Google’s attempts at a smartwatch attracted a lot of criticism for both the original Pixel Watch and its second iteration, but with the Pixel Watch 3, they seem to have got it right; two size options, better battery life, double the brightness, more accurate fitness insights, and an improved running matrix. But has the Pixel Watch 3 really nailed it?
I was a little disappointed as we received the 41mm watch. It looked small on my wrist, which is usually occupied by a Pro-Trek. But then, it isn’t that small really and the display is crisp and very bright, and courtesy of almost 40% more usable screen space, there is absolutely no problem in reading any data. The borders around the display are still easily noticeable though.
The watch looks like a smooth pebble when you wear it and is susceptible to scratches as there is no exposed bezel to protect the screen. Although the display gets Gorilla Glass 5, I’ve never been this careful when wearing a watch as I have been with the Pixel Watch 3. After all, we know they all get scratched at some point or the other.
The Pixel Watch 3 packs many new settings and features for the fitness enthusiasts, especially the runners. You can program custom runs, prompts to mark the start and end of a session, use pace coaching, pace training and the heart zone as well. Although I am not much of a runner and mainly use the step counter while I walk, briskly of course, it not only detected the walks but also was able to include the brief pause I took in between and mark it as resting time.
Thanks to AI, the FitBit app now suggests custom activities after assessing my workout pattern and also explains what all the collected data means and how much it would require to reach my set goal. I was using a free account, and I am sure people who run regularly would benefit from the premium subscription of FitBit.
This Pixel Watch charges quickly now, but the sad part is that it lasts only a day, the 41mm, that is. I’ve been told the 45mm lasts for 2 days on a single charge. Reading mails, whatsapp and taking calls on the Pixel Watch 3 is convenient and used in tandem with my Pixel 9 Pro review unit, it works flawlessly.
The 41mm Watch 3 is priced at ₹39,900 and the 45mm goes for ₹43,900. It is definitely not cheap, and room for improvement remains; battery life could be a lot better; more customisation options for exercises other than running and more watch faces, obviously. But overall, the Pixel Watch 3 is a good product and sets a progressive direction for the future wearables from Google.
