- Google’s Pixel Watch 3 impresses with a bigger 45mm measurement, brighter show, and improved exercise monitoring.
- The smartwatch enhanced battery life and sooner charging however nonetheless makes use of pin-based charging and might be cumbersome.
- Pixel Watch 3 presents strong design, software program, and well being options, positioning itself as a robust 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 a good wearable, it in the end fell quick attributable to its sizable bezels, lackluster battery life, and software program hiccups. Within the truest sense of the phrase, it was a first-run machine. In a vacuum, the unique Pixel Watch was a good smartwatch, however it did not fare effectively in comparison with the Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, and even Google’s personal Fitbit gadgets.The next yr, Google launched the
Pixel Watch 2
, including a sooner Qualcomm chip, higher battery life, extra correct sensors, and an even 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 measurement together with the unique 41mm watch. Each choices characteristic a bigger show with double the brightness. It presents loads of runner-centric options together with extra connectivity with Google’s ecosystem.
- Nice-looking design
- Smoooth software program expertise
- Refined total expertise
- Put on OS 5 can typically be glitchy
- Pin-based charging might be finicky
- Software program design can look child-like typically
This overview 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 sequence launch occasion, and I can affirm that its display is much extra expansive than the Pixel Watch 2 and the 41mm Pixel Watch 3, making it simpler to navigate (however it’s additionally actually huge). I am unable to communicate to Google’s battery life claims surrounding the 45mm model, although different evaluations point out it lasts just a few extra hours over its 41mm counterpart. I’ve but to have the ability to attempt notable options like “Goal Load’ and “Cardio Load” as a result of they take a number of days of constant use to activate. This overview shall be up to date with my hands-on ideas about these options after I can check them out.
Worth, 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 embody polished silver and a porcelain Energetic Band, champagne gold with a hazel Energetic Band, matte black with an obsidian Energetic Band, and polished silver with a rose quartz Energetic Band. However, the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 solely is available in polished silver with a porcelain Energetic 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 Energetic Band, with extra straps needing to be bought individually.
The Pixel Watch 3 encompasses 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 embody 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, IP68 (water-proof in contemporary water to a most depth of 1.5 meters for as much as half-hour, and dirt 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 encompasses a barely sleeker look
The Pixel Watch line has at all times jogged my memory of Pebble’s Time Round. I imply that as a praise; the round model of that ill-fated smartwatch is one among my favourite watches ever. The Pixel Watch 3’s curved show is elegant, and because of the 16 % smaller bezels, the general design evokes a extra fashionable look than the Pixel Watch and the Pixel Watch 2.
As an fascinating aspect observe,
Google actually owns Pebble
in a roundabout manner, given it offered to Fitbit in 2016, and the tech big now owns the latter firm.
They’re nonetheless there, although. It is going to be fascinating to see how the Pixel Watch 3’s show compares to the Apple Watch Series 10’s expansive display. The aspect of the smartwatch options an Apple Watch Digital Crown-like spinning dial to navigate menus and a button that offers you fast entry to not too long ago 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 encompasses a 40 % larger display when in comparison with the 41mm Pixel Watch 3. Whereas Google did not ship me a 45mm Pixel Watch to overview, 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. Typically, the 45mm seems to be a bit of ridiculous on my skinny wrists, just like the 49mm Apple Watch Ultra, but when ample display 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 simpler below 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, nevertheless). I would even go as far as to say I want the look of the Pixel Watch 3 over the Apple Watch and Samsung’s chunky Galaxy Watch line. The rounded aesthetic seems to be much more like an everyday watch than the squared Apple Watch.
Sticking with the show, the always-on display 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 ends in a smoother expertise in comparison with the Pixel Watch 2’s typically choppy-looking 30hz, significantly when quickly scrolling by means of menus.
My overview machine is a matte black watch with an obsidian band — I am a giant fan of its understated colour and design.
When it isn’t in your wrist, the Pixel Watch seems to be a bit of thick, however that disappears if you’re sporting it (it’s nonetheless a bit thicker than the Apple Watch). Nonetheless, in case you had been hoping Google would shrink the Pixel Watch 3’s thickness, you may be upset 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 positioned, whereas the entrance encompasses 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 below the aspect with the button after which push it in firmly. As soon as you’ve got finished it as soon as, it is smart, however it took me about 10 minutes to determine the primary time, despite the fact that 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’s going to 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 Energetic Band jogs my memory of the Apple Watch’s Sport Band, which implies it is a first rate, sweat-resistant on a regular basis strap that is very sturdy however not tremendous comfy. In some unspecified time in the future, I will probably purchase a Woven Band for the Pixel Watch 3 since I discover material watch bands much more comfy.
