Apple Watch Series 3 42mm Smartwatch (Gps + Cellular Space Black Stainless Steel Case Review
The Apple Watch Serial 3 is now two generations former, and does experience a tad dated due to the older, boxier screen shape and display technology.
However, information technology'southward still a brilliant smartwatch, deserving of Wareable'south Smartwatch of the Twelvemonth award in 2017, and Apple has continued selling the Series three for a cut-price, to ward off the challenge from smartwatches like the Amazfit GTS.
Apple has permanently dropped the price of the 38mm Series 3 downwards to just $199. But it at present sits but nether the Apple Watch SE, which offers the more modern design and updated features for just $seventy less. The Apple tree Sentinel Serial 6 is nonetheless $399.
- Buy an Apple Watch Series 3 from Amazon Great britain now
Even the bigger 42mm Serial three, which comes in at $229, is all the same pretty affordable. If you shop around for Apple tree Lookout deals, you lot may find it for cheaper than that, too.
- Apple Watch Series half dozen vs Series iii vs Apple tree Watch SE
Update: This review was originally published in 2017, but has been updated to reverberate the release of the Series 5 and the price cutting by Apple – plus comparisons to more contempo upkeep smartwatches.
Apple Lookout man Series 3: Design
Compared to other Apple smartwatches, the Series three feels boxier and bigger – largely due to the black space around the edge.
There's no two means virtually it, the Series 3 lags in design confronting the 2019 competition, due to the Apple tree Watch Serial iv and Series 5, which offering a more refined design and different example sizes. However, for our money it'southward still amend looking and fabricated from more premium materials than the competition.
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The Series 3 comes in 38mm and 42mm sizes, which changed to 40mm and 44mm through the Series iv. That means that the Series 3 is the last Apple tree smartwatch you can purchase in the smallest size, which may be a draw for those with smaller wrists.
We had the 42mm model to live with, and information technology's still a lovely, comfortable fit. At that place are no wearability issues, and information technology'south always been an extremely comfortable smartwatch.
Otherwise, this is the aforementioned Apple tree Watch, with a decent 1,000 nit display, every bit rich every bit it's ever been. The display is not noticeably brighter or sharper on the newer Series four or Serial five, despite the pixel density improving.
One thing it doesn't have, though, is the pick for an e'er-on display. That ways you lot'll need to raise your wrist to wake (or tap on the display).
The Series 3 was also the first time Apple managed to cram in LTE alongside GPS, the optical middle rate sensor, a gorgeous display and waterproof blueprint – all without reducing bombardment life (with exceptions, which we'll come onto). The Series 3 was the beginning strong instance of that extra connectivity can however be combined with an elegantly designed device – although you will have to buy a more expensive model and foot an extra data bill. For some people that extra border of connectivity is worth it, but we're not hyper-connected enough to feel the demand.
In terms of choice of finish, you only have aluminum to pick from, in Argent and Space Grey, while new Picket devices also come in stainless steel, ceramic and titanium options.
Compared to the Series 5, this a slightly chunkier Lookout man that comes without ECG, a digital crown with haptic feedback, a display with an always-on mode. If those aren't biggies for y'all, there's still a whole lot to like about the look of the Series 3.
Apple Scout Series 3: Features
We'll talk through LTE farther beneath, simply, as far as what else is new on the feature forepart, at that place's not a huge amount different from the Series ii.
Smartwatch nuts, like changing faces and customizing them with complications, are all there, and the Digital Crown notwithstanding functions in the aforementioned way, pushing you lot into the app menu and letting y'all curlicue through menus and notifications.
The push button below, besides, pushes you to the dock, which is now oriented vertically, rather than horizontally – just like the iPhone. These pocket-sized tweaks make the Picket feel much more intuitive.
Read more than: Apple tree Spotter Series iv v Apple Watch Series 5
Helping, too, is the S3 processor, which makes the Lookout faster to utilise than older editions. Switching between apps is faster on the Serial 3 than the Series 2, every bit is talking to Siri, which becomes a bigger deal with standalone connectivity.
Moving to the smarts, notifications are still very much at the heart of what the Sentinel does, and it does them really well. First- and 3rd-party apps are supported, and yous can add together to or cull your flow in the companion app.
If you've missed a notification, you tin swipe down on the screen to reveal the most recent ones. Apple'southward slick arroyo to notification support remains a cardinal reason nosotros similar wearing the Watch.
When it comes to communication, whether that's responding to tweets or taking a phone call, not a lot is unlike to newer models. You can still exercise your best Dick Tracy impression equally long as the phone call quality'south potent, though you might struggle to to hear in noisier environments.
