Google Pixel Watch 3: Latest news, rumors, and what we want to see
The Google Pixel Watch 3 is almost certainly launching at Google’s next Pixel event on Tuesday, August 13, and there have been a number of leaks so far that give us a good idea of what to expect.
Latest rumors suggest the next Pixel Watch will come in two sizes for the first time, with Google also planning to shrink the bezels. Under the hood, we’re also expecting some major software upgrades, including improved health monitoring features and a new ‘Morning Brief’ feature.
In our Google Pixel Watch 2 review, we wrote about all the ways it was better than the original Pixel Watch, from its lighter weight to faster performance. But technology never stands still, and we’re looking forward to the further upgrades we’re likely to get with the Pixel Watch 3.
Below, we’ve collected everything (we think) we know about the Pixel Watch 3, including its expected price, release date, and specs. We’ll keep updating this page as further rumors roll in. We’ve also put together a wishlist of what we’d like to see, so we can tell you how well Google did on August 13th…
Get to the point
- What is it? The next Google Pixel smartwatch
- When is it coming out? Probably August 13th
- How much will it cost? Latest leaks suggest $349 / £349 / AU$549
Google Pixel Watch 3: expected price and release date
Some recent rumors from reliable sources on July 17 gave us a sneak peek at how much the Pixel Watch 3 will likely cost.
This info comes from Dealabs (via Check notebook) and suggested the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 would have a starting price of €399 – that price in euros matches the Pixel Watch 2, which originally went on sale elsewhere in the world for $349 / £349 / AU$549.
The LTE version of the 41mm watch is expected to cost €499 (around $499 / £40 / AU$80), which is €50 (around $55 / £40 / AU$80) more than the Pixel Watch 2 LTE. The latter launched with a price tag of $399 / £399 / AU$649.
What’s not entirely clear is how much the larger version of the Pixel Watch might cost. Since Google has never launched a second size before, we have no benchmark to know what to expect.
That Dealabs source claims the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 XL will cost €449 (£449) without LTE, and €549 (£499) with LTE. For reference, that’s roughly $490 / £375 / AU$730 and $600 / £460 / AU$890 respectively at current rates – though Google won’t be using on-the-fly currency conversions.
What is a little more certain is the Pixel Watch 3 release date. We can expect it to release on August 13, alongside the Pixel 9 series and more. That’s a bit earlier than previous Pixel Watch launches, which took place in October 2022 (for the Pixel Watch) and October 2023 (for the Pixel Watch 2), though we don’t yet know on-sale dates for the third edition.
Google Pixel Watch 3: News and Rumors
As the Pixel Watch 3 launch approaches, rumors and leaks are coming in at a rapid pace.
One of the biggest leaks, on August 4, gave us a promo video for the smartwatch, revealing its design and some of its biggest features. The video came from @OnLeaks And Android Headlines and revealed that the Pixel Watch 3 will indeed come in two sizes (41mm and 45mm) as rumored.
What’s up with #FutureSquad?! Today I got my hands on the official promo video for #Google #PixelWatch3 and #PixelWatch3XL!…😏From @Androidheadline 👉🏻 pic.twitter.com/MRFtRvd8Y1August 2, 2024
Other new features appear to include a brighter display than the Google Pixel Watch 2, as well as slightly smaller bezels. The back of the watch appears to have the same four-pin charging system as before, though it’s not yet clear whether the Pixel Watch 3 will be backwards compatible with current chargers.
The video also shows off software features like real-time running stats, coaching advice, and turn-by-turn navigation on Google Maps. The leaks also fill us in on the promising Morning Brief feature, which we’ve seen in previous leaks and which promises the wearer a handy daily overview of their fitness and well-being for the day ahead.
What about the specs? A recent leak on August 8th gave us mixed news on that front. According to Android HeadlinesThe smartwatch features the same Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 5100 chipset, 2GB of SDRAM, and 32GB of eMMC flash storage as the Google Pixel Watch 2. That means you likely won’t notice much of a difference in terms of performance.
