The latest smartwatch in the Google Pixel series, the Google Pixel Watch 3 , has been released.
Since the first Pixel Watch was released two years ago, it seems to have become more refined with each passing year. I had the opportunity to try it on for the first time, so I’d like to share my impressions after using it for two weeks.
Pixel Watch 3 | 41mm | LTE
Connectivity: 4G LTE
Case size: 41mm (for wrists 130-210mm)
Color: Champagne Gold/Hazel
Sleek beauty and comfort
The Pixel Watch’s design is inspired by a drop of water . It looks like a liquid held together by surface tension that could spill out at any moment. I first took it out of the box and was entranced by its beauty.
The back, where the heart rate sensor, infrared sensor, skin temperature sensor, etc. are located, also has a smooth curve.
Because it has no bumps or grooves, it doesn’t leave marks on your arms even if you wear it for a long time.
The soft-touch coated fluoroelastomer band has a gentle indentation on the back. This curve fits perfectly to the curves of your arm, making it extremely comfortable to wear .
It was the most comfortable smartwatch I have ever worn.
The watch itself weighs just 31g (for the 41mm model), so you’ll barely notice you’re wearing it.
Thanks to its minimalist design, it doesn’t get caught on your sleeves. It looks like it will go with any outfit, and I personally really liked the nuanced color of the ” Hazel ” that I borrowed.
The only thing I don’t like about the design is the location of the tactile crown . Like the Apple Watch, it’s on the right side of the watch, but if you’re left-handed and wearing it on your non-dominant arm, it’s pretty difficult to turn the crown with your left hand.
Well, there’s no problem if you operate the touch display without turning the crown.
Easy-to-read display even outdoors on a sunny day
The AMOLED display has a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits, and was as easy to see as expected . I had no problem viewing Google Maps outdoors during the day, and the response time was also excellent.
The controls are intuitive and basically the same as Fitbit’s smartwatches: swipe down to display the settings menu and various modes, swipe up to display notifications, and swipe left and right to display tiles.
Fast charging possible
Battery life is not so good . In the case of the 41mm model, the battery size is 307mAh. With the battery saver mode off, it could be used continuously for a day, and with it on, it was about a day and a half at best, so it was necessary to be careful to charge it frequently.
However, the fast charging speed was a big relief. The official website states that it takes about 24 minutes to charge to 50%, about 35 minutes to 80%, and about 60 minutes to 100%, and this was roughly consistent with my actual usage.
If you charge it while you’re in the bath, the battery will recover enough to last at least one night. As long as you don’t forget to charge it, there’s no problem. However, it’s easy to forget to do this kind of thing… It’s best to decide on a charging time and make it a habit.
Also works with smartphones
To use the Pixel Watch 3 in conjunction with your smartphone, you need a Google account and the Google Pixel Watch app . By linking your smartphone and smartwatch through the app, you can choose the design of your watch face, change the layout of tiles, and set and customize smartwatch functions such as notifications.
Regarding compatibility, it is compatible with almost all smartphones running Android OS version 10.0 or later. In other words, it is not compatible with iPhones running iOS .
Although it can be linked with almost all Android phones, the best compatibility is with the Google Pixel series smartphones. If you pair it with a Pixel smartphone, you can also use the Pixel Recorder app newly installed on the Pixel Watch 3 .
If you record a voice memo using the microphone built into the Pixel Watch 3, you can transcribe it or search the transcript after syncing using the recorder app on your Pixel smartphone.
In addition, thanks to wireless communication using a UWB (Ultra-Wide Band) chip, you can now unlock your Pixel smartphone by simply swiping while wearing the Pixel Watch 3.
The Fitbit app was great
In addition, if you want to analyze the biometric data collected by the Pixel Watch 3, you can link it to the Fitbit app . If you purchase the Pixel Watch 3, you can use Fitbit Premium (the paid version of the Fitbit app) for free for 6 months.
What surprised me when I actually used it was how excellent the Fitbit Premium app is !
This is a running activity recorded in the Fitbit app.
In addition to the basic data (on the left) that can be logged by almost any health monitoring app, such as average pace and calories burned, the display is filled with data to help improve your running form (in the middle and on the right).
According to Google, the advanced motion detection function measures things like foot rotation rate, stride length, and vertical movement to help improve running performance.
Based on this data, I was able to identify a specific area for improvement: reducing my vertical motion ratio (how much my body moves up and down with each step) .
Sleep data is displayed visually and easily understood, with clear explanations for each number .
The Fitbit Premium app not only tells you your sleep score, but also explains ” why you got that number ,” giving me an opportunity to reflect on my lifestyle habits as I continued to use it.
Visualize your daily efforts
Finally, one more thing I liked about the Pixel Watch 3: As is the case with many other smartwatches, it automatically detects and records your daily activities .
For example, walking to the station, going to the supermarket to buy groceries, biking to the library… Even activities like these that you don’t consciously do can be quantified as exercise and the data is accumulated .
So, for those who have been thinking “I should exercise” but have not been able to get started, if you can become conscious of the physical activity you are already doing, the hurdle to exercising may be lowered.
Overall, the Pixel Watch 3 is well designed, comfortable to wear, and fits seamlessly into your daily life. In addition, it has many features that visualize your physical health, which may encourage you to be more conscious of your health.
