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The Pixel Watch 5 is still Android-only – even after the Fitbit Air added iOS support
Google claims that the Pixel Watch 5 delivers its most “proactive help and health experience yet” – but it’s only designed for Android phones.
That means if you’re sporting one of the best iPhones then you simply won’t be able to pair your handset with a Pixel Watch 5. This is undoubtedly a shame, especially as the recently launched Fitbit Air and many of the best Fitbits can pair with either an Android or an iPhone.
We explain more about why the Pixel Watch 5 is still Android-only, the minimum compatibility requirements and whether or not you should pair the device with a Pixel phone.
If you’re sporting an iPhone and want to see options that actually do work, check out our best smartwatches and best fitness tracker guides.
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Pixel Watch 5 is only designed for Android phones
Like the Pixel Watches that came before it, the Pixel Watch 5 runs on WearOS 7 which includes Android-exclusive features such as Android Live Updates and supports Gemini Intelligence. With that in mind, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the Pixel Watch 5 is only designed to be paired with compatible Android phones.
There are, however, still some caveats to keep in mind. Google explains that the Pixel Watch 5 will work with “most phones” running on Android 12.0 or newer, so make sure you check your smartphone’s current OS and update it if necessary.
There are some workarounds that involve downloading third-party apps but you’ll lose out on many of the Pixel Watch’s features. With this in mind, we’d recommend avoiding the Pixel Watch altogether if you have an iPhone – and avoiding any Apple Watch if you’re an Android user too.
Is the Pixel Watch 5 compatible with Samsung phones?
Yes, the Pixel Watch 5 is compatible with Samsung phones that are running on Android 12.0 or newer. Pairing the two via Bluetooth should be straightforward, and you’ll benefit from the vast majority of Google’s health and fitness tracking features too.
Should you pair a Pixel Watch 5 with a Pixel phone?
Although Google does say that the Pixel Watch 5 can pair with most compatible Android phones, should you ideally pair the device with a Google Pixel, as they’re from the same manufacturer? For example, although you can technically pair the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 with most Android phones, pairing it with a Samsung Galaxy smartphone unlocks lots of features including the ECG app, sleep apnea detection and more.
The main benefits you’ll get from pairing a Pixel Watch with a Pixel phone include a slightly easier set-up and a smooth sync of data between devices. In terms of health and fitness features, fortunately there aren’t any major tracking tools missing.
Essentially, as long as you have a Google account and your compatible phone can support the Google Health app, then it should run pretty smoothly.
