Using Your Pixel Watch with a Non-Pixel Android Phone
The Pixel Watch works with any Android phone running Android 8.0+, but some features are exclusive to Pixel phones.
What You'll Be Missing
Features only available when paired with Pixel phones:
-
Camera Remote: Control your phone's camera shutter and lens switching from watch.
-
Call Screening: Screen spam calls with Google AI directly from watch.
-
Fast Pair: Instant one-tap
Bluetoothpairing (setup is slightly longer on other phones). -
Enhanced Notifications: Richer notification experience with deeper system integration.
-
Priority Updates:
Pixelphones receive optimizations and feature access first.
What Still Works
Core functionality remains available on all Android phones.
-
Health Tracking: Full
Fitbitintegration with steps, heart rate, sleep, workouts, and all health metrics. -
Notifications: Receive notifications from all phone apps with quick replies.
-
Google Services:
Google Assistant,Google Maps,Google Wallet, Gmail, Calendar. -
App Ecosystem: Install all
WearOSapps from Play Store. -
Music:
YouTube Musicstreaming and offline downloads. -
LTE Connectivity: Standalone calls and messages (LTE models).
Setup Differences
On Non-Pixel Phones:
- Download
Pixel Watchapp from Play Store - Enable
Bluetoothand location permissions - Manual pairing (no Fast Pair auto-detection)
- May take slightly longer for initial sync
- Some permission prompts may differ by manufacturer
Samsung Phone Tips:
- Don't install Galaxy Wearable app (not needed)
- Disable
Samsung Healthif it conflicts withFitbit - Ensure latest One UI version for best compatibility
- Disable battery optimization for
Pixel Watchapp
Performance Expectations
Performance is essentially identical on non-Pixel phones for:
- App speed and responsiveness
- Health tracking accuracy
- Battery life
GPStrackingBluetoothrange and stability
Some manufacturer skins (MIUI, ColorOS) may require additional permission grants for background sync.
Manufacturer-Specific Notes
-
Samsung: Works well. Disable
Samsung Healthif sync conflicts occur. -
OnePlus: Excellent compatibility. OxygenOS works seamlessly.
-
Xiaomi: May need extra permissions for background sync. Disable battery optimization.
-
Motorola: Clean Android experience, near-
Pixelcompatibility. -
Nothing: Good compatibility with minimal customization layer.
Is It Worth Buying?
If you don't have a Pixel phone, the Pixel Watch is still excellent for Fitbit health tracking and Google services. The missing features (camera remote, call screening) are nice-to-have but not essential for most users.
Switching to Pixel Phone Later
If you later purchase a Pixel phone:
- Unpair watch from current phone
- Pair with new
Pixelphone Pixel-exclusive features automatically activate- Health data preserved in
Fitbitcloud
No factory reset needed - just re-pair and enjoy new features.
See Also: Compatible Phones|How to Pair|Setup Guide