Review: Sony SmartWatch 3 Steel Edition – the watch with style

May 02, 2020

introduction

A new star is emerging from the Android Wear universe: the Sony SmartWatch 3 SWR50. Wait a minute, didn't the watch already exist in September 2014 at the international radio exhibition in Berlin? Oh yes. The smartwatch, which bears the name Smartwatch, was introduced together with the Xperia Z3 and some other Sony products. But the one we have here is different. It is harder and heavier.

This is not an ordinary Sony SmartWatch 3, but the new stainless steel version that was recently presented at CES 2015. Read and see below whether you should buy the watch and carry it on your arm.

The SmartWatch 3 is the very first Sony watch with the Google operating system Android Wear. In previous generations, pure Android was used. But they weren't special back then: metal body and a rubber bracelet? More for the sporting purpose, less for everyday life. Well, with the new Sony SmartWatch 3 Steel Edition, you have to come up with another excuse.

The SmartWatch 3 Steel Edition has an elegant and high-quality look. Their design resembles a high-priced wristwatch that people like to have on their wrists. The computer unit, also called Sony Core, can be pushed out of the belt with a little force and the right technology. So you can still use other Sony Mobile tapes if you want to. They cost around 30 euros in the relevant online shops. What is left is the matt link bracelet made of stainless steel. It only comes in one size. If the watch is too small or too big, you can remove individual links or add them. Two other items are included in the scope of delivery. However, there is no corresponding tool.

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Rj8i66Wb4 [/ embed]

As I said: only the optical has been refined. The technical part of the Sony SmartWatch 3 has not changed. A 1.2 GHz processor with 512 MB RAM works inside the wearable. The internal memory holds 4 GB and can be used for example with apps or music. A Bluetooth headset can be smart health connected for playback – a smartphone is no longer necessary. Another cool thing: The Sony SmartWatch 3 has an integrated GPS, which sets it apart from all other smartwatches. The advantage is obvious: you don't have to lug a heavy phone around while you're doing your rounds. However, we then recommend a different bracelet that is more designed for sporting activities.

Display

The display of the SmartWatch 3 SWR50 measures 1.6 inches diagonally. It is a TFT LCD display with a transreflective property. In simple sentences: it is a display with good readability – especially in the sun. The display reflects ambient light and switches on its own backlight if necessary. This ensures lower energy consumption – this hybrid mode is still state-of-the-art in liquid crystal displays. The resolution is 320 × 320 pixels; Fonts and graphics are displayed sharply. Nevertheless, the colors are a bit washed out for us. We would have liked a bit more satiety.

battery pack

A comparatively large battery sits in the Sony smartwatch: 420 mAh. I usually reached two days. Sometimes even more if I only read my notifications and played less. Another special feature of the watch is that you can charge it directly on the case via a microUSB connection. You don't need an additional docking station, which you usually have permanently installed somewhere at health home. Access and plugging in the cable is a bit difficult, since the connection is protected by a waterproof plastic flap.

Summary

The latest version of Google's Android Wear runs on the Smartwatch 3. There are no groundbreaking innovations here. The well-known user interface with the map view and many different watch faces is used. I've had the watch for a few days now and use it constantly as my second display, for example while I'm in the car or watching TV in the living room. For some, the use of a smartwatch is little or not there – others want and cannot do without a smartwatch. But either way – the Sony SmartWatch 3 Steel Edition is a wristwatch with a lot of style …

Sony Mobile offers the SmartWatch 3 SWR50 at a suggested retail price of 279 euros.

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