The smart wearable industry is thriving now more than ever, and Apple and Google are leading the pack. Last year, both tech mammoths launched their finest works in the form of smartwatches, and truly, there isn’t much to complain about.
Google Pixel Watch 3 and Apple Watch Series 10 are probably the best flagship smartwatches to ever exist for Android and Apple so far. There isn’t much choice for users, sadly; if you’re an iPhone user, you can’t connect with WearOS-based smartwatches, and if you’re an Android user, you can’t connect with watchOS.
Keeping the platforms aside, I still wanted to dig into the specs and features of the Pixel Watch 3 and the Apple Watch Series 10. Just to see how these two stand against each other.
Let’s begin, shall we?
Let’s Compare the Pixel Watch 3 and Apple Watch 10
As I said, both the Pixel Watch 3 and Apple Watch 10 are great products; they stand neck to neck with each other in literally most of the criteria. This particular comparison was a bit of a challenge for me as well.
I have covered the specs first and then the features, so you get the gist of the products first, and then when you and I are on the same page, we can get deep into the nitty gritty.
Specifications
| Full Specs | Google Pixel Watch 3 | Apple Watch Series 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Build Material | Recycled aluminum | Aluminum and Titanium (Premium Models) |
| Case Sizes | 41 mm, 45 mm | 42 mm, 46 mm |
| Weight | ~30 g (41 mm), ~36.4 g (45 mm) | ~32 g (Aluminum 42 mm), ~39 g (Titanium 46 mm) |
| Display Type | AMOLED | LTPO OLED |
| Display Brightness | Max: 2000 nits, Min: 1 nit | Max: 2000 nits, Min: 1 nit |
| Battery Life | 40–48 hours | 30–40 hours |
| Charging Method | USB-C magnetic charger (not Qi-compatible) | Magnetic fast charger (MagSafe compatible) |
| Durability | IP68 (water & dust resistant) | IP6X dust resistant; water resistant up to 50 meters |
| Chipset | Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 +Cortex-M33 co-processor | Apple S10 Chip with Neural Engine |
| RAM | 2 GB RAM | 1 GB RAM |
| Storage | 32 GB internal storage | 64 GB internal storage |
| Connectivity | LTE (on Cellular models), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, UWB | LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, UWB |
| Operating System | Wear OS 5 | watchOS 11 |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Altimeter, SpO2, EDA, Temp | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Altimeter, SpO2, Temp |
| Compatibility | Android only (Pixel + other phones) | iPhone only |
| Colors Available | Matte Black, Polished Silver, Champagne Gold | Jet Black, Rose Gold, Silver (Aluminum), Slate, Gold, Natural (Titanium) |
| Wireless Charging | No | Yes (MagSafe) |
| Haptic Feedback | Custom linear motor | Advanced Taptic Engine |
| Wi-Fi Version | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Audio | Built-in mic and speaker | Built-in mic and speaker |
Both Google Pixel Watch 3 and Apple Watch Series 10 come in Aluminium built, but Apple affirms extra durability with Titanium.
The smartwatches’ display brightness is superb, ranging from as low as 1 nit to 2000 nits. This makes the watches wearable in both bright daylight and super dark indoors. And trust me, both are very good for night use.
Apple Watch 10 is better with storage as it has 64 GB of internal storage, while Pixel Watch 3 only has 32 GB. Plus, Apple has more color options.
Now, Apple adds an updated chip every time with its new watch, and the latest chip is S10. However, Google has kept the same processor as the last time, i.e., Snapdragon W5 Gen 1, which is not an upgrade, but the usability of the watch doesn’t improve or hamper in any way in comparison to the Pixel Watch 2.
Overall, Apple’s specs are a bit better at durability and improvement than their respective last models in comparison with each other.
Who Wins: Apple Watch Series 10
Price
| Spec | Pixel Watch 3 | Apple Watch Series 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price (USD) | $349.99 (Wi-Fi, 41mm) | $399 (GPS, 42mm) |
| Starting Price (EUR) | €399 (Wi-Fi, 41mm) | €449 (GPS, 42mm) |
| Highest Variant Price | $499.99 (LTE, 45mm) | $749 (46mm Titanium, GPS + Cellular) |
| Fitness Subscription | Fitbit Premium – $9.99/month or $79.99/year | Apple Fitness+ – $9.99/month or $79.99/year |
| Free Trial | 6 months of Fitbit Premium with purchase | 3 months of Apple Fitness+ with purchase |
Both the smartwatches are the top variant of their flagships and have a major price difference. You can see from the table that the top model of the Pixel Watch 3 can go up to $500, but when it comes to Apple, the customization is endless.
