Google says it has identified a battery drain problem on Pixel Watches and is working on a fix. Its statement gives no date for that fix. Owners from the Pixel Watch 2 to the current model report battery life of about 12 hours, instead of a day or more.
What Google said about the Pixel Watch battery drain
Google posted its reply in the Reddit threads where owners reported the problem, as reported by Android Authority:
We have identified a battery drain issue, affecting a small number of Pixel Watch users, and are working to roll out a fix as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Small number is Google’s own description. The owner reports Android Authority collected span four generations, from the Pixel Watch 2 to the current Pixel Watch 5. As of Android Authority’s report, Google had not given a timeline for the fix.
What owners are reporting
According to those owner reports, affected watches now last around 12 hours on a charge. Turning off the always-on display made little difference for them. Google’s statement does not name a cause.
Some owners say a full factory reset helped, but it didn’t work for everyone. A reset also erases the watch, so it’s a lot of effort for an uncertain result. We wouldn’t treat it as a fix.
What to do while you wait
As of Android Authority’s report, owners hadn’t found a reliable workaround. Keep the watch and the Pixel Watch app updated, so the fix installs as soon as Google ships it. Until then, plan on charging more often.
If you’re thinking about buying one, such as the Pixel Watch 5 LTE at $399.99 on Amazon, it may be worth waiting for the fix first. This also isn’t the only open Pixel bug, as the missed-call bug Pixel 11 owners are reporting shows.
Sources: Android Authority, Droid Life
