In with the brand new
The Google Pixel Watch 3 is an improve from the first-gen Google Pixel Watch although only a marginal one from the Google Pixel Watch 2. Nonetheless, for those who’re deciding between the primary and third generations, the newer mannequin is value your whereas, and price an improve, too.
For
- Larger dimension possibility
- Improved battery life
- Newer model of Wear OS
- Additional AI integration
- More sturdy design
- More display actual property, brighter display
Against
- Aluminum versus chrome steel
- More costly
Out with the outdated
Introduced in October 2022, the Google Pixel Watch was an incredible first smartwatch for the corporate. But it has been improved upon not as soon as however twice, with loads of options, capabilities, and value upgrades that make this one outdated and price upgrading from.
For
- Compatible with older variations of Android
- Made of chrome steel
Against
- Still fairly costly
- Only is available in one dimension
- Older model of Wear OS
- Battery drains shortly with always-on show
- Not as a lot display actual property, not as shiny
So, you’re searching for a brand new smartwatch. Maybe you’re contemplating upgrading your virtually two-year-old Google Pixel Watch. Or possibly, you are switching to the Pixel Watch from a Fitbit or one other smartwatch model altogether. This would possibly even be your very first smartwatch. If so, congratulations! You gained’t remorse the choice. If Google’s Pixel Watch line has caught your eye, the offers you would possibly have the ability to discover on the Google Pixel Watch might look attractive.
But when deciding between the Google Pixel Watch 3 vs. Pixel Watch, it’s clear which one it’s best to go together with. First, let’s dive into the variations and why, together with whether or not it’s best to take into account the improve for those who already personal the older mannequin.
Google Pixel Watch 3 vs. Pixel Watch: How they give the impression of being
The Google Pixel Watch 3, launched in August 2024 on the Made by Google occasion, is obtainable in 41mm or 45mm sizes with the identical spherical face which has change into the customized with Pixel Watches. The 41mm dimension is available in Polished Silver with a Porcelain Active or Rose Quartz band, Champagne Gold with a Hazel band, or Matte Black with an Obsidian band whereas the 45mm dimension is available in Matte Black/Obsidian, Polished Silver/Porcelain, or Matte Hazel/Hazel Active.
It’s made from aluminum versus chrome steel, an odd swap because the latter tends to be extra sturdy. In his preliminary hands-on, Android Central’s Andrew Myrick says he finds it to be “gentle as a feather” in comparison with different smartwatches in its class, even in the case of the bigger 45mm possibility. Speaking of which, he loves that possibility, which he says feels significantly better on his wrist than the “daintier” 41mm possibility. He additionally notices you could view 5 extra issues alongside the sting of the bigger 45mm display. The further display actual property additionally shows further exercise choices on the identical display, leading to much less scrolling and swiping.
Both sizes boast extra display actual property than the earlier technology Pixel Watch 2, which can be extra display actual property than the unique Pixel Watch. You get an Actua AMOLED LTPO always-on show affording 2,000 nits brightness and coated in customized 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5. There’s a facet button and haptic crown together with a built-in mic and speaker.
This smartwatch is supposed to maintain up with the pains of your day, assembly 5ATM and IP68 water- and dust-resistant scores. So go forward and bathe with it on, and even take a dip within the pool. (It’s a good suggestion to dry it off if you’re achieved).
Battery life is the massive differentiator right here when evaluating this mannequin to the unique Pixel Watch, at the very least primarily based on Google’s claims: Myrick was not but in a position to check this out in his preliminary hands-on however keep tuned for his full evaluation. For now, what we all know is that the Pixel Watch had an identical score for its battery life, however customers shortly discovered that utilizing the always-on show, which most individuals wish to have, considerably drains the battery.
In distinction, the Google Pixel Watch 3 improved on the battery life (as did the Pixel Watch 2). With that mentioned, it’s nonetheless solely as much as a rated 24 hours per cost with the always-on show, or 36 hours when utilizing Battery Saver mode. The saving grace is that the Watch recharges shortly, and Google claims it costs even sooner than the Pixel Watch 2: the 307mAh battery within the 41mm version can go from zero to full cost in an hour and the 45mm and its 420mAh battery in about 80 minutes.
It’s value noting that because the Pixel Watch 3 makes use of the identical band mechanism as the unique Pixel Watch, you’ll nonetheless have the ability to use further bands you acquire for those who already personal the latter.
