The Google Pixel Watch 3 beats the best Android smartwatches in some ways — style, health & fitness insights, and regular software updates — while falling short in other areas like battery life. And it's a bit expensive compared to the Galaxy Watch 7, especially the larger model.
Our Pixel Watch 3 buyer's guide will help you decide if the 45mm Watch 3 is worth the extra $50, plus whether you should spend another $100 on the LTE cellular version.
We'll also run through how the Pixel Watch 3 specs, sensors, and features compare against the Watch 2 and 1, if you're looking to upgrade.
You can check my Pixel Watch 3 review for a hands-on perspective. And since Google regularly updates the Pixel Watch 3 with post-launch software and tools, we'll run through what to expect and how to check if you're on the latest version.
Google Pixel Watch 3: Price & cellular
The Google Pixel Watch 3 launched on September 10, 2024, in 32 countries; only 20 of those sell an LTE version. It requires an Android phone running Android 10+ and a Google account. Some features are Pixel-exclusive, but you can still easily use it on other Android phones.
The 41mm Watch 3 costs $349 / £349 / €399 / CA$479 / AU$579, or $449 / £449 / €499 / CA$599 / AU$749 with 4G LTE. The Pixel Watch 3 45mm costs $399 / £399 / €449 / CA$549 / AU$669, or $499 / £499 / €549 / CA$669 / AU$839 with LTE.
If you buy it from the Google Store, you can get trade-in value for the Pixel Watch 2 ($65) or Watch 1 ($30), as well as other brands like the Apple Watch S9 ($125) or Galaxy Watch 6 ($45). You'll get less value if there are cracks.
The Watch 3 LTE comes with 500MB of free, speedy Google Fi data per month — double what the Watch 2 offered — without needing a carrier; after you hit the cap, data speeds slow to an unusable 256kbps.
We advise that you buy the Pixel Watch 3 LTE if you plan to add it to your phone plan, which will allow streaming music, emergency support, and calling without a phone on hand. If you always have your phone on hand or don't want to pay your carrier extra, it's probably not worth it.
This Google Support link lists the international carriers that will accept it on your plan; we've singled out the North American carriers below:
- AT&T (FirstNet)
- Cellcom
- CSpire
- Google Fi
- T-Mobile
- UScellular
- Verizon
- Xfinity
- Bell
- Rogers
- SaskTel
- Telus
- Virgin
Google Pixel Watch 3: Colors & straps
The Pixel Watch 3 41mm comes in four finishes: Matte Black case with Obsidian Band, Polished Silver with Porcelain Band, Champagne Gold with Hazel Band, and Polished Silver with Rose Quartz Band.
As for the larger Pixel Watch 3 45mm variant, it only comes in three color options: the same Matte Black and Polished Silver case options, plus a Matte Hazel case with a Hazel band.
Both watches ship with a Pixel Watch Active Band in small and large sizes, plus a proprietary USB-C charging cable. It's not the same charger as the first-gen Pixel Watch, but you can use the Watch 2 charger if you have it.
Otherwise, Google sells excellent (but expensive) first-party bands for a change in style, and we have a guide on the best Pixel Watch 3 bands that include more affordable and diverse third-party options.
Google Pixel Watch 3: Specs and 41mm vs. 45mm
The Google Pixel Watch 3's 41mm and 45mm variants mostly share the same specs and features; we've bolded the differences in the table above, but they mostly relate to display size and battery capacity.
Wear OS 5 has an adaptive UI layout that fits more info onto larger displays. The photo below shows how the 1.43-inch Watch 3 45mm can show more icons than the 1.27-cinh Watch 3 41mm. But both displays have the same pixels per inch.
The Pixel Watch 3 45mm has an extra 114mAh of capacity over the 41mm. Some of that powers the larger display, but it also helps the larger model last slightly longer. That may factor into your choice to spend the extra $50. Both watches last longer than Google's official estimate of 24 hours with AOD, but the 45mm can hit closer to two days.
The other key difference is that the 41mm watch can be charged in 60 minutes, while the 45mm watch takes 80 minutes because of that extra capacity.
Most of the Android Central staff prefers the 45mm Watch 3 for the extra display space and battery life, and because it doesn't weigh much more than the 41mm. But a couple of us prefer the 41mm because it's more petite, better fitting the original water-droplet style that made Pixel Watches popular.
Google Pixel Watch 3 vs. Pixel Watch 2 vs. Watch 1
We have an in-depth Pixel Watch 3 vs. Watch 2 guide that runs through every key difference, as well as the table above to highlight the main upgrades across each generation.
By and large, the Pixel Watch 3 41mm is quite similar to the Watch 2:
- Both use a Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 with four Arm Cortex-A53 cores at 1.7GHz, plus a Cortex M33 MCU.
- You get 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage with either watch.
- They have the same ingress protection against dust and water, plus the same Gorilla Glass 5 layer.
