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Apple recently announced the features coming to the new Series 11 and Ultra 3 Apple Watches. We have highlights here of what was in that announcement, and everything we know about the Apple Watch Ultra 3, if you’re still catching up. But if you’re ready to dive into the details and are wondering how those specs stack up with Pixel watches, including the Pixel Watch 3 and the upcoming Pixel Watch 4, here’s a comparison.
Display type and brightness
The new Apple Watch Ultra 3 has the most impressive display of all the watches I’ll discuss here today. Wide-angle OLEDs make the screen visible from more angles, and the LPTO3 technology means it draws far less power. These features mainly benefit the always-on display, since now even the inactive version of the display will be able to update every second, and you’ll be able to easily see the display without raising it to your wrist. Peak brightness is 3,000 nits.
The Apple Watch Series 11 doesn’t have the every-second updates, but it does include wide-angle OLEDs to be more visible when viewed at an angle. Peak brightness is 2,000 nits.
The Pixel Watch 3 has neither of those new features, but it does have a bright display at 2,000 nits. The Pixel Watch 4, due on store shelves in October, uses a domed display and has a peak brightness of 3,000 nits.
Battery life
The Apple Watch Ultra has always had an impressive battery life compared to other models of Apple Watch, and the Ultra 3 is no exception. The Ultra 3 has a 42-hour battery life, according to Apple, extending to 72 hours in Low Power Mode.
The Series 11 gets up to 24 hours in regular use, extending to 38 hours in Low Power Mode.
The Pixel Watch 3 gets 24 hours in regular use, and 36 with Battery Saver—nearly identical to the Apple Watch Series 11. The upcoming Pixel Watch 4 improves on that, with 30 to 40 hours of regular use (depending on which size watch you’re looking at) and 48 to 72 hours with Battery Saver.
Health and fitness features
The new Apple Watches will finally have a sleep score, which is a feature that the Pixel watches have long had through the Fitbit app (which is its native app for health features). This isn’t a particularly useful metric, since it can’t be validated; I wouldn’t put too much stock in any app’s sleep score. But Apple shows that it’s catching up to other devices by offering an easy-to-read score instead of just separate metrics.
Apple also plans to introduce notifications for signs of high blood pressure, assuming it gets the needed regulatory approval. (Whoop recently got in trouble with the FDA for implementing an unapproved blood pressure feature; Apple is being more careful.) Pixel watches don’t have any blood pressure features, although it’s not clear whether smartwatches are any good at blood pressure monitoring in the first place.
The latest version of Apple’s WatchOS comes with Workout Buddy, a voice that delivers AI pep talks during your workouts (assuming your iPhone is new enough). Pixel watches don’t have this, but the Pixel Watch 4 will include an AI fitness coach as part of a premium-tier Fitbit subscription. The subscription is $9.99/month, and you get six months free with a new device.
What do you think so far?
Connectivity
The Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 both have connectivity with 5G networks and LTE in their cellular-capable models. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 also features satellite messaging, so that you can reach emergency services and notify your friends and family even without a cellular connection.
The Pixel Watch 3 only has 4G LTE in its cellular-capable models, but the Pixel Watch 4 has a Satellite SOS feature as well.
Pricing
The Apple Watch Series 11 starts at $399 for the 42-millimeter size, and $429 for the 46-millimeter size. The versions with cellular connectivity are $100 more.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 starts at $799 and comes in one size, 49 millimeters.
The Pixel Watch 3 starts at $249 for the 41-millimeter size and $299 for the 45-millimeter size. As with its Apple counterparts, the versions with cellular connectivity are $100 more.
The Pixel Watch 4 starts at $349 for the 41-millimeter size and $399 for the 45-millimeter size, and again, the cellular versions are $100 more.
