Customers recognize significant improvements in the Pixel Watch 3's battery life and screen size, with many praising its ease of use and comfortable band. Positive feedback also highlights the watch's fitness tracking capabilities and responsiveness. However, some users expressed concerns about the speaker quality and the crown's design. A few also mentioned limitations in the customization options for watch faces.
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.
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Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Overall performance, Screen size
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
The Pixel Watch I've Been Waiting For...
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This is the Pixel Watch I think many of us have been waiting for! I’ll be honest, I had used the 1st generation of the Pixel Watch, and it had a lot of issues, but the Pixel Watch 3 largely solves nearly every issue I had with that one. First of all, once you unpack your new watch, be sure and fully charge it with the magnetic charger, and install any and all updates on the watch, as well as the watch app on your phone, plus possibly having to download the Fitbit app as well and get those set up.
Two watch bands come with the Pixel Watch 3, a standard length band, and a slightly longer band. I have very large wrists, and the larger of the bands just BARELY fit (first hole), but other bands are available, and more will be as time goes on. The bands slide on easily via a sideways slide into a groove. The magnetic charger has four pins you have to line up on the back of the watch for proper charging (I’d prefer a less proprietary method, but this works). You now have a choice of two watch sizes, 41 mm and 45 mm. This new 45 mm is MUCH nicer to wear, view, and use, giving you 40% more screen real estate compared to the older, smaller, models. The new “Actua” display has smaller bezels than previous models, and along with the larger screen comes a larger battery, so now (finally) you can get a full day of use without having to top the watch off (longer if you turn off the always-on display mode, or use power saving settings). The new screen is also much brighter, so easier to see outdoors and in the sun, but can also dim itself down to just 1 nit of brightness for such places as a movie theater, or when wearing at bedtime.
Navigation is easy, especially with the larger screen. Through a series of swipes, you can easily see your phone notifications, your Fitbit tiles/app features, and your watch settings. You can of course customize your watch faces and tweak them, or add more. The dial or “crown” allows for scrolling through the menus. It does stick out a bit as in past models though, and raising your hand in some ways depending on your hand, can push in on the crown accidentally.
Fitbit integration is the biggest part of this watch, and with it, you can monitor a ton of health aspects of your day. Running routines allow you to monitor your stride, heart rate, distance, with the ability to compare over time how you are improving. Cardio load and daily readiness give you insights to your day ahead, the ability to do an ECG helps you monitor heart health, and even workout videos, using the Fitbit Premium features. You can keep track of pretty much any workout activity using the Watch 3 – lifting, biking, hiking, running, I mean, if you can physically do it, you can pretty much track it with this watch, even sleep patterns. Note though, you only get Fitbit Premium for six months with the watch, and have to pay after, though some features are still available in basic mode. Blood oxygen can be measured, but only when monitoring in sleep mode, unfortunately, and not on-demand.
If you have certain Google TV devices, you can control that device with the watch after you update it. Have a Google Nest Camera? You can now view them and talk to someone through your watch. You are also now able to download maps for offline navigation, and Google assistant is available once activated. If you also have a Pixel phone, you can utilize the Pixel Watch 3 to control your phone’s camera, as well as call hold features. An updated audio recorder lets you record audio clips as well – I did find the mic slightly weak on this feature and have to talk in slighter higher than normal tones to get a clear recording, though. When testing calls through my Pixel phone in the watch, people have said I’m clear, though again, I do have to speak slightly louder than normal or hold the watch very close to my mouth for the audio to be heard really well by them. Notifications come in via my Pixel 9 Pro fine to the watch, and you can adjust the “ping” haptic to be stronger or softer per your preference. Should you opt for the LTE version of the watch, you’ll be able to use it independently of the phone, at the expense of some battery life. Mine is WiFi/Bluetooth only, though.
Ok, so the Pixel Watch version 3 is overall, vastly better than previous generations, especially in the new 45mm size. But I still have a few small gripes that I would like to see them work on. First, only getting 6 months of Fitbit Premium? You should get 1-2 years if you’re buying the watch, in my opinion. The mics could be a bit better (stronger). And the crown (dial) does still stick out a bit and feels a bit cheapish like all previous models, and can easily be pressed in if you bend your hand up in the right way; I’d like to see the dial slightly recessed or more in the side than sticking out as it does. Last, it would be convenient to have the blood oxygen reading on-demand, and not just in sleep mode.
