Apple Watch Series 3: still the same smart watch, but now with LTE

Modifications

Apple Watch Series 3 with eSIM support, as well as Hermès and Edition modifications, unfortunately, are not presented in Russia. This means that we don’t sell variations with sapphire glass, steel or ceramic cases either.

What you can choose: one of two sizes (38 mm and 42 mm), one of four colors of the silicone strap (smoky, pink, gray and black), depending on which one of three colors of the aluminum case will be offered (silver, gold and “ gray space").

There is also a modification of Nike+ for athletes and fans of the brand of the same name - with thematic design of dials and special mesh straps.

There is no difference in specifications depending on size. The difference in price is small - relative to the cost of the watch itself. Therefore, here you should be guided only by personal preferences. I have an Apple Watch with a case length of 38 mm, and I really like it, I don’t feel disadvantaged, I don’t want a “full-length” version.

Frame

The visual differences between different versions of the Apple Watch are minimal: it is the same case with rounded edges and corners. On one side there is a button and a digital crown (wheel), on the opposite side there are holes for the speakers and microphone, and a panel with sensors is adjacent to the hand.

The only modification available in Russia with an aluminum body is protected by high-strength Ion-X glass. The case itself does not collect scratches: after a month of active use, not a single one was found. The only thing I can complain about is that the button is not completely locked, which causes a barely noticeable play.

The 38mm version does not cause any inconvenience: the case is small, the weight of the watch is practically not felt. There were no problems with the narrow sleeves of the shirts. It’s just uncomfortable to sleep with them on, but I suspect this is due to my lack of habit of wearing a watch in general. Let's be honest: the Apple Watch is not needed when you sleep, especially since the developers have never offered an official application for tracking sleep phases.

What's new

Apple Watch Series 3 in Russia can be regarded as a rather minor update of the previous series: the list of innovations is small, and many of them are insignificant. What we got in Series 3:

• new S3 processor and the highest possible speed of watchOS 4;
• talking Siri;
• 8 GB of memory (including programs and system information - about 5.5 GB) and the ability to listen to music from Apple Music without a phone;
• altimeter (altimeter) is an important sensor for climbers and snowboarders.

Unfortunately, the key innovation, namely the ability to use the Apple Watch Series 3 with an electronic SIM card, is not available to us, and the prospects for this technology in Russia are vague. Therefore, if you already have an Apple Watch Series 2 and you didn’t see something very important for you in the list above, then there is no point in upgrading.

Which Apple Watch should you choose?

With the release of Series 3, the current lineup of smartwatches is as follows:

• Apple Watch Series 1
• Apple Watch Nike+
• Apple Watch Series 3

Despite the fact that Series 2 has completely disappeared from the official Apple website, I am sure that many stores will be selling old stock at discounts for some time.

Many sources on the Internet claim that the difference in performance between the 2nd generation of watches and the 3rd is minimal, so if you don’t care about having the hottest new product, then it makes sense to buy the Apple Watch Series 2 while it’s still on sale.

Apple Watch Series 1 can only be purchased out of desperation - in 2017, it works really slowly.

I don’t understand Apple Watch Nike+ at all: among my friends there is not a single owner of this version. I suspect that the target audience of these watches are experienced and professional athletes or healthy lifestyle enthusiasts who are fans not only of Apple, but also of Nike.

Well, regarding the new product: Apple Watch Series 3 with an LTE module is not officially imported into our country. So, if you prefer to buy Apple equipment from official resellers, you won’t have to worry about choosing.

However, I hope that cellular operators will shake things up at least by the middle of next year and allow us to use the Apple Watch Series 3 with LTE at 100%. If you believe in this as much as I do, get the LTE version.

And if you are a skeptic, then your choice is AW Series 3 without the LTE module, which, in addition to all its obvious advantages, also costs a little less.

Thanks to friends from re:Store for testing Apple Watch Series 3.

Total: 4

Apple Watch Series 3 review: now you definitely need to update

I admit, I was looking forward to the opportunity to test the new smart watch from Apple: I’ve been wearing the very first AW for 2 years now, and the decision to update this useful accessory has long been brewing in the depths of my soul.

My watch still copes with everyday tasks, but as soon as I picked up the new AW Series 3, it immediately became clear how slow my Apple Watch is.

