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Customer Ratings & Reviews

Your price for this item is $299.99
The previous price was $349.99

Customer reviews

Rating 4.6 out of 5 stars with 66 reviews

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  • Battery Life

    Rating 4.3 out of 5 stars

  • Durability

    Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

  • Comfort

    Rating 4.6 out of 5 stars

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92%would recommend to a friend

Rating 4.1 out of 5 stars with 13 reviews

Customers are saying

Customers value the Pixel Watch 3's long battery life, sleek design, and crisp display. They appreciate the accurate sleep tracking, comprehensive Fitbit integration, and smart features that make daily life easier. However, some customers have expressed concerns about the proprietary charging setup.

This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.

The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 66 reviews
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Love this watch

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    Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Loving the watch! I picked this because I have a Google Pixel phone and wanted the ease of apps. Searches said I could not have Alexa on my phone but I was able to load it on, don't ask me how though. Google Assistance works well. Size was good for me I am a large person but small wrist and the 41mm works well. Google has a Help Community and I get all kinds of help.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Design, Display
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Premium, Elegant with Amazing Features

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Google Pixel Watch 3 is the latest smartwatch offered by Google, it has been designed beautifully to be added to our daily digital life with ease. I am a triathlete so having this watch has been a great addition to my daily needs. Let me further explain while I try to keep it as short as possible: First, the Pixel 3 arrived with conscious packaging, most if not all was recyclable; it arrived with the band in two different sizes, the cable to charge the watch, easy to read instructions and the watch. Pixel 3 has a sleek, clean and elegant design. I got the 41mm size with Wi-Fi in matte black paired with the obsidian band. There is also the 45mm size as well as other colors to choose from. The watch is lightweight and very comfortable so I can wear it all day without any discomfort. And the watch has been made with durable construction that feels premium and strong. The Actua screen provides sharp and clear visuals and best of all it is a touch screen that it is easy to operate by swiping or soft touch to navigate in it and best of all it is responsive. The display can be on all the time or it can be on saver mode and these two options can give you different battery life, from 24 hours to 36 hours. The screen is bright so it can be even used as a flashlight, and I can have it as bright as I want, or I can have it on auto mode, so it will get brighter as it is needed. The setup was very easy, the Google Pixel 3 watch and the downloaded Application on my phone walked me from start to finish and it even answered some questions I had. The Fitbit integration offers comprehensive health and fitness tracking. This information includes heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and a lot of exercise modes. The health and fitness tracking feature provides valuable information about my daily activities and overall well-being. Being an active person, I do a lot of activities, so I like having the Pixel 3 watch to track all of them, including my workouts as well as my running, cycling and swimming. The swimming can be done due to its IP68 protection. And the Pixel 3 watch also encourages me to stay active, it lets me know when I have reached or exceeded a goal. I also like that it even includes 6 months of Fitbit premium at no cost. In the morning it gives me A Morning Brief that is informative and encouraging, it gives me a report of readiness, how well I slept, how my exercise is going, the weather as well as reminders. The watch with Google AI provides smart suggestions, reminders, and personalized insights; it even screens phone calls for me, making daily life much easier. This Pixel 3 connects via Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi and there is another option to go with, the 4G LTE allowing to be connected even without the phone nearby. It has a built-in microphone and speaker to take calls too. The Pixel Watch 3 performs not just well but fast due to its software Wear OS 5.0 and hardware Snapdragon W5 gen 1. And having the integration with Google services and apps it makes it easy to use while it is a versatile companion for both work and leisure. And speaking of apps, there are a lot of them that work well with the watch, from music, to my assistant, Google Home on Wear and many more. Overall, the Google Pixel Watch 3 (Model: GA05757-US) is a stylish, elegant and filled with tremendous features that excels in both design and functionality. The smart features, like controlling my TV or camera from my watch, see my Nest Cam feed, health tracking and Google Services it makes it a great choice to own.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great Product!

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    Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I have wanted to replace my Fitbit Sense for a little while. I liked the pixel watch when it first came out but it didn't initially have all of the features i was looking for. The pixel watch 3 is definately worth the wait. I have a small wrist and was worried about the size but i LOVE it! I made the right choice. Great software and looks very expensive.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Loving it

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I've had my new watch for a little over a week and loving it so far! Charges very quickly, so not something that is interfering with daily use.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Design, Display
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Looks good, easy, nice feature-set / battery life

