Here’s how the new Pixel Watch 3 stacks up against Google’s last-gen model
Google’s latest wearable is both bigger and brighter than its predecessors. | Image: Google
Now that Google has officially announced the Pixel Watch 3 after a deluge of leaks and rumors, Android users have even more wearables to choose from. Google’s latest smartwatch will arrive on September 10th and start at $349.99, with the last-gen Pixel Watch 2 hanging around for $249.99. Sadly, Google has dropped the original model from its lineup, though you can still buy it on sale from third-party retailers.
With almost identical names and similar domed displays, it can be confusing to distinguish which watch is which — never mind which to buy. Yet, they’re more different than they appear, with each wearable offering more features and capabilities than its predecessor. The new Pixel Watch 3 offers several advanced running features, for instance, along with a 45mm configuration that’s likely the best option for those with larger wrists. Nonetheless, if price is your main concern, the last-gen model still has plenty to offer.
To help you decide which model is right for you, we’ve compared the forthcoming Pixel Watch 3 with both the original and second-gen models. We’ve even dug into each smartwatch’s raw specs so you can see how all three wearables compare (at least on paper).
Differences in size and screen
Size is one of the main differentiators between the Pixel Watch 3 and the Pixel Watch 2. Google’s last-gen Pixel Watch 2 is only available in one size, 41mm, while the Pixel Watch 3 is the first smartwatch from Google to offer a 45mm size, potentially making the new wearable better suited for those with larger wrists.
The Pixel Watch 3’s display also offers more visible space than its predecessors. With its thinner bezels, the Pixel Watch 3 offers 10 percent more visible space on the 41mm watch and 40 percent more on the 45mm. That should make it easier to read messages, check metrics, and fit in even more information on the display.
Last but not least, the Pixel Watch 3 is also twice as bright as its predecessor, offering up to 2,000 nits of brightness while continuing to dim to as low as 1 nit with a variable refresh rate of 1 to 60Hz. Google says that means you can clearly see stats on your display in dark settings as well as bright daylight, though we’ll have to see how well that claim holds true once we properly test the Pixel Watch 3.
You can see the improvements in screen brightness and bezel size when compared to the Pixel Watch 2 (left).
Health and fitness features
During our brief time with the Pixel Watch 3, we were impressed by the sheer number of features Google managed to fit into its latest wearable. Size might be the most obvious differentiator at first glance, but it’s what’s inside that really distinguishes the most recent models.
First, Google’s added even more ways to monitor your health with the Pixel Watch 3. Notably, the watch can now detect when you lose your pulse and connect you with emergency services — though, said feature will be exclusive to Europe at launch. Google will also deliver a “Morning Brief” when you wake up, summarizing your sleep, progress toward your goals, the weather, and other health metrics.
Google’s latest watch also lets you take advantage of other new fitness features. The Pixel Watch 3 sports several new advanced running features; the Fitbit app dashboard, for instance, now breaks down even more running metrics, including stride length. You can also program custom workouts from your phone and send them to your wearable, while your Daily Readiness Score now factors in how hard your heart is working while exercising. A new AI feature, meanwhile, generates workout suggestions based on your recent workout history.
Robust Google integration
In addition to new health and fitness features, the Pixel Watch 3 offers deeper integration with more Google devices and services. It continues to offer access to the same Google services as the Watch 2, including Google Wallet and Gmail, but now features offline Google Maps capabilities. It’s also now possible to view a Nest Doorbell or Nest Cam feed directly on your smartwatch — a feature that worked well enough when we tried a brief demo of it, letting us have a conversation with the person on the other side. Plus, you can now control your Google TV and the camera on your Pixel phone or even record audio.
You’ll be able to view your Nest Cam or Nest Doorbell feed straight from your wrist.
Battery life and power
We were happy to see Google fixed the battery life issues that plagued the original Pixel Watch when it released the Pixel Watch 2. The second-gen watch offered all-day battery life, and from the looks of it, the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 will as well. It offers the same 306mAh battery capacity, with Google promising up to 24 hours of battery life with the always-on display turned on.
The new 45mm Pixel Watch 3, however, is a different story. It packs a larger 420mAh battery, which means it could theoretically last longer — but we’ll have to test it to be sure. Google promises up to 36 hours of battery life in the new battery-saver mode for both Pixel Watch 3 models, so even the 41mm could potentially outperform its predecessor.
As for the chipset, both the Pixel Watch 2 and 3 use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear W5 Gen 1. However, only the Pixel Watch 3 sports an ultra wideband chip, which lets you unlock your Pixel phone and even select BMW models.
By the numbers
Those are just the main factors that differentiate Google’s latest wearables, but there are other differences to consider. Google, for example, now sells a matte hazel colorway, though that option is only available when you purchase the 45mm Pixel Watch 3. You’ll also have to pay $100 for cellular connectivity on the Pixel Watch 3, whereas it’ll only set you back $50 to add it to the Pixel Watch 2.
If you want to dive even deeper into their differences, we’ve rounded up the raw specs in the chart below.
