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Google presented a new range of Pixel products in the middle of August. Alongside the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, two accessories: a pair of headphones and a smartwatch. We will take a closer look at the latter during this test.
Sold for €399 by Google (€499 for the 4G version), it is presented as Google's solution to compete with the Apple Watch, which is ultra-dominant on the smartwatch market.
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A design without a false note
Even before receiving the new Pixel Watch 3 for this test, the design of the latter does not leave you indifferent. It is the simplicity and elegance that the Apple Watch has never been. The choice of a round chassis, much more harmonious than the square models of the Apple, makes the watch light.
This is not just an impression. Once on the wrist, the Pixel Watch 3 is forgotten completely. Because it only displays 31 gon the scale (for the 41 mm and 37 g for the 45 mm). The strap comes in two different sizes to fit all body types.
A nice touch that we hope will inspire Apple, Samsung and others to do the same with their next smartwatches (we dream, we know). The attachment system is as original as it is elegant. The watch attaches easily to the wrist, and once in place, it does not wander around on our forearm.
Aesthetically, its 320 ppi AMOLED screen with up to 2000 nits is perfect. All the information is very readable, even the most discreet notifications. The touch crown is ultimately the only visible appendage on this watch. Even the button, located just above, is quickly forgotten (a little too quickly, even).
A high-end technical sheet
The Google Pixel Watch 3 with its charger and its additional integrated strap © Presse-citron
If the first glance at the Pixel Watch 3 has something to seduce, The technical sheet is not there to cool us down, on the contrary. With an IP68 watch, a Qualcomm SW5100 processor and a myriad of sensors (Google lists 12 on its website), the Pixel Watch 3 is among the top of the range .
However, there are no big surprises or new discoveries on this Pixel Watch 3. It has a sensor to measure blood oxygen saturation (spO2), a multi-point heart rate sensor for accurate measurement at all times.
The watch can also take our temperature (which can be very useful ladies to track your menstrual cycles). Finally, there are speakers and a microphone to use the watch to answer calls.
As we said above, the Pixel Watch 3 does not have any new features, but all the “required” features on a watch of this caliber answer the call. During our test, we did not feel any lack. Except maybe the stress measurement, which is nevertheless an important health data.
Enduring enough for the day, but not more
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If we have been rather complimentary so far ( (rightly so) with this Pixel Watch 3, we come to the part that hurts. Like many (too many) smartwatches in 2024, the latest from Google does not meet our expectations in terms of autonomy and recharging.
With a proprietary charging system (USB-C is not mandatory on smartwatches), it's one more cable lying around on our desk . And you better not lose sight of it for too long, because the watch is incapable of lasting more than 36 hours without having to recharge.
The 307 mAh battery (420mAh on 45mm version) only works for 24 hours with Always-on mode. In “power saving”, it goes up to 36 hours, but the main features that make this Pixel Watch 3 strong are no longer there.
A battery life that is too low for a product that defines itself as a health assistant designed to accompany us 24 hours a day. As with many other smartwatches, you have to always keep an eye on the remaining battery in your watch. We find ourselves doing apothecary calculations at 10 p.m. to know if the watch will have enough energy to get through the night.
Of course, the recharge is fortunately quite fast. Google announces a gain of 50% in only 24 minutes. In fact, we tend to agree with this data. To go up to 80% (and hope to last a whole day) you have to keep your watch on base for 35 minutes, assures Google. We rather bet on 45 minutes.
An OS still a little too complicated
On the left the Pixel Watch application, on the right the Fitbit application © Presse-citron
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000Before buying a connected device like a watch, we generally look at 4 major data. The first two, design and autonomy, we have just discussed them. The third concerns the price (see end of article) and finally, the ecosystem. What is the point of buying a connected watch if its use makes us more nervous than anything else because of a poorly thought-out OS ?
In this area, we could say that by betting on Google, we are not really taking a risk. The brand present for decades in our lives is not at its first attempt. It knows how to integrate products into an ecosystem. This is once again the case with this Pixel Watch 3.
L’running mode start screen of the Fitbit application © Presse-citron
But during this test, we found that some of the brand's engineers' choices were… questionable. Google bought the Fitbit brand (at great expense) a few years ago. An expense that it seems to want to make profitable by integrating its Pixel Watch 3 into the Fitbit ecosystem. Without completely leaving Google's.
So we end up with a hybrid product. Difficult to handle at first. Let's take an example to illustrate this point. If you want to change the face of your watch, it's simple. Just open the Pixel Watch app on your smartphone and that's it.
If you now go running, the Pixel Watch app is no longer of any use to you. You will have to rely on Fitbit instead. The two services are fluid, well thought out and complementary. But we just regret that we have to constantly move from one application to another.
For the rest, integrating the watch into the ecosystem was no problem. The configuration was done in less than a minute. The watch is then linked to the phone and can transfer health information.
Sportivement au top
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Health is precisely one of the strong points of a connected watch. The Pixel Watch 3 is no exception. It is presented by Google as an assistant helping its owner to ” break records “ or even ” reach its full potential.”
Behind this usual communication for such a product, we find at Google a long list of options and features to help us in our daily lives. A day with a Pixel Watch 3 does not begin without the ” morning info “. They give us information on our night (quality and quantity of sleep), our energy level (fitness according to the terminology chosen by Google) and even the weather.
For athletes, the Pixel Watch 3 could well surprise you. With the support of Fitbit, the watch has a real training program. It is thus possible to carry out “ready-made” sessions, but also to create your own training sessions.
There is even a “Premium” version of Fitbit that allows you to benefit from a tailor-made training plan built by Google's artificial intelligence. It analyzes your goals, your athletic background and your current fitness to offer you the ideal workout.
A feature that is again quite rare for this range of products. We are more used to having such recommendations with specialized products like Garmin watches. Finally, the watch has a built-in GPS and can therefore work alone. The latter proved capricious during the test, displaying completely false data (4 laps of the track in 1710 m instead of 1600 m).
Prices and availability
These sports and health features are the real highlight of the Pixel Watch 3. Especially when you consider that the watch is available for only €399 (€499 in its 4G version). For comparison, the Apple Watch Series 9 is sold for €449 by the brand with the apple.
Under Android, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is at €319 (€369 for the 4G version). It will, without a doubt, be the big rival of this Pixel Watch 3 for the months to come.
Google watches are available now on the brand's website. They have a three-year software warranty. In other words, in 36 months, their OS will no longer be updated and will be outdated. This is already the case with the Pixel Watch 1 and 2, which will reach the end of their 36 months in 2025 and 2026.
Our opinion on the Google Pixel Watch 3
Ultimately, this smartwatch is not a revolution. It suffers from the same problems as its competitors (battery life, imperfect GPS, etc.) but also has the same strengths (very nice design, very bright screen and functional OS).
It's not the smartwatch of the year, but it fits perfectly into the Google ecosystem and the addition of Fitbit gives it some very interesting sports features. If you already have a Pixel smartphone (and you're not a top athlete), this is clearly the watch you need. If you use an iPhone on a daily basis, you can move on, the watch is not yet compatible with iOS. Finally, if you use an Android smartphone, but not a Google one, the Pixel Watch 3 is a serious option to consider, just like Samsung's recent Watch7.
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