detailedReviews: detailedReviews 1: content: Keen to compete in the flagship, premium smartphone space, Google’s Pixel Watch line of devices have been a common sight among tech enthusiasts who are ingrained in the Android ecosystem. The Pixel Watch 3 is the latest evolution of the device line, packing better specs each year, but as a first-time user, can it convert this smartwatch skeptic?
Yes, yes it can.
- Unboxing and Setup
Opening the Pixel Watch 3 isn’t quite as elegant an affair as some other Pixel devices, but with the smartwatch itself and choice of two sets of bands depending on your wrist circumference, you have just about everything you need to get started. As you might expect, there’s little in the way of documentation in the package and most setup occurs on the device’s screen and on your compatible Android device.
Snapping the bands into the Pixel Watch is straightforward, using two spring-loaded clips to hold the bands securely in place. They gave some strong resistance at first but once you get the positioning right the bands snap-in with ease. The crown can be oriented in either direction, for use on either hand with your preferred position. Once powered on, the Pixel Watch pairs to your Android phone and setup completes on your smartphone.
- Features and Apps
The Pixel Watch 3 has its own OS specific to the smartwatch, so that it can function in a limited capacity even when your smartphone is out of range. This round-screen-optimized, lightweight OS is plenty speedy (once the watch boots up) and relatively easy to navigate. There’s a bit of a learning curve to operating the touch-driven display with the crown dial and button alongside, but after a day acclimating it was easy and natural to scroll, select, and swipe along.
What the Pixel Watch offers is effectively an enhanced notification center and an external screen for compatible apps. The watch can be set to vibrate or make a sound with each phone notification, and notification data (such as message content, email bodies, and reminders) comes through with a surprising amount of readability and detail. Responding to these can be done via speech-to-text right on the watch, or a small but decently useable on-screen keyboard or numpad can enter short messages.
One of the handiest features from the default apps was integration with Google Maps for navigating the center of a city without the need to pull my phone out. Instructions were relayed onto the watch face with vibrations for each turn or next direction, and a copy of the map can be displayed on the watch in realtime to show the route. Very neat!
There are more apps available from the Google Play store to enhance functionality of the Pixel Watch 3. Quite a few of the apps I use have Watch OS equivalents, which was useful for remotely controlling Spotify and similar streaming apps. Not all will make the most sense or be particularly useful if the app developer hasn’t taken integration into its fullest account; for example, my banking app simply displayed account balances on the watch instead of allowing tap-to-pay through the NFC-enabled watch - Google Wallet is compatible, but none of my cards were eligible to enroll in tap-to-pay at the time of this review.
- Fitbit
Google’s ownership of Fitbit means health and wellness features come to the forefront. I would argue it’s one of the best integrations I’ve seen; even with just basic heart rate tracking on the watch, combined data from the phone and watch provide just as much activity tracking information as a dedicated Fitbit wristband would. I hadn’t used a personal fitness device before so this was a new experience for me.
The Pixel Watch 3 tracks your activity through the day and can remind you to get up and move every hour. It can track estimated total steps, distance walked/ran/biked, and flights of stairs ascended, all calculating how many calories were burned and providing recommendations for healthier living. These can all be tracked and displayed on the watch without integrating into the Fitbit app from the Google Play store if you prefer - though you will not have daily logging to compare against.
I found the Fitbit features worked well and revealed just how few steps I get in a day working from an office…oops! The tracking information can be hidden by changing the watch face (of which about a dozen types are included, more can be added from the Play Store) that doesn’t have the info displayed.
- Comfort and Battery
With the two pairs of silicone wristbands included, the Pixel Watch 3 should fit the majority of buyers. These silicone bands are decently comfortable on the wrist, perhaps tugging slightly in a way that could bother some, but being able to use a looser fit made me less cognizant that there was something on my wrist than other watches might. Certainly the weight of the watch is noticeable more than some others - if you prefer a lighter watch you may want to consider the 41mm size model of the Pixel Watch 3 over the 45mm.
Battery life on the smartwatch is quite good, at minimum matching and at times besting the nearly two-day charge I get out of my Pixel 9 Pro. Charging is extremely rapid - not even 20 minutes on the included charger and I went from a dead watch to just about full on a basic USB-C charger using the included magnetic charging cable. Unfortunately the Pixel Watch 3 does not support wireless charging, and the cable is specific to the Pixel Watch line; this is perhaps my only major criticism of the device and certainly not one worth knocking points off for, given how tightly and smartly packaged this smartwatch is otherwise.
