I tried on the new large Pixel Watch 3 and it's stunning — just beware of this one thing (2024)

The Pixel Watch 3 proves that Google has been listening to at least some of the feedback users have been voicing about the last-generation Pixel Watch. Many Pixel Watch fans have been begging for a larger model. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 has a 44mm case size and the Apple Watch Series 9 has a 45mm case size, so why can't the Pixel Watch series offer a larger model, too?

For the first time ever, the Pixel Watch series has two models: the traditional 41mm size and a new, larger 45mm. At a recent Google press event, I got a chance to play around with the Pixel Watch 3, including the 45mm size. What are my thoughts? Allow me to delve into them.

Pixel Watch 3: My first impressions

I'm aware of the wishlist that Pixel Watch fans wanted from the Pixel Watch 3. In addition to a larger screen, users crossed their fingers for longer battery life, enhanced fitness tracking, a more fortified display, and more. I'll address each of these and discuss whether Google has improved them, but first, let's talk about the new 45mm Pixel Watch.

The new larger 45mm Pixel Watch 3

Personally, I have small wrists, so if I had a choice between the 41mm and 45mm case sizes, I'd go for the former. The 41mm case size is more than enough for me.

Despite its compact size, the 41mm provided a display that was impressively easy to read without straining my eyes. I zipped and scrolled through numerous icons and swiped through some apps, and the screen was highly visible no matter what I did. This may have something to do with the fact that Google has shrunken the bezels. The Pixel Watch 3 has a 10 percent gen-over-gen reduction (for the 45mm size, it's 16 percent).

Although I was standing in a brightly lit room with sunlight pouring in, the smartwatch screen was still remarkably clear, thanks to being two times brighter than the Pixel Watch 2 (up to 2,000 nits of brightness). Also, I know some users were hoping for a stronger panel, but the Pixel Watch 3 still has the same Gorilla Glass 5 screen as its predecessor.

The 45mm Pixel Watch 3 is too large for my tastes, but it's still a visual stunner.

Interestingly, for Mashable's Alex Perry, the 45mm was perfect for his more rotund wrist (though, as I'll explain later, a stretchier band would be best for him).

Pixel Watch 3 battery life

We asked a Google rep whether battery life has improved for the Pixel Watch 3. After all, we noticed that better power efficiency is on the wishlists of many Pixel Watch users. Unfortunately, the Pixel Watch 3 is rated for the same runtime as its predecessor: 24 hours with always-on display and up to 36 hours with Battery Saver mode.

If there's any consolation, there may be a chance to squeeze just a little more battery life with the Pixel Watch 3's dynamic refresh rate, which adjusts from anywhere between 1Hz to 60Hz, depending on your task. There are two positives to this feature:

1. Scrolling and swiping through the apps is as smooth as butter. The Pixel Watch 2 had a 30Hz refresh rate, so this upgrade is welcomed for a more seamless, zippier experience.

2. Dynamic refresh rate typically benefits battery life. This is because it's not constantly refreshing at the same max refresh rate, which reduces energy consumption. This may give the Pixel Watch 3 a slight edge over the Pixel Watch 2 in terms of power efficiency (or maybe that's just wishful thinking), but we'll have to review it to know for sure.

In the end, however, I wouldn't expect a wildly significant gen-over-gen jump in runtime for the Pixel Watch 3.

New workout and health tracking features

There are no show-stopping hardware additions nor any new sensors on the Pixel Watch 3, however, Google made a lot of useful improvements to the software.

Here are some of them the Google rep told me about:

• Enhanced running features now help you design and follow customized run routines, surpass your personal bests, and refine your technique. You can incorporate timed warm-ups and cool-downs, and set specific goals for pace, heart rate, time, and distance.

• Execute your saved running routines with real-time guidance through audio and haptic alerts, which notify you if you fall off your pace or exceed your heart rate target.

• Receive alerts for your next sprint or when it’s time to cool down during your workout.

• Updated media controls let you adjust volume and skip songs without interrupting your workout.

• AI-driven form tracking with advanced motion sensors provides insights into your cadence, stride length, vertical oscillation, and more.

• The new running dashboard in the Fitbit app displays your weekly mileage, personal records, detailed workout analyses, and additional metrics.

But my favorite has to be the Morning Brief feature via Fitbit.

Each morning, Morning Brief delivers a summary based on your health and workout metrics. For example, you'll get a daily digest of how you slept, your readiness score (how prepared your body is for physical exercise), weekly exercise progress, heart-rate variability, breathing rate, and blood-oxygen level.

Plus, you'll also get information about the weather, which is a must-have for me so I can already envision what to wear before I hop out of bed.

Beware of this particular band

The Pixel Watch 3 ships with different band-and-case combinations depending on the case size.

Pixel Watch 3 (41mm):

• Matte Black Aluminum Case and Obsidian Band

• Polished Silver Aluminum Case and Porcelain Band

• Champagne Gold Aluminum Case and Hazel Band

• Polished Silver Aluminum Case and Rose Quartz Band

Pixel Watch 3 (45mm):

• Matte Black Aluminum Case and Obsidian Band

• Polished Silver Aluminum Case and Porcelain Band

• Matte Hazel Aluminum Case and Hazel Band

You can opt to purchase a Stretch Band for the Pixel Watch 3, but I recommend getting any other band (e.g., an Active Band, Leather Band, etc.) but the Stretch Band. I can already tell that it will lose its elasticity over time. It was also too large on me and there was nothing I could do to tighten it.

If you have a more rotund wrist, however, the Stretch Band may be your best bet. For my colleague, the sweat resistant, active bands with a more customizable fit were a bit too snug and did not fit him.

The Pixel Watch 3 starts at $349.99 and it's available at the Google Store