• Google has just launched the Pixel Watch 4 smartwatch
  • It lets you contact emergency responders via satellite connectivity
  • It means Google has beaten Apple to this particular feature

Satellite connectivity can be a life-saving way to get you out of a tight spot, especially if you’re off-grid with no cell phone signal. Plenty of the best smartwatches can call emergency services for you, but none are able to do so by relying entirely on orbiting satellites.

Now, though, Google says its new Pixel Watch 4 is the “first-ever smartwatch with standalone emergency satellite communications.” That means it’ll work even when you’ve left your phone behind or it’s otherwise unavailable.

Here’s how it works. If you’re in a non-cellular area, you’ll need to dial 911 directly from the watch’s interface. You then need to specify what your emergency is – an illness, injury, robbery, and so on – before the watch shows you a quick tutorial on how to connect to a satellite. You’ll have to orient your wrist as guided on the watch, which will help it align with a satellite and send your message to emergency responders.

When you’re using the emergency satellite system, the Pixel Watch 4 goes into battery saver mode in order to keep the device going as long as possible while you need help.

You also need to have the LTE version of the Pixel Watch 4, according to content creator DC Rainmaker, although you don’t actually need to have an LTE service plan. Google says you’ll get satellite connectivity free for two years, but we’ll see if this gets extended like it has been with Apple’s emergency satellite service.

Beating Apple to the punch

Google Pixel Watch 4 hands-on

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

Google has done well to bring satellite connectivity to the Pixel Watch 4 ahead of its rivals, but the proof is in the pudding.

After all, being first is all well and good, but we’ll have to see how it works in practice to know if the feature is up to snuff. That said, I’d like to see more watches gain this functionality, as anything that can save your bacon when you’re away from cell service towers should be welcomed.

Apple is supposedly going to add satellite connectivity to the Apple Watch Ultra 3, which is expected to launch this September. When (or if) that happens, it’ll be interesting to see if Apple does anything different compared to Google’s approach, or whether the feature is broadly similar across the devices.

The Google Pixel Watch 4 starts at $349 / £349 / AU$579, although you’ll need to pay $449 / £449 / AU$749 for the most affordable LTE version with satellite connectivity. You can order one right now, but it won’t start shipping until October 9.

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