Regardless, I do recommend the 45mm Pixel Watch 3, especially if you are able to pair it with a Pixel phone to get the best out of it. It’s finally the watch we’ve been waiting for! Thumbs-up.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This is the best Pixel watch to do date. Finally google comes out with a bigger size screen. The 45mm screen is PERFECT. This is an ideal size in my opinion, and I have smaller wrists. For anyone who might be hesitant to go bigger, don’t worry, you will be fine.
Thanks to the bigger screen, you get more visibility to your content that comes across the pixel watch screen. It also allows typing to be significantly easier if you choose to type instead of using google assistant to type out for you.
Battery life is fantastic here. I can get almost 3 days out of this. I am happy to finally have a pixel watch that can get more than 24 hours of use. This is not the only upgrade to battery life either, as the watch charges faster now as well with the proprietary charge google provides, which is very convenient for some last-minute charging before heading out somewhere. TIP: The cable/wire from the charging base will always be on the side of the crown. This will prevent you from fumbling around making sure you’re connecting it correctly.
Performance wise, you get a seamless, easy to use interface that is quick, snappy and a breeze to swipe through. You get your typical google/pixel integration as well as added benefits when utilizing the Fitbit app.
You can tell google focused on activity with the new Pixel Watch 3, not only with the battery life, but running features as well that is AI Powered. With Fitbit premium, you can utilize daily run recommendations that helps you hit your goals and target load. Google breaks down your balance activity into 3 sections, Cardio Load, which tracks your training and how much you are putting your heart through, Target Load, which is a personalized daily target to help balance recovery, reduce risk of injury and optimize your performance. Last, you have Readiness. Basically, this will tell you how ready you are to take on activity.
Fitbit really has a lot to offer to make the experience of active users even better. The only negative to all this is a lot of the Fitbit features do require a subscription. Google gives you a nice trial period to enjoy all these features however, I wish it was included if you are not only a pixel watch user but also a pixel phone user.
You have all your other health features, such as a heart rate, ecg, sleep score. You get a nice morning brief that summarizes your day before and prepares you for the day ahead.
The Pixel Watch 3 is an extremely clean, fluid, all around great watch for your wrist. It’s a wonderful companion to any android phone. I really love Google’s clean hardware look and software look compared to other brands. If you want to step up your health game, keep track of your activities and be sure to not miss any important information or notifications, this is a must buy for you. If you’re coming from previous pixel watches, this is a no brainer. Enjoy the bigger screen, better battery life and faster interactions, you will not regret it.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The 45mm watch size is amazing. You can finally read the fine print and this watch lets you adjust the font display size. You can also select a watch face and display colors. Adaptive brightness is still readable on a sunny day. There is also a minimum brightness if you are at the movies or in the dark.
Setup includes installing the Fitbit app. There is also a Fitbit premium option if you choose to subscribe (the first 6 months are free). Allow a few hours to tweak the watch to your specifications.
I paired my watch to a Pixel 9 phone. If you have a Pixel phone there are extra features like camera control.
You can swap bands fairly easily, but the directions are a little fuzzy. When you install the band, offset it a little to the left and then slide to the right. It is not as easy as the push button bands that other brands use. And the colors are so boring – pick some brighter options.
The battery capacity is 35% bigger on the 45mm and Google has added features to enhance battery life. Auto battery saver is auto-enabled and turns on at 15% and off when charged to 25%. My average battery life has been about 2 days with heavy use. Charging is fast – under 80 minutes for a full charge. I just wish that a wall adapter had been included, much more convenient for travel.
Auto Bedtime Mode enabled to detect when you fall asleep, for interruption free sleep. Morning Brief is enabled after 2 nights of sleep tracking and will notify you of your tracking within 30 minutes of waking up. The Pixel 3 can monitor irregular heart rhythms, ECG, high/low heart rates, etc…
You can customize your runs via the Fitbit app and save them or build a custom run on the Pixel Watch 3. There are many metrics like stride length and step cadence. Workouts can be easily controlled as well. My watch automatically detected that I was circuit training. Very convenient. You have options to pause/resume and change songs/volume while working out.
Call Assist screens spam calls. A nice feature is “ask to hold.” That allows you a little extra time to get to your phone or a quiet place. A message plays to the caller in the interim.
Other features include:
Google TV remote
Nest camera controls
Watch unlock for Pixel phones
Offline Maps
Camera app with Pixel phone
Audio Recorder app
Submersion detection
So many features, enhanced battery life and a gorgeous display – what’s not to love? My favorite watch.
