Google Pixel Watch 3 vs Pixel Watch 2: What's changed?

Google entered the smartwatch game back in 2022 with the original Pixel Wach. It was an interesting looking device—sleek and lightweight but it felt a bit beta at the time. Then, a year later, the second iteration came along, ironing out some kinks and bugs. Well, third's time is the charm, as they say, and now we have the Google Pixel Watch 3.

This model has matured, and now you can get it in two sizes, 41 and 45 mm, and there are some improvements here and there. How does it compare to the previous model? Do we have enough changes to justify an upgrade? Today, we're going to answer these questions.

This is our Pixel Watch 3 versus Pixel Watch 2 comparison. Here we go.

Pixel Watch 3 (41mm): get at Amazon

The Pixel Watch 3 is here! You can now purchase the smaller-sized model with a 41mm case at Amazon. With its stylish design and multiple features, it's by far the most advanced Google wearable. Currently, no discounts are available on the timepiece.

Buy at Amazon

Pixel Watch 3 (45mm): get at Amazon

If you're looking for a larger screen and some additional features, consider the larger-sized Pixel Watch 3 instead. This one has a larger 45mm case and a 1.45-inch screen. It's available for purchase at Amazon, with no discounts available at the time of writing.

Buy at Amazon

Design & Sizes

Which one is which again?

Not much has changed in a year, design-wise. Google calls this design "iconic," and even though we wouldn't use such bold statements, we do like the sleek, futuristic look of the Pixel Watch. The 41 mm version of the Pixel Watch 3 is nearly identical to the Pixel Watch 2.

Of course, the new 45 mm size is bigger, but the overall design remains unchanged. The build materials, the glass on top of the display, the buttons, and the rotating crown—they're all the same.

Google has decided to start offering a larger model, and it makes sense as 41 mm might be too small for some people and look a bit weird. That being said, it's largely the same watch, with the only difference being the display and the battery.

Speaking of displays, the screen of the Pixel Watch 3 is one of the few upgrades the watch has received over its predecessor. The peak brightness is now 2,000 nits, twice as bright as the 1,000-nit display on the Pixel Watch 2.

The new Pixel Watch 3 can also switch to 1Hz mode when you don't need a smooth and fast refresh rate in order to save battery. In all other situations, it tops at 60Hz.

The resolution remains the same on the 41 mm model, 450 × 450 pixels, resulting in around 320 PPI pixel density, and Google made sure to aim for the same pixel density for the bigger 45 mm version, so there is no difference in how crisp and detailed the screen looks between the Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3.

Google claims that the new Pixel Watch 3 (41 mm) has 16% smaller bezels compared to its predecessors, and it shows. The Pixel Watch 2 has a pretty large 5.5 mm bezel around the screen, and Google has managed to shring that to 4.5 mm on the Pixel Watch 3. Good job!

Lastly, let's touch on the available colors really quickly. The Pixel Watch 2 is available in Polished Silver, Matte Black, and Champagne Gold. There's a slight deviation in the colorways between the two new Pixel Watch 3 models. The smaller, 41 mm model, comes in Matte Black, Polished Silver, and Champagne Gold, while the 45 mm model swaps the Champagne Gold for Matte Hazel.

So, in other words, if you want to stand out in and differentiate your new Pixel Watch 3 from the old model, your only option is the 45 mm Matte Hazel variant, as it's slightly different than the Champagne Gold Pixel Watch 2.