Thankfully you tin pair Bluetooth headphones to help with that – particularly handy when calling over LTE. And using AirPods makes that ludicrously easy.
You tin can also all the same employ the built-in microphone to dictate responses to texts, bear witness off your emoji skills and draw out letters to type out messages.
And, equally far as being able to reply to notifications is concerned, Apple still offers the about comprehensive and reliable ways of doing it from your wrist.
Information technology should besides be noted that the Apple Lookout Series 3 ships with the latest watchOS 6. The latest iteration of Apple'due south smartwatch OS brings a defended app store, women'south health tracking features and new watch faces.
Compared to Wear OS, Fitbit OS and Tizen, it still feels similar the virtually polished of the smartwatch operating systems. It's not perfect, but it'due south certainly the one nosotros have the least gripes about.
Apple Watch Series 3: LTE availability
Aslope the cheaper, GPS-but Apple Lookout man Series 3 is the LTE version, which boasts its ain cellular connectedness. The Series iii uses an eSIM, which means y'all don't have to insert a SIM bill of fare, and also allows you to share your number with your iPhone, depending on your carrier.
Don't think that means it doesn't toll money, though. You'll still need to sign a deal with a carrier to get LTE connectivity – despite sharing a telephone number with your smartphone.
Then, what does it do? You can take and make calls, along with getting all your other notifications. You'll also be able to access Apple Music directly from the watch, and then you can head out for a workout sans iPhone and still be able to stream tunes without pre-downloading. That, along with taking calls when your iPhone's non around, is the biggest draw for LTE.
Availability for Apple Spotter Series 3 with LTE carrier plans is pretty widespread now, but far from worldwide. The likes of Commonwealth of australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, the UK and the US support it – among more.
In the United states of america, the likes of AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon offer back up for LTE connectivity on the Serial 3. EE, O2 and Vodafone offer similar back up in the UK.
Apple Watch Series 3: Living with LTE
Just how expert is the Apple Watch when separated from your iPhone? Get-go, let's talk about LTE in full general.
This isn't the only smartwatch with cellular connectivity, letting you use it abroad from the smartphone. Some Wear OS and Samsung watches got to the marking first.
If you do opt for the LTE route, your Watch will but switch to its cellular connection when it loses a connectedness with your iPhone, otherwise information technology volition default to Bluetooth.
The speed of that mitt-off has varied a bit in testing, with the watch sometimes picking up cellular bars almost instantly, and in other cases taking a while longer to latch on.
You'll know it's connected because the cellular icon in the Control Center will turn green, and Apple has a new watch face that will show you lot how many signal confined you have.
From in that location you can make and receive calls and letters. Your number will brandish equally information technology normally would for the person on the other end, and there should be no giveaway that you're contacting them on a smartwatch and not a telephone.
Is LTE worth it?
Does cutting free make the Watch experience whatever ameliorate? To notice out we went nearly normal daily activities sans smartphone, including a trip to supermarket, an evening out with friends, and a few workouts.
All of which helped illuminate how we actually use a smartphone – and where the gaps still prevarication in Apple tree'south cellular smartwatch.
How useful you observe LTE on the Apple Watch will depend on how y'all use your phone. For those of you who are into fitness, the Spotter presents an obvious do good in that it lets you head out for a jog, swim or bike ride without your smartphone.
For the times we took information technology running and swimming, cutting the cord was absolute elation, as it has been when we've worked out using cellular smartwatches before.
As for calling, the microphone on the lookout is impressive. When we phoned a friend they said we sounded simply like nosotros were using a smartphone, and the speaker on our end was proficient besides.
Information technology wasn't then adept for us when nosotros made a phone call from a decorated street, every bit the speaker struggled to cutting through the din, but the person on the other end said we were notwithstanding coming through well-baked and clear.
For those situations, you're going to want to pair some Bluetooth headphones. Starting a call from the wrist can exist done by selecting a contact from your address volume, or past using the keypad.
Nosotros retrieve a lot of people are still to exist convinced that talking into their wrists is the futurity, only with headphones, many of the features of the Serial three feel better, specially as Siri can now talk dorsum and so you don't fifty-fifty need to wait at the watch to get some information. Information technology's nigh equally if the AirPods were launched in anticipation of all this.
All that said, while Siri may be improving, her dictation is still too hit-and-miss to make united states want to reply to letters on the lookout, AirPods or no AirPods. Alternatively you can scribble out each private letter, or apply one of Apple tree's custom responses, but these aren't ideal. Ultimately we don't recall these interactions will improve until Siri gets better.
