The Google Pixel Watch may ship with a sporty, silicone band that appears “enjoyable” in sure colours, however the elegant design of the Pixel Watch simply screams for a extra elegant band. That is the place the official Google Pixel Watch steel band is available in.
Every part about it provides off that traditional, costly watch vibe. When paired with the Pixel Watch, it is onerous to think about a better-looking smartwatch may ever be made. It is heavy, extraordinarily well-made, straightforward to put on, and is definitely one of many finest Pixel Watch bands.
The traditional steel band design signifies that you may want to make use of the included set of tweezers so as to add or take away the hyperlinks to finest suit your wrist measurement. Whereas this may be annoying for some, you may by no means have to regulate past the preliminary becoming session. The value can be fairly troublesome to abdomen — it is virtually as a lot because the watch at $200 — however that is the highest-quality band I’ve but used for Google’s wonderful watch.
Value and availability
Google sells the official Pixel Watch steel band on the Google Retailer, both in individual in choose cities or the web site. The steel band retails for $199.99 and is available in Brushed Silver or Matte Black colorways.
The band weighs 109g, making the overall weight of it whereas connected to the Pixel Watch 145g. The band suits wrists 137-203 mm round. It is stainless-steel and isn’t rated to be sweat or water resistant.
The field comprises the band, the hyperlink removing software, six further hyperlinks for sizing, and an instruction pamphlet.
Premium at a premium
After spending $350 on a Pixel Watch, does it actually make sense to spend one other $200 on a watch band? In some instances, perhaps. The previous adage “you get what you pay for” definitely applies right here, and that amount of cash buys you high quality such as you will not discover elsewhere.
Corporations like Ringke promote steel bands for the Pixel Look ahead to half the worth, however you are most likely on the lookout for one thing as official because it will get in order for you this band. In any case, $200 is strictly what Samsung and Apple cost for his or her official steel watch bands, so it is sensible for Google to do the identical factor.
Fortunately, it lives as much as these lofty expectations however, with out testing each cheaper steel band that exists on Amazon, it is troublesome to evaluate if this actually is price $100-something greater than these.
However, on the very least, this band feels prefer it price $200. It is tremendous heavy —109g, or over 3 times as heavy because the watch — and comes throughout feeling very, very properly constructed. It is utterly product of stainless-steel so it isn’t an incredible thought to get it moist, and also you should not put on it whereas figuring out.
I took a steel pin to the matte black exterior of the hyperlinks and tried to scratch them as onerous as doable. It made some marks however, lo and behold, the entire marks disappeared as quickly as I rubbed them with my finger. The scratch-resistant coating on the steel is legit and may hold this trying good for a really very long time.
The hyperlinks are very straightforward to take away or add because of fast pins that may be squeezed with the included tweezers. I wanted to take away 5 complete hyperlinks for it to suit my wrist which solely took a few minute in complete from preliminary becoming to remaining type.
When you modify it the primary time, you may by no means have to regulate it once more. The clasp beneath is lengthy sufficient so you possibly can slide your hand by way of the band whereas the watch remains to be connected. That clasp is a dual-sided folding clasp that releases by urgent the button on either side of the clasp concurrently.
As this can be a thicker, heavier and and that clasp may be very properly constructed, it isn’t probably the most comfy band to put on whereas typing on a keyboard. I often want thinner, material bands for this as a result of, in any other case, the underside of the wrist turns into very sad after some time.
The lugs and connectors are stainless-steel simply because the band is, so this factor not solely simply clicks into place however stays there with none wobble or rattle. A number of Pixel Watch bands use low-cost plastic to connect with the watch, making them rattle whereas worn, however not this one.
Google did not lower any corners with its steel band and that is an incredible factor given how darn costly the factor is. It is onerous to think about a nicer band on this watch — particularly within the matte black shade — because it completely enhances the Pixel Watch’s elegant, minimalist type in a novel means.