Google Pixel Watch 3 2024 review

In the ever-evolving era of technology, I have found myself somewhat resistant to the latest gadgets. I still wear wired headphones to the gym (much to my little sister’s chagrin) and have been woken up by the same panic-inducing alarm for years. “I don’t need anything else,” I tell myself. “What I have now is just wonderful.” But something about Google Pixel Watch 3 ($400) caught my attention.

How someone with a chronic illnessthe idea of ​​wearable technology is definitely appealing. When I was first fighting long COVID back in 2021, my mother bought me a pulse oximeter to monitor my pulse and oxygen saturation. Although the clip-on oximeter ultimately proved impractical for regular, everyday use, I still remember the comfort that these numbers provided. While most people likely use their Google Pixel Watch as an extension of their Pixel phones, I was most interested in the features like sleep tracking and heart rate data.

I expected to learn a little about myself during testing, but I didn’t realize how much a watch like the Pixel 3 would tell me about my health and fitness (and motivate me to do better). After testing the Pixel Watch 3 for several weeks, I’ve come to some important conclusions.

What do you get

I chose the 45mm Pixel Watch 3, which has a brushed silver aluminum case and a porcelain active band (though I was also tempted by the pink color scheme). This was my first smartwatch and I wasn’t sure what to expect aesthetically, but I was pleasantly surprised when the Pixel Watch arrived. It looked elegant, didn’t go with any outfit, and even the larger watches looked small on my wrist. In addition to the watch face, you also get several watch bands that attach to both sides of the watch and a charger.

Setup was incredibly easy, except for the attached bands. Honestly, if you don’t have tapered acrylic pins, there’s a good chance you’ll have a much easier time putting these together than I did. However, after about seven failed attempts, I resorted to what I call “letting instinct take over,” squeezing the bars on either side of the dial until I heard a satisfying click. For reference, there is a button on each side that you can press, allowing you to slide the straps into place more easily (in theory).

What I like about the Google Pixel Watch 3

I really wanted to know how bad it was my sleep schedule it really was. After wearing the Pixel Watch for a few days, I checked my data with gritted teeth and found that I wasn’t doing as bad as I thought (about seven hours on average). If you want to learn more about your sleep patterns, the Pixel Watch can also tell you your sleep score (mine is usually in the “fair” zone), changes in skin temperature, and your sleep stages at night, broken down by the minute. minutes so you know exactly how much time you spend in REM sleep, light sleep, deep sleep, etc.

Of course, these were not the only indicators that interested me. One of my favorite parts of the Pixel Watch 3 was the Morning View, which is automatically provided every morning as soon as you wake up. It’s designed to set you up for success by summarizing your daily readiness assessment, heart rate variability, exercise goals, and ending with a quick look at the weather. For example, it’s one thing to say you’re going to go to the gym five times a week, but when you wake up and your morning report says you only went once. . . it really has a way of motivating you.

In fact, the Pixel Watch is great for accountability in general. I knew I had a fairly sedentary job, but I had no idea how little I actually moved until I started walking less than 1,000 steps all day. In an effort to change, I set a goal of walking 5,000 steps, and the Pixel Watch 3 immediately sent me reminders to that effect, helping me get up periodically throughout the workday and inch closer to that goal.

When I went to the gym (I’m usually pretty good at cardio and strength training), the Pixel Watch tracked that too, automatically detecting when I was working out on the elliptical or even just going for a walk and giving me accurate data. about my heart rate, cardio load and calories burned. It even showed how intense my workouts were and how much time I spent in each intensity zone.

In terms of mental health, the Pixel Watch also has the ability to detect signs of stress. Although I can’t always pinpoint the exact cause of my stress, I remember my watch ringing during a panic attack. He clearly sensed that something was wrong, but also gave me specific suggestions, such as using a breathing app or going for a short walk. It was an unexpectedly rewarding moment that I didn’t expect, but which I thoroughly appreciated, and ended up being one of the highlights of my entire experience with the Google Pixel Watch 3.

Things to consider before you try Google Pixel Watch 3

As someone who leans more towards Type A, I understand having access to so many indicators. may provoke for some. At times, I even found myself becoming a little obsessive, constantly checking to make sure I was training “hard enough” and beating myself up if I didn’t get enough sleep or didn’t hit my daily step goals. However, I personally think the hours have proven to be more of a motivator than a stressor. I approached the data with curiosity rather than cold judgment, and I think this may have helped the new information seem less overwhelming. If you want to learn more about yourself, the Google Pixel Watch 3 will definitely help you with that, but remember not to get too caught up in all the goals and metrics.

Who is the Google Pixel Watch 3 best for?

With advanced fitness tracking features like a running dashboard, form analysis, and AI-powered running recommendations, I think runners, athletes, and avid fitness enthusiasts will get the most out of the Google Pixel Watch 3. However, as more I the casual gym goer himself (and beginner runner at its best), I still really valued all the metrics and felt like they made a big difference in my approach to my own health goals.

Is the Google Pixel Watch 3 worth spending money on?

The price tag is definitely a potential barrier – a cool $400. However, considering that other smartwatches and similar sleep gadgets cost around the same price, if you have a Pixel phone and want to invest in your health, this would be a great piece of technology. Because this watch can do so much, you may need fewer gadgets overall, depending on your lifestyle.

More information

Where is Google Pixel Watch 3 available?

You can buy Google Pixel Watch 3 on the website Google Store, Targetor Best buy.

Rating:★★★★★

Chandler Plante (she/her) is PS’s assistant editor for health and fitness. She has more than four years of professional journalism experience, previously serving as an assistant editor at People magazine and contributing to Ladygunn, Millie and Bustle Digital Group.