There is no finer Android ecosystem smartwatch than the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 2020. Yes, it works across all Android smartphones and even runs on iOS.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 2020 is available in 41mm and 45mm sizes and 4G/LTE and BT/Wi-Fi only variants. Colours include Mystic Bronze (stainless steel), Mystic Silver (stainless steel) and Mystic Black (stainless steel). A Titanium version at a higher price is coming too.
Most people comment that the design is well, classic. The 41mm is suited to more slender wrists. The 45mm for those that like larger watches – although these are slimmer than the predecessor. The hallmark is a rotating bezel that is by far the easiest way to navigate through the watch apps and functions. The 45mm has a ‘knurled’ bezel, and the 41mm is smooth – regardless they both work extremely well.
Another hallmark is the brilliant sunlight-readable Super AMOLED display covered in Gorilla Glass DX. And it is rugged – MIL-STD-810G.
Here is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 2020 comparison (website here)
| Item | 41mm | 45mm |
| Price | LTE $799 eSIM Mystic Bronze Mystic Silver (No BT model yet) | LTE $849 eSIM BT/Wi-Fi $699 Mystic Silver Mystic Black |
| Screen | 41mm AMOLED 360×360 | 45mm AMOLED |
| Size | 41×42.5×11.3mm x49.2 | 45×46.2×11.1 53.8g Stainless 43g Titanium (coming in LTE only) |
| Battery/Charge | 247mAh WPC wireless charge pad (not Qi) We expect at last 48 hours on a charge subject to GPS and LTE use | 340mAh Same |
| Soc/RAM/Storage | Exynos 9110 1/8GB Should hold at least 300 songs – also supports MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB LTE Bands 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 | Same |
| Comms | Wi-Fi 4 N single band BT 5.0 NFC (Samsung Pay and Google Pay – PayWave) GPS (also acts as eCompass) | Same |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Gyroscope Barometer Ambient light sensor Optical heart rate sensor Fall detection ECG (Electrocardiogram) * V02max (oxygen burn during exercise) * Blood oxygen Sp02 transfer * | Same |
| IP rating | IP68 (5ATM) MIL-STD-810G The leather band is not waterproof so you will need to buy a silicon one. | Same |
| OS | Tizen 5.5 Requires Galaxy Wear and Samsung Health | Same |
OK, it has an ECG in the US now *
The US has certified ECG and so begins the first step towards global certification. BTW – Galaxy Active 2 users will get this feature too via a firmware update when it is approved here.
It tells you about Atrial Fibrillation or AFib and Sinus rhythm. It gives Sinus rhythm when there is nothing wrong. Atrial Fibrillation results occur when the heart rate is more than usual. There are also two more outputs. Judgement failure and Signal failure, when the measurement is wrong or value is incorrect.
Fall Detection
It uses the sensors to measure fall detection and offers the choice of ‘I am OK’ or an automatic SOS.
Before all the quadbike/tractor drivers rejoice, the watch needs 4G connectivity via either the LTE eSIM version or a BT/Wi-Fi connection to a smartphone. If you are out of 4G range, it cannot make the SOS call (just like Apple can’t either). We will test antenna signal strength during the review
Samsung Health (website here)
This is one of the best and most comprehensive health monitoring and exercise apps around. It has more than 120 home workout programs and can cast information to a TV.
It has a sleep score as well as various sleep level analysis.
Spotify client and other apps
With BT headphones or buds and a Spotify account (on your phone), it can access playlists and more. Or store a few gigabytes of playlists or MP3s on the watch.
It has hundreds of apps in the Galaxy Watch store and thousands of free and premium watch faces.
GadgetGuy’s take – Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 2020 – Sold!
I have been wearing a smartwatch to track heart rate and health and fitness since around 2012.
Samsung filled the niche with its Fit bands and later Gear watches, And well – it all works for me.
I presently use a 46mm Galaxy Watch, and apart from the fact it is a big watch, it is perfect. It is nice to see the Galaxy Watch 3 address the bulk. My wife uses a 44mm Galaxy Watch Active 2 and loves it – but laments not buying the 40mm version.
The LTE version uses an eSIM and Telstra, Optus and Vodafone offer a ‘one number’ package (at extra cost) to share with your smartphone number. I have not used this, but feedback is that it is for city use (antenna signal strength) and it is handy to go for a run and not have to take your smartphone. You can also make/receive calls with the BT/Wi-Fi version as long as its paired to a smartphone.
At last, Apple has a real challenger! Although we understand that Apple hobbles certain Galaxy Watch features like SOS, S-Health and replying and message syncing for features such as text messaging, messenger app, emails. What happened to a level playing field? Oh well, Apple Watch OS only runs on Apple!