We had a lot of "a-ha" moments through the day where relying on the watch away from the phone fabricated sense, only there were also times nosotros came upward against walls of the Sentry'south capability.
Maps, for instance, are something we ofttimes rely on our phones for, and on the Picket that experience is compromised due to the limitations of Siri and Apple tree Maps, making it a scrap also fiddly.
Another thing is the lack of a photographic camera; we've come to rely on our smartphones as our primary photo takers, and in that location were times when out with the Picket that nosotros wanted to snap a picture and couldn't. Information technology's barely a criticism because we don't believe at that place's a instance to stick a camera on the Apple Watch just yet, but it was an interesting observation.
If Apple wants to keep pushing us more to the wrist, these are things it may eventually have to think nearly. LTE especially makes a case for better navigation (hey Google, tin can we have the Maps app back?).
More of an firsthand concern are the supported third-party apps. The number of apps that work with the standalone cellular connection is still very low, and any app that doesn't have an Apple Watch app, like WhatsApp, won't give you anything when you're separated from your telephone. That's a huge bummer, and ways that if yous don't want to rely solely on Apple's services, you're out of luck.
All of which is to say, we recollect the benefits of the Serial 3 are going to vary a lot between people and the reasons they wear a smartwatch. Siri isn't yet proficient enough that we could lean on the Series 3 without a phone as much as we'd accept liked to, but there have still been some revelatory moments in cutting that tie to the phone, many revolving around fitness or short trips away from our desks at piece of work.
The question is how Apple can brand LTE on the wrist compelling when other smartwatches oasis't. The answer largely comes down to the intersection of hardware and software that Apple controls so well, making LTE feel more seamless and amend integrated into the Apple Picket experience. Has Apple turned it into a must-accept? Not yet, but information technology makes a more compelling example for it than nosotros've seen to engagement.
Apple Watch Series 3: Fitness, sports tracking and middle rate accuracy
Activeness tracking
It'due south all nearly filling those action rings and giving yous a notification nudge when you demand a little push button to hitting your target. Sharing Action data, which was recently introduced, remains a great tool for this and on the whole Apple'south fitness tracking experience is actually solid.
But Apple is behind in ane big area: slumber tracking. With Apple'south acquisition of Beddit some years back, nosotros hoped we see native slumber tracking features make an appearance. Even with the inflow of the Serial v, it still hasn't turned up, despite supposed details of Apple'south sleep tracking features plainly leaking out.
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Battery life is the obvious obstruction here, and until Apple tin can stretch that out it seems unlikely it volition want to sell us on a feature that would exist likewise compromised.
As far every bit accuracy as concerned, we wore it with the Fitbit Ionic smartwatch and while both pack in like sensors they exercise piece of work to their own split up algorithms to calculate distance and steps. Despite that, in that location was mostly a departure of 500-1,000 steps while altitude covered was pretty much spot on.
Inactivity notifications and milestone markers popped upward around the same fourth dimension besides. Nosotros never expected the two to be identical but there doesn't seem to be any reason to audio the alert that the Watch Series 3 is non doing a good job of tracking.
Apple does a very good chore, only perchance information technology'due south time for a more than actionable approach to the data it's recording, to provide the kind of motivation that volition pay off in the long term.
Running
On the Series two, we got the congenital-in GPS we craved, and on the Watch Series three it'south as speedy to choice up a signal as information technology was on the now-retired predecessor. Functioning-wise, things thankfully haven't changed all that much, though the Scout does now track superlative gain. From a software perspective though, we however think there's some piece of work to be done.
The Workout app is still your port of telephone call to track a run, but you lot do have the option of a host of third-party apps and you'll probably want to explore those alternatives. A newly announced partnership means that Strava works with Apple Healthkit, so y'all can apply the Workout app and still go your Segments data – the all-time of both worlds. There's besides a decent third-party Strava app besides, which shows how versatile the Apple Watch tin exist.
To compare GPS tracking and running metrics accurateness we put information technology upward against the Garmin Forerunner 935 and the Polar Beat iPhone app for several runs and were generally pleased with what it delivers.
Equally you lot tin run into from the screenshots above, distance and average pace are pretty much in line with the Garmin and the Polar app.
Is it a ready-fabricated replacement for a running watch? We'd say yes – as long every bit y'all're not getting also serious. The primary limitations are battery life and metrics. A defended running watch will offer more data to dive into and better bombardment life. The Serial 3 will just nearly manage a marathon, only yous might demand to turn off features to ensure y'all get at that place. Weekend runners that do the odd half marathon or 10K won't accept a problem at all.
