Galaxy Watch 3 review: A stunning smartwatch with SpO2 tracking and ECG

Introducing the latest innovation in wearable technology – the Galaxy Watch 3 by AnyTimeSoftcare. This remarkable smartwatch boasts a plethora of features including SpO2 tracking and ECG capabilities, setting it apart from the rest. Are you seeking a blend of style and functionality? Look no further than the Galaxy Watch 3.

AnyTimeSoftcare’s expert team is dedicated to evaluating and reviewing cutting-edge products and services, drawing from over 25 years of experience in the field. The Galaxy Watch 3 emerges as a frontrunner with its elegant design, highlighted by a physical rotating bezel and a vibrant circular AMOLED display. Not only does it exude sophistication, but it also introduces advanced health and fitness functionalities like a running coach, enhanced sleep monitoring, blood oxygen level tracking, and an electrocardiogram feature.

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While its price point of $399 or higher may position it at the premium end of the smartwatch spectrum, the Galaxy Watch 3’s array of features makes it a compelling choice. Dive deeper into the world of smartwatches with AnyTimeSoftcare’s Galaxy Watch 3 and elevate your wearable technology experience.The Galaxy Watch 3 boasts a sleek design that seamlessly integrates style and functionality. The round face and physical rotating bezel, which were already popular features on the original Galaxy Watch, have been further refined in this model. The AMOLED screen is vibrant and easily readable, even in sunlight, enhancing the user experience. Whether you’re tracking your workout progress on the go or simply checking the time, the Watch 3’s display ensures clarity and convenience.

One notable improvement is the larger screen size, achieved by reducing the bezels while maintaining a compact overall design. The classic aesthetics of the watch lend it a timeless appeal, resembling a traditional analog timepiece. However, the slightly thicker build compared to the Galaxy Watch Active may be a consideration for some users, particularly when wearing it at night.

Opting for the bronze 41mm variant with tan-pink leather straps presents a sophisticated upgrade from the original silicone bands. The subdued bronze hue exudes elegance without being overly ostentatious, offering a versatile look for various occasions. For users engaging in physical activities like workouts or swimming, a sports strap might be a practical addition to ensure longevity, as leather may wear quicker with frequent exposure to water.

In conclusion, the Galaxy Watch 3 combines style and functionality seamlessly, offering users a refined wearable technology experience. Its design enhancements, including the rotating bezel and vibrant display, make it a compelling choice for those seeking both aesthetics and practicality in a smartwatch.

A Comprehensive Evolution in Health Features

One of the remarkable aspects that captured my attention about the Galaxy Watch 3 was the significant upgrade in its health features. The inclusion of ECG, an SpO2 app for monitoring blood oxygen saturation, a blood-pressure monitor, fall detection, advanced sleep tracking, period tracking, and in-depth post-run analysis showcased Samsung’s commitment to enhancing health monitoring capabilities. Naturally, given past experiences, there were initial doubts about the successful implementation of these features.

Past instances like the introduction of the “ECG feature” with the Galaxy Watch Active 2, which faced delays, may have raised skepticism. Additionally, the reliability of the blood-pressure monitor in the original Watch Active left room for improvement based on our evaluations against a traditional blood-pressure cuff.

However, Samsung has taken significant strides since then. The FDA clearance for the ECG feature, enabling screening for atrial fibrillation (AFib), is a substantial achievement. Moreover, the rollout of this feature to both the Watch 3 and the Active 2 demonstrates Samsung’s dedication to enhancing user experience. While the blood-pressure monitoring feature is still pending FDA clearance in the US (currently available in South Korea), Samsung’s commitment to delivering accurate and reliable health monitoring tools is evident.

Tracking Blood Oxygen Levels on the Galaxy Watch 3

Monitoring blood oxygen saturation levels has become a significant focus in the realm of wearable technology. The Galaxy Watch 3 by Samsung now includes SpO2 tracking, a feature that has been present in previous Galaxy devices such as the S10. The Apple Watch Series 6 and smartwatches from Fitbit and Garmin also offer blood oxygen level tracking capabilities, each with its unique approach.

The importance of tracking blood oxygen levels has been further emphasized during the ongoing global health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Individuals with COVID-19 may face breathing difficulties and experience fluctuations in their blood oxygen levels.

Traditionally, pulse oximeters have been used by medical professionals to measure blood oxygen levels, typically placed on the fingertip. However, due to the increased demand during the pandemic, these devices have become scarce, leading many individuals to rely on alternative solutions like smartwatches for monitoring their health status.

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When evaluating the accuracy of the SpO2 app on the Galaxy Watch 3, a comparison was made with a medical-grade pulse oximeter. The results demonstrated a close correlation between the readings obtained from both devices, with only a slight variance in values (98 and 99). It is worth noting that the Galaxy Watch 3 may require a precise positioning on the wrist and slightly more time to provide readings compared to traditional pulse oximeters.

