Google’s foray into Wear OS watches has been notably successful with the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2. With Wear OS making a strong comeback and increased competition in the market, Google has introduced the Pixel Watch 3 alongside the Pixel 9 series at the Made by Google event. While the new model offers several enhancements over its predecessor, is it worth the extra cost? Here’s a comparison of the Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Watch 2 to help you make an informed decision.
Build and Design
The Pixel Watch 3 maintains dimensions similar to those of the Pixel Watch 2, keeping the same circular, pebble-like design with rounded corners. The casing is made from aluminum, just like its predecessor, and it features the same button and rotating crown on the right side, along with a band mechanism and sensor array on the bottom.
A notable update is the introduction of a 45mm variant of the Pixel Watch 3, which has a 36 x 36 mm chassis. This model offers a larger display while retaining the 20mm strap size used in both the Pixel Watch 2 and the regular Pixel Watch 3. The 41mm version of the Pixel Watch 3 has dimensions of 32 x 32 mm.
Overall, the design remains largely unchanged, except for the addition of a larger 45mm option for those who find the 41mm size too small.
Display
The first significant upgrade is in the display. The Pixel Watch 3 features a brighter screen with slimmer bezels, reduced from 5.5mm on the Watch 2 to 4.5mm. This change results in a slight improvement in resolution. While the display size remains at 1.2 inches for the 41mm model, the 45mm variant boasts a 1.4-inch display.
The 41mm Pixel Watch 3 features a resolution of 408 x 408 pixels, whereas the 45mm model offers a resolution of 456 x 456 pixels. Both displays are OLED and can achieve a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, doubling the brightness of the Pixel Watch 2.
Health Features and Sensors
The Pixel Watch 3 does not include any new sensors, but it introduces several new Fitbit features, including Personal Best, Cardio Load, and Advanced Running Metrics. Additionally, it features a Morning Brief option that displays the Readiness Score. These features are expected to be available for the Pixel Watch 2 as well, since they are not dependent on new hardware.
A major new addition to the Pixel Watch 3 series is Ultra-Wideband (UWB) support. This enhancement allows the watch to be accurately located or to locate other devices and integrates it into the Google Find My Device network. Ultra-Wideband support was initially planned for the Pixel Watch 2 but was later removed for unknown reasons.
Hardware and Battery
Both the Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Watch 2 are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 5100, a quad-core SoC with 4 Cortex-A53 cores running at 1.7 GHz. Although the Pixel Watch 2 performs well, the Pixel Watch 3 is anticipated to deliver comparable performance.
The Pixel Watch 3 features a 310 mAh battery, which is only a slight increase of 4 mAh from the Pixel Watch 2’s 306 mAh cell. However, the 45mm variant comes with a larger 420 mAh battery, which should provide significantly longer battery life. Google estimates a 24-hour battery life for both models.
The charging time and connector remain unchanged. Interestingly, Google asserts that the Pixel Watch 3 charges 20% faster, but this comparison is not against the previous-generation Pixel Watch, but rather the larger variant with a bigger battery. What’s going on, Google?
Software
Both Pixel watches come with Wear OS 4.0 pre-installed, and Google has promised 3 years of major Wear OS updates. Since the Pixel Watch 2 has not yet begun to reach its update limit, it will continue to receive support alongside the Pixel Watch 3.
Color Variants and Pricing
The 41mm Pixel Watch 3 is available in four color combinations: Silver with Rose Quartz Band, Black with Obsidian, Gold with Hazel, and Silver with Porcelain. The 45mm variant is offered in Hazel with Hazel, Black with Obsidian, and Silver with Porcelain.
In comparison, the Pixel Watch 2 came in four variants: Silver with Bay, Black with Obsidian, Gold with Hazel, and Silver with Porcelain. Personally, I prefer the Bay colorway of the Pixel Watch 2, though I might be biased since blue is my favorite color. The Rose Quartz and Hazel options for the Pixel Watch 3 also look quite appealing.
Regarding pricing, the Pixel Watch 2 launched at $349, and the Pixel Watch 3 is priced the same for the 41mm Wi-Fi-only model at $349 ($449 for LTE). The 45mm variant is priced at $399 for Wi-Fi-only and $499 for LTE.
Given the relatively minor improvements, upgrading to the Pixel Watch 3 may not be worthwhile. If you already own a Pixel Watch 2, it’s likely better to stick with it.
If you’re looking to buy a Pixel Watch, it’s worth considering the Pixel Watch 2, which may be available at a discount. For those interested in the 45mm version priced at $399, we recommend skip the pixel watch and explore alternatives like the Galaxy Watch 7 or other top Wear OS watches that offer more features and are priced competitively.
What do you think about the Pixel Watch 3 pricing? Let us know in the comments.
0 Comments