Google Pixel Watch 3 Review: Everything You Need To Know
The Google Pixel Watch 3 represents a significant evolution in Google’s smartwatch lineup, bringing together advanced fitness tracking, a brighter display, and deep integration with Google’s ecosystem. Now available in two sizes, including a new 45mm option, this smartwatch is designed to meet the needs of both casual users and fitness enthusiasts alike.
Powerful Running Features
For runners, the Pixel Watch 3 is equipped with powerful tools to help you plan, track, and improve your workouts:
- Workout Builder: Create custom runs with specific goals for distance, time, pace, or heart rate zones. The watch provides real-time haptic feedback and audio guidance, ensuring you stay on track during your runs.
- Form Tracking: After your run, analyze your performance with advanced metrics like cadence, stride length, and ground contact time. This data is seamlessly integrated into the new running dashboard within the Fitbit app.
Fitbit Premium members enjoy additional benefits, including personalized daily run recommendations powered by Google AI and access to a variety of workout classes from Peloton instructors.
Stylish Options and Pricing
The Pixel Watch 3 comes in various stylish options to suit different tastes. The 41mm model is available in Matte Obsidian with a Matte Black band, Porcelain with Polished Silver, and Hazel with Champagne Gold. There’s also a fresh Rose Quartz band paired with a Polished Silver case. The 45mm version offers Obsidian, Porcelain, and a new Matte Hazel Aluminum case with a matching Hazel band.
Pricing for the Pixel Watch 3 starts at $349.99 for the 41mm Bluetooth/Wi-Fi model and $449.99 for the LTE version. The 45mm model is priced at $399.99 for Bluetooth/Wi-Fi and $499.99 for LTE. Pre-orders are available now, with the watch set to hit stores worldwide on September 10, 2024, through the Google Store, Google Fitbit.com, and select retailers.
Seamless Google Integration
Integration with Google’s ecosystem is deeper than ever with the Pixel Watch 3. It serves as a handy remote for your Google TV, allows you to view live feeds from your Google Home cameras, and lets you take voice notes on the go with the new Pixel Recorder app. Additionally, the watch features an Ultra-Wideband chip, enabling you to unlock your Pixel phone or even your car with just a swipe.
Bigger and Brighter Display
The Pixel Watch 3’s Actua displays are the brightest yet, doubling the brightness of previous models with a peak of 2,000 nits. This makes it easy to view your stats even under direct sunlight. The displays are also highly adaptable, automatically adjusting to as low as 1 nit in dark environments to avoid straining your eyes.
Both the 41mm and 45mm versions feature larger displays with reduced bezels, offering more screen space—40% more on the 45mm model and 10% more on the 41mm. These displays are also more power-efficient, with refresh rates ranging from 60Hz down to 1Hz in always-on-display mode.
Advanced Fitness and Recovery Tools
Pixel Watch 3 introduces new tools that help you balance intense workouts with necessary recovery:
- Daily Readiness: Tracks key recovery biometrics like resting heart rate and HRV, giving you a clear picture of how ready your body is for training each day.
- Cardio Load: Monitors your heart’s exertion during activities, helping you understand your training intensity and trends over time.
- Target Load: Provides a personalized training target each morning, based on your recent cardio load and readiness, guiding you to optimize your fitness while allowing for adequate recovery.
These insights are compiled in the new Fitbit Morning Brief, delivered to your wrist each morning. It includes sleep data, readiness scores, cardio load, weather updates, and alerts if any health metrics, such as HRV, SpO2, or skin temperature, are out of your normal range.
Enhanced Battery Life
Battery life is a key focus for the Pixel Watch 3. With Wear OS 5 and a hybrid architecture, the watch ensures reliable all-day battery performance. The new Battery Saver Mode extends the battery life up to 36 hours without sacrificing crucial health, fitness, or safety features. The 45mm model includes a 35% larger battery, while the 41mm version benefits from a 20% faster charging speed, saving you up to 15 minutes to reach a full charge.
Loss of Pulse Detection
One of the standout features of the Pixel Watch 3 is its Loss of Pulse Detection. This first-of-its-kind feature automatically detects when the heart stops beating and initiates a call to emergency services, providing critical information and your location. Initially available in various European countries, Google is working to expand this life-saving feature to more regions in the future.
