03 Nov
Blog

Apple Watch Series 7 Review: The Only Smartwatch to Buy

Apple Watch Series 7 in your pocket.

Apple Watch Series 7

RRP $ 399.00

"Stylish, customizable, powerful, reliable and with a larger field of view, smaller bezels and faster charging than before, the Apple Watch Series 7 is the best smartwatch you can buy."

advantages

  • Big screen, small bezels

  • Simply personalized

  • Choice of models and sizes

  • Comprehensive health tracking

  • Reliable software and notifications

  • Fast charging

  • Stronger and harder than before

disadvantage

  • Only works with the iPhone

The Apple Watch Series 7 could be the perfect smartwatch. I'm sorry to give away the game so early, but there are no secrets or surprises here – and that's a good thing. A smartwatch should be an extension of your smartphone, but it must also function reliably and sensibly on its own. It should provide comprehensive, motivational and informative health and activity tracking without alienating those who are not athletes. It should look good and easily adapt to your mood, style, and surroundings. It shouldn't require constant supervision or have complex or tricky features that overshadow basic day-to-day utility. New models also need to be improved from the previous version, so anyone can consider upgrading if they want.

The Apple Watch Series 7 has all of this and more. Let us talk about it.

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It's almost impossible to tell the difference between Series 7 and Series 6 just by looking at them. The 1mm increase in case size – 45mm and 41mm for the 7 Series versus 44mm and 40mm for the 6 Series – is only noticeable when you remove a tape measure, and the slightly larger curvature at each edge is only visible when you put the two of them look side by side and look very carefully. The speaker on the left side of the case is a single slot rather than the Series 6 double slot, but that's about as noticeable as the visual changes.

Apple Watch Series 7 on the wrist.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

What you notice are the much smaller 1.7mm bezels (down from 3mm on the 6 Series) and the increased field of view. Apple says that compared to the Series 6 and the Watch SE, 20% more screen area is visible and 50% more than the Apple Watch Series 3. The Ion-X glass above the screen has a contoured edge so that the screen follows The case seems to bulge at the top, just like a curved screen on a smartphone.

The version in our photos is an aluminum model in midnight that is black in color with a hint of blue and I chose it because, unlike the blue or green versions, it is easier to combine with more bracelet options. If you have a bracelet collection from an existing Apple Watch, they all go perfectly with the Series 7, just in case you worry that the 1mm increase will make them look weird.

Apple Watch Series 7 from the side.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It would be easy to blame Apple for not changing the design much, but it hasn't because it isn't necessary. The Series 7 looks amazing and the Apple Watch has become a style icon in my opinion. The soft curvature of the case makes it very comfortable to wear, no matter which bracelet you choose, and it is really light at 38.8 grams without a bracelet, so you can wear it day and night.

While this is true of some fitness bands as well, the difference is that the Apple Watch looks great and it's incredibly easy to change the entire look of it when you get bored. Apple's watch faces have come a long way, especially in WatchOS 7 and WatchOS 8, becoming classier and more visually exciting instead of just adding complications. Put together a small collection of bracelets and bracelets, and Apple Watch is ready for whatever you wear, any time of the day.

Apple Watch Series 7 on the wrist from behind.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It's this versatility that makes owning the Apple Watch so convenient. It turns it from a piece of technology into something that is truly yours. No other smartwatch offers such easy customization. You can even just choose the Wear-and-Forget-Sport Loop Harness, which is some of the best basic harnesses you can get and is adjusted for the duration of your possession.

The Apple Watch Series 7 wears no differently than the Series 5 or Series 6 Watch, and that's fine. It's still the most comfortable, personal, and easiest-to-live smartwatch you can buy.

screen

If the slimmer bezel didn't change the design significantly, did it change the screen? Yes it did, but don't expect the Series 6 to make you feel like a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. The increase is much more subtle, but Apple emphasized the difference through WatchOS 8 by using new watch faces like Contour, adding larger fonts, and making better use of the extra space.

App menu on Apple Watch Series 7.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Buttons are bigger and easier to find, wider notification cards contain just a little more information, more text fits on the screen at one time, and you can see more at the same time. Swipe up to see quick settings, and turning on a focus mode requires a less precise action and is faster than before. But perhaps the best indication of how much screen the Series 7 has gained is the three additional font sizes available when compared to older models.

Apple says the screen is brighter indoors, but I didn't notice any difference. However, this may be because I never have any problems reading whether I am in the sunlight or in the dark, or whether it shows the main screen or the excellent always-on dials. It's sharp and colorful and doesn't reflect absurdly either. The Ion-X glass over the top is also tougher and more resistant to cracking than before, but to get the supposedly more durable sapphire crystal displays you'll need to buy the stainless steel or titanium models.

Apple Watch Series 7 and Series 6 from above. "Aria -habenby =" gallery-9-2823138

Apple Watch Series 7 and Series 6 from the side. "Aria -habenby =" gallery-9-2823139

  • 1.
    Apple Watch Series 7 (left) and Series 6 (right)
  • 2.
    Contoured screen of the Apple Watch Series 7 (red, top) versus the Series 6

The smaller bezels also make the Series 7 look more modern, even when placed next to the Series 6, a smartwatch that can hardly be called old. If you're from a Series 3 watch, the smaller bezels and larger viewing area of ​​the Series 7 will transform the experience for you. In this case, the Series 7 is a huge upgrade. I used a Series 6 last year and the extra screen real estate was evident when I used the Series 7.

Health and activity tracking

The Apple Watch Series 7 measures your heart rate and your electrocardiogram (EKG), measures the oxygen level in the blood, warns of heart rate irregularities, sends an emergency alarm when you fall, reminds you to start exercising if they don't notice you are moving or cycling, records your swimming activity and automatically starts a timer when you wash your hands. I'm just scratching the surface here as I haven't mentioned sleep tracking, dozens of exercise plans, Apple's Fitness + service, sound alerts, and the mindfulness app.

Heart rate on Apple Watch Series 7.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The health and fitness tracking is comprehensive, detailed, accurate and, in my case, completely exaggerated for my needs – and that's a good thing. That means, should I decide to do more, the watch will be ready without upgrading. The Series 7 records my walks, my sleep and my training at home without any problems and can be started so quickly and easily that sometimes I don't even have to go to the training app because the watch detects my activity more than usual and suggests a tracking mode. Or I use the app selection mode by pressing the bottom button on the watch to jump straight into the workout app. It takes seconds what I want as an occasional trainer.

I also appreciate the "silent" features. Heart rate, blood oxygen and even noise are monitored in the background, so if anything changes it will let me know. I don't have to do anything with setup either, since most of these functions are active by default. Apple's Activity Rings give me a clear indicator of my daily activities and are appropriately motivating, with reminders to move me and animated screens when I reach a goal.

Daily activity in the Apple Health app.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Overview of Apple Health.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Apple Health breath data.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

All health data in the Apple Health app.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The data is presented in the Apple Health app. It shows helpful trends that let you know if you're doing more or less than usual, summaries of your recent workouts (including GPS maps), and offers the ability to dig deeper. I love the All Health Data list view, which shows you the most current information instantly and also combines it with historical data. Tap each section to see a more detailed breakdown of the data. It's well laid out, very informative, and extremely easy to digest.

Although everything is presented very nicely with bright colors and neat graphics, the app can feel dense and complicated. But it does show how much capability the watch has and how it can benefit those who are much more focused on fitness than I am. I would really like to see the health and fitness apps combined in one, as I often forget the fitness app, which has more information about daily activities.

EKG on Apple Watch Series 7.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Blood oxygen measurement on Apple Watch Series 7.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Apple Watch Series 7 case back.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Apple Watch Series 7 is any fitness partner you want, and it works just as well no matter the amount of effort you put into the workout. It has all of the skills, dates, and motivations you want – or as little as you want – all without irritating messages about pushing your limits either on the clock or in marketing. This also goes well with the design and customization, because all of this looks as sporty or not as sporty as you want it to be. It's excellent.

Software and performance

Apple's WatchOS 8 software, released in September, will be installed and will be compatible with all Apple Watch models since Series 3. It works the same way as it does the Series 6, and I'll summarize my experience with the software in a previous article.

It's fast, responsive, and full of features. I easily get notifications from my iPhone 13 Pro and can reply to most of them right from the watch. Most messages can be replied to using the keyboard, which has a new QuickType swipe function. It's surprisingly accurate and makes it much faster to type on the watch's small screen. I also like how the iPhone comes up with a popup that allows you to enter text on the phone rather than the watch without finding the message to match. Not all messages have this deep interaction. For example, tweets can only be liked or retweeted and Outlook e-mails cannot be answered on the wrist, but only marked or marked as read.

It's still the most comfortable, personal, and easiest-to-live smartwatch you can buy.

The Watch Series 7 processor may be called S7, but it's just a name change, and it has the same performance as the S6 in the Series 6. That means it is 20% more powerful than the S5 chip in the Apple Watch SE , which Apple is still selling along with the new Series 7. You can purchase the Series 7 with a cellular connection and, provided you pay at your monthly cellular plan, the watch can make and receive calls and receive messages even when you are not connected to your phone.

Twitter notification on Apple Watch Series 7.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

With WatchOS 8 on the Apple Watch Series 6 and Series 7, I had no issues with responsiveness or apps. While setting up the Series 7, I had issues with the Set up as new watch option, but it turned on without any issues when I chose the Restore from a backup option. This is the first time I've come across it and I suspect it has to do with the Series 7 setup on launch day and the server delays that came with it.

battery

I've worn the Apple Watch Series 7 24 hours a day for the past week, and when I wake up in the morning after tracking my sleep, the watch still has between 20% and 30% energy left, depending on whether I have during the day previously recorded a workout. This means that a single use over a whole day is not a problem. At 30% remaining, it continued through the end of a work day if I did not record any workout. Alternatively, if you don't enable sleep tracking and disable it overnight, two days or even more are achievable.

Apple Watch Series 7 for a fee.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Watch Series 7 has a new charger with quick charge function and can be easily recognized by the silver housing compared to the older versions. According to Apple, it offers an 80 percent charge in 45 minutes, but when plugged into the Apple Fast Charger, it exceeds that and hits around 88% in that time. It reaches 100% in an hour. There's also a handy feature where an eight-minute charge gives back eight hours of sleep tracking.

Using an old charger with the Series 7 will charge it at its normal rate, which is understandable but unfortunate to anyone who has sat on a stand like the Belkin 3-in-1 MagSafe charger, as you have the benefit not received from the speed increase of the new charger.

Price and availability

the Apple Watch Series 7 starts at $ 399 for the 41mm model and $ 429 for the 45mm model. Add $ 100 for the GPS + Cellular version and even more depending on which bracelet you choose. For example, if you'd like the RED Braided Solo Loop Belt product in our photos, prices start at $ 449.

In the UK, the 41mm Apple Watch Series 7 in aluminum starts at 369 pounds and the 45mm model starts at 399 pounds. Prices increase depending on the bracelet you choose, and you have to add £ 100 to the price if you want the GPS + Cellular model.

The Series 7 looks amazing and the Apple Watch has become a style icon in my opinion.

Outside of the standard Apple Watch models, you can buy special Nike versions that are the same price but come with Nike straps and exclusive watch faces. You can also pay more for the Apple Watch Series 7 for a stainless steel case and sapphire crystal above the screen. Prices start at $ 699 or £ 649. The titanium Apple Watch Edition starts at $ 799, or £ 699, and the Apple Watch Hermés starts at $ 1,229, or £ 1,179. Functionality and specification are identical in the entire range, so all of these only offer material and strap differences.

Our opinion

Smaller bezels and a 1mm difference in case size have had a big impact on the Apple Watch Series 7, increasing its appeal and overall visual appeal. Faster charges and that helpful 8-minute zap for overnight use mean the relatively short battery life is much less of a concern and you can use and enjoy the watch 24 hours a day. WatchOS 8 is reliable and easy to use, health tracking remains unmatched even without hardware changes, and massive customization is fun.

It's everything you'd expect from a smartwatch as it integrates perfectly with the iPhone but still has enough power to be used on its own at will and never feels redundant due to lack of features or poor app support. The Apple Watch Series 7 has improved over the Series 6, and even feels like a worthwhile upgrade to last year's model for those who don't mind spending the money. It's also worth noting that Apple hasn't changed the price either, and has kept it the same in recent generations despite hardware and software improvements.

The Apple Watch Series 7 does anything I want, and I am very aware that it can do a lot more, making it feel like a safe purchase even for those who are just starting out with a smartwatch. The uncomplicated handling also makes it great for newcomers and thanks to the two sizes and different designs, there is something suitable for you. It's really great, and I'm struggling to find a reason not to wholeheartedly recommend it.

