In today's review, we'll take a look at the recently introduced new smartwatch Galaxy Watch 3 from Samsung. What are these watches like from the perspective of a long-term Apple fan, what are their pros and cons, and is it worth it for iPhone users to get one? You will find out in the following lines. Review Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is here.
Package contents
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You thought they only save on accessories for their products Apple? Footbridge error! MiniSamsung will also join it in the smartwatch category. In the packaging of its Galaxy Watch 3 of that, you will also find really scant. Apart from the watch, a few manuals for using the watch and a magnetic charging cable, you will not find anything else in it. What's more, you don't need anything more, since you plug the charging cable into the USB-A adapter of your phone or tablet. Personally, however, I always tell myself that I would not be offended by a solo charging adapter in the smartwatch package, since it always comes in handy. However, I understand this "box philosophy" of smartwatch manufacturers and I definitely cannot criticize them for it.
Technical Specifications
It doesn't have to go by its technical specifications Galaxy Watch 3 is not at all ashamed. Samsung produces them in two sizes – namely 41 mm and 45 mm – and three color versions – namely bronze, silver and black. The watches are complemented by genuine leather straps with a classic metal buckle, which is of course in the color of their body. We received the 41 mm for review Galaxy Watch 3 in a bronze body, which in my opinion is more suitable for a woman's wrist. However, this did not stop me from testing it.
The watch runs the Tizen operating system, which can be described as a kind of evergreen in smartwatches without exaggeration. The storage capacity, which is 8 GB – 4 times smaller than that of the Apple Watch Series 5. This difference may seem crazy at first glance, but when you think about whether you're actually going to be able to use that 32 GB, you'll quickly realize that you're going to barely be able to. Yes, more space is always better than less space, but I personally wouldn't pay too much attention to the storage size when it comes to a smartwatch. I personally own Apple Watch Series 5 since their launch and that I would somehow enjoy having almost unlimited space (considering a smartwatch), that is definitely not the case. So if you are thinking about this watch and 8 GB seems like an argument against it, think about how much music or other data that can be put on the watch can actually fit into 8 GB. I think that after answering this question you will have a clear idea.
The watch has WiFi, Bluetooth and NFC koneactivity, Models that will support LTE via eSIM will also appear on the market. It is important to emphasize that Samsung uses a different eSIM system for its smartwatches than Apple u Apple Watch, when while he allows you to insert a de facto separate number into the watch, Apple "splits" the phone number into two, leaving one on the phone and the other on the watch. So South Koreans are definitely not ahead in this regard on the Czech market, as they simply go the other way. If you are interested inoneactivity, you can connect the watch to both Android from version 5.0 and iPhones with iOS 10 and later – you need to download the app Galaxy Watch.
The watch has a wide range of sensors, including a heart rate sensor, oximeter (blood oxygenation), light intensity sensor, gyroscope, barometer, altimeter, accelerometer and GPS. So everyone will find something for themselves. As for the display, it is round, just like the watch body, with a diameter of 1,2” and is AMOLED. Pro Samsung chose Gorilla Glass for its cover, which cannot be described as anything other than an excellent choice ensuring first-class durability. Gorilla Glass is probably the best manufacturer of tempered glass covers for electronics today. If you are interested in waterproofness, the manufacturer states 5 ATM, which is again a kind of “smartwatch” standard. You will also be pleased with the 43-hour battery life and the friendly weight of 48,2 grams. The price of the smaller 41 mm watch is 11,490 crowns, while you will pay 12,490 crowns for the larger one. This is definitely not an inaccessible piece of electronics, quite the opposite.
Processing and design
Design evaluation is a very subjective matter and therefore the following lines must be perceived purely as my personal evaluation and not as some kind of revealed truth that you should take from me. I can vouch for myself (as in my first impressions of the watch you can read here) to say that I like the design aspect Galaxy Watch I really like 3 even though I've been using square ones for years. Apple Watch and I'm generally more of a fan of this shape for smartwatches. But the round body looks very elegant, and anyone looking at it can see that this is a watch and not a fitness tracker or something similar. The only thing that threw me off balance is the overall thickness of the watch, which seems really big to me - especially due to the implementation of sensors for user monitoring. I definitely can't say that the watch would look strange or unnatural on the hand because of this, but if it dropped a little, I wouldn't be angry. Compared with Apple Watch namely, they stick out more from the wrist.
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If I were to evaluate the production side of the watch, there is absolutely nothing to complain about. The stainless steel body is made with absolute precision and I have to say the same about the leather straps. From a production point of view, everything is brought to absolute perfection, thanks to which it looks like a truly valuable piece of electronics on the wrist. After all, for the price that Samsung charges for them, what can you expect?
