The Google Pixel Watch 3 should be one of the most exciting Android smartwatches of the year, and it could arrive sooner than expected.
While the first two Pixel Watches shipped in October, Google has scheduled its next Made by Google event for August 13. While it's already teased several upcoming Pixel phones, Google hasn't yet confirmed that the Pixel Watch 3 will make an appearance there.
Still, we're optimistic that the successor to the Pixel Watch 2 will make an appearance. We've seen several Pixel Watch 3 leaks already, including renders showing a larger display size and an alleged price bump.
Here's everything we know about the Google Pixel Watch 3 thus far, as well as what we hope to see from it!
Google Pixel Watch 3: Price and availability
Last year, Google unveiled the Pixel Watch 2 at the Made by Google event on October 4 and shipped it out on October 12. This year, Google is holding a Made by Google event on August 13; it's already teased the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold in promo videos, but has yet to hint at a wearable announcement.
If Google does showcase the Pixel Watch 3 in August, we can expect it to ship by the end of August. Otherwise, Google might choose to wait until October, as it did the last two generations.
The first Pixel Watch cost $349, as did the Pixel Watch 2. The current rumor is that the Pixel Watch 3 will ship in two sizes that cost €399 and €449, respectively. Even though the Euro is slightly stronger than the dollar, Google currently charges €399 for the Pixel Watch 2, so we assume that means the Pixel Watch 3 will remain at $349 here, with the alleged Pixel Watch 3 XL costing somewhere between $370 and $400.
Google Pixel Watch 3: Display and models
Rumors began in January that Google would sell the Pixel Watch 3 in two sizes: 45mm and 41mm. Like the 41mm Pixel Watch 2, the Pixel Watch 3 would have a 1.2-inch AMOLED display, while the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 XL would jump to 1.4 inches.
Since then, we've seen Pixel Watch 3 renders via OnLeaks that show a very similar design to the Pixel Watch 2, with the same edge-to-edge display, side crown, Google Assistant button, and bottom sensor array.
The key difference is that Google allegedly made the Watch 3 significantly thicker than the Watch 2, enlarging it from 12.3mm to 14mm. While the rumor is that Google put a thicker battery inside the Watch 3, a leaked South Korean certification showed the watch with a 307mAh capacity, just 1mAh more than the Pixel Watch 2. Instead, the extra thickness could come from new health sensors, though we don't know what.
The leak also suggests that the Pixel Watch 3 case measures 0.2mm shorter, so perhaps Google managed to shrink the Watch 2's thick display border to make it a little more petite.
We later saw Pixel Watch 3 XL renders via OnLeaks that look, unsurprisingly, like a stretched-out Pixel 3. While the display allegedly measures 1.45 inches, everything else about the domed glass display and crown looks the same.
The Pixel Watch 2's single size was one of our only hang-ups with its design, so we're looking forward to having an XL option.
We'll close out this section with a very unlikely, but still intriguing feature: Google patented "gesture recognition on watch bezel using strain gauges," meaning you could squeeze a smartwatch or touch and hold the outer edge of a display to trigger an action. It has the same principle as the Galaxy Watch 7's touch bezel, except more specialized. In theory, Google could try to implement a version of this in the Pixel Watch 3.
Google Pixel Watch 3: Rumored specs and features
We've yet to hear any rumors about the Pixel Watch 3's CPU. Given the Pixel Watch 2 used the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 with a co-processor, the natural progression would be a Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 with CPU upgrades.
Google could choose to bring back the same chipset instead; smartwatches sometimes keep the same CPU across generations. On the other hand, Google and Qualcomm announced an RISC-V partnership last October to create custom CPUs designed to specialize in Wear OS-related tasks. So it's possible we could see the fruits of this partnership in the Pixel Watch 3 with a custom chipset.
We've yet to see any smartwatch offer more than 2GB of RAM, so that might remain unchanged. Google offered 32GB of storage last year, but could double it to 64GB with the Pixel Watch 3 to match the Apple Watch Series 9.
We expect Google to bring back the same Fitbit-made health sensors: heart rate, blood oxygen, ECG, cEDA for stress, and skin temperature.
