Google Pixel Watch 3 Review - Finally Bigger! (vs Pixel Watch 2)

Summary

The video review covers the new 45mm Google Pixel Watch 3, highlighting its design and build quality, which is notably larger and brighter than its predecessor. The watch features a 40% bigger screen, improved brightness up to 2000 nits, and LTP0 support for variable refresh rates. It retains the same 12.3mm thickness and Gorilla Glass 5. The battery life is enhanced with a 35% larger capacity, and charging is faster. The watch introduces new health tracking features, Google Home integration, and exclusive software features. The reviewer suggests upgrading for the display and brightness improvements, but otherwise, the previous model remains a solid choice.

Takeaways

• 💲 The 45mm Pixel Watch 3 was purchased for $286, a discount compared to the official price of $399.
• 📦 It doesn't come with a box, so there's no unboxing experience, but it offers 40% more screen than its predecessor.
• 📱 The watch has a larger case and slimmer bezel, making it look and feel more massive than the Pixel Watch 2.
• 🔗 The band is wider and taller, so older bands are not compatible unless you opt for the smaller size Pixel Watch 3.
• 🌞 The display brightness is doubled to 2,000 nits peak, and the new LTPO support allows for a variable refresh rate from 1 Hz to 60 Hz.
• 🔋 The 45mm size has a 420mAh battery, which is 35% larger than the previous model's 306mAh.
• 🔌 Charging speed is faster, but due to the larger battery, it takes slightly longer to reach 80% compared to the Pixel Watch 2.
• 📞 The speaker quality has improved but is still not loud enough for clear phone calls outdoors.
• 🏃‍♂️ New health features include a Readiness score, cardio load tracking, and a morning brief that consolidates health data.
• 🚗 Ultra-wide band support enables instant phone unlock and the use of the watch as a digital car key.

Q & A

What is the price difference between the Pixel Watch 3 and the official price of its predecessor?

The Pixel Watch 3 was purchased for $286, which is less than the official price of its predecessor, the Pixel Watch 2, which is $399.

How much more screen does the Pixel Watch 3 have compared to the Pixel Watch 2?

The Pixel Watch 3 has 40% more screen than the Pixel Watch 2.

What are the similarities in design and build quality between the Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Watch 2?

Both watches have the same 12.3 mm thickness, Gorilla Glass 5, design build quality, buttons, cutouts, IP68 rating, and detachable strap mechanism. The charger for the Watch 2 also works with the newer model.

What are the key improvements in the display of the Pixel Watch 3?

The key improvements are the doubled brightness, reaching up to 2,000 nits peak, and the LTPO support for a variable refresh rate that can go as low as 1 Hz with the always-on display.

How does the battery life of the Pixel Watch 3 compare to the Pixel Watch 2?

The 45 mm size of the Pixel Watch 3 has a 420 mAh battery, which is 35% bigger than the 306 mAh of last year's model.

What new health features are introduced in the Pixel Watch 3?

New health features include a Readiness score, cardio load tracking, a personalized target load for training, a morning brief, and a loss of pulse safety feature.

What is the ultra-wide band support on the Pixel Watch 3 used for?

The ultra-wide band support enables features like instant phone unlock without touching the screen and the ability to use the watch as a digital car key.

What software features are exclusive to the Pixel Watch 3?

Exclusive software features include the ability to control Google TV from the wrist, live stream from Nest cameras or doorbells, and the ability to take Astro photos from the wrist.

How does the Google Recorder app function on the Pixel Watch 3?

The Google Recorder app is supported on the Pixel Watch 3, allowing users to start recordings immediately from a tile on the watch. It can also synchronize recordings to the phone for location and transcription.

What new watch faces are introduced with the Pixel Watch 3?

New watch faces include categories called 'Active' with up to nine complications, 'Field' with various designs, and new designs for the 'Track' watch faces with more complications.

How does the battery saver mode on the Pixel Watch 3 differ from previous models?

The battery saver mode on the Pixel Watch 3 is smarter, providing up to 36 hours of battery life without compromising fitness and safety features.

