Samsung is good smartwatches. The fact tends to get lost in discussions of a category that has traditionally been so dominated by a single player. Things changed a bit late, globally. Apple's market share has dropped slightly, and Huawei and Samsung have been there to pick up a few pieces.
Here in the US, Huawei is less of a gamer for reasons that should be painfully obvious. Google's Wear OS is, at least for now, a non-starter. Fitbit acquisition lens made a dent with its solid smartwatches, even if it's not quite a behemoth. The same goes for Garmin, which works well but commands a relatively small niche. For those looking for Android compatibility - or just an Apple alternative, in general - Samsung continues to be your best shot.
The company has long been approaching its wearables with a similar philosophy to that which governs its smartwatches: lots of options, lots of features, and a big, flashy footprint. For my money, however, the Galaxy Watch 3's main feature is the return of the rotating bezel. The company recently ditched it for its Active line, trying to convince us that a tactile approximation was just as good. It wasn't.
The ability to switch between screens by turning the edge of the display has long been the most distinguishing feature of the Gear line and by far the best smartwatch input. The Apple Watch crown isn't even close. It was an odd choice for Samsung to drop it, even for a chipped line of watches. The back, thankfully, is made from the same stainless steel case as the rest of the watch body and features a perforated crest for better grip. There is something satisfying about the ability to smoothly flip between screens.
The bezel is a bit thinner this time around, corresponding to an overall reduction in case size. All in all, the 3 is 14% thinner, 8% smaller, and 15% lighter than the original Galaxy Watch. The 45mm model is still big, compared to other smartwatches, but this is one way to address what has long been one of my main gripes with the line. Ditto for the availability of a 41mm version. Galaxy watches of the past have felt unnecessarily bulky, a problem with a device meant to be worn on one's person all day and night.
The watch is still a little big for my personal taste, but outside of the Active line, this is definitely the most comfortable Samsung watch in a while. The metal case also has a fairly timeless design, as far as smartwatches go, maintaining a sporty look that has been a standard in the line for a few generations. I tend to prefer something a little more minimalist. For me, the S2 was and continues to be the pinnacle of design language for the line, but I recognize that many people prefer something a little more ... complex.
The screen measures 1.4 inches across 45mm and 1.2 inches across 41mm, a touch smaller than the 1.65 / 1.5 inches found on the Apple Watch. However, of course the round design also offers a different form factor. The screen is nice and clear and reads quite well in daylight, thanks in part to the ambient light sensor. The model comes with a nice leather strap and, thanks to its standardized fit, can be swapped out for an essentially endless list of different third-party straps.
Tizen It always seemed like an odd choice, but Samsung made the OS right here, as Google struggled for wider adoption with its own wearable OS. Watch app selection continues to lag with Apple, including some big-name developers. There are some notable partners here, most notably Spotify. With Apple making big plays on both the watch front and streaming, the partnership makes a lot of sense for both sides. Other key features include the ability to download playlists directly to the device, so you can leave your phone at home for a workout if you're so inclined.
And what the Galaxy Store lacks in apps, it more than makes up for in the watch faces, with over 80,000 currently available. There are also around 40 different modular complications. You can also create custom faces by taking an image of real world models.
Battery life is decent as long as you turn off the always-on display. In this way, I was able to get a couple of hours in under two full days of life. It's not great, but it should help you take advantage of sleep tracking a few days a week, assuming you're comfortable falling asleep with a large watch on your wrist. Admittedly, it takes some getting used to. With always enabled, you can expect to get around half the total.
The watch does a good job of automatically detecting certain workouts. Running analysis goes a little deeper, adding to a feature introduced with the Active 2. After a massage is complete, it breaks down the specifics of running mechanics (as best it can as a wrist-worn monitor) into attempt to reduce running-related injuries. As a current former runner, I can attest to the fact that bad form is a very good way to hurt you.
While Apple is finally getting series about sleep tracking on its watch, Samsung is ironing out its experience. The watch breaks down light, deep and REM sleep, giving you a score for the night. I found myself getting scores in the 1940s - not great, as people in my age group apparently score around 70. Samsung also offers features like awareness and stress management to keep it in check. Personally, I think I sleep bettermy goal will be to "not constantly think about COVID".
Two key health additions aren't ready out of the box here in the US: Both the ECG reader and blood pressure monitor will have to wait for all standard regulatory approval, so I hold back from judging accordingly.
Samsung is certainly not attempting to price competitively here. At $ 400 and $ 430 for the 41mm and 45mm versions, it's a premium price. It is clear that the company does not see companies like Huawei or even Fitbit as its main competitors. As with its flagship smartphones, Samsung has Apple firmly in its sights and is priced to match. Apple is still by far the best option for iOS users, but when it comes to Android, not many can compete with Samsung's premium offering.