The Google Pixel Watch seems related with the identical spherical face and an AMOLED display. In his evaluation, Myrick discovered the display to be vibrant and pleasing. Knowing how a lot Google has improved upon the display expertise with the Google Pixel Watch 3, you’ll discover it much more so. It has the identical facet button and rotating crown with haptic suggestions.
Available in Champagne Gold with Hazel Active band, Matte Black with Obsidian Band, Polished Silver with Chalk Active band, and Polished Silver with Charcoal Active band, you’ll solely get one 41mm dimension. So, for these with greater wrists or preferring bigger smartwatches, the bigger possibility with the Google Pixel Watch 3 can be a welcome alternative.
It has a scratch and splash-resistant display that meets the 5ATM score however not an IP68 score making it much less sturdy. This means it isn’t technically immune to mud or water depth however simply sure ranges of strain. You can nonetheless swim in shallow water and bathe with it on. But the Pixel Watch 3 provides an additional layer of sturdiness to the expertise. However, the unique Pixel Watch is made from recycled chrome steel as a substitute of aluminum.
The battery, as famous, is the massive distinction right here because the Google Pixel Watch is understood to empty shortly. If you despise having to cost your smartwatch a number of instances a day or personal the Google Pixel Watch and that is one among your greatest frustrations, it’s one which makes the improve value it.
With each, you may select from numerous screens to personalize the look, add issues, modify accent colours, and extra. Swiping, in the meantime, opens numerous Tiles so you may discover every thing the smartwatches have to supply.
The greatest promoting level right here that makes the Google Pixel Watch 3 the higher possibility is the truth that you may take pleasure in extra of the display actual property, get a greater, brighter display, and, arguably most significantly, battery life has improved.
Google Pixel Watch 3 vs. Pixel Watch: The specs
Let’s see how these two evaluate when it comes right down to specs.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Google Pixel Watch 3 | Google Pixel Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | Android 10.0 or larger | Android 8.0 or larger |
| Colors | Matte Black/Obsidian, Polished Silver/Porcelain, Champaigne Gold/Hazel, Polished Silver/Rose Quartz (41mm), Matte Black/Obsidian, Polished Silver/Porcelain, Matte Hazel/Hazel (45mm) | Champagne Gold/Hazel, Matte Black/Obsidian, Polished Silver/Chalk, Polished Silver/Charcoal |
| Material | Recycled Aluminum | Recycled Stainless Steel |
| Swappable Band | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | Up to 24 Hours | Up to 24 Hours (with out always-on show) |
| Battery Saver Mode | Yes | No |
| Global Positioning System | Built-in | Built-in |
| App | Fitbit, Google | Fitbit, Google |
| Heart Rate Monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Stress Tracking | Yes | No |
| Sleep Monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Swimproof | 5ATM, IP68 | 5ATM |
| Phone Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Blood Oxygen | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Pay | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Cellular | LTE LTE (non-compulsory) | LTE LTE (non-compulsory) |
| Screen Size | 1.27 inches (41mm), 1.46 inches (45mm) | 1.2 inches (41mm) |
| Screen Type | Actua AMOLED LTPO | AMOLED |
| Screen Resolution | 384 x 384 (41mm), 450 x 450 (45mm) | 450 x 450 (41mm) |
There’s so much the identical however so much completely different about these two smartwatches. When it comes right down to it, it’s all about what’s underneath the hood.
Google Pixel Watch 3 vs. Pixel Watch: Key options and capabilities
How do these two smartwatches evaluate when it comes right down to what they’ll do and observe?
The Google Pixel Watch 3 runs on WearOS 5.0 and tracks all the same old vitals, together with SpO2, coronary heart fee and ECG, EDA and pores and skin temperature, sleep, exercise, and extra. It can observe greater than 40 completely different workouts and even present readiness insights to let you understand if you find yourself at your finest for a exercise or if you want a relaxation day.
It has particular options for runners, together with customized runs that embrace warmup, cooldown, and pacing, real-time steering with audio and haptic cues, and efficiency insights. There’s additionally superior movement sensing to measure cadence, stride, vertical oscillation, and extra, additionally best for runners.
What units it other than even the Google Pixel Watch 2 is the inclusion of Google AI to research targets. That function requires a Fitbit Premium subscription, however the Watch comes with a six-month trial. You additionally get, it’s value noting, two years of information for the Watch from Google Fi Wireless.
