If you’re a Google Fi Wireless user, you can snag a Pixel Watch 3 LTE (41mm or 45mm) almost for free. Here’s how you can get this smartwatch and what you need to know about the latest updates for the original Pixel Watch.

Get Pixel Watch 3 LTE for Free with Google Fi

Google Fi Wireless is running an enticing promotion where you can effectively get the Pixel Watch 3 LTE without paying its full retail price. Here’s the breakdown:

Offer Details:

• Discount: Google Fi is offering a $150 instant discount on the Pixel Watch 3 LTE.
• Rebate: If you meet the terms, you can claim a full rebate of $299.99 (for the 41mm) or $349.99 (for the 45mm) over 24 months. This means the watch is essentially free.

How to Get It:

1. Upfront Purchase Option:
   • Pay the full price ($349.99) upfront at checkout.
   • Receive $349.99 back via 24 monthly credits on your bill, effectively making the watch free over time.
2. Financing Option:
   • Choose to pay $0 monthly for the watch with Google Fi’s device financing plan.
   • The device payments are discounted through 24 monthly credits, totaling $349.99.
   • You only need to pay taxes upfront at checkout, calculated based on the pre-credit price.

Important Requirements:

• 24-Month Commitment: You need to stay subscribed to Google Fi for 24 months to receive the full rebate. Canceling your service will stop the remaining credits.
• Credit Check: Financing requires a credit check.
• Promotion Limits:
  • For individual plans, each person can get one device under this offer during the promotion period.
  • For group plans, only one device promotion is allowed per member.

The offer ends on January 7, 2025, at 9:59 AM PST or while supplies last. This is a great deal for Google Fi users, especially compared to other discounts like the $100 price cut at the Google Store during Black Friday.

Wear OS 5 Update Leaves First-Gen Pixel Watch with Roboto Font

While Pixel Watch 3 users enjoy new features, first-gen Pixel Watch owners have encountered a small but noticeable issue after the Wear OS 5 update.

The Problem:

• After updating to Wear OS 5, the original Pixel Watch unexpectedly reverted from using the modern Google Sans font back to the older Roboto font.
• This change affects every part of the interface, including the lock screen, settings menu, and inside apps.

Why It Matters:

• The Roboto font was widely used in Android during the early 2010s but feels outdated now, especially when compared with the sleeker Google Sans font.
• The difference is particularly noticeable in certain characters like the letter ‘G’ and numbers, making the interface look less polished.

Possible Fixes:

• Google has not yet addressed this issue, and users hoping for a quick resolution might be disappointed. The next scheduled update is planned for March 2025, but there’s a chance Google could release an unscheduled fix before then.

Impact:

• While this font change does not affect the watch’s functionality, it’s a visual inconsistency that may bother some users who prefer a more unified look between their devices.

Conclusion

If you’re a Google Fi user, the current deal on the Pixel Watch 3 LTE is a fantastic opportunity to get a high-quality smartwatch at no additional cost. However, if you own the first-gen Pixel Watch, the recent Wear OS 5 update might have left you with an unexpected downgrade in the font appearance. With no immediate fix in sight, users may have to wait a few months for Google to address the issue.

For now, take advantage of the promotional deal if you’re looking to upgrade to the latest Pixel Watch model. And if you’re sticking with the first-gen version, keep an eye out for any upcoming software patches that might restore its original polished look.

Google has announced a notable change in its update schedule for the Pixel Watch series. Instead of following the usual monthly update cadence, the next significant update will only arrive in March 2025. This shift comes after the recent November 2024 update, which rolled out for all three generations of Pixel Watch—Pixel Watch 1, 2, and the latest Pixel Watch 3.

What Happened in the Latest Update?

The November 2024 update resumed the deployment of Wear OS 5, which had initially faced some issues during its October release. Many users reported problems like unresponsiveness and display glitches, especially on the first and second-generation watches. With this update, Google aims to fix these bugs and improve the stability of the devices. For Pixel Watch 3, the update primarily includes security patches and minor performance improvements, making it the first post-launch update for this model.

Why the Delay Until March 2025?

The decision to skip updates until March 2025 marks a departure from the standard practice of monthly updates. Historically, Pixel Watches have received frequent updates, often matching the cadence of Pixel smartphones. However, Google seems to be shifting towards a quarterly release schedule, possibly to conserve engineering resources and focus on delivering more comprehensive and polished updates. This approach could lead to fewer but more substantial updates, aligning with their strategy of bundling significant features into larger releases like the March Feature Drop​.

What to Expect Next?

