Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 review

OUR DECISION

The Galaxy Watch 3 has stunning hardware and a range of health-related features, like an EKG and blood pressure sensor. Although it doesn’t support the greatest number of third-party apps, it does have a bright display, a long battery life, and Samsung’s quick Tizen OS software. Supported by its audience.

Pros

• Gorgeous vintage style;
• An physical rotating bezel;
• Long-lasting battery;
• EKG assistance is coming;
• The Tizen interface is excellent in general.

Cons

• Support for apps is still lacking;
• Tizen OS is running out of time;
• Slow and awkward charger;
• Without MST for Samsung Pay.

Also read our guide about SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch (46mm, GPS, Bluetooth) – Silver/Black (US Version)

One of the most frequent problems with smartwatches is design compromises. Since you wouldn’t want to wear something with all the different features and sensors that make these tiny wrist computers so useful. The end result is typically a bulky, ugly device that costs as much as a nice traditional watch and has the additional drawback of having to be charged once per day.

Unfortunately, these hardware compromises are matched by equally burdensome software in the form of Wear OS Watch, which continues to be a slow-moving disaster, reducing the number of compelling options on the Android phone side. This is true even of some of the best Android smartwatches. However, with the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and the new Wear OS 3, things will begin to get more interesting.

Samsung, however, operates a little differently. The Galaxy Watch line includes hardware luxuries like circular displays and rotating bezels for navigating the interface, and it runs the company’s in-house Tizen software rather than Wear OS.

Additionally, the Galaxy Watch 3 continues the Watch Active line’s emphasis on physical fitness and health and offers long-delayed support for some cutting-edge physiological readings.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3: Pricing & Accessibility

On August 6, 2020, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 went on sale. There are a few different sizes and configurations available for those who are interested in the new smartwatch.

The 41mm model of the Galaxy Watch 3 is available for $399 in either Mystic Silver or Mystic Bronze. (The latter choice matches the simultaneously released Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Buds Live and is Samsung’s signature color.)

The more expensive 45mm model, which is available in Mystic Black or Mystic Silver, starts at $429. There is also a titanium version available, but it will cost more. Additionally, expect to pay $50 more if you want your Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 with LTE so it can answer calls and respond to messages even when your smartphone is out of Bluetooth range.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 review: Design

Baby, the bezel is back. The physical bezel was useful and enjoyable when we tested the mechanism for our initial Samsung Galaxy Watch review. Swiping or attempting to poke at the circular display with our finger was not as effective as spinning the dial, which worked well with both side buttons.

Second time around, the bezel holds up and feels even better because Samsung made the Galaxy Watch 3 thinner. Compared to the original Galaxy Watch, it is 15% lighter, 14% thinner, and 8% smaller. Even though the difference is only a few millimeters, it is noticeable when it comes to wrist jewelry.

However, in comparison to my Apple Watch 5, the 1.7-ounce, 41mm version Mystic Bronze model I tested seems bulky. It looks less like a high-tech watch and more like a conventional one as a result. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 holds its own as a fashionable accessory, while I might forgo my Apple Watch for a fancy dinner or a date night.

Even better, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 has genuine leather straps that complement the color of the casing and give it a more upscale appearance than the fitness-focused Samsung Galaxy Watch 2. But if I were to keep using the Galaxy Watch 3 as my daily driver, I’d switch them out for sportier ones because the leather doesn’t hold up well to sweat or water.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 review: Faces of the watch and display

Although the 360 x 360-pixel screen on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is clear, bright enough to see in bright sunlight, and always on, that isn’t what caught my attention.

I’ll be honest: Apple Watch issues make me anxious. I wish there were more options because I feel like I have to use a combination of five different faces at once to see everything I might need throughout the day. Introducing the Galaxy Watch 3, which offers 40 complications and 80,000 watch faces.

It took me some time to discover which design and data on the Galaxy Watch 3 made me feel comfortable, but I have a thing for the weather-related backgrounds. If seeing rain animations on my wrist doesn’t make me realize why I never check the forecast before leaving the house, nothing will.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 review: Performance

Samsung’s Tizen operating system is a vast improvement over Google’s unstable Wear OS, though it still lags behind Apple’s watchOS. The Galaxy Watch 3’s various menus are not only crammed with practical apps and highly customizable, but also feel responsive when you launch or switch between them.

