The Pixel Watch 3 is impressive, but it’s just not my cup of tea — here’s what I favor.
The Google Pixel Watch 3 has garnered a lot of admiration here at Android Central, getting close to being the go-to smartwatch choice for Android enthusiasts. However, something about the Pixel Watch fails to pique my interest. Perhaps it’s the compact screen, waterdrop design, limited battery life, or the dark interface.
Nonetheless, after several unsuccessful tries to adopt the Pixel Watch, it’s evident that the popular Google smartwatch simply isn’t my ideal match. The device doesn’t seem as functional or captivating as others I’ve tried from Apple, Samsung, Garmin, and OnePlus. For roughly the same cost as the latest Google Pixel Watch, there are several smartwatches that I believe deserve a place on your wrist.
If you share my perspective — an Android user who feels a Pixel Watch isn’t the best choice — these are the top wearables worth considering instead. With Amazon Prime Day just around the corner, there’s a possibility that some or all of these gadgets could be discounted, making it a prime opportunity to grab a new smartwatch.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
While the Pixel Watch continues to improve each year, I maintain that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 should remain the standard wearable for Android users. Samsung has been producing smart wearables for a longer period, and it certainly shows in the Galaxy Watch 7. Although the Google Pixel Watch draws inspiration from the company’s acquisition of Fitbit, it doesn’t always translate positively. For example, obtaining the complete fitness experience necessitates a Fitbit Premium subscription.
Arguably, my main concern with the Pixel Watch is its dark UI, which strikes me as dreary and uninviting. This design choice aims to conceal the Pixel Watch’s large black bezels and extend battery life, but it has faltered in my experience. Both the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and the Pixel Watch 3 offer displays rated at 2,000 nits of peak brightness, yet the Samsung watch appears superior and more luminous due to its design and UI decisions.
One UI 6 Watch is fantastic, and Samsung’s partnership with Google for Wear OS means many features are aligned between Pixel and Galaxy Watch models. For instance, Gemini will be introduced to the Galaxy Watch 7 soon. There are also unique features, and Samsung’s Exynos W1000 chip ensures this watch feels responsive.
Personally, I favor the flat display and robust design of the Galaxy Watch 7 over those of the Pixel Watch 3. All these advantages, along with an extended software support timeframe, make the Galaxy Watch 7 an easy recommendation over Google’s option.
OnePlus Watch 3
Another fantastic competitor to the Pixel Watch is the OnePlus Watch 3. My experience with the OnePlus Watch 2R last year left me impressed with its sleek design, fitness and health features, and smooth UI at its price point. The newer OnePlus Watch 3 elevates this while maintaining an impressive 100-hour battery life. While you’ll likely need to charge the Pixel Watch 3 daily, the OnePlus Watch 3 can last several days between charges.
As a smaller company, OnePlus means the Watch 3 may not be as universal as the Pixel Watch 3 or Galaxy Watch 7. There is no LTE option available, which is disappointing, and the same applies to the ECG feature. If you can manage without those features — as I certainly can — the OnePlus Watch 3 becomes an appealing option. Its smaller size adds to this appeal.
What I genuinely appreciate about the OnePlus Watch models is how engaging their fitness and health tools are. They are vibrant and colorful, featuring charts and rings that encourage users to explore their workout insights. It reminds me of how Apple Watches motivate users to enhance their fitness, but without the pressure of needing to close the Apple Watch rings daily.
For outdoor adventurers, runners, or fitness aficionados, I believe the OnePlus Watch 3 presents a compelling alternative to the Pixel Watch 3. The insights, functionality, and presentation are simply superior and more supportive, winning me over.
Garmin Vivoactive 6
You might hesitate to transition from a Wear OS watch to a Garmin. I did as well, but I recently transitioned from Wear OS and watchOS devices to GarminOS, and I haven’t regretted it. The Garmin Vivoactive 6 is a sneaky alternative to the Pixel Watch 3 — arguably the finest option on this list. This is because the Vivoactive 6 maintains the small and subtle elegance of the Pixel Watch 3 while offering a more comprehensive experience.
It comes in four delightful colors — Slate, Lunar Gold, Metallic Jasper Green, and Metallic Pink Dawn — yet it lacks many of the durability concerns associated with the Pixel Watch.