Is there a better alternative?

It doesn't happen often that I say this, but if you own an iPhone and want a smartwatch, there is no better alternative to the Apple Watch. There is usually an alternative, but in this case, buying an Apple Watch Series 7 is the best option available. This year, the Apple Watch SE is doing less well than it was in 2020 due to the lack of an always-on screen, a larger bezel, standard charging speed, and less powerful health monitoring.

If you have an Android phone, there is no point in making good use of the Apple Watch, so check out our recommendations for Android smartwatches.

How long it will take?

The Apple Watch Series 7 is dustproof according to IP6X, water-resistant to 50 meters, is float-proof and has a stronger, more break-proof glass above the screen. Belts can be exchanged easily and inexpensively if they should be broken or dirty. Apple should support the watch with new software updates for up to five years. Keeping the Apple Watch Series 7 for five years can be a challenge if you want to keep up with technology trends, but for everyone else, it's perfectly doable, given the Series 7's capabilities, performance, and ruggedness.

Should you buy one?

Yes sir. Not only is it the best smartwatch for your iPhone, it's also the best smartwatch available today.

Editor's recommendations



24 Aug
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic Review: First-rate Smartwatch

Galaxy Watch 4 Classic on the wrist.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic in the test: A first-class smartwatch

RRP $ 349.99

"The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is a really powerful smartwatch with comprehensive health monitoring functions, elegant One Watch UI software and a sophisticated, elegant design that feels good on the wrist."

advantages

  • Closed, mature design

  • The rotating bezel is intuitive

  • The One Watch user interface is clear and logical

  • Comprehensive health tracking

  • Choice of style and size

disadvantage

  • The battery doesn't last two full days

  • Wear OS 3 software lacks gloss

  • Too big at night

Has the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic Do you have what it takes to top our list of the best Android smartwatches? After all, its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch 3, has done so since its release, and we have high expectations. The already tough job of the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is made even harder by the fact that it has to introduce us to a new operating system and inspire us with its hardware at the same time.

A look at the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic shows that Samsung did its job with the design, but what about the new Wear OS 3 software? There's a lot to do here, but don't worry, this is a feature-rich smartwatch that deserves both your attention and your money.

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At first glance, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic doesn't look that different from the Galaxy Watch 3, but upon closer inspection, there are subtle refinements that give the new model a more cohesive, sophisticated, and watch-like style. The stainless steel case itself comes in either 42mm or 46mm sizes, and I wear the 46mm model on my 6.5-inch wrist. Without the strap, it weighs 52 grams.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 classic.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The ribs on the bezel are smaller and denser than on the Galaxy Watch 3, the chronograph markings are more subtle, and the tabs flow more directly out of the case itself. This, along with the strap and buttons, is the biggest design change. The buttons are elongated, flush with the case and therefore less noticeable, but still separated by a button protector for a clean look.

The bracelet changes the watch the most, as the ends match the curve of the case and the flowing lines match the lugs. It works really well, making the bracelet appear like an integral part of the watch case, and the shape prevents it from bending too far in either direction, which makes it sit better on the wrist. Technically, it's a small design change, but an inspired one that really adds to the comfort and looks of the watch. However, if you swap the bracelet for a non-Samsung version, you lose that advantage.

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic on the wrist shows the buttons.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

At 52 grams, the Watch 4 Classic is quite heavy and you can almost always feel it on your wrist. This prevented me from wearing it overnight for sleep tracking – it was just too noticeable and I found it distracting as I fell asleep. The 42-mm version is not much lighter at 47 grams and both are significantly heavier than the 37-gram aluminum case 44 mm Apple Watch Series 6.

Nevertheless, I don't find the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic tiring during the day and I love the balanced, elegant and unmistakable design.

software

The hardware is great, but the big change in the Watch 4 is the software. Gone is Samsung's Tizen from the Galaxy Watch 3, and the joint Google and Samsung platform called Wear OS 3, or simply Wear, is coming. Tizen has always been the better software compared to the old Wear OS and made the Galaxy Watch 3 our top recommendation for Android smartwatches due to its ease of use, design and reliability. With the new software, the concern for me was how much of Tizen is left or has Wear completely overhauled it?

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic app page.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The good news is that Tizen's superior design and ease of use are preserved through Samsung's One Watch user interface. Wear OS 3 allows businesses to use a custom user interface, which avoids all new watches from looking basically the same. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic has a rotating bezel that is very helpful when navigating. You rotate it left to show notifications and right to show tiles. Swipe up on the touchscreen to find the app menu and down for quick settings. Then use the bezel to scroll left and right through all of the options that appear. It's fluid, natural, quick, and surprisingly enjoyable. The rotating bezel has a very precise action with nice damping and a decent "notching" feel when rotating.

You should spend a moment digging through the settings to personalize how your watch works, as lift to wake up isn't turned on by default, which means you'll have to tap the screen or rotate the bezel to adjust the display to activate. This is annoying when an app is running and the screen is timing out. An always-on screen can be turned on so that the clock always shows the time. There are many watch faces to choose from, from very simple to very cute, and all of them have custom environment modes.

Galaxy Watch 4 Classic shows off a cute watch face.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It all feels very similar to Tizen on the Galaxy Watch 3 at first, but Wear uses clearer fonts that combine with the razor-sharp screen – a 1.4-inch 450 x 450-pixel Super AMOLED on the 46 -mm- or a 1.2-inch 396 x 396 pixel Super AMOLED on the 42 mm – makes everything easy to read. I never have to blink at the screen and the font choices are more sophisticated than Tizen's. The most obvious change happens when you swipe up on the screen and find a list of apps that includes the Google Play Store.

Android apps for Wear OS work on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic as opposed to the Tizen-based Galaxy Watch 3, and that includes Google apps that are missing on old Samsung watches like Google Maps, Google Fit, and Google Pay. Google Pay works normally and you can choose either it or Samsung Pay as the default contactless payment system in the NFC setting. Google Fit works with Samsung Health, but it's not immediately apparent how or if it can be set as the default.

There are times when Wear OS 3 shows it's still in the works, but during my review came a small software update that also showed that Google and Samsung are working on fixing any issues. At first, Google Maps loaded as usual, but whether you could scroll through the map on the screen was unsuccessful, and routes were only displayed in text form. Both issues were fixed after the update. However, some apps are still shaky, with Spotify often timing out, leaving me staring at a rotating progress bar.

Many apps are available through Google Play, including common examples like Spotify and Outlook, but not YouTube Music or Uber. It doesn't seem like the Google Assistant is available either as an app to install or as an onboard alternative to Bixby. Notifications are nice and interactive when they show up, but there is no guarantee of arrival, a problem with the old Wear operating system that has unfortunately carried over to the new Wear. However, notifications are grouped in tiles, properly formatted, easy to read, and when you close one on the watch, it disappears from your phone.

In everyday life, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic with Wear OS 3 has so far been excellent, although it is an unusual mix of Wear OS and Tizen. You get the good looks and reasonable navigation of the One Watch UI and rotating bezel, plus the frustration of unreliable notifications and apps that don't always work properly from Wear OS, along with lots of duplicate services. Since Wear looks different (when they arrive) on other smartwatches that run the software, much of what works well here may be due to Samsung's One Watch user interface, but we won't know for sure until a challenger arrives in the future.

Health tracking

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic's health and fitness tracking is comprehensive, detailed, easy to use, and packed with features. The Samsung BioActive sensor is the outstanding new hardware addition to the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. The 3-in-1 sensor contains a bioelectrical impedance sensor (BIA), an electrocardiogram (EKG) and a PPG heart rate sensor, all of which are powered by new software algorithms.

Daily activity screen on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The BIA provides a body composition measurement that shows weight, muscle, fat mass, body fat, body mass index (BMI), body water and basal metabolic rate (BMR). Data like this has only been found on a few smart scales so far and is helpful in better understanding weight loss and the effects of continued exercise on your body. It takes 15 seconds and all it takes is your weight and height, but it is not suitable for people with pacemakers as it uses a small electrical current to take a measurement.

It's typical of many of the high tech health features of a wearable in that it provides a lot of statistics but no real information about what they mean and what you can do to change them. The dates themselves are very variable and the results will depend on the time of day, the last meal, and much more. It is difficult to determine accuracy this way. It's probably only helpful if you can compare the results to another device with a body composition measurement, and even then you'll have to do your own research to know what to do with the data.

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic's body composition mode.Measurement of body composition on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

In order to use the EKG, a separate app must be installed on your phone, which lasts 30 seconds and only reports in the event of atrial fibrillation. The app shows an option to measure blood pressure, but this feature is not active on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic in the UK. The watch also gives you a stress measurement, an SpO2 blood oxygen monitor, a heart rate and a health tracker for women, plus tiles for manual entry of daily water and food intake.

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is a very strong fitness companion, with all the sensors you need.

Workouts start quickly with a tile with Samsung Health, and you can add Google Fit tiles to the watch, along with a convenient overview of your main stats. I've followed various workouts, including those with GPS. The measurements were the same as those I got from an Apple Watch Series 6 connected to an iPhone 12 Pro. The training mode's auto-pause feature stands out for its eagerness and always paused even when I just stopped taking a photo and then resumed when I restarted.

Samsung Health screen and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Training mode in Samsung Health with the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Detailed exercise statistics in Samsung Health with the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Heart rate mode on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Samsung Health app presents its data neatly, and there's enough information for the casual fitness fan, including all of the data gathered from the body composition tests plus heart rate, stress, sleep tracking, step count, and historical workouts -Tracking data. I didn't feel the need to switch from Samsung Health to Google Fit, which suggests it offers a similar level of information and usefulness. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is a very powerful fitness companion, with all the sensors you need (and some you probably don't need often), accurate data logging, and a well-presented app.

Performance, battery life and charging

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic uses the new dual-core processor Samsung Exynos W920 with 1.18 GHz and 1.5 GB RAM. It didn't disappoint, with more than enough power to quickly propel the operating system forward. The WiFi range is quite short, however, and the watch doesn't always keep the connection connected or doesn't activate it automatically, for example when opening Google Play. I had to manually connect to Wi-Fi to start some apps, but this may change with another software update. Bluetooth headphones are easy to use and, provided they are already paired with your phone, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic does not require a second pairing.

Galaxy Watch 4 Classic's heart rate sensor.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The 46mm Galaxy Watch 4 Classic has a 361 mAh battery inside and lasts two working days with a single recorded workout and active always-on screen after a week of using the watch, assuming you turn it off overnight the end. It doesn't dare to last two full days with the always-on time showing, and certainly not if you're also using sleep tracking and tracking a workout.

There is a power saving mode that is activated when the watch reaches about 10% of the remaining battery capacity. It extends the usage time by a few hours by disabling non-essential features like the always-on screen. Charging is done with an included magnetic charging disc, and it takes about 80 minutes to reach 10% full capacity. The display usefully shows an estimate of how long a full charge will take.

Price and availability

the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic starts at $ 349 in black or silver and will be released on August 27th. The 42mm model is the cheapest, while the 46mm model costs $ 379. Add 4G LTE and the price goes up to $ 399 for the 42mm or $ 429 for the 46mm version. Buy from Samsung's online store and you can customize the watch with different straps.

Our opinion

The Galaxy Watch 3 is hard to follow, and any new operating system will always be difficult to implement perfectly the first time around, but Samsung successfully got around all of the issues and delivered an excellent sequel to the best smartwatch for Android phones from last year. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic skillfully mixes a smart design with comprehensive health monitoring and offers it not only in two different styles, but also in different sizes. It is absolutely worth your money.

Samsung's use of the One Watch UI is key to the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic's ease of use as the UI is smooth, logical, and fast. The rotating bezel makes the smartwatch fun to use, and the convenience and robustness of the smartwatch make it easy to wear all day. I found it too big to wear overnight and want the battery to be used for two full days, but these are not issues unique to the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.

Wear OS 3 looks promising, but it's disappointing to still see the old problems of not getting all notifications and not all apps available or always working properly on the watch. It's better than before thanks to the One Watch UI, but still not as reliable or as app-packed as Apple's WatchOS. However, given its novelty, it should not be judged too harshly just yet. Where's the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic? Samsung has definitely made a great successor to the Watch 3.

Is there a better alternative?

If you own an iPhone, the Apple Watch Series 6 or Apple Watch SE are still the smartwatches you should buy. They can be perfectly integrated into your phone while others miss out on certain functions, and WatchOS is built up quickly and logically. Apple Health is great and the battery lasts a few days.

