Welcome, tech enthusiasts! I’m thrilled to share my insights on the latest release from Xiaomi, the Watch S3. With the ever-growing demand for smartwatches that seamlessly blend style, functionality, and affordability, the Xiaomi Watch S3 aims to set a new standard.
It promises contactless payments, music playback, a plethora of health tracking features, and customizable bezels—all packed into an attractive and lightweight design. Priced at just $159, it’s positioned as a budget-friendly option without compromising on essential features. Let’s dive into whether the Xiaomi Watch S3 lives up to the hype and if it truly is a step in the right direction. Check out its latest price here: Xiaomi Watch S3>>
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Unboxing and Initial Impressions
The unboxing experience of the Xiaomi Watch S3 is fairly standard, yet it immediately sets the stage for what’s to come. The Black Edition, which I reviewed, comes with a thick bezel and a silicon strap, accompanied by a charging dock that’s compatible with older Xiaomi watch models. At first glance, the watch might appear a bit plain, but its appeal lies in its customizability.
One of the standout features is the interchangeable bezels. Xiaomi offers a variety of bezel colors that can match different straps, allowing users to personalize their watch according to their style and occasion. This level of customization is unique and adds a fresh twist to the smartwatch market. The included straps, with their leather texture, also add a touch of elegance and comfort.
Design and Build Quality
The Xiaomi Watch S3 boasts a sleek design with a 1.43-inch AMOLED display, providing vibrant colors and excellent visibility even under bright sunlight. The watch’s build quality feels robust, and the two side buttons offer easy navigation. However, some might find the watch’s thickness a bit much, although it’s not noticeable during wear, even while sleeping.
The ability to switch bezels and straps quickly and easily is a major plus. This not only enhances the watch’s aesthetic appeal but also makes it a versatile accessory that can complement any outfit or mood. The customizable watch faces that change with the bezel add a touch of smartness and functionality, making it a fun feature to play with.
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Health Tracking and Sensors
Xiaomi has packed the Watch S3 with a comprehensive suite of health tracking features. It includes a new generation heart rate sensor, global positioning tracking, and the ability to monitor more than 150 workout types. The watch supports 24/7 heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen saturation, and stress levels, offering detailed insights into your health.
The sleep tracking feature is particularly impressive. In advanced mode, it can track light, deep, and REM sleep stages, providing a thorough analysis of your sleep patterns. This makes the Watch S3 one of the best sleep tracking devices Xiaomi has released to date.
For fitness enthusiasts, the Watch S3 offers a variety of workout modes, including built-in coaching assistants. The watch can track activities with high precision thanks to its five-band global positioning system, which includes support for GPS, BeiDou, Galileo, and QZSS. This ensures quick signal locking and accurate tracking of your routes and workouts.
Software and User Interface
The Watch S3 runs on Xiaomi’s HyperOS, a lightweight and highly customized operating system. While it doesn’t support the installation of third-party apps like Google Maps or Google Play, it offers a smooth and responsive user experience. The interface is beautifully designed, with interactive menus and tiles that are easy to navigate.
One notable feature is the contactless payment system developed by Xiaomi, which supports MasterCard but not Visa. For Visa cardholders, a service like Curve can be used to facilitate payments. Despite the lack of third-party app support, the Watch S3 excels in delivering a seamless and intuitive user experience.
Battery Life
Battery life is one of the Watch S3’s strong suits. The 486 mAh battery can last up to 14 days on a single charge, depending on usage. Even with the always-on display mode enabled, the watch can last up to a week. This impressive battery performance is partly due to the efficient HyperOS and the watch’s hardware optimizations.
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Connectivity and Other Features
The Watch S3 supports Bluetooth 5.2, ensuring stable and efficient connectivity with your smartphone. You can make phone calls directly from the watch, control music playback, and receive notifications. However, the lack of actionable notifications is a downside, as it prevents users from responding to messages directly from the watch.
The Mi Fitness app, used to control the watch and visualize captured data, is simple yet powerful. It offers a detailed overview of your health metrics, workout data, and sleep records. The app also provides customization options for health tracking modes, display settings, and watch faces, enhancing the overall user experience.
Drawbacks and Areas for Improvement
While the Xiaomi Watch S3 has a lot to offer, there are a few areas where it could improve. The lack of third-party app support limits its functionality compared to other smartwatches in the market. Adding a rotating crown for easier navigation and enabling wireless charging would enhance the hardware experience.
The absence of LTE support means that the watch relies on your smartphone for connectivity, which might be a dealbreaker for some users. Additionally, while the contactless payment feature is useful, expanding support to include more payment systems like Visa would make it more versatile.
Conclusion
The Xiaomi Watch S3 is a compelling option for those looking for an affordable, feature-rich smartwatch. Its customizable design, comprehensive health tracking features, and impressive battery life make it a strong contender in the budget smartwatch market. While it lacks some advanced features like third-party app support and LTE connectivity, it excels in providing a smooth and user-friendly experience.
If you received the Watch S3 as a gift with your Xiaomi 14 or 14 Ultra, it’s definitely worth giving it a try. For those considering a purchase, the Watch S3 offers excellent value for money and is a great choice for anyone looking to enhance their daily routine with a stylish and functional wearable device. Check out its latest price here: Xiaomi Watch S3>>
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