Samsung Galaxy Watch3 review: continues the tradition of Samsung excellence

This will sound like a grizzle but it really isn’t: in the smartwatch field, you have to accept compromises or, more euphemistically, make choices.

It’s now seven years since Samsung released its first smartwatch – that big old square unit with a camera embedded in the strap – but unfortunately, there is still not one, certainly in the Android phone world, watch that will do everything everyone wants.

Take the new Samsung Galaxy Watch3, announced a few weeks ago at the South Korean giant's Unpacked event. Like its immediate predecessor, it's a brilliant bit of hardware but it can be let down by the Tizen OS software.

However, after spending a week using the new smartwatch, it's clear the Galaxy Watch3 continues the brand's tradition of fine smartwatches and is easily a competitor to the Apple Watch. Here's why.

No, you didn’t miss a version – the Galaxy Watch3 is the successor to the Galaxy Watch that has gone for more traditional exterior design.

The Galaxy Watch was an eye-catching hunk of metal that was sporty in look, whereas the 3 – either the 41mm or 45mm sizes – is slightly slimmed down and toned down.

The two rubberised buttons for circular metal ones and the 3 has combined the magic of being slightly smaller and lighter but with a larger screen.

Then there's the bezel. Smartwatch screens have always been nicely responsive but the fatter-fingered of us sometimes face issues and that is where Samsung scored an ace with the rotating bezel to also scroll through notifications. It feels a more solid option than on the original and blows the competition out of the water for navigation.

As well, the Watch 3 comes with a traditional leather strap (which is easily replaceable) and the black version I trialled gives off a subtle vibe that those who don’t need to shout they are wearing a smartwatch might find more appealing.

To labour a Galaxy pun, if the original was Jupiter, the Watch 3 is Saturn – the next step on, slightly smaller and maybe better looking.

First up is the screen – it’s what you’ll be looking at after all – and the 360x360 resolution across the 1.2 or 1.3 inch circular Super AMOLED edge to edge panel is bright enough even on the sunniest of days.

There’s 1GB of RAM and the chipset is the same as the original Galaxy Watch but that’s not proven to be an issue. The Galaxy Watch3 is speedy and there’s been none of the lag that switched me away from Google's WearOS devices.

A note on software: Wear OS is a good platform that meshes seamlessly into your Google accounts and apps but its watches, in my experience, have constantly let it down performance-wise.

Samsung, instead, chooses to run its watches on TizenOS. That’s not a bad OS, in fact, Samsung’s system is as good as Wear, but app options are limited or buggy and you lose that all-encompassing Google integration.

Onboard storage is 8GB but almost half of that is taken up with the OS and pre-loaded apps.

When it comes to battery, the Watch3 has taken a step backwards in this regard with a smaller battery. Real-world experience gave two full days between charges on the original and the 3 will last a day-and-a-half.

Now while that easily outstrips the day you’ll get on Wear, it is still betwixt and between in that you’ll probably end up charging the 3 each day.

This is where we have the most notable upgrades, with SpO2 measuring for blood oxygen, advanced running detection, VO2max and scoring your sleep. What’s also impressive is the impression that things like the sleep monitoring and the step count are just a little more accurate. The automated exercise detection for a lengthy walk, a run or a cycle operate seamlessly.

(Samsung)Electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood pressure monitoring are on this device but the functionality hasn’t been opened up yet.

As well, the Galaxy Watch3 is IP68 water-resistant so shower and swimming (in the pool at least) are absolutely fine.

The only quibble would be about working out in the gym but that comes down to the software.

This is the main drawback and, to repeat, it is not a failure of Tizen, which does what it needs to do in both design and performance exceptionally well. But Samsung, or more importantly its customers, have been let down by developers who have either not come to the party or produced some sub-standard options.

Strava, for instance, on the original Galaxy Watch has rendered itself essentially unusable but that's not a disaster if running is your fitness choice. Samsung Health works very well with an excellent user-interface and the VO2 Max option on the Galaxy Watch3 is an excellent step forward (if you will pardon the pun). Despite claims online to the contrary, it then synced with Strava so you shouldn't face the pain of beginning a whole new running history.

However I’ve found the gym tracking a disappointment on both devices and Samsung Health. Wear’s Google Fit is far more flexible and accurate in automatically recording sets and reps compared to Samsung Health or the third-party apps on offer.

The mapping options are disappointing until you find the third-party app that brings Google’s directions into the Galaxy Watch3 and don't even go down the road trying to compare Google Assistant and Bixby.

Ultimately it would be a better user experience if Tizen meshed with Google – and therefore your phone.

I love smartwatches – I’ve had seven so far – and I have to say the Galaxy Watch3 and its older brother are easily the most impressive I’ve used.

The Galaxy Watch3 is pricey – at the time of this review you’re looking between £399 and £459 depending on if you plan to fork out on 4G cellular connectivity – but you get what you pay for.

Whether the Galaxy Watch3 makes enough advances for those with the original to upgrade is questionable, but if you’re looking for the best smartwatch options to sport on your wrist in 2020 then this has to be on your radar.​

Samsung Galaxy Watch3 is available to buy now, with prices starting from £399, at johnlewis.com