My overview machine is a matte black watch with an obsidian band — I am a giant fan of its understated colour and design. It feels refined and modern, 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 may take a success
In terms of smartwatches, sturdiness is essential. In spite of everything, you are theoretically practically at all times sporting a smartwatch no matter what you are doing. Over time, I’ve scratched practically each Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch I’ve ever owned, main me to typically use less-than-stellar display protectors. Whereas I am unable to communicate to the Pixel Watch 3’s show sturdiness given I’ve solely spent a bit of over every week with the smartwatch, it feels prefer it may take a success. Nonetheless, just like the Apple Watch, I am nervous its curved show will simply scratch in opposition to tough surfaces.
It does not really feel fairly as premium because the Galaxy Watch 6 or Apple Watch Collection 9, however it’s strikingly shut.
The Pixel Watch 3 options IP68 certification, which signifies that it is water resistant at a most depth of roughly 5-feet (about 1.5 meters) for half-hour, and it is shielded from mud. Consequently, it will possibly deal with dips within the water with confidence. General, the Pixel Watch 3 looks 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 does not fairly really feel as premium because the Galaxy Watch 6 or Apple Watch Collection 9 (I have not used the Collection 10 but), however it’s strikingly shut. It is nice to see how far the Pixel Watch line has are available such a brief interval when it comes to total 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 reality, 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 current overview of the flagship smartphone. It is simply simpler to make use of and does not characteristic 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 possibly at occasions look fairly infantile due to its vivid, saturated colours and simplistic menu design. On the plus aspect, this makes it straightforward to navigate and perceive find out how to use, so there are advantages to this stripped-back, unrefined method to a smartwatch person interface.
On one other observe, there aren’t many watch faces I truly like. I discovered myself sticking with Basic, On a regular basis, or Index as a result of they strike a good stability between exhibiting issues with extra data, and really 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 not encountered many cases of slowdown or lag. Nonetheless, I would not say it is as clean because the Apple Watch or a current Galaxy Watch. I bumped into just a few 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 aspect, Put on OS third-party app help has come a good distance over the previous few years. In case you use a notable health app, there’s probably a Put on OS model.
It is price noting that updating apps with the Pixel Watch 3 or together with your linked Android machine is much from intuitive and requires digging by means of a number of menus. This is not a giant deal, however it’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 observe steps, energy, and train minutes like its predecessor, however now the wearable may also maintain tabs in your coronary heart fee, take an ECG, create customized exercises, and extra, bringing it as much as characteristic parity with different equally priced smartwatches. There’s additionally the brand new “Morning Transient” that offers you a “Readiness” and sleep rating (which is now free for all customers) in case you put on the Pixel Watch 3 in a single day for a number of days. Different new software program options embody a deal with two metrics: “Cardio Load,” which goals to trace how laborious your coronary heart is working all through the day, and “Goal Load,” which presents a suggestion about how a lot exercise try to be doing based mostly 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 best way health options sometimes at all times bug you to push tougher.
The latter characteristic makes use of an algorithm to make exercise suggestions to you, however it wants to collect knowledge for a number of days earlier than your rating and suggestions present up, so I have not had the prospect to attempt it out but (after I do, I will replace this overview). Given I am fairly clueless in terms of health, I’ve a sense this characteristic shall be very helpful because it presents tangible recommendation and metrics to work in the 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 just a few days utilizing it with the Pixel Watch 3 and encountered just a few oddities, like the shortcoming to export a Match exercise to Strava (I finally switched to utilizing the Fitbit app solely).
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 night time however requiring a cost within the morning. Nonetheless, I wanted to prime up battery life just a few occasions within the night when doing a variety of health monitoring. Whereas I did not attempt the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 myself, Google claims it will possibly 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 effectively over 24 hours and into the next day. On paper, Google says the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 encompasses a 35 % bigger battery when in comparison with the 41mm Pixel Watch 2.
On one other observe, I discover it wild that the Pixel Watch 3 nonetheless encompasses 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 multiple 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 model, and I hope the corporate modifications this with the Pixel Watch 4. On the plus aspect, each variations of the Pixel Watch 3 provide 20 % sooner charging total, 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 take advantage of it for just a few notifications, together with Ring Sensible Doorbell notifications, telephone 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 recognize its easy design (positive, I may 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 had 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 stage of polish and performance that carefully rivals the Apple Watch and at the very least for my functions, surpasses Samsung’s Galaxy Watch line, each concerning design and performance.
Advisable
Pixel Watch 3
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