The Google Pixel Watch 3 will almost certainly be launched at Google’s next Pixel event on Tuesday, August 13 – and there have fittingly been a smattering of leaks that have now given us a good idea of what to expect.
The latest rumors suggest that the next Pixel Watch will be available in two sizes for the first time, with Google also planning to shrink its bezels. Under the hood, we’re also expecting to 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 in which it improved on the original Pixel Watch, from the lighter weight to the faster performance. Tech never stands still, though, so we’re looking forward to the further upgrades we’re likely to get with the Pixel Watch 3.
Below, we’ve gathered everything (we think) we know about the Pixel Watch 3, including its expected price, release date, and specs – and we’ll keep updating this page as the last-minute rumors come in. We’ve also put together a wishlist of what we’d like to see, so we can mark how well Google’s done come August 13…
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The next Google Pixel smartwatch
- When is it out? Most likely August 13
- How much will it cost? The latest leaks suggest $349 / £349 / AU$549
Google Pixel Watch 3: expected price and release date
Some recent rumors from respectable sources on July 17 have given us a glimpse of how much the Pixel Watch 3 is likely to cost.
This info came from Dealabs (via Notebookcheck) and suggested that the starting price of the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 will be €399 – that euro price matches the Pixel Watch 2, which originally went on sale for $349 / £349 / AU$549 elsewhere in the world.
The LTE-enabled version of the 41mm watch, meanwhile, is expected to cost €499, which is €50 (about $55 / £40 / AU$80) more than the Pixel Watch 2 LTE. The latter launched with a $399 / £399 / AU$649 price tag.
What isn’t quite as clear is how much the larger version of the Pixel Watch might cost. As Google has never launched a second size before, we don’t have a yardstick to know what to expect.
That Dealabs source claims that the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 XL will cost €449 without LTE, and €549 with LTE. For reference, that’s about $490 / £375 / AU$730 and $600 / £460 / AU$890 respectively, at current rates – although Google won’t use direct currency conversions.
What is a little more certain is the Pixel Watch 3’s release date. We can expect it to land on August 13, alongside the Pixel 9 series and more. That’s a little earlier than previous Pixel Watch launches, which have taken place in October 2022 (for the Pixel Watch) and October 2023 (for the Pixel Watch 2), though we don’t yet know the on-sale dates for the third edition.
Google Pixel Watch 3: news and rumors
As we’re now in the run-up to the Pixel Watch 3 launch, the rumors and leaks have been coming in thick and fast.
One of the biggest leaks, on August 4, gave us a promo video for the smartwatch, which revealed its design and some of its biggest features. The video came from @OnLeaks and Android Headlines and showed that the Pixel Watch 3 will indeed come in two sizes (41mm and 45mm), as the rumors have predicted.
What’s up #FutureSquad?!Today, I got my hands on the #Google #PixelWatch3 and #PixelWatch3XL official promo video!…😏On behalf of @Androidheadline 👉🏻 https://t.co/zXeqHshCRp pic.twitter.com/MRFtRvd8Y1August 2, 2024
Other new features appear to include a brighter screen than the Google Pixel Watch 2 and some smaller bezels, too. The back of the watch seems to have the same four-pin charging system as before, though it isn’t yet clear if the Pixel Watch 3 will be backwards compatible with today’s chargers.
The video also shows software features like real-time running metrics, coaching advice, and step-by-step navigation on Google Maps. The leaks also fill us in on the promising Morning Brief feature, which we’ve seen in earlier leaks and promises to give the wearer a handy daily summary of their fitness and well-being for the day ahead.
How about specs? A recent leak on August 8 gave us mixed news on that front. According to Android Headlines, the smartwatch will have the same Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 5100 chipset, 2GB of SDRAM, and 32GB of eMMC flash storage as the Google Pixel Watch 2, which means you might not notice much difference in raw performance.
Still, those rumors do suggest that the Pixel Watch 3’s display will now run at 60Hz, rather than 30Hz. That higher refresh rate which 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 screen will be twice as bright as its predecessor, hitting 2,000-nits of peak brightness (up from 1,000-nits).
Earlier 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 give us updates to several of Google’s first-party apps.
Those include Google Maps, which should get offline support, and Google Home, which will seemingly let you view the live feed from a Google Nest Camera, should you want to check on your pet.
Going further back, rumors in early July predicted that the Pixel Watch 3 would have ultra-wideband (UWB) tech included. That’s the standard that allows for location tracking and short-range communication up to a high level of precision, and it might be used to improve the Pixel Watch’s ability to unlock your Android phone (which is handled by Bluetooth on Google’s existing smartwatches).
Lastly, it sounds like we’re going to get some new color options with the Pixel Watch 3. The smaller 41mm model is predicted to come with a silver case and rose quartz band option, alongside the case and strap options that we saw last time (black and obsidian, gold and hazel, and silver and porcelain).
If you plump for the larger 45mm size, you’ll apparently get the black/obsidian and silver/porcelain combinations, as well as a hazel case and hazel band configuration.
Google Pixel Watch 3: what we want to see
While we wait for more Google Pixel Watch 3 rumors and leaks to appear, we’ve got some thoughts on how Google might improve the device compared with the Pixel Watch 2 – could Google finally make a five-star smartwatch?
1. Smarter stats
It was all the way back in 2021 that Google acquired Fitbit, but it still feels like the job of integrating Fitbit’s health and fitness know-how into the Pixel devices is still a work-in-progress – something that might change with the Pixel Watch 3.
Fitbit Premium is now part of a Google One subscription in at least one country now, and we’re hoping some of the same advanced features (including detailed sleep analysis and a daily readiness score) find their way into the next Google Pixel wearable.
2. More battery life
It’s the perennial request from smartwatch owners: more battery life, especially when these devices are expected to track sleep as well as daily activities (it’s hard to get a full picture of how well you’re sleeping if your wearable is charging every night).
While the Pixel Watch 2 impressed by managing to go up to 24 hours between charges, we still think Google can do better than that with the Pixel 3. There’s still some way to go before it manages to get the same time between charges as the best Garmin watches.
3. Smoother software
While it’s true that Google has been showing Wear OS more love recently, it still feels awkward and clunky in places. There have been rumors that Wear OS 5 could make its debut this year, with Google and Samsung working together on the software project.
We’re not sure exactly what upgrades Wear OS might bring with it, but smoother performance and new customizations would be most welcome. In other words, we’re keen to see a software experience that matches the quality of the Pixel Watch 3 hardware.
Everything is getting more AI nowadays, and we don’t think the Pixel Watch 3 is going to be left out: it’s possible that generative Gemini AI goodies will be built right into the wearable, or at least be available through a Pixel phone that’s connected to the smartwatch.
We’ve seen Samsung introduce a bunch of Galaxy AI features this year with the Galaxy S24, and we know it plans to extend these tools to its smartwatches too. That puts the pressure on Google, which might mean features like live translation capabilities right on your wrist.
5. Easier band attachments
The band attachment method deployed by the Pixel Watch and the Pixel Watch 2 works, but only just – it’s a bit too fiddly for our liking, and tends to put you off from ever swapping bands. There’s definitely room for improvement here.
Speaking of bands, a greater variety of straps would also be welcome with the Pixel Watch 3. This is an area where the Apple Watch 9 is really strong (as all of its predecessors were) – a different band can really change the look and feel of a smartwatch.