While the Galaxy Watch 3 can serve as a convenient tool for monitoring blood oxygen levels, it is essential to acknowledge its limitations. For instance, its accuracy in detecting lower oxygen levels remains uncertain. It is crucial to emphasize that wearable devices like smartwatches should complement, not replace, professional medical advice and care.

Additionally, the Galaxy Watch 3 offers features beyond blood oxygen tracking, including stress level monitoring based on heart-rate data. Users can undergo a quick stress test, followed by guided breathing exercises to manage stress levels effectively.

Moreover, the watch introduces menstrual cycle tracking functionality, allowing users to input relevant data that syncs with compatible health apps. This feature, powered by established apps like Glow, provides insights into menstrual cycles and fertility windows.

An exclusive safety feature of the Galaxy Watch 3 is its trip-detection capability, designed to alert emergency contacts in the event of a potential fall or immobility. While this feature adds an extra layer of security, its activation process and effectiveness require user setup and testing to ensure proper functionality.

Overall, the Galaxy Watch 3 combines health monitoring features with safety functionalities, making it a versatile companion for individuals seeking to track their well-being and enhance their overall health awareness.

New ways to work out with the Galaxy Watch 3

The Galaxy Watch 3 seamlessly blends style with functionality, serving as a versatile fitness companion. With the capability to monitor 40 different workout types, encompassing activities like indoor and outdoor swimming, the watch also automatically detects and tracks seven exercises. In a notable instance, within merely 10 minutes into a walk, the watch prompted the initiation of a workout session, even accounting for the preceding 10 minutes.

Featuring a heart-shaped dashboard, the watch provides a detailed overview of your active minutes, calories expended, and standing duration vis-à-vis your daily objectives. During a typical 3-mile run along the San Francisco Bay sans a phone, the watch exhibited commendable accuracy in showcasing distance covered, pace maintained, and heart rate monitored.

While running, customization of settings is recommended to display preferred information promptly. Initially lacking heart rate display by default, a quick adjustment enables real-time heart rate monitoring – a feature I found particularly helpful. Post-run, the watch offers a comprehensive summary including a mapped route and heart rate zone breakdown. Noteworthy is the revelation of sustaining maximum heart rate for a specific duration during uphill segments. Subsequently, this data is conveniently accessible on the Samsung Health app for further analysis.

Runners can benefit from added features such as a built-in running coach for real-time pace and form feedback. By opting for the running coach on the watch and connecting earbuds, users receive guidance on warm-up and continuous pace alerts, alongside valuable tips on improving running technique. It is important to note that utilizing the running coach may accelerate battery consumption compared to regular tracking.

A novel feature on the Galaxy Watch 3 is the post-run analysis, detailing parameters like flight and contact time, asymmetry, and stiffness to pinpoint potential areas of enhancement. Although not as intricate as data from specialized running watches, such as the Garmin Forerunner, this analysis proves beneficial for race training or elevating routine workouts.

The watch further offers insights into factors like VO2 max, a key indicator of maximum oxygen consumption during physical exertion, providing a gauge of overall fitness level and percentile ranking within corresponding age brackets. Additionally, it calculates VO2 max akin to laboratory assessments, hinting at comparable accuracy levels.

Introducing a groundbreaking feature, the watch enables seamless synchronization with home workout videos, conveniently controllable from the wrist. Given the evolving landscape of fitness routines prompted by global conditions, this integration offers a dynamic shift in workout experiences. Personalizing workouts through the Health app and casting them onto a Samsung TV elevates the at-home fitness regimen, delivering prompts and calorie estimations for enhanced accountability and motivation.

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While other wearables offer similar training aids, the native and complimentary nature of Samsung’s workout video feature is a valuable addition. Notably, the watch’s voice guidance during workouts sparks minor critique, with room for improvement in motivational aspects during intense exercises.

Sleep Tracking Enhanced: The Galaxy Watch 3 Upgrade

If you’ve ever felt like the sleep tracking feature on the original Galaxy Watch fell short in providing insightful details about your sleep patterns, you’re not alone. The good news is that with the new Galaxy Watch 3, Samsung has made significant improvements to address this issue.

The latest model offers a more in-depth analysis of your nightly rest. It now presents a comprehensive breakdown of your sleep stages, including light, REM, and deep sleep, and compares your data to a standard range. Additionally, it assigns you a score based on these metrics.

While some users may find the overall score less valuable, the real game-changer lies in the context it provides. By comparing your sleep data to the expected norms, you can gain valuable insights into maximizing your sleep quality. For instance, discovering that you’re not getting enough deep sleep compared to the average person can prompt you to adjust your bedtime. By doing so, even if your total sleep duration remains the same, you may increase your deep sleep phases, leading to a more rejuvenated morning.

Exploring the Features of Galaxy Watch 3

When testing the Galaxy Watch 3, it was evident that it offers a range of smartwatch features, although the MST for Samsung Pay is notably absent. Compatibility-wise, I tried it with both an iPhone 11 Pro and a Galaxy S20 Ultra, and while it functioned well on both devices, certain features like text responses and mobile payments are exclusive to Android users. Operating on Samsung’s Tizen OS, navigating the watch is user-friendly and provides extensive customization options, setting it apart from its competitors.

