For the Apple Watch Series 3 device, the review was created to evaluate its capabilities and compare it with its competitors. Smart watches appeared on the market relatively recently, and not all manufacturers of mobile gadgets have been able to achieve success in the production of this category of goods. The Apple Watch 3 surpassed even Rolex and took first place in the ranking of the best-selling wrist devices. Previous models were also successful and set the standard for smartwatches, which became an example for other manufacturers.
Gadget design
Apple Watch Series 3 is almost no different from its predecessors in terms of appearance and tactile sensations. As before, the rectangular display with rounded edges helps Apple's smartwatch stand out from the competition.
Various models available. For example, the version with aluminum frames and without LTE costs $329 (RUB 19,500), with LTE - $399 (RUB 23,500). For a stainless steel case you will have to pay at least $599 (RUR 35,000), and for a ceramic finish, about $1,399 (RUR 82,000). The diagonal is 38 or 42 mm to choose from.
The water-resistant design allows the Watch Series 3 to be submerged to depths of up to 50 meters. On one side of the case there is a side button and a crown. A standard set of sensors is installed to measure heart rate, and the straps can be easily replaced.
The version with the LTE module is distinguished by a red dot on the crown - this, in my opinion, looks a little out of place.
Specifications
The model is equipped with sensors:
- barometric altimeter;
- optical heart rate monitor;
- accelerometer;
- ambient light sensor;
- gyroscope.
Display:
- type - Retina OLED;
- features - Force Touch;
- brightness (in nits) - 1000;
- resolution (in pixels) - 272 by 340;
- image area (in square millimeters) - 563.
Chipset S3:
- number of CPU cores - 2;
- wireless connection chip - W2.
The software provides:
- Apple Pay;
- GymKit.
The watch case without cellular communication weighs 26.7 grams, dimensions in millimeters:
- height - 38.6;
- width - 33.3;
- thickness - 11.4.
Geopositioning: A-GPS, GLONASS.
Apple smart watch display
On the 38mm model, you'll see a 1.65-inch second-generation Retina OLED display with a resolution of 272 x 340 pixels. The 42mm Apple Watch Series 3 differs only in its higher resolution – 312×390.
The version with an aluminum body has Ion-X glass. By choosing a stainless steel or ceramic model, you will receive more durable sapphire crystal protection.
There is practically nothing to complain about here; the Apple Watch 3 screen is of impressive quality in any conditions. It's bright and the image is clearly visible in direct sunlight - yet the colors aren't too saturated and won't irritate the eyes in low light.
Detail, high clarity, wide viewing angle and neutral tone - it has everything you need for a good smartwatch screen. In addition, Force Touch technology is supported.
Waterproof
The watch is protected from water according to the 5 ATM standard. The user can swim with the device on his hand not only in the pool, but also in open water. At the same time, the manufacturer clarifies that the watch is not intended for diving, since the case cannot withstand pressure when diving to great depths. Divers should use a dedicated water sports watch.
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On the left side of the case you can see 2 holes for the microphone and speaker, which are vulnerable to moisture. But the developer has provided a function for pushing water out. The user can activate it manually after water activities. At the same time, a short sound signal is heard, pushing the water out.
You can wear the watch in the shower, but you must be careful not to get any foam or soap on it. In case of unintentional contact with detergents, you should try to wash them off as quickly as possible. After using your watch in salt water, it is recommended that you rinse it in fresh water to remove crystals and other elements that could cause corrosion to the case.
Interface and functionality
With the release of Watch Series 3, the proprietary software was updated - now we have WatchOS 4. Previous Apple Watch models also switched to this operating system.
New fitness functions have been added, minor improvements have made the interface even closer to ideal. WatchOS is the most fun, sophisticated, and intuitive smartwatch platform out there, far superior to its Android competitors. While other platforms simply help you learn about new notifications, WatchOS works like a full-fledged OS.
The system itself selects goals for sports activity. In the Activity app, you can easily switch between different types of tracked workouts, including intervals. There's also been an improvement to the music software, which automatically imports new Apple Music playlists.
Functionally and visually, WatchOS 4 is not much different from previous versions, but continues to delight users with improvements.
How to turn off Water Lock mode on Apple Watch and push water out
When you're done swimming, quickly spin the Digital Crown a few times to unlock the screen and remove water from Apple Watch.
♥ ON TOPIC: 3 types of flashlight in Apple Watch: what they are for, how to turn it on and off.