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This is the first smart watch I have owned, partly because I have been in the Android ecosystem and I was not really enamored with the selection, and partly because I wasn’t sure of my use cases. I have been curious about the Pixel line the past two generations, but there always seemed to be a thing or two that held me back from committing. I think everything finally came together for me here and I have really been enjoying this watch. This is an aside, and I don’t typically comment on item packaging, but I love what Google has done here. Simple, to the point and free of plastic. I like that they have done this across product lines. Out of the box, I really like the styling. It is clean, plain, and some could perhaps say boring, but it is “almost” perfect for me. I do wish the gloss was matte (as it is with the Hazel color), but that is a personal thing for me. I am a watch wearer, which in some ways has held me back on smart watches, however I really do like the circular design. It is familiar to me and just feels right. I was a little torn, as on some level the square design can offer a little more screen real estate, but with the size, bezels, and software, it all just works very well as is. Beyond that, the crown is very smooth, feels nice and has great, yet subtle, haptics. The included band (two sizes) looks good, feels nice and should stand up over time. The connections are unique, well, to me, but they work well and feel secure. All of that said, I am excited to see what other options are out there. As for the display itself, I found it responsive, quite bright, clear, and easy to read in just about every scenario I have run into. I do wish they went with the more durable standard material here, but only time will tell how it holds up. All in all, I really like the hardware. I am on a Pixel device, but I think the setup should be very similar regardless of device. It was a very simple process. More or less, you turn the watch on, keep it near your phone and follow a few prompts. It is detected and you go through a typical set of options, and you are good to go. It should be no more than a couple of minutes. As I mentioned previously, I have only tried a watch here and there, and given that, using this watch is frankly a lot better than I expected. Menus are intuitive, the watch itself is quick and responsive, and the software is both improved from previous iterations and just good. Full stop. The app grid launcher is both easy and efficient to use and is a marked improvement over the list view to me. I also am a big fan of all the watch face options (and customizations). Not only for looks (but that is a part of it), but also for data. You really can optimize for the data that is important to you. I need to dig deep here. Further, I really need to dig into the available apps. To this point I have been rather vanilla with my choices, but I am just getting started. Lastly, it is more of a feature than an app, but a really nice add is the ability to log into your Pixel phone via the watch (as well as control some camera operations). Just something to note. Part of the reason I was excited to finally commit to a smart watch was for some of the health and fitness tracking. While I have not gotten into it heavy to this point, the basic health tracking has been solid, accurate, and consistent. Once I get completely familiar with everything, I look forward to getting into a routine, tracking my data, and seeing what value the premium Fitbit service brings to me. I can note that the activity detection has been pretty spot on thus far. Battery life, admittedly, was a concern of mine going in. I have found that I have nothing to worry about. The watch has been lasting me a full day, always on display, and some. At least to the point that I can make it to the next morning with anywhere from 20-35% left minimum. Obviously, use case is important here, and I expect those numbers to ebb and flow and perhaps decrease with increased usage, but I think I can safely say it won’t be an issue for me. Ultimately, I really like this watch. It looks good, performs very well, is feature-rich, has a robust app ecosystem, and solid battery life. I think it is extremely well-rounded, comes at a good price, and I really think the value is there.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Design, Fitbit integration
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    High Quality, Clean Design, Tons of Features

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Pixel 3 watch is a well-designed high-quality smartwatch. The crystal is scratch resistant Corning 3D Gorilla Glass, the body is recycled aluminum, and the standard strap is a flouroelastomer, which feels kind of like rubber or vinyl. Rubber and leather straps are optional. The watch is water resistant up to 50 meters, with immersion detection and auto screen lock. This watch easy to set up and easy to navigate with 2 buttons and swipe actions. It has at least 33 different watch faces to choose from and unlimited combinations of 39 different complications (functions besides time) that can be added to the watch face. I'm using the "Active" face because it allows the most complications that can be added, which is 9, plus the time and a notifications indicator. Although you can cram a lot onto the watch face it's well laid out, the font is very readable, and you can adjust font size, which is a nice touch. See photo. Connectivity is Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and it has built-in GPS. The watch incorporates the Fitbit app and includes 6 months of Fitbit Premium for free, but the premium version is not required to use Fitbit on the watch. 9 of the 39 complications are Fitbit metrics. The Fitbit app is excellent for tracking your daily and weekly fitness progress and goals, and I like that it establishes targets and readiness scores based on your workout history. It will let you know if you need to do more or if you're overdoing it. I also like the sleep tracking, which gives a sleep score every morning. Besides activity and sleep, it tracks calories, heart rate, gives a stress score, and offers an ECG. Even if you're not into fitness, this watch has a lot to offer. It includes Google Wallet (pay with the watch), Google Home (control smart home devices), make calls without your phone (if your carrier offers it, the major ones do), email, messages, alarm clock, calendar, weather, reminders, Media Controller, Google Assistant, and Google Maps, which can be downloaded for offline use. The YouTube Music app is included with the watch, and you can enable tracks to be auto downloaded to the watch as you listen to them. You can also queue up your own playlist on your phone to play with the Media Controller. Another nice touch to this watch worth mentioning is the watch band clasp. It's simple and secure with a fixed prong that the adjustable strap is secured over with the loose end tucking under the opposing band rather than overlapping. So, there's nothing sticking out to catch on anything. See photo. The bottom line is this watch offers a lot at a competitive price. It's high quality, well designed, and functional with every imaginable feature.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Display, Fitbit integration
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Outstanding For Fitness Enthusiasts