Still, those rumors suggest that the Pixel Watch 3’s display will now run at 60Hz, up from 30Hz. That higher refresh rate should make the smartwatch feel more responsive, despite the lack of a new chip. And the same source predicts that the Pixel Watch 3’s display will be twice as bright as its predecessor, with a peak brightness of 2,000 nits (up from 1,000 nits).
Previous leaks from July 31 revealed that the Pixel Watch 3 will give us around 24 hours of battery life, from both the 41mm and 45mm versions of the watch. Those leaks from Android Headlines revealed that the accompanying Wear OS 5 update will bring us updates for several of Google’s first-party apps.
Examples include Google Maps, which should get offline support, and Google Home, which is expected to let you view live feeds from a Google Nest camera, should you want to keep an eye on your pet.
Going back further, rumors in early July predicted that the Pixel Watch 3 would feature ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. That’s the standard that enables high-precision location tracking and short-range communications, and it could be used to improve the Pixel Watch’s ability to unlock your Android phone (which is handled over Bluetooth on Google’s existing smartwatches).
Finally, it looks like we’re getting some new color options with the Pixel Watch 3. The smaller 41mm model is expected to come with a silver case and rose quartz band, joining the case and band options we saw last time around (black and obsidian, gold and hazelnut, and silver and porcelain).
If you opt for the larger 45mm size, you apparently get the black/obsidian and silver/porcelain combinations, as well as a hazelnut case and hazelnut strap.
Google Pixel Watch 3: What we want to see
While we wait for more rumors and leaks about the Google Pixel Watch 3, we have a few ideas about how Google could improve the device compared to the Pixel Watch 2. Could Google finally create a five-star smartwatch?
1. Smarter statistics
Google acquired Fitbit back in 2021, but it still feels like Fitbit’s integration of health and fitness expertise into Pixel devices is still in development. That could change with the Pixel Watch 3.
Fitbit Premium is now part of a Google One subscription in at least one country, and we’re hoping to see some of the same advanced features (including detailed sleep analysis and a daily recovery score) coming to the next Google Pixel wearable.
2. Longer battery life
It’s a recurring wish among smartwatch owners: longer battery life, especially since these devices are expected to track your sleep in addition to daily activity (it’s tough to get a full picture of how well you’re sleeping if your smartwatch is charged every night).
While the Pixel Watch 2 impressed by lasting up to 24 hours between charges, we still think Google can do better with the Pixel 3. It has a long way to go before it can match the time between charges as the best Garmin watches.
3. Smoother software
While it’s true that Google has been giving Wear OS more love of late, it still feels awkward and clunky in places. There are rumors that Wear OS 5 could debut this year, with Google and Samsung collaborating on the software project.
We’re not sure exactly what upgrades Wear OS will bring, but smoother performance and new customizations would be very welcome. In other words, we’d like a software experience that matches the quality of the Pixel Watch 3 hardware.
Everything is getting more and more AI these days, and we don’t think the Pixel Watch 3 will be any less of a follower: it’s possible that generative Gemini AI features will be built directly into the wearable, or at least available via a Pixel phone connected to the smartwatch.
We saw Samsung introduce a bunch of Galaxy AI features this year with the Galaxy S24 , and we know it plans to expand the tools to its smartwatches as well. That puts pressure on Google, which could mean features like live translation capabilities coming straight to your wrist.
5. Easier attachment of the strap
The band attachment method that the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 use works, but not quite – it’s a bit too fiddly for our tastes, and it means you’ll never have to swap bands again. There’s definitely room for improvement here.
Speaking of straps, a wider variety of straps would also be welcome on the Pixel Watch 3. This is one area where the Apple Watch 9 really shines (as have all its predecessors) – a different strap can really change the look and feel of a smartwatch.