The bezel makes navigation simple, and I used the dual buttons and it to get where I needed to go. On the other hand, I wasn’t really a fan of the motion gestures. I was a little embarrassed when I finally got them to work.

The Galaxy Watch 3’s T9 keyboard, on which I texted more frequently than I anticipated, didn’t feel silly. Although typing on a screen this small may seem absurd, I found myself using the messaging feature when talk-to-text wasn’t an option. I wish a modified, tiny keyboard would take the place of Scribble on the Apple Watch.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 review: Fitness and health features

Seven of the 40 activities the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 can track automatically, so you won’t always have to choose what kind of exercise you’re doing before you start. When my vivacious 85-pound black lab refused to stop so I could start a walk tracking during one of our regular walks around town, I needed this.

My daily course is approximately 1.2 inch, depending on how many times the dog wants to go in circles, according to the Galaxy Watch 3’s on-board GPS. The same thing happened when I used the watch for running and biking, the latter of which incorporated on-demand VO2 Max readings. Since I’m not much of an endurance runner, I didn’t set off any warnings, but I can see how more committed athletes would value this feature while working out.

However, the leather straps might not be appreciated by them. I am certain that I did not. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 has a 5ATM rating for water resistance, but I didn’t even think about wearing it close to a pool because it felt strange getting them wet with sweat.

If you want to use the Galaxy Watch 3 for more than just light exercise, I’d advise getting silicone bands or looking at one of the best fitness trackers.

The Watch 3 is water resistant to 50 metres, the screen is covered in scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass DX and the straps are standard 20mm or 22mm bands with quick-release pins.

No matter where you are, however, the trip detection sensors on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 will contact emergency services on your behalf if they detect a sudden, hard fall. This feature has been available on Apple Watch for a while, so it’s encouraging to see Samsung catching up.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 review: ECG readings and blood pressure monitoring

Because the Galaxy Watch 3 has an FDA-approved ECG monitor, it can detect atrial fibrillation symptoms just like the Apple Watch.

Samsung has been slow to get its version approved, first obtaining clearance for the technology on the Galaxy Watch Active 2 in South Korea, despite the FDA-approved ECG sensor on the Apple Watch being an old news item (it debuted with the Apple Watch Series 4).

These smartwatches can now perform ECG readings.

In South Korea, Samsung’s blood pressure monitor has also received approval. Until the sensor receives FDA approval, it will remain dormant in The Galaxy Watch 3. If it receives the green light soon, it would be the first smartwatch from a big-name tech brand with a working blood pressure monitoring system.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 sleep tracking

The National Sleep Institute and Samsung have a partnership that allows the Galaxy Watch 3 to offer wearers insights into their REM cycle while they are in bed as well as a morning report on the quality of their sleep and advice on how to get better sleep.

I put the Apple Watch’s sleep tracking to the test on the nights I wore it to bed. While Samsung provided more useful information, Apple’s native sleep tracking app gave me credit for a little bit more sleep and recognized when I woke up in the middle of the night during terrifying thunderstorms.

The Galaxy Watch 3’s SpO2 sensor, or pulse oximeter, offers some of these insights. Breathing irregularities while sleeping, which are a common symptom of sleep apnea, can be detected by a SpO2 sensor. I, for one, don’t have much trouble sleeping, but someone who does could learn how to take action on changing their sleep cycle with the Watch 3.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 review: Apps and storage

Although the selection of third-party apps on Tizen OS is smaller than that of the Apple Watch App Store, you still have access to well-known apps like Uber and Spotify.

Additionally, with a Spotify Premium subscription, you can save songs for offline playback using the 8GB of music storage on the Galaxy Watch 3. I look forward to having a few of my playlists available when I leave my phone at home for bike rides since I don’t use an LTE model.

My Apple Watch 5, which has a larger 16GB storage capacity, has this feature that I really like. I’ll need to be careful about offloading audio I don’t need anymore, though, as I’ve already used up about half of the storage on my Galaxy Watch 3.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 battery life

The battery life of the new Galaxy Watch appears to be inferior to that of the older model. The Galaxy Watch 3’s 340 mAh battery is only expected to last two days as opposed to the 4-day endurance of the original Galaxy Watch. That’s reasonable by smartwatch standards (the Apple Watch 5 only has 18 hours of battery life), and it probably helps explain the slimmer design.