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The new Google Pixel Watch 3 is an excellent complement to Android phones. It is compatible with phones running the Android Operating System (version 10.0 or later). The watch sports an attractive muscular design that will especially appeal to fitness enthusiasts. It offers premium performance and a very robust current and future capability. I was very impressed by the form and function of this watch, and enthusiastically recommend it to Android phone users. The set up process is very straightforward. A Google account is required to pair and use the watch. To start the process, download the Pixel Watch App to your phone. The App will then walk you through the pairing and initialization process. Much like with a new phone, it is beneficial to take some time to explore the watch and customize it. There is a vast potential for customization of the watch and the watch Apps, so take some time to learn it and make it your own. Some features like Call Block require a Pixel branded phone. This watch offers extremely robust health and fitness capabilities. Fitbit is a prominently featured service, but other health and fitness Apps are available. This watch also has the capability of measuring biometrics as well as tracking sleep patterns. Depending on how you customize the display, health readings are available by simply glancing at your wrist. I was very impressed with the fitness tracking and training possibilities. The health options are the most comprehensive I have seen from a phone or a smartwatch to date. I was also suitably impressed by the watch display. The display is crisp, bright, and colorful. I had no trouble reading the display at any time, not even in direct sunlight. The high quality display is immediately noticeable. The touch screen is very responsive and easy to operate. It is capable of sending messages, but I do not use it that way. I use it to primarily get information and messages from my phone. Included in the box is standard size watch band as well as an extra large band to accommodate larger wrists. A proprietary magnetic charging cable is included. The phone is charged by plugging the cable into a USB-C charger, and then attaching the magnetic charger to the bottom of the phone. The watch is rated to last up to 24 hours per charge. I found this rating to be accurate, so overnight charging is not always required. However be sure to to bring the charging cable with you on trips from home, or else you will have no way to charge the watch. The Google Pixel Watch 3 is the most fully featured and capable smartwatch that I have ever used. It has done everything that I have expected of it, and even more. The exercise and training applications are especially capable and robust. It is an excellent choice for all Android users, but it is especially well suited for health and fitness minded individuals.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Design, Display
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Comfortable, Intuitive, And Good Battery Life

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I've been testing the Pixel Watch 3 (41mm) for the past week, and it's a significant upgrade from the original Pixel watch. While they look similar, the Pixel watch 3 offers a noticeable improved experience, with a comfortable design, intuitive interface, and better battery life. Package and Sizing: The package includes the watch, charging cable, and two bands: one for small and one for large wrists. The watch arrived disassembled, but the instructions made it easy to select the right size. While the smaller band fits comfortably, it feels a bit snug, while the larger one is perfect without being too loose. Simple Setup and Fitbit Basic Plan: Connecting the watch to my Pixel 9 XL was a breeze. My phone immediately recognized the device and guided me through the setup process step-by-step. There were a few data agreements to accept, and the watch offered a free six-month trial of Fitbit Premium. I opted not to subscribe, as the basic features are sufficient for my needs.The Fitbit Basic plan provides health insights, tracking daily steps, workouts, sleep, heart rate, cardio load, and more. It also offers workout recommendations and helps me track my fitness goals. While I'm using the basic plan, it meets my daily health tracking requirements. Hardware Assessment: The 41mm watch is comfortable and easy to see with just a glance. The touch interface is responsive, and the display is exceptionally bright and vibrant. The built-in speaker is loud, and the vibration is noticeable when the watch is in silent mode. Notifications are virtually instantaneous, and the font size is easy to read. The watch supports Google Pay, home controls, and Spotify playback without requiring my phone. It is also water-resistant, allowing me to wash dishes, cars, and even bathe my dog without any issues. This gives me confidence that sweat won't damage the device. The battery life is decent, lasting about a day and a half with standard daily use and always on display set to on. While this isn't the best battery life compared to other smartwatches that can last a week, it is sufficient for my needs. Recharging the watch takes about an hour, which fits well with my morning routine. With all that said, the Pixel watch 3 is a fantastic smartwatch that will not disappoint and It receives a strong recommendation from me..

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Design, Display
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    A fantastic smartwatch that excels in all areas !

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This is one of the most elegant, stylish and classic smart watches that I have used. Google is known for its simplistic design that brings class and elegance to its devices. The Pixel watch 3 is the best example for that. Its really comfortable. Its lightweight, and the band is water and sweat proof and feels soft on the wrist. The 41mm size feels perfect for my wrist. The various watch faces are classy and the way it blends with the watch makes it look rich. They are simple yet beautiful. It has an excellent display and I had no problems viewing it on a bright sunny day. Google has reduced the bezel on this watch. And with the right watch faces, the bezel is not noticeable at all. The watch easily lasts over a day. After using for 24 hours, the battery reduced from 100 to 25%. And it took just an hour to charge it back to 100%. This was when I was exploring it most of the time. Regular usage would still provide a longer battery life. Fitbit is perfectly integrated to the watch and it has excellent features like measuring heart rate, blood oxygen, ECG, and also identify atrial fibrillation, a kind of irregular heartbeat. It automatically identifies the workout and calculates the burnt calories. The watch has sleep tracking to keep track of your sleep and features bed time mode which it detects automatically when you sleep and optimizes the display and interface. The best part of the watch is the integration with Google apps. Setup was a breeze and it’s a perfect companion to especially a pixel phone or to any android OS 10 or above phone. You can also view Security camera feed from Nest Cam and answer the door bell. It also has recorder to generate voice memo. Maps is also available on the watch. I am absolutely delighted with the look, performance and quality of this watch. And I can recommend it to anyone without a second thought.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Display
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Pixel Watch has Finally Matured

