Google Pixel Watch 3 Is Finally the Apple Watch for Android Owners

It is a little crazy to think about where Google’s Wear OS operating system was three years ago, and how far it has come since. The user interface wasn’t silky smooth, there were hardly any first-party apps (nor third-party apps), and the health and fitness tracking features were not as robust nor as reliable as the likes of what Samsung and Apple offered on their respective smartwatches.

Now, the Pixel Watch 3 is as polished as what you get from the big dogs—it’s a massive comeback for Google’s wearable platform, which hit its 10th anniversary this year. The changes in this model aren’t dramatic over the Pixel Watch 2, but many new small features add up to make this truly feel like a “smart” watch that delivers the glanceable information we want on our wrists.

The one big change? There are now two sizes you can choose from—and even if you have dainty wrists, I strongly suggest you stick with the new 45-mm size. This larger Pixel Watch 3 has much better battery life than its 41-mm counterpart, and still doesn’t feel all that big.

Healthy Load

A core part of smartwatches today is their health and fitness tracking capabilities, and after several weeks of wearing the Pixel Watch 3, the results have been spot on compared to the Apple Watch Series 9. Heart-rate measurements have been nearly identical, even during workouts, my sleep data is quite similar, and the Pixel Watch has reliable auto-workout detection.

Much of this draws from Fitbit’s rich expertise in this space, but this year’s focus for Google’s smartwatch is running. These features revolve around the idea of “Plan, Run, Reflect,” offering the ability to customize runs—even get run recommendations powered by artificial intelligence— advanced running analysis, as well as feedback on how hard your heart is working, and whether that level is right for you.

However, I am not a runner. As a novice in this space, I liked the basic, low-intensity running plans Fitbit dished out for me after the watch realized I’m a lazy butt. My colleague Adrienne So runs regularly and tests dozens of fitness trackers a year; she gave the new running features a try. I highly encourage you to read her experience, which wasn’t great.

Ultimately, these running features are one extra tool in the kit, and that’s exactly how they should be treated. Experienced runners should look to Coros or Garmin for more helpful training algorithms.

Loss of Pulse Detection is the next new health-related feature on the Pixel Watch 3, and it can be genuinely life-saving … if it works. I didn’t stop my heart to try it, not that it’d work anyway. The bad news is that it has been authorized only in Europe so far, though I expect it won’t be long before it’s cleared for the US.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Smarter Watch

I have said it several times, but the Pixel Watch is still the best-looking smartwatch on the market (round > square). The gentle curves around the case and the way the bulbous glass reflects light make it look snazzy enough for even James Bond to sport on his wrist, though I suggest splurging on alternative straps. The default ones are plain and don’t do the watch justice. I still am a bit sour that Google went the proprietary route for its straps, and many of the first-party options are quite expensive.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu