Product test
Pixel Watch 4 review: tougher, brighter and smarter
by Philipp Rüegg
Pixel Watch 3 test: bigger really is better
9.9.2024
Translation: Elicia Payne
The third model of the Pixel Watch is now available in two sizes. And many improvements to the watch are aimed at runners. Both updates help make a great smartwatch even better.
Less has changed on the inside: anyone hoping that Google’s Tensor chip would make the leap into the smartwatch will be disappointed. The Pixel Watch is still powered by a Qualcomm chip with a Cortex coprocessor.
What’s nice is that the magnetic charging puck hasn’t changed and also fits the 45 mm model. However, the wristbands don’t fit. They come in two new sizes. I think it’s a shame that there’s still no display with sapphire glass, like the Apple Watch Ultra has. Gorilla Glass 5 is all well and good, but it’s not 100 per cent scratch-resistant. My Pixel Watch 2 has visible signs of use after a year.
The Pixel Watch 3 now supports ultra-wideband (UWB). This is used for better location tracking and helps unlock the smartphone. It’s not really faster or more reliable than the Pixel Watch 2, though. I still find myself unlocking my smartphone with the fingerprint scanner from time to time because it’s quicker than waiting for the automatic unlock.
Other useful functions such as a live image from the camera for the remote shutter release, TV control (Google TV required), telephony, fall notification or emergency calls are also available.
Larger display is the star of the show and makes Watch Faces even better
I’ve never understood all the fuss about the small Pixel Watch. If I had forearms like a lumberjack, it might look a bit toy-like. It looks completely normal on average-sized arm joints like mine. The new 45 mm model doesn’t even look much bigger at first glance. It doesn’t look bulky on my wife’s wrist either.
However, I immediately notice the larger display and larger icons. From the lock screen to the watch face shortcuts and app navigation, everything is a little easier to handle. This is also thanks to the fact that the chip has slightly more power and the watch reacts faster as a result. But what’s more important is that my movements are more precise on the larger surface.
Google has kept the round design. Thanks to the larger surface area, the 45 mm model appears somewhat flatter, which I like. Otherwise, like its two predecessors, the Pixel Watch 3 is timeless, but also modest.
Another highlight for me are the interactive Watch Faces. My current favourite is called «active». It consists of five freely configurable fields. I have my steps, the weather and date displayed. I also have shortcuts to workouts and the Fitbit hub. For me, a watch face has to be functional and not just look pretty.
The new «Morning Brief» is very useful. This is a morning summary of my fitness level, how I slept and what the weather will be like. Like most of the fitness elements of a smartwatch, I consider this kind of thing more of a gimmick, but I still like to look at the data.
Since I go jogging several times a week, I was particularly excited about the advertised «Advanced Running» functions. More on that later.
Otherwise, the Pixel Watch 3 offers tried-and-tested navigation. I can swipe from all sides to open the quick settings, read notifications or scroll through tiles. They work like widgets. I can check the weather, play music, create tasks, use a timer, etc. It’s still something I practically never use because it’s quick enough to access most apps or settings.
I can access the app overview using the crown or open Google Wallet by pressing twice briefly. The button above it still isn’t freely configurable (without a special app). It opens the overview of recently used apps and launches the most recent one when I press twice. If I press and hold, Google Assistant greets me. Even the Apple Watch offers more configuration options.
Navigation is a notch faster than on the Pixel Watch 2. But I’ve also been using it for just under a year. Let’s see how long the Pixel Watch 3 maintains its speed. Certain apps like Google Wallet still start too slowly for me. Especially when I have to wait until the bonus cards are loaded as well as payment cards.
The Pixel Watch 3 also reliably delivers the detailed sleep analysis. For the sleep profile, I have to wear it for 14 days at a time. The annoying thing is, it has to be in the same month. I still don’t like sleeping with a watch. And the larger model irritates me even more. At night I prefer to put it on the charging station anyway.
A new feature here: the Pixel Watch 3 automatically activates sleep mode, which deactivates the display, and switches it on again automatically in the morning. However, it usually takes too long for the mode to activate. If I don’t want to dazzle my wife’s face, I still have to switch it on manually.
The training guide takes some getting used to. It starts with the training overview in the Fitbit app. I don’t understand what the intervals are that I’d have to repeat. Other sports enthusiasts I showed the programs to couldn’t figure it out either. When I start a workout on the watch, it’s like a surprise bag.
The five-minute warm-ups are still clear. The display then shows me a pace and a time. On my first attempt, I thought I’d have to run the predefined time at this pace. Instead, I have to run at a certain heart rate for the specified time. The watch also alerts me acoustically or by vibration when I’m below or above the predefined frequency. But I’d prefer if the start of a new segment told me exactly what I have to do.
Another nice feature is that I can manually adjust, replace or completely omit each training element. And if I’m still on the move after the specified time, the watch continues to track as normal.
Apart from being easy to understand, the programs are well structured, as are the subsequent reports. The current focus is clearly on jogging. There I get very detailed information about my runs with stride length, stride frequency and ground contact time. Once I’ve completed ten of them, there’s also a running technique analysis. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite manage that many runs during the test period.
What I’m not so keen on is the Fitbit smartphone app. It’s a great design, but confusing. I still prefer comparing runs with Strava, where I only need one or two clicks to get the information I want. Since I can synchronise the two apps, I kept both installed.
Not 100% round
The Pixel Watch 3 does a lot of things right, but there are still things that Google could improve. For example, there’s only two options for the audio cues – on or off. But I only want to listen to it during interval training so that I know where my heart rate is. I don’t need to hear my one-kilometre time every go-around. A brief vibration is enough for me.
Furthermore, the heart rate values on Strava are currently completely wrong. Something’s wrong with the synchronisation between Fitbit and Strava.
The watch automatically recognises when it’s under water and locks the display. That’s great, but I’d prefer it if it also worked in the shower. When I’m showering, the water droplets and jets are able to independently navigate through menus and apps.
The Pixel Watch 3 was provided to me by Google for testing. It will be available from 10 September
In a nutshell
Great upgrade, especially for runners
The Pixel Watch 3 sticks to the timeless, but also relaxed design and upgrades discreetly under the hood. Google scores most points for its software. The Fitbit app provides even more detailed information on health, cardio load and fitness level. Most of it is nice to have. For me, the Pixel Watch 3, like all other smartwatches I’ve tested, remains a gadget. But all the data and analyses definitely make me think more about health and fitness – and that’s certainly not a bad thing.
Ambitious athletes probably benefit more from all this information than I do. They can also look forward to workouts tailored to their needs. Alternatively, you can create your own – as long as they’re running workouts. Other sports are left behind.
Otherwise, the biggest change is the display size. The new 45 mm model is easier to control and makes everything a little easier to read. Even on narrower wrists, the watch doesn’t look bulky. Depending on the model, however, you may have to pay up to 500 francs/euros.
If you own a Pixel Watch 2, the upgrade is only worthwhile if you’re looking for a larger display or want to intensify your runs. If you’re still using the first Pixel Watch, the third iteration definitely offers enough reasons to switch.
Pro
- New in two sizes
- Intuitive control
- Provides detailed health data and analyses
- Personalised workouts
- Proprietary running trainings
Contra
- Battery doesn’t last two days
- No tensor chip
- Many functions only useful for runners
- Many functions and data hidden behind Fitbit paywall
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chAs a child, I wasn't allowed to have any consoles. It was only with the arrival of the family's 486 PC that the magical world of gaming opened up to me. Today, I'm overcompensating accordingly. Only a lack of time and money prevents me from trying out every game there is and decorating my shelf with rare retro consoles.
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