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    As an owner of the OG Pixel Watch LTE, as well as the Pixel Watch 2, I’ve been very interested to see what Google’s plans were for the Pixel Watch 3. In all reality, the Pixel Watch has been more of a niche smartwatch – other brands have saturated the market and made the Pixel Watch more of a must-have for Google fans and those who own Pixel phones. To break out of that cycle, Google seems to be putting their best foot forward on the Pixel Watch 3, and honestly… I’m impressed. DISPLAY/BODY Google finally upgraded the display for the Pixel Watch 3. The bezels on the Pixel Watch 1 & 2 were noticeable enough to be a distraction and it took away from the appeal of the device. Now, with Google’s “Actua Display” tech on the Pixel Watch 3, the brightness can go from 1 nit to 2000 nits, the bezels are 16% smaller, and the display is pleasing to look at. Having a brighter display makes all the difference when you’re outside working out or checking your notification. This change was so needed and I’m glad to see that Google realized the need for upgraded display technology. Going beyond the display though, you won’t notice any real physical changes, which is totally fine. The Pixel Watch series is becoming more recognizable and the circular display coupled with the large tactile crown makes navigating the device enjoyable. BATTERY LIFE Another key sticking point for me with the Pixel Watch – I never appreciated the battery life. As someone who has been daily driving a Pixel watch since it first released, the battery life was a letdown. I used to keep my display turned off as much as possible. With the Pixel Watch 3, you can keep your always-on-display enabled and have the watch last all day! As part of my testing, I put on my watch at 6am and wore it all day, went to bed wearing it, woke up and started my day at 6am and… I had just below 20% battery life remaining. Keep in mind, I also had a 20-minute workout during that day too, which might be negligible, but I used my watch to its fullest and the battery didn’t die on me. Again, these are the key changes that I wanted in the Pixel Watch, and to see my watch lasting more than 24 hours, left me feeling like this was a quality and worthwhile upgrade. EXERCISE AND WORKOUT TRACKING Full disclosure: I believe that cardio was the biggest focus for Google’s workout tracking improvements, but cardio is not one of my major focuses during the fall. Regardless, I did go for a run to get a better comparison between the Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3. Google’s ideal workout companion seems to be – have the Pixel Watch monitor every possible metric it can, crunch the data in real-time, and then use Fitbit tech + AI heuristics to turn that data into a comprehensive workout experience. I think the approach makes sense, but I’m more interested to see what this data looks like in the long-term. Regardless, Google seems to be focusing on adding value to the Pixel Watch by making some of its highlight features de-coupled from Fitbit Premium. The Pixel Watch 3 provides real-time guidance on runs, allowing for heart rate coaching and pace coaching to keep you in the zone during your runs. In my testing of these features, they worked great, and I know I’ll use them more in the future with my workouts. On the edge of the workout tracking features, Google also has their new Readiness and Cardio Load features loaded into the Fitbit app which will track your body’s vitals/metrics and let you know how to best treat your body on a given day. The Readiness algorithm measures your need for recovery. Sometimes you might need more rest than anticipated, other days you might be ready to push hard and reach a new personal best. Meanwhile, Cardio Load will provide the historical analysis of how hard your heart is working and provide insights to how your body is performing. Fitbit Premium is required for those who want AI-powered daily run recommendations and workout videos, but I don’t think losing out on those experiences affects anyone’s overall experience with the Pixel Watch 3 – and that’s great news for everyone. SMART FEATURES It’s all about the features with any smart watch, and Google has included a few goodies this year to make the Pixel Watch 3 a device full of features. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s new – There’s a built-in Google TV remote, Nest Camera controls, Offline Google Maps, Google Pixel Call Assistant (An AI call screening software), a refreshed camera app with better controls, and the Recorder app for voice recording. Each of these features and apps are continuing to evolve, and I’ve had great experiences with the TV remote, Call Assistant, and Recorder app. Offline Google Maps was a little buggy for me, but I believe that will improve over the coming weeks – Google’s software usually needs a little bit of time to mature. CONCLUSION This is a solid and worthwhile upgrade for anyone who has a Pixel Watch 1 or 2, as well as for those who have wanted to try the Pixel Watch but felt that it was lacking in some ways or missing the features they wanted to see. The wish list I had for the Google Pixel Watch is finally transforming into core features of the device. My day-to-day experience with the device has been much improved compared to the Pixel Watch 2, and I’m looking forward to seeing how my experience with the watch improves over time. There’s never any promise that time and software updates will improve a device, but the Pixel Watch 3 has been given a lot of love from Google, and I’m very happy with what we’ve been given so far. This smartwatch gets my recommendation.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Track everything and look good while doing it!

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I got my wife a pixel 8 pro last year and she loves it. Still a great phone, she wanted a watch but she didn’t want the last gen watch and we decided to wait for the new pixel watch 3. And glad we did because the pixel watch 3 not only pairs perfectly with the pixel phone It works very well and looks super nice at the same time. She opted for the smaller variant like most woman tend to do. She is about 5 foot tall and the 41mm fits her perfectly, tho Google now offers a larger version for men or woman who would like the bigger screen size. Display is super bright and clear @ up to 2k nits of brightness that auto dims when necessary. Battery life is great with medium use and brightness all the way up. Didn’t have to charge for 2+ days but just for testing, we charge our watches every night. Watch is great for swimming as well and will automatically protect itself when it detects the watch being submerged and will unlock when out of water as well. We swim a lot so that’s a great feature. All notifications show up as you expect and the watch like the pixel phone can assist you with spam calls as well. Kinda crazy how technology can do these types of things on a watch lol. My wife isn’t big into working out or training as she is a stay at home mom and we have 2 young children but we do go for walks and we work a manual labor job(cleaning business)together. She likes to track her steps, calories and definitely her sleep. The watch will give you accurate measurements of your activities and sleep. When she answers her phone with her watch, man I can hear her so clearly it’s amazing like she is on the phone. She usually has her hands full so this feature is great for her. We didn’t have any issues setting up the watch or updating anything. Even setting up Fitbit was simple and straightforward. There isn’t a pay wall anymore for the “premium” features which we all appreciate. Watch is comfortable but I will say that trying to get the bands on the watch was a bit of a pain. Not the end of the world but I had to watch a YT video just to learn how to get it on and I still couldn’t figure it out for like 10 min lol. Maybe it’s me of maybe the mechanism is over done. I’d say this watch is more so meant for folks that have pixel phones. I like to pair my phone to the watch so you know it’s going to work perfectly which this watch does. She is very happy and for the price it’s a fair deal for all the features you get. Just make sure to get a protective case for the watch imo. You don’t want to scratch it.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Fitbit integration
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Features are convenient and motivating