If you have an Android phone, the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic are the only two with the latest Wear OS 3 software, and this can be crucial for quick updates over the next year. Mobvoi's TicWatch Pro 3 and TicWatch E3 are slated to get Wear OS 3 around this time next year, and while both are still good choices today, Samsung's watches are a better choice as you get the new software without the long wait.

It is Samsung that has the Watch 4 Classic's biggest challenger. The Galaxy Watch 4 has the same features and performance as the Watch 4 Classic, with a different design and a touch-sensitive bezel. It's cheaper too, and your preference will likely depend on which design you like better.

How long it will take?

The case of the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is waterproof to 5ATM and has an IP68 rating and meets the hardness standards MIL-STD-810G. The bracelet of my test model is made of thick rubber and feels very hard-wearing. Wear OS 3 software is now up to date and will likely be ahead of the competition for some time as there are no other smartwatches available with the software yet. There's a 4G LTE option for anyone looking to add cellular connectivity with an eSIM. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic lasts for at least two years.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The design and comfort of the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic are top notch, there are tons of health monitoring features, and the performance is excellent. It's a great smartwatch to buy.

Editor's recommendations



02 Jul
Blog

Mobvoi TicWatch E3 Review: Right Smartwatch, Wrong Time

Mobvoi TicWatch E3 with the front on the wrist.

“At almost any other time, the speedy Mobvoi TicWatch E3 would be a solid buy, provided style isn't high on your requirement list, but the lack of information on an update to the incoming Google / Samsung Wear platform means it's prudent is to wait and see before diving in. "

  • Snapdragon Wear 4100 makes it quick

  • Light and comfortable

  • Comprehensive, accurate health tracking

  • Plastic cover is not stylish

  • No information about a future Wear update

The Mobvoi TicWatch E3 is the second smartwatch to come out with the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 chip inside, and that's a big deal. The processor makes Google's Wear OS faster, smoother, easier to live with every day, and improves battery life. It's also the main reason you should consider buying the TicWatch E3, but the shadow of the new Google / Samsung Wear platform hangs over it too.

The situation puts the TicWatch E3 and anyone who thinks about it in a difficult position. Let's take a closer look at this to see if it is wise to wait and see what happens in the world of Android smartwatches over the next few months.

design

The best watches are “a part” of you, that is, something you want to wear every morning and enjoy all day, not just to check the time. The Mobvoi TicWatch E3 is not that type of watch. It's a piece of technology where design comes second after adding the latest processor.

Mobvoi TicWatch E3.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Understanding this and assessing whether you are okay with the compromise is the first step in deciding whether you can live with the TicWatch E3. It's not an ugly or uncomfortable smartwatch, just boring and plastic. Unforgivable when it costs $ 400, but more understandable at $ 200.

The TicWatch E3 looks different than the TicWatch E2, with short, square tabs that attach a 22mm quick release bracelet to the simple round plastic case. On the side there are two buttons set at the 2 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions that have a nicely muted action. The app menu opens at the top and the bottom button is set to Mobvoi's TicExercise app by default, but can be changed in the settings. The E3 is just under 13 mm thick, the screen measures 1.3 inches and has a solid rim that runs around the edge.

The screen is bright and colorful, but the massive frame is distracting, although the 2.5D glass makes wiping comfortable. It also feels durable and has an IP68 rating so it can be worn while swimming. The bracelet is easy to replace with another, and Mobvoi sells you some more colorful versions.

Mobvoi TicWatch E3 on the wrist, seen from the side.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Ticwatch E3 is neither desirable nor hateful, it is just there on my wrist. I put it on and forgot it until it reminded me of it with a notification. This is both good and bad. The smartwatch is undeniably comfortable and lightweight, but I will never be indifferent to it because of its simple style.

performance

Why should you be interested in the TicWatch E3? The reason is the Snapdragon Wear 4100, a shocking rarity in the world of Wear OS smartwatches that can only be found in the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3. The fast, up-to-date chip has been replacing the ubiquitous Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 for far too long. The TicWatch E3 might not have the looks, but it definitely has the power.

Top of the TicWatch E3.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Snapdragon Wear 4100 eliminates two of those annoying Wear OS problems, namely slow speeds and short battery life. It makes Wear OS dramatically more responsive than any smartwatch with Snapdragon Wear 3100. It flows and glides through tiles, quickly showing notifications as you scroll through the list, and even the tedious setup process is considerably faster than before. Paired with 1GB of RAM makes Wear OS comfortable to use, and that's a big step forward.

The TicWatch E3 might not have the looks, but it definitely has the power.

What about the battery life? Some Snapdragon Wear 3100 smartwatches struggle to make a day before charging and few last well into a second day. If you turn off the Ticwatch E3 overnight, it only takes two working days (with a single GPS-recorded workout) before it needs to be charged. And that with active all-day heart rate monitoring and the always-on screen that constantly shows the time. Not bad at all, and if you don't follow a workout, it takes about 36 hours. A handy essential mode turns on when the battery is almost completely discharged, so you can still see the time. However, charging is slow, taking around two hours to fully charge.

Software and fitness tracking

The Ticwatch E3 runs Wear OS – version 2.26, H MR2, which is installed on my test model – so it works in a familiar way, with swiping and tapping to navigate the menus. There is no rotating crown or bezel here, so the software is only controlled with your finger on the screen. By default, Mobvoi's menu system consists of a 4×4 grid of scrollable icons instead of the standard one-line scrollable list, but can be changed if necessary. I found it a little easier to find what I wanted, but missed the way the Wear OS menu system puts recently used apps at the top of the list.

I had a couple of issues with the reliability of the software. It was once completely blocked and required a hard restart to bring it back to life, and TicExercise refused to quit a workout and then lost the records when it finally gave up later in the day. Changing data, e.g. For example, when the TicPulse app reads your heart rate, it sometimes overwrites what is shown on the screen, making it impossible to read without exiting and reopening the app. None of these issues have been repeated, and a software update could fix these errors in the future.

The bigger problem with the TicWatch E3 is due to another software update. Fortunately, the E3 has the power to make Wear OS largely painless today, and notifications are delivered for the most part, but it's still frustrating when it doesn't or when you find that you need to have a specific Wear OS app installed, to get them. like Outlook. But the future is the problem. The Wear platform developed by Google and Samsung will be out later this year, and there is no news on when or if the E3 will get an update. When Digital Trends asked Mobvoi about its plans, the answer was:

"Mobvoi are a close partner of Google and have even received investments from them, but there is still no official confirmation of Google's update times."

Mobvoi's statement here puts the responsibility on Google, and while the wording suggests that an update is possible, it doesn't say that one will definitely happen or when. Even if your smartwatch won't stop working, the lack of information about an update for Wear today should be taken into account when buying it today, as it will make your new smartwatch feel old pretty quickly if it's not on the update list.

Health and Fitness Tracking

Mobvoi installs a variety of its own health and fitness apps, all of which you need to register with Mobvoi's services in order to get the most out of them. If you do not do this, some data will not be displayed. Most fitness apps replicate the features of Google Fit, and it's annoying that the SPo2 and heart rate monitor apps both require a Mobvoi login first. Other apps include an ambient sound app called TicHearing, a stress and relaxation app called TicZen, and an automatic sleep tracking app called TicSleep.

Heart rate sensor of the TicWatch E3,Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

You can use Mobvoi's TicExercise app or Google Fit to track workouts, and both can be activated with a press of the bottom button on the case. They both do the same job, and there is no advantage in using one over the other. Aside from TicZen, there's little reason to even dive into Mobvoi's apps. Why are they here? Mobvoi describes itself as a software company rather than a hardware company, so collecting data is important.

When comparing the TicWatch E3 with the Apple Watch SE, both heart rate sensors delivered the same measured values ​​and the SPo2 sensor agreed with the Apple Watch Series 6. Step count and calorie consumption were also largely the same, which means that the accuracy of the TicWatch E3 is in line with others. Similar products. The smartwatch easily found a GPS signal during a walk and recorded location data.

The TicWatch E3 works very well as a casual fitness tracking wearable, but Mobvoi's own apps are mostly redundant for no apparent reason why you'd use them over Google's fitness apps.

Price and availability

You can purchase the TicWatch E3 today for £ 200 or £ 180 from Mobvoi's online retail store or from Amazon.

Our opinion

There are good arguments in favor of buying the TicWatch E3 now. It's not that expensive, it has the fastest processor inside, it's light and comfortable to wear, and Google's Wear OS software is better here than on almost any other smartwatch. It also does all the health and fitness tracking you could want.

But there are also a few good arguments against it. It doesn't have a lot of style and you won't want to show it off, and the frame around the screen is grossly large. The software has some stability issues, and most importantly, there is no information on whether it will ever receive an update for the brand new Wear platform later this year.

It's a difficult situation. It really is the smartwatch we were looking forward to, just launched at the wrong time. While the TicWatch E3 makes perfect sense if you're looking to buy a Wear OS smartwatch – it's not the most expensive example, so if you have to wait for an update later, it won't feel too bad – but patience will pay off here . There is often a sweet spot for new product purchases, and the arrival of the TicWatch E3 is exactly where it is wise to wait and see what happens to Wear and all of the new smartwatches we see in the second half in 2021.

Is there a better alternative?

All Google Wear OS smartwatches are in the same situation as the TicWatch E3 when it comes to an update to Wear. The new software will hit some existing smartwatches, but likely not all, and exactly when it will happen is completely unknown. If you own an Android smartphone, check out smartwatches without Wear OS, like the Amazfit GTR 2 for $ 180 or the GTR 2e for $ 140, or a wearable like the Fitbit Versa 3 for $ 230, until more is known about Wear and its updates.

If you own an iPhone, the Apple Watch SE for $ 270 or the Apple Watch Series 6 for $ 400 should be high on your list. Apple Watch integrates perfectly with iOS, has superior features when connected to an iPhone, and is fun to own and use.

How long it will take?

The plastic housing and the watertightness according to IP68 as well as the easily exchangeable rubber strap make the TicWatch E3 very durable. Google provides regular updates to Wear OS, but few include noteworthy new features. As already explained, there is no information about when or whether an update for Wear will arrive on the TicWatch E3. The TicWatch E3 will last at least two years, but the software threatens to feel very out of date before the end of 2021.

Should you buy it?

No. It is wise to wait and see what the new Wear platform and the new hardware released with it bring before deciding. The TicWatch E3 is a good buy, but we recommend waiting a few months to have all the latest wear information at hand before making a decision.

Editor's recommendations



13 Apr
Blog

Wyze Watch Review: A $20 Smartwatch With Faulty Connections

Wyze watch rating Leader03

Wyze Watch Review: A $ 20 Smartwatch With Faulty Connections

"The Wyze watch is beating above its weight class, but inconsistent connectivity is too insane to recommend."

  • Premium hardware

  • Very affordable price

  • Nine days of battery life

  • Inconsistent connectivity

  • Lack of dial and variety of apps

  • No interactivity with notifications

  • No automatic tracking of anything but sleep

If you're the type who likes to put a dollar out, you are probably familiar with Wyze. The company has built its reputation on smart home devices, which offer around 80 percent of its competitors' offerings at around 30 percent of the price. From doorbells to cameras, Wyze has set a new price for a wide variety of smart home and wearable offerings. The latest is the Wyze Watch, a $ 20 smartwatch.

Buying a $ 20 smartwatch with nine days of battery life is a breeze. But along with that price tag comes an enormous number of lowered expectations. It's true that this watch doesn't have the same features that you'll find on most high-end smartwatches, but it does have a few. So let's get started.

Premium hardware

The first thing you'll notice about the Wyze watch is that it looks a lot like a high-end smartwatch. It is made of aluminum and has a silicone strap. There is a single button on the right side of the watch. On my 47mm device, you get a bright 1.75-inch TFT LCD touchscreen that runs on a 300mAh battery. On the back, in addition to the proprietary magnetic charger, are heart rate and blood oxygen sensors.

Wyze watch design and display

The watch comes with a comfortable silicone strap. You can also upgrade to a leather strap if you want. Overall, it looks like a premium watch, but unfortunately (and unsurprisingly) the premium feel stops there.

The performance is a bit sloppy. From lifting your wrist to see the time, to swiping the page to see your apps, there's just a little hesitation every time. It's barely noticeable and certainly not a deal breaker, but it's worth mentioning.

Mediocre software

The software on the watch is very simple. Most of the meaningful interactions take place in the app on the phone. This is the same app that you use to control your other Wyze smart home devices. Pairing the watch is crazy fast. Unlike most smartwatches and fitness bands I've used, just turn on the watch and launch the app. You add the clock to the app and you're done. You are done. It's amazingly quick and loved that part. This will require more smartwatches.

