I was excited when I first put Google's third smartwatch iteration on my wrist in preparation for this Pixel Watch 3 review, because I felt like the changes made this year were great ones. You might think an additional size, reduction in bezel and jump in brightness aren't anything to write home about, but I'd say you were mistaken.
Smartwatches can really only take things so far because ultimately, your wrist is only so big. They can't extend past that space and still look good and that's the key; they have to look good, no matter what features they offer. The Pixel Watch 2 did a good job, but it still had some work to do to compete with some of the best smartwatches out there.
With the Pixel Watch 3, the third time is a charm. Here's my review after wearing it for over a month.
Google Pixel Watch 3 review
Price and availability
The Pixel Watch 3 starts at £349 / $349/ AU$579 at Google, which is for the 41mm Wi-Fi and Bluetooth model. The larger 45mm model starts at £399 / $399 / AU$669, which again is for the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth model. For the 4G LTE model, you'll pay an extra £100 / $100 / AU$170.
In terms of colour options, the 41mm Google Pixel Watch 3 – designed to fit wrists of 130 to 210mm – comes in four options comprising Polished Silver with a Porcelain or Rose Quartz Active Band, Champagne Gold with a Hazel Active Band and Matte Black with an Obsidian Active Band.
The 45mm model – designed for wrist sizes between 150mm and 215mm – comes in Polished Silver with a Porcelain Active Band, Matte Black with an Obsidian Active Band or Matte Hazel with a Hazel Active Band. All cases are made from aluminium and there are strap options available separately. I have the 45mm Matte Black with Obsidian Active Band in for review and that's what is pictured throughout this review.
Specifications
- Works with: Android
- Sizes: 41mm / 45mm
- Case material: Aluminium
- Display: Custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5, Actua AMOLED, 2,000 nits
- Display size: 1.2-inch, 408 x 408 pixels, 320ppi (41mm) / 1.4-inch, 456 x 456 pixels, 320ppi (45mm)
- Dimensions: 41mm x 41mm x 12.3mm (41mm), 45mm x 45mm x 12.3mm (45mm)
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1
- Battery: 307mAh (41mm), 420mAh (45mm)
- Durability: 5ATM / IP68
- Weight: 31g (41mm), 37g (45mm)
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 / Wi-Fi 2.4GHz and 5GHz / GPS / NFC / LTE / Ultra-wideband
- Storage: 2GB RAM, 32 GB internal storage
- Operating system: Wear OS 5
Design and build quality
Google's Pixel Watch 3 hasn't changed dramatically since it first arrived in 2022. You'll still find the simple, sophisticated design with a rounded case that features a rotatable crown on the right edge and a side button. There are some differences of note in the latest iteration however, with the most significant being the introduction of a larger size option.
The Pixel Watch 3 comes in 41mm – like previous Pixel Watch models, and 45mm – which is the model I had in for review. Both offer a seamless design that's not only comfortable to wear (pretty important if you're planning to wear this device 24/7), but it looks great on too. The polished aluminium casing that houses the stunning display blends neatly into the bottom element with the sensors, delivering a premium finish.
The casing is thicker than Samsung's Galaxy Watch 7 despite the Samsung taking the more rugged approach, and it's thicker than the likes of the Apple Watch Series 10 too, but it's oddly not really something you notice when on.
There's been a bezel reduction around the display this year, too, and the result is a genuinely stunning display that really makes great use of its real estate. More information fits onto the screen for a better user experience, while the colours deliver plenty of pop and punch for a fantastic viewing experience.
It's also fast to respond, with a slick and fluid experience whether you're using touch or the controls, while the bump in brightness means this is a smartwatch that more than copes in sunny and bright conditions.
Really, the only element of the design I would complain about is the strap system. It's not changed on the Pixel Watch 3 compared to the Pixel Watch 2, which means you need to push a small button in order to release the strap and then line up the ridges to reattach a new strap.
It's nowhere near as user-friendly as Samsung's Galaxy Watch 7 or Apple's Watch Series 10, both of which require a simple one-button press. It's the only aspect that lets the design of the Pixel Watch 3 down because otherwise, it is a very good looking and very comfortable smartwatch, even in the larger model.
New features
The Google Pixel Watch 2 offered plenty, but as you might expect, there are some new features that have been introduced with the Pixel Watch 3. A face lift isn't enough these days, given how tough the smartwatch competition is, though as mentioned, the display is new for the Pixel Watch 3, including the increase in brightness and the 16 per cent smaller bezel around the screen.
In terms of features, though, like many others, Google has put runners within its focus. You have to set the new running features up in the accompanying Fitbit app, but after a few questions - such as what you want to focus on and what your current running level is – you will see daily run recommendations appear, a run workout builder and real-time run guidance. There is also advanced run form tracking and a run performance dashboard – I did say it had focused on running.
Thankfully, there are some features for non-runners, too. Cardio Load and Target Cardio Load are both new for the Pixel Watch 3, giving you some insight in a basic score format as to how hard you should be working and how much of a toll what you have done has taken on your body.
There's also Morning Brief, which isn't too dissimilar from Samsung's version, giving you a summary of how you slept and helpful information like the weather forecast for that day.
Elsewhere, there's the ability to see your heart rate on exercise equipment - like Apple's GymKit, handy if you want to connect your Pixel Watch 3 to a Peloton Bike+, for example, and there's also media controls during exercise available on the Pixel Watch 3's screen too.
It's also possible to view Nest cameras on your wrist – something that is surprisingly helpful in use, and you can use your Pixel Watch 3 as a remote for a Google TV if you happen to have one of those in your streaming devices setup.
They aren’t new but the Pixel Watch 3 also pulls in the safety features from the Pixel Watch 2 and helpful functions like being able to use your Pixel Watch as a remote camera button when connected to a Pixel phone are available here too.