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Google Pixel Watch 3 is my very first smartwatch and it creates a symbiotic experience with my Pixel 9 phone. The 41mm watch is very customizable so it’s been fun trying out different watch faces to find what works best for me. This smartwatch offers a FitBit integration so it’s a great way to track and encourage daily physical activity. I’ve found this watch is convenient for many reasons like being able to use alarms, read incoming messages, accept calls, and much more. CUSTOM WATCH FACE AND TILES The watch face is very customizable, so whether you’re an active person or a techie, there’s bound to be a watch face that suits your needs. I’m a big techie and like using some of the active features so I like the “Digital Bold” watch face because it shows the time plus three custom “complications” to quickly see the date, add a note to Google Keep, and access alarms which I use a lot. I also just added a watch face that lets you cycle through 30 different photos. That watch face is super cute, but the picture has to be framed just right for you to enjoy the photos. It’s very nice to see photos of loved ones and pets throughout the day, it really does spark joy. Now I have to choose between the Photos watch face or the Digital Bold which is more interactive… hard choice because I like them both so much! When you swipe sideways, you’ll access different tiles which are customizable and you can add up to 15. There are tons of tile options so I like to have a variety like the weather, calendar, heart rate tracker, sleep tracker, steps tracker, and Google Assistant action “set a 5 minute timer”. If you use Google Assistant, you’ll be able to set up actions that you like the assistant to perform. There’s also maps and exercise quick start sessions, I personally use the “walk” one most mornings. WATCH APPS & CONTROLS - WhatsApp and SMS Messaging: There’s a dedicated WhatsApp app for the watch which lets you access conversations, write and send messages, look at incoming images, and listen to audio messages. I use this more than the SMS Messaging app, but I do get text messages so it’s great to be able to reply right on the watch, especially if it’s a quick reply. Yes, the keyboard is tiny, and sometimes it is hard to type out the intended word. I’m just glad it has a keyboard swipe feature and voice to text because this makes it much easier to type long or multiple words. - Camera: This smartwatch can act as a control and “external monitor” for your phone’s camera. It will allow you to zoom, flip the camera, switch from photo to video, and more. The only thing I wish it had was a 1 or 2 second delay on the photo capture because if I’m taking a group photo, I don’t want to be pressing the button in the photo. Small detail, but one that I noticed nonetheless. - Spotify: I use Spotify for music and podcasts. I like that the watch allows for the 15 second skip button on podcasts. The crown dial controls volume which is great to have quick access to if my phone is out of reach. - Libby: I use this app on my phone to listen to audiobooks. The smartwatch integration with Libby isn’t as robust as it is with Spotify. Firstly, there is no Libby app on the watch, I am only able to use media control with the watch, which allows me to pause/play but I don’t get access to the 15 minute skip button like on the phone app. - Gmail and Outlook: This is a quick way to check emails, but actions like deleting a message works differently on both apps, just like on a phone, there will be differences in user experience even though they are performing the same action. - Maps: There is maps integration, but I personally haven’t needed it on the watch. I can see it being useful if I need to walk somewhere and don’t want to carry my phone, but I live in a commuter city and I’m not often walking in unknown or far places. - Google Keep: I use Google Keep a lot on my phone and there is some integration with this app on the Pixel Watch 3. You can create new lists or notes and add a reminder to go with it, but I haven’t found a way to edit previous notes. I’d like this app to be more robust. FITBIT APP & INTEGRATION The FitBit app offers a lot of tracking that can be seen easily on a watch face. There is tracking for heart rate, steps taken, distance traveled, and even custom exercise modes where you can specify your activity (biking, walking, dancing, etc.) and it will tell you stats on your exercise session. I mentioned before that I use the “walk” exercise session often and I like it because I can see my distances and heart rate, both very important to me personally. Since there’s such a strong integration with FitBit, you can create many FitBit tiles that are specific to what you want to see. I like the sleep tracker because I get a much better idea of when I’m in REM, light sleep, deep sleep, or awake at night. I hope this will help me get a better sense of how I sleep so I can improve it. I find these trackers to be very interesting and motivating. BATTERY This is the 41mm version, so the battery lasts about 24 hours and charges pretty quickly. I know that the 45mm watch has a larger battery so if you’re looking for more battery life, maybe if you’re more active and will use the watch for more intense fitness sessions/tracking, the larger battery may be a better fit. I use my phone and now the watch a lot throughout the day and a 24 hour battery works well for me. I end up charging it while I shower or eat breakfast so it’s able to be used throughout the day as well as the nighttime for sleep tracking. HELPFUL WATCH FEATURES The phone finding feature is super convenient for those times I misplace my phone. I’ve also been pleasantly surprised at how many times I’ve used the flashlight on the watch. It’s so quick and convenient to have, especially at night if I need to see something but don’t want to turn on a super bright light. The media controls are great to access when listening to music and audiobooks. This watch allows for screenshots which is nice, but you have to accept the screenshot to your phone every time you take one. The watch also has an audio recording feature which is great for someone like me who sometimes needs to record audio notes on the fly. OVERALL I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I can actually do on this watch. I can accept calls right on the watch, meaning the audio and mic work directly on the watch. I don’t have to rely on my phone for every little thing - the watch can actually save me time. I love being able to silence my alarm every day, I know this sounds like such a small detail, but when the watch can give me even an extra minute of comfort or peace, it’s worth it. I didn’t know what all to expect from a smartwatch, but now that I have it, I will be using it every day.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Design
    Cons mentioned:
    Charging
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great Design