You can choose from just a few dozen watch faces, and apps are even more limited. There are only nine apps on the watch, including weather, shortcuts, blood oxygen, heart rate, and run tracking. You will also receive notifications on the watch from your phone. Notifications are decent in that you can read emails and texts, but there are no replies at all. There is also no microphone / speaker to take calls.

With the Shortcuts app you can control any other Wyze device that you have in your smart home. You can pause notifications on your doorbell or turn on the lights, all from the clock, which is really neat … assuming you have other Wyze hardware. If you're just starting out, your options are limited here. Wyze is really trying to build an ecosystem here, and it's not subtle.

The watch's connectivity is spotty at best and there is no WiFi. So you are limited to bluetooth connectivity. When the watch is plugged in, things work fine and quickly. However, as the day progresses, your watch suddenly receives a series of notifications at once, as if the watch forgot to feed on notifications all the time. If you rely on the watch to stay connected to your phone and keep in touch with notifications, look elsewhere.

Focus on the data

Now we come to one of the main reasons people buy smartwatches – fitness tracking and data. First, there is no automatic data collection of any kind other than sleep. If you want the watch to track your heart rate, blood oxygen levels, or exercise activity, you need to tell the watch to do so. It's not the toughest thing in the world, but it's something a watch is supposed to do on its own.

The Wyze watch is similar to a high-end smartwatch.

In terms of the data itself, the accuracy for step counting and training distance is around 10% to 15% less than that of a Samsung Galaxy Watch 3. This means that while my Galaxy Watch 3 measures 6,000 steps, the Wyze watch measures 5,000 to 5,400. The sleep tracking is pretty accurate, although the app showed waking phases that I don't remember. That doesn't mean they didn't happen, but I don't remember them.

Accurate data is the best, but even inaccurate data can be useful if it is consistently inaccurate. In my case, I found that the data consistently does not match the information on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3. You can use the data the watch collects to learn certain things about your day. You may not know exactly how many steps you took, but you can know that you took 25% more steps today than yesterday. It's certainly not ideal, but it can be useful depending on what you're trying to get out of it.

The good news is that most of the flaws in the Wyze watch are due to the software. What Wyze needs to bring to the table here is more types of exercise, better notification interactions, and more variety in the watch faces. The photo faces help, but even the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 offers more variety in the dials.

What worries me the most about the watch is connectivity. To say it's picky would be generous. It is absolutely bad. If you rely on your watch for notifications, you will be let down. Data like sleep and exercise data is synced with your phone when you connect, so you won't lose anything. It's a relief, albeit a small one.

Our opinion

The Wyze Watch is $ 20, and you get more than your money on this smartwatch – but not much more. Wyze claims the battery will last nine days, which is in line with my tests. Having just a nine-day smartwatch is tempting.

Where the experience falls apart is the lack of watch faces and apps, as well as the connectivity issues. Hopefully Wyze will continue to develop the watch so that its capabilities improve in the future. But for what it is right now, it's not the worst way to spend a single Andrew Jackson.

How long it will take?

The Wyze watch is solidly built and has a water resistance of up to two meters. There is no reason to believe that this watch will not last long. How well Wyze supports software development on the watch depends a lot more on its longevity than on the hardware, which is well built and doesn't feel cheap at all. There is a one year limited warranty against defects.

Is there a better alternative?

Naturally. This is the bottom of the barrel in the smartwatch department. That’s out of the question. Even your traditional fitness trackers cost more than this watch, which is so cheap that it's difficult to get comparable experiences in a similar price range. The best competitor I see is the Xiaomi Mi Band 6, which has just been announced and will be out later this year. This fitness band offers a similar experience in that it is nice but not great when it is above its weight class.

Should you buy it?

If you are serious about fitness or notifications, then this is not the place to be. This watch makes a lot of compromises en route to the $ 20 price range.

Connectivity is the deal breaker for me. I would be willing to accept any other compromise if I knew this watch would notify me. To its credit, it hasn't missed a notification yet, but sometimes it has delivered them much later – and about 20 at a time – which doesn't do me any good.

Editor's recommendations




17 Feb
Blog

Citizen CZ Smart Review: Nearly a Great Citizen Smartwatch

Citizen cz smart smartwatch rating wrist shirt

"The Citizen CZ Smart is a good smartwatch with solid performance and battery life, but the design isn't quite what we'd expect from such a remarkable watchmaker."

  • High quality stainless steel case

  • Comfortable strap for a good fit

  • Decent battery life

  • Surprisingly good performance

  • Inaccurate number of steps

  • Not enough "citizen" design

Citizen has been making clocks for more than 100 years, manufacturing all of its components in-house, and pioneering a wide variety of technologies that focus on the use of light output and high precision. It's the newest watch the citizen CZ Smartis the company's first touchscreen smartwatch – and based on that legacy, we should be excited about it. As a fan of the brand's watches in general, I was keen to try them out.

The more watch brands are interested in smartwatches, the better the design, convenience and technology become. So it is important for companies like Citizen to get involved. Is the Citizen CZ Smart joining Tag Heuer's Connected (2020), Montblanc's Summit 2 and Alpina's AlpinerX as another example of the traditional watch industry getting smartwatches right?

I wore it to find out.

design

The only question that really needs to be answered here is whether the CZ Smart looks and feels like a Citizen watch. Yes, but not as much as some of the brand's more well-known models, and you probably need to be familiar with the Citizen line of diving watches to see the family connection. The shape and design of the bezel are reminiscent of the Promaster Diver range, as are the guards around the crown. However, to most casual watchers, it looks like any other smartwatch and may even be confused with the Fossil Garrett HR.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Here is the problem. I really like the style of the CZ Smart, but it's just not citizen enough and a problem that persists in the software. Citizen hasn't used its selection of incredibly recognizable watch face designs for various watch faces either, offering only a handful of more commonplace watch faces to choose from. Why is there no view of the eye-catching Skyhawk or the unusual satellite wave? Tag Heuer gets this aspect right, offering a wide range of dial designs that match the brand or are part of collections designed by ambassadors. There's really no reason Citizen couldn't have done the same.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It's unfortunate that the CZ Smart is no longer bourgeois as the watch looks great on the wrist. The bezel is thin, the blue color gives it character, the 46mm case is made of stainless steel and feels of very high quality. Gorilla glass is placed over the screen for protection. The 22 m long blue silicone strap is very comfortable and should also be very durable. It does have a plastic bottom, however, which is a little unfortunate. While very similar to the Fossil Garrett HR, it looks a lot more mature and feels better built too.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Citizen likely relied on partnering with Fossil to produce the CZ Smart. The couple announced some time ago that they would be working together on hybrid smartwatch technology. However, given the presence of the Fossil wellness app and the pre-installation of Spotify, this certainly seems to be a product of that partnership too. It's not a bad thing, Fossil is working on smartwatches with a lot of brands including Diesel, Micheal Kors, and Skagen. It knows what it is doing.

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The Citizen CZ Smart looks great and is very comfortable, but it doesn't quite say "I'm wearing a Citizen Smartwatch" like it should, and it feels like a missed opportunity.

Screen and performance

The CZ Smart has a 1.28-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 416 x 416 pixels so it's very sharp, which makes me even sadder that there aren't many great standard Citizen watch faces to take advantage of . Inside is a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor, not the newer Snapdragon Wear 4100 chip, which makes it technically out of date. Unfortunately, Citizen isn't the only one who is satisfied with the aging Snapdragon 3100 chip, as almost all other smartwatch manufacturers do.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Fortunately, it's not a performance disaster at all. Once you do the basics like tracking workouts, receiving notifications, and using apps, you can easily do the functions. It took a while, but the chip has been effectively optimized when it is tuned to 1GB of RAM along with the latest software and can be used perfectly every day. What it misses is the increased efficiency of the Snapdragon 4100. The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3's battery lasts at least three full days on a single charge, and the CZ Smart doesn't quite manage that.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

How does the battery compare? It's decent. With general daily use and just activity tracking with the wellness app, I got almost three work days by turning the clock off overnight. If you're following with Google Fit, streaming music, or using intense apps like Google Maps, it's just two business days. The watch charges quickly, with 80% charging in about 45 minutes and 100% charging in about 70 minutes.

While the CZ Smart isn't great, it has the power and battery life to do what I want a smartwatch to do every day.

Navigation and software

It's great to see that the CZ Smart already has the latest software update for Google Wear OS H-MR2 installed, which undoubtedly contributes to slightly better battery life and faster performance. It also introduces new features such as an adjustable time limit for the screen and a new weather tile.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

One of the most welcome features of the CZ Smart is the rotating crown, which makes it easy to navigate the Wear OS software. It should be a standard feature on all Wear OS smartwatches, but it isn't. Congratulations Citizen for adding it here. The guards around the crown make it less uncomfortable to turn your thumb as well. The buttons on either side of the crown activate Google Fit and the Citizen Watch Face app, but can be reconfigured.

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Citizen cz smart smartwatch rating buckle "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn8.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/citizen-cz-smart-buckle-640x640.jpg " srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The CZ Smart delivers notifications from your phone with average reliability. This is what I expect from Wear OS in general, which is nowhere near as reliable in communicating with your phone as Apple's WatchOS. The CZ Smart has a speaker and microphone for making and receiving calls. This is always welcome. However, there is no 4G LTE connection so a connection to your phone is required. It's loud enough to have a conversation at home.

Fitness tracking

Fossil's wellness app is on board and promises to track basic activities – steps, sleep, calories, and exercise, without draining your battery too much. It suits the CZ Smart because I don't see it being worn by hardcore fitness fanatics, but by people who want to know how much (or how little) they are exercising. It's easy to use as everything is shown on one screen and only offers one indoor or outdoor exercise tracking option. It's quick and easy and suits my idea of ​​how the watch is worn. Google Fit is also available for anyone who wants more in-depth, data-intensive activity tracking.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

How is the CZ Smart when you are tracking activity? It is annoying that the software has to be optimized because the CZ Smart overestimates the number of steps many times over. After realizing that I was supposedly supposed to run a lot more than was possible when locked, I compared it to the Apple Watch Series 6. I found that the CZ Smart recorded 3,600 steps on a busy morning while the Apple Watch 2,500 steps counted.

While the heart rate monitor results have been consistent and I don't think anyone genuinely concerned about tracking fitness will look at this model, Citizen will have to fix the accuracy of the step count soon.

Price and availability

The Citizen CZ Smart costs and it is $ 395 available now from Amazon and via the Citizen online shop. There are three different models: The version shown here in blue and stainless steel, a stainless steel model with a black bracelet and a black / red bezel, and a black stainless steel version with a black metal link bracelet. All are at the same price.

Our opinion

The Citizen CZ Smart is a very good smartwatch for doing what I want every day. It's fast and the battery lasts longer than expected. It is also very well made and comfortable to wear. However, it comes to a crowded market with dozens of similar smartwatches that you can say the same about. So it's unfortunate that Citizen hasn't really used its brand name and watchmaking expertise to differentiate itself.

I wanted the CZ Smart to have the same draw as buying a Skyhawk A-T, but instead it's like buying another Wear OS smartwatch from the past few years and because of that, this is a missed opportunity. The citizen could really have taken control of the watchmaker / smartwatch area here.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. If you want a smartwatch for your Android phone, we recommend the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3. It may not be the best looking watch you can buy, but it is the most technologically advanced Wear OS smartwatch right now. The Snapdragon 4100 chip goes well with Mobvoi's unusual dual-screen design to get the most out of the battery and provide plenty of performance.

If you own an iPhone and are looking for a smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 6 or Apple Watch SE are for you. It's not often that an Apple product can be called a bargain, but when compared to the $ 395 Citizen CZ Smart, the $ 279 Apple Watch SE in particular offers great value. Relationship.

The other watch to consider is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3. The software is easier to use and more attractive than Google's Wear operating system. The rotating bezel simplifies navigation. Due to the citizen's high price for the CZ Smart, it directly competes with all of these smartwatches, with some being offered at much lower prices.

How long it will take?

Like all good smartwatches, the Citizen CZ Smart will last at least two years before you can replace it. The Snapdragon 3100 chip is already old, however, and when at some point more models with the Snapdragon 4100 hit the market, smartwatches that use the old platform will really feel their age. However, smartwatches do not have the same power requirements as smartphones. So, if you keep doing the same things with the watch as you always have, this makes a good companion.

Due to the stainless steel housing, the gorilla glass and the water resistance of 3ATM, the CZ Smart should be very durable. The 22mm armband is thick and sturdy and can also be easily replaced due to the 22mm size and quick release pins.