Heath and fitness tracking
Sometimes when one company acquires another, things don't always work out but Google's acquisition of Fitbit has worked a treat for the Pixel Watch models, especially the Pixel Watch 3. The latest model gets the full Fitbit treatment and that means the superb sleep tracking, accurate step counting, great heart rate tracking and the plethora of exercise modes to choose from (there's over 40).
The Sleep Score and Sleep Profile are great - though you get similar from Samsung's latest smartwatches, and Cardio Load and Target Cardio Load that I mentioned previously are helpful to give you an easy to understand view of what you should be doing and the impact what you have done has had.
I always liked the stress tracking on the Fitbit Sense 2, and it's executed as well on the Pixel Watch 3 (as it was with the Pixel Watch 2), with it seemingly well able to acknowledge when I had endured particularly stressful days. Whilst testing, I had a couple of family members have to go into hospital so there were some particularly stressful days, which the Pixel Watch 3 picked up on, on par with the Oura Ring Gen 3 I was also wearing.
Heart rate tracking was good, too. I found the Pixel Watch 3 responded quickly to rapid changes in heart rate during HIIT workouts, and in some cases, a split second faster than the Apple Watch Series 10 on my other wrist. It was fractionally slower to come down, but the average at the end of any workout I did was on par with the Apple Watch Series 10 and the chest strap I wore.
Automatic exercise recognition was good, too – this is something we found a little slow on the Pixel Watch 2, but walking was always detected at the exact same place on my dog walking route, which is 10 minutes into my walk.
I like Fitbit's Daily Readiness Score too, though again not too dissimilar from Samsung's Energy Score on its latest devices, offering a quick and simple number to guide you on how much you should be doing that day. It's been a feature on Fitbit's since 2021, launching infinitely on the Fitbit Charge 5, and having it on the Pixel Watch 3 makes for a good user experience overall, even it isn't an entirely novel idea.
There are of course a number of more advanced health and fitness features on board the Pixel Watch 3, from tracking a menstrual cycle with help with from skin temperature sensor, to being able to take an ECG. It doesn't have the latest smartwatch buzz feature of detecting sleep apnoea on board, but Pixel does have the advantage of Fitbit's excellent presentation of data on its side.
Fitbit has long been one of the best out there for offering up simple to understand and easy to digest information and insights in its app, based on the information its trackers have collected. That remains true under Google's ownership with the Fitbit app offering very easy to interpret stats on what the Pixel Watch 3's sensors have accumulated.
It's here the Pixel Watch 3 shines, because whilst being able to check in on your Nest cameras from your wrist, or control your Google TV are useful in their own right, being able to understand what's happening with your health and fitness without getting lost in data, is something not all smartwatches deliver.
The only problem is that Fitbit has a Premium subscription and some of those helpful features and insights are locked behind it. You get 6 months free when you buy the Pixel Watch 3, but after that you pay a monthly or yearly fee, and that's a bit of a shame given that neither Samsung or Apple charge monthly subscriptions for access to data and insights.
Battery life
The Google Pixel Watch 3's battery life is impressive. It is worth remembering here that I was testing the larger 45mm model, which has a 35 per cent bigger battery but I was always able to get through the day, evening and through the night for sleep tracking without needing to charge it until sometime the next day. The smaller model might tell a different story, but there's at least a day from the larger model.
Both the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and the Apple Watch Series 10 need charging before bed so the Pixel Watch 3 is superior to those models in terms of battery life. I was using the 42mm Appel Watch Series 10 however, which has a smaller battery than the Pixel Watch 3. The Apple Watch is also faster to charge than the Pixel Watch 3, and this is an area the Pixel Watch 3 could improve.
Charging times aren't a huge issue as ultimately, you will find a charging routine that suits you and you'll probably not think about it again. I charge my devices before bed and the Apple Watch Series 10 will charge to 100 per cent in less than 45 minutes. The Google Pixel Watch 3 meanwhile, needs 50 minutes to get to 80 per cent and over an hour to fully charge. If I'm being picky, it's a little faffier to place the puck on the Pixel Watch 3 too as the pins have to line up and the lead has to be coming out from the crown, but that's being fussy.
Verdict
The Google Pixel Watch 3 offers a simple and sophisticated design that's comfortable to wear and looks good. The display is absolutely stunning, incredibly responsive and there's a superb amount of vibrancy and pop that it is a lovely device to have on your wrist for that reason alone.
Couple that with the accurate fitness tracking and range of features and you have yourself a very compelling smartwatch for Android users, with extra features if you have a Pixel phone too. The strap mechanism could be better, charging could be faster and it's a shame some of the data insights get locked behind Fitbit Premium after six months, but otherwise there's very little to complain about.
If you're looking for a great looking smartwatch packed to the brim with features and easy to understand interpretations of what your smartwatch learns about you, the Pixel Watch 3 is an excellent place to start.
Also consider
The Google Pixel Watch 3 is far from the only smartwatch around these days, with several options that are also well worth considering, depending on what you are looking for. I won't suggest Apple's Watch Series 10 as if you're considering a Pixel Watch 3, there is a very good chance you don't have an iPhone given Wear OS 5 isn't compatible with iPhone and Apple Watch isn't compatible with Android, so that makes that reasonably simple.
You could consider the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, which not only offers a lovely design but excellent feature tracking and good artificial intelligence (AI) skills too. It's also worth looking at the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, which has pretty much the same feature set as the Galaxy Watch 7 but with a more rugged design. Both these devices run on Wear OS 5 like the Pixel Watch 3.
You might also want to think about the Pixel Watch 2, which although misses out on that larger display and brighter display, and a few of the Pixel Watch 3's features, there's still plenty on offer with the 2023 model, and it's cheaper now too.
