The original Pixel Watch was hit and miss at the time of its release, and while the Pixel Watch 2 brought some much-needed changes the following year, they were incremental at best. Now we have the third iteration of Google's wrist wearable, and it looks far more promising than the previous two generations, but can these improvements justify the hefty price tag? So, I've been using the 41mm Bluetooth/Wi-Fi version of the Google Pixel Watch 3 for about a week now, and in this review, I'll answer this question and share my week-long experience with it.
Google Pixel Watch 3: A look at the specifications
| Glasses | Google Pixel Watch 3 |
|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS | 45 x 45 x 12.3 mm (1.77 x 1.77 x 0.48 in) |
| Dial Size | 41mm (45mm also available) |
| weight | 31 grams (1.09 ounces) |
| Display | 1.2 inches (408 x 408), LTPO AMOLED, 60 Hz refresh rate, 2000 nits brightness, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection |
| Processor | Qualcomm SW5100 |
| Operating System | Wear OS 5, up to 3 years of major updates |
| Memory | 2GB RAM + 32GB eMMC storage |
| design | Aluminum body and silicone strap |
| game mode | 40+ |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Battery life | 24 hour |
| lease Colour | Hazel, Obsidian, Porcelain, Rose Quartz |
| price | Rs. 39,999/ $349 (Bluetooth + WiFi) |
Google Pixel Watch 3: What's in the box?
First, let's take a look at everything you'll find inside the Pixel Watch 3's box.
- Pixel Watch 3 (41mm)
- Active silicone bands (small and large)
- USB Type-C charging cable
- quick start Guide
Build and Design: If Looks Could Kill
I have the 41mm, Obsidian colour variant and it is as stealthy as it is stylish. The frame is made of aluminium and Google has continued its unique Pixel Watch design of the last two generations. It is a complete Glass design that's curved at the edgesWhich gives it a sort of pebble-like look. Which makes it seem like a pure screen bezel-less display.
To be honest, I've had a few people ask me about the watch and how great it looks. Also, I've had comments that the 41mm model looks a bit childish wrapped around my giant Shrek wrist. However, the smaller model means the watch is more compact and compact. Not too heavy to wearIt weighs just 31 grams or a little over 1 ounce.
there is one Physical crown The right side is also made of aluminum. It feels great to use, especially because of the haptics built into the watch. And another button on the side that brings up the recent menu. It's not easy to find because it's Sits roughly parallel to the body I didn't even know there was a button until I watched the watch's tutorial during setup.
This watch is IP68 certified, so you can use it with confidence while swimming or in the rain. The heart rate sensor and magnetic charging pins are located on the back. It would be better if Google also opted for wireless charging like Samsung because it Aligning the puck can be a little tricky with the pins mounted on the watch. Finally, the watch comes with two silicone bands – a small one and a large one.
Display and speakers: Buttery smooth
The Pixel Watch 3 has one of the best displays I've seen on a smartwatch. The 41mm model has a 1.2-inch LTPO AMOLED Display. So did Google add LTPO to its smartwatch but not its flagship foldable? Strange, but I'll overlook it since it allows the watch to go down to 1Hz in always-on display mode. The screen is 16% larger, with thinner bezels that make the whole glass design feel like one More Immersive. UI elements take better advantage of the extra space.
It is also easy to use because of the refresh rate. boosted to 60 Hz up from the 30Hz of the Watch 2. So as the title states, navigating through the UI of the Watch feels as smooth as butter. Honestly, as a seasoned tech reviewer, even I was fooled for a second thinking it might be 90Hz.
I was wearing the watch when I went to Lodhi Garden to test my camera. Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Galaxy Z Fold 6 comparison. Only then did I notice the increase in brightness, which reach 2000 nits Now. I didn't have to cover the screen with my hand to read what was on it. The Pixel Watch 3's display is undoubtedly a significant upgrade.
As far as the speakers go, they were adequate for the watch's speakers. The mic pickup was also okay in the few calls I took with the watch. But it Does not allow music playback from Spotify. Therefore, to listen to them you will need to connect your headphones to the watch.
Google Pixel Watch 3: Software and performance
The Pixel Watch 3 comes out of the box with Google Wear OS 5 Based on Android 14, it has a very clean and minimal interface, which sits well with the aesthetics of the watch. The watch is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm SW5100It offers very good performance, which I would say is on par with the Apple Watch. No delay when launching apps and navigating through menus and various widgets.
