With the Pixel Watch 3, Google has launched a smart watch that looks almost identical to its predecessor from the outside, so will it still surprise us? You can read that in this review.
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Dit is de Google Pixel Watch 3 review
Google will release its third smartwatch in 2024 and that promises something. Who better to create a product for Wear OS than the developer of the software itself? Or would Google be better off sticking to software? And this third edition of the Pixel Watch does bring enough innovation to justify its price tag 399 euro to justify?
We have used the smartwatch for a month, give you the answers to all questions and let you know whether the Google Pixel Watch 3 is a good buy.
The review model of the Pixel Watch 3 was made available by Google.
In this Google Pixel Watch 3 review:
Recognizable design is not for everyone
Anyone who takes a cursory look at the Google Pixel Watch 3 will not immediately see that it is a smartwatch from 2024. After all, Google is using the same design for its smartwatch for the third time in a row. However, there is a striking difference. The Pixel Watch 3 is available in two sizes for the first time: 41 and 45 millimeters. We tested the largest.
We don’t find the design that exciting ourselves. The minimalist design lacks character, the side crown wheel isn’t necessary to navigate the software, and the rounded edges are chic but vulnerable to damage. In this area, we are more pleased with the modern case of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 or the more luxurious OnePlus Watch 2.
The screen of the Pixel Watch 3 is a bit better than that of its predecessors. At 1.4 inches, it is a bit larger and the maximum brightness has increased from 1000 nits to 2000 nits. The smartwatch can therefore be clearly read in almost any situation.
The screen refreshes from 1 to 60 Hz, so you can use the always-on display relatively energy-efficiently. Unfortunately, the screen edges are on the thick side, but Google knows how to hide them well in the dials.
Hardware extensive, but not new
Internally, the Watch 3 doesn’t seem to have changed that much. It runs on the same Snapdragon W5100 chip as its predecessor. There is also 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage space. That storage is especially nice to download enough third-party apps and songs from Spotify. The chip and 2GB of RAM are average: navigating through menus is very smooth, but some apps take a while to start up.
In terms of sensors, the Pixel Watch 3 has almost everything you would expect: there is an optical heart rate sensor on board, sensors for making an ECG, sensors for measuring your blood oxygen saturation and your skin temperature is measured. A striking feature is the barometer, which calculates your altitude precisely.
In addition to your physical activity, the Watch 3 also records your location during training. This is useful for long-distance sports. The GPS and other connections ensure the location. These are fine, but not as accurately and quickly connected as with competitors Huawei and Garmin. It gives you excellent insight into your training, but the data is not watertight. What is waterproof is the smartwatch itself. Useful for swimming.
Wear OS 5 and notable update policy
The Pixel Watch 3 runs on Wear OS 5: the latest version of Google’s smartwatch operating system. The software is generally very similar to the previous version, but comes with some subtle improvements, including better battery life and smarter screen layout.
You can choose from many digital watch faces, from elaborate to very minimalist. These are made in Google’s Watch Face Format and therefore work with various widgets, such as Fitbit and Google Fit. Navigating through the software is quite intuitive and buttons in apps are evenly distributed across the screen.
You download third-party apps via the Play Store on your smartwatch, or under the ‘Watch’ heading in the Play Store on your phone. On your smartphone, you can also use the Pixel Watch app to adjust watch faces or the order of tiles.
Thanks to the NFC chip, you can easily make contactless payments with the Watch 3. All in all, Wear OS 5 is not a huge upgrade, but it works smoothly and is clearly designed.
Google assures Watch 3 users of only three years of software support. Although this can always take longer, it remains striking for a manufacturer that supports its smartphones for up to seven years. Major competitor Samsung is giving its latest Watch 7 and Watch Ultra five years of software updates.
Larger battery, average battery life
As great as Wear OS is in terms of apps and connectivity, it is bad for the battery life of smartwatches. Google’s previous watches were known for not lasting a day on a battery charge. Fortunately, the software in version 5 handles electricity a little better.
Of course, the larger housing also provides an improvement. This fits a 420 mAh battery (307 mAh by 41mm), which gives an effective battery life of about a day and a half, depending on whether you use GPS a lot.
You charge the smartwatch with the included magnetic charger. It now does it 20 percent faster than before. It takes about 80 minutes until the Pixel Watch 3 is completely full again. That’s fine, but it is still a fairly long period during which you cannot measure your health.
Conclusion Google Pixel Watch 3 review
The Google Pixel Watch 3 is a richly equipped smartwatch. It runs on Wear OS 5, has enough sensors to measure all the ins and outs of your health and with the larger screen on the new 45 mm version you can clearly read all the information.
However, the smartwatch lags behind in a number of areas. For example, the battery life is shorter than the competition, the design is not innovative and the update policy is disappointing. The smartwatch has a suggested retail price of 399 eurobut that is very sturdy.
In our opinion, you will get at least as great an experience from a Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 for €199.01 or a OnePlus Watch 2 for €239.95. If this Pixel Watch 3 drops significantly in price in the near future, you can definitely consider it.
Google Pixel Watch 3 kopen
Do you like Google’s latest smartwatch and would you like to get it? The watch is available in two sizes: 41 and 45 millimeters. You can choose from several colors: black, silver, gold and green. The straps also have different colors.
The smallest version has a suggested retail price of 399 eurowhile the larger variant for 449 euro goes over the (digital) counter. You can check the current prices and deals for the Google Pixel Watch 3 via the price comparator below.
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