Further, you get cardio load particulars and obtain every day targets primarily based in your baselines. A Morning Brief is delivered every morning if you get up offering a abstract of your sleep rating, readiness, and climate. The readiness rating is an enormous one right here since that was beforehand included underneath Fitbit Premium, however now you get the metric even and not using a subscription.
Along with working seamlessly with Google Pixel telephones (although you may put on the Watch with any Android cellphone), you need to use the Google Pixel Watch 3 to regulate a Pixel digicam. Myrick beloved this function, noting you could even use the watch as a viewfinder and swap amongst completely different digicam modes. You may entry Google TV, and even see a appropriate Nest Cam feed on its tiny display and converse to the particular person on the door or ship a canned response. The Watch has 32GB storage for apps, music, and extra and 2GB RAM, together with a built-in speaker and mic.
Additional options embrace AI name screening, and a sensible recorder that may report audio, put it aside to the app, and even analyze it utilizing AI so the recordings are searchable. From a security perspective, there are options like security verify, fall detection, security sign, emergency sharing, and medical ID.
With the unique Google Pixel Watch, you expectedly don’t get fairly as a lot, and positively no AI integration. Running the older Wear OS 3.5, it might probably observe loads of sports activities and actions. You don’t get any particular options for runners, however you may obtain favourite operating apps from the Google Play Store, like Runtastic, and entry these.
You can join Fitbit Premium with this smartwatch, too, which affords entry to options like a Readiness Score, diet info, entry to exercises, and extra. With each watches, it ought to be famous that Google is slowly transitioning from the devoted Fitbit app login to Google. So, when shopping for new, you’ll flip proper to logging in along with your Google account however nonetheless have the choice for Fitbit Premium.
The authentic Google Pixel Watch can observe many of the similar vitals as properly, together with SpO2, sleep, coronary heart fee, and ECG, nevertheless it doesn’t observe physique temperature. You get lots of the similar security options like emergency SOS and fall detection. But Google enhanced many of those options with the Google Pixel Watch 2 and three, so the choices are restricted with this authentic mannequin. You can, nevertheless, nonetheless management appropriate good house units and the Watch nonetheless seamlessly pairs with a Pixel cellphone and works with different branded Android telephones.
Google Pixel Watch 3 vs. Pixel Watch: Which must you purchase?
When it involves Google Pixel Watch 3 vs. Google Pixel Watch, the choice of which one to purchase is apparent: go together with the Google Pixel Watch 3. You get extra options, higher battery life, two dimension choices, and extra monitoring that runners will admire. It has the newer model of Google WearOS, can take pores and skin temperature readings as properly, and is extra sturdy with an IP68 score alongside the 5ATM. Plus, there are cool new usability options involving the mixing of AI, like display recording.
The greater choice is for those who ought to improve for those who already personal the Google Pixel Watch. The reply to that’s sure as properly. The large enchancment to battery life alone is value ditching that outdated watch and getting the brand new one, particularly when you’ve got discovered battery life to be a ache level.
Keep in thoughts that many upgrades had been already made to the Google Pixel Watch 2, so for those who’re searching for a contented medium, you may as well take into account that watch. Introduced in October 2023, it’s nonetheless a current mannequin within the line and could be accessible for a greater cope with the launch of the Google Pixel Watch 3.
The solely actual cause to go for the unique Google Pixel Watch at this level, or to keep it up for those who already personal one, is for those who’re operating an Android machine with an older OS that may’t be up to date to the brand new one. But if so, it’s advisable to improve your cellphone first earlier than you even take into account a smartwatch anyway.
If you aren’t fairly positive concerning the Google Pixel Watch 3, or wish to see the way it stacks as much as others, try our picks for the perfect Android smartwatches which embrace each the Google Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 (Pixel Watch 3 inclusion pending) together with a lot different choices from Fitbit, Garmin, Samsung, OnePlus, and extra.
Newer is healthier
It’s often the case that the newer model of a product is healthier. With the Google Pixel Watch 3, it’s significantly better. Two generations from the Google Pixel Watch, it’s time for an improve. You gained’t remorse it and also you’ll have the ability to leverage all of the cool AI goodies and extra options Google has added to this mannequin.
Time for an improve
If you could have the Google Pixel Watch and wish to stick inside this ecosystem, it’s time to improve to this new mannequin. If you’re shopping for new, don’t even take into account this older mannequin. Go proper to the Google Pixel Watch 3, or for those who discover an unimaginable deal, you gained’t be disillusioned with the Pixel Watch 2 both.