Should you buy it?

Sadly no. There are better, more up-to-date smartwatches available at lower prices. The unfortunate thing here is if the CZ Smart really looked and felt like a citizen watch, the verdict might have been different.

Editor's recommendations




24 Sep
Blog

Diesel On Fadelite Review: The Smartwatch Your Heart Desires

Diesel on Fadelite Mad Dog Jones Smartwatch Review MDJ Wrist

Diesel On Fadelite X Mad Dog Jones Review: The Smartwatch Your Heart Desires

"The Diesel On Fadelite X Mad Dog Jones limited edition Diesel watch has a unique, eye-catching design, but the technology inside falls short of the space age look."

  • Eye-catching work of art

  • Second strap in the box

  • Limited edition packaging is attractive

  • Slim and light

  • Inferior

  • Ambient light sensor is bad

  • A stiff belt can be uncomfortable

People I speak of added shine to the Diesel On Fadelite X Mad Dog Jones Smartwatch. I was told that this is exactly the type of watch they would wear and that it really catches the eye. This type of compliment about a smartwatch is unusual, as most of the examples come in black and look quite technical with no significant visual flair to attract admiring glances.

The question is, what is my answer at this point? Unfortunately, it's not that easy to make a warm recommendation to buy one. Buying a WearOS smartwatch takes some thought. While the On Fadelite X Mad Dog Jones has the right look, there are other aspects that can't compete. However, this is still not the full story as these drawbacks haven't stopped me from wearing them.

Confused? Do not be so. This may just be the first smartwatch to buy with your heart, not your head.

design

I don't usually wear a watch to show the time. It's actually not uncommon for me to wear a watch that shows the time from a different time zone or that is not set for daylight saving time simply because I make a habit of checking my phone for the time. I wear watches that I think look brilliant as an accessory rather than a strict watch. Design and style are practical, and I'm willing to bet there are others who feel the same way.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Diesel On Fadelite offers the right design, regardless of the model chosen. In the standard form, the transparent straps and strong colors look fantastic, correspond to the Diesel brand and draw on summer trends. The Mad Dog Jones version swaps the summery-cool atmosphere for custom cyberpunk-style art, a transparent case and eye-catching rainbow-ionized aluminum metalwork. It's unlike any other smartwatch I've seen.

Mad Dog Jones (hereafter known as MDJ) is an artist who shares his work on Instagram and has worked closely with Diesel on the design of this special edition. The bracelet is decorated with custom art, he designed two special dials and the special packaging comes complete with a cloth that depicts a larger piece of his art. Inside there is also a second, fully transparent 22mm bracelet. MDJ's artwork is “under” the strap to give it a 3D look, and it also has a subtly embossed Diesel logo. It's brightly colored and eye-catching, and it's highly unlikely to lose its luster over time due to its manufacture.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The On Fadelite's lightweight 44mm nylon body is just 12mm thick and, along with the modest 1.2-inch screen measuring 390 x 390 pixels, fits most wrists. I've been wearing the watch for more than a week and I was hoping the bracelet would adjust to my wrist more, but it remains exceptionally stiff and if it is made too tight it becomes uncomfortable and hot. The material also grabs your wrist and the holder of the strap and is difficult to loosen.

This smartwatch is the pair of shoes that you really love that will pinch your toes. The Diesel On Fadelite X Mad Dog Jones is a bit uncomfortable, but it looks so damn good that I just didn't care. I wear it loosely, which helps and would never consider wearing it to exercise or sleep with a lot. Does this defeat the goal? I do not believe that. The Diesel On Fadelite is a fashion smartwatch that is designed so that it cannot be worn 24/7 in all situations.

Software and performance

The On Fadelite was announced at CES 2020. Delays meant the MDJ version is only now getting on the wrists, with the Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor inside. This is unfortunate as the Snapdragon Wear 4100 has since replaced it and promises a significant increase in performance that this watch will never see. Worse, the On Fadelite has 512MB of RAM rather than 1GB, which is usually considered a minimum for the old Wear operating system to work at an acceptable pace.

Exclusive MDJ dial named "Hungry". Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

In reality, the On Fadelite can handle those poor specs better than expected on paper, but it's not a rocket ship. Activating data-intensive features like Google Maps or Google Fit takes a few beats longer than desired and is often slow to respond when you wake up, especially if you're then prompted to show notifications. Sighs of frustration as the smartwatch ponders what to do before actually doing it are common.

Once it starts, the On Fadelite keeps a decent pace and handles the animated dials better than I expected as this was a serious problem with the Diesel On Full Guard 2.5. In terms of dials, the Vision Room dial designed by MDJ fits in perfectly with the imagery of the bracelet, but I still can't quickly figure out when to say. So add "List can't read the time on the preferred watch face" to the list of things that should keep me from wearing it.

What do I want? Google's Wear OS is controlled by swiping motions and the oversized rotating crown – a Diesel design feature – on the side of the watch, which is just the right size to scroll through the long lists that dominate the Wear OS design. What do i dislike Setup on an Android or iOS phone is irritatingly cumbersome and the ambient light sensor is poor. In the end, I just left the screen brightness at level 4 or 5, which obviously had an impact on the battery life.

Diesel on Fadelite Mad Dog Jones Smartwatch Review MDJ Weather "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn7.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/diesel-on-fadelite-mdj - weather-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAAABAOn Fadelite's weather app Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Diesel on Fadelite Mad Dog Jones Smartwatch Review MDJ steps "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn8.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/diesel-on-fadelite-mdj - steps-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAAABAAt Fadelite's Google Fit step count Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Diesel on Fadelite Mad Dog Jones Smartwatch Review MDJ notification "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn9.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/diesel-on-fadelite-mdj - notification-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAAABAIn the event of a Fadelite notification Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Diesel on Fadelite Mad Dog Jones Smartwatch Review MDJ Apps "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn1.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/diesel-on-fadelite-mdj - apps-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAAABAIn the Fadelite app menu Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Notification notifications have their own thoughts. Typically, alerts will appear multiple times, and often an old notification will appear on the screen when a new one comes in. Oddly enough, the notifications work far better connected to an iPhone than they do to an Android phone. However, many other features don't work on iOS, including Apple's own messages and associated Memoji. There's also an inability to respond to notifications on your wrist, and the Wear OS weather app doesn't work either.

All of this makes the On Fadelite sound a lot worse than it actually is, but many of the issues affect all Wear OS smartwatches. My expectations were low due to the processor and RAM configuration, but the On Fadelite turned out to be better than I feared and is a decent performer for casual, everyday use.

Fitness tracking and battery

Google Fit is still one of the easiest fitness trackers to use, yet it still provides plenty of data to ensure the satisfaction of hardcore users. I find it motivating to collect heart points during the day and appreciate the range of activities it can pursue. Everything is displayed in the attractive app on your phone, and everything works in the background, with limited interaction from me until I want to follow a workout. There's a heart rate sensor on the back, but it doesn't offer features like SpO2 monitoring or an electrocardiogram (EKG), which are quickly becoming common smartwatch functions.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The On Fadelite is not a watch that you want to wear to the gym or during particularly sweaty activities. Not because it's not capable enough, but because it's a lifestyle smartwatch, not a sports smartwatch. For example, the belt is not very flexible and does not wick away moisture like others that are specifically designed for exercise, making it uncomfortable. I don't want to knock or damage the pretty suitcase either. It's fine for general fitness tracking, and I've worn it for normal activities at home and outside. However, if you are looking for a smartwatch to wear to a marathon or on the ski slopes, there is a better choice.

You get one day from the On Fadelite's battery and nothing more. This also applies to the brightness set to level 4, which is a bit surprising, and to the actively switched on display. The charging process takes place with the standard plastic base that you get with all Wear OS smartwatches manufactured by Fossil. It takes an hour and 20 minutes to fully charge the battery. The On Fadelite has its own GPS, NFC for Google Pay, 4 GB of storage, and some pre-installed apps, including Spotify.

Price and availability

The Diesel On Fadelite X Mad Dog Jones is waiting in the wings and the price is still unknown, although the standard On Fadelite is already available for purchase. If you want an On Fadelite smartwatch and don't want to worry about the MDJ edition, the standard red, black, blue, and clear watch is available for $ 275 or £ 249 and is technically identical to the MDJ Model. All are available from Diesel's own online shop.

Our opinion

The Diesel On Fadelite X Mad Dog Jones is a beautifully presented, desirable, and highly unusual special edition smartwatch. I feel good wearing it, it attracts compliments, and it gives an essential identity to what is often a rather characterless technology on our wrists. However, the delays in release have not been kind as the underlying technology is out of date and performance suffers, which in turn affects longevity. Your head will tell you it's not a good buy, but once you see it your heart will tell you otherwise.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, the Apple Watch Series 5 or Series 6 are better alternatives if you have an iPhone. They work better, work more coherently with your iPhone, and have great health monitoring and a wealth of powerful apps. They are also highly customizable for that unique look. However, at $ 399, it's also more expensive.

If you own an Android phone, the $ 279 Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 and the $ 429 Galaxy Watch 3 have better software than the On Fadelite, and in the case of the Watch Active 2, the price is similar. You pay more for the 3 watch, but the method of control is excellent, it comes in two sizes and it looks nice too.

Can't find the Mad Dog Jones version of On Fadelite? The transparent body with ionized metal housing is available with the clear strap in the standard range, only without Mad Dog Jones' artwork on the strap, fabric or box. Would you like more health-oriented features and a stylish design? The $ 299 Withings ScanWatch is excellent.

How long it will take?

The unusual design of the On Fadelite X Mad Dog Jones ensures that it will look fresh for several years. It's swim-proof and water-resistant to 30 meters, and the nylon sheath should also be relatively durable. Google sends software updates to Wear OS regularly, but doesn't expect them to contain new features often. With regular use, the battery may deteriorate and give back less standby time. However, this shouldn't be a problem for at least two years.

Should you buy one?

At least that's what your head will tell you because there are far better smartwatches out there. However, the On Fadelite X Mad Dog Jones looks so darn awesome that it might not matter. I love that it exists, appreciate the synergy between Mad Dog Jones and Diesel, and still have it on my wrist even if it's not a brilliant smartwatch. This could be the first smartwatch that is more of a heart-to-heart purchase than a head.

Editor's recommendations




19 Aug
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 Review: The Other Smartwatch to Buy

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 review case

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 Review: The (Different) Smartwatch You Should Buy

"The Galaxy Watch 3 is the smartwatch you can buy if you have an Android phone."

  • Stylish, traditional watch look

  • Attractive, reliable software

  • The brilliant rotating bezel supports the control system

  • Comprehensive health monitoring functions

  • Solid battery life

  • Questionable fitness tracking accuracy

  • Slow charging of the battery

If you own an Android phone, which smartwatch should you buy? The answer isn't as obvious as you might think. You can't use the shoe-in option, the iOS-based Apple Watch, which is the undisputed top of our smartwatch recommendation list.

Samsung hopes the new Galaxy Watch 3 can take on the role. After all, it shares many of the appealing aspects of the Apple Watch. It comes in two sizes and has a good design, strong software and a unique control system.

That makes it an easy recommendation for Android phone owners – with one caveat. You have to be happy to spend a pretty large sum to get one, weaknesses and all.

design

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I wore the 45mm Galaxy Watch 3 which has a chronograph style and is a little more masculine than the 41mm model. It also has softer design features for a less sporty look. It weighs 53 grams (0.12 pounds) and is 11 mm (0.43 inches) thick. Due to its overall size, I initially chose the 41mm version as my preferred model, but the larger of the two models has proven to be handy and has established itself as a comfortable companion.

The roundness of the Galaxy Watch 3 makes it less obvious that you're wearing a smartwatch, and I really like that. The 1.4-inch Super AMOLED screen has a resolution of 360 x 360 pixels and is sharp and very colorful. You can choose an always-on screen that, unlike most WearOS watches, doesn't minimize the watch face much. It lowers the brightness and removes all animation like a second hand, but the overall design stays on the screen. This makes it look like a normal watch.

The party piece of the watch is the bezel, which physically rotates to move through the software.

Made of stainless steel, the Galaxy Watch 3 has Gorilla Glass DX above the screen and also looks like a glass showcase. Two buttons are separated by a protective piece on the right side of the housing, with the upper one being used to secure a step in the menu and the lower one being used for the app menu. Long press the top button activates Samsung Pay, and long press the bottom button brings up the Bixby voice assistant. If you look closely at the top button you'll see the words "Galaxy Watch" engraved on it, which is a really nice touch.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The watch's party piece is the bezel as it physically rotates to move through the software rather than having to swipe the screen or play around with a rotating crown.

