Google Pixel Watch 3: Specs, new tricks, and Watch 2 comparison

The Google Pixel Watch 3 offers a significant upgrade over past Google watches, but it has serious Wear OS competition from the Galaxy Watch 7 and OnePlus Watch 3. Whether you just bought a Pixel phone or you're mulling over an upgrade from the Pixel Watch 1 or 2, this Pixel Watch 3 buyer's guide will help you weigh it against the best Android smartwatches.

The Pixel Watch 4 likely won't arrive until August, and we don't know yet if it'll use a new Snapdragon chip or a homebrew Tensor chip. For now, you probably won't want to wait if you spot a good Pixel Watch 3 deal, considering we've seen rumors of new features like Gemini on Wear OS coming soon.

We'll help you decide which Pixel Watch 3 size to buy, whether or not you need the LTE version, which straps to buy, and how the specs compare to the Pixel Watch 2 or Watch 1 for longtime fans.

For more context, my Pixel Watch 3 review dives into its fit, style, new fitness software, performance, and other subjective details. And my Pixel Watch 3 beginner's guide focuses on everything you should do with your new smartwatch once you've unboxed it.

Otherwise, read on for everything you need to know about the Pixel Watch 3!

Google Pixel Watch 3: Price & cellular

The Google Pixel Watch 3 launched on September 10, 2024, in 32 countries; only 20 of those sell an LTE version. It requires an Android phone running Android 10+ and a Google account. Some features are Pixel-exclusive, but you can still easily use it on other Android phones.

The 41mm Watch 3 costs $349 / £349 / €399 / CA$479 / AU$579, or $449 / £449 / €499 / CA$599 / AU$749 with 4G LTE. The Pixel Watch 3 45mm costs $399 / £399 / €449 / CA$549 / AU$669, or $499 / £499 / €549 / CA$669 / AU$839 with LTE. But we're currently seeing a President's Day sale for $50 off both sizes, if you're eyeing one.

If you buy from the Google Store, you can get trade-in value for recent Apple, Fitbit, Garmin, Google, or Samsung watches, ranging from $30 for Fitbits to $300 for an Apple Watch Ultra 2. Your device must be in good condition — you get halved value if it's visually scratched but still turns on — and credit will vary by region.

The Watch 3 LTE comes with 500MB of free, speedy Google Fi data per month — double what the Watch 2 offered — without needing a carrier; after you hit the cap, data speeds slow to an unusable 256kbps.

You'll need to add the Watch 3 LTE to your phone plan for calls, emergency support without a phone, and streaming music. I'd argue that you shouldn't buy the LTE version unless you plan to add it to your carrier. You probably don't need the cellular upgrade unless you frequently leave your smartphone at home — such as during workouts — though it'll come in handy if your phone dies.

If you do decide to get the Watch 3 LTE, this Google Support link lists the international carriers that will accept it on your plan; we've singled out the North American carriers below:

• AT&T (FirstNet)
• Cellcom
• CSpire
• Google Fi
• T-Mobile
• UScellular
• Verizon
• Xfinity
• Bell
• Rogers
• SaskTel
• Telus
• Virgin

Google Pixel Watch 3: Colors & straps

The Pixel Watch 3 41mm comes in four finishes: a Matte Black case with an Obsidian Band, Polished Silver with a Porcelain Band, Champagne Gold with a Hazel Band, and Polished Silver with a Rose Quartz Band.

As for the larger Pixel Watch 3 45mm variant, it only comes in three color options: the same Matte Black and Polished Silver case options, plus a Matte Hazel case with a Hazel band.

Both watches come with a Pixel Watch Active Band in small and large sizes, plus a proprietary USB-C charging cable. It's not the same charger as the first-gen Pixel Watch, but you can use the Watch 2 charger if you have it.

The Active Band is made of a hypoallergenic fluoroelastomer material which feels incredibly soft and comfortable, almost velvety to the touch. While a recent chemical study found that some fluoroelastomer bands have toxic chemicals, Google assured us that its bands "meet industry standards" and that the company "proactively limits PFAS in our products." So the band in the box shouldn't have any issues.

That said, you may still want to look into Google's first-party bands, which deliver more sporty or stylish options that you can quickly swap in. Otherwise, we have a guide on the best Pixel Watch 3 bands that include more affordable third-party options.

