A writer put a cellular Pixel Watch 4 in a 3D-printed slab case to use it like a tiny phone, and a new version comes with a downloadable file.
A tech writer at How-To Geek has turned a Google Pixel Watch 4 into something that works like a small, simple phone. He printed a case that holds the watch in a pocket-friendly slab shape. The watch has cellular service, so calls and texts work without a phone nearby. Version 2.0 of the case is now out.
The watch needs its own cellular plan, which the article calls LTE. Joe Fedewa set up a watch face with shortcut slots for At a Glance, phone, messages, Google Maps and Gemini, Google's AI assistant. He added widgets for weather, a favorite contact, tasks and calendar events, Google Home toggles and a timer.
That covers calls, texts, weather, calendar, smart lights and reminders. He says it handles a normal day without a phone.
The case comes in two halves, with the watch sandwiched between them. A back button slides in a slot and stays put. The tricky part was the watch's crown, the small wheel on the side. He printed a ribbed cylinder that fits snugly over it, held with a dab of hot glue. It sticks out for easy scrolling and still presses in to go home or open the app list.
The Pixel Watch 4 charges from the side, so the case needed a cutout on the left. He notes that older watches that charge from the back would allow a cleaner design.
The idea was inspired by cases that make Apple Watches more pocketable, such as the RePod, Miniphone Ultra and TinyPod. He says he had not seen anyone try it with a Wear OS watch, which is Google's watch software.
The bigger effect was mental. Carrying the watch in a pocket instead of on the wrist reminded him that he did not need to grab his phone. He first thought the case was for people who dislike wearing watches, but now believes wearers could find it useful too.
The material does not say how much printing the case costs or how long it takes. It also does not say how well the setup works for other people, or whether the file fits other watch models. This is one person's project, not a tested product.
A cellular smartwatch in a simple case may work as a lighter alternative to a second phone, though this is one writer's DIY experiment.
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