Pond
The Apple Watch Series ii was good at counting lengths, and we're pleased to say the Series iii is impressively authentic likewise. The key is to make sure yous set the pool length correctly before your workout so the Watch can calibrate.
In a test against the Fitbit Ionic, the Apple Watch was blindside-on in detecting our different stroke types. It did miss one lap, but nonetheless matched the Fitbit on yardage, so we weren't robbed of effort. This was in a busy pool, with lots of treading water betwixt laps, so information technology did a skilful chore of keeping upwardly on distance and nailing those strokes.
Green optical sensors and water don't mix well, so don't rely on the Watch for heart rate readings, though it does effort, and nosotros could all the same come across our readings throughout our swim, fifty-fifty if they were a fleck spotty. Hard to say how reliable any of this is, though.
In that location'southward some other benefit the Serial three brings to the puddle, and that'southward the LTE. Nosotros were all the same able to receive texts while in the pool, which was foreign, but in a good style. Perhaps you'd prefer to switch off in those moments, and there's nada stopping you from turning off cellular at any moment, but for people who can't endure being separated from their notifications for too long, you tin can put that anxiety to residual.
Centre rate accuracy
Apple tree is tackling center rate in two means on the Watch Series 3. The starting time is still heavily geared towards fitness and giving you a improve measurement of workout intensity, and at present it can as well measure resting middle rate throughout the day. That's a valuable piece of information considering it's a potent indicator of your current state of health. A lower resting heart rate is definitely a skillful affair, in example you were wondering.
Essential reading: Full guide to eye rate on the Apple Watch Series 3
The sensor setup that'due south making that monitoring happen is near identical to the 1 on the Watch Serial 2, so results should be the pretty much the aforementioned. Adept and reliable, but non perfect. That statement could apply to a lot of wrist-based heart charge per unit monitors though. Apple has introduced an improved optical sensor on the Serial 5, though in our time testing it, in that location's not a massive amount of difference in performance.
What nosotros establish is that the heart rate monitor is another solid performer, whether information technology's checking in on your resting centre charge per unit or real-fourth dimension data during a treadmill session. Average middle rate readings by and large seem to be higher in comparison to the Polar H10 chest strap we tested information technology against, roughly five-6bpm.
For max heart readings, it produced readings that were only 1 or ii bpm off the H10. So on the whole it's ane of the better optical sensors nosotros've tested. We practice even so take reservations about its ability to handle really high-intensity conditioning sessions in short bursts, though. Over longer periods, it still seems pretty reliable, but HIIT fans might exist left a lilliputian disappointed.
Apple tree Watch Series 3: Battery life
As we said, Apple doesn't compromise battery life significantly with the Series iii, and when testing a mix of cellular and non-cellular features, we've notwithstanding been getting over a day of use.
Apple quotes 18 hours, and you can probably hit that easily enough with moderate utilize, but, when you start hammering the LTE, you lot'll notice a faster drain.
Calling is specially battery intensive, and you lot'll only get an hour of talk time when using the Watch every bit a standalone phone; upwards to 3 if information technology's paired to the iPhone.
So this isn't meant for those long catch-upwards calls with your Auntie Nora, more but a few minutes here and there.
In terms of running tracking, we'd hesitate to guarantee four hours of GPS without using power saving modes.
Apple Lookout man Series 3 5 Serial four five Series 5
Mayhap the toughest choice out there now for prospective Apple Picket buyers is which one to actually purchase – a tantalising Apple Watch Serial 3 deal should be of interest to a lot of people.
The Series iii comes with watchOS 6, GPS and if you demand, LTE support.
Only those who prefer the tweaked design of the Apple Watch Series four or the always-on mode or ECG engineering science on the Serial 5, should overlook a decent Series three deal that competes if not betters what else is available at this price.
Apple Lookout Serial 3
The Apple Watch Series 3 is a slap-up choice for those who want a tiptop iPhone uniform smartwatch, without the steep price of the Serial v. Although you lot miss out on the latest health features such equally ECG, y'all still become top sports and fitness tracking, and a lot of the latest watchOS half-dozen features. Strong 3rd party apps makes information technology a versatile scout – and it's difficult to argue with the cost.
- Great toll for Apple Sentry benefits
- Meridian sports and fitness tracking
- Lots of apps
- Blueprint looks dated compared to Serial 5
- No ECG or fall detection
- iOS only
Source: https://www.wareable.com/apple/apple-watch-series-3-review
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