The upcoming gap suggests that the next update might coincide with the March 2025 Feature Drop, traditionally a time when Google introduces new features across its hardware ecosystem. Until then, users can expect app-level updates via the Play Store, likely bringing enhancements and fixes without the need for a full system update. The next major update will likely continue to refine the Wear OS 5 experience, which serves as this year’s primary upgrade for Pixel Watches​.

Overall, while the delayed update may seem inconvenient for some users, it may result in more significant improvements in the future, as Google refines its approach to better align software releases with its broader hardware ecosystem plans.

Google Resumes Wear OS 5 Updates for Pixel Watches

After pausing the Wear OS 5 rollout in September due to issues, Google is now releasing the latest update for Pixel Watch, Pixel Watch 2, and Pixel Watch 3 as part of the November 2024 security patch. This update brings much-needed stability improvements and bug fixes across all three models.

Update Details and Rollout

The new update is based on Wear OS 5 and has the build number AW2A.241105.012 for all six global models. However, there are some differences for users in France:

• For Orange LTE models in France: The build number is AW2A.241105.013.
• For all other models in France: The build number remains AW2A.241105.012.

The Pixel Watch series is expected to show the “November 5, 2024” security patch level after the update.

Rollout Plan

Starting today, the rollout will be done in phases, depending on the carrier and device. Users of the original Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 will start receiving the Wear OS 5 upgrade, which was halted earlier. Google plans to gradually extend the update to all devices over the next week.

What’s New in the November 2024 Update?

The update focuses on enhancing device security, fixing known bugs, and improving overall performance. Here is a detailed changelog for each device:

Pixel Watch 3:

• Security Updates: Includes the latest Android security patches for better protection.
• Bug Fixes: Addresses several stability issues, including:
  • Resolving the rare occurrence of a white splash screen when navigating to the watch face by pressing the Crown.
  • Fixing Bluetooth connection issues that led to connection drops.
  • Correcting the display of old, completed calls, which were still showing as active.

Pixel Watch 1 & Pixel Watch 2:

• Wear OS 5 Upgrade: The software update includes an upgrade to the new Wear OS 5, bringing:
  • Improved performance and stability.
  • Enhanced camera controls via the Play Store update.
  • Upgraded Pixel Recorder for better voice recording and playback features.
• Bug Fixes:
  • Fixed an issue where the watch face wouldn’t load upon reboot.
  • Addressed the problem where a white splash screen would appear when pressing the Crown.

How to Install the Update

To check for the update manually, go to Settings > System > System updates on your Pixel Watch. If it shows “Your watch is up to date,” tap that message multiple times to trigger the update download. You can also speed up the process by going to Connectivity preferences and temporarily disabling Bluetooth, forcing the watch to use Wi-Fi for faster download.

For users who prefer manual updates, Over-The-Air (OTA) images are available for download on Google’s official Pixel Watch support page.

Wear OS 5 Rollout Resumes

The Wear OS 5 update was initially pulled back in September due to reported issues, including a “soft brick” problem. However, Google has now resumed the updates with stability enhancements and fixes for all three Pixel Watch models. This November update marks the resumption of Wear OS 5 upgrades, providing users with new features and improvements.

Verizon’s Changelog Details

Verizon has also shared specific details about the November 2024 update for Pixel Watch models, highlighting the following improvements:

• Security Enhancements: Latest Android security patches have been applied.
• Performance Improvements: General stability and performance have been enhanced across all models.
• Bug Fixes:
  • Resolved a rare issue where a white splash screen would appear when pressing the Crown.
  • Fixed Bluetooth connectivity problems where the connection would drop unexpectedly.
  • Addressed an issue where completed calls were still displayed as active.

No October Update Due to Previous Issues

There was no update released in October 2024 because of a reported “soft brick” issue with Wear OS 5 on Pixel Watch devices. This problem caused the watches to become unresponsive, prompting Google to pause the update rollout. With this latest November patch, Google seems to have resolved the major issues and resumed the updates.

How to Access the Update

To ensure a smooth update experience, users are advised to:

1. Check for updates manually via Settings > System > System updates.
2. If the update is not available immediately, try forcing the update by tapping the “Your watch is up to date” message multiple times.
3. Disable Bluetooth and switch to Wi-Fi for a faster download process.

With the new features and improvements brought by Wear OS 5, the November 2024 update is expected to enhance the user experience across all Pixel Watch models, making the devices more reliable and secure.

Conclusion

The November 2024 update marks an important step for Google’s Pixel Watch series, addressing previous issues and resuming the rollout of Wear OS 5. With a range of bug fixes, performance enhancements, and new features, users can look forward to a smoother and more responsive experience on their Pixel Watch devices.

If you own a Pixel Watch, Pixel Watch 2, or Pixel Watch 3, be sure to check for updates and install the latest software to enjoy the enhanced functionality and security improvements.