a focus on sleep, and Satellite SOS free for two years make for an overall more mature combination. Whether it's a better choice than a more heavily discounted Apple Watch will depend more on the wearable you already have in your pocket. The first real reviews are expected in the coming days, as the first devices reach reviewers.
