Google's Pixel Watch: Earthquake Alerts & Lost Phone Protection

Google has unveiled a suite of new features for its Pixel Watch as part of its March Pixel Drop, enhancing user safety and convenience. These updates are primarily rolling out to Pixel Watch 2 and newer models, offering significant improvements.

A major focus is on device security, with Pixel Watch now capable of sending alerts if your phone is left behind. It will also automatically lock your phone when it goes out of range, providing an extra layer of protection. When devices are reunited, authentication will be faster, eliminating the need for dual checks.

Convenience is further boosted with the introduction of Express Pay, which allows for direct wrist-tap payments at terminals, bypassing the need to open the Wallet app. Find Hub is also now available on Pixel Watch and other Wear OS watches for easier tracking of misplaced gadgets.

In terms of safety, Pixel Watch 2 and newer devices will provide real-time seismic activity alerts, including magnitude information. The Satellite SOS feature, previously available in the US, is expanding to Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, and several European countries, enabling emergency communication off the grid.

Furthermore, one-handed gestures, initially on Pixel Watch 4, are now available on Pixel Watch 3, offering quick interaction methods like answering calls or controlling workouts with simple wrist movements. These new features began rolling out via software updates starting March 3, 2026.