The Galaxy Watch 3’s battery life matches Samsung’s predictions. The watch lasted about two days during the first two days I wore it, despite hour-long workouts and sleep tracking.

The battery life decreased to 24 hours in its second cycle after I turned on the always-on display setting, though. Nevertheless, this is superior to my Apple Watch 5.

The Galaxy Watch 3 has two charging options: its own proprietary charge or wireless power sharing with a compatible Samsung phone. For the purpose of keeping my bedside table organized, I also tried out this charging cradle dock from Amazon(opens in new tab).

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 Things I love

In terms of smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch 3’s hardware is quite impressive. The casing, which is made of titanium or stainless steel depending on the model you purchase through links, feels as good as it does. Though Samsung claims the Watch 3 is 14% thinner than the first Galaxy Watch, the 41mm review unit I received is still over 11mm thick, so it’s on the thicker side. Due to the need to fit the same sensors into a smaller chassis, it is even slightly thicker than the 45mm version.

Even so, I appreciate how little space this watch takes up on my wrist compared to my usual analog watch, which Samsung was able to achieve. I love leather bands, and the one that comes with the watch is perfect for me. However, if you prefer bands made of metal or silicone, you can easily replace it with a standard 20mm band (22mm if you opt for the 45mm version).

Although I thought the Galaxy Watch Active 2’s haptic “touch bezel” was pretty cool, I’m glad Samsung brought back the traditional rotating bezel with the Watch 3.

Each time the dial rotates, there is a satisfying audible click, which makes navigating the software interface a delight. Hell, wearing the watch is like wearing a fidget spinner on your wrist even when you aren’t using it.

As opposed to the Mystic Black or Mystic Silver alternatives, which are much easier to match with an outfit, Samsung sent me the Galaxy Watch 3 in its Mystic Bronze finish, which closely resembles a pink or rose gold (at least, not when your closet is mostly full of band tees and Uniqlo sweaters). Even so, it’s a colorful design that stands out from the competition and is fun to look at.

Oddly, while the 45mm casing of the Samsung Watch 3 has a finely ridged ring in its place, the 41mm models have a completely smooth rotating bezel around the display.

The Galaxy Watch 3 is a gorgeous timepiece with a surprisingly small footprint. Samsung added so many fitness features here that there’s no more need for an Active line.

Since watches are both an accessory and a tool, having excellent hardware and aesthetics is crucial for a smartwatch, but if the software isn’t equally impressive, it won’t do much good. Tizen, fortunately, largely holds up. With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, Wear OS has taken over, so Tizen will no longer receive updates.

I adore how seamlessly a circular display works with Samsung’s user interface. Of course, you can also simply touch and swipe on the screen while using the rotating bezel to navigate between pages and menus. Even if you’ve never used a Tizen watch before, you can pick it up quickly and easily.

The electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG or EKG, and blood pressure monitor are two significant upgrades to the Galaxy Watch 3. Samsung battled for years to get FDA approval for these features in the United States, even installing the necessary hardware in some of its older watches like the Watch Active 2 in the hope that the settings would later be retroactively enabled.

Thankfully, Samsung received approval for its EKG and blood oxygen sensor technology at the same time as the Watch 3’s launch, and the features were subsequently turned on in late September 2020.

The Watch 3’s pulse oximeter enables it to read out VO2 max in addition to SpO2 (blood oxygen monitoring), which informs you of the maximum amount of oxygen you can take in and use while exercising. After every workout, you automatically receive an estimate of your VO2, but blood oxygen readings through the Samsung Health app must be manually started.

An associate of Android Central Although I don’t go out and exercise nearly as frequently as he does, Andrew Martonik frequently laments the GPS accuracy of previous Galaxy Watches. However, I’ve found the Watch 3 to be fairly accurate.

The Galaxy Watch 3 followed the signs I passed as I walked three miles on a paved trail with distance markers every half-mile, and it provided me with a detailed post-workout sheet that included information about my heart rate trends, calories burned, and other statistics.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 What Need Work

But first, let’s talk about that Tizen software. I really like the overall interface, but despite Samsung’s efforts, there is still a dearth of support for third-party apps. The only app on my phone that has appeared as an app on the Watch 3 is Spotify. Additionally, I’ve discovered that the Spotify app is incredibly unreliable and frequently fails to properly control my music playback.