Hey there, YudaP. We’re sorry to hear you’re having problems with the screen of the Pixel Watch 3. A factory reset will help resolve multiple issues that you may encounter on the watch — here’s how to do so:
1. Press and hold both the crown and side button for approximately 20 seconds. A dark screen with a 'G' logo will display, or a colorful 'G' logo on Pixel Watch 3. If the watch is off, press the crown briefly to power it on. 2. Upon seeing the 'G' logo, simultaneously tap the upper-left and lower-right edges of the watch face to enter 'Fastboot' mode. 3. Navigate by pressing the side button next to the crown to scroll downwards. 4. Select 'Recovery mode' by highlighting it and pressing the crown. The display will show 'No command.' 5. Activate a debug screen by pressing and holding the crown while swiping up on the screen simultaneously. 6. Scroll down to 'Wipe data or factory reset.' 7. Initiate the reset by swiping right, which will also reset your PIN. 8. Once the data wipe is complete, highlight 'Reboot system now' and swipe right or press the crown to restart the watch.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This watch is a big upgrade from my Versa 2. It's cute, comfy, customizable, and is a great everyday watch. It's great at tracking my steps and health, and I like how I can customize the screens. Love this watch! The only con is that I have to charge it daily, but it charges fast so that's not a big issue.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
With the side by side release of the Pixel 3 along with the Pixel 9, Google has made a strong bid to increase their market share in the highly competitive cell phone field. First and foremost, the new Actua display is stunning. The near bezel free design offers a generous screen, and it's crisp, clear, and more importantly, highly visible even in bright daylight.
The Pixel 3 is loaded with functionality; duplicating near all phone functions on your wrist. Make a call with a few touches, both the speaker & microphone quality are excellent. Photo functions can be controlled remotely with updated camera app (only available with Pixel Phone). Nest & Google Home control are also included.
The setup function was quick & easy. Press the crown for 5 seconds to turn on and fast pair initiates. Allow permissions on your phone and you're up & running. I initially thought I'd be overwhelmed with the functionality included in the P3, Google has done a great job designing the screen controls. Swiping up/down side to side brings you to clear menus. I found the navigation to be quite intuitive.
The obvious draw for many will be the included Fitbit subscription.Build a custom run, get real time guidance. see progress on a dashboard (including map), post run analysis, cardio load, and a plethora of auxiliary functions, all personally customized.
I found battery life to be quite good, for the first couple of days I used the "always on" screen mode; this can be modified with various battery save modes, including a wrist flick to turn on the screen. Battery charge time is 90 minutes from zero to full. I do use a charging stand for my phone, I would like to get one that includes a space for the watch as well. I see some on the market that claim they handle the P3, but given my experience with off brand charging equipment, I'd like to see Google offer an option other than the included magnetic USB C powered clip.
If you're a Pixel owner, the P3 is an outstanding companion for your phone. Day by day, as I become familiar with all the included functions, I find myself handling my phone a lot less when much of it has become available with a flick of my wrist.
Good hardware limited by FitBit/Health Integration
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Using this watch for the past week, I really do appreciate the increased size. The design of the watch is great with a round screen and thin form factor - it doesn't look like some bulky screen. The watch is easily visible both indoors and outdoors, and the interface is easy to use, syncing with the Pixel phone easily and quickly. The watch lasts over a day in my testing, and the different watch faces offer enough variation for anyone to enjoy.
And from there it falls apart in a few places, but mainly the issue lies with FitBit. The issue with FitBit is that there are multiple apps for FitBit - one for ECG, one for Exercise, Relax, and Today. I wish that it was all in one app, just with different tabs/modes? On the Pixel phone, there is only one FitBit app.
My second issue stems from a minor usability issue - the charging puck. The magnetic charging puck has pins that line up with the back of the watch, but it is orientation specific - the best way to describe this is that if you have the cable going out from the puck going out *the same side* as the watch crown, that is correct. Any other direction, and it won't charge. Other fitness watches out there are able to charge wirelessly without pins to avoid this issue.
My last issue is regarding watch band customization - while the watch bands look very sleek in terms of how they integrate into the watch, the mechanism restricts and limits the selection of bands that can be used to customize the look, potentially resulting in higher costs. These watch bands attach/disconnect by inserting at an angle while holding a button, then swiveling into place. In comparison, most other watches have a locking pin that slides in and out.
