Google Pixel 3 hands-on

I never really thought much of the Pixel Watch. The limits of Google’s smartwatches have always felt low, due to the company’s insistence on only offering a 41mm option. Thankfully, the Pixel Watch 3 breaks from that tradition by introducing a larger 45mm model. With a few subtle design tweaks and a compelling set of fitness-centric features, the Pixel Watch 3 has gotten me hands-on and seriously considering whether to buy one. After three iterations, I think Google has finally figured out how to make a compelling smartwatch.

Google Pixel Watch 3

The Google Pixel Watch 3 builds on its predecessor, introducing a new 45mm size in addition to the original 41mm watch. Both options feature larger displays that are twice as bright, a host of features geared towards runners, and better connectivity with the Google ecosystem.

brand

Google

Heart Rate Monitor

yes

Color Screen

yes

Notification Support

yes

Battery life

24 hours in always-on display, 36 hours in battery saver mode

operating system

Wear OS 5.0

On-board GPS

yes

Customizable straps

yes

Lens Material

Corning Gorilla Glass 5

Case material

Recycled Aluminum

weather

yes

Case Size

41mm, 45mm

screen

320 ppi AMOLED LTPO display

battery

306mAh

Connectivity

4G LTE and UMTS3, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, NFC, Ultra Wideband

Health Sensor

Compass, altimeter, red and infrared sensor, multi-purpose electrical sensor, multi-path optical heart rate sensor, 3-axis accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light sensor, electrical sensor, skin temperature sensor, barometer, magnetometer

Weight

45mm: 1.3 oz; 41mm: 1.1 oz

Mobile Payments

yes

brightness

1-2,000 nits

GPS

US: GPS, Galileo, GLONASS; Rest of the World: GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Nabik

Fast charging

yes

Enlarge

The smaller bezels make the 41mm model look larger than the Pixel Watch 2.

As I mentioned before, I was disappointed with the minimal display options Google previously offered with the Pixel Watch. After seeing the new 45mm model in person, I was very impressed with its size and design. Both models use the Actua AMOLED display technology that Google has been developing for the last few years. The screen supports a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, which is twice as bright as the screen on the Pixel Watch 2. Google has confirmed that the new panel supports the DCI-P3 color gamut, so the display will shine with color during use.

Additionally, the Pixel Watch 3 has a slightly updated design: Google managed to reduce the display bezels by 16 percent. By the company’s measurements, the 41mm model offers 10 percent more screen space than last year’s model, while the larger 45mm model offers 40 percent more screen space than the Pixel Watch 2.

I spent most of my demo time on the 45mm model, and was impressed with how much space I had to navigate apps, scroll through menus, and swipe from screen to screen. Four millimeters doesn’t seem like much, but on something as small as a smartwatch, it gives up precious extra space for notifications, calendar reminders, and the like. And the data displayed by fitness apps and other services was easier to read on the larger display, even for something as simple as a daily step tally.

According to Google, the Pixel Watch 3 not only has a larger display, but also has better battery life. With the always-on display (AOD) feature enabled, the Pixel Watch 3 is said to have a 24-hour battery life. With the Pixel Watch 2, the company significantly improved battery life when using GPS and fitness apps. Hopefully, with Qualcomm’s more efficient SW5100 processor, the Pixel Watch 3 will be able to realistically last a full day of use with AOD active. According to Google, the Pixel Watch 3 can be charged to 50% in about 28 minutes.

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The new Morning Briefing is a great summary of your fitness progress

Google continues to innovate and invest in fitness apps

With the Pixel Watch 3, Google is introducing the Morning Brief feature. As you start each day, your smartwatch will give you interesting and up-to-date metrics. For example, the daily summary will show you your sleep quality, readiness score, progress towards reaching your weekly fitness goal, and more. Instead of scrolling through menus and apps yourself, the Pixel Watch 3 will do the work for you. You can also share your metrics with other apps to help you start your day right.

Of course, the Pixel Watch 3 is packed with other fitness and wellness features, too. This includes optimal workout routines that can be used at the gym or at home. Working with readiness and cardio load tracking, the Pixel Watch 3 helps alert you when you need to take a break before pushing yourself too hard. These features will appeal to those who regularly use their smartwatch at the gym or for runs. We’ve found that the cardio load tracking system can also help reduce the risk of injury by looking at your daily target cardio load and comparing how hard your heart is working over time. With a Fitbit Premium membership, subscribers have access to AI-powered personalized recommendations to help you reach your fitness goals.

For runners, the Pixel Watch 3 has advanced motion-sensing technology. Though I wasn’t able to test it myself, Google says the Pixel Watch 3 uses machine learning to analyze your cadence, stride length, and vertical oscillation to help improve your running performance. It’s integrated into the Fitbit app, so you can see some pretty impressive details about your aerobic performance over time. That said, this seems to depend on you running consistently and feeding more and more performance data into the Pixel Watch 3.

The Pixel Watch 3 has the potential to hook me

Strong first impression

Having had some hands-on time with the Pixel Watch 3, I have been pretty positive about what I’ve seen. That said, I need to spend some more time with the smartwatch to properly test its new Morning Briefing and Cardio Load tracking features. I’m excited to see how these features fit into my daily routine. It will be interesting to see if they make a meaningful difference in the way I exercise and spend my days.

I think this is the most compelling year-over-year jump for the Pixel Watch ecosystem. With the new 45mm option, Google is addressing the desires of users like me who want a larger display on their wrist, but the 41mm should still be a great entry point. Google’s decision to use the Qualcomm SW5100 chip should translate to smoother, faster responses when navigating menus. I experienced this during my time with the device, but it’s worth spending more time getting hands-on with it.

The Pixel Watch 3 will be available in a variety of color options for $349.99. The 45mm option will be available in black, silver, and hazel. Band colors include obsidian, porcelain, and hazel. The 41mm model features black, silver, gold, and aluminum colors, as well as an exclusive rose quartz band. It is available for pre-order now.

For more Pixel news, Google also announced the new Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL alongside the Pixel Buds Pro 2.