While the Pixel Watch 2 only had Bluetooth 5.0 and WiFi 2.4GHz connectivity, this Pixel Watch 3 rumor suggests it'll add both WiFi 5GHz and UWB, with the latter used to auto-unlock your Pixel phone when your watch is nearby.
The Pixel Watch 3 should have Wear OS 5 out of the box. Google has already promised that this new version will make fitness tracking 20% more efficient, let you follow a specific goal during a workout like maintaining a specific heart rate zone, add new XML watch faces, and include new Complications like "Goal progress." It's all very fitness-focused, but we assume Google will have other non-fitness software perks up its sleeve.
Google Pixel Watch 3: Wishlist
While there's a lot to like about the Pixel Watch 2, but it's not as though this is the perfect smartwatch. Google made some questionable decisions this time around, along with a few more that we were ecstatic to see.
Nevertheless, we've rounded up a few things that we'd like for Google to implement with the next iteration of its smartwatch, to help it maintain its place among the best Android smartwatches.
Another size
If there’s one thing I’ve been asking for since Google unveiled the original Pixel Watch, it’s for there to be a larger size. When it comes to many of the best smartwatches, this isn’t really anything that you need to worry about, as there are usually at least two different options to choose from. However, this wasn’t the case with the Pixel Watch, and Google opted to stick with the same 41mm case sizing with the Pixel Watch 2.
Even though it’s quite an elegant-looking wearable, it still looks quite comical for those who have larger wrists (like myself.) We’re not even saying that the Pixel Watch 3 needs to have an option as big as the TicWatch Pro 5, but something larger than 41mm would be nice.
If Google creates the rumored Pixel Watch 3 XL, that'll solve one of my only problems with the last-gen watch.
Smaller bezels
Another annoyance, for some at least, is that the bezels on the Pixel Watch are simply too large. We were hoping to see some type of improvements made in this regard with the Pixel Watch 2, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be.
It’s not as much of a problem when using one of the built-in watch faces, which are quite elegant and useful in their own right. But as soon as you want to try using Facer or build your own with KWCH, the bezels stick out like a sore thumb. Given the overall design, it’s not like we expect a bezel-less smartwatch, but just trim up the edges a bit.
Pick a charging method and stick with it
Last year, we got “wireless charging,” but it wasn’t the same experience compared to something like the Galaxy Watch 5. You were stuck using Google’s own charger, and if something happened to it, you had to order another cable from Google. This time around, the Pixel Watch 2 uses the same charging method as the Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4, courtesy of the pogo pins on the underside of the casing.
The result is faster charging speeds and a more reliable connection compared to the original Pixel Watch. But it also leaves us feeling a bit weary that Google could change things up again for the next iteration. While we would really love to see true wireless charging, complete with the ability to use reverse wireless charging, we’d also love for Google to pick a method and stick with it. If we’re destined to use Fitbit’s method of charging, so be it; just don’t keep going back and forth.
Longer battery life
The Pixel Watch 2 already improves upon battery life, as it’s rated for 24 hours even with the always-on display enabled. For comparison, the only way you could get that much juice out of its predecessor was if you were okay with turning the AOD off.
It’s definitely a big step in the right direction, but we’d love for Google to push the limits even further. There are a couple of ways that would allow for this, such as a new SoC that is more power efficient or simply using a bigger battery. But in order to squeeze a bigger battery in, it’s likely that this would require a redesigned case.
Or, ya know, just a larger size option.
Just include Premium
There’s something about the Pixel Watch and its successor that continues to pick at me. Prices start at $349, and while that includes six months of Fitbit Premium, there are another six months that you have to pay out of pocket. At least that’s the case if you want to keep using Premium features such as viewing your Stress Management and Sleep Score details.
Why not just include a full 12 months of Fitbit Premium with every new purchase? I understand the fact that Google is in the business of making money, but it’s not like you see Apple or Samsung hide these kinds of features behind a paywall. Something as basic as a Daily Readiness Score shouldn’t need to be something you need to pay for, so it’s kind of frustrating that this is the path that Google continues to go down.
