The Pixel Watch 3 is Google’s latest entrant into the smartwatch market. This marks a significant step forward for Google’s wearables ambitions. For the first time, the watch is available in two sizes: the familiar 41mm (review variant) of its predecessors and a new 45mm option. Designed for seamless integration with the Google ecosystem, the latest Pixel Watch 3 comes with design, display, performance, and health tracking features.
Design and Control
The Pixel Watch 3 looks simple and elegant, continuing the beautiful design language. The smooth curves and lightweight aluminum case feel comfortable on the wrist while maintaining a good look. You can choose from four color variants: Matte Black Aluminum Case with Obsidian Active Band, Polished Silver Aluminum Case with Porcelain or Rose Quartz Active Bands, and Champagne Gold Aluminum Case with Hazel Active Band. The band is made of fluoroelastomer with a soft touch coating, ensuring comfort and durability.
Control Pixel Watch 3 | Photo Credit: Haider Ali Khan
One of the most important features in the user experience is simplified navigation. You no longer need to press the crown to access the app library; simply swiping left or right on the watch face will open a box for important information like step count, weather updates, messages, or workouts. These intuitive gesture-based controls increase the usability of the watch, making it easy to access what you need without extra steps.
Display
The Pixel Watch 3 features a 1.4-inch display, slightly larger than the Pixel Watch 2, due to the reduced bezel size. This results in a more usable screen area, allowing users to see more notifications, messages, and other content with less distraction. The 41mm version includes a 320 ppi LTPO AMOLED display with DCI-P3 color support, providing vibrant and sharp visuals.
With a peak brightness of up to 2,000 nits, the screen remains easy to read even in bright sunlight, while the always-on display (AOD) mode ensures information is always available. Whether you’re looking at the time or checking notifications, touch points are more accessible and responsive, providing a smooth and enjoyable user experience.
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Software
The Pixel Watch 3 runs the latest Wear OS 5.0, which pairs well with Google’s One UI, offering a smooth and customizable interface. Deep integration with Google services like Maps, Assistant, and Google Pay enhances the overall experience, making it the perfect companion for Android users. It’s compatible with most phones running Android 10 or later, though the experience is smoothest when paired with Pixel phones.
Performance and Hardware
The latest Pixel Watch 3 is powered by a Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chipset, coupled with a Cortex-M33 co-processor. This combination ensures fast performance and energy efficiency, allowing users to multitask seamlessly between applications and features. With 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, there’s plenty of room to store apps, music, and data.
The connectivity suite is strong, featuring Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, Ultra-Wideband, and GPS capabilities. GPS is powered by support for multiple satellite systems like Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, and QZSS, ensuring accurate location tracking for outdoor activities such as running and hiking. However, the LTE variant is not available.
Health and Fitness tracking
Health tracking has always been a strong point of the Pixel Watch series, and the Pixel Watch 3 takes it a step further with expanded sensors. These include a compass, altimeter, multi-path optical heart rate sensor, ECG-compatible electrical sensor, SpO2 monitoring, and skin temperature sensor. New to this model is the addition of a cEDA (continuous electrodermal activity) sensor, which helps track the body’s response to stress.
Pixel Watch 3 | Photo Credit: Haider Ali Khan
Google Fit remains central to the health experience, offering detailed data on everything from heart rate to oxygen saturation. Built-in apps track a variety of activities, from workouts to sleep patterns, providing insights to improve overall health. However, while automatic exercise detection has improved, it can occasionally misidentify activity.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life on the Pixel Watch 3 is solid, especially given its advanced features and always-on display. The 41mm model includes a 307 mAh battery that offers up to 24 hours of life with AOD on, up to 36 hours in Battery Saver mode. Fast charging ensures that even when the battery is low, you can quickly charge it up to 50% in just 24 minutes and fully charge in about an hour. This fast charging capability makes the Pixel Watch 3 convenient for those on the go.
Verdict
Pixel Watch 3 offers refinements from its predecessor, offering a more polished and capable smartwatch experience. While it may not offer as many special features as some of its competitors, its simplicity, elegance, and deep integration with the Google ecosystem make it a great choice for those looking for an everyday smartwatch. Whether you’re upgrading from the previous Pixel Watch or considering moving into the Pixel ecosystem, the Pixel Watch 3 is the perfect choice. It starts from ₹39,900 (41mm).
Published – 26 September 2024 07:00 IST