Processor and memory
The main improvement of the Apple Watch Series 3 is the new, more powerful dual-core Apple S3 chipset. The manufacturer claims that the S3 is 70% faster than the S2, although in practice this is hardly noticeable.
All Apple devices boast a system with excellent optimization, including the Watch Series 3. Scrolling is fast, Siri immediately responds to commands, nothing slows down or freezes.
The amount of internal memory has been increased to 16 GB - twice as much as the previous version.
Control
All interactions in Apple Watch lead to logical and expected results, so you can figure out and remember the necessary actions in a couple of hours. It's a little more difficult to customize your watch in the Watch app, but more on that later. All functions of the watch (many of which are not even mentioned in this review) can be controlled using a dozen different actions, which I will try to fit into three paragraphs.
- Digital crown . Scrolling will help you scroll through notifications, zoom in and out of icons on the home screen, and smoothly turn on the display backlight. Pressing it switches between the Home screen and the current watch face; hold your finger and Siri will respond. Press twice and you will go to the last program.
- Button . A single press opens the Dock (manager of recent or favorite programs), a double press leads to contactless payment, a long press turns off the Apple Watch or makes an emergency call. To take a screenshot, press the button and the crown at the same time.
- Display . Horizontal swipes switch dials, a swipe from the top opens a list of notifications, and a swipe from the bottom opens a kind of “Control Center”. In it you can turn on the flashlight, enter the “theater” mode (turn off the automatic backlight), lock the watch for use in water, conduct a ping test on the iPhone, check the battery charge, mute the sound, or set up audio broadcasting to headphones. The display also recognizes the force of pressing: using Force Touch, you can control dials and additional program settings. To turn off your Apple Watch, you just need to slap your palm on the screen.
That's all you need to know. There is no need to cram, all actions are carried out intuitively and quickly become automatic.
Communications and connections
Previously, the Apple Watch could also answer phone calls, send text messages, and more, but it always required an iPhone. Only after the addition of LTE and UMTS technologies did phone-independent smartwatches emerge.
A paired iPhone initially prevents you from using Apple Watch Series 3 to make calls or send messages—to change this, you need to turn on the phone's airplane mode and go beyond Wi-Fi hotspots. Only after this the cellular connection will work on the smart watch, without the mediation of the iPhone.
The Apple Watch 3 has problems with some third-party apps, including Twitter and Instagram. Apple's own apps work great over both cellular and Bluetooth connections to the iPhone.
Third generation personal trainer
An Apple Watch wouldn't be an Apple Watch without a much-needed refresh of fitness and sports features. The 3rd generation of smartwatches has even more to offer than its predecessor and now boasts even more comprehensive heart rate measurement. Located on the back of the case, the sensor measures your heart rate all day long and notifies you if a pre-set limit is exceeded.
Additionally, you can track your stress levels, count the number of glasses of water you drink, record new breathing exercises for relaxation, and save emergency contact information. Using a GPS sensor and altimeter, Apple Watch accurately records the distance you travel, recognizing speeds reached and differences in altitude overcome.
We quickly exchange a chic fabric or metal bracelet for a lightweight sports strap - and off we go.
To ensure that extra weight on your wrist doesn't bother you while playing sports, Apple continues to offer a large number of replacement bands. In addition to many sports straps, there are versions that would not be a shame to use with an evening dress or jacket, and are suitable for crazy outings. Unfortunately, standard watch bands still cannot be paired with the Apple Watch.
Call quality
The Apple Watch Series 3 comes in handy in situations where it's not convenient to use an iPhone—just keep in mind that smartwatches aren't great for conversations due to background noise. In order for the interlocutor to hear everything clearly, you have to bring the Watch Series 3 close to you and speak loudly into the microphone. Although call quality is not the best, the availability of cellular connectivity is commendable.
Autonomy
Apple talks about 18 hours of Apple Watch operation without recharging and gives a bunch of caveats. This is due to the fact that everyone uses the gadget differently. In talk mode, the battery, according to Apple, lasts up to three hours.
I charge my watch every other night. At the same time, they are discharged to 10–20%. I wear the watch all the time, but take it off when I go to bed and exercise no more than twice a week.
When the threshold of 10% charge is reached, the watch offers to switch to eco mode. In this case, only the time will be displayed on the watch face, and the Apple Watch will have to be rebooted to return to its normal state.