Not only is this convenient and intuitive, but it also doesn't obstruct your view of the screen when you interact with the software. I really like the neatly dampened rotary motion and the quiet clicks when moving. The software's response is also very quick, so you can turn it one way or another without the clock getting stuck. In reality, you should be using it with care and precision, which shows how high-quality the action feels. If you're not touching the screen, less greasy prints are printed on it, a nice bonus, and the bezel's subtle texture makes it rotate naturally.

My test model has a black leather strap with white stitching that softens shortly after it is put on and is attached to the case with 22mm quick release pins. Switching to almost any other strap is easy, but the Galaxy Watch doesn't offer the same third-party support as the Apple Watch, which means you have to turn to traditional watch accessory manufacturers. That's not a problem, but not as new to newbies as buying custom-made Apple Watch straps.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Like all all-round smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch 3 is closely based on a traditional watch design, so you may not be immediately recognized as a “smartwatch wearer” if you don't want to. However, this comes with a certain degree of anonymity.

The uniqueness of the Galaxy Watch 3 is based more on its ease of use than its looks. I appreciate its presence on my wrist, but Samsung still hasn't found a way to make my heart beat faster when I look at it.

software

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Samsung uses its own Tizen software for the Galaxy Watch 3 and not Google's WearOS for Fossil, Mobvoi or Motorola smartwatches. While WearOS is better than it was, it can be frustrating to use. Tizen on the Galaxy Watch is nifty and mature and much closer to WatchOS than WearOS in terms of usability, but still has some weaknesses of its own, including the complete departure from Google Apps.

First the good things. I'll keep going but the rotating bezel is a work of genius. It's simple and cleverly implemented, and it's key to the Galaxy Watch's quality of life. 3. Turn left to view your notifications. Turn right to view fitness data, workouts, weather, shortcut buttons, and more. These widgets can easily be customized so that they remain relevant to you.

To its disadvantage, the Galaxy Watch 3 uses Bixby for voice control and not the Google Assistant.

Samsung does an excellent job of displaying data on the Watch 3's small screen. The text is clear, large, and legible in sunlight. Because the widget array can be personalized, you rarely need to go to the main menu of the app. Find what you want quickly. It's all very pretty too, with lots of pictures and graphics, right down to large profile pictures to be used with WhatsApp messages and bold colors to distinguish modes, icons, and menu options. It's fun and friendly without being cheap and off-putting. I like the choice of watch faces as there are hundreds available on the Galaxy Store if you don't like the pre-installed Samsung watch faces.

The feel is strong and noticeable, but you have to raise your wrist significantly for the notification to appear on the screen, which can be annoying. Notifications allow you to interact with predefined responses or emoji, speech or a small alphanumeric keyboard. The keyboard is a bit fiddly, but voice control is surprisingly accurate when dictating answers.

To its disadvantage, the Galaxy Watch 3 uses Bixby for voice control and not the Google Assistant. Bixby is in no hurry, and even the command "Hey, Bixby" means pausing for several seconds while he decides whether to listen or not. This mostly makes it useless and nowhere near as good as the Google Assistant on a wearable.

The lack of Google Apps is a problem. You will miss Google Maps the most. I find maps on my wrist helpful in areas I am unfamiliar with as I don't have to stare at my phone like a tourist, but the Galaxy Watch 3 has no pre-installed map option at all. The decent Here Maps app is available from the Galaxy Store, but Google Maps isn't. Samsung brings you into your own ecosystem with the Galaxy Watch. For example, you use Samsung Health instead of Google Fit and Samsung Pay instead of Google Pay.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I used the Galaxy Watch 3 connected to the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and it worked fine. It's easy and quick to set up, it connects and reconnects with ease even if you turn the watch off overnight, and it even displays a small haptic reminder when you are out of range of your phone. If you're using another Android phone or iPhone, you'll need to install the Samsung Galaxy Wear app in order to use the watch.

The big thing for me is that Tizen isn't annoying on the Galaxy Watch 3, which WearOS almost always is. After the notifications are sorted out during setup, it just sits back, gets on with its work, and isn't irritating when I have to interact with it. This is part of the success of the Apple Watch, and it's great to see it replicated for Android phone owners.

health and fitness

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Galaxy Watch 3 has all the usual fitness monitoring tools on board as well as a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, automatic fall detection, VO2 max data and blood oxygen monitoring. Like the rest of the software information, it is displayed in a colorful, easy-to-read manner. It has meaningful reminders to keep you moving, and even little stretch routines that are easy and fun to follow – or shut up if you don't have time.

The automatic workout tracking is a little overzealous, however. It occurred while I was vacuuming and painting a door. The Galaxy Watch 3 will now track your sleep when you wear it overnight. The results were different from my Withings Sleep Analyzer – where the Withings tracked deep sleep, the Watch 3 seemed to classify it as light sleep instead.

The Galaxy Watch 3 covers everything I want in a fitness tracker, but there are some accuracy concerns.

Outside of the basics, it's not particularly informative. Personally, since I don't find wearing a watch very comfortable while I sleep, the dates didn't inspire me to wear it often. Heart rate is not measured at night, so battery life is not significantly affected. About 6% was used during seven hours of rest, which means that the watch is having trouble getting through a second day of heavy use without charging.

The data is synced with the Samsung Health app on your phone. In addition to basic information such as number of steps, calorie consumption and training data, you can also add food and water intake there. There is also a stress measurement tool that is linked to a breathing exercise program. The app is informative and attractive, and it has some basic explanations as to why you want to track features like stress.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 evaluation training app "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn8.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/samsung-galaxy-watch-3-workout- app-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEASamsung Health is used for health and fitness tracking Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 rating sleep app "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn9.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/samsung-galaxy-watch-3-sleep- app -640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAThe Galaxy Watch 3 supports sleep tracking Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 evaluation blood oxygen "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn1.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/samsung-galaxy-watch-3-blood- oxygen- 640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAThe Galaxy Watch 3's blood oxygen measurement Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 rating stress "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/samsung-galaxy-watch-3-stress-640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7The voltage meter of the Galaxy Watch 3 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Galaxy Watch 3 covers everything I want in an everyday fitness tracker, but there are some accuracy concerns. I noticed that some of the data points appeared to be on the low side compared to what I normally see, and I wore them next to the Apple Watch for comparison. During a set period of time, there were big differences in the steps taken, with the Apple Watch 940 and Galaxy Watch 3 recording just 380 over an hour of comparison.

Wearing both for a simple workout also made a massive difference in calorie consumption. The Galaxy Watch estimated 283 calories for a 64-minute session, which seemed low with an average heart rate of 133 beats per minute (beats per minute). The Apple Watch delivered an average heart rate of 127 beats per minute for the same session and an active calorie consumption of 471. However, the resting heart rates were identical.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

While neither may be absolutely correct, the Apple Watch results always match other wearables I've tested. Cause for concern? It's not a medical device, so not really. I'm also using a pre-release version of Galaxy Watch 3, so a software update may arrive before it starts to optimize the data collection algorithms.

Unfortunately, if you need the Galaxy Watch 3 for EKG or blood pressure monitoring, these functions are not yet available. Both must be approved by the local authorities before starting. Although the Food and Drug Administration has now approved the Galaxy Watch 3's EKG feature, it has not yet been enabled in my review model.

battery

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

With moderate use. The battery of the Galaxy Watch 3 lasts two working days if it is switched off overnight with the display active. Introduce GPS, continuous heart rate and stress level tracking, and additional fitness tracking, and that will drop to a little over a day. As I tracked my sleep, the battery dropped from 48% when I went to bed to 42% in the morning.

I find the battery life of the Galaxy Watch 3 acceptable, but certainly not desirable. It improves on many WearOS watches, which often can't make two full days even with light use, but the charging process is very slow. The magnetic puck sticks pretty loosely to the back of the watch 3, and regardless of which charging block I used, the charging time from 5% to 100% was at least two hours and 15 minutes.

I wore the Galaxy Watch 3 next to the Apple Watch for a few days to compare the battery consumption. Between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., the Galaxy Watch 3's battery dropped to 66%, while the Apple Watch's battery dropped to 75%. I turned the clocks off at midnight and back on at 9 a.m., then followed an hour's workout, and then continued using it all day. The Galaxy Watch 3 showed 5% at 10 p.m. while the Apple Watch had 10%. When it hit 15% and 5%, the Galaxy Watch 3 suggested turning on a battery saver that only shows the time to extend usage.

Using the Galaxy Watch 3 with other Android phones and the iPhone

The Galaxy Wearable app, which is required to connect the Galaxy Watch 3 to your phone, is available on Google Play and the iOS App Store. I tested it on a Samsung phone, but what is the experience like with a third-party device? I'll be updating this over the next few weeks as I use the Watch 3 with different phones. I will add the results to this story

Price and availability

The Galaxy Watch 3 is $ 399 for the 41mm WiFi model or $ 429 for the 45mm WiFi model. Samsung is also making a 41mm 4G LTE version for $ 449 and a 45mm 4G LTE version for $ 479. Both are compatible with all major US airlines. All Wi-Fi models will be released on August 20th and 4G models in September.

In the UK, the 41mm WiFi model is £ 399 and the 45mm WiFi clock is £ 419. The 4G LTE units cost £ 439 for the 41mm model and £ 459 for the 45mm model.

Our opinion

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 isn't perfect, but it's the best smartwatch you can buy if you own an Android phone. The software is reliable and pretty to look at, the control system is an absolute winner, there is a choice for small and large wrists, and it has extensive health features too.

However, they pay a heavy price. It's twice what you'd spend on some WearOS watches, and since smartwatches are more of a nice addition than an essential one, you really have to be sold for the concept to spend that much. Apart from the Apple Watch, the Galaxy Watch 3 is the only modern smartwatch that I still like to wear after the reporting period. I think that's a strong recommendation.

Is there a better alternative?

The Galaxy Watch 3's biggest rival is the Galaxy Watch Active 2. It's cheaper and has the same software but a touch-based version of the rotating bezel and a less interesting design. It's a good buy if you don't have the budget for the Galaxy Watch 3. If you want WearOS for Google's apps, the Fossil Gen 5 and Moto 360 are good. The Mobvoi TicWatch C2 Plus is still cheaper. Keep in mind that WearOS isn't as sophisticated or as easy to use as Tizen.

If you own an iPhone, there's nothing here to turn you off of the Apple Watch. Even if the experience is good, only the Apple Watch can be integrated with Apple's messaging system and apps. If you have an iPhone, you should still buy the Apple Watch.

How long it will take?

The Galaxy Watch 3 has IP68 water and dust resistance and a toughness rating of MIL-STD-810G, which means it should be suitable for everyday use and in most situations. The design shouldn't age badly. If Samsung continues to support the app, the Galaxy Watch 3 will last as long as you have your current phone.

Should you buy it?

Yes. It's expensive, but if you're connecting to an Android phone, it's worth it.

Editor's recommendations




30 May
Blog

Moto 360 Smartwatch Review: A Classic, Reimagined

Moto 360 2020 smartwatch review front

Motorola Moto 360 2nd Gen. Men's 42mm smartwatch, black with black leather

“The Moto 360 exudes style and quality, ignores unnecessary software distractions and focuses on simplicity. It is better in every way. "

  • High quality workmanship and materials

  • Two straps in the box

  • Design and size fit many wrists

  • Solid performance (for WearOS)

  • WearOS still lags behind WatchOS

  • No way to take calls

This is the Moto 360 smartwatch … except that it is not made by Motorola and is not a continuation of the Moto 360 that took the smartwatch world by storm when it was introduced in 2015.

Instead, it is the result of a license agreement between Motorola and a company called eBuyNow that manufactures and sells the new Moto 360.

Although it is important to know, you shouldn't be too concerned with branding. This is a spiritual successor. If you've passed this smartwatch because of the cost, the company has made a very welcome change that will help you appreciate its charm.

design

When I attended the early launch of the Moto 360 in late 2019, the company introduced it as a luxury watch, emphasizing the 3mm thick stainless steel body, the diamond-like coating (DLC) of the black model, and the physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating of the rose gold Model as the reason for charging $ 350. Every watch nerd knows that DLC and PVD can often be found on high-end watches, and every smartwatch fan will also welcome a stainless steel case.