Overall, I think that the Pixel Watch 3 is a good *general* smartwatch, but is held back a little bit by the range of customization and slightly confusing interface.
Hi there. Thanks for sharing your experience with your Google Pixel Watch 3. We're always working to improve our services and products. Please share your feedback here: https://google.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2aStd8wsbcLGvwG
Pros mentioned:
Battery life
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Google is Finally Getting Serious
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
📦 UNBOXING:
Inside the box of the Pixel Watch 3, you’ll get a proprietary magnetic fast charger that terminates in USB-C, two watch bands to support different wrist sizes, and the Pixel Watch 3, itself.
Other than that, there’s some basic documentation to get started, but the Watch app will guide you through the setup process.
💪 BUILD:
The Pixel Watch 3 uses a Custom 3D Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5 for the display, recycled aluminum for the body, and Fluoroelastomer with soft-touch coating for the active watch band. It’s IP68 rated and supports 5 ATM which means it can endure water pressure equivalent to 50 meters, so it shouldn’t have any issues for swimmers.
You can wear the watch on either arm, and wear it such that the Haptic Crown and Side Button are on either the left or right side of the watch face—whatever meets your personal preference.
Overall, it feels quite durable, and the watch band feels comfortable to wear for long periods of time without any discomfort. Surprisingly, I even found that I could wear it to sleep without any discomfort.
⚙️ CONTROLS:
The controls on the Pixel Watch 3 are simple. You can swipe across the display for most navigation. You can hold the Haptic Crown to power off, restart or trigger emergency SOS. You can hold the Side Button to trigger the Google Assistant. You can double-click the Haptic Crown to open your Wallet and use tap-to-pay, or double-click the Side Button to open your last used app.
⌚ DISPLAY:
I love the 45 mm display on the Pixel Watch 3. It uses an AMOLED panel with a variable 1Hz to 60Hz refresh rate which is great for saving on battery and also delivering a responsive experience. Interactions on the touch screen are responsive, with low latency.
It reaches a peak brightness of 2000 nits for excellent outdoor visibility or for use as a flashlight in a pinch, while also reaching as low as 1 nit for dark environments where you don’t want your watch to be a distraction.
🔋 BATTERY:
The 45mm Pixel Watch 3 uses a 420mAh battery. Google claims they can achieve 24 hours of battery life when using the always-on display, and up to 36 hours with battery saver mode. Google also claims that using a 30W adapter, the fast-charger will take ~28 minutes to 50%, ~50 minutes to 80%, and ~80 minutes to 100%.
In my experience, battery life has been excellent on the Pixel Watch 3. I found that I could even wear the watch to sleep for sleep tracking, and then top up to 100% during my morning rituals. With more casual usage, you may be able to obtain 48 hours of usage, as I’m finding that I’m usually around 50-60% when I put it on the charger to top-up to 100%.
🏃HEALTH & FITNESS:
The Pixel Watch has integrations with Fitbit, and Google Fit. In my time with it, it seems a bit disjointed. There are separate phone apps for Fit and Fitbit, and there is overlap between the two apps. However, Fitbit’s app also provides Premium features through their Fitbit Premium subscription. You’ll get a 6 month trial included, and I was granted a number of Peloton classes and personalized workouts tailored to my preferences and activity. Between the two, the Fitbit app seems to be the one you’ll want to use because it’s available on both the watch and your phone, whereas Google Fit seems to only be available on the phone. I haven’t done any extensive testing, but the sensors seem to be accurate in their measured values when I compared to other devices.
ℹ️ OTHER:
Other notable features of the Pixel Watch are its ability to store data onboard its 32GB of eMMC storage. This means if you want to store music for workout activities, you should be able to connect Bluetooth headphones to the Pixel Watch 3 and listen without needing your phone. And you can also store offline maps with Google Maps. For me, both of these apps are especially useful on the watch when I want some music while getting cycling/walking directions.
However, I must complain that the software ecosystem isn’t inherently “robust”, as there were some apps which I use that have not yet received support for this version of Wear OS, so the watch faces and complications that I rely on are simply not there. Regardless of the reason, it simply creates a bad impression of the Wear OS ecosystem. I used quite a few Wear OS watches from 2015 to 2018, and while the hardware and performance has improved, it does feel as though there are still remnants of platform/ecosystem issues.