Manageability
Samsung has long been betting on touch control with a physical rotating bezel for its smartwatches. To be honest, I've never been much of a fan of the combination of physical and digital controls on electronics, and I don't quite like this controllability here either. This may not be a problem in the end, as the watch can be comfortably controlled just by touch, but it seems to me that the use of the bezel is sometimes simply unavoidable, for example due to speeding up a certain action. After all, you work with a round display in a completely different way than with a square display.
ProWednesday Galaxy Watch 3 has a very nice design, is clear and overall the kind of watch you would want on a watch with a round display. From Apple Watch se therefore, logically, they differ considerably, which can be a problem for a user switching from one to another at first. After a few days, however, you will get used to the different control system and environment and the problems will be gone. However, I must say that I have a lot of controllability Galaxy Watch 3 as good a feeling as the handling Apple Watch I can't say. The user-friendliness of the OS used by Samsung is not as good as the user-friendliness of the watchOS not yet equal, at least in my eyes.
Testing
My watch testing Galaxy Watch 3 consisted primarily of activities that I am used to doing with my Apple Watch. Of course, I will compare Samsung watches with them the most, because as an Apple fan, I am closest to them and at the same time Galaxy Watch 3 I'm testing for a magazine focused on Apple products. So what kind Galaxy Watch 3 compared to Apple Watch (specifically Series 5) in everyday life are?
To write that notifications from the phone are shown by the watch completely reliably is perhaps a bit unnecessary. On the other hand, Galaxy Watch I tested 3 with iPhonem, i.e. telephoneonem, which it does not primarily target, so the absolutely perfect synchronization of its notifications on the watch display is certainly commendable. In this case, from Apple Watch practically no difference.
Personally, lately I've seen a smartwatch much more as a super motivator to move than as a notifier on my wrist. On Apple Watch I quite liked closing the activity circles, and since something similar works – i.e. the fulfillment of daily goals – also at Samsung, I enjoyed completing the activity at them as well. The same like at Apple Watch, and u Galaxy Watch 3 will only show you a handful of information on its display, and for deeper exploration it is a good idea to use the mobile app. Pro Samsung created an application for these purposes Health, which I would describe with a bit of exaggeration as Health from iOS on steroids, because objectively it seems really better to me than the solution from Applu. It is much more complex and overall seems much more user-friendly and motivating to me. In short, the application that you want to see when you are losing weight or getting into shape, because its elements will motivate you more than Health. It will show you much more in a much more digestible and playful form, in my opinion, which is simply fun to fill out. However, much more important than the application are of course the measured data, which can Galaxy Watch 3 to collect. I specifically tested walking and running, and in both cases the data matched Apple Watch in meters, maxat least the lower tens of meters. By this I do not mean that they are Apple Watch a prototype of accurate measurement, but only that the measuring capabilities of both devices are roughly at the same level.
What really surprised me quite a bit was the ability Galaxy Watch almost immediately during walking or running training I find out that I have stopped. Apple Watch are capable of recording interruptions of activity as well, but for a considerably longer time than Galaxy Watch 3. So Samsung really deserves a thumbs up and praise for this. The speed with which the watch can record interruptions in activity is almost unbelievable. Another interesting function is measuring the oxygen level in the blood, thanks to which you will learn another interesting information about your training. However, to be honest, this is information that you can simply do without. I don't see much use in it for the average user and I will very likely not see it for a professional either. Apple Watch Series 6. On the other hand, measuring heart rate is certainly useful, since this data is monitored by the vast majority of smartwatch owners. The values that I have Galaxy Watch 3 measured, they corresponded to the values that show me in the long term Apple Watch – they either completely coincided with them, or they differed by units of beats. In both cases, they were very close to reality, which is not difficult to verify with a simple test - the classic counting of beats per minute.
The watch also deserves praise for its display - that is, its readability in the sun. She is very good from every angle you can think of. I found the color presentation a little worse than u Apple Watch, but it was by no means a striking difference. Honestly - if I hadn't Apple Watch a Galaxy Watch 3 next to each other, I would hardly complain about the colors.
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As for battery life, the manufacturer claims a respectable 41 hours for the 43 mm version. However, the fact is that you can only get to 43 hours with more economical use without more active heart rate measurement, more frequent exercise and generally lower intensity of use. I definitely don't want to say that you will juice the watch in a few hours, but you will hardly make it to less than two days. Personally, I got about a day and a half during testing, which means that I still recharged daily. Did it bother me? In the standard mode, when a person gets up for work, arrives from work, goes for a walk or shopping and simply lives in a more relaxed style, no. However, as soon as a person goes on a trip with the vision of a sleepover for several days, it is not entirely pleasant to drag another cable with him for the sake of the watch and think about charging it. Sportingly, however, I have to admit that u Apple Watch it's not about anything else.