Moto 360 dialAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

Aside from the fact that $ 350 was too much money in the crowded smartwatch market, even with these materials. Now, a few months later, the company seems to be agreeing. The price was lowered to $ 300. This makes it much more tempting.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I think the Moto 360 is a perfect design, material and style for smartwatches in everyday life. The DLC or PVD coatings make the stainless steel body more durable. The choice between rose gold, black or gray as well as the reasonable size of 42 mm and the weight of 52 grams fit every wrist. The round face, synonymous with the name 360, is flat and the bezel is not raised in any way, making swiping gestures always comfortable.

Moto 360 sideshiftAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

I also appreciate the small stylistic details. The top pusher is structured to facilitate turning and scrolling through the watch's menu system, while the Motorola "wing" symbol on the bracelet clasp is very classy. On the subject of bracelets, you get two in the box – a comfortable silicone bracelet and a leather strap in a contrasting color. The quick release pins mean that they also changed in a moment.

The Moto 360 doesn't make a bold statement on the wrist, except that it looks like a high quality, stylish watch. This is probably the best statement for a smartwatch. When you get the black model, it's as stealthy as you want it to be. I really like it.

Software and screen

There is no notorious flat tire screen here, as the 1.2-inch AMOLED display of the new Moto 360 is perfectly round. The resolution of 390 x 390 pixels ensures a lot of clarity and is bright enough to be seen outdoors in sunlight.

It may be a round screen, but there's a serious black bezel between the display and case, which affects the otherwise great design. I have no problem with the Moto 360's screen, which matches the look, color and brightness of other WearOS watches.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The watch uses Google's WearOS software and is installed here without additional apps. Most fashion brands offer fun extras or small improvements that fit brand messaging, and watch companies like Tag Heuer offer well-designed tools that appeal to brand loyalty. The Moto 360 appeals to those who like simplicity.

Simple is best when it comes to WearOS smartwatches. Adding dozens of features, apps, or related nonsense will only water down what works best on your wrist – notifications, fitness tracking, music controls, cards, and, if done correctly, even calls. Get it right along with the style and it's a potential winner. The lack of extras on the Moto 360 is an advantage rather than a disadvantage.

However, this does not mean that WearOS is a pleasure. Setup is still far too lengthy, and notification support depends on the phone you're using. Connected to a Galaxy S20 Ultra, it delivered annoying notifications several times, while with a little luck it delivered the bare essentials on the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro.

Performance is also not particularly good, especially if you find that trying to update the software or use GPS, third-party apps can be similarly cumbersome to collect data from. I also don't understand why the rotary valve is used to navigate menus because it doesn't work across the clock.

Google Fit is one of the best features in WearOS. A current visual update made Google Fit more modern and readable. Most activities are tracked, and daily goals can be customized based on your needs.

I like the Moto 360 dials because they have different complications, which means I can see my step count or heart points at a glance. It takes seconds to start a workout on the watch itself. As soon as you are finished, the data is clearly displayed in the Google Fit app on your phone. It's everything fitness tracking needs the most, and it also works well with the Moto 360's heart rate sensor.

Although WearOS is still lagging behind Apple's WatchOS, it's tolerable on the Moto 360. Unfortunately, there is still no way to take calls.

Battery, connectivity and performance

WearOS 'performance is not unique. The watch has a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset with 1 GB RAM and 8 GB internal storage as well as a 355 mAh battery, which is also equipped with quick charge. It also has NFC for contactless payment, GPS and various sensors. It's identical to watches like the Fossil Gen 5 and fast enough that I was never frustrated to use them.

Moto 360 heart rate sensorAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

The battery lasts an entire working day and well into the evening, but that's all – when continuous heart rate measurement is active. You won't have a second day of it, but since it only takes an hour to recharge, this isn't too much of a problem.

It attaches magnetically to a proprietary charging base that came with the watch, which keeps it securely in place better than most similar systems. This is important as it will not come loose and will no longer be charged when tapped.

I used Moto 360 connected to Android phones and had no problem keeping the watch connected. While WearOS watches connect to iOS, some features don't work. These include the fact that iMessage notifications cannot be displayed, a less helpful Google Assistant and fewer options for interacting directly with notifications on your wrist. This is one of the reasons why we recommend iPhone owners to buy an Apple Watch instead of a Smartwatch with WearOS.

Price, guarantee and availability

The Moto 360 is now priced at $ 299 or £ 299. It is available directly from the Moto 360 online shop or from stores such as Amazon. It is covered by a one-year replacement warranty and a two-year hardware warranty if it should fail.

Our opinion

You will be proud to wear the Moto 360 on your wrist. It is stylish and well made, comes with a selection of straps and WearOS is manageable every day. No frills are required and instead focus on the essentials: good design, desirable materials, a decent ownership experience and a solid battery life.

Is there a better alternative?

The Moto 360 is a good buy if you want a WearOS smartwatch and is complemented by the excellent Fossil Gen 5 for $ 299. Your choice between the two depends on your personal preferences. They are both attractive watches with many functions.

We also recommend checking out the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 for $ 279, which Samsung's Tizen software uses if you have an Android phone and want a smartwatch. Both have strong performance and are a bit easier to use in the case of the Watch Active 2 and have excellent fitness tracking features.

If you have an iPhone, we recommend purchasing an Apple Watch Series 5 for $ 399. Not only do you get better software and great fitness tracking, you get great hardware, a haptic engine that's the best in the business, and access to a huge range of straps and accessories.

How long it will take?

The Moto 360 is made of stainless steel and is available with either a DLC or PVD coating, a plastic floor and Gorilla Glass 3 above the screen and a water resistance of 30 meters. It should be relatively hard-wearing if it is treated well. WearOS receives small, sporadic updates, but has not received a major update for some time. The weakest link here is the battery, but even under heavy use it should be fine for at least two years.

Should you buy one?

Yes. Now that the price has dropped to $ 299, the Moto 360 offers much better value than before.

Editor's recommendations




28 Mar
Blog

Suunto 7 Smartwatch Review: Wider Appeal, But Still Hardcore

Suunto 7 smartwatch review garbage bag

Suunto 7 Review: Still a hardcore fitness watch

"The Suunto 7 offers good battery life and performance, but it's still not the best daily driver."

  • Comprehensive fitness functions

  • Two days of battery life

  • Smooth performance and software

  • Durable, water-repellent housing

  • Annoying buttons can be frustrating

  • Expensive compared to the competition

  • Best for dedicated fitness fans

Suunto, a Finnish activity brand, has a serious following among hardcore fitness fanatics. With the new Suunto 7 Smartwatch, the company is now throwing a worn training shoe into the lucrative sports lifestyle world. Suunto 7 is the company's first smartwatch with Google's WearOS platform, which increases its appeal. While the design still seduces the brand's core fans, it's less sporty than some of Suunto's other GPS fitness watches and trackers.

design

The Suunto 7 is similar to the Suunto 9 from 2018. It has a glass fiber reinforced polyamide housing, a stainless steel bezel and a wonderfully soft and flexible silicone bracelet. The case has four buttons, each made of the same stainless steel as the bezel and large enough to be accessed even when wearing gloves.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

At 50 mm, the watch is large on all wrists. At only 70 grams, however, it is not difficult. It is lighter than the Suunto 9 and slightly heavier than the stainless steel Apple Watch Series 5. A 1.4-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels is located under a piece of gorilla glass. All of this makes the Suunto 7 a tough animal. The watch is shockproof, waterproof up to 50 meters and the gorilla glass keeps the screen free from scratches. Suunto is pushing the lifestyle aspect, but don't worry that the watch has softened because the Suunto 7 feels very durable.

Is it fashionable? This is the hardest part for Suunto to get it right. GPS watches have been built for ages, but none of them are watches I want to wear every day. The Suunto 7 should be different. Did I want it on my wrist when I wasn't exercising?

Yes I have. My test watch came in a combination of white and burgundy that gives spring a touch of spring. The light weight makes up for the overall size, but since it's quite thick, it doesn't fit easily under the sleeves of the shirt.

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suunto 7 smartwatch review discarded home button "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/suunto-7-home-button-640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

The clunkiness highlights it as a sports watch. Many of Fossil's WearOS watches are slimmer, and at 15.6 mm, the thick Suunto 7 is 5 mm thicker than the Apple Watch Series 5. However, it doesn't try to be an alternative to a Michael Kors or Kate Spade watch be. It tries to be more useful and tasty when you wear it every day. I think it works.

Software and usage

This is the first time Suunto has been using Google's WearOS for a smartwatch. Previously, it used its own fitness software. The implementation is solid. It's quick and smooth, which is rarely said about WearOS smartwatches and doesn't get frustrating with normal use.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

Suunto has four buttons on the case that you can play with, which is not necessary. The button instead of the crown and the one below it are customizable. By default, they are linked to music playback or a timer. The button above the crown opens Suunto's fitness app and the button on the opposite side of the case is the menu or back button.

This is a frustrating setup. The menu button is the one you press most often. However, it is the most difficult to reach and you cannot assign the menu button to the normal position on the crown. Even worse, there is no rotating crown to make scrolling through WearOS 'many menus and screens a little more comfortable. It's the touchscreen or nothing.

Otherwise WearOS works as expected. Swipe up for notifications, left for Google Fit, right for Google Assistant, and down for the control panel. There is a small selection of watch faces, most of which are not very inspiring, except for one that is based on Suunto's Heat Map running route planner. This shows popular hiking trails nearby and looks cool, provided there are activities nearby. It can be set to display a variety of other activities.

suunto 7 Smartwatch Review discarded simple face "class =" m carousel - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/suunto-7-simple-face-640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Suunto original dial Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

suunto 7 smartwatch review discarded rose face "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn6.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/suunto-7-rose-face-640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Suunto Rose dial Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

suunto 7 smartwatch review destroyed heat face "class =" m carousel - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn7.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/suunto-7-heat-face-640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Suunto heatmap dial Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

suunto 7 Smartwatch Review discarded classic face "class =" m carousel - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn8.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/suunto-7-classic-face-640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Suunto Marine dial Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

Some problems that WearOS have in common can be found here. Notifications are a pain, or more precisely, notifications are a pain. I like the way you can interact with information coming from your phone, including predefined replies to messages, the ability to read and reply to emails, and the ability to see information quickly at a glance . But WearOS kept reminding me of the same notifications. This continues until they are released on the phone or the list on the watch is cleared.

I prefer to run the watch without additional apps, which improves performance. However, they can be installed through Google Play. Spotify is a popular download that works well on WearOS and provides complete control over your music. It is fast enough when the watch is connected to Wi-Fi, but it slows down somewhat when it is connected to your phone. It's representative of all apps on WearOS – it's functional, but not amazing.

Suunto fitness app

Suunto's fitness app is accessed using the button in the top right corner and contains more than 70 different sport tracking modes. Some options include hiking, running, cycling, swimming, boxing, and horse riding. It connects to Google Fit, Strava and Endomondo and has its own GPS and map system. The maps show popular and less popular hiking, running and hiking routes.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

Unfortunately, this is difficult to test if the current advice is to stay indoors. Still, I managed to take a couple of visits to the gym and take a walk before that happened.

The fitness app is easy to use. Just pick your sport and swipe to start. I instinctively wanted to use the touchscreen to stop training at the end, but that can only be done with the physical buttons. Too bad there is no option for either.

The data displayed is comprehensive and shows heart rate and heart rate zones, elapsed time, calories, peak training effect (PTE), EPOC data (excess oxygen consumption after training) and recovery time. While walking, you have access to distance, pace, cadence, altitude, descent and lap data. It is comprehensive, clearly displayed on the screen and relatively accessible to the novice. This is important because too much information will make Suunto 7 less attractive to non-hardcore fitness fans.

suunto 7 smartwatch review devastated heatmap "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn9.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/suunto-7-heat-map-640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

suunto 7 smartwatch review discarded app "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn1.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/suunto-7-app-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

suunto 7 smartwatch review discarded sports "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/suunto-7-sports-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

However, much of what makes the Suunto platform so appealing will only appeal to people who are deeply into fitness. Exploring local routes is most useful for people who are not at home but still want to get out and run, while the social aspect connects you to other Suunto owners who struggle themselves. Some of the openly shared activities in the Suunto app go far beyond my admittedly modest athletic ability, which kept me from sharing my weak 50-minute walk on site. The Suunto 7 may be less hardcore than previous Suunto watches, but the people who use the platform regularly have not changed.

Battery and power

Given the poor lifespan of the WearOS battery, the Suunto 7 battery is surprisingly solid. During a workout of approximately one hour a day, the Suunto 7's 450 mAh battery lost approximately 50% of its capacity with the surrounding screen turned on. That said, it's realistic to use the watch for two days. This is easy to achieve by turning off the constantly on screen.

Suunto has done this through some interesting technical advances that Qualcomm has worked on. An energy-saving co-processor now takes care of the fitness tracking, relieves the Snapdragon 3100 platform and reduces power consumption.

