The Apple Watch Series 6 has a new competitor in the form of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3, which was recently released. To be more specific, it attempts to provide its consumers with an all-in-one device that can be used for everything from tracking their fitness to controlling the smart technology in their homes.
In August, Samsung made public the Galaxy Watch alongside the Galaxy Note 20 and the Galaxy Buds Live (2020). It is available in two different sizes, 41mm and 45mm, with LTE connectivity being an optional extra.
Taking a look at the technical specifications reveals that it is primarily an improvement over its predecessors in the form of new features and does not include any progress on the software. Particularly important is the incorporation of a blood oxygen reading and a few other design improvements. In the near future, it is possible that through the use of an updated piece of software, it will also be able to monitor your blood pressure. Learn more about how blood pressure smartwatches function and the significance of doing so by reading the related reading material.
Therefore, in all honesty, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is not a particularly significant update compared to the Series 6. Despite this, it’s an excellent alternative to what Apple offers.
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Design
One of the most appealing aspects of the Samsung Galaxy Watches is the fact that they have the appearance of a conventional wristwatch. In contrast to the one-of-a-kind design of the Apple Watch, which screams “technology,” the Samsung Galaxy Watch has a rounded touch screen with an OLED panel that makes it look like a traditional watch.
To be more specific, the display on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 has a resolution of 360 by 360 pixels, and it is contained within a metal bezel that can rotate. The device’s exterior consists of the main metal frame with two side buttons located on the right. This is an extremely well-thought-out design from an ergonomic point of view.
Even while it is possible to interact with the gadget using the touchscreen alone, some individuals prefer to use the textured buttons. The bottom button serves as your input, has a button that takes you back to the home screen, and allows you to navigate inside the list. The top right button includes a stop-start function. When it comes down to it, your bezel allows you to navigate between the several menu screens that are accessible from your home screen and scrolling lists after you have selected an option.
The watch exudes an air of high-end sophistication thanks to its design.
Sensors
On top of that, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 comes equipped with an impressive number of different sensors.
Namely:
- Accelerometer
- Barometer
- Gyro sensor
- Light and optical sensors for measuring heart rate
- GPS/Galileo/GLONASS/Beidou
- NFC
And you get 8GB of built-in storage. When taken as a whole, the specifications of this gadget are competitive with those of any Garmin.
Finally, it has an IP68 classification, which indicates that it is reasonably resistant to moderate moisture such as sweat and light splashes.
Applications and software
Software
You won’t find any other devices on the market that use Samsung Tizen software other than Galaxy Watches. To give one example, this is the component that can be found inside their televisions and in some other smart devices. This indicates that you can use the applications that can be downloaded from the Samsung Galaxy Store.
You may assume that this by itself would be enough to blow competitors out of the water, but unfortunately, the current state of Wear OS prevents this from happening. To be clear, the support for applications does not constitute direct competition with Apple. On the other hand, if you use Tizen, you do get an app for everything, including travel and the weather. In addition to this, there is support for apps that you already enjoy using, such as Spotify, and you can make contactless payments using the watch.
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Tracking
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is quite powerful in keeping with the topic at hand. Although it does not offer top-of-the-line tracking data or an exhaustive list of activities as you would find on a Garmin, we should keep in mind that we are discussing a smartwatch and not a sports watch.
On the other hand, it does record all of the fundamental activities, such as walking, jogging, swimming, indoor and outdoor cycling, weight lifting, and so on. In addition to that, it possesses a useful coach function. The package includes a running coach who will provide guidance based on your performance statistics as you are running.
The running feature is quite helpful for people who are just starting out in the sport of jogging because it provides tips to keep you going and tips on what to do. Remember that this isn’t a watch designed specifically for sports, so don’t expect it to have the same level of detail as the offerings from Garmin or Fitbit.
To give you an example, the tracking is not as precise as other similar devices, such as the Garmin Fenix 6 Solar, but it is on par with other similar devices, such as the Fitbit Versa 3.
Last but not least, it is important to point out that even though it is a smartwatch, there are some great functions geared toward Fitness, such as the detection of falls. It operates in a strikingly similar manner to that of the Apple Watch. In addition to that, it will notify your emergency contact, which can be of great assistance to users who have health problems or who are elderly.
Protective Measures
The Galaxy3 has safety features that are comparable to those found on the Apple Watch. They have an SOS system that is very comparable to ours and have integrated a fall or incident detection system. Let’s go through some of the safety features to have a better idea of how it stacks up against the competition.
Incident Detection and Fall Detection Capabilities
The Samsung Galaxy 3 will start a countdown for sixty seconds, sound an alarm, and send vibrations to your wrist if it detects a sudden change in movement that sets off the sensors. This is done to ensure that you are safe. If you don’t respond to the countdown, the watch will automatically send notifications to the appropriate emergency services and contacts and your location.
The SOS Help Desk
SOS services are activated automatically in the event that you have a fall, but you can also use them in other situations. It is unnecessary to unlock your phone to make an emergency call because the screen will allow you to do so automatically. Additionally, it has the capability to enter a mode that conserves battery life, allowing it to operate for several days after being fully charged.
Setting it Up
Launching the Galaxy wearable app on the phone that is associated with your wearable device is required if you wish to configure your SOS services and alerts. A description of the steps we can take to set up your emergency contacts.
- You will want to make sure that the settings on your watch are set to advance.
- You’ll find the SOS button in the advanced or advanced features menu. Choose this option.
- If you tap the toggle that says “when home key is hit 3 times,” a checkmark will appear to indicate agreement.
- To set up your emergency services, you will need to agree and then either select someone from your contact list or select the option to create a new contact.
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Battery Capacity
We have now arrived at the portion of this review in which the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 cannot compete with its contemporaries. Even if the battery life isn’t great, especially if you frequently use the GPS and fitness capabilities on your watch, it’s not terrible.
They claim that the 45mm model, which has a 340mAh battery, will let you go for two days without recharging it. Thankfully, it supports charging via wireless transmission.
Should I go ahead and get a Samsung Galaxy Watch 3?
If you aren’t interested in purchasing an Apple Watch or are looking for a smartwatch designed particularly for Android users, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is one of the top choices available to you right now.
