4 reasons why I'd get Google's Pixel Watch 4 over the Galaxy Watch 9 - Android Authority

What the report says

Android Authority published a buyer-focused opinion piece on July 27, 2026, in which wearables writer Kaitlyn Cimino said she would choose Google’s Pixel Watch 4 over Samsung’s newly released Galaxy Watch 9. The article frames the Galaxy Watch 9 as a meaningful upgrade for owners of older Samsung watches, but a more conservative refresh for people who already have the Galaxy Watch 8.

Cimino’s first reason is design. She criticizes Samsung’s current “squircle” look as less appealing than earlier round Galaxy Watch models, while praising the Pixel Watch 4’s rounded, pebble-like styling, domed glass and comfort for sleep and exercise. She also argues that Google offers a more unified Wear OS experience, while Samsung’s One UI approach may be preferable mainly for users already committed to Galaxy phones or accessories such as the Galaxy Ring.

The article’s health and fitness argument centers on Fitbit, now under Google’s health branding. Cimino says Fitbit’s dashboards, health summaries and sleep and recovery presentation remain easier to use than Samsung Health, even as she acknowledges Samsung’s progress. She also says the Pixel Watch 4’s heart-rate readings have performed closely enough to chest-strap data in her testing to earn greater trust than Samsung’s sensors.

The piece matters for shoppers because it lands at the start of a new smartwatch cycle, when Samsung has already refreshed its flagship watch and Google’s Pixel Watch 5 is expected later in the year. Android Authority’s bottom line is not that the Galaxy Watch 9 is a poor product, but that the Pixel Watch 4 remains the preferred Wear OS pick for this reviewer unless a buyer is firmly in Samsung’s ecosystem.