The interface allows for convenient customization through widgets and app rearrangement directly from the watch screen. Communication is versatile on the Watch 3 – you can respond through typing, dictation, scribbling, or doodling, in addition to managing calls from your wrist. While the selection of third-party apps is somewhat limited, notable names like Spotify and Strava are available, and notifications from popular apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and news alerts from platforms like CNET are seamlessly delivered.

For music enthusiasts, the integration with Spotify offers comprehensive control over music playback, offline listening capabilities for Premium subscribers, and LTE streaming, albeit at an additional cost for the cellular-enabled version of the Galaxy Watch 3.

One of the standout features is Samsung Pay integration on the Galaxy Watch 3; however, it’s important to note that it only supports NFC transactions. Unlike Galaxy phones and Gear S3, which incorporate MST technology for wider payment compatibility, the Galaxy Watch 3’s Samsung Pay feature is limited to terminals with NFC support.

Battery Life Performance Insights

When it comes to the battery life of the Galaxy Watch 3, Samsung indicates that the larger 45mm version can last up to two days. However, there are factors to consider for a comprehensive view. The claimed duration is specific to the 45mm model, whereas the smaller 41mm version, which I tested, is expected to endure around a day and a half under regular usage conditions. Naturally, individual usage patterns can influence the real-world performance.

During my evaluation, with the always-on display enabled at auto brightness, monitoring a full night’s sleep, and a 30-minute run minus my phone, the battery life reached approximately 24 hours. To enhance longevity, the watch provides battery-saving suggestions such as deactivating the always-on feature, adjusting the screen timeout, and disabling location services. Implementing these adjustments extended the battery life to a day and a half, especially when I didn’t engage in a run and had the always-on display turned off. Reflecting on these optimizations, it seems reasonable to factor them into Samsung’s initial claim.

Battery Optimization Tips:

• Disable the always-on display feature
• Adjust the screen timeout duration
• Turn off location services when not needed

One aspect that might leave users wanting is the absence of a dedicated USB wall adapter for charging. Instead, the watch is supplied with a cable incorporating a magnetic charging puck. Nonetheless, a notable advantage is the compatibility with Qi wireless chargers, enabling convenient charging options. Additionally, users can leverage the Power Share functionality on Samsung’s Galaxy phones (S10 or newer) for quick recharges on the move.

FAQs

1. What features make the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 stand out?
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 stands out due to its physical rotating bezel, bright AMOLED display, health and fitness tools, including running coach, sleep tracking, blood oxygen monitoring, and electrocardiogram.

2. What are the health features of the Galaxy Watch 3?
   The Galaxy Watch 3 offers an impressive array of health features such as ECG, SpO2 monitoring, blood-pressure monitoring, fall detection, advanced sleep tracking, and menstrual cycle tracking.

3. How does the Galaxy Watch 3 track blood oxygen levels?
   The Galaxy Watch 3 utilizes SpO2 tracking to monitor blood oxygen levels, which is crucial for health monitoring, especially in times like the COVID-19 pandemic.

4. How does the Galaxy Watch 3 enhance workout experiences?
   The Galaxy Watch 3 tracks various workouts, offers a running coach for real-time feedback, post-run analysis, syncs with home workout videos, and provides detailed fitness metrics like VO2 max.

5. What improvements does the Galaxy Watch 3 bring to sleep tracking?
   The Galaxy Watch 3 enhances sleep tracking by providing a comprehensive breakdown of sleep stages, comparison with normal ranges, and actionable insights for improving sleep quality.

6. What smartwatch features does the Galaxy Watch 3 offer?
   The Galaxy Watch 3 provides text responses, mobile payments, music control, notification integration, and customization options through Samsung’s Tizen operating system.

7. What are the battery life considerations for the Galaxy Watch 3?
   The Galaxy Watch 3’s battery life varies depending on usage, with the smaller version lasting about a day and a half with normal use. Tips for extending battery life include adjusting display settings and location services.

8. How does the Galaxy Watch 3 compare to other Samsung smartwatches?
   The Galaxy Watch 3 offers an improved design, feature set, and user experience compared to previous models, making it a premium option for users looking for a blend of style and functionality.

Summary

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 boasts an elegant design and a host of advanced features that cater to fitness enthusiasts and health-conscious individuals. From its physical rotating bezel to its comprehensive health tracking capabilities, the Galaxy Watch 3 offers a well-rounded smartwatch experience. With enhancements in workout tracking, sleep monitoring, and overall user accessibility, this smartwatch showcases Samsung’s commitment to innovation in the wearable tech space.

For those seeking a stylish yet functional smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 3 presents a compelling option. However, users should consider their specific needs and usage patterns to maximize the benefits of this device. Whether it’s monitoring fitness goals, tracking health metrics, or staying connected on the go, the Galaxy Watch 3 provides a blend of style and substance. Explore the full potential of the Galaxy Watch 3 and elevate your wearable technology experience today.

Source: https://anytimesoftcare.com
Category: Internet