With so many band options and color choices, the price for an Apple Watch 10 42mm variant can go more than $1000, and that is almost too expensive for just a smartwatch.
Both the Fitbit and Apple Fitness apps have subscriptions, and even though the data they have is important, it’s not paramount, and most users can do without it. So, clearly, the Google Pixel Watch 3 is more affordable than the Apple Watch 10.
Who Wins: Google Pixel Watch 3
Design and Build
Call me biased, but I dig Apple designs because they just feel so premium. The side curves, bezel length, and width, and the whole symmetry of the product are so perfect. It’s like Apple defines premium.
On the other hand, the Pixel Watch 3 is a very cool smartwatch with completely round and curved corners. If I had something remotely looking like the Pixel Watch 3 in school, I would’ve been more popular for sure.
Both products are very comfortable, with super-soft silicone bands and fabric straps. However, I have to give it to Apple for providing so many options.
Who Wins: Apple Watch Series 10
Display
Google Pixel Watches embody a perfect circular watch, while Apple Watches have their classic square design. Since both are AMOLED displays, there isn’t much difference in the screen quality and brightness. Actually, there isn’t any.
The only difference is the screen size and shape. And because of a bigger screen size and a square shape, Apple Watch stands out.
Who Wins: Apple Watch Series 10
Features
| Feature | Google Pixel Watch 3 | Apple Watch Series 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Voice Assistant | Google Assistant | Siri |
| Smart Home Integration | Google Home | Apple HomeKit |
| App Store Access | Google Play Store | Apple App Store |
| Call & Text (Cellular Models) | Yes (LTE models) + with Wi-fi in Non Cellular | Yes (Cellular models) + with Wi-fi in Non-Cellular |
| ECG Monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Blood Oxygen Monitoring (SpO2) | Yes | Yes |
| Skin Temperature Sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep Tracking | Yes (with Fitbit integration) | Yes |
| Fall Detection | Yes | Yes |
| Crash Detection | Yes | Yes |
| Loss of Pulse Detection | Yes (FDA-approved feature that contacts emergency services if no pulse is detected) | No |
| Workout Auto-Detection | Yes | Yes |
| Stress Management | Yes (via Fitbit’s EDA sensor) | Yes (Mindfulness app) |
| Menstrual Tracking | Yes (via Fitbit) | Yes (via Apple Health) |
| Daily Wellness Score | Yes (Fitbit Readiness Score) | No (Fitness+ insights only) |
| Always-On Display | Yes | Yes |
| Watch Face Customization | Limited (preset-based) | Extensive (including third-party options) |
| Gesture Navigation | Yes (Tap-to-launch/Quick Gestures) | Yes (Double Tap gesture) |
| Navigation (Maps) | Google Maps | Apple Maps |
| Cross-App Handoff | No | Yes (Continuity features across Apple devices) |
| Software Version | Wear OS 5 | watchOS 11 |
| Software Updates | Up to 3 major upgrades | Typically 5–7 years of updates |
Most of the features of both Pixel Watch 3 and the Apple Watch are actually similar in terms of health and fitness tracking, which I will come to in a bit.
What I want to talk about in particular is Google Pixel’s FDA-approved Loss of Pulse Detection. Since Apple has been the pioneer in fall detection and is regularly in the news about its amazing fall detection that has saved lives, one would have assumed it also detects when a person’s heart stops beating.
So, all the other features aside, not having Loss of Pulse Detection had me really disappointed.
Health and Fitness Tracking
Both the Apple Watch Series 10 and the Google Pixel Watch 3 offer great workout options. Both the same sensors and the same features.
Since the Apple Watch is accurate almost all the time I have tested it, I had little to no doubt it would be accurate this time as well. The watch got my HR peaks and lows during my workouts, and I can vouch for it any time, any day.
What surprised me was that the Pixel Watch 3 was also very accurate when it came to my workout metrics. You see, medium HR (70-90) is easier to accurately measure because the body is usually not that active and there’s less movement. However, while running, jumping, or pulling weights, there’s continuous movement, and the scope of wrong measurement increases. But when I compared my vital graphs with Apple, it almost matched.
