A series of renders for the Pixel Watch 3 recently surfaced, giving us our first glimpse of what Google's next wearable will look like. Originating from OnLeaks, a leading industry expert, the new model looks almost identical to the Pixel Watch 2. It has the same “1.2-inch bezel-less display with a rotating crown on the side,” according to the report. Images show the wearable in black attached to a matching strap, although more colors are expected to be available at launch.
The designs start to deviate when we look at the assumed dimensions. The Pixel Watch 3 is said to measure 40.79 x 40.73 x 14mm. In comparison, the Pixel Watch 2 has dimensions of 41 x 41 x 12.3 mm. The future smartwatch will therefore be slightly smaller than the previous generation, but also thicker than before: almost two whole millimeters. It's unknown exactly why the wearable device has that extra weight, although there are a couple of theories.
Bigger battery or new sensors?
91Mobiles believes it is due to the battery. Several months ago a product listing was discovered on a South Korean quality control website for what is supposed to be the battery of the Pixel Watch 3. The documents indicate that the wearable device will house a 307 mAh battery which is larger than the Pixel Watch 2's 304 mAh battery. While it's a larger power source, the size difference doesn't seem drastic enough to require almost two millimeters of space.
News site 9To5Google in its coverage maintains that the Pixel Watch 3 may have some new sensors that justify the extra space. Exactly what type of sensors are up for debate. There haven't been many leaks about the Pixel Watch 3's hardware. Up to this point, it's mostly been software features like improved watch unlock. We saw comments online calling for better fitness tracking capabilities, which could mean adding more sensors.
In addition to the size, it is also very likely that the bezels around the watch face will be thinner, giving users a better view of the screen. This is because, as 9To5Google points out, the device is smaller but the screen remains the same size. It's worth mentioning that previous rumors about the Pixel Watch 3 mentioned that there will be a 45mm option to go along with the standard 41mm model. If so, it will be the first of Google's smart watches to have that size.
Of course, as with every leak, take this information with a grain of salt. Things can always change at the last minute. Be sure to check out TechRadar's list of the best smartwatches for 2024.
