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Google entered the smartwatch hardware arena in 2022 with the launch of the first Pixel Watch. Previously they'd be designing software for other smartwatch makers. And shortly before launching their own watch, they acquired Fitbit.
Building on that experience they introduced the Pixel Watch 1, which was a fine first version of a smartwatch for Google. It wasn't as sleek or smart as the competitors, but it showed promise.
In 2024, the Pixel Watch 3 continues to improve. With this version it differentiates itself from the competition through deep AI integration for custom workout planning. It's still a little bulky, it's not as slick or smart as the competition, but the gap between Google's smartwatch and other Android smartwatch options is closing.
I've been using the Pixel Watch 3 for over a month now and these are the features I appreciate the most.
AI Workout Plans
With the Pixel Watch 3 you can build a custom run. What does that even mean? Well you know how you start a workout with certain intentions of finishing in a certain time, or going at a certain intensity level, but then as you start to get tired, your plans can change? The Pixel Watch 3 will keep you on pace to stick with your plan.
By launching the Fitbit app on your phone, you can "build a run" specifying goals (like going a certain distance, burning a certain number of calories, etc). Then when you start your run, you'll get real-time guidance keeping you posted on your progress and letting you know if you need to slow down (example keeping your heart rate in Zone 2) or pick up the pace to achieve your goal.
The best part is, once you dial in the custom run you most want, you can use it over, and over again!
After your workout, you can do a deep dive into a variety of analytics including your form, stride length, ground contact time and much, much more. And with a Fitbit Premium membership you'll get personalized AI generated runs that are influenced by your past training history and current vital metrics (sleep, skin temperature, etc).
Smart Home Integration
While the previous Pixel Watches did allow you to control and monitor your smart home but the experience on Pixel Watch 3 is improved.
Part of this may be due to a larger display surface, maybe it's because of the increased brightness, or maybe it's because of the expanding ecosystem with great new devices like the Google TV Streamer and new 4th Gen Nest Learning thermostat.
If you have Nest cameras around the home you'll be able to pan and zoom right from your watch, respond to your video doorbell and more.
Your smartwatch can become a remote control for your Google TV or you can access more advanced camera controls for your Pixel phone with a more refined interface making it easier to zoom in and out and snap photos from your watch.
New Watch Faces
Google's new smart watch faces have gotten WAY better. While this may seem cosmetic, what's the point of having a smart watch if you can't display the stuff you want to be visible?
The active watch face in particular allows you to adjust which complications (the little widgets that show extra data) in a very granular way so you can pul up the info that's most relevant to you. There are also many more options for creating custom colours to express your personal style through the Pixel Watch 3.
Time for an upgrade?
I don't think the changes between the Pixel watch 2 and 3 are profound enough to justify an upgrade. However, if you've been on the sidelines with the Pixel Watch, waiting for it to get more features, elevating it closer to other competing smart watches, this could be a great time to jump in.
Google Pixel Watch 3
The Pixel Watch 3 is an excellent fitness tracking smartwatch. Aside from the workout features, it's also great for getting notifications from your phone at a glance, monitoring and controlling your smarthome and more.
With up to 36 hours of battery life on Battery Saver mode (or easily get through a full day through regular use) and even more colour options between the finish and strap choices, the Pixel Watch 3 brings a lot of improvements.
As you'd expect, setup with the Google Pixel 9/Pro and Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is very simple. For non-Pixel phones, you can download the Pixel Watch app to get up and running.
I think the fitness/health features are still the Pixel Watches best feature, but the ease of controlling more smart devices right from your watch and the improved aesthetics through finish variety and the new watch face customizations elevate the Pixel Watch to be a more compelling android smartwatch option than ever before.
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