Ever since the first Pixel Watch launched in 2022, I’ve been waiting for Google to make its smartwatch even smarter with more features that make it feel like a proactive assistant and workout coach, rather than a tool for logging exercise and viewing notifications.
With the $350 Pixel Watch 3, Google is closer to that goal, all while offering two different size options and making some quality-of-life improvements to the display and battery life. Taken together, the Pixel Watch 3’s larger screen, faster charging on the smaller model, new metrics for measuring workout intensity and tools for building custom runs make it a step above last year’s Pixel Watch 2. Then there are the features that hint at the future I’ve been hoping for, like AI-generated running workouts, the Morning Brief digest, and more applications for the Daily Readiness Score. Combined, all of these additions make the watch a more intelligent exercise companion and better at keeping me from reaching for my phone as often.
Apple’s event will be streamed live on Sept. 9, 2024, and we expect new iPhones and more to be unveiled.
Pros
- Attractive design
- Larger screen
- Faster charging
- Readiness score no longer requires Fitbit Premium
- Plenty of tools for runners
Cons
- No Gemini support
- Only 3 years of software updates
- Workout builder is just for outdoor running
- Faster charging only for smaller model
But there’s still some progress to be made. The absence of Gemini feels like an odd choice given the company’s big push to incorporate it into the Android ecosystem. On a device as small as a smartwatch, there’s a bigger need for improved voice-forward AI companions, but the Pixel Watch is still limited to the Google Assistant.
Many of the Pixel Watch’s fitness-related improvements seem heavily focused on outdoor runs, making the user experience feel unbalanced when it comes to other types of cardio workouts. Separately, for those who are serious about running, there are still some benefits you’ll get with a Garmin watch that the Pixel Watch 3 can’t replicate as well, such as longer battery life and trip routing features.
Overall, the Pixel Watch 3’s upgrades are enough to keep it as my top pick for a general purpose Android smartwatch. If you’re anything like me and consider yourself a casual runner in need of a general-purpose Android watch that’s sleek and comfortable, the Pixel Watch 3 won’t disappoint.
Read more: Google Pixel 9 Review: Chock-Full of AI. But That’s Not What Makes It Great
Watch this: Pixel Watch 3: Two Sizes, More Running Features
The Pixel Watch 3 gets a larger screen
The Pixel Watch 3 comes in two sizes.
The Pixel Watch finally comes in a bigger size option. Google now sells the watch in a new $400 45-millimeter model, bringing more screen space and battery life to your wrist. Both versions, including the 41-millimeter option that I prefer, also have smaller bezels, which makes it easier to see more text on screen without it getting cut off.
The borders around the display are still noticeable, but they’re less intrusive than before, which was one of my biggest physical complaints about previous Pixel Watches. On the 45-millimeter edition, it’s even easier to read text and view apps since icons look larger.
Otherwise, the Pixel Watch 3’s design is largely the same as older Pixel Watch models, which I’m happy about because I find it to be one of the most stylish watches out there. It has that same pebble-shaped aesthetic, which looks right at home on the wrist without adding bulk. I can’t say the same for other Android smartwatches I’ve tested, like the OnePlus Watch 2.
However, my colleague Lexy Savvides, who has been wearing the 45-millimeter Pixel Watch 3, said the display already has a deep scratch in it. (My 41-millimeter Pixel Watch 3 is scratch-free). Both watches are coated in Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
Pixel Watch 3 as a running and workout companion
The Pixel Watch 3 has a new cardio load metric.
Google clearly wants the Pixel Watch 3 to appeal to runners. The watch comes with new settings and features like the ability to build a custom run, prompts to mark the beginning and end of an interval, split alerts, pace coaching and media controls included within the workout interface. That’s along with the heart zone and pace training tools introduced on the Pixel Watch 2.
I run for general fitness rather than competition, so I built a custom run that consisted of a warm up and two 10-minute running intervals broken up with a 2-minute rest. I wanted a routine that was more challenging than my regular unstructured run but not too difficult, and I feel like my custom run generally checked that box.
But what I found more interesting was that after I built a custom run, Fitbit suggested its own AI-generated run. The run itself wasn’t much to write home about — it was just a straight 28-minute run — but seeing it pop up on my wrist felt proactive and intelligent in a way that smartwatches usually don’t.