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Overall impressions of the Pixel Watch 3 are really good! The craftsmanship feels solid and the user experience is good. Having used Galaxy Watches in the past with Wear OS, I was surprised to see the skin/launcher on Pixel was different. I know that is the case with phones, but I had just assumed it wouldn’t be that way with the watches. It’s not totally different just a different flow than what I was used too. The design matches that of the new Pixel 9 series devices so if you are looking to match your wrist to your hand when holding your phone, Pixel has you covered. The watch band mechanism for attaching to the body of the watch is a little different as I am used to the tried and true push pin system. The Pixel’s locking mechanism is quite a bit more secure though so there is no chance of the band popping loose. It took a second to get it to slide in, but that was because the instructions included were backwards, or possibly meant for right hand wearing? My only gripe is with the charger setup. While it is magnetic, it is not wireless charging. There are 4 pins that must align to properly. The magnets will help in proper alignment, but to save you some time the charging cable must come out from under the Crown. When charging the watch does not sit flat on a table due to the watch attachment design. There are many options for phone and watch charging docks and stands. I already have the Pixel Stand 2, so I’m just getting a standalone dock, this will actually take up less space than just lying flat on a table and tidy things up a bit with the charger.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Design, Display

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Best heart health and sleep tracking device

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This device has the best sleep tracking and heart health tracking. The continuous heart rate monitoring is very helpful, especially if you worry about certain health conditions or even how much stress you are under. The ECG app is a huge plus as well. The screen is a delight to look at and has 2k nits of brightness for easy outdoor readability. The battery lasts 24 hours easily. Very nice and sleek look and feel to this watch. Well done Fitbit/Google!!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Improved Watch Over Previous Generations

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Google Pixel Watch 3 41mm is the clear-cut watch of choice if you own a Google Pixel phone. The seamless Google integration, fitness features from Fitbit, and sleek design makes it a perfect companion to your Android phone also. An area of improvement over earlier generations is the slimmer bezels which Google boast is 10% bigger than the earlier version of the Pixel Watch. Google went with the cutting-edge Actua display which is sharper and more vibrant while being more energy efficient than the earlier generations. The watch has full integration with Fitbit which can automatically detect workouts and activities. The watch does an excellent job figuring out what kind of activity you are currently doing such as running, biking, or weight training. One feature that finally works well on the Pixel Watch 3 is the ECG feature. Earlier versions were never able to reliably measure your heart rhythm using the sensor on the crown of the watch. Google appears to have fixed this with the Pixel Watch 3. Download the official Fitbit ECG app and touch the crown of the watch and it starts measuring. The earlier version would constantly error out while trying to measure your heart rhythm. The new Fitbit also includes a better health report where it measures your quality of sleep, your activity and gives you insight into how you sleep at night including your oxygen level. The 41mm Pixel Watch 3 is compatible with every accessory that was available on the Pixel Watch 2, including watch bands covers and chargers. Compared to earlier versions of the Pixel Watch, battery life is better than before. Earlier versions had a harder time keeping charge for a full day. Specs on the Google Pixel Watch 3 claim to have at least a minimum of all day battery life and up to 36 hours if using battery saver. Another observation is that the Google Pixel Watch 3 now charters faster than before. Although it is annoying that you must align the watch to the charging pins the trade off is that now it charges faster and keeps the watch cooler than the old-style magnetic charging. In addition, the Google Pixel Watch 3 is now fully integrated with Google Home allowing you to control your devices that are Google Home compatible. If you own a Google pixel phone buying this Google pixel watch 3 is a no brainer. There is a larger version of the Google pixel watch at 45mm however if you are on the smaller stature, the 41mm fits perfectly but there is a larger version that also comes with a larger screen and larger battery. Just note that watch bands from the 41mm will not work with the 45mm version.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great watch, even better paired with my Pixel 9