Summary
In conclusion, if I had to answer the question I used in the headline - that is, whether they are Galaxy Watch 3 from Samsung a new competitor for Apple Watch -, I would hesitate to answer. One would think that comparing these models would not be such a problem as a result, but the longer I have Galaxy Watch 3 on my wrist, the more I understand how other smartwatches actually compare Apple Watch they are. Sure, it offers a number of very similar or identical functions, but the overall perception of the watch is completely different in both cases. Apple Watch they are simply telephonesonem on the wrist, whereas Galaxy Watch 3 are still watches – at least that’s how both models still look to me. So if someone were to ask me if they are Galaxy Watch 3 great smartwatches, I would say yes without hesitation. However, if I had to answer the question of whether they are better Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch 3, I would hesitate andonec I would probably answer that different ones will be better for everyone. In short, these are two specific pieces of electronics that will certainly find many supporters and opponents. So if I had to summarize the previous review into one piece of advice, it would be advice like “put Galaxy Watch 3 shanc"It's worth it". It's possible that they will suit you much better than Apple Watch and by extension other smartwatches.
Good day.
Thanks for the review.
Proyes, does this watch have a golf app? Apple I have Hole19, I don't know about Samsung.
it will never be a proper competitor applu only for the reason that it is Andorid OS. It will never be as well paired as IOS vs IOS and vice versa. I had them whenever I moved away from my mobile phone with my watch, (iphone X) so I had to restart the watch and pair it again. Pure delusion…
Interesting, I had them too and they worked perfectly. What put me off, however, is that unlike AW, you can't pay with them yet. Too bad there's no Google there at least. pay.
Otherwise, I would say that the watch as such is just as below average as the AW (5). Barely last a day or so. When it lasts as long as the fitbit versa 2 or 3 (6 days on a single charge!), which can also do the same thing as the AW, maybe I'll go back to the AW. Until then fitbit is the clear choice and winner for me.
I refused AW for a long time, just because of the flashlight.. but then it didn't arrive :) just when I get home, I take it off my hand and put it on the charger..
You're an idiot again.
It is not any android software. It's Tizen.
And I didn't even say it was Android.
Apple Tom - better see what's stuck in you. Tizen is definitely not stuck in the watch. They must have a crush on you Apple forums joy.
I'm looking, looking... and nothing, because I didn't get stuck from an Android phone :-)
Don't buy it for your iPhone! Those problems with koneThey are known for their activity and if you don't believe it, don't ask the seller, ask the service center if they will recommend it to you :-)
Besides, it's useless. pay services, on Samsung Pay in Europe, White Fang is shit.
ProWhat is Bilej Tesak doing in Europe? I read Bilej Tesak years ago and he was running in Canada and there was no mention of Samsung there..
Mr. Filip, how about starting a category of games that are fully compatible with the MFi controller. That wouldn't be bad at all and it would have readers ;)
If I want to download language courses to my watch in addition to music and audiobooks, with the idea that I will play whatever I feel like while exercising, then the AW5 storage is useless, because out of the 32 GB I Apple allows you to use less than 3 GB for mp8. If anyone knows how to get around this limitation, I would appreciate the advice. (regarding the synchronization speed, unfortunately nestI'm going to upload the relevant files before the sport)
I don't even know that it's possible to upload it like that. I find it unnecessary when we have services like Spotify, Apple Music, youtube..
Unfortunately, services like spotify are in the woods for me, apple music, youtube is useless if I don't want to carry my phone with me, which is exactly why I bought the AW.
Can't compare with watch..own experience. After a month it went away from the house.
Of course, something suits everyone differently.
Well at least I haveonecne Apple what to copy again
You really couldn't have written a more stupid comment. Prono would Apple copied the round design of the watch, the blunt and strange control with the bezel, the poor qualityoneactivity with iPhonem or is it four times smaller storage? Apple does not copy, and if he wanted to, there is nothing to copy here, because the vast majority of the functions of this watch already exist Apple Watch they have and the Series 6 has not yet been introduced
Weird and dull bezel controls? Do you know that you don't have to control the watch like this at all? What a post, it's a pearl.
If he's not a bit stupid too. The rest are like 90% of the customers Appyou.
Tim Hardcock: show me a single survey that proves your claim
Luneta control is one control option and it's probably the most special control they could use and Peter: you're talking to the mirror
and Android sheep here I ask politely for the umpteenth time: please if you are not fans Applu and neither you Apple If you are not interested, please go to the Android forum. Thank you
What kind of horse is this if you're not a fan? apphuh? ProShould someone be a fan of the company to write about it? After all, these are just things, in a few years they will be good only in the trash. The watch is supposed to be round and the rotating bezel that Geary has is great. And I have it on my hand apple watch.