Google has confirmed the update support period for its upcoming Pixel Watch 3, and it may not be the news many potential buyers were hoping for. The Pixel Watch 3 will receive software updates until October 2027, which is just over three years from its release date of September 10, 2024. This duration falls short compared to the support period for Google’s Pixel series phones, which are guaranteed updates until August 2031.
Google’s commitment to the Pixel Watch 3 uses careful language. The updates are “guaranteed” until 2027, but this does not definitively mean support will end at that point. Historical patterns suggest the three-year window may be a firm boundary though.
Pixel Watch updates compared to Apple
The first two generations of the Pixel Watch also had a three-year support promise, with the original Pixel Watch’s support ending next year. In comparison, Apple provides longer support for its smartwatches.
As of June 2024, the Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5, and Watch SE (1st Generation) continued to receive updates, meaning the Series 4 will have had six years of updates, the Series 5 five years, and the Watch SE four years. The longevity of updates can be attributed to the durable S4 and S5 chipsets inside these models. However, Apple users have also faced issues with support timing.
The Apple Watch Series 3, for example, was sold until just days before its support ended, potentially leaving some buyers with far less than the expected five years of active support. For those keen on the Pixel Watch 3, it is available for order now and will be released starting September 10.