Google's engineers have also done a good job in syncing the interface with the rotating crown. Good tactile feedback at every turn When you scroll past a row or option.
Given that this is a Pixel Watch, it integrates well with Pixel smartphones and Google devices. First, you can use the watch Control your Pixel's camera app. It shows the viewfinder and camera controls to switch between different modes. You can also zoom in and out from the watch. However, I encountered a bug where the camera viewfinder on the watch started to glitch.
So then you can do it Use AI to answer incoming calls Or let them hold it for you. Also watch Works as a remote When used with Google TV. I couldn't check if it is compatible with Android TV as well. If you have a Nest camera, you can check the camera feed from the watch itself.
Google Pixel Watch 3: Health features
For health monitoring, the Pixel Watch 3 includes an accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate monitor, altimeter, compass, SpO2, thermometer, and skin conductance sensor. So it covers all the bases to give you the most accurate readings possible. To see these readings, you'll need to set up the Fitbit app on your phone, as the watch relies on Fitbit to show you your health information. Thankfully, you can Doesn't require a Fitbit Premium subscription To get detailed information.
Pixel Watch 3 now includes New running metrics Such as stride length, step cadence, and vertical ratio, for those who like to take a few laps around the block. To be honest, I'm more of a couch potato, and vigorous exercise isn't my strong suit. So I stuck to plain old walking, and here's how it went.
During my regular walk from office to the metro station, the Watch 3 accurately counted my steps, calories burned, and heart rate. Shows workout intensity As my heart rate increases, this helps me know when I'm pushing something to the limit and need a break.
As soon as I stood up for a while, the watch immediately paused the workout, and as soon as I started walking again, the watch paused the workout again. However, my one particular complaint is that the automatic It may take some time to locate workouts At times, it would detect that I was walking even though I had been doing so for the last 10 minutes and was approaching the station.
While it did a good job at monitoring exercise, I can’t say the same for sleep. The sleep graph was quite inconsistentOn multiple occasions it showed me awake. I'm a deep sleeper, so I know I wasn't as awake as the watch thought. To confirm my suspicions, I slept with the Galaxy Watch 7 on my other arm. The results were quite dramatic as the Watch 7 showed me awake for 11 minutes. The Pixel Watch 3 calculated 47 minutes. This may improve over time but this is what I felt in my usage.
pixel watch Can also detect skin temperatureChanges in breathing, restlessness, and heart rate while sleeping. These are good metrics, though I wish there was snoring detection like on the Galaxy Watch 7.
Another good thing is that you don't need Fitbit Premium to know your readiness score. However, I couldn't capture it as Fitbit needs a week of your health data before measuring your readiness. Overall, As an exercise tracker, the Pixel Watch 3 is just as accurate With the advent of smartwatches, some changes may need to be made to improve sleep tracking.
Battery life: Still room for improvement
Now Wear OS is not known to be battery-friendly, and all this great experience on the watch comes at a hefty price. Google claims that the Pixel Watch 3 can last up to 24 hours with the always-on display enabled, and up to 36 hours with the battery saver mode on. Now I believe that if I am going to use the watch, I should be able to glance at the time even if I am not looking directly at it. So I kept the AOD on during my usage.
With this, I received a 15 to 16 hours of battery lifeUsually, I had 8-10% battery left in my tank by the time I got home. Even though my regular work day didn't involve any strenuous workouts (unless you count eating as exercise). As a result, I had to either charge the watch before going to bed or not track my sleep at all, which was a huge hassle. The charging speed isn't any better either; it takes about 15 minutes. 30 minutes to charge up to 50% And it takes one hour to fully charge.
Google Pixel Watch 3: Should you buy it?
All things considered, I must say my time with the Pixel Watch 3 was a mixed one. It looks great and has a very functional design with a rotating crown and an almost entirely glass and aluminum body. Plus the performance and user experience are some of the best I have ever experienced on an Android smartwatch. The security features and health tracking are also quite accurate. And if I'm being honest, it's a fair response from Google to the Apple Watch.
However, the poor battery life, charging time, and the hefty starting price of $349 for the 41mm WiFi variant deters me from buying one for myself or suggesting it to anyone else. Especially when there are better options available from brands like Samsung and OnePlus. While some things may be resolved with updates, I don't think the difference will be enough to change my opinion. But if you're a Pixel fan, I'd recommend waiting for a sale and a price drop before buying one.
