Google Pixel Watch to test high blood pressure screening through Fitbit study

Google is preparing to use the Pixel Watch for hypertension screening, with a new Fitbit Hypertension Study in the works. The feature was spotted in version 4.53 of the Fitbit app for Android, which outlines how the programme will function.

Participants who consent will complete a questionnaire, after which selected users will have their Pixel Watch sensor data collected during regular use. Google has cautioned that this may lead to increased battery consumption. A separate group will be asked to wear a blood pressure monitor for 24 hours, for which they will be compensated $50 upon returning the device.

This development arrives as Apple already offers hypertension notifications on the Apple Watch Series 9, 10, and 11 through watchOS 26. Apple’s system does not provide direct blood pressure readings but instead monitors trends over a 30-day period, analysing heart rate and vascular response patterns to flag potential hypertension. The feature was built on the back of a large-scale study with over 100,000 participants.

Google’s move suggests a competitive push to bring medical-grade insights to wearable devices, positioning the Pixel Watch more directly against Apple’s health-focused innovations.