Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 Review: The official announcement of the Samsung Galaxy Watch was at the Galaxy Unpacked 2018. The Galaxy Watch from Samsung has a superior design to the Watch Series 4 from Apple. With a four days battery, appealing design, excellent fitness functions.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is the best Android smartwatch. The software on the Samsung Galaxy has been improved and its fitness tracking improved. Galaxy Watch tracks select workouts automatically, monitor heart rate and detect when you switch activities.
There are two versions of the Galaxy Watch 3: a 42 mm model that comes in Rose Gold and a blacked-out finish, and the silver 46 mm model. Both use the same Samsung Exynos dual-core chipset and 768 MB RAM.
Key Features
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 (46mm)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 (42mm)
- Built-in health tracking.
- Go nonstop on a single charge for days.
- With the wireless charger, you can power up without slowing down.
- The Galaxy Watch is available in two sizes and three colors, offering stylish watch faces that look hardly digital. Plus, choose from an interchangeable band set.
- Pairs with both Android and iOS smartphones via Bluetooth connection.
What’s in the box?
The Galaxy Watch 3 comes in two sizes: 45mm and 41mm. I got the 45mm model in Mystic Silver, which has a stainless steel case and a black leather strap. The box also includes a wireless charger, a quick start guide, and a warranty card.
The watch itself has a round 1.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 360 x 360 pixels, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass DX. It also has a rotating bezel that lets you navigate the watch’s interface with ease.
How is the battery life?
The Galaxy Watch 3 has a 340mAh battery that can last up to two days on a single charge with normal use. This depends on how often you use the watch’s features though, such as LTE connectivity, GPS tracking, always-on display mode, etc. You can also extend the battery life by using power saving modes or turning off some functions when not needed.
The watch comes with a wireless charger that can fully charge the watch in about two hours. You can also use reverse wireless charging from your compatible Samsung phone to top up the watch’s battery if you don’t have the charger with you.
Design and Display
One of the first things that caught my eye about the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 was its design. It looks like a traditional watch, with a round face, a rotating bezel, and two physical buttons on the right side. It comes in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm, and two colors: Mystic Black and Mystic Silver. You can also choose between leather or metal bands, depending on your preference.
The watch is made of stainless steel, which gives it a premium feel and durability. It’s also water-resistant up to 50 meters, so you can wear it while swimming or showering. The rotating bezel is one of my favorite features of the watch, as it allows me to easily navigate through the menus and apps without touching the screen.
The screen itself is stunning. It’s a 1.4-inch (45mm) or 1.2-inch (41mm) AMOLED display, with a resolution of 360 x 360 pixels. It’s bright, sharp, colorful, and responsive to touch. It also has an always-on mode, which means you can see the time and other information without waking up the screen. You can customize the watch face with various widgets and complications, such as weather, calendar, heart rate, steps, etc.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 has a sleek and elegant design that suits any occasion. Whether you’re wearing it for work, exercise, or leisure, it will complement your style and personality.
Battery Life and Charging
Another important factor to consider when buying a smartwatch is battery life. You don’t want to be constantly worrying about running out of juice or having to charge your watch every night.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 has a decent battery life that can last for up to two days on a single charge. Of course, this depends on how you use the watch and what settings you have enabled. For example, if you use GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, music streaming, or other power-hungry features frequently, you might need to charge your watch more often.
The good news is that charging the watch is easy and fast. The watch comes with a wireless charger that magnetically attaches to the back of the watch. You can also use any Qi-compatible wireless charger to charge your watch. It takes about two hours to fully charge the watch from zero to 100%.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 has a respectable battery life that can last for a couple of days on average use. However, if you want to extend it further, you can enable some battery-saving modes that will limit some features and functions.
Performance and Connectivity
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 runs on Tizen OS 5.5, which is Samsung’s own operating system for its wearable devices. It’s compatible with both Android and iOS smartphones, but you’ll need to download some apps from Samsung to pair your watch with your phone.
The watch has a smooth and fast performance thanks to its Exynos 9110 dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM. It can handle multiple apps and tasks without lagging or crashing. It also has 8GB of internal storage space that you can use to store music, photos, or other files.
The watch has various connectivity options that allow you to stay connected with your phone and other devices. It has Bluetooth 5.0 for pairing with wireless headphones or speakers; Wi-Fi for accessing online services; NFC for making contactless payments; GPS for tracking your location; and LTE for making calls or sending messages without your phone (only available on some models).
How does it look and feel?
The Galaxy Watch 3 has a classic and elegant design that looks like a traditional watch, but with a modern twist. The rotating bezel is one of my favorite features, as it gives the watch a tactile and satisfying feel when scrolling through menus and apps. The watch is also quite lightweight and comfortable to wear, despite its large size. The leather strap is soft and flexible, and can be easily swapped for other 22mm bands if you want to change up your style.