The battery life of the Watch 3 also let me down a little. It’s not awful. In fact, I had no trouble getting two or three days out of a single charge when the always-on display was turned off. However, even a full day is sometimes too much when AOD is activated, especially if you’re using the Watch to track your activity.

The charging situation is another area where I wish Samsung would make improvements. The included magnetic puck has a weak connection that is simple to dislodge and is essentially the same as every other Galaxy Watch.

Three hours after putting the Watch on the charger, I’ve picked it up only to discover that it wasn’t properly seated and hadn’t charged at all. Additionally, it continues to use USB-A, which is… okay, but I’d really like to see a USB-C option.

There is also the exorbitant launch cost. The 41mm Bluetooth-only model of the Galaxy Watch 3 originally cost $400, and prices only increased from there. Although the Galaxy Watch line’s pricing is nothing new, if you’ve recently looked at any Wear OS-powered watches, you’re probably feeling some sticker shock.

That is not to say that the Galaxy Watch 3 is not worthwhile, even just for the stunning hardware, but you must ** want a high-end smartwatch to justify purchasing it, even at its recently reduced prices.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 Review The Competition

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series from Samsung is the first option to think about if you don’t like the Galaxy Watch 3 or simply don’t like shelling out a few hundred dollars for a watch with software that has numbered days.

There are two models available: the Galaxy Watch 4 Standard, which draws heavily from the Galaxy Watch Active 2, and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, which stays closer to the Galaxy Watch 3.

Whichever new watch you choose, you’ll have access to some powerful options for tracking your health. Both options include ECG, heart rate, and blood oxygen monitoring, but you also receive a new BIA sensor. This function analyzes your body composition and provides deeper insights into your general health.

The Fossil Gen 6 is a good option if you’re looking outside of Samsung. Similar to Samsung’s rotating bezel, the Gen 6 series has an understated design and a rotating crown for software interaction. Even some of the identical features, like heart rate monitoring and simple fitness tracking, are included.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 review Should You Buy It?

Buy it if… 

You like the bezel that rotates

It’s a fantastic way to interact with a wearable that enables you to see everything on the display while you cycle through menus, and no other smartwatch manufacturer offers such a distinctive feature. This watch is the one to buy if you agree with that notion.

You desire a stylish smartwatch

The Galaxy Watch 3 is a stunning smartwatch with a clear, vibrant display that can hold its own against all high-end gadgets. Consider the Galaxy Watch 3 if you’re buying a smartwatch primarily for aesthetics.

You want a strong health partner

The Galaxy Watch 3 is not only a fantastic all-purpose watch, but it also has a ton of great health features, including automatic workout tracking and support for a wide range of exercises. This is the one to get if you want a health tracker and a smart wrist companion.

Don’t buy it if… 

Long battery life is necessary

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3’s battery life is adequate when compared to some of the other devices it competes with, but it won’t last as long as some options from Fitbit or Garmin. You might want to look elsewhere if you want a durable device.

Also read our guide 10 Best Garmin Watches – Choose the right GPS tracker

You’re trying to find a cheap smartwatch

This isn’t the most affordable smartwatch on the market and it’s not even close. In fact, you can still buy the original Galaxy Watch if you want a similar gadget at a lower cost.

You need certain health characteristics

On the Galaxy Watch 3, the ECG monitor, blood pressure monitor, and SpO2 tracker are not yet accessible in all markets. If these features are essential from the start, you might want to look elsewhere.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 review Verdict

In a crowded wearables market, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 stands out. Samsung was able to strike a balance between the two despite the fact that there are many stylish smartwatches and great fitness trackers available today. It combined the best health functions of the Galaxy Watch Active 2 with a bezeled design to compete with products from watch guru Fossil.

The Galaxy Watch 3 is more expensive than previous Galaxy Watch models and Wear OS Fossil options, and it has a stronger focus on lifestyle than fitness. However, this convergence came at a price. At the same price, I can’t say that I’d switch from my Apple Watch to an Android model. However, if you have a Samsung Android phone and want to wear it as an extension wherever you go, the Galaxy Watch 3 is the most streamlined and potent option available. At the very least, anything with a spinning mechanism as satisfying.