An example of a run that was suggested for me in the Fitbit app.
So far, I like how Fitbit recommends certain runs based on my previous performance. My next suggested run, for example, consists of a 16-minute running interval in the vigorous heart rate zone, which would seemingly build nicely on the 10-minute intervals I’ve been practicing with.
You’ll also find a wealth of data points about your running form in the Fitbit app, such as stride length, ground contact time, vertical oscillation, step cadence and vertical ratio. Fitbit also explains what each of these numbers means, which is helpful.
In the future, I’d love to see a deeper assessment of my running form that crunches all these metrics together to let me know whether I’m performing at my peak or may be at risk of injury, almost like a sleep score or readiness score but for running. After gathering data from at least 10 runs, Fitbit will provide personal ranges for each metric, though, which will likely make these numbers more useful.
Fitbit is also introducing a new measurement to estimate exertion during a workout called cardio load. It assigns a rating to each exercise session based on how hard your heart is working during physical activity to help you understand whether you’re pushing yourself. The app says cardio load takes into account one’s age, heart rage, activity duration and resting heart rate.
A casual walk, for example, might just have a cardio load of 4, while a run might have a cardio load of 65. There’s also an overall daily cardio load rating in the Fitbit app’s Today feed that combines workouts and regular activities to measure overall daily exertion. It sounds a bit similar to the new training load metric coming to the Apple Watch in WatchOS 11.
I look forward to seeing how cardio load works with other metrics like Fitbit’s readiness score and the new target load, which is a recommended cardio load goal based on your readiness. For years, Fitbit has offered a readiness score to communicate how well rested you are based on sleep, activity and other data, but it’s now factoring that information into workout recommendations in a bigger way with target load.
It reminds me of how the Oura Ring dynamically adjusts your activity goal based on your readiness score. Coming up with new tools and tricks like these is also increasingly important for Fitbit as it continues to compete with Oura, which recently launched an AI-powered health chatbot for providing advice and exercise tips. I like this idea in theory, but since the target load takes 14 days to calibrate, I haven’t had much time with it yet.
Another nice perk: Google says it’s improved its readiness score to be more personalized and it’ll no longer require a $10 monthly Fitbit Premium subscription.
So far, I’ve enjoyed looking at my cardio load rating after a workout to see how hard I pushed myself during a run or indoor cycling session. However, I want Fitbit to be more specific about how everyday activities factor into cardio load readings. For example, on a day that involved a treadmill run with a cardio load of 45, I ended up having a daily cardio load of 212, which seemed high given that I didn’t feel like I was exerting myself outside of my workout.
I also wish Google provided more customization options and metrics for other workout types besides outdoor running. I usually only run once or twice a week and opt for different cardio workouts on other days, like indoor cycling or high-intensity interval training. I’d love the option to build custom workouts for either of those exercise types too, especially given how interval-centric HIIT is.
Garmin, on the other hand, lets you create workouts for a variety of exercises, including HIIT, bike, yoga, pilates and more. Even though Google has added a lot for runners to be excited about, you’ll probably still get more running-specific tools with Garmin, which has extras like an automatic route builder, for example.
But thankfully, I was really impressed with the Pixel Watch 3’s heart rate accuracy. During treadmill running and indoor cycling workouts, it matched my chest strap heart rate monitor almost beat for beat on most occasions, which is a big deal because chest straps are generally considered to be much more accurate than wrist-based heart rate monitors. Still, it’s worth noting that I got similar results from the Apple Watch Series 9.
Pixel Watch 3 battery life
As was the case with previous models, Fitbit’s health tracking software is a big focus on the Pixel Watch 3.
The Pixel Watch 3 isn’t the longest-lasting smartwatch, but it’s enough to get through the day and then some. After bemoaning the Pixel Watch’s battery life for years, I finally feel like battery life isn’t a limitation with the Pixel Watch 3, mostly thanks to how quickly it charges. Google says the watch can now last for up to 36 hours when Battery Saver is enabled, but like most tech products, battery life will vary depending on how you use the watch.
Battery life on the 41-millimeter version regularly lasted for more than a day, pretty much lining up with Google’s claims, while my colleague Lexy got two full days out of the 45-millimeter version when using it for tracking daily GPS workouts and sleep monitoring. The watch can also automatically kick itself into Battery Saver mode once it hits 15%, which I found useful.
