Overview of the product
Apart from being one of the best looking smartwatches you’ll find around and a very fashionable timepiece, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is a truly smart classic watch that promises smartphone-level productivity. Everyone loves the physical rotating bezel and it’s a lot slimmer than its predecessors. It also packs loads of extra features that you’ll find very helpful including an FDA-approved electrocardiogram as well as a blood oxygen monitor.
The battery life of the smaller version is not all that impressive. But asides from this, you can hardly find anything else to complain about. This watch’s classic design means it could very much pass for a traditional analog watch. But it is a smartwatch by every definition and a very useful health and fitness tool as well. At RM1799, this watch belongs to the high-end spectrum of smartwatches, but it is well worth its price.
Things to consider before buying a Smart Watch
A typical smartwatch does more than just tell the time. A good smartwatch is meant to be a portable and practical substitute for your mobile device. It’s all about functionality and performance and that means there are a lot of factors to consider and loads of features to look out for. You want a device that checks as many boxes as possible and serves your needs for a very long time. Some of the top factors to consider in buying a smartwatch include
Compatibility
A smartwatch needs to sync with your mobile device. While almost every smartwatch connects to a phone, some watches are only compatible with a single brand and will not connect with other devices which is a major limitation.
Brand
You don’t have to buy the big brands, but you can’t deny you are less likely to miss it with one. Don’t get ripped off by obscure brands
Budget
Smartwatches(especially the good ones) don’t come cheap. You don’t have to break the bank to own one, but a good budget will ensure you only get quality.
Features
Smartwatches typically come with a lot of bells and whistles, some of which you need and others not so much. Knowing the features that are paramount for you will help narrow down your options.
Design
As far as design goes, your choice depends largely on your personal preferences. Fortunately, most brands offer a variety of designs of the same watch and options for customizing your watch as it pleases you.
Battery Life
Smartwatches, like phones, need to have good battery life. You won’t be home all day and you want your watch to last till you return.
Warranty
Most brands offer a warranty on their smartwatches. You should, however, confirm how long this warranty will last and what type of damage and repair is covered to save costs down the line.
Specification of the product
| Specification | |
| Display | 360x360px resolution with up to 40 watch faces. |
| Strap | Leather |
| Screen Size | 1.4″ (34.5mm) AMOLED screen |
| Modes | 120 home workout modes |
| Sensors | Accelerometer,Barometer,Gyro Sensor,Light Sensor,Optical Heart Rate Sensor |
| Dimension | 46.2 x 45.0 x 11.1 mm (H x W x D) |
| Battery | 340mAh (over 56 hour of normal use) |
| Weight | 53.8 g |
| Features | Fitness tracker, heart rate monitor (ECG & EKG), blood oxygen monitor (SPO2 monitor), sleep tracker, fall detection, offline Sportify storage, Bluetooth connecitvity, Wi-Fi/LTE connectivity. |
| Price in Ringgit Malaysia | RM 1,799.00 |
Features & Benefits
Design and Display
One of the main complaints about previous versions of the Samsung Galaxy Smartwatch is the chunky design. The original Samsung Galaxy Watch, for instance, had big bezels which was a major turn-off for many people. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is a lot lighter and thinner than earlier versions. It comes in two size variants of 45mm and 41mm. Of course, the main design highlight of this wristwatch is the rotating bezel which is smaller on this watch than with other models and gives offs a satisfying click when you rotate it.
The display on this smartwatch is quite fantastic. The 45mm model has a 1.4-inch AMOLED display. It is very easy to see the face of this watch even in direct sunlight. But with a display like this, power is often a concern which probably accounts for the relatively low battery life of this watch. Turning off the always-on display feature might help you get a bit more from the battery on a single charge.