The watch is also very durable and water-resistant, as it has a MIL-STD-810G certification and an IP68 rating. This means it can withstand harsh conditions like extreme temperatures, dust, shock, and water up to 50 meters deep. I’ve worn the watch in various situations, from working out at the gym to swimming in the pool, and it has held up very well.
How does it perform?
The Galaxy Watch 3 runs on Tizen OS 5.5, which is Samsung’s own operating system for its smartwatches. It’s compatible with both Android and iOS devices, but you’ll need to download the Galaxy Wearable app and some other Samsung apps on your phone to pair the watch and access all its features. The pairing process was quick and easy for me, and I didn’t encounter any connectivity issues during my use.
The watch has an Exynos 9110 processor, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage. It also supports LTE connectivity, which means you can make calls, send messages, stream music, and use apps without your phone nearby. You’ll need to get a separate eSIM plan from your carrier for this feature though. The watch also has GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NFC, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0 for other wireless functions.
The watch’s performance was smooth and fast for me, as I could switch between apps and screens without any lag or stutter. The watch also has a lot of sensors that measure various aspects of your health and activity, such as an accelerometer, gyro, heart rate monitor, barometer, ECG monitor, blood pressure monitor, SpO2 monitor (blood oxygen level), and fall detection. These sensors work together to provide you with accurate and comprehensive data on your well-being.
Health and Fitness Features
One of the main reasons why I bought the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 was to track and improve my health and fitness. The watch has a lot of features and sensors that can monitor various aspects of my well-being, such as:
- Heart rate: The watch can measure my heart rate continuously or on demand, and alert me if it detects any irregularities or abnormalities. It can also show me my stress level and suggest some breathing exercises to calm me down.
- Blood pressure: The watch can measure my blood pressure using a cuff-less method that involves placing my finger on the top button of the watch. However, this feature is not available in all countries, and it requires calibration with a traditional blood pressure monitor before use.
- Blood oxygen: The watch can measure my blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) level using a red LED sensor on the back of the watch. This can help me assess how well my body is absorbing oxygen and delivering it to my cells. However, this feature is not intended for medical diagnosis or treatment, and it may not work well in cold or high-altitude environments.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): The watch can perform an ECG test by placing my finger on the top button of the watch for 30 seconds. This can help me detect any signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which is a common type of irregular heartbeat that can increase the risk of stroke or heart failure. However, this feature is not available in all countries, and it requires approval from local authorities before use.
- Sleep: The watch can track my sleep quality and duration using its accelerometer and heart rate sensor. It can also provide me with a sleep score and some insights on how to improve my sleep habits. It can also detect if I snore or have any breathing issues during sleep, such as sleep apnea.
- Fall detection: The watch can detect if I fall down and send an SOS message to my emergency contacts with my location. It can also call 911 or the local equivalent automatically if I don’t respond within a minute. This feature can be very useful for elderly or disabled users who live alone or need assistance.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 has a lot of health and fitness features that can help me stay on top of my physical and mental health. It can also sync with Samsung Health app on my phone, where I can see more detailed data and reports on my health metrics.
Productivity and Entertainment Features
Besides health and fitness, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 also has some features and functions that can help me with my productivity and entertainment needs. Some of them are:
- Notifications: The watch can show me notifications from my phone, such as calls, messages, emails, social media updates, reminders, etc. I can also reply to some of them using voice, text, emojis, or preset responses. I can also customize which apps I want to receive notifications from on the watch.
- Bixby: The watch has Bixby, which is Samsung’s voice assistant that can help me with various tasks and queries. I can activate Bixby by pressing and holding the home button or saying “Hi Bixby”. I can ask Bixby to do things like set alarms, timers, reminders, check the weather, control smart home devices, etc.
- Music: The watch has a built-in speaker and microphone that allow me to listen to music or make calls without using headphones. I can also store music on the watch’s internal memory or stream music from Spotify or other online services. I can control the music playback using the bezel or the buttons on the watch.
- Camera: The watch has a camera controller app that lets me use the watch as a remote shutter for my phone’s camera. I can see what the camera sees on the watch’s screen, zoom in or out, switch between front and rear cameras, and take photos or videos. This is handy for taking selfies or group shots without holding the phone.
- Samsung Pay: The watch has Samsung Pay, which is Samsung’s mobile payment service that lets me pay for things using NFC or MST technology. I can add my credit or debit cards to the watch and use them at any terminal that accepts contactless payments. I just need to press and hold the back button and tap the watch to the terminal.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 has some productivity and entertainment features that make it more than just a health and fitness device. It can help me stay connected, organized, entertained, and productive throughout the day.
