Google Pixel Watch 3 – the company’s third-generation smartwatch model that launched earlier this month – is not repairable. The company reportedly confirmed the lack of hardware service support for the wearable device in the US, meaning it can only be replaced. Customers who have opted to purchase Google’s Preferred Care protection plan for the device can get a replacement unit at a subsidized rate, while other users will have to consider unsupported third-party repair options or purchase a new Pixel Watch 3 model.
Google confirms Pixel Watch 3 cannot be repaired
When Google launched the first-generation Pixel Watch in 2022, the company stated that it would not offer repairs for the device. This was also the case with the Pixel Watch 2, which launched last year, and the recently launched Pixel Watch 3 is also available “as a replacement only.”
A company spokesperson told Android Authority that defective Google Pixel Watch 3 models will not be repaired, meaning customers will have to purchase a replacement watch instead. Customers who have opted into Google’s optional Preferred Care program.
Google’s two-year Preferred Care program is only available in Canada, Japan, the UK and the US. It costs $89 (approximately Rs. 7,500) and allows users to get a replacement Pixel Watch 3 unit for $49 (approximately Rs. 4,100).
Customers in other countries with a broken Pixel Watch 3, meanwhile, likely have two options: buy a new watch or opt for unsupported third-party repairs. Gadgets 360 has reached out to Google for comment on repair options for the Pixel Watch 3 in India and will update this article when a response is received.
Technical data for the Google Pixel Watch 3
Unlike its predecessors, the third-generation Pixel Watch 3 comes in 41mm and 45mm screen sizes. This year, Google has equipped its smartwatch with its Actua display, which is said to support a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, double that of the Pixel Watch 2, which featured an AMOLED screen.
The Pixel Watch 3 can track several new fitness metrics such as cadence, stride length and vertical oscillation. Users will also get access to new fitness and cardiovascular load tracking features, while Fitbit users will be offered a health summary called Morning Brief, which highlights changes detected by the smartwatch overnight.
One area where the Pixel Watch 3 hasn’t improved over its predecessor is battery life. It’s said to offer 24 hours of use with the always-on display mode enabled, which is the same as the Pixel Watch 2. Enabling power saving mode can increase battery life up to 36 hours. This year, Google introduced support for 20 percent faster charging, but this is limited to the 41mm size variant, while the larger variant offers the same charging speed as last year’s model, according to the company.