Battery life
One area where this Galaxy Watch is “not-so-impressive” is the battery life. The original Samsung Galaxy Watch could last for 4-days on a single day. The Galaxy Watch 3 on the other hand has a 340 mAh battery which Samsung says can last for up to 2 days on a single charge. While this seems low compared to other Galaxy watches, it is not so bad when you compare this watch to other smartwatches like the Apple Watch 5 that only delivers 18 hours.
It is also important to note that the 2-days battery life only applies to the 45mm version of this watch. The smaller version will last just a little over a day and a half and you may even get lesser mileage depending on how you use it. You prolong the battery life by turning off the always-on feature, location data, and setting the screen timeout. But some of these features are essentials so might just have to stick with normal use.
This watch does not come with a USB wall adapter of its own. But it does come with a magnetic charging puck which can be used with any Qi-compatible wireless charger. If you own the Samsung Galaxy S10 or later versions, you can also use the power share feature to charge the watch.
Unique feature
Apart from its design which is actually quite impressive, one unique feature of this smartwatch is the array of health features it offers. Samsung has always tried to incorporate health and fitness features into its smartwatch models, but it’s good to see one that actually works as intended (The blood pressure feature on the Galaxy Active was not reliable and the ECG feature did not get clearance from the FDA).
This new one comes with an ECG sensor which has received clearance from the FDA. The ECG can also screen the wearer for signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib). This watch also uses LED and infrared rays to measure SpO2 levels (blood oxygen saturation). there is also an advanced sleep tracking feature as well as a fall detection system that notifies an emergency number if it detects that the wearer is unable to move after a fall.
Performance and software
This smartwatch is powered by Samsung’s Tizen software. It offers various menus, loads of useful apps, and is highly customizable. Samsung’s software is miles ahead of Google’s Wear OS. But it trails behind that of the Apple Watch. As far as performance goes, launching apps and switching between them is quite seamless. There are dual buttons to navigate the watch and the bezel navigation is intuitive as well. There is also a motion gesture feature as well for anyone that prefers that. One could argue that typing on the T9 keyboard is a little difficult considering the fact that the Watch 3 has such a small screen. But the miniature keyboard is quite reliable and you may even be able to use it for texting when you don’t want to use your phone. A lot of people actually prefer the keyboard to Apple Watch’s Scribble feature.
Connectivity and compatibility
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 offers Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and is compatible with all Android devices with an Android 5.0 Operating system and higher and a 1.5GB RAM. It is also compatible with Apple devices (iPhone 5 and above) or Apple OS 9.0 and above. With this device, you can receive notifications and respond to them without touching your phone. It also syncs with some messaging apps so you can check your chat history. There are two variants of this device. One version offers only Wi-Fi connectivity while the other offers both Wi-Fi and LTE connectivity.
With internet connectivity (either through Wi-Fi or LTE) you can make payment with this device using the Samsung Pay feature. The Galaxy Watch has the same Achilles heels as many of the other Galaxy Watches and that is a lack of support for third-party apps which is a major limitation for fitness compared to other smartwatches. Still, there are a handful of popular apps you can use on this device such as MapMyRun and Strava but.
Fitness
In addition to being very fashionable, this watch also excels as a fitness companion. It comes equipped with 120 home workout programs and 40 activities. 7 of these activities have an auto-tracking function which means you don’t have to select the type of workout you are doing before you begin. It also features an on-board GPS feature that can measure the course for your runs, biking, and hiking. Other location technologies on this device include Glonass, Galileo, and Beidou.
On the flip side, the watch’s leather straps can be a little bit of a problem, especially during intense workouts because the leather feels odd and uncomfortable when you get sweaty. But you don’t have to bother about it getting damaged by sweat. It is water-resistant and has a 5ATM rating which makes it suitable for light swimming (but not for diving). Consider choosing a watch with a silicone band if you intend to use the watch for serious workouts.