Pros and Cons
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is a great smartwatch that has a lot of advantages over other smartwatches in the market. However, it also has some drawbacks that you should be aware of before buying it. Here are some of the pros and cons of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3:
Pros:
- Stylish and durable design that looks like a traditional watch
- Rotating bezel that makes navigation easy and fun
- Bright and sharp AMOLED display with always-on mode
- Decent battery life that can last for up to two days
- Smooth and fast performance with Tizen OS 5.5
- Various connectivity options, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS, and LTE
- A lot of health and fitness features, such as heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen, ECG, sleep, and fall detection
- Some productivity and entertainment features, such as notifications, Bixby, music, camera, and Samsung Pay
Cons:
- Some health features are not available in all countries or require calibration or approval before use
- Battery life can be drained quickly by using GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, music streaming, or other power-hungry features
- Tizen OS 5.5 has a limited app selection compared to other operating systems
- The watch is expensive compared to other smartwatches with similar features
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 has more pros than cons in my opinion. It’s a versatile and powerful smartwatch that can cater to different needs and preferences. However, it’s not perfect and it might not suit everyone’s budget or taste.
Alternatives and Competitors
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is not the only smartwatch in the market. There are many other alternatives and competitors that you might want to consider before making your purchase decision. Here are some of them:
- Apple Watch Series 6: This is the latest and most advanced smartwatch from Apple. It runs on watchOS 7, which is compatible with iOS devices only. It has a square-shaped design with a digital crown and a side button. It has a 1.78-inch (44mm) or 1.57-inch (40mm) OLED display with a resolution of 448 x 368 pixels or 394 x 324 pixels. It has a battery life of up to 18 hours on a single charge. It has a dual-core S6 processor and 32GB of internal storage space. It has various connectivity options, such as Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS, and LTE. It has a lot of health and fitness features, such as heart rate, blood oxygen, ECG, sleep, fall detection, noise detection, etc. It also has some productivity and entertainment features, such as notifications, Siri, music, camera, Apple Pay, etc. The Apple Watch Series 6 is a great smartwatch for iPhone users who want to enjoy the seamless integration and ecosystem of Apple products. However, it’s also very expensive and not compatible with Android devices.
- Fitbit Versa 3: This is the latest and most affordable smartwatch from Fitbit. It runs on Fitbit OS 5.0, which is compatible with both Android and iOS devices. It has a square-shaped design with a single button on the left side. It has a 1.58-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 336 x 336 pixels. It has a battery life of up to six days on a single charge. It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor and 4GB of internal storage space. It has various connectivity options, such as Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS, and LTE (only available on some models). It has a lot of health and fitness features, such as heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep, stress, menstrual cycle tracking, etc. It also has some productivity and entertainment features, such as notifications, Alexa, music, camera, Fitbit Pay, etc. The Fitbit Versa 3 is a great smartwatch for fitness enthusiasts who want to track their health and activity in detail. However, it’s also less powerful and versatile than other smartwatches with similar features.
- Garmin Vivoactive 4: This is the latest and most advanced smartwatch from Garmin. It runs on Garmin OS, which is compatible with both Android and iOS devices. It has a round-shaped design with two buttons on the right side. It has a 1.3-inch (45mm) or 1.1-inch (40mm) transflective MIP display with a resolution of 260 x 260 pixels or 218 x 218 pixels. It has a battery life of up to eight days on smartwatch mode or six hours on GPS mode. It has a dual-core processor and 4GB of internal storage space. It has various connectivity options, such as Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS, and LTE (only available on some models). It has a lot of health and fitness features, such as heart rate, blood oxygen, ECG (only available on some models), sleep, stress, body battery, hydration tracking, etc. It also has some productivity and entertainment features, such as notifications, music, camera, Garmin Pay, etc. The Garmin Vivoactive 4 is a great smartwatch for outdoor enthusiasts who want to enjoy the accuracy and reliability of Garmin’s GPS and sensors. However, it’s also more expensive and bulky than other smartwatches with similar features.
Who should buy the Galaxy Watch 3?
The Galaxy Watch 3 is a great smartwatch for anyone who wants a device that can do it all. It’s especially suitable for:
- People who value style and design, and want a smartwatch that looks like a traditional watch
- People who are health-conscious and fitness-oriented, and want a smartwatch that can monitor their well-being and activity in depth
- People who are busy and productive, and want a smartwatch that can handle their smartphone-level tasks and notifications
Where can you buy the Galaxy Watch 3?
The Galaxy Watch 3 is available in various online and offline stores. You can buy it from Samsung’s official website, where you can also customize your watch with different colors, sizes, bands, etc.