🧐 CONCLUSION:
Overall, the Pixel Watch 3 seems like a great step forward for the Pixel Watch series. It’s a good supplement to the Google Pixel ecosystem. The hardware is fantastic, and the software support is good but not amazing. With that said, the Pixel Watch 3 does get the basics right, and does a lot more on top of that. So if you’re a more casual watch user like I am, then I think it’s likely to be a good pick-up. But if you’re geared more towards fitness and being active, then there might be better options to investigate.
Larger, brighter and just better over all vs. PW 2
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Finally, Google gave us a larger size, which looks much better on most 7"inch and up wrists vs the 41mm.I upgraded from a PW 2, which was obviously the smaller 41mm version. If you have used a Pixel watch 1 or 2, this is basically identical, but 45mm. The 3 even has the same Snapdragon processor, which isn't a bad thing, but it would be nice if Google used the One Plus watch's dual power scheme, but I'm sure they had a good reason to stay with the Pixel Watch 2 processor. It's plenty speedy, moving through the menus with no lag, and the OS is smooth as you'd expect. The brightness is impressive, and I have no issues using it in the sun, at all. The Pixel Watch 2 was pretty bright, but when compared with the 3, the 3 is brighter and easy to see even under direct sunlight. Really appreciated screen upgrade, Google.
The OS is smooth and beautifully done, as is the 45mm size, although I would prefer a 47mm or even 51mm.I bought the black titanium band from the Google Store..it's very of high quality but is very expensive; it is a solid band option, however. I'm sure Google will stick with the 45mm for a few years as people expand their band collection. With the (Pixel) Android smoothness, the entire package really is great. The device feels (and is) fragile, and scratches under the most basic of scenarios, whereas a sapphire crystal simply does not. Hopefully the PW 4 is even larger and with a sapphire face. I just updated to a Nest thermostat and it looks just like the PW 3, which is to say, a beautiful design. However, this is a review for the PW 3, and I recognize what Google's long-term strategy looks and feels like...which is only achievable via their Pixel line. It's come a long way from the Samsung Nexus line, which featured "pure Google" Android, or AOSP. The Pixel OS is just that and doesn't have a bunch of duplicate and redundant apps versus the Google ones. That's the real benefit of the Pixel ecosystem, which I prefer over Samsung's lineup.
You really can't go wrong with the Pixel Watch 3 45mm size, which I'd argue looks great on women as well.. is then where the "how long is a piece of string?" debate begins; it's a subjective personal preference.
It's just as smooth and convenient to use as the Samsung, or Apple's watch. It's a solid product that I can easily recommend to anyone, except maybe outdoor enthusiasts or people in rugged outdoor environments.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I do like the larger size of the Google pixel watch 3, but still doesn't seem like a big enough upgrade over the watch 2 version. Other than the 4 mm size increase for the pixel watch 3, The Google watches still feels like its missing something to me.
My biggest complaint about the Pixel watches are the way there's no protection of the face or bezel, scares me to death I'm going to break the watch.
I did purchase replacement bands on Amazon to get rid of a snap closure band and use a standard holeand eyelet style band, for a more secure fit to keep the watch on my wrist. Everything about the watch performs and works well whether it's step recording, activity tracking, sleep tracking, swimming and other physical activity recorded on the watch. The larger 45 mm face display definitely makes this easier to read, especially out in the sunlight the brighter display is slightly noticeable over the previous gen to watch and is better to read also.
I wish Google would incorporate standard wireless charging with this watch, instead of the needed cable puck style magnetic charger which I absolutely can't stand.
Battery life with the Google pixel 3 watch is standard at best I normally get about a little over a days use before needing charging, usually I charge it every day so I don't risk running out of battery. A larger battery which would add some weight to the watch would definitely be accepted by myself the watch has a very light feel to it, almost like you're wearing nothing at all.
Pairing the watch to my new Google pixel 9 pro XL was very easy and painless it paired right away to the Pixel watch app as well as the Fitbit app. In my opinion this is a little nicer than the Google Pixel watch too since it has a larger display but I don't know if I consider it worthy of an upgrade over the watch 2.