It’s all about the use cases: it’s one thing to just look at notifications and the time, and the first Apple Watch does this very well. But as soon as you launch any application, from the weather to the messenger, lags are immediately visible, the clock “thinks” for too long.

So, putting the Apple Watch Series 3 on my hand, it was like switching from a Lada to a Ferrari. Wow, let's go!

Display

The display remains the same: it is an OLED screen with 1,000 nits of brightness and an oleophobic coating. This means that the image on the Apple Watch is easy to read even under the sun, and the glass itself hardly gets dirty.

The deep black color characteristic of OLED screens is simply necessary in the case of watches: thanks to it, the transition from the dark part of the display to the rounded edges of the device is completely invisible.

The display resolution is 272×340 pixels and 312×390 pixels for the 38mm and 42mm versions of the watch respectively.

Control

All interactions in Apple Watch lead to logical and expected results, so you can figure out and remember the necessary actions in a couple of hours. It's a little more difficult to customize your watch in the Watch app, but more on that later. All functions of the watch (many of which are not even mentioned in this review) can be controlled using a dozen different actions, which I will try to fit into three paragraphs.

• Digital crown . Scrolling will help you scroll through notifications, zoom in and out of icons on the home screen, and smoothly turn on the display backlight. Pressing it switches between the Home screen and the current watch face; hold your finger and Siri will respond. Press twice and you will go to the last program.

• Button . A single press opens the Dock (manager of recent or favorite programs), a double press leads to contactless payment, a long press turns off the Apple Watch or makes an emergency call. To take a screenshot, press the button and the crown at the same time.
• Display . Horizontal swipes switch dials, a swipe from the top opens a list of notifications, and a swipe from the bottom opens a kind of “Control Center”. In it you can turn on the flashlight, enter the “theater” mode (turn off the automatic backlight), lock the watch for use in water, conduct a ping test on the iPhone, check the battery charge, mute the sound, or set up audio broadcasting to headphones. The display also recognizes the force of pressing: using Force Touch, you can control dials and additional program settings. To turn off your Apple Watch, you just need to slap your palm on the screen.

That's all you need to know. There is no need to cram, all actions are carried out intuitively and quickly become automatic.

Control and ergonomics

To control the device, you need to perform a number of actions. Using the button you can open recent or favorite programs. A long press turns off the gadget or makes an emergency call, and a double press is intended for contactless payment.

To switch dials, use a horizontal swipe, and to get to the control center, use the bottom one.

Here you can turn off the automatic backlight, see the charging level, adjust the sound transmission to the headphones, turn on the lock when swimming, adjust the sound or conduct testing.

Using scrolling, you scroll through notifications, turn on the display backlight, and zoom in and out of icons on the screen. The device recognizes the pressure applied. To turn off the gadget screen, you need to slap it with your palm.

Smart watches from Apple Watch Series 3 will help you always stay in touch with loved ones.

Main functions

Working with Watch and Activity

The watch is controlled using the Watch application. This is where extensions are installed, programs are configured, the Dock is formed and watch faces are selected.

Here you can see which of your apps have responsive versions for the Watch and go to the App Store for Apple Watch.

The next app you can't do without is Activity. In it you can see statistics on filling activity rings, a list of achievements and a summary of training.

Here you can share your achievements with friends who own Apple Watch and see their results.

Dials

Watch offers about 20 different watch faces, here are the most interesting ones.

• Siri . Displays traffic jams and weather. You can choose your own data sources. Siri messages can be scrolled using the crown.
• Photo . It’s always nice to see a photo of a loved one or the emblem of a football club as your watch’s screensaver.
• Kaleidoscope . Classic dial with a smoothly changing screensaver. The crown rotates - the picture shimmers beautifully.

• Activity . The Activity section includes several watch faces that show calories burned, exercise time, and hours in motion.
• Astronomy . A dial depicting the Earth, Moon or Solar System. Helps monitor the position of the planets, sunrises and sunsets in different parts of the Earth and lunar cycles. There is not much benefit from this, but it is, in my opinion, the most interesting dial presented.

Most watch faces can be customized: add a timer or stopwatch, an application icon, time in a different time zone, or anything else. To display maximum useful information on a watch, four or five dials are enough. I use three.

Workout

Apple Watch adapts to a specific type of exercise and, based on this, reads information from sensors differently. Walking, running, swimming, training on specific types of exercise equipment - if your type of exercise is not found in this list, you can select mixed training or “Other” (then, upon completion of the activity, you will be able to select the type of training from a wider list).

