Introduction
Announced a few months ago, this is the Samsung Galaxy Watch3, specifically the 41mm variant, and this could be the best smartwatch you can get right now. In this review, you’ll find out why.
Samsung Galaxy Watch3 Specs
- 1.2-inch Circular Super AMOLED Always On Display
- Exynos 9110 dual-core processor
- 1GB RAM
- 8GB storage
- Features
- 5ATM + IP68
- MIL-STD-810G
- Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Electrical Heart Sensor(ECG), Optical Heart Rate Sensor(HRM), Light Sensor
- 247mAh battery
- Tizen Based Wearable OS 5.5
- Compatibility
- Samsung & other Android: Android 5.0 or higher & RAM 1.5GB above
- iPhone: iPhone 5 and above, iOS 9.0 or above
- Colors: Mystic Bronze, Mystic Silver
Design
The Galaxy Watch series design has always been the same, looking like a traditional timepiece. Unlike the 45mm variant, the 41mm variant looks more elegant as its rotating bezel now has a clear chamfered edge, instead of the gear-like design on the bigger 45mm variant.
The buttons on the side now look more like buttons from a proper watch, there are the Back key and Home key. Kudos to Samsung for sticking to this design language, the watch just looks so classy.
The watch comes with a leather strap, which you can also swap out for something else if you want. The back has an HR sensor with eight photodiodes, more on it later.
Display
The 41mm variant Samsung Galaxy Watch3 has a 1.2-inch Circular Super AMOLED Always On Display. The screen is sharp and bright enough for your daily usage. If you think it’s too small, just go get the 45mm variant, which has a larger 1.4-inch screen, but the resolution is still the same (360 x 360).
Software & Features
Here comes the software experience, which also depends on which phone you are using. If you’re using a Samsung phone, the watch works pretty well and also utilizes all the features. If you’re using an iPhone, it’s another story, though you shouldn’t buy this watch if you have an iPhone, right?
For starters, you get to customize the watch faces using the phone, you can even download third-party watch faces from the Galaxy Store since all Samsung phones have this app pre-installed.
When you received the text message, you can directly use the watch to reply to the message, which is a common feature for many smartwatches nowadays. However, this doesn’t work when you are pairing the watch with an iPhone.
Then, here comes a list of features emphasizing health. The Samsung Galaxy Watch3 can measure your heart rate and record down everything into the Samsung Health app. Additionally, there are more than 120 fitness programs to select for your personal training. It can also monitor your SpO2 level as well, not constantly tracking though. There’s also the sleep-tracking feature, which is quite common for smartwatches nowadays.
The watch also has a fall detection feature as well, which will make an SOS call and send SOS messages to the contacts you assigned when a hard fall is detected. This is actually a pretty handy feature especially if your house has elderly people.
You can also download apps like PPT Controller and Camera Remote to remotely control your phone by just using the watch. However, do note that some features actually only work well with a Samsung device.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy Watch3 has a 247mAh battery, which charges through its magnetic charger. If you have a Samsung phone that supports the reverse wireless charger feature, it’ll also work with the watch. In terms of battery life, I was able to get around 2 days of usage before its battery turns red.
Final Words
The Samsung Galaxy Watch3 is available in two sizes:
- 41mm: RM1,699
- 45mm: RM1,799
Yes, this is a premium smartwatch with lots of great features to offer. The price is quite similar to the Apple Watch Series 6, but an Apple Watch only works well with Apple products. The Galaxy Watch3 is actually a great smartwatch for Android users. There are lots of features not locked into the Samsung ecosystem, but if you already have a Samsung phone and earbuds, it’ll definitely add more productivity into your life. The Samsung Galaxy Watch3 is not only a smartwatch that looks elegant and good, but also comes with lots of useful features.