Google’s latest wearable is both bigger and brighter than its predecessors. | Image: Google
Now that Google has officially announced the Pixel Watch 3 after a deluge of leaks and rumors, Android users have even more wearables to choose from. Google’s latest smartwatch will arrive on September 10th and start at $349.99, with the last-gen Pixel Watch 2 hanging around for $249.99. Sadly, Google has dropped the original model from its lineup, though you can still buy it on sale from third-party retailers.
With almost identical names and similar domed displays, it can be confusing to distinguish which watch is which — never mind which to buy. Yet, they’re more different than they appear, with each wearable offering more features and capabilities than its predecessor. The new Pixel Watch 3 offers several advanced running features, for instance, along with a 45mm configuration that’s likely the best option for those with larger wrists. Nonetheless, if price is your main concern, the last-gen model still has plenty to offer.
To help you decide which model is right for you, we’ve compared the forthcoming Pixel Watch 3 with both the original and second-gen models. We’ve even dug into each smartwatch’s raw specs so you can see how all three wearables compare (at least on paper).
Differences in size and screen
Size is one of the main differentiators between the Pixel Watch 3 and the Pixel Watch 2. Google’s last-gen Pixel Watch 2 is only available in one size, 41mm, while the Pixel Watch 3 is the first smartwatch from Google to offer a 45mm size, potentially making the new wearable better suited for those with larger wrists.
The Pixel Watch 3’s display also offers more visible space than its predecessors. With its thinner bezels, the Pixel Watch 3 offers 10 percent more visible space on the 41mm watch and 40 percent more on the 45mm. That should make it easier to read messages, check metrics, and fit in even more information on the display.
Last but not least, the Pixel Watch 3 is also twice as bright as its predecessor, offering up to 2,000 nits of brightness while continuing to dim to as low as 1 nit with a variable refresh rate of 1 to 60Hz. Google says that means you can clearly see stats on your display in dark settings as well as bright daylight, though we’ll have to see how well that claim holds true once we properly test the Pixel Watch 3.
You can see the improvements in screen brightness and bezel size when compared to the Pixel Watch 2 (left).
Health and fitness features
During our brief time with the Pixel Watch 3, we were impressed by the sheer number of features Google managed to fit into its latest wearable. Size might be the most obvious differentiator at first glance, but it’s what’s inside that really distinguishes the most recent models.
First, Google’s added even more ways to monitor your health with the Pixel Watch 3. Notably, the watch can now detect when you lose your pulse and connect you with emergency services — though, said feature will be exclusive to Europe at launch. Google will also deliver a “Morning Brief” when you wake up, summarizing your sleep, progress toward your goals, the weather, and other health metrics.
Google’s latest watch also lets you take advantage of other new fitness features. The Pixel Watch 3 sports several new advanced running features; the Fitbit app dashboard, for instance, now breaks down even more running metrics, including stride length. You can also program custom workouts from your phone and send them to your wearable, while your Daily Readiness Score now factors in how hard your heart is working while exercising. A new AI feature, meanwhile, generates workout suggestions based on your recent workout history.
Robust Google integration
In addition to new health and fitness features, the Pixel Watch 3 offers deeper integration with more Google devices and services. It continues to offer access to the same Google services as the Watch 2, including Google Wallet and Gmail, but now features offline Google Maps capabilities. It’s also now possible to view a Nest Doorbell or Nest Cam feed directly on your smartwatch — a feature that worked well enough when we tried a brief demo of it, letting us have a conversation with the person on the other side. Plus, you can now control your Google TV and the camera on your Pixel phone or even record audio.
You’ll be able to view your Nest Cam or Nest Doorbell feed straight from your wrist.
Battery life and power
We were happy to see Google fixed the battery life issues that plagued the original Pixel Watch when it released the Pixel Watch 2. The second-gen watch offered all-day battery life, and from the looks of it, the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 will as well. It offers the same 306mAh battery capacity, with Google promising up to 24 hours of battery life with the always-on display turned on.
The new 45mm Pixel Watch 3, however, is a different story. It packs a larger 420mAh battery, which means it could theoretically last longer — but we’ll have to test it to be sure. Google promises up to 36 hours of battery life in the new battery-saver mode for both Pixel Watch 3 models, so even the 41mm could potentially outperform its predecessor.
As for the chipset, both the Pixel Watch 2 and 3 use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear W5 Gen 1. However, only the Pixel Watch 3 sports an ultra wideband chip, which lets you unlock your Pixel phone and even select BMW models.
By the numbers
Those are just the main factors that differentiate Google’s latest wearables, but there are other differences to consider. Google, for example, now sells a matte hazel colorway, though that option is only available when you purchase the 45mm Pixel Watch 3. You’ll also have to pay $100 for cellular connectivity on the Pixel Watch 3, whereas it’ll only set you back $50 to add it to the Pixel Watch 2.
If you want to dive even deeper into their differences, we’ve rounded up the raw specs in the chart below.