Outlines

00:00

📦 Unboxing & Overview of the Pixel Watch 3

The script begins with a discussion about the unavailability of Google products in the UEE and the acquisition of a 45mm Pixel Watch 3 at a discounted price. The presenter compares the new watch with its predecessor, highlighting the increased screen size and improved design. The watch features a 40% larger screen, a slimmer bezel, and a wider band that is not compatible with previous models unless the smaller size is chosen. The presenter notes similarities in thickness, Gorilla Glass 5, design elements, and IP68 rating. The new model also supports the old charger and has a significantly improved visual experience with easier notification reading and quick replies. The display improvements include doubled brightness, LTOP support for variable refresh rates, and a slightly higher resolution maintaining the same pixel density. The performance is similar to the previous model, with the same Qualcomm 5100 chipset, and no significant performance gain is expected.

05:01

🔋 Battery Life & Hardware Improvements

The script discusses the battery life of the Pixel Watch 3, mentioning a 35% increase in battery capacity compared to the previous model, based on a 420mAh battery. The presenter's initial observations indicate a significant improvement in battery performance. Charging speed is also improved, but the larger battery takes slightly longer to reach 80%. The haptics and speaker quality are noted to be similar to the previous model, with the speaker still not being loud enough for clear outdoor phone calls. The microphone quality has improved for clearer voice and better noise cancellation. The presenter also highlights new hardware features such as ultra-wideband support, which enables phone unlocking and digital car key functionality. The watch also includes Bluetooth 5.3 and a new matte hazelnut color option. Software features are mentioned as being intentionally exclusive to the new model, including fitness tracking enhancements and new health features.

10:02

🌟 Software Features & Final Thoughts

The script details the software features of the Pixel Watch 3, including new fitness tracking capabilities like Readiness score, cardio load tracking, and a personalized training target. It also mentions a morning brief feature that consolidates health data and various running features with real-time guidance. The watch introduces new quality of life features, such as Google Home app integration for Google TV control and live stream viewing from Nest cameras. The camera app interface is updated, and the watch can take astro photos from the wrist. The presenter also discusses new watch faces, call assist features, and the Google Recorder app's integration. The watch's battery saver mode is said to be smarter, providing up to 36 hours of battery life without compromising fitness and safety features. The presenter concludes that while the hardware improvements are noticeable, they may not be significant enough to justify an upgrade for all users, and the software features are exclusive to make the watch 3 more appealing.

Keywords

💡Pixel Watch 3

The Pixel Watch 3 is the subject of the video, representing Google's latest smartwatch. It is described as having a larger display, improved brightness, and additional features compared to its predecessor. The video discusses its design, build quality, and various enhancements, positioning it as a significant upgrade in the smartwatch market.

💡Design and Build Quality

This term refers to the physical attributes and construction of the Pixel Watch 3. The video highlights that the watch feels 'massive' compared to its predecessor, with a 40% larger screen and a slimmer bezel. It also mentions the watch's thickness, Gorilla Glass 5, and IP68 rating, emphasizing the importance of a durable and aesthetically pleasing design.

💡Display

The display of the Pixel Watch 3 is a central focus, with the video detailing improvements such as doubled brightness (up to 2,000 nits), LTP0 support for variable refresh rates, and a higher resolution. These enhancements contribute to a better user experience, particularly in terms of readability under various lighting conditions.

💡Performance

Performance in this context pertains to the watch's processing power and responsiveness. The video notes that the Pixel Watch 3 uses the same Qualcomm 5100 chipset as its predecessor, suggesting similar performance levels. However, it also hints at potential software optimizations that could affect the watch's speed and efficiency.

💡Battery

Battery life is a critical aspect of any smartwatch, and the video provides insights into the Pixel Watch 3's battery capacity and charging speed. It mentions a 35% larger battery compared to the previous model and a faster charging time, which are significant for users who rely on their devices throughout the day.

💡Haptics and Speaker

Haptics and speaker quality are important for user interaction and notifications. The video states that the haptics feel the same as the Pixel Watch 2, which is considered good, but it wishes for improvements in the speaker, which still sounds distorted and not loud enough for outdoor phone calls.

💡Ultra Wide Band (UWB) Support

UWB support is a new feature of the Pixel Watch 3 that enables instant phone unlock and digital car key functionality. The video explains these features as innovative additions that enhance the smartwatch's utility and convenience, showcasing the integration of advanced technology in consumer devices.

💡Software Features

Software features are a significant part of the smartwatch experience, and the video discusses how Google has made certain features exclusive to the Pixel Watch 3 to differentiate it from the previous model. These include fitness tracking enhancements, Google Home app integration, and new watch faces, which are designed to improve the user interface and overall functionality.

💡Fitness Tracking

Fitness tracking is a core function of smartwatches, and the video highlights new features like the Readiness score, cardio load tracking, and personalized training targets. These additions are meant to provide users with more detailed insights into their health and fitness, making the Pixel Watch 3 a more comprehensive health and wellness tool.

