As a regular Apple Watch wearer , I found myself agreeably surprised with the Google Pixel see 2last year . The hardware was nice , Fitbit ’s health trailing cortege was solid , and even the shelling living was serious . However , it was never enough to keep me out from the Apple Watch — my personal smartwatch of choice — for more than a few weeks .
With the newGoogle Pixel Watch 3 , however , there ’s a new temptation that I did n’t palpate before with its forerunner . I wo n’t have intercourse for certain if it ’ll in full supercede my Apple Watch until I expend more sentence with it , but based on what I ’ve get word so far , there are a few young feature of speech that may ultimately campaign me over the edge .
More thorough running data
alike to the Apple Watch , the Google Pixel Watch 3 now provide you to progress customs running workouts . The interface face great , and I ’m eager to hear it , but it ’s pretty similar to what I can already do on my Apple Watch . However , it ’s how Google represent your running data that ready it aside from the Apple Watch .
In the Fitbit smartphone app , you could now view the preceding yr , three months , month , or week of your runs for a bird’s - centre view of your track story . Further , you’re able to quickly filter this to appear at your distance , duration , pace , or various running form metric for those same sentence periods . From there , you could scroll down and tap into specific runs to get a close look at each one . It ’s a level of organization that just does n’t exist in the Apple Fitness app , and it looks marvelous .
If you ’re looking at specific streamlet , you ’ll see context added about them . For model , if you ’re looking at the time / duration of a certain run , you may see a note if you were faster than a object clock time you fix for that streak . Similarly , if you ’re looking at the month / workweek / yr view , you ’ll see notes about your runs here , too . For example , during a hands - on academic session with the Pixel Watch 3 , I picture one on the Fitbit app that read , “ This calendar month , your average priming contact time was 5 % low-pitched compare to last calendar month . This often means you ’re running more expeditiously . Nice oeuvre ! ”
For runners who desire to dig deeper , the Pixel Watch 3 records in advance hunt metrics like stride length , cadence , land contact metre , etc . The Apple Watch does this , too , but the Pixel Watch 3 presents it in a more helpful style . Instead of just showing this datum without any real explanation , as Apple does , the Fitbit app show these numbers from a fresh rill compared to your last six calendar month of running . you may also see if you ’re staying within your personal range for each metric and right away compare two metrics if you want . It ’s all very nerdy running stuff , but I think it looks fantastical .
Recommend running workouts
On a related to preeminence , the Fitbit app will also now take the guesswork out of run and provide you with “ AI - power ” daily run recommendations . Based on your previous running game natural process and how your body is recovering , you ’ll be recommend different character of streak — such as 25 - minute sprint interval , a 45 - minute of arc easy run , or a 35 - minute tempo run .
When you select a recommended outpouring , you get a brief explanation of why it ’s been select for you , along with a breakdown of all the time interval it includes . you’re able to then customize the runnel if you ’d like or simply function with the outline given to you .
As someone who often echo the same smattering of runs every time I go out , accept some guidance here sound like a thanksgiving . I do n’t love that the recommended runs are interlock behind a Fitbit Premium subscription , but if they ’re as helpful as they sound , that could be $ 10 / calendar month well spent .
Readiness score and Cardio load
Stepping aside from all of the running talk , the Pixel ascertain 3 introduce two new health metrics to the Fitbit app : Readiness score and Cardio loading .
Readiness grudge work just like the Readiness account on theOura Ringor the Energy score on theGalaxy Watch Ultra . After wearing your Pixel Watch 3 to bed , the Fitbit app deal your heart rate variability ( HRV ) , resting tenderness rate , and late sleep , and use that data to give you a Readiness score each dayspring when you wake up . The idea is to give you a 1 - 100 paygrade , telling you how quick your dead body is for the day ahead , and as someone who ’s get it on similar features on other wearables , I ’m thrilled that it ’s coming to the Pixel Watch 3 .
likewise , the newfangled Cardio warhead metric aims to give you more personalised workout goals to accomplish . Your Cardio load is filled up by all of your activities throughout the 24-hour interval , whether that ’s walk around your house , run for the geartrain , or manually recording a physical exertion on your Pixel Watch 3 .
You ’re afford a aim amount to aim for each day , which is personalized based on your Readiness score and other health agent . If your body is well - rested and up for a challenge , you ’ll have a higher mark Cardio load . If you overexerted yourself the day before or have a low Readiness sexual conquest for other reason , you ’ll be advised to take it well-heeled . I care the ring system on my Apple Watch , but this more personal and holistic approach shot to activity tracking sound like a much more sustainable and motivating organisation .
Auto Bedtime Mode
I have my iPhone and Apple Watch schedule to automatically enter Sleep Mode at 11 p.m. every night , ensuring my Apple Watch ’s always - on showing is handicapped and does n’t circumstantially send me a presentment in the middle of the Nox . However , I do n’t always go to bottom at the same metre , which often mean I have to manually enable Sleep Mode if I go to bed early or disable it if I ’m staying up after and then remember to re - enable it before I reach the hay .
While the above scenario is very much a first - world job , the Google Pixel Watch 3 has a clever mode of making it a thing of the past . It ’s holler Auto Bedtime Mode , and it does what the name suggests . Based on your body ’s motion and heart rate , the Pixel Watch 3 can separate when you ’ve light asleep , and when it does , it automatically engages Bedtime Mode on the watch — thus disabling notification and the always - on display . When you inflame up in the dawning , Bedtime Mode automatically exclude off . It ’s an confessedly small feature , but it ’s also one I consider I ’ll be really grateful for .
Is the Pixel Watch 3 an Apple Watch killer?
As I ’ve only spent a couple of hours with the Google Pixel Watch 3 during a heavily - draw hands - on session , I ca n’t say for sure if it will in reality replace my Apple Watch . All of the above feature sound bang-up , but I still do n’t love how they work in the substantial world . That ’s a big hurdle to overcome , and I ’ll be putting all of these matter to test once I can spend more fourth dimension with the Pixel Watch 3 .
Based on what I ’ve seen so far , though , I have to take — I ’m impressed . Google train a lot of the ripe boxes with the Pixel Watch 3 , and while I may ultimately stick with my Apple Watch once again , there ’s a much good chance than before that I ’ll switch to Team Pixel Watch . And that alone is a darn braggart accomplishment .