The watch crown button and dial are nice features that serve their purpose, I don't find myself bumping the dial as much as I thought I would when moving my left wrist while wearing the watch. I would recommend this watch if you don't already have the Pixel 2 version but if you have the two the only reason I would recommend the watch 3 is for the larger display size and slightly better brightness over the watch 2.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Excellent battery life, great screen and charges fast. It'd be great if school ID's could be added to it but that's more a Transact and Wear OS issue overall.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Design
The Pixel Watch 3 retains the sleek, minimalist aesthetic of its predecessor, featuring a circular design with a bright, vibrant AMOLED display. The watch is comfortable to wear and comes in various color options, catering to different styles.
Performance
Powered by a more efficient chipset, the Pixel Watch 3 delivers smooth performance with faster app loading times. Navigation through the interface feels fluid, and most users report no significant lag.
Health and Fitness Features
Google has expanded its health tracking capabilities, adding more advanced metrics like blood oxygen levels and improved sleep tracking. The integration with Fitbit's ecosystem enhances fitness tracking, making it a solid choice for health-conscious users.
Battery Life
Battery life has improved, with many users noting that it easily lasts a full day with regular use. Fast charging is also a plus, allowing for quick top-ups during the day.
Software
Running on Wear OS, the Pixel Watch 3 offers a clean and intuitive interface. It seamlessly integrates with Google services, including Assistant, Maps, and Calendar. Regular updates from Google are expected to keep the software fresh.
Connectivity
The watch features both Wi-Fi and cellular options, providing flexibility for users who want to stay connected without their phone. Bluetooth connectivity is reliable, making it easy to pair with other devices.
Downsides
Some users have pointed out that while the health features are robust, they can feel overwhelming for those new to fitness tracking. Additionally, while battery life is better, it still may not meet the needs of heavy users who track multiple activities throughout the day.
Conclusion
Overall, the Pixel Watch 3 is a strong contender in the smartwatch market, especially for those invested in the Google ecosystem. Its combination of design, performance, and health features make it an attractive option, though some may find it slightly complex if they’re new to smartwatch technology.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Upgraded to this from the smaller OG Pixel watch. Size difference isn't that noticable as far as fit goes but you can definitely tell it's an increase in screen real estate and battery life. Can easily last 48 hours depending on usage. Charges from 0-100% in less than an hour. Could have a better chip set in the watch but it's a major step in the right direction.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I have been pleasantly surprised with the Pixel Watch 3 45mm. The big screen is bright and easy to read, and the software is smooth and responsive. I can go 2 full days on a single battery charge, and it only takes about an hour to charge from almost empty. Also, the Pixel Watch 3 has been rated in the top of its class for its health and fitness tracking capabilities.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
As a big fan of the Pixel line of phones, I think it’s time to give their smartwatch a try. It will be difficult to review since I have tried a certain South Korean competitor’s watch. Plus, I have liked the hardware design and form factor from them so I may have some bias.
The Watch 3 sees a new welcome change in that it is no longer limited to one size. A 45mm watch allows for a bigger battery which will translate to longer usage time. However, at most I can get about 1.5 days of use before needing to do a short and quick charge to last the rest of the day. There may be ways to make it last for two whole days but I have yet to figure it out.
The hardware design for the Watch 3 remains the same as the previous generation – featuring rounded edges throughout. But I found two drawbacks in keeping this design. First is that the watch bands are proprietary. And since the 45mm size is a new addition, finding compatible bands will be tricky at first. In all honesty, I do like the mechanism for replacing the bands. But because they are proprietary and non-standard, it limits what bands we can use. I felt that Google should have included an adapter so we can use common watch bands. It will definitely save us a lot of trouble in finding the right band that suits our aesthetic tastes. The second drawback is the rounded glass top. I always want to protect the screens of any device that is made of glass. And so due to how the glass top isn’t flat from edge to edge, it means there are no tempered glass screen protectors for the watch. And that’s a bit of a bummer. I have tried TPU film protectors before on other devices. And they felt terrible for me. Since then, I have never gone back.
The software experience is very different from what I have used before. And it is taking some time to get used to that. Bringing up the app drawer is done using the crown button. Swiping up from the bottom shows the watch notification. And swiping in either left or right cycles through your tiles.
With Fitbit integrated with the Watch 3, many health tracking features are tied with it. But it does not have to stay within it due to Google’s Health Connect that allows for health data to synchronize across different health app platforms. In addition to heart rate monitoring, there’s also ECG measurement to check for any abnormal heart rate. However, the methodology for that is not very intuitive. The on-screen prompt tells me to lightly touch the crown to begin its measurement but it never did anything. And I have tried repeatedly on and off during work hours to get this working. Only after I finally got home and had some spare time did I manage to get it to work. There needs to be a better way to do this process and I’m shocked that Google didn’t figure that out yet. Why not just turn it into a more hands-free approach with a countdown timer?
