- Google’s Pixel Watch 3 impresses with a bigger 45mm dimension, brighter show, and improved exercise monitoring.
- The smartwatch enhanced battery life and sooner charging however nonetheless makes use of pin-based charging and may be cumbersome.
- Pixel Watch 3 affords strong design, software program, and well being options, positioning itself as a powerful competitor to Apple Watch.
After years of rumors and the high-profile
acquisition of Fitbit
, Google lastly revealed the unique
Pixel Watch
again in 2022. Whereas the first-generation smartwatch was an honest wearable, it in the end fell brief resulting from its sizable bezels, lackluster battery life, and software program hiccups. Within the truest sense of the phrase, it was a first-run gadget. In a vacuum, the unique Pixel Watch was an honest smartwatch, but it surely did not fare properly in comparison with the Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, and even Google’s personal Fitbit units.The next yr, Google launched the
Pixel Watch 2
, including a sooner Qualcomm chip, higher battery life, extra correct sensors, and a much bigger show. Though the brand new mannequin acquired a extra constructive reception, it nonetheless lagged behind the competitors, significantly when it got here to its sensors and health options.
Advisable
Pixel Watch 3
The Google Pixel Watch 3 builds on the earlier mannequin, introducing a brand new 45mm dimension together with the unique 41mm watch. Each choices function a bigger show with double the brightness. It affords loads of runner-centric options together with extra connectivity with Google’s ecosystem.
- Nice-looking design
- Smoooth software program expertise
- Refined general expertise
- Put on OS 5 can typically be glitchy
- Pin-based charging may be finicky
- Software program design can look child-like typically
This assessment is concentrated on the 41mm model of the Pixel Watch 3. I briefly went hands-on with the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 at Google’s Pixel 9 collection launch occasion, and I can verify that its display screen is way extra expansive than the Pixel Watch 2 and the 41mm Pixel Watch 3, making it simpler to navigate (but it surely’s additionally actually huge). I am unable to converse to Google’s battery life claims surrounding the 45mm model, although different critiques point out it lasts a number of extra hours over its 41mm counterpart. I’ve but to have the ability to strive notable options like “Goal Load’ and “Cardio Load” as a result of they take a number of days of constant use to activate. This assessment shall be up to date with my hands-on ideas about these options after I can take a look at them out.
Value, availability, and specs
The Pixel Watch 3 begins at $350 ($450 for the LTE model) for the 41mm model and $400 ($500 for the LTE model) for the 45mm iteration. For the smaller mannequin, colours embrace polished silver and a porcelain Lively Band, champagne gold with a hazel Lively Band, matte black with an obsidian Lively Band, and polished silver with a rose quartz Lively Band. However, the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 solely is available in polished silver with a porcelain Lively Band, matte black with an obsidian energetic band, and matte hazel with a hazel energetic band. You’ll be able to solely buy the Pixel Watch 3 with an Lively Band, with extra straps needing to be bought individually.
The Pixel Watch 3 incorporates a 320 PPI AMOLED show that is able to hitting 2,000 nits of brightness, Qualcomm’s W5 chip (the identical processor as final yr ) coupled with a brand new power-efficient Cortex-M33 co-processor that handles particular much less intensive duties to avoid wasting extra battery life. Different specs embrace 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, IP68 (waterproof in contemporary water to a most depth of 1.5 meters for as much as half-hour, and mud resistant), and as much as 35 hours of battery life with the brand new Battery Saver mode.
Pixel Watch 3 design
This yr Google’s smartwatch incorporates a barely sleeker look
The Pixel Watch line has all the time jogged my memory of Pebble’s Time Round. I imply that as a praise; the round model of that ill-fated smartwatch is one in all my favourite watches ever. The Pixel Watch 3’s curved show is elegant, and because of the 16 p.c smaller bezels, the general design evokes a extra trendy look than the Pixel Watch and the Pixel Watch 2.
As an attention-grabbing facet be aware,
Google actually owns Pebble
in a roundabout method, given it bought to Fitbit in 2016, and the tech large now owns the latter firm.
They’re nonetheless there, although. It is going to be attention-grabbing to see how the Pixel Watch 3’s show compares to the Apple Watch Series 10’s expansive display screen. The facet of the smartwatch options an Apple Watch Digital Crown-like spinning dial to navigate menus and a button that provides you fast entry to lately used apps. The crown spins fluidly and feels nice, whereas the button has a satisfying tactile click on to it.
The 45mm Pixel Watch 3 incorporates a 40 p.c larger display screen when in comparison with the 41mm Pixel Watch 3. Whereas Google did not ship me a 45mm Pixel Watch to assessment, within the transient time I spent with the wearable at the company’s Pixel 9 launch event, my key takeaway was that it felt huge. Usually, the 45mm seems to be slightly ridiculous on my skinny wrists, much like the 49mm Apple Watch Ultra, but when ample display screen house is what you are after, you may need to go for the brand new larger model of Google’s smartwatch.