💡Battery Saver Mode

Battery saver mode is a feature designed to extend the watch's battery life by limiting certain functionalities. The video mentions that the Pixel Watch 3's battery saver mode is 'smarter,' providing up to 36 hours of use without compromising essential fitness and safety features, which is a key consideration for users who want longevity from their devices.

Highlights

The 45 mm Pixel Watch 3 is the first of its kind and is compared to the Pixel Watch 2 for differences.

The Pixel Watch 3 was purchased for $286, a discount from the official price of $399.

The design of the Pixel Watch 3 is more massive compared to its predecessor, with a 40% larger screen.

The band of the Pixel Watch 3 is wider and taller, requiring new bands if upgrading from the Pixel Watch 2.

Both watches share a 12.3 mm thickness, Gorilla Glass 5, and an IP68 rating.

The display of the Pixel Watch 3 has doubled brightness, reaching 2,000 nits peak.

The new display supports an LTPO variable refresh rate, maxing out at 60 Hz and as low as 1 Hz.

The battery of the 45 mm Pixel Watch 3 is 35% larger than the previous model, with a 420 mAh capacity.

Charging speed is faster on the Pixel Watch 3, but the larger battery takes slightly longer to reach 80%.

The haptic feedback and speaker quality have seen improvements over the Pixel Watch 2.

Ultra-wide band support enables new features like instant phone unlock and digital car key functionality.

The Pixel Watch 3 introduces health features like a Readiness score and personalized training targets.

New running features include stride analysis and real-time guidance with audio and haptic feedback.

A new safety feature detects loss of pulse and can automatically call emergency services.

Quality of life features include Google TV control from the wrist and live stream viewing from Nest cameras.

The Google Recorder app is now supported on the Pixel Watch 3 with transcription capabilities.

New watch faces with up to nine complications are introduced, enhancing customization.

The battery saver mode on the Pixel Watch 3 is claimed to be smarter, offering up to 36 hours of use.

The conclusion suggests that while the hardware improvements are noticeable, they may not justify an upgrade for all users.

