Got a first-gen Pixel Watch? It just got a new upgrade to improve your workouts

It can now help you maintain your pace while running

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As part of the recent March Feature Drop, thefirst-generation Pixel Watchcan now track your workouts and heart rate and will even teach you how to cool down.

There are six new changes in total,according to Google. The first of these is called Pace Training. Utilizing the wearable’s built-in GPS and motion-detecting sensors, runners can use this tool to set a certain pace they want to maintain while jogging. If you have a pair ofPixel Buds Proconnected, they let you know if you begin to slow down via auditory and haptic feedback.

The second is Heart Zone Training, as mentioned earlier. This feature monitors how long your heart stays at a certain rate, whether resting or active. It’s meant to help people optimize their exercises so they can get the most out of their workouts. Similar to Pace Training, the tool will notify you when you’ve jumped from “one heart rate zone to another.”

Never get lost again

Googlealso saw fit to tweak thePixel Watch’s workout user interface by increasing the font size and making the on-screen colors brighter for easier viewing. Auto-start and auto-stop are being included in the patch. These two allow the wearable to automatically start a workout whenever it detects you performing an activity. For example, when you start jogging, the Pixel Watch will instantly begin to record your run without needing extra input.

To help you cool down after an intense gym session, the newFitbitRelax app will guide you through a breathing exercise, telling you how long to inhale and when to exhale.

The last feature doesn’t directly pertain to exercise, but it’s still helpful as the Pixel Watch will now display public transit directions in real-time. The company states users can see their different public transit options and departure times, plus a “compass-enabled map view”. All this can be done without having to pull upGoogle Mapson your smartphone.

If any of this seems familiar to you, that’s because thePixel Watch 2has had most of these features for some time now.Googleis making good on past promises of continued support for the original device. Does this mean the first Pixel Watch is now as good as the current model?

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No. The gap between the two is certainly smaller now, but the Pixel Watch 2 is still the superior wearable. It’s better at monitoring your heart rate and blood oxygen levels, plus it houses a continuous electrodermal activity (cEDA) sensor for detecting sudden spikes of stress.

Keep an eye out for the update when it arrives on your Pixel Watch. Google states the rollout for the patch begins today.

While we have you, check out TechRadar’s list of thebest smartwatches for 2024.

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Cesar Cadenas has been writing about the tech industry for several years now specializing in consumer electronics, entertainment devices, Windows, and the gaming industry. But he’s also passionate about smartphones, GPUs, and cybersecurity.

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