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    1st of all, the watch alone to me if you aren't using tracking or Fitbit things is a 5/5. If you are considering Fitbit activities, than it is a 4/5. I am moving on from my Fitbit Sense and replaced it with the more modern and powerful Pixel Watch 3. There are pros and cons but the pros massively outweigh the cons. In the box is the watch itself, top band and 2 bands with the notches for different size wrists, charger with USB C (no wall wort) and the usual literature. I will highly recommend you getting a case and face protector for the watch. Setup was easy and smooth connecting it to my Pixel 9 Pro XL. I did have a minor hiccup when trying to add my paid Fitbit account since the email addresses were different but eventually got it to work. Watch itself is buttery smooth with a beautiful and bright screen. The face itself is super customizable with the tiles. One thing you can do if using a Pixel is controlling the camera with the watch so you can view what the phone sees from the watch itself. The only downside to this is when taking a pic you will always have it with you grabbing your wrist because of the button pressing. Messaging is better on the Pixel vs my old Sense because you have a full keyboard and can send whatever you want as a reply vs presets. GPS works just like it does on you phone, but I don't really see a use for it while driving, BUT it would be handy on hikes and trails. Charging is very quick. In 33 minutes it went from a 29% battery to 95% and will last all day (24 hrs). The flashlight app that I thought was ridiculous until I was laying in bed, phone on charger and dropped my ChapStick. I didn't want to get up to turn the lights on so I turned the flashlight on and it's so bright it's like a night light and lights up a portion of the room. Pixel does drain my phones battery faster than my Sense but I also have a better connection to my phone with the pixel. My sense would disconnect a lot and I wouldn't always get my push notifications. Sense also had capability to add third party apps. So I did have a few games on my watch that I could randomly play when I'm bored and couldn't have my phone out at the moment. It was very easy to go into the Fitbit app, choose the game and sync it to my Fitbit. The pixel does have the Google play store app that list some apps that are downloading on your other devices, essential apps, and apps that are standalone watch apps but to search for a certain app you will be directed to open the Playstore on your phone. Then you just have to filter for watch apps. One app that I have not downloaded yet but have done a quick Google search on is the ECG app. The recording option on Pixel is great. When I am in a meeting that I want to make sure I don't miss anything and can reference back, I'm able to record on my watch. It also works great when you need to take a quick note when something comes to mind that you don't want to forget about later. It stores to the watch for easy playback. The pixel does have YouTube music but while already paying a premium subscription for the Fitbit to access all of the pixel functions, I don't want to have to pay for another subscription. Fitbit Pixel and sense both have ability to record (start and stop) workouts such as running, walking and cycling. Pixel will vibrate and pull up screen to give option to record workout once it detects your heart rate at a certain bpm. Sense did not do this and sometimes I would forget to start recording. Example was today when we walked at Trader's Village and the pixel picked up after 20 minutes of walking when my heart rate started to go up and it vibrated and showed the screen to start a recording of my workout/walk. While the Pixel has MOST of the features vs the Sense when it comes to Fitbit, it does NOT have 1 important feature that I use the most. That is snoring detection. You have to find another 3rd party app that is compatible for this. I simply do not understand why Google decided not to have this. Since I have sleep apnea, I like to view my snoring to try and see what happened that day/night that caused me to snore more or less. The more heavily I snore, the more moments I have that I wake up gasping for air. Google, if you are reading this, please please please bring back the ECG feature. Then it's back to 5/5 and worth the premium that I pay for. With all the features packed into this year's model, I do find myself loving the watch more and more daily.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Health tracking

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Good one

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    Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    "The Pixel Watch 3 is a great upgrade from its predecessor, with some notable improvements in performance and design. The watch feels premium with its sleek, curved design and robust build, making it comfortable for everyday use. The new Wear OS is smooth and responsive, offering a much-improved user experience, especially when it comes to navigating through apps and notifications. One of the standout features is the health tracking. Google has really stepped up with the inclusion of advanced sensors like SpO2 and ECG, making it a more comprehensive health tracker. Sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, and the new stress management tools work well and provide valuable insights. The Fitbit integration continues to shine, making fitness tracking seamless and accurate, especially with the added workout modes. Battery life has been slightly improved but still isn't groundbreaking. It gets through a full day of moderate use, but if you use GPS and health tracking features extensively, you may need to top it up by the evening. Wireless charging is convenient, though. The display is stunning, with rich colors and excellent brightness, making it easy to see even in bright outdoor conditions. Customization options for watch faces are fun, though the third-party app support remains somewhat limited compared to competitors like Apple Watch. In terms of ecosystem, if you're deep into the Google environment, the Pixel Watch 3 integrates perfectly with Google apps like Assistant, Maps, Calendar, and more. It’s fast, reliable, and convenient for quick tasks and notifications. Overall, the Pixel Watch 3 is a big step forward in terms of features and performance. However, battery life and app selection still have room for improvement. If you're looking for a stylish smartwatch with strong fitness tracking and excellent Google service integration, this is definitely a great option."

