When we posted a week or so ago about Expansys’ availability of the Sony SmartWatch 3, we began eagerly awaiting a review device which, we understand, is on its way to us. However, Ausdroid reader Marcus Kenny decided to buy one, and has received his already. He took a quick look through his new gadget, and gave us his thoughts:
I found out that Expansys had the watch I wanted available on Saturday, so I immediately ordered it, and it came today.
The SmartWatch 3 says it has NFC, but I have yet to be able to do anything with it. My phone beeps if I get it close to an NFC device or card, but nothing happens with the watch. After some playing around, I discovered that Sony have made the NFC work through the screen itself. Now I just need to find a use other than opening the Android Wear app on my phone.
There is no heart rate sensor or other health monitor (unless you count the accelerometer) so that rumour is busted.
People don’t talk enough about the “transflective” display in reviews that I’ve read so far. This is one of the leading features of this watch over other smart watches because it is totally viewable in full sunlight, no squinting or shading required. In other lighting conditions it acts like any other LCD screen. This is a huge feature, and really puts some other watches to shame.
IP68 is another stand out feature, I have already been in the pool with the SmartWatch 3, and it didn’t leak.
A negative, though, is that if you’re interested in putting music on your phone, there is only about 2GB free space. Enough for some tunes, but not enough for lots and lots of them.
This is my first Android Wear device, so I have nothing to compare it to, but talking to it is like talking to my half-deaf mother. It either doesn’t hear me at all, or misunderstands me (Ed: Just like every other Android Wear device then). Google Now works pretty well on my phone, so the microphone on this watch must not be too good. The SmartWatch 3 supposedly has two microphones, but I can only see one.
Though I prefer metal bands, the supplied rubber band is pretty nice. I had planned to replace the band as soon as I could get a metal one, but now that I have worn it, maybe I won’t bother.
I’ve not tried the GPS, but playing music through Bluetooth works though I’ve not tested it extensively. It’s probably a good thing the watch only has 2GB free. The only way to transfer any music to it is via Bluetooth (no, the USB port does not do data, just charging), so it’s slow going.
The case puts a ridge around the watch that does a pretty good job of creating the illusion that the watch is thinner than it really is. So even though it is just as chunky as all the other smart watches, it looks slimmer to me when it’s on my wrist.
All that is left to say, is that I am very happy with my choice. I don’t understand everyone’s obsession with round faces, they are ideal for mechanical clocks, but that is no reason to cut the corners off the display.
This guest piece was written by Marcus Kenny, and is adapted (with his permission) from his Google+ post referenced below. Thanks Marcus!
