I’ve always been a fan of Apple products for every device, from my iPhone to my Mac to my Apple Watch. There’s something safe about sticking with what you know. Though there’s comfort to be found in familiarity, the safe choice isn’t necessarily always the best one.
Playing it safe and sticking with what you know also means you might not be aware of what’s out there that could be a better fit for your needs. When I stepped outside of my comfort zone to try the Google Pixel Watch 3, I learned a few things. Here’s what surprised me most about trying the Google Pixel Watch 3.
Sizing and comfort
Since 2018, I’ve worn my Apple Watch religiously, giving little to no thought to the other fitness watches and trackers out there. As a short person with somewhat petite wrists, something about the Apple Watch always felt a little too clunky (even in the smaller size available). Clearly, it was never uncomfortable enough to make me stop wearing it altogether; otherwise, I would have given up wearing it a long time ago. However, just because something isn’t uncomfortable doesn’t mean a more comfortable option isn’t available.
Circular watch face
After wearing the Google Pixel Watch 3 for only a day, it quickly became apparent that it wins the toss-up between these two watches in terms of comfort—the reasons why can be narrowed down to a few key factors. First and foremost, the circular design of the Google Pixel Watch face just works more naturally for me.
There’s something less awkward about it. Once I tried my rectangular Apple Watch on again, I noticed the rectangular design just felt more clunky. Perhaps this may not be an issue for wearers with larger wrists or hands, but if you’re on the smaller size, the circle design is far more comfortable to wear. Although the actual size of the watch faces is quite similar, the shape makes a huge difference in terms of everyday comfort.
I found it easy to forget I was wearing the Google Pixel Watch 3 throughout the day. Reflecting on my Apple Watch, I would immediately take it off when I got home or had completed a workout. In contrast, I found myself wearing the Google Pixel Watch 3 around the house, which also provides a much more accurate daily step count.
Straps
Throughout the many years I’ve worn Apple watches, I’ve searched high and low for third-party replacement bands that are thinner and more comfortable than the ones that come with the watch. Luckily, I’ve found a few go-to watch strap brands I love that have enhanced my comfort when wearing my Apple Watch over the years.
However, I found the watch band that came with the Google Pixel Watch 3 to be far more comfortable. The sport band that comes with the watch has flexible comfort and fits well, even on my small wrist. I still prefer the performance loop band (sold separately) for easier on-off access, but both bands are comfortable.
Real-time step tracking
While there are many reasons people choose to wear an Apple Watch, my primary reason for using it is for fitness tracking purposes. I don’t use my Apple Watch for phone calls, text messages, checking emails, or even tracking my sleep very often. I choose to wear it because I enjoy tracking the metrics of my workouts (heart rate, calories burned, etc) and using it to keep track of my daily step count.
With my primary fitness tracking needs in mind, one feature that made the Google Pixel Watch 3 stand out to me above the Apple Watch is real-time step counting. When you start a workout on the Apple Watch, such as an outdoor walk, you can track various metrics, including duration, distance, and pace. Yet, you can’t track the number of steps you have walked within a specific workout from the watch face or from the app. You can only see the number of steps you have walked for the entire day up until that point.
The Google Pixel Watch 3 completely dodges this frustrating issue. Just as you’d expect and desire, you can track your steps on both outdoor and indoor walks in real time, right from the watch face. As an avid walker, I really appreciate this simple yet important feature. While wearing the Google Pixel Watch 3, I found myself more motivated to keep walking as I kept an eye on my step count during every walk.
If you are someone who uses your watch for phone calls, emails, and its many other features, making a switch might not make sense. But if you’re someone who’s focused solely on fitness tracking — or who has noticed fit issues with your current watch (whether it’s an Apple Watch or another device), I recommend evaluating your options the way I did — and the Google Pixel Watch 3 is a solid one.