The roughly 2x brighter show makes viewing the Pixel Watch 3’s always-on display screen simpler underneath direct daylight. It impressively matches the Apple Watch Collection 10’s 2,000 nits of peak brightness (the Galaxy Watch 6 beats it at 3,000 nits, nonetheless). I would even go as far as to say I choose the look of the Pixel Watch 3 over the Apple Watch and Samsung’s chunky Galaxy Watch line. The rounded aesthetic seems to be way more like an everyday watch than the squared Apple Watch.
Sticking with the show, the always-on display screen can now drop to simply 1 nit in darkish environments and dynamically refreshes between 1 and 60Hz, relying on what you are doing with it. This protects battery life and leads to a smoother expertise in comparison with the Pixel Watch 2’s typically choppy-looking 30hz, significantly when quickly scrolling by means of menus.
My assessment gadget is a matte black watch with an obsidian band — I am an enormous fan of its understated shade and design.
When it isn’t in your wrist, the Pixel Watch seems to be slightly thick, however that disappears whenever you’re sporting it (it’s nonetheless a bit thicker than the Apple Watch). Nonetheless, should you have been hoping Google would shrink the Pixel Watch 3’s thickness, you may be dissatisfied with the brand new smartwatch’s design. Talking of the look, the again of the smartwatch is stainless-steel and the place its a number of sensors are situated, whereas the entrance incorporates a sleek-looking brushed aluminum.
I am nonetheless not keen on how Pixel Watch’s band snaps into place. It’s important to slide the strap underneath the facet with the button after which push it in firmly. As soon as you’ve got performed it as soon as, it is smart, but it surely took me about 10 minutes to determine the primary time, though I personal a Pixel Watch 2 (I by no means took the strap off after initially setting it up).
At this level, Google cannot change the clasp design, or it will spoil backward compatibility with earlier Pixel Watches, however that does not change the truth that the mechanism is complicated in comparison with the Galaxy Watch and the Apple Watch. The Lively Band jogs my memory of the Apple Watch’s Sport Band, which implies it is a respectable, sweat-resistant on a regular basis strap that is very sturdy however not tremendous snug. In some unspecified time in the future, I will seemingly purchase a Woven Band for the Pixel Watch 3 since I discover cloth watch bands way more snug.
My assessment gadget is a matte black watch with an obsidian band — I am an enormous fan of its understated shade and design. It feels refined and smooth, however I am not sure the way it’ll stand up to scratches and scuffs.
Pixel Watch 3 sturdiness
Google’s newest smartwatch seems to be prefer it might take a success
In terms of smartwatches, sturdiness is essential. In any case, you are theoretically practically all the time sporting a smartwatch no matter what you are doing. Through the years, I’ve scratched practically each Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch I’ve ever owned, main me to usually use less-than-stellar display screen protectors. Whereas I am unable to converse to the Pixel Watch 3’s show sturdiness given I’ve solely spent slightly over every week with the smartwatch, it feels prefer it might take a success. Nonetheless, just like the Apple Watch, I am fearful its curved show will simply scratch in opposition to tough surfaces.
It would not really feel fairly as premium because the Galaxy Watch 6 or Apple Watch Collection 9, but it surely’s strikingly shut.
The Pixel Watch 3 options IP68 certification, which implies that it is water resistant at a most depth of roughly 5-feet (about 1.5 meters) for half-hour, and it is protected against mud. Consequently, it will probably deal with dips within the water with confidence. Total, the Pixel Watch 3 appears like a premium, very strong wearable that is a reduce above the Pixel Watch 2 and each Fitbit I’ve used, together with the Sense line. It would not fairly really feel as premium because the Galaxy Watch 6 or Apple Watch Collection 9 (I have never used the Collection 10 but), but it surely’s strikingly shut. It is nice to see how far the Pixel Watch line has are available such a brief interval by way of general construct high quality.
Pixel Watch 3 software program options
Put on OS 5’s easy design can typically take issues too far
Look, I get it. Google’s tackle Android is playful, foolish, and easy. In truth, regardless of being a long-time Apple Watch and iPhone person, I said that I prefer the Pixel 9 Pro series’ version of Android 14 in my latest assessment of the flagship smartphone. It is simply simpler to make use of and would not function the abundance of pointless menus iOS has gathered over the previous few years. Whereas I do not thoughts the look of the Pixel Watch 3’s Put on OS 5 it will probably at instances look reasonably infantile due to its shiny, saturated colours and simplistic menu design. On the plus facet, this makes it simple to navigate and perceive the way to use, so there are advantages to this stripped-back, unrefined method to a smartwatch person interface.
On one other be aware, there aren’t many watch faces I truly like. I discovered myself sticking with Traditional, On a regular basis, or Index as a result of they strike an honest stability between displaying issues with extra data, and truly letting me inform the time simply. The extra animated or difficult watch faces, like Digital Daring or Journey, for instance, simply aren’t my vibe.
The general Pixel Watch 3 software program expertise is fairly strong, and I have never encountered many cases of slowdown or lag. Nonetheless, I would not say it is as easy because the Apple Watch or a latest Galaxy Watch. I bumped into a number of stutters when utilizing the Strava Put on OS app, for instance, and when launching sure apps, together with even Google’s Fitbit ECG app. On the plus facet, Put on OS third-party app help has come a good distance over the previous few years. If you happen to use a notable health app, there’s seemingly a Put on OS model.
