HONOR’s top smartwatch is currently the Watch GS 3, although it is problematic to attribute it to the premium solutions segment at a price of $ 250, although the device is not an entry-level gadget either. The manufacturer created something in between, rewarding the watch with a large AMOLED screen, built-in memory and a microphone, as well as an impressive battery life and many advanced sensors for measuring heart rate and blood oxygen. But, of course, not without significant shortcomings, which should be discussed separately.
Body design and ergonomics
We received a review of the Watch GS 3 smart watch in a gold-colored stainless steel case with a brown nappa leather strap. Thanks to this, the design of the device really looks like a vintage watch and will certainly suit fans of a more formal dress code. I would also like to note that despite the large 46 mm case, the device has a thickness of only 10.5 mm and weighs only 44 grams – these are impressive parameters, considering the diagonal of the Watch GS 3 display.
The watch screen itself with a diagonal of 1.43-inch AMOLED-matrix is simply excellent – thanks to the high resolution of 466×466 pixels and a density of 326 pixels per inch. Adding to the premium aesthetics is the 3D curved glass that protects the display, which feels good and looks decent. And since the watch received an AMOLED display, the user receives support for the Always-on Display function – it is very convenient to check the time, health indicators, and more.
This watch sits comfortably on the wrist and boasts a fairly solid construction, and the leather strap is an added bonus, although if you are not a fan of such accessories, it can be easily replaced with any 22mm strap of your choice.
And it is worth remembering that the HONOR Watch GS 3 can track the user’s activity not only on land, but also when swimming – the device is waterproof at a depth of up to 50 meters (5 atm). However, it is worth changing the leather strap to a silicone one – it copes better with moisture in open water or pools.
Functions and features
The Watch GS 3 smartwatch, as expected, can track the user’s heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, as well as sleep and stress levels. HONOR said that the new eight-channel PPG sensor installed in the Watch GS 3 provides up to 97% accuracy in measuring heart rate. In addition, more than one hundred sports activity tracking modes are available to the user, which will work more efficiently thanks to the dual-band GNSS module with support for five global positioning standards.
But the novelty also has certain drawbacks – the global version of the watch, unlike the Chinese one, lacks an NFC module for contactless payments. In addition, the user can receive notifications from applications, but you can only respond with pre-made templates – you cannot enter your own response. But the gadget is equipped with a built-in microphone and speaker, thanks to which Watch GS 3 can be paired with a smartphone via Bluetooth and answer incoming calls. The device is even equipped with 4 GB of internal memory for storing personal content like music, but only 2.2 GB is available for use.
The wearer of the smartwatch can even connect a Bluetooth headset directly to their smartwatch if they don’t want to carry their smartphone along for a run, for example. It will be possible to listen to music directly from the watch, freeing yourself from unnecessary burdens.
The smartwatch display supports automatic brightness adjustment, but if this is not quite suitable for the user, he can set one of five preset brightness levels in manual mode. At the same time, doing without the proprietary HONOR Health application (exclusive for Android) will be problematic – the software allows you to download more watch faces and styles for Always-on Display (initially, there are 13 watch styles and 11 Always-on Display options on the watch). You can even create your own watch face based on a photo from your smartphone gallery, if the standard ones are not enough. Yes, and effectively track your health, sleep quality and other parameters without HONOR Health will not work either – it is in the application that the user can view his exercise history, evaluate the steps taken and calories burned.
Of the interesting features – Watch GS 3 can determine atmospheric pressure and is equipped with an altimeter, plus there is a digital compass.
Performance and sensors
The new Watch GS 3 is powered by the LiteOS operating system (which was used in previous models of Huawei and HONOR smartwatches) and the Apollo4 processor, which adequately copes with everyday tasks without freezing or any other problems. At the same time, the device interface is quite concise and convenient, clock navigation is implemented using swipes, and the top button always takes the user to the lock screen. You can “wake up” the watch screen by double-clicking or using one of the two side buttons.
The top hardware button leads to the apps page, while the bottom button is assigned to the workout app by default. But the user can reassign its action to any other application in the settings. It is also possible to set up to six shortcuts to applications next to the main screen – for this you need to use swipes.
The built-in speaker of the smart watch is quite loud – it can be used to receive calls directly from the watch. Moreover, the quality of the microphone is also quite high, although, of course, it falls short of the level of a smartphone or decent TWS headphones. But, in any case, it’s nice to be able to answer a call directly from the watch, if necessary.
The manufacturer stated that it uses the latest eight-channel heart rate sensor, and in my testing, the Watch GS 3’s heart rate readings were found to match those of the Xiaomi Mi Band 5.
The blood oxygen saturation readings are comparable to any other smartwatch or bracelet – they do a good job, but certainly not at a medical level. But, unfortunately, you won’t get access to detailed health metrics directly on your watch like on some other models. If the user wants to get data on their sleep indicators or compare weekly training results, then they will definitely have to go to the proprietary application on their smartphone.
Otherwise, tracking user activity on this device is very similar to any other smart watch. An interesting feature is perhaps the fitness course – the user is offered twelve different workouts, from short stretching sessions to full-body workouts, with audio recommendations and the necessary information. A great way to add variety to your workouts or end your run with a stretch, for example.
autonomy
HONOR watches are equipped with a 451 mAh battery, which is designed for 14 days of normal use or 30 hours of battery life with GPS activation. During testing, I used the brightness at level 3, activate Always-on Display, the function of tracking heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, sleep and stress, and also turned on the synchronization of notifications with a smartphone. As a result, with three to four workouts a week, I managed to squeeze four days of work on a single charge out of the watch.
You can, of course, use the watch more sparingly to get a two-week autonomy, but then you would have to sacrifice features and limit the potential of smartwatches. But fully charging the device takes a little more than an hour – with a proprietary 5W charger that comes with the kit.
Review
The HONOR Watch GS 3 is a versatile smartwatch with a user-friendly and attractive design, many useful features and all the sensors you need to keep track of your health. The screen, interface and software work very well, but the lack of an iOS app will greatly disappoint users who prefer Apple smartphones. Autonomy is also decent, although if you activate all the functions of a smart gadget, you will have to charge the watch every three to four days. It is also worth writing down the lack of third-party applications, the NFC module and the ability to respond to notifications with messages – then the list of shortcomings will be complete.
However, smartwatches that offer all these features are noticeably more expensive, and if the user has long dreamed of a classic design, smart features and a relatively low price, the Watch GS 3 is well worth considering.
This is a translation of the GSM Arena review.
Source: Trash Box
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