So I am completely satisfied with the accuracy of both the Pixel Watch 3 and the Apple Watch Series 10.
Who Wins: Both
Sleep Tracking
Both the Pixel Watch 3 and Apple Watch 10 have average sleep tracking capabilities.
Why average? Wait a minute; I’ll explain.
For Pixel, you can see all your sleep data on the Fitbit app and on the sleep slide on your watch screen. For the Apple Watch, you can get all your sleep analysis right from the Sleep app on the watch.
Now, I want to talk about my experience using both smartwatches at night. It’s not very comfy for me personally, and I know it’s not the watches in particular, but the form factor. Having compared both smart rings and smartwatches, I don’t really think smartwatches are the ideal gadget for sleep tracking.
Coming to the two smartwatches in question, my sleep experience remained the same; however, the accuracy of both wearables was at par with the standard Oura ring, so I will give it to both.
Who Wins: Both
Women’s Health Features
| Feature | Google Pixel Watch 3 | Apple Watch Series 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle Logging | Yes – via Fitbit app integration on the watch | Yes – Native Cycle Tracking app |
| Cycle Prediction | Yes – Predicts period start dates using Fitbit’s algorithm | Yes – Predicts periods based on cycle history |
| Cycle Phase Tracking & Insights | No | No – Apple doesn’t label phases but provides hormonal trend graphs |
| Pregnancy Tracking | No – Requires third-party apps | No – Requires third-party apps like Glow, Ovia, etc. |
You see, this is 2025; humans have landed on the moon, but the world still hasn’t given women’s health the attention it deserves. Luckily, this one thing is rapidly changing.
Both the Pixel Watch 3 and the Apple Watch series have basic cycle logging and prediction features. However, that’s pretty much it.
Neither tells you what cycle phase you’re in, you can’t track your pregnancy, and to be honest, it has become irritating now. If relatively new wearables like Oura can have fertility and pregnancy tracking, why can’t these big tech giants do some work?
In Pixel Watch 4 and Apple Watch 11, I am looking out for more women-centric features, deep insights into all cycle phases, and pregnancy tracking.
Who Wins: Neither!
OS & User Interface Comparison
On one hand, I have Apple apps, with magical animations, seamless transitions, and an UI experience so smooth it’s second to none. On the other hand, I have Fitbit. A basic, plain white app that is minimalistic. I would have compared, but there’s just nothing for comparison.
Not taking away from the fact that the UI of the Pixel Watch 3 is genuinely good. And it should have been because they have the original Wear OS, and the colors and the background fit aptly. Unfortunately, that won’t be enough for Google to win this round here.
Who wins: Apple Watch Series 10
Battery
| Aspect | Google Pixel Watch 3 | Apple Watch Series 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Claimed Battery Life | Up to 24 hrs (AOD on), 48 hrs (low-power mode) | Up to 36 hrs (low-power mode), ~18–20 hrs standard |
| Tested Battery Life | 40–44 hrs (moderate use, AOD off) | 30–35 hrs (balanced use, AOD off) |
With such great animations, super accurate tracking, and apps that run in the background 24/7, of course, Apple pays the toll. I wish it didn’t, but it does.
Apple Watch Series 10—stressing on the ten because it is their 15th version of the Apple Watch—still hasn’t made the battery last up to 2 days after a full charge, that too with the Always-on Display off.
On the other hand, Google Pixel Watch 3 easily lasts more than 2 days, and it also loses the least amount of battery overnight, when there’s less battery usage.
Who wins: Google Pixel Watch 3
Ultimate Winner: Apple Watch Series 10
Let’s recap. Apple Watch 10 won in specs, design, display, and UI, and Pixel Watch 3 won in price and battery life. Clearly, Apple Watch won overall, but that’s still not why I declared it the winner. Features and tracking will still improve over time, but the longevity of any device matters in updates, and that’s where Apple made the final win.
Google only provides up to 3 major upgrades after the watch launches, which is basically around 4 years, and after that, no upgrades.
Apple watchOS 11 is still compatible with all the previous models up to the Watch Series 6. That’s more than 7 years and counting. If a consumer is spending more on Apple, it’s not just for a few years; it can last more than half a decade. So that’s where Apple Watch 10 comes worth the money.
If updates and the UI hadn’t been involved, both devices would have had such good features that it would have been impossible to choose between them.
That’s it for now. If you want more comparisons or have some feedback, comment below.
