Pixel Watch 3: Has Google Finally Nailed Its Smartwatch?

Google Pixel Watch 3 Review: Finally, A Smartwatch Worthy of Google’s Name

Google was incredibly late to the smartwatch game. The Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 felt like afterthoughts, struggling with poor battery life and odd quirks. The first was essentially a fancy Fitbit with limited functionality, while the second focused on addressing these issues but still lacked a compelling edge. The Google Pixel Watch 3, however, finally feels like Google has stopped playing catch-up and is taking steps forward.

The Pixel Watch 3 boasts a plethora of refinements and expansions compared to its predecessors. While some updates are incremental tweaks, addressing previous issues and improving the user experience, others venture into new territory, including more advanced running features and deeper integration with Google’s ecosystem. While these individual updates might not seem groundbreaking, their combined impact creates a more polished and powerful smartwatch experience.

It’s the Little Things

The Pixel Watch 3 may look similar to its predecessors, but under the hood, Google has implemented significant changes that result in a noticeable improvement. The displays, for instance, are brighter at 2,000 nits and feature smaller bezels, making them easier to read in sunlight and allowing for more information to be displayed on the screen.

The introduction of a 45mm size addresses a major criticism of the previous models, offering a larger screen without sacrificing comfort. This size feels surprisingly small on the wrist, making it a viable option for even those with smaller wrists. The larger size also benefits from a 35 percent larger battery, extending runtime between charges.

Speaking of battery life, the Pixel Watch 3 finally feels like a 24-hour smartwatch. Although it still doesn’t offer multi-day battery life, the triple-down on battery life with Wear OS 5, the Actua display, and a new battery-saver mode significantly improves runtime. The much-needed automatic bedtime mode ensures minimal battery drain while you sleep, further enhancing the overall experience.

Smarter Health and Fitness

The Pixel Watch 3 leverages the full integration of Fitbit into Google’s ecosystem, creating a seamless health and fitness experience. Unlike the previous generation that felt like a confusing jumble of features, the Pixel Watch 3 delivers focused and user-friendly health tracking capabilities.

The watch now features a new running dashboard with form analysis metrics, AI-generated daily running workout suggestions, and custom running workouts. This represents a significant step forward for runners, offering insights and guidance beyond basic tracking.

The ability to create custom workouts directly on the watch face or through the phone app provides a welcome level of control. However, there are a few annoyances, like limited warmup and cooldown options and excessively detailed voice alerts. These are minor issues that could easily be addressed via software updates.

The new Cardio Load metric adds another layer of training insights, measuring your seven-day cardio intensity against previous weeks and providing a personalized target for optimal cardio fitness. It’s a helpful tool for beginners and seasoned athletes alike.

However, the Loss of Pulse feature, which calls emergency services if the watch can’t detect a pulse, is not yet available in the US. This industry-first feature requires regulatory clearance and, though not fully functional yet, demonstrates Google’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of smartwatch safety.

Better With Pixel

It’s undeniable that the Pixel Watch 3 works best with a Pixel phone, but the level of integration with Google’s ecosystem is impressive. The watch can automatically unlock Pixel phones thanks to the Ultra Wideband chip, double as a Google TV remote, and even provide offline Google Maps navigation.

The Recorder feature, which records calls and notes directly on the watch, seamlessly transcribes them and sends them to your Pixel phone, is particularly useful for journalists and anyone who needs to capture information quickly. The addition of the ability to tell callers you need a minute to answer, integrated with Call Assist, is a nice touch for those who value their time.

However, perhaps the most significant integration is the ability to control your Google-powered smart home directly from your wrist. Unlocking doors, turning lights on and off, and adjusting your thermostat is now effortless. The ability to view your Nest Doorbell feed on the watch is a game-changer, making communication with visitors more convenient and responsive.

These features, while Pixel-centric, showcase the potential of Google’s ambient computing vision, offering a glimpse of the future where smartwatches become integrated seamlessly into our everyday lives.

Agree to Continue: Google Pixel Watch 3

The Pixel Watch 3, like all smart devices, requires users to agree to a series of terms and conditions before use. These agreements, often lengthy and complex, are rarely read by users. Counting the number of mandatory agreements required to use a device helps assess the level of user control over their data and privacy.

To use the Pixel Watch 3:

• Five mandatory agreements must be accepted: terms of service and privacy policies for the paired Android phone, Fitbit, and Google’s Health Connect API.
• Numerous optional agreements related to features like Google Assistant, Google Wallet, Google Home, Gmail, Google Calendar, YouTube Music, LTE, Safety Signal, and Bluetooth, location, and financial services permissions.

The sheer number of agreements, both mandatory and optional, highlights the complex landscape of user data collection and sharing in the world of connected devices. While Google claims to keep Fitbit health data separate from its Google ads data, the sheer volume of agreements raises concerns about the level of user control over their information.

Conclusion

The Google Pixel Watch 3 represents a significant step forward for Google’s smartwatch offerings. The refinements and expansions on the hardware and software front result in a powerful and polished experience.

Although the Pixel Watch 3 works best with a Pixel phone, the level of integration with Google’s ecosystem demonstrates the promise of ambient computing, transforming the watch into a more useful and engaging companion. The health and fitness features, while beginner-friendly, are also effective for serious athletes.

While the Pixel Watch 3 may not be the perfect smartwatch, it’s a major improvement over its predecessors and a sign that Google is finally contending seriously in the smartwatch market. It’s exciting to see what the Pixel Watch 4 will offer as Google continues to refine and expand its wearable experience.

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