Google says it can’t fix Pixel Watches, please just buy a new one | With no official repair program and no parts, broken Pixel Watches are just e-waste.::With no official repair program and no parts, broken Pixel Watches are just e-waste.

  • markstos@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    152
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    1 year ago

    On the other hand, a Garmin Fenix can be easily opened with an inexpensive tool and replacement parts are easily found online.

    • sbv@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      46
      arrow-down
      6
      ·
      1 year ago

      Garmin watches look amazing. I just wish they had more smartwatch capabilities. I’d love complications on the watch face, and I feel like I should be able to start the assistant with a hotword.

      I’m not sure if the Google Watch can do the latter.

      • echo64@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        75
        ·
        1 year ago

        On the other side of things. I’m super happy that garmin watches don’t have more smartwatch capabilities. Their laser focus on sports wearable is what keeps them massively competitive there and keeps me on weeks of battery life instead of hours of battery life

        • sbv@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          17
          ·
          1 year ago

          I totally understand that. They look perfect for their target market.

          As far as I know, they’re the only wearable that does realtime stroke/length tracking for swimming, which is really cool. If I was more serious about exercise, that’d be the perfect excuse reason to buy one.

        • Final Remix@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          6
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          edit-2
          1 year ago

          I’ve got an OG Garmin vivoactive. Besides the naming bullshit of this being vivoactive and there now being a “vivoactive 1”, it’s great. It’s a sidegrade to thebpebble, which I never thought I’d find. So now I just swap between this and the pebble when the mood suits me.

          Love Garmin smartwatches.

            • Final Remix@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              4
              ·
              edit-2
              1 year ago

              Check out the pebble communities online though, even the subreddit. There’s new batteries you can get, and guides to repair. Barring that, there’s always someone looking for even dead pebbles.

        • books@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          1 year ago

          I’m leaning this direction because I don’t really use any smart features in my watch. Just my fitness shit.

          Any recommendations on Garmin watches for a guy who likes to bike/bike but not crazy sports level enthusiast?

          • echo64@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            1 year ago

            Whichever one you like the look of and is cheap. Garmin watches are just divided into styling and features. If you don’t need specific features you can just get the cheapest one that fits your styling.

            I started out with a vivomove because I liked the hybrid look (real watch hands) and only needed basic health stuff. Did notifications which is all I really care about for smart stuff.

      • Saneless@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        There’s plenty of watch faces with cool shit on them in the store, same as with Google

        And having had watches that do respond to “hey Google” they were super iffy and inconsistent. Buttons are easier to avoid frustration, which the Garmin has.

        As far as “smartwatch capabilities” I haven’t missed anything from my Wear watch. I certainly don’t miss charging it every day or having it die by 5pm because I actually used it

        I’m charging my Garmin this morning. Haven’t charged it since Sunday… a week ago Sunday

      • Psythik@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        What kind of smart watch doesn’t have complications? Does it at least have sleep tracking?

              • Juvyn00b@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                2
                ·
                1 year ago

                I’m lost - what is a complication? From my initial Google, it does seem like my Garmin can add additional things to the face but I’m still kind of unclear as to what a complication is. For reference I have heart rate, step count, mileage, body battery and weather on my vivoactive3 face.

                • sbv@sh.itjust.works
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  edit-2
                  1 year ago

                  Complications are additional snippets of information displayed right on your watch face, such as activity tracking, battery life, media controls and more.

                  From https://www.google.com/amp/s/blog.google/products/wear-os/5-ways-to-personalize/amp/

                  Basically, I’d like to know if I have unread messages by looking at my watch. My Fitbit can’t do that. AFAIU, Garmins can’t, but I could be wrong.

                  They should be customizable by third party developers, but I think I’d be happy just knowing about SMS, Gmail, and maybe upcoming appointments.

                  EDIT: also the high/low temperature for the day. It’s helpful for choosing kids clothes for the day.

                  • Juvyn00b@lemmy.world
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    2
                    ·
                    1 year ago

                    I’m confident that mail and sms show up as the notification icon, but they’re bundled so they all look like one “notification” on the watch face. Not sure on the calendar side - I specifically block a bunch of app pushes to my watch because my phone is mostly a distraction when I work, so I don’t like my watch buzzing for every little thing.

                    I do get high/low temp on the face, which is very handy. Plus it’s always on (LCD, not OLED) - not as pretty as some, but 5 plus day battery life.

                  • Saneless@lemmy.world
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    1
                    ·
                    1 year ago

                    Garmin has all that.

                    Maybe for something like a notification you can just see how many there are and tap into it to see different types. But they’re there

                    Having the battery last about 10x longer makes that minor inconvenience worth it

              • geogle@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                2
                arrow-down
                1
                ·
                edit-2
                1 year ago

                Thanks for the clarification. your response was ambiguous given the opposing questions in the former comment

    • Pyotr@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      1 year ago

      Their customer support is also aces too. I’ve got a Fenix 6s and the battery is going out on it, and they’re replacing it for free. No questions or fuss. Just a shipping label.

      For as expensive as they are, I’ve been extremely happy with them. When this replacement dies in another 3+ years I’ll definitely be getting another Garmin.