Google Pixel Watch 3 First Impressions: Two Sizes, Finally

It took two years, but Google has finally given the Pixel Watch 3 a second size to suit more wrists. Announced alongside the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL and 9 Pro Fold, the $349 Pixel Watch 3 now comes in a larger 45-millimeter version and the existing 41-millimeter size. The Android-only smartwatch also has a brighter screen than earlier Pixel Watches, new running features and plenty of AI-powered recommendations.

At a time when there are plenty of options if you're looking for an Android smartwatch, Google is trying to make the Pixel Watch 3 stand out by emphasizing its fitness and health tools. Like earlier Pixel Watches, all of your health and fitness data is surfaced in the Fitbit app, including a readiness score and new cardio load score (Google acquired Fitbit in 2021).

But the Pixel Watch 3 hasn't made significant strides when it comes to battery life, at least on paper. According to Google, it can last up to 24 hours with normal use, which is a far cry from other Wear OS watches like the One Plus 2R which goes several days between charges, or even the Galaxy Watch 7 which stretches just over 30 hours in my testing. Here's what else you need to know about the Pixel Watch 3.

Pixel Watch 3 has bigger, brighter screens

The case may have grown, but the bezels have shrunk. Google says the 41-millimeter version has 10% more screen than earlier versions and the screen brightness on both sizes reaches a maximum of 2,000 nits. That's the same as the Galaxy Watch 7 and Apple Watch Series 9, which are both easy to see in bright sunlight. 

The Pixel Watch 3's screen can also go down to 1 nit in dark environments, the same as Apple's most expensive watch, the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Pixel Watch 3 running and fitness features

Runners, in particular, are getting a lot of attention this time around from Google, because you can build your own workouts, add segments or intervals in the Fitbit app then send them straight to your watch. During workouts, the Pixel Watch will also give you real-time guidance on things like pace, so it can buzz or give you an audio alert if you are over or under the target. This is new to the Pixel Watch 3, but other smartwatches such as the Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch have had similar pace alerts for a while.

The Fitbit Readiness Score takes your sleep, activity and heart rate to give you a score out of 100. I've found this score particularly helpful in my time reviewing earlier Google wearables like the Fitbit Charge 6 as it helps determine if I should take it easy, or go do that workout. 

Previously you'd need a $10 monthly Fitbit Premium subscription to see this score, but it's now available to all users with a Pixel Watch 3. Google says it's been tweaked to be more accurate than before. 

There's also a cardio load rating, geared to more serious athletes. From my initial impressions, this is similar to what some other sports watches like those from Polar measure, by tracking your heart rate throughout the day and intensity during your workouts to show you how hard your heart is working. You can use it to see if you are under or over-training, and you'll get a target cardio load each day. 

Google also claims this is its most accurate watch for running yet, with new algorithms to improve heart rate readings. Note that it uses the same physical heart rate sensor as last year's Pixel Watch 2.

The Pixel Watch 3 will come with a 6-month trial of Fitbit Premium, then you can decide if you want to pay for the subscription moving forward. One reason why you might consider keeping a subscription after the trial is for extra features like customized run recommendations using AI. This takes cardio load, readiness score and past run data to give you advice on what to do each day, plus tips on form. I'm really interested to see how this works when I try it in person, to see if it's any different from what Premium already offers with customized workout recommendations.

Taking a leaf out of the Fitbit Charge 6 playbook, you'll be able to use the Pixel Watch 3 as a heart rate monitor and connect to gym equipment from brands like NordicTrack and Peloton.

If you wear your watch to bed, you'll now get a morning brief on the screen that summarizes your health and fitness stats or shows if anything is out of range. The Apple Watch will soon get an update in WatchOS 11 that similarly tracks vitals overnight and shows if metrics like wrist temperature, respiratory rate or resting heart rate are outside of your normal range.

The Pixel Watch 3 also supports a new Loss of Pulse detection that can sense when the wearer experiences a loss of pulse. If you don't respond to the prompt, it will automatically call emergency services with a voice message along with your location.  

Pixel Watch 3 smart features

Google is also bringing over some Pixel phone features, like Call Screen, to the Pixel Watch 3. It won't work with just any Android phone and you'll need to have the Pixel Watch 3 paired to a Pixel phone to use this, as well as the remote camera app to take night mode photos and astrophotography. 

Google isn't the only watchmaker with exclusive features that only work when using other Google products. Samsung also has exclusive Galaxy Watch 7 features that only work with Galaxy phones, such as sleep apnea detection.

Other tools include a live view from Nest Cams with two-way talk on your wrist, and the remote app can control a Google TV.

Watch this: Pixel Watch 3: Two Sizes, More Running Features

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Pixel Watch 3 battery life

Google claims the Pixel Watch 3 can last up to 24 hours with the always-on display and regular use, or 36 hours on a charge with battery saver mode. I'm intrigued to see if we actually reach those numbers. In my testing with the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra, didn't meet Samsung's battery life claims. These watches also run the latest version of Wear OS 5, just like the Pixel Watch 3.

The 45-millimeter watch has a larger capacity battery at 420mAh, compared to 306mAh on the smaller case size. One small detail that I'm excited about is the addition of UWB, or ultra-wideband to the Pixel Watch 3. This is for digital car keys, so you can unlock supported vehicles using the watch, but I am hoping it also helps boost findability in Google's Find My Device app.

Pixel Watch 3 price and availability

The small 41-millimeter Pixel Watch 3 comes in black, silver, gold or silver and is $349 for the Wi-Fi version or $449 for LTE. The larger 45-millimeter watch comes in three colors: black, silver or hazel, and it starts at $399 for the Wi-Fi model and $499 for LTE.

The Pixel Watch's main competitor, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, is at least $50 less expensive than Google's smartwatch. We'll have to wait and see how the Pixel Watch 3 performs in real-world testing, so stay tuned for our full review.