You can also buy it from other online retailers like Amazon or Best Buy, where you can compare prices and reviews from other customers. You can also buy it from local stores like Walmart or Target, where you can see and try the watch in person before buying.
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Final Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is a smartwatch that does it all. It has a stylish and durable design that looks like a traditional watch. It has a bright and sharp AMOLED display with always-on mode. It has a decent battery life that can last for up to two days. It has a smooth and fast performance with Tizen OS 5.5. It has various connectivity options, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS, and LTE. It has a lot of health and fitness features, such as heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen, ECG, sleep, and fall detection. It also has some productivity and entertainment features, such as notifications, Bixby, music, camera, and Samsung Pay.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is not perfect though. It has some drawbacks that you should be aware of before buying it. Some health features are not available in all countries or require calibration or approval before use. Battery life can be drained quickly by using GPS, Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth, music streaming, or other power-hungry features. Tizen OS 5.5 has a limited app selection compared to other operating systems. The watch is expensive compared to other smartwatches with similar features.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is a smartwatch that can suit different needs and preferences. It’s a versatile and powerful device that can help you stay on top of your health, fitness, productivity, and entertainment. However, it’s not for everyone. It might not fit your budget or taste. It might not have the features or functions that you want or need.
That’s why I recommend that you do your own research and compare the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 with other alternatives and competitors in the market. You can also read other reviews and opinions from users and experts to get a better idea of what to expect from the watch.
I hope this review has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Thank you for reading!
| NETWORK | Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | |
| 4G bands | LTE | |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | |
| GPRS | Yes | |
| EDGE | Yes | |
| LAUNCH | Announced | 2018, August |
| BODY | Dimensions | 49 x 46 x 13 mm (1.93 x 1.81 x 0.51 in) |
| Weight | 63 g (2.22 oz) | |
| Build | Stainless Steel 316L | |
| SIM | Electronic SIM card (e-SIM) | |
| – Samsung Pay | ||
| – MIL-STD-810G | ||
| – 50m waterproof (IP68) | ||
| – Compatible with standard 20/22mm straps | ||
| DISPLAY | Type | Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors |
| Size | 1.3 inches, 10.8 cm2 (~48.1% screen-to-body ratio) | |
| Resolution | 360 x 360 pixels, 1:1 ratio (~278 ppi density) | |
| Multitouch | Yes | |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass DX+ | |
| – Always-on display | ||
| – Rotating bezel | ||
| PLATFORM | OS | Tizen-based wearable OS 4.0 |
| Chipset | Exynos 9110 | |
| CPU | Dual-core 1.15 GHz | |
| MEMORY | Card slot | No |
| Internal | 4 GB, 1.5 GB RAM (LTE model)4 GB, 768 MB RAM (BTT model) | |
| CAMERA | ||
| No | ||
| SOUND | Alert types | Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | |
| 3.5mm jack | No | |
| COMMS | WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS | |
| NFC | Yes | |
| Radio | No | |
| USB | No | |
| FEATURES | Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer |
| Messaging | SMS(threaded view), Email, IM | |
| Browser | No | |
| – WPC wireless charging | ||
| – Natural language commands and dictation | ||
| – MP3/M4A/AAC/WAV player | ||
| – Photo viewer | ||
| – Voice memo/dial/commands | ||
| BATTERY | Non-removable Li-Ion 472 mAh battery | |
| Stand-by | Up to 72 h (mixed usage) | |
| MISC | Colors | Silver (46mm); Midnight Black, Rose Gold (42mm) |
You can find additional information on the manufacturer’s website.
Please note that while we attempt to provide as accurate specs as possible, we are not guaranteeing that they are 100% correct.
Can I shower with my Galaxy watch?
Under specific conditions, Galaxy Watch has been certified ISO 22810:2010 for 5 ATM ratings of 50 meters (165 feet). Both devices are therefore safe to wear while walking through the rain or the shower and they can be used for activities with shallow water such as swimming in a pool or an ocean.
How do Smartwatches know you are sleeping?
Your Smartwatch translates your wrist movements into sleep patterns with a method called actigraphy. To determine the difference between deep REM sleep and light sleep, brainwaves, eye movements, and breathing are also required.
How deep can the Galaxy watch go underwater?
Samsung smartwatches are up to 50 meters/164 feet water-resistant.
Can Galaxy Watch take blood pressure?
Users can download My BP Lab, the research app developed jointly with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), directly to Galaxy Watch Active to monitor blood pressure and monitor their physical health on a daily basis.
Does Samsung Watch have fall detection?
The Galaxy Watch doesn’t yet have fall detection or ECG heart monitoring.
