Get ready for a deep dive into the world of Pixel Watch 4's new gestures and a journey back in time to compare them with Google's past innovations!
The Evolution of Gestures: A Decade of Progress?
Google has recently unveiled a significant update for Pixel Watch 4 owners, introducing new one-handed gestures. These gestures are incredibly handy, but do they truly stand up to the innovative gestures Google introduced a decade ago?
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The December 2025 update for Pixel Watch 4 brings two new gestures: the "double pinch" and "wrist turn." Google explains that these gestures offer a range of controls, from scrolling through notifications to managing timers and even answering phone calls with a simple gesture.
The double pinch gesture, in particular, has proven to be a game-changer. No longer do we need to drop everything to read a long message; a quick pinch scrolls it down effortlessly. However, the wrist turn gesture still has some room for improvement, and we're excited to see its potential unfold over time.
But here's where it gets interesting: as a long-time Wear OS user, I can't help but reflect on Google's past achievements.
Google introduced gestures on Wear OS way back in 2015, when the platform was known as Android Wear. The "wrist turn" gesture we see today is actually a recycled version of the "wrist flicks" from those early days. And here's the kicker: the original version was even more versatile! A simple flick "out" scrolled down, while a flick "in" scrolled back up. This gesture was incredibly useful for navigating notifications and even opening the entire notification feed without touching the screen.
Additionally, there was the "shake" gesture, which sent you back to the watch face no matter what you were doing. It might have been a bit clunky, but it was still a handy feature to have.
Google removed these gestures with the release of Wear OS 3, but Samsung later introduced its own version, heavily inspired by Apple Watch gestures. The likely reason for their removal was reliability issues and the impact on battery life, as seen in the video above.
After spending a few days with the new Pixel Watch gestures, I can't help but wonder if there's a sweet spot between the current implementation and the gestures of yesteryear. The biggest improvement, in my opinion, would be bringing back the wrist flick to open the notification feed directly from the watch face. Having a one-handed gesture to access all notifications is a feature I truly miss from the Android Wear days.
And this is the part most people miss: if the gesture were limited to scrolling down, it would likely be more reliable. Google seems to have addressed this in the new version by making it less sensitive, requiring a more intentional motion to trigger it.
So, the question remains: did Google do it better 10 years ago, or do you prefer the new iteration?
Let's dive into some other top stories from the week:
- The Future of Android XR: Google has given us a glimpse into the next chapter of Android XR, revealing more about XREAL's "Project Aura" glasses and teasing the future of smart glasses.
- Samsung's One UI 8.5 Beta: Samsung has launched the first beta for its upcoming major Galaxy update, bringing minor changes and Liquid Glass-inspired redesigns.
- Gemini for Home Rollout: Google is speeding up the rollout of Gemini for Home on smart speakers and displays, with US users now able to opt-in for an invite within 24 hours.
And that's a wrap for this week's tech roundup! Don't forget to share your thoughts on the Pixel Watch gestures and stay tuned for more exciting tech updates.
Comment and share your thoughts! Did Google's older gestures offer a better experience? Or do you prefer the new, refined approach? We'd love to hear your opinions and spark a discussion!
