We’re just under a month away from the unveiling of the [Pixel Watch 4](https://www.androidcentral.com/wearables/google-pixel-watch-4) at the upcoming [Made by Google 2025](https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/google-pixel/made-by-google-2025-how-to-watch-pixel-10-launch-and-what-to-expect) event. Luckily for you, we’ve already come across several leaks regarding the Watch 4 that give us insight into what to anticipate — both good and (possibly) bad. With Google slashing prices on the Watch 3 to move inventory, I’m here to assist you in deciding whether to wait or make a purchase.
When I [evaluated the Pixel Watch 3](https://www.androidcentral.com/wearables/google-pixel-watch-3-review), I had a very favorable experience, which only elevated my expectations for the Watch 4. This sentiment was echoed when I [spoke with the Qualcomm VP of wearables](https://www.androidcentral.com/wearables/wear-os/qualcomms-next-wear-os-chipset-could-arrive-in-2025) regarding the brand’s prospective new Wear OS chipset. I thought this might be the iteration that revolutionizes Wear OS.
Instead, the rumored and leaked [differences between the Pixel Watch 4 and Pixel Watch 3](https://www.androidcentral.com/wearables/google-pixel-watch/google-pixel-watch-4-vs-pixel-watch-3) we’ve encountered have been somewhat inconsistent. A brighter screen with thinner bezels sounds appealing, while blood oxygen alerts could serve as an interesting contrast to Samsung’s sleep apnea detection. However, we might not witness the significant processor upgrade I was hoping for, and the updated design may come with just as many drawbacks as advantages.
### The Pixel Watch 4’s most understated yet crucial enhancement
The Pixel Watch 4 is purported to [utilize the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1](https://www.androidcentral.com/wearables/google-pixel-watch/pixel-watch-4-might-stick-with-the-same-chip-as-its-predecessors), which is the chip from 2022 first seen in the [Pixel Watch 2](https://www.androidcentral.com/wearables/google-pixel-watch-2-review). This implies it will retain the same four Cortex-A53 cores as its predecessor, while the latest Galaxy Watches incorporate one Cortex-A78 and four Cortex-A55 cores.
If [this leak](https://www.androidcentral.com/wearables/google-pixel-watch/pixel-watch-4-might-stick-with-the-same-chip-as-its-predecessors) holds true, that’s a clear advantage for choosing the Pixel Watch 3, or sticking with the Watch 2: It will offer equivalent performance. The Watch 3 is already adept at running [Gemini on Wear OS](https://www.androidcentral.com/wearables/i-tested-new-gemini-wear-os-app-on-galaxy-watch-8-improvements-and-problems), and [Wear OS 6 operated smoothly during my tests](https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-software/i-tested-early-wear-os-6-build-on-pixel-watch-3-at-google-io-2025).
I’m uncertain if Google opted not to enhance the processor because it concluded it didn’t *require* the additional power or if its [RISC-V ambitions with Qualcomm fell apart](https://www.androidcentral.com/wearables/wear-os/upcoming-pixel-watches-could-play-it-safe-and-i-dont-like-it), but it remains disheartening if accurate.
A [subsequent leak](https://www.androidheadlines.com/google-pixel-watch-4-specs) verified Google’s intentions, while also indicating that the Watch 4 will replace the 2016 Cortex-M33 co-processor with the 2020 Cortex-M55, enabling it to provide “5x the AI workload at a fraction of the power.”
Consider whether you plan to utilize [Gemini](https://www.androidcentral.com/tag/gemini) frequently enough for this enhancement to be relevant, or if you’re okay with a few extra seconds of delay for each query. If you primarily use the AI on your phone already, the Wear OS iteration might be more of a limited novelty.
Aside from Gemini, I hope the M55 improves the efficiency of other background operations, akin to how the [OnePlus Watch 3](https://www.androidcentral.com/wearables/oneplus-watch-3-review) endures for days by processing health and notifications through its upgraded BES2800 co-processor.
This leak indicates that the Pixel Watch 4 in 41mm and 45mm will last 30 and 40 hours with AOD active, respectively, greatly surpassing the Watch 3’s 24-hour-with-AOD estimate. It’s still far from OnePlus’s offering, but it’s now set to compete with the [Samsung Galaxy Watch 8](https