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 3 out of 5 stars

    Nothing really stands out

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Introduction Smart watches have been around long enough that it takes a lot to really differentiate between them. Going in I’ve had a Google pixel phone and pixel buds, but never the watch, so this would be my first experience with a Pixel watch. What comes in the box? Out of the box you get the watch, a total of 4 bands, inserts, and a USB-C charger. Minor wins A cool feature is that when you click on the camera icon on the watch, the camera on the phone turns on, and you can actually see what the lens sees on your watch. The resolution isn’t the best, but still a fun feature. Major wins Some of the stand out features include emergency SOS, emergency sharing, safety check, and medical ID. I like that they’ve included a lot of safety/emergency features. The emergency sharing feature is something that can be really beneficial is you have teens that drive, and can be used to notify parents of their kids safety and whereabouts, so a definite plus. Usage After pairing the watch to my Android phone, I did some everyday things to see how useful it would be. I got my text and email notifications as expected. There’s a feature in the pixel app to turn of vibration and ring when wearing the watch, and so I turned it on as it saves battery life on the phone. The watch itself has a great build quality to it and the screen seems very clear and crisp. The one trend I don’t like are the silicone straps that come with most if not all smart watches. It would have been nice if Google went in a different direction and included a silicone pair and a leather pair for different occasions. I don’t like the fit of the silicone straps at all. I couldn’t bear to wear them beyond 20 minutes at a time. The crown is responsive. The screen is bright and at max brightness, it’s actually pretty easy to see on a very bright day. For me though, there’s nothing really that stands out that separates it from the many other smart watches out there. The Fitbit app is just like any other fitness app I’ve seen/used in the past. The battery life is pretty good. I made it through about a day and a half before it needed to sit on it’s wireless charger. If Google wanted to make this watch really stand out, then it would have been hilarious if you could watch youtube videos on it. It would have been small, but paired with a pair of headphones, it would have been a nice way to watch/listen to something without needing to get the phone out. I don’t see any major engineering achievements with the pixel watch 3. Minor issues The packaging overall is pretty good. The one thing I noticed is that there wasn’t any type of covering on the watch face itself. I think adding a little cloth or foam or anything would have been better than nothing. Major issues The installation process includes a little too much. Beyond the legal jargon that you’re asked to read and agree to, there’s the separate Fitbit app that you have to update and set. I know that Google acquired Fitbit, so you would think that they could/would just incorporate the Fitbit aspects into the Pixel app itself instead of it being a 2nd app that you have to open. That was a poor engineering decision. I’ve had three other smart watches and I have never had so much to do during a watch installation. Primarily for People who have never owned a smart watch ever, or someone who hasn’t upgraded their smart watch in over 5-6 years. Probably not for People who like the top of the line with their tech. All in all It’s a nice watch, and it comes with an uncomfortable silicone strap. It has some nice features, but nothing that really makes you go “I have to have it!” If you’ve never owned a smart watch and have an android phone, then it’s worth a dive. If you have a smartwatch that you purchased in the past 4-5 years, I think you’ll be okay.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Fantastic Watch - Plus Everthing Else!

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    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Extremely useful watch. I’ve found that even the most minor functions of the watch to be tremendously useful. For example, the flashlight setting, which I wind up using every day, and now seems totally indispensable. That’s to say nothing of the major functions like heart and sleep monitoring, weather updates, and speech to text via phone. It’s a fantastic “watch.” Minor issue is the standard plastic band. I find it a bit hot and plan on swapping out for a leather band soon.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great for daily use

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    Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The Google Pixel Watch 3 is a great smartwatch that effortlessly combines style, functionality, and personalization. The sleep tracking feature is a game-changer for me. It provides detailed insights into my sleep patterns. It accurately tracks various exercises, monitors heart rate, and even offers coaching insights. The integration with Google apps and Google devices is impressive, I can view my google calendar, control my TV, and answer calls. Only down side is the battery life, I have to charge it daily but it charges fully charges within 15-20 min.

    I would recommend this to a friend

What experts are saying

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Rating 4.1 out of 5 stars with 13 reviews

The analysis of all aggregated expert reviews shows that the reviewers are positive about portability, comfort, performance and size. Editors are less positive about price and reliability and have mixed opinions about software. Using an algorithm based on product age, reviewers ratings history, popularity, product category expertise and other factors, this product gets an alaTest Expert Rating of 98/100 = Excellent quality.
  • TechRadarJacob Krol on August 13, 2024

    Hands on: Google Pixel Watch 3 review – a big redesign with a deeper focus on healthTwo sizes, same sleek build

    Full Review
  • GizmodoFlorence Ion on December 10, 2024

    Google Pixel Watch 3 Early ReviewThere's no need to go out and upgrade to the Pixel Watch 3 just yet unless you want a larger smartwatch this generation.

    Full Review
  • The VergeRating, 4 out of 5Victoria Song on September 10, 2024

    Google Pixel Watch 3 review: third time's the charmGoogle was incredibly late to the smartwatch game — and it showed with both the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 . The first was a fancy Fitbit plagued by poor battery life and a host of odd quirks. The second successfully put its whole focus on

    Full Review
  • Tom's GuideRating, 4.5 out of 5Kate Kozuch on August 13, 2024

    Google Pixel Watch 3 review: Third time's the charmEspecially for the larger 45mm model

    Full Review
  • WIREDRating, 4 out of 5Julian Chokkattu on September 9, 2024

    Google Pixel Watch 3 Review: Go Big or Go HomeIn the three years since Google decided to revamp Wear OS, the Pixel Watch 3 is the perfect example of how far things have come.

    Full Review
  • Android CentralRating, 4.5 out of 5October 23, 2024

    Google Pixel Watch 3 review: Our favorite smartwatchThe Google Pixel Watch 3 fixes most of the Watch 2's shortcomings with improved battery life and two enlarged displays. It's an AC staff favorite. The Google Pixel Watch 3 fixes most of the Watch 2's shortcomings with improved battery life, two

    Full Review
  • Android AuthorityKaitlyn Cimino on September 9, 2024

    The Google Pixel Watch 3 finally won me over: This is the best Wear OS watch you can buyGoogle's third generation smartwatch offers plenty of refinement. Find out more in this Google Pixel Watch 3 review.

    Full Review
  • ZDNetMatthew Miller on August 13, 2024

    Google Pixel Watch 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Which Android smartwatch is best for you?Both of these new Google Wear OS smartwatches offer a similar software experience, but Google's and Samsung's optimizations set them apart.

    Full Review