Google Pixel Watch 3 Review

Review Summary

The Google Pixel Watch 3 is Google’s best offering yet, providing a refined combination of sleeker design, enhanced performance, and deeper health tracking. With a noticeable upgrade in battery life, display brightness, and Fitbit integration, it caters to both fitness enthusiasts and casual smartwatch users alike. Here’s our detailed breakdown based on extensive hands-on testing of both the 41mm and 45mm models.

Design & Display

The Pixel Watch 3 improves significantly in terms of its visual appeal and functionality. The bezels are thinner, making the OLED display feel more expansive, especially on the 45mm model, where the extra screen real estate made interactions smoother and apps easier to navigate. The display itself is one of the brightest on the market, with a peak 2000 nits of brightness, which performed excellently under direct sunlight, ensuring the Always-On Display (AOD) was readable at all times.

The overall build felt comfortable and lightweight, with a smooth curvature that sat snugly on the wrist, even during longer wear sessions. One downside is the limited number of first-party watch bands, which has been reduced compared to previous models, meaning users looking for more band options may need to turn to third-party suppliers.

Health & Fitness Features

Google has leaned heavily on its Fitbit integration, and this is where the Pixel Watch 3 shines. It’s packed with advanced health tracking features, including continuous heart rate monitoring, SpO2 sensors, and even ECG functionality. The sleep tracking also stands out, giving detailed insights into sleep stages and providing a Morning Brief that offers a personalized summary of your rest and readiness for the day.

While the fitness tracking suite is impressive, there are some limitations for high-performance athletes. GPS tracking, while accurate, may not be as robust for activities like cycling when compared to Garmin. The lack of deeper Strava integration was a noted frustration for serious cyclists during testing.

Performance & Battery Life

The Wear OS 5 platform, powered by Google’s Tensor G2 chip, provides a noticeable boost in performance over previous models. From launching apps to accessing Google Assistant, everything felt snappy and responsive. We especially appreciated the seamless operation of the Watch Unlock feature, which worked flawlessly in our tests with both Android and Pixel phones, thanks to the addition of UWB (Ultra-Wideband) technology.

Battery life has been another area of improvement. In our testing, the 45mm model lasted between 1.5 to 2 days, even with the Always-On Display enabled. The 41mm version offered a slightly shorter duration, closer to a full day of use. While this battery life still lags behind some longer-lasting fitness watches like Garmin, it’s a marked improvement for a Wear OS device.

Who It’s For

• Health & Fitness Enthusiasts: For users who want a detailed breakdown of their health and fitness data, the Pixel Watch 3 offers comprehensive metrics with its Fitbit integration.
• Android Users: The seamless experience with Google’s ecosystem, especially for those using Pixel phones, makes this a standout.
• Casual to Intermediate Athletes: Those looking for everyday fitness and health tracking will find value, but more serious athletes might be better served by a dedicated sports watch.

Overall Rating: 4.4/5

The Google Pixel Watch 3 builds on its predecessors with improved design, display brightness, and enhanced battery life. The seamless integration of Fitbit's health metrics makes it a great all-in-one device for users prioritizing health monitoring and daily wearability. While it still falls short for advanced athletes, particularly in areas like GPS tracking, it’s an excellent choice for those entrenched in the Android ecosystem and seeking a balance of smart features and health-focused tools.