Google Pixel Watch 3: Specs and 41mm vs. 45mm

The Google Pixel Watch 3's 41mm and 45mm variants mostly share the same specs and features; we've bolded the differences in the table above. Predictably, they have different dimensions, weight, display sizes, and battery capacity; otherwise, they mirror one another in most respects.

Wear OS 5 has an adaptive UI layout that changes how text and menus are laid out based on the display size. The photo below shows what we mean: the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 only fits three Fitbit sports icons per screen, while the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 fits six.

The Pixel Watch 3 45mm has an extra 114mAh of capacity over the 41mm. Naturally, some of that goes directly into powering the larger display, but it may also help the larger watch last slightly longer. In either case, we've found that the Pixel Watch 3 lasts significantly longer than Google's 24-hour estimate. The 45mm Pixel Watch 3 can easily last up to 40–48 hours with AOD active, though its longevity might fade over time.

The other key difference is that the 41mm watch can be charged in 60 minutes, while the 45mm watch takes 80 minutes. The smaller watch takes four minutes less to reach 50% but 15 minutes less to reach 80%.

Are you deciding whether to spend $50 extra for the Pixel Watch 3 45mm? Several Android Central staffers chose the larger variant and appreciated that it finally gives a large display space to read content more easily. Plus, the Pixel Watch 3 45mm did very well in our recent smartwatch "beauty pageant."

However, some of the AC staff got used to the Watch 2's size and still prefer the Watch 3 41mm option, especially now that it has a smaller black border around the display. And this version looks more proportionally sized on smaller wrists.

In other words, it's fairly subjective! The 41mm's 1.27-inch display is large enough for fans of small watches, while the 45mm's 1.43-inch display adds a nice amount of extra space without making the watch that much heavier.

Google Pixel Watch 3 vs. Pixel Watch 2 vs. Watch 1

We have an in-depth Pixel Watch 3 vs. Watch 2 guide that runs through every key difference, as well as the table above to highlight the main upgrades across each generation.

By and large, the Pixel Watch 3 41mm is quite similar to the Watch 2. All of the following design elements or features are unchanged:

• Both use a Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 with four Arm Cortex-A53 cores at 1.7GHz, plus a Cortex M33 MCU.
• You get 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage with either watch.
• They have the same ingress protection against dust and water, plus the same Gorilla Glass 5 layer.
• They share all of the same health sensors, measure the same size, and weigh the same.
• Both have a 306mAh battery and 24-hour estimate per charge with AOD active (though the Pixel Watch 3 is slightly more efficient).

Qualcomm hasn't made a new Snapdragon W5 chip since 2022, leaving the Pixel Watch 3 stuck with the same performance as the Watch 2 and most other Android watches. We know a new Snapdragon chip is coming in 2025, but you'll have to wait for the Pixel Watch 4.

Highlighting what's different over the last iteration, the Pixel Watch 3 41mm display shrunk its display bezel by 16%, so you get a 1.27-inch, 408x408 display instead of a 1.2-inch, 384x384 display. The brightness jumps from 1,000 to 2,000 nits, matching the new industry standard and improving direct-sunlight visibility.

The Watch 3 display also added LTPO tech to hit 60Hz for normal use or as low as 1Hz for the always-on display, while the last-gen display tech couldn't transition as smoothly or save battery life as readily.

Of course, you have a new 1.43-inch display option in the 45mm Pixel Watch 3, hitting 456x456. The pixels per inch remain the same, but you do get much more space that Wear OS 5 uses to fit more information on-screen.

In terms of connectivity, the Pixel Watch 3 leaps from Bluetooth 5.0 to 5.3, so you'll have a stronger phone connection that uses less battery power and cuts through any signal interference more easily. Bluetooth 5.3 also significantly reduces the amount of power consumed when in use.

The Watch 3 also supports the Wi-Fi 5GHz standard, not just the 2.4GHz standard like the Pixel Watch 2; that'll significantly improve app download speeds. And you get Ultra Wideband for the first time, enabling a Watch Unlock feature for your connected Android phone.

You get 20% faster charging speeds on the newer Pixel Watch; it takes six minutes less to hit 50% power and 15 minutes less to hit 100% compared to the Pixel Watch 2. With the Pixel Watch 3 45mm, it takes two minutes less to hit 50% but five minutes more to hit 100%, thanks to the extra capacity.