Transcripts

hello everyone and welcome to the

channel as you may know Google doesn't

officially exist in the uee so I got my

hands on this 45 mm pixel watch 3 but

unfortunately it doesn't come with the

box which didn't allow me to give you an

unboxing experience but I bought it for

$286 rather than the official price of

$399 which is not bad so let me show you

the first 45 mm pixel watch ever and to

compare it with the pixel Watch 2 to

give you a clear idea about the

differences and I will start with the

design and build quality right off the

bat it looks and feels massive when

compared to the previous model which I

didn't expect as per Google it has 40%

more screen than its predecessor not

only because of the bigger case but also

the Slimmer bizzel which you will

immediately notice if you used to daily

Drive the pixel Watch 2 the band is a

little bit wider and taller as well so

you won't be able to use your previous

ones unless you opt for the smaller size

pixel watch 3 which uses the same bands

of last year in contrast there are more

similarities than differences between

the two both have the same 12.3 mm

thickness the dated Gorilla Glass 5

rather than sapphire crystal to be on

par with the competition they share the

same design build quality buttons

cutouts ip68 rating and the detachable

strap mechanism even the Watch 2 charger

Works absolutely fine with the newer

model so the only real difference here

is in the size in my testing it

significantly improves the visual

experience when reading notifications

with much easier typing for quick

replies from your wrist other than this

there isn't much to talk about here so

let's move on to the most improved

aspect which is the display beside the

massive difference in size there are two

key improvements the first one is the

brightness which is doubled this year to

reach 2,000 nits Peak under direct

sunlight you can clearly see the

difference in this side by side

comparison and it got the same actual

branding as the pixel phones which

refers to High brightness not only this

but the new display can go as low as one

net which is needed in complete darkness

situations I'm not sure about the lowest

brightness of the previous model but

here's how they look side by side in a

dark room and the difference is very

noticeable the second Improvement is the

ltpo support so it has a variable

refresh rate that maxes out at 60 HZ and

to go as low as 1 Herz with the all on

display which is expected to save you

some battery if you prefer to use this

feature when it comes to the resolution

it's a SL slly higher but you will end

up with the same 320 pixels per inch

because of the bigger size overall the

pixel watch 3 has the brightness and

refresh rate needed for every situation

I have to give Google the credit for

providing high quality displays in all

of its products for the past four years

so I have zero complains here moving to

the performance both use the same

qualcom 5100 chipset in this manyi speed

test opening apps on the pixel watch 3

was sometimes faster while other times

it was slower than the previous model

which is weird maybe it needs more

software optimizations or time to settle

things down when it comes to the RAM and

internal storage they are the same 2 GB

and 32 GB respectively in both models

overall the pixel watch 3 is responsive

but don't expect any performance gain

over its a predecessor which is not bad

in the first place for the battery I

didn't have enough time to give you a

detailed answer as I got it yesterday

but on paper the 45 mm size has a 420

mAh battery which is 35% bigger than the

306 of last year in my initial

observations the W 3 was at 52% versus

39% on the previous model after using

both exactly the same way for the past

13 hours which is almost a 133%

difference when it comes to the charging

speed it's faster but because of the

bigger battery it takes 5 minutes more

than the previous model to reach 80%

while the smaller pixel watch 3 takes

only 30 minutes which is a 20%

Improvement when the battery capacity is

the same moving to the haptics it feels

exactly the same as the pixel Watch 2

which I didn't expect to improve as it's

already pretty good but what I wish

Google gave an extra attention to is the

speaker it sounds better than the

previous model but is still distorted

and not loud enough to clearly hear

phone calls Outdoors so let's take a

listen

the mic also improved to give a clearer

voice and a slightly better noise

cancellation so here's a quick

comparison in phone calls here's how the

mic sounds from the pixel watch to you

know the environment in phone calls

sound check one 123 what sound check 2 3

here's how the mic of the pixel war3

sounds in phone calls in a noisy Environ

sound check one 2 3 sound check one 2

three but what I really liked about the

pixel watch 3 is the ultra wide band

support which enables two new cool

features the first one is the instant

phone unlock without the need to touch

the screen off your watch it's very

useful in situations where the phone is

placed in a way that makes the face

unlock and the fingerprint less

convenient to use all you need to do is

to swipe up on your lock screen while

having the watch unlocked on your wrist

to get immediate access to your phone

plus it gives you a notification to lock

the phone wirelessly just in case it got

unlocked by accident secondly you can

use it as a digital car key with the

supported vehicles from BMW and many

with more coming in the future and we

might also see Google's find my network

support in future updates which will

allow you to locate erase or lock your

watch remotely even when it's offline

the last two changes on the hardware

side are the newer Bluetooth 5.3 versus

5.0 and the new matte hazel color which

I like the most and it it will match

your Hazel pixel 9 Pro in case you own

one overall on the hardware side the

improvements to the display the size and

the ultra wide band support are great

additions but I wish it had a better

glass than Gorilla Glass 5 some

performance boost and a better speaker

moving to the software that's where

Google tried to widen the gap between

the two models by intentionally making

some software features exclusive to the

newer model which I believe can work

absolutely fine on the previous one

starting with the fitness the watch can

now give you a Readiness score for exer

exercising by analyzing your resting

heart rate HRV and recent sleep the

cardiio load that measures the effort

exerted in workouts and tracks the

trends to see if you are under or over

training and both of these features have

a new tile that you can add to your list

for quick access then the target load

which is a personalized Target for your

training taking into account your recent

cardio load and Readiness guiding you to

improve your Fitness while balancing

recovery I didn't have the chance to

test these features as the watch is

still analyzing my data and it says here

that it takes up to 7 days to finish so

let's wait and see you also get a

morning brief that consolidates all your

health data into a quick summary every

