Google has officially announced the Pixel Watch 3 after months of speculation and leaks and there are more than a few things to be excited about. Google’s Pixel Watch has always been a fan favorite for many Pixel phone owners because it kept things within the ecosystem. In fact, Google says that users have “loved the deep integration of Pixel Watches, Pixel Buds, and Pixel phones.”
While this is likely very true, there is one thing that the Pixel Watch has lacked that would improve the overall user experience – a bigger display. Google has finally listened to what users have been saying for the past two watch models. The Pixel Watch needs a bigger display. Or at the very least, an option for a bigger display. With the Pixel Watch 3, Google is releasing the watch in two sizes. One in the standard 41mm like before, and one in a 45mm size. So people finally get to choose what suits them best.
Google isn’t just releasing two sizes of the Pixel Watch 3 though. The display size for the 41mm option has actually been increased. Not by much, mind you, but it has increased, as there’s now 16% less bezel than before. As for the 45mm size, there’s 40% more screen real estate to work with. So if you love the Pixel Watch 2 and have just wanted a larger display, the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 is the watch for you.
Battery life has improved on the Pixel Watch 3, but there’s a catch
The Pixel Watch series has more or less mimicked what Google does with its Pixel phones. They have a 24-hour battery so you can use the watch for a full day with the Always-on-display enabled. This isn’t really changing with the Pixel Watch 3. It’ll last for a full day, and that’ll be enough for some people. So if this hasn’t changed, how has the battery life improved? You’ll need to disable the AOD and put the watch into Battery Saver mode. If you do that, you’ll get about 4 more hours of battery life out of the watch.
With last year’s Pixel Watch 2 it would last around 32 hours with the AOD off if the watch was put into Battery Saver mode. The Pixel Watch 3 will last up to 36 hours. So if you don’t use the AOD and never really have, you’re definitely going to notice a small improvement. This is a good thing. It’s a little bit of a shame that it won’t last longer with the AOD on though, especially when the Galaxy Watch 7 can last for up to 30 hours when the AOD is enabled.
Now this could vary a little based on which size of the watch you pick. The 45mm Pixel Watch 3, Google says, has a 35% bigger battery than the 41mm size (420mAh compared to 306mAh). So you might get more battery life out of the larger model between charges. Google says the watch also now charges 20% faster. These are just some things to keep in mind if you decide to upgrade.
The display is now two times as bright
The Pixel Watch 3 may not look much different from its predecessor, but there are more improvements than it lets on. For example, the watch display is now two times as bright as the previous model. So if you ever had reservations about the display brightness with the Pixel Watch 2, the Pixel Watch 3 should change things. In terms of specs, both watches use an Actua Display with Custom Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protecting the AMOLED LPTO panel. Both displays also have 320 ppi.
As for the brightness, it now goes up to 2,000 nits for the peak brightness, and with AOD enabled it can go down to a minimum of 1 nit. The displays are also more power efficient, so this should help with battery life as well.
Conserve battery with Auto Bedtime Mode
If battery life is still a worry for you, the Auto Bedtime Mode feature should help ease those concerns. Bedtime Mode was included with the Pixel Watch 2, but it wasn’t automatic. You had to turn it on manually. With the Pixel Watch 3, it will automatically detect when you fall asleep and turn Bedtime Mode on so the watch uses less power. This will be especially useful if you like wearing the watch to bed for sleep-tracking purposes.
When can you buy the Google Pixel Watch 3?
Google will open up pre-orders for the Pixel Watch 3 today after the keynote is over. It’s still unclear when the watches will ship, however. The Pixel Watch 3 in the 41mm size will start at $349 for the Wi-Fi model, and the LTE model will be $449. The 45mm Pixel Watch 3 will retail for $399 for the Wi-Fi model and $499 for the LTE model. Both sizes come in Matte Black Aluminum with an Obsidian band and Polished Silver Aluminum with a Porcelain band.
Each size also has its own unique color combinations. The 41mm will come in two other styles. Champagne Gold Aluminum with a Hazel band, and Polished Silver Aluminum with a Rose Quartz band. The 45mm size will come in Matte Hazel Aluminum with a Hazel band.