Another impressive fitness feature of this watch is the running coach. This feature, which Samsung debuted with the Samsung Active 2 watch gives you real-time feedback on your workouts. The fitness coach is a voice assistant that also gives you pace alerts and general tips to improve your workout. There is also a post-run analysis feature that provides a breakdown of your workout with details such as contact time, flight time, and so on with suggestions to improve your performance. Although you may not find the data as comprehensive as what would get with a dedicated running smartwatch, you’ll still find the data very helpful for training.
Specs
The Galaxy Watch 3 has a main display with a 1.4inch size. The screen has a 360 x 360-pixel resolution which is quite sharp and crisp. The color depth of the main display is 16M. This smartwatch is powered by a dual-core CPU with a 1.15GHZ processing speed. It operates with 1GB RAM with a storage memory of 8GB. However, only 4.3GB of this is available for storing offline music.
Other unique features
This smartwatch offers offline local music support and also supports Spotify which is a rare feature on smartwatches. This allows you to stream music via Wi-Fi or LTE connection when there is no Wi-Fi coverage. Galaxy Watch 3 models with an LTE connection can also send and receive calls or messages even when you are not near your smartphone. This allows you to leave your phone at home and still stay connected.
Another feature unique to the Galaxy Watch 3 is a feature which allows you to sync your device with home workout videos which you can seamlessly control with your watch while you workout. It also allows you to cast your vitals to a screen as it measures them during your workout.
Other quality smartwatches to consider
Pros
- Thin and light design
- Sleep tracking feature
- Physical rotating bezel
- Advanced running and fitness tools
- FDA approved speed settings
Cons
- It lacks third-party apps support
- Battery life is not so great especially for the smaller sized variant
- You might find it uncomfortable to leave on when sleeping
Huami Amazfit Verge Lite Smartwatch
With a 1.3-inch display, this Huami Amazfit Verge Lite smartwatch is slightly smaller than the Galaxy Watch 3. This makes it a great choice for anyone that prefers a smaller sized device for their wrist. It features a high-resolution screen which promises a vivid and sharp display. But while this smartwatch is great for a wide range of workouts, it is not as robust in terms of fitness compared to the watch 3. You get only 7 sports modes. It also includes both GPS + GLONASS tech for tracking motion and distance.
Like the Galaxy Watch, this watch also has a range of sensors including optical sensors and a heart rate monitor. If there’s one area where this watch really shines, it is with its battery life. It promises up to 20 days of standby operation on a single full charge. So if battery life is a big deal for you, then you should consider this watch.
Smart Watch Bluetooth with Fitness Tracker
At RM69.99, this Smart Watch Bluetooth with Fitness Tracker is obviously a lot cheaper than the Galaxy Watch. As expected, it also doesn’t offer so much in terms of functionality. But it still works as a rudimentary smartwatch and fitness tracker for your workouts. It comes with Bluetooth 3.0 compatibility which allows it to sync with your smartphone. The battery has a 200MAh which is long-lasting considering the functionalities. This watch vibrates and also features a conventional microphone
Garmin Venu SQ
More than just a smartwatch, the Garmin Venu SQ is a full-featured fitness tracker for running, biking, golfing, and other exercises. This smartwatch is built for workouts but still quite stylish and fashionable for everyday use. It comes preloaded with 20 sports apps to choose from and like the Galaxy Watch 3, offers assistive coaching that explains its work out for you. This watch is smartphone compatible and allows you to see your calls and get notifications for text and social media messages on the colored bright screen.
Conclusion
Nowadays, there are a lot of stylish smartwatches that deliver excellently in terms of performance as health and fitness trackers. As this Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 review shows, this smartwatch fits rights in and shoots straight to the top as one of the top offerings in the wearable market. The watch’s rotating bezel paired with its excellent display makes it stand out.
You also can’t take anything away from this smartwatch as far as functionality and performance go. You can hardly find a more function-packed timepiece for workouts and we love the new health tracking features as well. Of course, all of these come at a price. Packing that many functionalities into a watch while trying to make it as slim as possible shaves off a little of the battery life. Still, with up to 2-days on a full charge with “normal use” this watch manages to strike a balance.