morning in addition to telling you if

your HRV blood oxygen level and the skin

temperature are out of your personal

range and for runners there are tons of

new features here like the new Matrix

that measure the Cadence of your steps

ground contact time the length and

height of strides and based on this

information the watch will give you

realtime guidance while running with

audio and haptic feedback on when to

cool down or take your next interval and

if you are off Pace Runners can also

build their own workouts by customizing

warm-ups and cool down periods add

intervals and set goals for distance

time energy burned time trial and open

run lastly they added one extra safety

feature called loss of pulse in case the

watch detected any loss of pulse it will

automatically call Emergency Services

share an automated message along with

your location to get help as soon as

possible which is a lifesaver so these

are the health features you get with the

pixel watch 3 the best part is all these

features are available free of a charge

without the need to pay for Fitbit

premium which was one of the complaints

about the pixel Watch 2 of last year but

beside the health Google added some

quality of life features that enhance

the overall experience so let's go

through them one by one the first two

features I'm going to show you are

related to the Google home app the first

one is the ability to control your

Google TV from your wrist and here's my

Chrome cast with Google TV if you want

to turn on the device you can simply tap

on the tile and when you tap on hold it

will give you two options one to control

media and one to get the navigation

remote so for example when I tap on

remote here I have a a joystick to move

in all directions like this but it

doesn't support the swiping you have to

tap on the actual arrow and then you

have a button in the middle to action

the request then you have a quick

shortcut for the home and the back

buttons after that if you are playing

media you can play on pause move next or

backward and that's pretty much it but I

had two issues with this new feature the

first one is the inconvenient way to

navigate the Google TV I found myself

looking at the screen all the time to

see where my finger is landing while

using the arrows but I think if Google

replaced it with a d-pad that requires

the swiping it will be much easier to

use with the watch the second problem is

the delayed response sometimes when I

tap on the button it takes one second

more to reflect on the TV and it happens

90% of the time the second feature is

the ability to see a live stream from

your nest camera or doorbell in addition

to sending voice messages to the other

person using the microphone which is a

really cool feature unfortunately I

don't have an S camera or a durable to

show you how it works in real life but

you can see the supported devices now on

the screen Google also updated the

camera app interface on all models and

you can see the same design on the pixel

Watch 2 and watch 3 but there is One

exclusive feature you only get on the

newer model which is the ability to take

Astro photos from your wrist and when I

activate the Astro mode it will

automatically set the camera timer to 5

seconds and give you the same new

animation I showed you in gcam version

9.5 and here's how it looks in action

another feature I really liked in the

pixel watch 3 is the ability to convert

your app list into a great view which

will save you a lot of scrolling because

each row contains three different apps

instead of only one like before plus it

looks much better and bigger than the

previous design next the Google Recorder

app is Now supported on the pixel watch

3 plus it got its own tile to start your

recording right away and as you see here

you have the ability to pause cancel the

recording and once you save it it will

automatically synchronize to your phone

to be able to locate it and it will also

be transcribed if you want to go to the

recordings you have the to play them

back on the watch

speaker plus you have the ability to

adjust the playback speed like this you

have plus or minus and then you can

delete the recording if you want Google

also added two new call assist features

the first one is call screening that we

first saw with the pixel 6 which can

screen your spam calls before answering

them and the second one is the ability

to ask the other person to hold for you

until you move to a quiet place but

unfortunately those two features are

only exclusive to the US for now we also

got some new watch faces the first

category is called active and these are

the designs each watch face will give

you up to nine different complications

to add which is a massive number and

here are all the complications with two

different styles to choose from the

second new category is called field and

here are the designs that you can choose

from and lastly the track watch faces

got new designs with more complications

when compared to the previous model the

pixel watch 3 now uses AI to

automatically activate the bit time mode

and when you tap on hold on the Sleep

tile scroll all the way down you will

see a new toggle called autobit time

which will automatically turn off the

all on display and silence your

notifications without impacting your

sleep tracking the next feature is

called connected Fitness which will

allow you to connect your watch to

thirdparty devices to get a live stream

for your heart rate and it says here

connect to compatible exercise machines

and apps to see real time trate on

display C user manual to learn more

about equipment compatibility to connect

to other devices you need to tap on this

button which will make your pixel watch

visible for pairing and you are good to

go and your previously saved devices

will appear in this list last but not

least Google says that the new battery

saver mode of the pixel watch 3 is

smarter because it will give you longer

battery life up to 36 hours without

compromising your Fitness and safety

features they keep working all the time

even with the battery saver mode

activated so that's everything I wanted

to tell you about the pixel watch 3 and

here is my final conclusion the new

hardware improvements are not massive

but they make a noticeable difference in

day-to-day usage only if you need them

like the higher refresh rate of 60 HZ

instead of 30 the brightness that ranges

from one nit up to 2,000 nits the bigger

size and the ultra wide support but as I

mentioned before it is still lacks

behind in the speaker quality and the

front glass material the software

features are intentionally exclusive to

make the watch 3 a more pleasing option

over the previous model and I'm

expecting to see some of them making

their way to the Watch 2 in future

updates so if I wear you I would only

upgrade if I need a bigger display and a

higher brightness but other than this

you better stick with the previous model

so that's pretty much it for today that

was my review for the pixel watch 3 45

mm version please let me know in the

comments what do you think but for now

thanks so much for watching and see you

in the next video