- The 41mm Watch 2 and 3 measure the same size, weight, and battery capacity.
- Your health sensors and Fitbit software are the same, too.
Since the new Snapdragon chip is coming in 2025, the Watch 3 couldn't upgrade performance over the Watch 2. Both are faster and more efficient than the Watch 1, which uses an aged Exynos chip.
The Pixel Watch 3 41mm display shrunk its display bezel by 16%, so you get a 1.27-inch, 408x408 display instead of a 1.2-inch, 384x384 display. The brightness jumps from 1,000 to 2,000 nits for better visibility in direct sunlight. And the Watch 2 and Watch 1 have no larger display option.
The Watch 3 display also added LTPO tech to hit 60Hz for normal use or as low as 1Hz for the always-on display, while the last-gen display tech couldn't transition as smoothly or save battery life as readily.
In terms of connectivity, the Pixel Watch 3 leaps from Bluetooth 5.0 to 5.3 for a stronger, more efficient phone connection with less signal interference. It supports the Wi-Fi 5GHz standard for faster app download speeds, along with Ultra Wideband to enable a Watch Unlock feature for your connected Android phone.
Charging on the Pixel Watch 3 is slightly faster, taking 15 minutes less to hit 100% power on the 41mm model (the 45mm takes 5 minutes more, but with more capacity to fill).
Google also told us that the Pixel Watch 3 has their "most accurate heart rate" compared to the Watch 2 and 1 thanks to an improved algorithm. In our review, we found the Pixel Watch 3 did quite well for heart rate accuracy, though not perfectly.
All three Pixel Watches now sport the Wear OS 5 update, but the Watch 3 has over two years of support left, while the Watch 1 shouldn't receive the next version update this fall.
As for Pixel Watch 1 owners considering an upgrade, it's best to look at our Pixel Watch 3 vs. Watch 1 guide. The two-generation gap is pretty substantial, with the Watch 3 significantly better for performance, health data like stress and skin temperature, display size and brightness, battery life, charging speed, and years of support left.
Google Pixel Watch 3: New software
The Pixel Watch 3 runs on Wear OS 5, an update dedicated to better Google app integration, battery efficiency, and improved Fitbit fitness features. Some key apps and features include the following:
- 20% better battery efficiency during workouts
- Grid-based app launcher
- Live feeds from your Nest Doorbell on your wrist
- Remote control menu for your Google TV Streamer
- Expanded Call Assist screening or Pixel Recorder recordings connected to your Pixel phone
- Custom-made or AI-generated daily workouts based on your Cardio Load
Google has promised that it will provide quarterly Wear OS updates on Pixel Watches moving forward, starting with Wear OS 5.1 in March.
Wear OS 5.1 added an improved step count algorithm that did well in our testing, better menstrual health tracking in the Fitbit app, a Restore Credentials function for easier restoring from backup, a new accent color in the menu, and new "Modes."
Pixel Watch 3 owners also finally received the Loss of Pulse feature in the U.S. in early April, so your watch will call 911 if it detects heart failure. And the watch added native Scam Detection so that you can check if a caller is suspicious on your wrist.
The Pixel Watch 3 March update had a slow, buggy rollout, and we're currently on the April 2025 update that fixed some March issues. To check which Wear OS version you have, go to Settings > System > System updates on the Pixel Watch 3, check the current version, and then rapidly tap the screen for about 15–30 seconds to check for another available update.
As for future Pixel Watch 3 features, we know Wear OS 6 should arrive in late summer, and that Google is working on replacing Assistant with Gemini on Wear OS soon. We should learn more at Google I/O in May.
Google Pixel Watch 3: Should you buy it?
Unless you want the less-stylish but impressive Galaxy Watch 7 or the ultra-pricey Galaxy Watch Ultra, you won't find another watch that matches the Pixel Watch 3 for speedy Wear OS updates, while other brands lag a year behind.
If you're weighing a Pixel Watch against another Android brand, our Pixel Watch 3 vs. OnePlus Watch 3 guide or Pixel Watch 3 vs. Galaxy Watch 7 guide can give you more context!
I still highly recommend the Pixel Watch 3. It's stylish, fast, and better connected with your other Google and Pixel devices than other Wear OS watches, and the Fitbit integration with accurate health sensors is a real draw.
One reason to wait is for the Pixel Watch 4, which may offer a new Snapdragon chip and a further battery boost. But until that arrives, the Pixel Watch 3 is your best option.
If you do decide to buy a Pixel Watch 3, bookmark my Pixel Watch 3 beginner's guide for what settings to change and features to activate once you unbox your new watch!
A major improvement
The Pixel Watch 3 comes in two size options, adding a large 45mm variant in addition to the pre-existing 41mm one. This is the Wear OS 5 watch to beat, with exciting new Google Home tricks with your Watch 3 as the controller. It comes with six months of Fitbit Premium, but you'll need to pay extra for standalone cellular support.