Overall, I have mixed feelings about the Pixel Watch 3. The larger size is welcome but the hardware design of being so rounded and curved is a drawback to me. The proprietary watch band design means you’re spending extra just to get a band that either uses that connection design or an adapter for traditional bands. The integration of Fitbit means those who are already using that platform can easily start using the watch without much hassle. But how well the Watch 3 and Fitbit handle on non-Google phones is outside of what I can test on.
Verdict: unless you’re a Fitbit user, pass
The Good: Wear OS as envisioned by Google, tight Fitbit integration
The Bad: ECG is cumbersome to figure out, proprietary band design, rounded glass top
The Ugly: Fumbling to get the charger to correctly align with the watch
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Google really knocked this watch out of the park, honestly. Hard to find faults here, as it has everything you'd need: Bright screen, awesome battery life, lightning fast charging, insanely accurate and helpful health metrics, seamless pixel integration and a premium fit and look.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Pros - Battery life definitely 40-48 hrs. Screen Size definitely what i wanted now it compares with the other brands. WearOS on pixel definitely simple and easy to understand. Watch band size definitely bigger and hugs the wrist better. Cons - the speaker could be better .
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Screen size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Finally Google!! Bigger watch and better battery
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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.
Finally a true Pixel Watch that I can use. I tried watch 1 and watch 2 but was not happy about the size and kept going back to my galaxy watch. This time they did it. The 45mm is an excellent size. I've been using the watch from 6:00 am to 8 or 9 pm and the battery is around 80%. I have the AOD off but have the tilt to wake and touch to wake on. I turned off the things I don't use and that's why I'm getting great battery life. If you use it with everything on still you get a very good battery life. Finally Google finally!!!!! 3rd time is the charm.
Google Please!!! on the watch 4 give us just better chipset and better glass maybe sapphire glass if the competition can do it and still make money you guys can do it too. For the price we paying we should get better tech.
Still very happy with the purchase don't regret it.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Best with Pixel phones, Great with all Androids
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Pixel Watch 3 45mm smartwatch is the perfect match for your Pixel Phone however, it is also a great companion with other Android phones. I paired the Pixel Watch 3 with my Pixel 9 Pro XL and Samsung S24 Ultra.
The box includes SmartWatch, charger, 3 wrist straps and setup guide. The setup was straightforward with both phones. Updating apps on your phone is necessary, and then you are prompted to update apps on the Pixel Watch. I had no issues installing apps on either phone. Very clear and crisp watch display. There are plenty of watch faces to choose.
The sound quality of the calls from the phone are clear-the recipient of the phone call could not tell that I was speaking on the smartwatch. Like the Pixel 9Pro XL, this smartwatch is equipped with Emergency SOS and Fall Alert. If you happen to be somewhere without cell service Emergency SOS can be activated with Pixel Watch 3.
Fall Alert activates if you happen to have a hard fall. Being a Senior, this is very important to me.
A 6 month trial of Fitbit Premium is included with the Pixel Watch 3. It was simple to setup. I have the Fitbit app already installed on my phones which transfered to the Pixel during setup. When I opened the app I simply removed my Fitbit Inspire and replaced it with the Pixel Watch 3. All previous data was transfered. Fitbit Premium is AI generated, you can plan your daily workouts and get health information like sleep and stress scores or your heartrate. Fitbit Premium monitors my sleep and also informed me how many breaths that I missed. (sleep apnea)
The phone battery last a little over 24hrs.
Overall this watch has so many features that will work with any Android phone. Highly recommend.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I originally was not going to upgrade from my Pixel Watch 2, but thanks to a generous trade-in offer and Best Buy Rewards, I decided to give it a whirl. So far, I'm happy I did. The biggest benefits so far are the much larger screen on the 45mm version and better battery life. You are still unlikely to get more than 1.5 days between charges, unless you turn off all of the features like the tilt to wake and always on display, but it is improved. Otherwise performance is just as good as the previous version. Some of the new integrated Fitbit features are nice and I'm appreciating being able to track my daily cardio load. Personally, I love the design/style. I think it looks so much better than the boxy look of other smart watches. I would definitely recommend looking into the PW3 for anyone in the market for a smart watch.