I walked 5,500 steps with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Pixel Watch 3 XL — here’s the winner

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 next to the Pixel Watch 3 resting in a sun-lit hand with leaves and grass out of focus in the background.

It’s a battle of the top dogs. In one corner, we have the original rugged smartwatch and reigning battery life champion, the Apple Watch Ultra 2. In the other corner, we have the Android people’s champion, the Google Pixel Watch 3 XL.

Today’s contest is an assessment of workout tracking capabilities, with each watch embarking on a manually counted 5,500-step urban hike along Seattle’s Lake Washington. For this test, the Apple Watch was worn on the left wrist, and the Pixel Watch on the right wrist.