I tested every Pixel Watch 4 safety feature, and here's how they compare to Garmin and Apple

Matthew Miller/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways The Pixel Watch 4 satellite service is free for at least two years. The LTE model is required for satellite connectivity and phone-free safety features. Some safety features are automatic, and others are initiated manually. Most are text-based communications 2025 is shaping up to be the year of satellite-powered smartwatches, with Google, Apple, and Garmin all embracing off-grid emergency services for when you're beyond cellular coverage. The satellite experience for each of these three varies, so make sure to check out the articles on the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Garmin Fenix 8 Pro for more details on what is required for those remote communications. Also: I tested the best Android smartwatches of 2025 - these are my favorites The Google Pixel Watch 4 LTE model has the largest arsenal of safety features and is the smartwatch you should consider if you are an Android user who explores the great outdoors. It connects in several ways to help you get help when needed, and Google offers one of the most user-friendly experiences through each of these options. 1. Satellite support Having access to satellite services when outside of cellular coverage on a watch is an impressive engineering feat. With a Pixel Watch 4 LTE model, you are provided this service for at least two years without any fees. One major difference between what Google offers and what Apple and Garmin offer is that satellite communications are exclusive to emergency situations and not for simple location updates or status messaging to family and friends. Matthew Miller/ZDNET Your Pixel Watch 4 will always try connecting to your LTE service first, but if you are out of range, then you can still use available satellites to initiate communications. The Pixel Watch 4 will confirm your GPS signal so that your location can be shared with responders. Also: Forget Whoop: This fitness band effectively tracked my workouts and has no subscription The watch will then step you through a few prompts to define your emergency for the responder. The emergency can be a medical one, a crime, a fire, or some other situation, and the prompts will also ask how long the situation has been going on. The satellite connection guide will then appear on your watch and indicate where you need to position yourself to make a connection with the satellite. Once a connection is made, the full message will be sent to responders and your selected emergency contacts. I've learned that Google actually uses the Garmin emergency response center for this satellite emergency service, so you can trust that it is a tried-and-true service. You will receive text responses and then be able to send return messages via the watch keyboard or voice-to-text. 2. Manually initiated safety features There are a couple of unique safety features we have seen on Pixel Watch models before that are perfect for this time of year, when it gets dark early, and you want to make sure others know where you are. With Emergency Sharing on your Pixel Watch 4, simply tap the big red Start button, select contacts from your emergency contact list, and choose to share your real-time location. Your contacts will receive a text message that you have initiated this location tracking, and then they will be able to see you on Google Maps on their phones. Matthew Miller/ZDNET On the Pixel Watch 4, a display will appear with options to stop sharing your location, quickly call your emergency contact, and a button to initiate a call to 911. This is a great option for people walking to their cars after a late night shift, going on a walk in a new location, or any other situation where you may question your safety. Also: I tried the Google Pixel Watch 4 - and these key features made it feel indispensable The feature I like to use when I go running is the Safety Check that has been a staple of Pixel Watch models for a couple of years. Tap to start a safety check on your watch, select your activity (walking home, going for a run, taking transportation, and more) and enter a planned duration for the activity, and finally select the emergency contacts that you want informed if you do not manually stop the timer for your activity. You can initiate a call to the person, extend the timer, end the safety check, start emergency sharing, or call 911 right from your watch. 3. Automatic safety features Matthew Miller/ZDNET In some cases, you may experience an incident where you are unable to initiate a manual call for help, and in that case, Google has a few automatic safety features in the Pixel Watch 4. These automatic features include: Fall detection : If you experience a very hard fall that results in a rapid change in the accelerometer, which the on-device machine learning determines is hard enough to possibly injure you, an emergency call may be initiated. I experienced a hard fall a couple of years ago during a Tough Mudder event that started a call, but if it goes off and you are fine, then you can clear the alert before 911 is called. : If you experience a very hard fall that results in a rapid change in the accelerometer, which the on-device machine learning determines is hard enough to possibly injure you, an emergency call may be initiated. I experienced a hard fall a couple of years ago during a Tough Mudder event that started a call, but if it goes off and you are fine, then you can clear the alert before 911 is called. Car crash detection : If you are involved in a car crash and don't respond to the alert that pops up, your Pixel Watch will automatically call emergency services and provide them with your location. : If you are involved in a car crash and don't respond to the alert that pops up, your Pixel Watch will automatically call emergency services and provide them with your location. Loss of pulse detection: This feature may have saved my dad's life a few years ago. If your watch does not detect a pulse and you do not respond to the sound and countdown, then emergency services will be called with your location. Bottom line The Google Pixel Watch 4 has a rich collection of features, so it can serve as your guardian angel and help you get the help you need in a number of situations. If these services interest you, make sure that you pay the extra $100 for the LTE model. Google even provides you with two years of data, not full cellular service with phone calling support, for free. For calls, you will need to add service through your mobile carrier. I imagine that by next year, we'll start hearing more stories about how the Pixel Watch 4 has saved lives within and outside of cellular coverage. Just watch.