Google also told us that the Pixel Watch 3 has their "most accurate heart rate for running" compared to the Pixel Watch 2 and 1 because it uses machine learning to reduce motion and light artifacts from rapid arm movement and from changing running pace. In our review, we found the Pixel Watch 3 did quite well for heart rate accuracy, though not perfectly.

Both the Watch 3 and Watch 2 now sport the Wear OS 5 update, with nearly all of the new features listed in the next section. In a couple of years, the Watch 3 will have one more year of updates while the Watch 2 loses support.

As for Pixel Watch 1 owners considering an upgrade, it's best to look at our Pixel Watch 3 vs. Watch 1 guide. The two-generation gap is pretty substantial, with the Watch 3 significantly better for performance, health data like stress and skin temperature, display size and brightness, battery life, charging speed, and years of support left.

Google Pixel Watch 3: New software

Wear OS 5 on the Pixel Watch 3 is all about integrating more closely with other Google devices and improving the Fitbit fitness experience.

If you own a Nest Doorbell, you can see a live feed of whoever's at the door and hit the mic button to talk to them through your watch. You can use it as a remote control for your Google TV Streamer or other Google TV devices. Google is also promising offline Google Maps navigation for the first time.

With a Pixel phone, you can see Expanded Call Assist screening data or use Pixel Recorder with your phone in your pocket. If you're taking a group photo, you can place your Pixel phone down and then use your Pixel Watch 3 as a viewfinder, switching between camera modes if you want.

Google wants the Fitbit app and the Pixel Watch 3 to become more tempting for runners. You can now build custom workouts on your phone or watch, with warmup periods, target paces for set distances or times, intervals, and so on that'll buzz your wrist or provide audio cues during a run. If you don't want to create your own, Fitbit Premium will have AI-generated workouts, too.

You'll now get running form insights for things like cadence and ground contact time after a run, recommending "content and drills" to improve weak points in your form.

While Fitbit has offered a Daily Readiness Score for years via Premium, Google's "All-New Readiness" score is available to everyone, not just subscribers. You'll see how ready you are for your next workout based on your recent sleep, HRV recovery, resting heart rate, and recent training load.

You'll see your Readiness score, sleep summary, today's weather, and other data in your Morning Brief that pops up after you wake up. It's quite similar to the Morning Report you get on Garmin watches, except with more of a health focus. You'll get a warning, for example, if your HRV, breathing rate, or blood oxygen is out of your usual nightly range.

The Pixel Watch 3 will judge your Cardio Load, or how hard you've worked out in recent weeks, and judge whether you're "improving, maintaining, or falling behind" on your fitness. You'll see a "Target Load" stat based on Google's machine-learning data on how much Cardio Load you should do to improve without overtraining.

In terms of future Pixel Watch 3 features, we know it'll receive the Wear OS 6 update this fall, as well as two future version updates. That'll keep the software experience fresh! We know from a leak that Gemini will eventually replace Google Assistant on Wear OS, allowing for better on-wrist smarts and possible AI-based health and fitness coaching.

A code leak suggests that Pixel phones' adaptive charging will come to Pixel Watches soon, limiting charging to 80% overnight until the time that you typically wake up and put it on. And we recently spotted evidence that Google is working on a Find My app for Wear OS — as hinted in that promo screenshot above — that'll make it easier to find your missing tech from your wrist.

Google Pixel Watch 3: Should you buy it?

The beautiful circular Pixel Watch 3 ranks second on our list of best Android watches. Unless you want the less-stylish but impressive Galaxy Watch 7 or the ultra-pricey Galaxy Watch Ultra, you won't find another watch that matches it for speedy Wear OS updates.

I'm especially fond of the Pixel Watch 3 45mm, as I love how Wear OS 5 adapts to the extra space and the extra 6g of weight is barely noticeable. Most importantly, it does slightly better for battery life, though it's still on the low end compared to other Wear OS watches. Of course, others on the team with smaller wrists can't stop raving about the petite 41mm option, so it seems both big and small-wristed folks will be happy with the size options.

If you don't own a Pixel phone, you won't get access to every Watch 3 feature. And you may want to look into the new OnePlus Watch 3 if you want the best possible battery life in a Wear OS watch (five days per charge).

Overall, I still highly recommend the Pixel Watch 3 in most contexts. It's stylish, fast, and better connected with your other Google and Pixel devices. If you're intrigued by its new Fitbit tools and like its aesthetic, then this is a no-brainer.