One- to two-day battery life is typical for a general purpose smartwatch like the Pixel Watch 3 and is in line with what I usually experience when wearing the Apple Watch Series 9. But it can’t come close to the $450 Garmin Venu 3, which lasted for about a week on a single charge when I reviewed it last year.
Thankfully, the Pixel Watch 3 charges up quickly. The battery on the 41-millimeter version replenished by 51% in 20 minutes and 80% in 30 minutes, making it really easy to top off the device when I had a few spare minutes throughout the day. This, too, is similar to the Apple Watch Series 9 so long as you’re charging it with the included cable. However, these speedier charging times are only for the 41-millimeter model.
The Pixel Watch 3’s quick charging and lightweight design make it an ideal sleep tracker, more so than watches with longer battery life but clunkier designs like the OnePlus Watch 2. Like previous Pixel watches, the Pixel Watch 3 measures sleep stages and provides a sleep score based on the quality of your slumber.
Pixel Watch 3 as a smart device
The Pixel Watch 3 has many, if not all, of the connectivity features you’d expect from a smartwatch in this price range, including phone notifications, optional LTE, GPS, support for Google Wallet, Google Maps, Gmail and many other apps along with a laundry list of safety features, such as fall detection, the ability to send location data to emergency contacts and emergency services and a check-in timer for letting a friend or family member know you’re OK.
Google added a few extras to the Pixel Watch 3 that let you do more from your wrist. That includes the ability to use the Pixel Watch 3 as a remote for your Google TV, view your Nest Camera feed and unlock your phone with the watch using its ultra wideband tech.
You can see a variety of health metrics on your wrist with the Pixel Watch 3.
The Pixel Recorder app is also now available on the watch for quickly taking down notes and thoughts from your wrist. I used the app to verbally record observations about the Pixel Watch 3 for this review and was able to access the file right from the app on my watch. I don’t know how often I’d actually use this feature. Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something about speaking into my watch when I’m not using the Google Assistant that just feels awkward, especially for long-form dictations like note-taking. But I could see this being more useful in other situations, like quickly recording a conversation for work (with consent, of course) at a press event when I don’t have time to reach for my phone.
Google also took a page from Garmin’s book by adding a new Morning Brief notification, which as the name implies provides details it thinks will be helpful for starting your day, such as your sleep score, the weather and your readiness score among other tidbits. It’s similar to Garmin’s Morning Report, although I find Garmin’s version to be more useful because it includes additional pieces of data like suggested workouts.
Still, I’m sure Google’s Morning Brief will improve over time, and it feels like a step closer to making the Pixel Watch more of a proactive, ambient assistant that surfaces information as you need it.
Speaking of assistants, I was a bit surprised to see that Gemini isn’t included on the Pixel Watch 3. Google is positioning Gemini as being the go-to virtual helper on Android phones, so I expected to see it take a similar approach for the Pixel Watch. I realize there may be some technical limitations that make it challenging to run Gemini on a device as small as a smartwatch. But since Gemini is available on the Pixel Buds Pro 2, I hoped Google would have found a way to make it work on its smartwatch. Doing so would create more consistency across Google’s mobile products, especially as Gemini becomes a larger part of the experience.
Google will provide software version updates to the Pixel Watch 3 for three years, just like the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2. That’s a stretch from the seven-year support timeline for Google’s Pixel phones, which would admittedly feel longer than usual for a smartwatch. But still, it would be great to see Google match Apple, which is making its upcoming WatchOS 11 software available for the nearly 4-year-old Apple Watch Series 6 and first-generation SE.
Pixel Watch 3 overall thoughts
The Pixel Watch 3 is lightweight enough to wear to bed, but you’ll likely be charging it every other day.
The Pixel Watch 3 is another step in the right direction for Google’s smartwatch. With its new running tools, workout intensity metrics and additional smart features, Google continues to fill in the gaps left by the previous models, resulting in a well-rounded smartwatch slightly skewed toward runners.
But of course, there’s still room for improvement. Battery life may never match Garmin’s given the additional smart connectivity features that come with Google’s watch by comparison. I’d also really like to see more workout customizations tailored for other exercise types beyond running in the future and longer software support.
Still, Google solved some of the Pixel Watch’s biggest shortcomings with its third watch, which is the most you could ask for in a next-generation product.