- Bottom Line
Smartwatches aren’t for everybody, but the Pixel Watch 3 does an excellent job being an all-in-one device that can reduce your phone-checking habits. I’m not usually one to wear anything on my wrists, but the Pixel Watch 3 has proven itself a very handy accessory alongside a flagship Android phone. The convenience of having notifications and actionable items sent to my wrist helped keep my focus up at work where I would normally pull out my phone and get distracted, and I can already see that the fitness tracking will help get me in gear to live a bit healthier overall with the reminders and goals it sets. Recommended!
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: Keen to compete in the flagship, premium smartphone...
detailedReviews 2: content: 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.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: I do like the larger size of the...
detailedReviews 3: content: 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.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: As an owner of the OG Pixel Watch...
detailedReviews 4: content: I've owned the original Google Pixel watch since it was released and have decided it was time for an upgrade. One of the reasons I got a Pixel watch was because of the size, I have small wrists and many other smart watches looked too big on me. I know many were put off by a smaller size so was glad Google released this in 2 sizes to suit more people.
What did surprise me was that it seems bigger due to the reduced bezel which gives 10% more screen area, this was noticeably different to me, and being able to have a bigger font helps my ageing eyes. There is a difference in how long the battery lasts, the original watch would last me just over 24 hours, i am charging the Pixel Watch 3 every evening as this is convenient for me but I now have around 50% battery left, I have the screen set to touch-to-wake as I personally do not like the always-on-screen. The charger is different with pins to help connect with faster charging times and a notification to my Pixel phone when the watch is charged.
The reason I have a smart watch is to track my workouts, I mainly do spinning and strength workouts. There seems to be more metrics that can be monitored for runners, I would like this to be available for other activities such as spinning. I do like to monitor my heart rate in real time during a workout which the Pixel Watch 3 does well.
And this is where I do have to highlight some of the downsides for me, as I feel the Pixel watches are aimed more for tracking workouts, an extension from the Fitbit devices. I would like to be able to personalised the Pixel Watch more, such as increased control over notifications for different apps which was what I was hoping for in the Pixel watch 3. I do not have the LTE variant due to the lack of decent contracts for this, I would use more of the smart features.
I do think it was worth upgrading to the Pixel watch 3, the screen is brighter and clearer, has a better battery life and faster to charge. I need to spend more time to see the software updates but I am enjoying using the Google Pixel Watch 3.
The picture is the original Google Pixel watch on the left and the Google Pixel Watch 3 on the right.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: I've owned the original Google Pixel watch since...
detailedReviews 5: content: I am a longtime Fitbit user, so I was quite pleasantly surprised when my new Google Pixel 3 45 mm smartwatch integrated smoothly and perfectly into the Fitbit app. It also integrates beautifully with my Pixel phone but should work very well with any Android phone.
The Pixel 3 has an attractive circular watch face and has a very comfortable band which is rather challenging to attach to the watch but is very secure once attached. On my arm, the watch feels heavy but but not intolerably so. The display is both pretty and easy to read with very good resolution.
The Pixel 3 does all the things that you would expect from a good Fitbit or any other smartwatch, but it seems to do them perhaps a bit better. For example, I noticed while wearing my Fitbit and Pixel (on separate arms - BTW you cannot have both connected to the Fitbit app at the same time.) that the Pixel counted my steps lower than the Fitbit. Later, I conducted a step count test on the Pixel wherein I would count off 100 steps and check the Pixel count. I did that a couple of times for both automatic stride length and the measured stride length. In each test, the Pixel count was within 7 steps over (usually more like 4) the actual count - quite a bit more accurate than any Fitbit that I have owned but very similar to another smartwatch that I once owned. It automatically detects the start of a sleep cycle as well as the start of many athletic activities (afraid I did not try more than two but it worked well for both).
I tried to use as many of the tiles and apps that are made so easily available by Google but I guess I am set enough in my ways that I only actively use a few of them. Apps are presented upon a screen accessed by a press of the watch stem when the selected face is displayed and you select from among them by scrolling up or down. Tiles are accessed by scrolling from the right.