Apple Watch can also collect data via the NFC interface from exercise machines from Cybex, LifeFitness, Matrix, Schwinn, StairMaster, Star Trac and TechnoGym. In Russia they are found, although not in every hall.

The only scenario where the Apple Watch lets me down is when using the watch for water workouts. The actual number of meters you swim is significantly less than what the tracker shows. I assume that the function is designed for professional swimmers: one stroke of mine covers less distance traveled than theirs.

Activity Rings

User activity is measured in three indicators:

• Calories . The red ring fills up depending on how many calories you have burned. You can choose your daily norm yourself.
• Exercises . The norm is 30 minutes. The name of the ring is deceptive; in fact, playing sports and even doing exercises is not necessary. It is enough just to show a little more physical activity than usual.
• Warm-up hours . The easiest goal to achieve is to simply move for at least a minute every hour. Do this for 12 hours and the ring will be full.

In the Activity app, you can track your mobility and add friends from Apple Watch. For meeting and exceeding standards (as well as for success in training), you can receive achievements in “Activity”.

Heart rate tracking

Apple Watch automatically measures your heart rate every few minutes and correlates it with your current activity data. If your heart rate goes through the roof, and the gyroscope and accelerometer report no movement, then the watch sounds the alarm: something is wrong with your heart. Individual characteristics can be indicated by selecting the acceptable heart rate mark in the Watch.

The watch continuously measures your pulse and heart rate variability (the variation in the intervals between beats). All data is exported to Health.

Use without a smartphone

If you have an Apple Watch Series 3, you can use your iPhone much less often. Here are examples of what you can do without a phone in your hands:

• Receive notifications . An obvious function that allows you to take out your smartphone only when you receive important notifications.
• Listen to music . The watch version of Apple Music supports key features of the full-length app, displays the same library, and can download tracks via Wi-Fi. You can configure automatic downloading of playlists to the device memory. Apple Watch also synchronizes with Bluetooth headphones without the participation of the phone.

• Reply to messages . In this case, Apple Watch will offer to dictate a message or use one of the preset replies. Both options are rather a compromise: you can support a friend who has earned a new achievement, but in serious correspondence it is still better to use the phone.

• Receive calls . This feature comes in very handy when you don't remember where you put your phone.

Now I can forget which room I left my iPhone in, or go into a distant office meeting room without it. And nothing bad will happen.

Basic functions and controls

Apple smartwatches are positioned primarily as an activity tracker and a convenient device for sports. If the user is not an athlete, the gadget will remind him to go for walks and monitor his heart rate. Built-in health applications are more designed for ordinary users, since the functionality of the watch may not be sufficient for professional athletes.

The Workouts app has received an updated design. The user can select the type of exercise that the device should monitor. In addition to the watch, the necessary information is displayed on the smartphone in the Activity and Health applications.

You will need a free hand to operate the device, since the Siri virtual assistant does not control all functions. The wheel is used to scroll interface pages or zoom in on a picture. By pressing the wheel, the user can close applications and open watch faces. Double tap to return to the previous application. The button calls up a list of running programs. All other functions are controlled via the touch screen.

Apple Watch Apps

Many applications have versions for Apple Watch. For example, my favorite podcast app is Overcast. Not all adaptations are truly useful: most of the mini-versions of the programs I use are never useful.

There are applications designed for use specifically with the watch, for example the pre-installed “Breathing” or any program from the special App Store for Apple Watch.

Autonomy

Apple claims 18 hours of battery life for the Apple Watch on a single charge, and comes with a bunch of caveats. This is due to the fact that everyone uses the gadget differently. In talk mode, the battery, according to Apple, lasts up to three hours.

I charge my watch every other night. At the same time, they are discharged to 10–20%. I wear the watch all the time, but take it off when I go to bed and exercise no more than twice a week.

When the threshold of 10% charge is reached, the watch offers to switch to eco mode. In this case, only the time will be displayed on the watch face, and the Apple Watch will have to be rebooted to return to its normal state.

Waterproof

Tim Cook says you can safely take a shower with your Apple Watch on, but I personally don't take it off in the pool.

Remove your watch if you plan to dive more than 50m, rinse your Apple Watch with fresh water after contact with foam or salt, and remember to choose the right band. These are all the rules worth remembering.