It is price noting that updating apps with the Pixel Watch 3 or together with your related Android gadget is way from intuitive and requires digging by means of a number of menus. This is not an enormous deal, but it surely’s noteworthy sufficient that it is price mentioning.
Pixel Watch 3 well being and health options
‘Goal Load’ appears surprisingly helpful if you do not know a lot about exercising
Diving deeper into the smartwatch’s {hardware}, the Pixel Watch 3 can monitor steps, energy, and train minutes like its predecessor, however now the wearable may also hold tabs in your coronary heart charge, take an ECG, create customized exercises, and extra, bringing it as much as function parity with different equally priced smartwatches. There’s additionally the brand new “Morning Transient” that provides you a “Readiness” and sleep rating (which is now free for all customers) should you put on the Pixel Watch 3 in a single day for a number of days. Different new software program options embrace a give attention to two metrics: “Cardio Load,” which goals to trace how exhausting your coronary heart is working all through the day, and “Goal Load,” which affords a advice about how a lot exercise you ought to be doing primarily based in your Cardio Load, different exercise and your Readiness rating. This consists of recommending particular exercises and suggesting relaxation days. This looks as if a pleasant change of tempo from the way in which health options sometimes all the time bug you to push tougher.
The latter function makes use of an algorithm to make exercise suggestions to you, but it surely wants to assemble information for a number of days earlier than your rating and proposals present up, so I have never had the prospect to strive it out but (after I do, I will replace this assessment). Given I am fairly clueless in terms of health, I’ve a sense this function shall be very helpful because it affords tangible recommendation and metrics to work in direction of. The important thing shall be if I keep it up. Different options like Day by day Run suggestions and courses which are behind Fitbit Premium’s paywall ($9.99/month or $79.99/yr), although you do get six months free with the Pixel Watch 3.
Once I say that the Pixel Watch 3 is the Apple Watch of the Android world, that is not hyperbole.
The above options aren’t actually for me given I primarily use smartwatches for notification triage and fundamental train monitoring, however for those who felt the Pixel Watch 2 fell behind the competitors when it got here to exercise customization, these are nice additions. Like with the Apple Watch, connecting the Fitbit app to Strava is a one-click, easy course of. That mentioned, I did not notice Google’s Match platform is within the technique of being killed off, so I spent a number of days utilizing it with the Pixel Watch 3 and encountered a number of oddities, like the shortcoming to export a Match exercise to Strava (I ultimately switched to utilizing the Fitbit app completely).
Pixel Watch 3 battery life
All-day battery life after which some (relying on what you are doing)
Google says the Pixel Watch 3’s battery life is available in at about 24 hours. In my expertise, that quantity appears fairly correct, with the watch lasting all through the day and evening however requiring a cost within the morning. Nonetheless, I wanted to high up battery life a number of instances within the night when doing a number of health monitoring. Whereas I did not strive the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 myself, Google claims it will probably hit 36 hours with Battery Saver enabled, which is spectacular and pushes it into the Apple Watch Extremely 2’s vary. I solely briefly used Battery Saver with the 41mm model of the smartwatch when my battery was dangerously low, and it managed to push its life span properly over 24 hours and into the next day. On paper, Google says the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 incorporates a 35 p.c bigger battery when in comparison with the 41mm Pixel Watch 2.
On one other be aware, I discover it wild that the Pixel Watch 3 nonetheless incorporates a PIN charger in 2024 and never Qi or some type of proprietary wi-fi charging. The pins are tough to line up, and on a couple of event, the smartwatch simply did not cost in a single day as a result of it was barely off its magnetic dock. It is odd that Google has caught with this archaic charging type, and I hope the corporate modifications this with the Pixel Watch 4. On the plus facet, each variations of the Pixel Watch 3 provide 20 p.c sooner charging general, amounting to getting from 0-100% in 60 minutes from for the 41mm 0-100% in 80 minutes from with the 45mm model.
Must you purchase the Pixel Watch 3?
Once I say the Pixel Watch 3 is the Apple Watch of the Android world, that is not hyperbole. It is no secret that I am primarily an iPhone person, and a part of that lock-in has been how a lot I just like the Apple Watch. I exploit it for a number of notifications, together with Ring Good Doorbell notifications, cellphone calls, and at-a-glance data just like the climate and monitoring the occasional bike experience or run. And, in fact, I additionally use it to inform the time and respect its easy design (positive, I might use a Galaxy Watch, however I’ve by no means been a fan of its chunky design).
Whereas the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 have been valiant efforts at providing an Android equal to the Apple Watch, each generations featured notable shortcomings. With the Pixel Watch 3, Google’s smartwatch has lastly hit a degree of polish and performance that intently rivals the Apple Watch and no less than for my functions, surpasses Samsung’s Galaxy Watch line, each relating to design and performance.
Advisable
Pixel Watch 3
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