It’s been a really, very very long time since I’ve loved proudly owning a smartwatch. The largest downside was that, it doesn’t matter what working system I attempted, Android smartwatches have been simply such second-rate experiences. Whether that was Wear OS, Samsung’s Tizen, or one of many many fitness-focused manufacturers, nothing felt notably good to put on every day.That all modified with Wear OS 3, however I used to be late to the celebration by nicely over a yr. Now, that does not imply I hadn’t used one earlier than, it was simply that I did not care an excessive amount of after so a few years of disappointment. I modeled the Galaxy Watch 4 at our hands-on (opens in new tab) session and likewise acquired my paws on the Galaxy Watch 5 at that hands-on (opens in new tab).But that every one modified once I acquired a Google Pixel Watch (opens in new tab) and a Galaxy Watch 5 (opens in new tab) round Christmas time a couple of month in the past. Since then, I’ve spent on daily basis sporting one in all these watches and marveling at simply how a lot better the expertise lastly was. Wear OS 3 — notably on the three watches I’ve talked about thus far — is a dream come true.It’s truly good. Like, actually, actually good(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)When I requested for the Pixel Watch for Christmas, I used to be taking an enormous gamble. This was a good yr and it was the one Christmas current I’d be getting because it was so costly. Did I actually wish to roll the cube on yet one more smartwatch after being upset by so many via the years?To my nice shock, I could not be a lot happier with the choice. The Pixel Watch is the very best watch (opens in new tab) I’ve utilized in ages — and the Galaxy Watch 5 is even higher, regardless that I choose the model of the Pixel Watch.Both are quick, fluid, responsive, and truly helpful for the whole lot a smartwatch is meant to do. Scrolling via menus is liquid easy — similar to a smartphone — and loading apps recent, switching between a number of apps, and even downloading new apps is an pleasing expertise. I merely can not say that for any Wear OS watch earlier than them.No Wear OS watch has been as quick, fluid, or responsive because the Pixel Watch or Galaxy Watch 4 and 5.For the sake of brevity, I’m going to focus totally on the Pixel Watch because it’s now my most well-liked day by day driver, though the Galaxy Watch 5 will provide you with much more options for the cash.The pleasure began from the second I turned it on. The haptics are precisely what I’ve been wishing for on a smartwatch for years — one which is not known as an Apple Watch, in fact. The crown gently vibrates when turned, and menus and different interactions are thoughtfully made and vibrate when tapped. It seems like I’m interacting with some bodily layer throughout the digital watch.My pleasure solely continued throughout setup, which was the simplest, least sophisticated smartwatch setup I’ve ever gone via. I did not should put each passwords in for my Google accounts. I did not have to say sure to even probably the most primary permissions. Everything signed in mechanically and it simply labored. I’ve had issues with all of this stuff on Wear OS 1 and a couple of; the fixed permission-nagging portion being probably the most annoying a part of all.What’s cooler than unlocking the entrance door out of your watch? Almost nothing.(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Aside from being buttery easy — one thing no Qualcomm smartwatch I’ve used can declare — there are such a lot of little niceties and considerate designs littered across the UI.Google Assistant truly works. I press and maintain the smaller button on the facet and Google Assistant seems inside a second. It correctly hears instructions and executes them in a well timed vogue. Again, one thing that hasn’t been the case on Wear OS watches since Google Assistant was born.Oh, and voice dictation when replying to texts additionally works. Every. Single. Time. Again, one thing that recurrently failed on different Wear OS watches I’ve had over time.Google Assistant truly works. Again, one thing that hasn’t been the case on Wear OS watches since Google Assistant was born.The always-on show all the time exhibits the time and but does not navigate away from no matter you have been beforehand doing. Likewise, most stuff you do on the watch have the time pinned proper on the prime. It’s just like the watch understands it is a watch first and never simply an extension of my smartphone.Other elements of Wear OS that solely kind of labored previously — like tiles — at the moment are extra usefully designed. On the Pixel Watch, you will get to Tiles from the watch face by swiping both left or proper, which means you possibly can put probably the most used tiles on both finish of the carousel.Previously, it was a linear carousel that you just needed to scroll to the left for, so attending to the top of the carousel may need taken 10 or extra swipes. I’ve used these tiles numerous instances over the previous month they usually save me from having to scroll via the checklist of apps simply to do easy duties.Lastly, is process switching. While the duty switcher button may very well be designed higher on the Pixel Watch, the act of switching duties is joyous. Tap the button as soon as to convey up a menu of current apps. Tap it two instances to rapidly change again to the earlier process. It works. It is smart. It’s about time.But it is not so nice for everybody(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)With all that mentioned, not everybody with a Wear OS watch goes to get the identical nice expertise. About per week in the past now, the Skagen Falster Gen 6 lastly acquired its Wear OS 3 replace (opens in new tab) and I could not wait to see how a lot better the watch can be. After all, the Pixel Watch feels next-gen and it is utilizing a four-year-old processor.Turns out, Wear OS 3 (opens in new tab) on a Qualcomm smartwatch nonetheless is not all that nice. Yes, it is the identical OS with all the identical nice options and UI enhancements that ship with the Pixel Watch — and, to a lesser extent, the Galaxy Watch 4 and 5 — however the efficiency remains to be about as unhealthy as I remembered.The 5-year-old Exynos processor within the Pixel Watch nicely outperforms any of Qualcomm’s wearable processors proper now.While it is onerous to level a finger and pit the blame on anybody particular celebration, I’ve a sinking feeling that Qualcomm’s wearable chipsets simply have by no means been superb and we have virtually all the time blamed Wear OS for Qualcomm’s issues.Whether it was abysmal efficiency, poor battery life, or lack of necessary options like a steady coronary heart fee sensor, Qualcomm looks like it has been severely behind the competitors within the wearables house.Of course, a few of this may very well be favoritism on Google’s half because it co-developed Wear OS 3 alongside Samsung. During that course of, the OS was constructed first particularly for Samsung’s personal wearables, debuting on the Galaxy Watch 4 in August 2021. Since then, the one non-Samsung watch to launch with it pre-installed is the Google Pixel Watch.Considering all of these watches — together with Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5 line — are powered by Samsung’s personal Exynos processors, it is fairly clear that Wear OS 3 remains to be favoring Samsung {hardware} at a base stage.After all, it is fairly telling when the chipset within the Pixel Watch — a chipset that was introduced in August 2018 — outperforms the Snapdragon 4100+, a chipset that was introduced greater than two years later.My hope is that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 (opens in new tab) is lastly the wearable chipset we have been ready for from the corporate. W5 was introduced final Summer and nonetheless has but to look in any smartwatch within the West. Only the OPPO Watch 3 has it in China. Mobvoi was purported to launch a brand new TicWatch with the chipset on the finish of 2022 however we’ve got but to see that materialize.While Wear OS 3 is the large improve I’ve been ready years for (opens in new tab), present Qualcomm-powered smartwatches actually aren’t an excellent match for it. If you need an precise good smartwatch expertise proper now, your greatest guess is one thing powered by an Exynos chipset from Samsung or Google.

The Pixel Watch is lastly right here and it is much more attractive than we anticipated. It’s acquired blazing quick efficiency, Google Assistant in-built, and an excellent new wearable OS that you will truly wish to use.