According to Suunto, the watch lasts an entire working day and still records a three-hour training session on a single charge. That seems achievable. The battery is charged via a plastic magnetic base, which is attached to the back of the watch. It's proprietary, so don't lose it.

The overall performance is excellent. The close relationship Suunto has with Qualcomm has paid off, as the smartwatch software is smooth and fluid even when using apps like Spotify. The OLED screen is colorful, but it's no different from other smartwatch devices I've used recently. Daily use of Suunto 7 is a comfortable, effortless, and frustration-free experience that can be a rarity for WearOS watches.

Price, guarantee and availability

Suunto 7 is now available from Suunto and other retailers. It costs $ 500 or £ 430 in the UK and is available in five color schemes. There is a two-year warranty, but only one year for the battery and bracelet.

Our opinion

Suunto 7 is successful in two areas where other WearOS watches often fail. It offers a usable battery life of two days and good overall performance, but doesn't manage to become a people-friendly lifestyle smartwatch. This is because the design is not universally appealing and the hyperfocused sports functions are irrelevant for the occasional fitness fan. The Suunto 7 isn't a niche like the brand's usual watches, but it's still a niche, and that has led to a slight lack of focus.

Is there a better alternative?

It doesn't happen often that an Apple product looks like a bargain, but the Apple Watch Series 5 for $ 400 can be bought for $ 100 less than the Suunto 7 and is still the best smartwatch you have able to buy. It will easily serve both casual and dedicated fitness fanatics. If you have an iPhone, this is the smart watch you want.

What if you want a lifestyle watch with sporting skills and not the other way around and don't have an iPhone? The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is excellent. WearOS is not executed, but Samsung's own Tizen software is used. Fitness tracking is easy to use and comprehensive enough for most users. I also like the Huawei Health platform connected to the Huawei Watch GT2 or Honor's MagicWatch 2. Both cost less than half the Suunto 7 and are aimed at those who want casual fitness tracking.

Wearing the Suunto 7 reminded me of the Casio WSD-F30. It's big and brave, has great battery life, and comes from a brand with a built-in hardcore crowd. It even costs the same at $ 500 and is worth a look because of its more attractive design and exclusive apps for certain outdoor activities.

How long it will take?

Smartwatches do not have to be replaced as often as your phone. The technology doesn't change quickly, so you can easily use it for several years before you even think about swapping it for another. Even then, it's more about design than functionality.

Suunto 7 is tough too. The body is shock and water repellent and made of strong material. The screen is covered with gorilla glass to protect it from scratches. I accidentally hit mine against various objects and it shows no signs of use.

Should you buy one?

No. If you crave a Suunto Sport smartwatch that you can wear every day, Suunto 7 might meet your needs. However, if you own an iPhone, don't live or breathe fitness, and have never heard of Suunto, Apple Watch Series 5 has everything you could want and more – for less.

Editor's recommendations




24 Feb
Blog

Emporio Armani Smartwatch 3 Review

emporio armani smartwatch 3 review ea front

Emporio Armani Smartwatch 3

"The few positive aspects of the Emporio Armani Smartwatch 3 cannot convince us to pay the high price."

  • Ideal for casual fitness tracking

  • Decent EA watch face collection

  • Heart rate tracking, GPS and NFC on board

  • Mundanes design

  • Tired WearOS software

  • Price higher than the competition

  • Uncomfortable rubber strap

There was a time when wearing an Armani suit was pretty much all you needed to make the right impression. Intelligent, refined and noble quality has never been a problem. Unfortunately, since Emporio Armani published his name on Touchscreen-Wear OS smartwatches, he has not been able to capture the same cache. I've worn the latest Emporio Armani Smartwatch 3, and although there's nothing fundamentally wrong with it, I've never loved wearing it the way I would with an Armani suit and in a world full of designer wear OS -Watches with similar mediocre performance, that's a problem.

design

Before we look at the look and materials of the watch, its name is the beginning of the problem. If you want to buy this model, you should look for the Emporio Armani Smartwatch 3 or ART5024 as shown in our pictures. This number three and the generic name are the only things that differentiate it from previous EA smartwatches. Just give it a real name, for heaven's sake. It could only make it more memorable, something that it is not currently.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

We come to the topic of design to be unforgettable. It's a bit of "Smartwatch 101". The round body has some studs, a crown, two buttons, and a circular touchscreen, all of which are placed in the areas you expect. There is nothing that says as sophisticated as you can expect from the brand. There is no stylistic boom that will get someone to take a second look. The hard-wearing rubber strap is very long and very easy to grip, and the zookeeper often caught my wrist hair when I tried to move it over the wristband because it grips like an overzealous limpet. I would recommend choosing one of the metal or leather alternatives over this annoying rubber strap.

On a positive note, there are some pretty colors that breathe life into it, with the burnt orange of my device and an option for metallic blue, both of which look great. Replace the strap or buy the model with the stainless steel bracelet first, and the look will improve but not significantly. The aluminum case is slim and light, making it easy to carry regardless of your outfit. The 44mm case is quite large; It was clearly designed for men. On my test device, an annoying scratch appeared on the edge of the screen, which affected its appearance.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

Let me be clear. The Emporio Armani Smartwatch 3 is not ugly at all, it is only understated to boredom and has no identity. The bracelet consists of two straight pieces of rubber, the buttons have no texture and the bezel is a black, slightly angled edge – and nobody looks at it twice. There's nothing obvious that connects it to the desirable brand Emporio Armani unless you look closely at the crown to see the engraved logo. In a few months, ask me to remember what the watch looked like and I will respond. "What watch?"

Software and performance

The Smartwatch 3 has Google's built-in Wear operating system, which is supported by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100 platform, as well as a heart rate sensor, NFC and a microphone / speaker combination for making calls on the watch. The Wear OS has not changed significantly in recent years and feels tired while the control system is bleak and out of date. This is why the design of a Wear OS smartwatch is so important. It is really the only thing that can distinguish it. Wear OS is not particularly good. So buying decisions depend on how good a watch looks and with options like Diesel On Fadelite and On Axial (or Misfit Vapor X, Michael Kors Access, Fossil Gen 5 – the list goes on, really) Emporio Armani's efforts are easy to ignore.

The only Armani-specific software feature is the collection of dials that are diverse and well designed. There's an option for everyone here, with classic styles, modern digital options, and some EA-centered versions. Even if you don't like them, there are many more in the Google Play Store. Third-party apps are also running on the watch, but too many are installed at your own risk, as this noticeably slows performance. Oddly enough, you have to install Google Maps and Google Play Music yourself as they are not preinstalled, although they are useful parts of the smartwatch experience.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

Initial setup is also a tedious process, with multiple updates and far too many passwords and conditions to apply. It's a 30 minute session to make it work. The navigation takes place with swiping and tapping. The response time is average, but never nearly as fast as with the Apple Watch. At least the 1.3-inch AMOLED screen is attractive and pleasant to look at. The EA Smartwatch 3 has a rotating crown that makes life a little easier, especially when scrolling through the notification screen or when adjusting the music volume.

Notifications are displayed in a long list. They are interactive, meaning you can reply to messages, emails and tweets, either with predefined replies or with your voice. However, sometimes I got the same email notifications over and over again, which was frustrating and detracting from the usefulness of the watch. This additional burden of notifications is in direct contradiction to one of the main reasons that smartwatches try to minimize. Unfortunately, I have had the same experience with many other Wear OS smartwatches. So it's more of a software problem than a problem that only occurs with this model.

It's not all bad. The cards that are swiped to the left and that show Google Fit, the weather, and your calendar are useful. Sometimes it is convenient to respond to notifications on the watch. Google Pay is also on board for contactless payments. The special surrounding dials increase the usefulness and aesthetics of the watch as you can always see the time on the screen. The performance is sufficient for pre-installed apps and general use. Overall, it's significantly better than older Wear OS watches, with only occasional slowdowns that are irritating. But fairly average for the current generation of Wear OS devices, and still miles away from the standard fluidity and support seen on the Apple Watch.

Fitness tracking

Google Fit is the proprietary platform for health and fitness tracking. However, since Wear OS can run other apps, you can add Strava, Runkeeper, Endomundo and some others for certain sports. However, Google Fit is a great workout companion for my needs. It shows all the metrics I want – steps, heart rate, calorie consumption and intensity – in a clear and precise way. It is also easy to use and accessible. In conjunction with the lower button on the Armani watch, you can use the menu that appears to measure your heart rate or start a workout. Google Fit also has a guided breathing feature that lasts two minutes and is based on mindfulness and even breathing techniques.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

Smartwatches are useful as a fitness tracker and training partner. The design of the Smartwatch 3 still looks at home in the gym, it hasn't been excessively sweaty under the strap, and the slim body means the risk of bumping into devices is low. Google Fit is great software that works smoothly and effectively on the Smartwatch 3, but is still best suited for the occasional fitness fan.

Battery life

The latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100 platform is more efficient than the old Snapdragon 2100 platform. Unfortunately, this doesn't mean that you can reach two days on a single charge without drastically reducing functionality. A single day is appropriate with moderate use. This includes about an hour of fitness and heart rate measurement. The charging process takes place via a plastic magnetic base. It takes an hour to fully charge the battery.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

The Smartwatch 3 has a choice of battery extension modes with certain features disabled to ensure the battery lasts longer. Advanced mode turns off the permanently on display, sound, WiFi, heart rate tracking, tilt and touch to wake up the screen, and voice control, and limits the Bluetooth connection between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. If these measures are taken, the watch will last for approximately 48 hours when fully charged. A time-only mode does exactly what it says – no notifications or anything – but it will stretch the battery for about a week.

But of course, such modes reduce the sense of a smartwatch, especially the way it works. I was only able to see the time in advanced mode when I pressed the side button, and can only see the time in time mode. If you want both "intelligent" and "observing" functions, they must be put into normal mode and charged daily. What I like is that the watch automatically goes into a power saving mode when the battery is empty, so I can see the time even when the smart functions are turned off. Practically at the end of a long day.

Price and availability

The Emporio Armani Smartwatch 3 or ART5024 in this color scheme is now available for $ 395 or £ 370 – the same price as an entry-level Apple Watch. It's also more than $ 100 more than several other WearOS smartwatches with the same specs and features.

Our opinion

The Emporio Armani Smartwatch 3 is as general as the name suggests. Although it bears the name Armani, it lacks flair and stylistic attention and is just too expensive. While there are aspects that are good – fitness tracking, contactless payments, quick charging and an attractive screen – the reserved design doesn't make us want to pick it up and put it on – an important selling point for the flooded Wear OS watch market , Emporio Armani has to develop a design that is recognizable as his own, instead of being content with something so ordinary.

What are the alternatives?

We'll say it aloud for those in the background: if you own an iPhone, buy an Apple Watch! Don't buy a smart watch with Wear OS if you don't have to, as the ownership experience is subpar when using an iPhone. Apple's WatchOS software is light years ahead, there are many customization options, and Apple has traditionally supported the software for several years. Health tracking is also second to none. Prices start at $ 400 – the same price as the Armani Smartwatch 3.

If you have an Android phone, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 for $ 280, which contains the optimized Tizen software instead of Wear OS. It is more fluid, easier to use and more attractive at the same time. It's not perfect, but better than Wear OS. However, the Watch Active 2's design isn't particularly good, and that's where the better Wear OS watch options come in.

The Diesel On Axial looks great, and we'll put up with the Wear OS software for it, while the $ 295 Fossil Gen 5 smartwatch does everything the Armani watch does for less. Misfits' minimalist design also gets it right with the $ 280 Vapor X. Finally, consider the $ 275 Huawei Watch GT2 if you prefer simplicity and solid design over endless apps and features.

How long it will take?

The battery is always the weak link of a smartwatch. It will deteriorate over time and may affect daily use after a few years. However, people keep smartwatches longer than smartphones, so owning three or four years is quite possible. Google has ignored Wear OS for years. So don't expect any major changes in the near future based on your current track record.

The watch itself will be relatively durable with a water resistance of up to 50 meters, but in the short amount of time it's attached to the wrist, the case or screen (it's hard to tell which exactly) was scratched on the edge, which leaves an obvious consequence of marking and raising concerns about build quality. The strap is attached with quick release pins so that it can easily be exchanged for another.

Should you buy one?

No. While a smartwatch is a great accessory for your phone, you have to buy the right one to ensure a good user experience. Unfortunately, the Emporio Armani Smartwatch 3 is far superior to the better Wear OS smartwatches without having a real reason to buy.

Editor's recommendations




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