One of the best Android smartwatches I’ve tested makes me consider switching to a Pixel
ZDNET Key Points
- 45mm Pixel Watch 3 It costs $400 for the non-LTE version and $500 for the LTE version.
- The watch is beautifully designed and comfortable, has deep Fitbit integration, useful running support, and I appreciate the Google widgets.
- There’s no protective layer around the glass display, you can’t customize button actions, and there’s no support for external sensors.
Google’s Pixel Watch models are elegant, minimalist watches with extensive support for the Fitbit health and fitness ecosystem. Unfortunately, the first two generations were too small for me to wear every day, and after a month, I moved on to other wearables.
That won’t happen to Pixel Watch 3In fact, the Pixel Watch 3 is actually convincing me to switch to the Pixel 9 Pro, just to keep using the new watch.
Google has launched two sizes of the Pixel Watch 3, and for the past few weeks I’ve been using the larger 45mm model, which offers 40% more screen real estate than the Pixel Watch 2. The larger display is also brighter, with support for up to 2,000 nits, making the watch fit much better on my larger wrist.
Plus, the larger display gives more data at a glance. My aging eyes also appreciate the ability to see the clock clearly by turning on the larger font.
Also: The Best Android Smartwatches You Can Buy: Tested by Experts
With the larger screen and overall size comes a larger battery, and I was usually able to get close to two days of use on a single charge. There were a few times when the battery level dropped to 20% right when I was about to go for a run, but thankfully the Pixel Watch 3 charges quickly so I was able to get back up to 50% while I got ready and dressed.
Speaking of running, Google has optimized the Pixel Watch 3 to better support casual runners. It takes 14 days and nights of wearing the watch for Google to determine your cardio load goal. The watch will then show you suggested runs in the Coach tab in the Fitbit app on your phone.
The Pixel Watch 3 does a good job of providing voice commands and clear graphics on the watch face to guide you through the different intervals of your workout. The workout is limited to just two screens, one that can display four metrics and the other that shows your heart rate zones. This is fine for most runners, but those who like to track more metrics, race against pace or previous runs, and see more than four metrics will find this experience limiting.
After your run, be sure to check out the new dashboard, which has an incredible amount of data in tables and graphs, as well as insights and tips on how to improve. The metrics in the running performance screen show basics like heart rate, pace, distance, and elevation, as well as advanced metrics like ground contact time, vertical oscillation, pace, and stride length. I like the detail it provides on your running form, which helps you understand what you should focus on to optimize your performance and reduce your chances of injury.
Google’s Pixel Watch models have proven to be accurate at detecting heart rate on the wrist, and the Pixel Watch 3 is no different. Unfortunately, like the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, it doesn’t support connecting to external Bluetooth sensors.
Also: The Best Smartwatches You Can Buy: Tested by Experts
Running is often when I get a lot of new ideas and thoughts, so being able to record them on the go is a huge benefit. Google has a voice recorder app on the Pixel Watch 3, and it’s probably one of the best features I’ve discovered so far. I use it as my primary Tile.
The app lets you record a voice memo, which then appears in the Recorder app on your Pixel smartphone, where you can take things even further. From there, you can transcribe voice recordings, copy transcripts to Google Docs, and even share clips. You can also back up voice recordings to your Google account and access them at recorder.google.com.
Google has improved the Pixel Watch’s Google product support with Nest camera streaming, even including the ability to activate the microphone and talk to people who appear on your camera. The camera widget supports control of all camera modes on the front and rear cameras on your connected Pixel smartphone. While phone cameras are great, this feature makes the Pixel Watch an essential companion.
Also: My favorite hybrid smartwatch has amazing battery life and looks great
Another new feature that hasn’t been widely adopted yet is the loss of pulse detection. It’s great to see Google roll out health features that can save lives, and I hope to see this roll out in the US soon. My dad died of cardiac arrest, because someone didn’t notice him until about 15 minutes later. With the loss of pulse detection, someone could have been notified much sooner, and he might have survived.
As I mentioned in Pixel Watch 2 Review In October 2023, Google will offer free mobile services for Safety Check, Emergency/SOS alerts, and fall detection alerts. Additionally, if you purchase Pixel 3 LTE WatchGoogle offers two years of free data for texting, navigation, and music through its Google Fi service. Text messages also work with your current phone number. Phone calls aren’t supported if you use this service, but you can pay to have your own wireless carrier enable LTE connectivity.
The Pixel Watch 3’s watch face options are outstanding: there are a lot of complications to choose from, and each watch face design is fully customizable. While there are still some gaps in the capabilities and app availability on the Pixel Watch compared to the Apple Watch, the additional Google apps make it a very appealing option. Google Assistant is great, and having multiple cards in Google Wallet means I no longer need the Starbucks app or apps for other store loyalty cards.
ZDNET Buying Advice
When I saw the first Google Pixel Watch at the Made by Google event a few years ago, I was impressed by its minimalist design. Over the past few years, Google has improved its smartwatch significantly.
The Pixel Watch 3 It meets all my needs, plus the extra features exceed my expectations. If you own a Pixel smartphone, the Pixel Watch 3 is the best smartwatch you can buy. If you’re a casual runner, it’s an even more compelling wearable to consider, as it can act as your trainer and workout companion.
