the best Android watch you can buy helps you train and squeeze Google

Google has broken the schemes this year. It has changed its traditional device launch schedule by bringing forward to August the release of its Pixel 9 cell phones, its Pixel Watch 3 smartwatch, and a new foldable smartphone, the Pixel Fold, although this cannot be purchased in Spain. It has thus anticipated the launch of the new iPhone 16 and Apple Watch that are presented today. The statement is clear: to position itself as the main alternative to Apple.

Pixel Watch 3 arrives in two sizes for the first time, 41 and 45 mmThe Apple Watch, a rise of inches, with which it aspires to compete against the Apple Watch, which in this 2024 turns 10 years old. However, its new features are not only in a larger circular sphere and more space, but Google comes with a proposal to take full advantage of its ecosystem from our wrist and with an additional care of our daily health.

In EL ESPAÑOL – El Androide Libre we have spent the last few weeks with him to see firsthand how it is. the evolution of Google’s flagship wearableWhat comes to bring in its particular face to face against Apple and Samsung and if it is worth the 449 euros (399 for the 41 mm version) from which it arrives in Spain.

An extraordinary design

The Pixel Watch 3 is the Android smartwatch with the most personality on the market. It is elegant and eye-catching at the same time; but also flirtatious and attractive. A unique and differential design with which Google has managed to transmit to its watch that same character that have the design of their Pixel smartphones to differentiate themselves from any other manufacturer.

It is actually an evolution of what we had seen in the Pixel Watch 2 launched last year, but it is true that the 45 mm dial really suits it well. For its circular and curved screen does not become large on the wrist, but at the same time it gains a huge panel from which to answer messages, follow our health or use Google Maps. It gives a feeling of immersing yourself in the content, but without the feeling of having something big on your arm.

This sense of immersion is achieved thanks to noticeably thinner bezels and very good screen brightness and resolution. The bezels are 16% thinner that make have up to 40% more screen with respect to the previous generation (if we compare it with the single model of 41 mm last year). For its part, the Actua display offers very high sharpness thanks to using a 320 dpi LTPO AMOLED panel and a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. It looks great.

Another interesting factor is its weight, with the sports strap is around 50 grams, so we forget we are wearing it. It is comfortable to handle with it, the crown is very well implemented and the screen response of 60 hz makes it fluid in everyday use. It is light years ahead of many of its Android competitors. in quality and finish.

Your health, in more detail

Since Google bought Fitbit, the company has been putting more and more effort into bringing users’ health monitoring closer to easier-to-follow concepts that allow them to not only exercise better, but also know where your body is in its recovery.

The new Pixel Watch 3 has been designed with the idea of helping users achieve a workout routine that avoids sedentary lifestyles, while at the same time indicating the recovery and monitoring of the cardiovascular load. A very useful balance for athletes, but especially important for those who are just starting out in physical activity, allowing you to get the most out of your body without straining it.
The level of recovery indicated by the watch is now more personalized, as it uses data from sleep, resting heart rate, as well as the degree of variation of the frequency once you are recovering.

The cardiovascular load on the other hand what it does is to measure the effort that the heart makes and the Watch 3 can determine the effort you make in the day to day and see how is reflected in your workouts. This double monitoring not only allows you to train better, but also to avoid injuries and even to know whether you are over or under your body’s capabilities. In practice: it helps you train better.

Precisely in this ability to improve how you trainthe new watch is geared towards runners. It now has a comprehensive experience that allows, from the wrist, to plan the routine, warm up, cool down, set goals, do series, intervals… whatever the runner wants.

Not only can you keep track of your routines, but the watch will alert you with voice and vibration messages when you are losing pace or exceed your set heart rate. Also, if we are training series, it can tell us when is the next sprint or when to slow down the pace. It also has a system that monitors the running gene according to the movement of the wrist and explains how to take the stride, what cadence we perform or how to swing vertically. It’s like a trainer, but on the wrist. Of course, if the user wants to squeeze the full experience -with a more personalized routine-. it will be necessary to subscribe to Fitbit Premiumwhich also gives you exercises to improve your running.

Much more Google on your wrist

Beyond sport tracking and health monitoring. One of the great claims of this watch is its integration into the Google ecosystem, which goes far beyond the linking and control of our Android watch -better if it is Pixel- or paying in stores using Google Pay. Now, we have a deep focus on the fact that from the wrist we will be able to dominate the house. or use applications such as Google Maps in a comfortable and intuitive way.

To begin with, our health data mixes it with information from our environment such as the location we are in to thus offer us the weather forecast along with a morning summary with our most important metrics. A very interesting detail for us to know how we face each day.

This personal touch goes even further and the Watch 3 is fully integrated into the Google ecosystem. It is very useful for managing domestic tasks such as controlling the temperature at home, the doorbell or security cameras. Likewise, it can also be used as a Google TV remote if we do not have the remote at hand or use the recorder or answer spam calls from the watch.

Especially interesting is the use of Google Maps to walk around the city, since we can use it even without an internet connection. It is very useful to have the map and directions directly on the wrist, which avoids taking out the watch when we are more lost than usual and need directions to get to another point in the city.

This intense use of measurements, integration with Google and the brightness of the screen means that the battery is not among the best of Android watches, but it is true that it meets with note and we will have an experience similar to that offered by Apple or Samsung.

Specifically, the Pixel Watch 3 has an autonomy for 24 hours. of use with the screen always active, although I have come to stretch the battery to two nights of use without charging. Here it is key to be aware of breaks so that the watch also measures us in those periods of time.

One of the key points in optimizing it is the Rest mode, which the Watch automatically activates when it detects that we are sleeping. That yes, it is would appreciate more fast charging, as it takes about 28 minutes to charge to 50% and about 80 minutes to be at 100%, a combination that forces you to go 40-50 minutes without a watch during the day in order to charge it and be able to measure sleep with it.

Should I buy it?

The Pixel Watch 3 is one of the best Android watches you can buy, is quite a lesson from Google on how things should be done at all levels, both in hardware and software. It’s sleek, with timeless styling and high-quality materials. All with deep ecosystem integration and the help of the company’s AI. A circle that allows it to look head to head with the best in the market and aspire to the throne.

If you bet on your purchase you will not regret it. The user experience is very good, it has everything you can demand from a high-end smartwatch and its design is at the forefront of the market. Mind you, if you are looking for a wearable with a battery that approaches weekly charging instead of daily, this watch is not for you. In my case, I’m used to charging my watch every day – or even every other day – so the Watch 3 fits perfectly into my routine.

In sum, the Pixel Watch 3 is not only the best watch Google has ever made, but one of the best watches you can buy because of its performance, design and uniqueness.