Pixel 10 and Pixel Watch 3 First Impressions: Google's AI Hardware Gets a Major Upgrade

YOUSSEF MOSSTAKIM
Pixel 10 and Pixel Watch 3 First Impressions: Google's AI Hardware Gets a Major Upgrade
Pixel 10 and Pixel Watch 3 First Impressions: Google's AI Hardware Gets a Major Upgrade

Pixel 10 and Pixel Watch 3 First Impressions: Google's AI Hardware Gets a Major Upgrade

Following its annual "Made by Google" event, the tech world is buzzing about the company's latest hardware offerings: the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and the Pixel Watch 3. While last year's models were iterative refinements, the 2025 lineup feels like a significant and confident leap forward, driven by a powerful new custom chip and a suite of impressive on-device AI features. We've had a chance to go hands-on with the new devices, and these are our first impressions of what could be Google's strongest hardware ecosystem yet.

The Pixel 10 and 10 Pro: Powered by the Tensor G5 Brain

At the heart of the new Pixel 10 lineup is the Tensor G5, Google's fifth-generation custom-designed mobile chip. Google is making it clear that this chip isn't just about raw speed; it's an AI powerhouse. The new, significantly larger Neural Processing Unit (NPU) on the G5 enables a host of new "Google Intelligence" features that run entirely on the device, making them faster and more private than cloud-based alternatives.

In hand, the design is a subtle but welcome refinement of the now-iconic Pixel camera bar aesthetic. The Pro model feels particularly premium, with a new matte titanium frame that is both lighter and less prone to fingerprints. But the real magic happens when you start using the software.

  • The AI Camera Gets Spookily Good: The new "Magic Editor 2.0" is a showstopper. It moves beyond simple object removal. In our tests, we were able to seamlessly move a subject from one side of a photo to another, and the AI realistically regenerated the background. A new "Cinematic Blur" feature for video now works in stunning 4K, and the "Best Take" feature has been upgraded to work on group videos, allowing you to swap out individual people's expressions from different takes to create the perfect clip.
  • On-Device Generative AI: The new Google Assistant is faster and more context-aware, capable of performing multi-step actions within and between apps, all processed locally by the Tensor G5. Summarizing a webpage or drafting a complex email happens instantly, without a hint of lag.

The Pixel Watch 3: A Refined and Smarter Companion

The Pixel Watch has finally come into its own with its third generation. The Pixel Watch 3 addresses the two biggest complaints from previous models: battery life and the "chin" bezel.

  • Sleeker Design, Bigger Screen: The bezels have been significantly reduced, creating a beautiful, true edge-to-edge display that makes the watch feel both more modern and easier to read. It's the design users have been asking for.
  • Multi-Day Battery Life: Thanks to a new, more efficient processor and a slightly larger battery, Google is now promising up to two full days of battery life with the always-on display active, a massive improvement that finally makes it a competitive alternative to other smartwatches.
  • AI-Powered Health Coaching: The watch integrates more deeply with Fitbit's health metrics, but with a new AI twist. A new "AI Health Coach" feature in the Fitbit app (powered by Google's models) can analyze your sleep, activity, and heart rate variability to provide proactive, conversational insights and recommendations, moving beyond simple data presentation to actual coaching.

First Impressions: The Verdict

After our initial hands-on time, it's clear that the 2025 Pixel lineup is a powerful statement from Google. They are no longer just competing on camera quality; they are building a deeply integrated hardware ecosystem where the unifying feature is powerful, on-device artificial intelligence. The Pixel 10 Pro feels like a true flagship, and the Pixel Watch 3 is finally the polished, long-lasting Wear OS device that Google enthusiasts have been waiting for.

While we need to conduct our full, in-depth reviews, our first impression is that this is the most compelling and cohesive lineup of "Google-made" hardware to date. The AI-first strategy is not just a marketing buzzword; it's a tangible reality that makes these new devices feel genuinely smarter and more helpful than their predecessors.