Sony Smartwatch 3 - My Ideal Smartwatch?

The Sony SmartWatch 3 review explains how this model expands on Sony’s earlier wristwear by adopting Google Android Wear, while still offering some distinctive Sony touches. The speaker breaks down the hardware first, noting a 1.2 GHz quad core ARM A7 processor, 512 MB of RAM, and 4 GB of storage, which together deliver notably more power than older Sony smartwatches. The display is a 1.6 inch transflective panel at 320 by 320 pixels, designed for readability in various lighting conditions, and the watch is equipped with ambient light sensors, an accelerometer, a compass, a gyroscope, GPS, and a robust battery rated around two days of typical use. The design discussion focuses on its weight around 66 grams with a silicone band and the practicalities of band swaps, including the tradeoffs of pink, yellow, white, black silicone bands and leather or steel options. The reviewer highlights the ease of changing bands and the convenience of the quick-snap mechanism, while also pointing out potential annoyances like the clasp catching on pockets during movement. A key hardware note is the IP68 rating, which allows submersion up to 4.9 feet for 30 minutes, offering greater durability than common IP67 wearables. Overall, the summary emphasizes that the SmartWatch 3 is built for Android Wear functionality and daily conveniences like music control and notifications, rather than acting as a full-fledged standalone fitness tracker. While it lacks a dedicated heart-rate sensor, GPS and offline music features provide useful flexibility for runners and casual users alike, with the caveat that the phone remains central for many tasks. The video wraps with thoughts on pricing and positioning in the broader smartwatch market, noting that Sony’s approach blends fitness-ready features with smart assistant capabilities while competing with other Android Wear devices and the Apple Watch. The reviewer concludes that the SmartWatch 3 represents a balanced trade-off between fitness features and wearable smart functionality, offering a compelling USD price point around $175 on popular retailers, though higher Canadian pricing may appear depending on the market. Finally, the comparison to other devices underlines the ongoing competition in the wearable space and suggests that future Android Wear devices could bring tighter integration with fitness tracking and heart-rate data in a more seamless way.

Topics · technology · wearables · review · android wear · smartwatch · fitness-tracker · gadgets · consumer electronics