The battery life at about 2.5 days without GPS enabled on this 45 mm Pixel watch 3 is quite improved over earlier android watches but not yet quite close enough to the Fitbit standard 7 days - a little more room for improvement. However, this Pixel 3 watch charges much faster than any other watch that I have owned.
Overall, I highly recommend this Pixel 3 45 mm.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: I am a longtime Fitbit user, so I...
detailedReviews 6: content: After several false starts with smart watches, I begin using an Apple Watch two or three years ago, mostly for its fitness features. I found the notification features useful but many of the more advanced features somewhat impractical. Years ago I had bought and returned or gave away where or Samsung watches as well as Fitbits. I typically have an android phone as my secondary phone and recently have secured the excellent Google pixel nine pro.
This new smart watch is an excellent match and has several features that are similar or significantly better than the Apple Watch Ultra which it is replacing. The size display and Weight are excellent. The Band is excellent. The interaction with the phone and watch apps is fairly intuitive, especially when compared to the alternative. The battery life is good and the charger is superior with some prongs in addition to the magnet holding it in place. My Apple Watch sometimes disconnect from the charger with minimal motion. They fit advanced features are included with a limited subscription and have several advanced features for runners as well as intuitive and well displayed cardio load, readiness and target information.
Other features which support the google ecosystem, including nest, cam controls, improved home control ultra wide man unlocked and a very nice camera app are available. The integration with Spotify and major email apps is also excellent. Navigation including offline Google maps is excellent. Safety and medical features are also in seem to work well.
I have paid for an LTE version for the last couple of years and have not found it very useful other than an occasional phone call when my phone was away even with good Bluetooth or LTE using the internal speaker on a smart watch much to be desired.
Overall, I am glad that Google has finally produced a, attractive and useful smart watch.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: After several false starts with smart watches, I...
detailedReviews 7: content: 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.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 5
title: The Google Pixel Watch 3 is the latest...
detailedReviews 8: content: I have been enjoying my Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm) now for around 8 months, and I can say for me it has served its purposes. This was my first smart watch and I wanted it to keep track of my heart rate, steps and sleep, and I think it does a decent enough job. I have small wrists as a guy, which led me to getting this one vs the bigger model, and on that front I have had no complaints nor regrets with the watch. I have a Google Pixel 9 XL as my phone, which getting this watch to work along has been simple as it has been all in the same tech ecosystem.
Heart rate I would say is the best tracker of the 3 and has helped me to keep track of if I slack off on working out or my diet isn't the best then for me personally I can see that reflected in the heart rate (higher when resting). So for that alone it has been great.
Sleep has been okay as a tracker. I am not sure if there is a sensor issue or app issue with Fitbit when attempting to track sleep, however some nights it won't properly record my sleep and categorize it as light, REM, deep sleep etc. and just say "asleep" which doesn't provide as much useful information. I won't ding points off the review for what could possibly be an app issue, but an issue none the less.
Steps has been good. When walking, running, general work outs it does a great job. I have noticed however when I am walking around the grocery store that because my hands are on the shopping cart, my watch doesn't pick up my steps so there's that.
Finally my biggest gripe with the watch is the charger. I can not stand the proprietary charger that comes with this thing. At first it was just a minor inconvenience, but now I have noticed that I have to jiggle it around prior to my watch establishing a proper connection. If I don't verify that it has made the connection, then although it is "connected" it will not charge, which has been frustrating. I am not sure of other smart watches, however if possible a standard USB C port would have been great for this watch.
Overall I think the Pixel Watch 3 is a great watch as long as you are already within the Google environment. Especially with the price I paid (smaller version plus open box) made it a steal for me. Look for deals on this watch and I think it's worth it. Otherwise if you are in the Apple ecosystem or looking for more precise trackers in certain areas, then look elsewhere. As a general use Smart Watch though, I would recommend this watch.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: I have been enjoying my Google Pixel Watch...
detailedReviews 9: content: 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.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 4
title: This is the Pixel Watch I think many...
detailedReviews 10: content: 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.
marketplace: google
source: google
sourceLogo: https://i.flash.tech/a/rs:fill:300:400:0/g:sm/plain/s3://flash-creatives/images/merchants/google
starRating: 3
title: Using this watch for the past week, I...