The touch display, while in the water, responds to anything. The lock mode in water will protect you from involuntary presses. To get out of it, you need to twist the digital crown, after which the speakers will “blow” the moisture out of the case.

Communication and sound

And if briefly? Apple Watch Series 4 now supports Bluetooth 5.0. The watch speaker is 50% louder, and the microphone has been repositioned for clearer sound on calls.

Apple Watch Series 4 and Series 3 support the same 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz) Wi-Fi standards. But Bluetooth support in the new watches has improved. Series 4 supports Bluetooth 5.0, while Series 3 only supports Bluetooth 4.2.

The speaker in Apple Watch Series 4 is 50% louder than in Series 3. The microphone on the new watch has been moved to the opposite side to improve sound quality and reduce echo during calls.

Straps

Silicone, nylon, steel, leather - Apple offers dozens of types of straps and bracelets. We have three options: a standard silicone strap out of the box, a sports bracelet and a braided nylon strap.

The nylon and velcro sports bracelet is my favorite. This design allows you to fix the strap as comfortably as possible with millimeter precision.

The woven nylon strap is not as comfortable, but no less cute.

And the silicone strap that comes with the kit is much inferior to nylon competitors in beauty and tactile sensations, but this is the only strap from our set that is suitable for water training. The Apple Watch is waterproof, but most bands are not.

The straps and bracelets are attached securely: to remove them, you have to press a special button on the inside of the watch. All bands fit any Apple Watch model of your size.

Complete set of watches and their modifications

The packaging and delivery set have not changed compared to previous models in the series. The box is made of thick cardboard and has an elongated shape. The kit includes 2 silicone straps of different sizes, wireless charging, user manual and power adapter, which is no different from the iPhone. The charger is suitable for Apple Watch Series 1 and 2 devices.

There are many different modifications available that differ in case materials and straps. The case can be aluminum, steel or ceramic, and other manufacturers besides Apple also produce suitable straps and bracelets for smartwatches.

The following color options are available:

• silver;
• golden;
• white;
• dark grey.

The modification with the LTE module and a red dot on the wheel visually stands out from the rest. Stainless steel and sapphire crystal cases are no longer available.

The first Apple Watch model is still available for sale, but the second has been completely replaced by the third. At the same time, the price of the first generation watches was reduced. Only an expert in the company’s products can visually distinguish different models.

Who is Apple Watch Series 3 for?

For any owner of an iPhone with iOS 11. Not just an athlete or a gadget lover. Apple Watch helps you keep track of workouts and monitor your heart rate, can show notifications, send messages, control music and a bunch of other useful things. And it's just a watch - the thing that's hardest to forget and easiest to carry.

To use an activity tracker, you don't have to be active in the classical sense of the word: Apple Watch takes into account the movement techniques of wheelchair users and even includes several types of special training.

Verdict

Apple Watch Series 3 is not just a notification duplicator and activity tracker, it is a useful, beautiful and pleasant gadget to use. At the time of writing this review, I spent a little over a month with the watch and I’m ready to say with confidence that the Apple Watch makes life better, it makes managing Apple devices easier, and most importantly, it allows you to get rid of your pathological attachment to your phone.

The only controversial point is the choice of a specific Apple Watch model. At the moment, models of the first and third series are officially on sale. If you need a remote control for iOS devices, an activity tracker, and a workout tracker, the Apple Watch Series 1 is enough. If it is waterproof and tracks swim laps in the pool, listens to music without a smartphone, and has hardware reserves for the future, it is better to choose the Apple Watch Series 3.

Go to Apple Watch Series 3 page →

Advantages and disadvantages

Despite the fact that the main highlight of the model (built-in cellular communication) does not work in Russia, the advantages are more than enough. However, the third generation also has its shortcomings. In our review of apple watch series 3, we will highlight what you need to pay close attention to.

• powerful processor;
• excellent OS optimization;
• ease of use;
• large selection of dials;
• holds a charge for a long time;
• waterproof;
• many sports functions;
• detailed analysis of cardiac activity;
• abundance of straps;
• Durable, scratch-resistant glass.

• there is no camera;
• model with LTE modem not available;
• high price (average cost of Apple Watch Series 3 38 mm - up to 24,490 ₽, Apple Watch Series 3 42mm - 26,989 ₽)