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Samsung Galaxy Watch vs Galaxy Watch 3 – Should You Upgrade?

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Samsung’s newest smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 3 is slimmer and slightly more compact than it’s predecessor, the Galaxy Watch that was released in 2018. Galaxy Watch 3 also comes with more storage capacity and fitness tracking features which we’ll be discussing in this comparison between Samsung Galaxy Watch vs Galaxy Watch 3 to find out all the differences and if you need to upgrade.

Prefer video, watch the comparison below

Samsung Galaxy Watch vs Galaxy Watch 3 Full Specifications Compared

Samsung Galaxy WatchSamsung Galaxy Watch 3 (45mm)
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 vs Galaxy Watch vs Gear S3Samsung galaxy watch 3 (45mm) full specs

EDITOR'S RATING

[usrlist "Design:4.5" "Battery:3.5" "Fitness tracking:4.5" "Features: 4.5" "Price:4" ][usrlist "Design:4.86" "Battery:3.5" "Fitness tracking:4.8" "Features: 4.8" "Price:4" ]

ABOUT DEVICE

Device nameSamsung Galaxy WatchSamsung Galaxy Watch 3 (45mm) Bluetooth
Device typeClassic/Fitness/Standalone smartwatchClassic/Fitness smartwatch
PredessesorSamsung Gear S3Samsung Galaxy Watch
Successor--Galaxy Watch 4 Classic
Released dateAugust, 2018August, 2020
Ideal forMen (46mm)
Women (42mm)
Men

DISPLAY

Display typeSuper AMOLED
Full color
Super AMOLED
Full color
Display size1.3 inch (46mm)
1.2 inch (42mm)
1.4 inches
Display resolution360 x 360 pixels360 x 360 pixels
Pixel density278 ppi346 ppi
Input typeTouchscreen,
2 physical buttons
physical rotating bezel
Touchscreen,
2 physical buttons
physical rotating bezel
Always-onYesYes
Customizable watch faceYesYes

BODY

ShapeCircularCircular
Dimension41.9 x 45.7 x 12.7 mm (42mm)
46 x 49 x 13 mm (46mm)
46.2 x 45 x 11.1 mm
Weight63 grams (46mm)
49 grams (42mm)
53.8 grams
(excluding straps)
Casing materialStainless steel/glass reinforced with polycarbonateStainless steel frame/glass reinforced with polycarbonate back
Strap/band materialSilicone
(leather straps also available)
Leather
Bezel MaterialCeramicsCeramics
Strap size22 mm (46mm)
20 mm (42mm)
22mm
Interchangeable band Yes, 22mm/20mmYes, 22mm
Screen protectionCorning Gorilla glass DX+Corning Gorilla glass DX
Water resistant/ProtectionYes, IP68, 5ATM
MIL-STD-810G
Yes, IP68, 5ATM
MIL-STD-810G
Swim-proofYes, recommendedYes, recommended
Color(s)Black, silver, rose-goldMystic black
Mystic silver

MEMORY

RAM1.5GB (LTE),
0.75GB (Non-LTE)
1GB
Internal storage4GB8GB
Memory card slotNoNo

CONNECTIVITY

BluetoothBluetooth v4.2Bluetooth v5.0
Bluetooth callingYesYes
Wi-FiYesYes
NFCYesYes
Payment systemSamsung paySamsung pay
GPSGLONASS/GPSGLONASS/A-GPS/Beidou/Galileo

CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY

TechnologyGSM/HSPA/LTENo
SIMYes, e-SIMNo
BandGSM 850/900/1800
WCDMA B1/2/5
No

NOTIFICATIONS

Email alertYesYes
SMS alertYesYes
Calls alertYesYes
Event reminderYesYes
WeatherYesYes
Third-party appsYesYes
Text responseYesYes

FITNESS TRACKING

Sleep apneaNoNo
Sleep trackingYesYes
StepsYesYes
Floors climbedYesYes
Heart rate monitoringYesYes
CaloriesYesYes
DistanceYesYes
StressYesYes
VO2 Max.YesYes
Blood oxygenNoYes
Blood pressureNoYes
Menstrual cycle trackingNoYes
Swim trackingYesYes
Under-water heart rate trackingNoYes
Preloaded mapsYesYes
On-screen workout modesNo__
Triathlon modeYesYes
ECG TrackingNoYes
Preloaded sport modesYesYes, 90
Safety trackingNoYes

MEDIA

Audiomp3/mp4mp3/mp4
Music streamingYesYes
Bluetooth musicYesYes
RadioNoNo
LoudspeakerYesYes
MicrophoneYesYes
CameraNoNo

SENSORS

PLATFORM

Operating system (OS)Tizen OS 4.0Tizen OS 5.5
ChipsetExynos 9110Exynos 9110
CPUDual core 1.15GHzDual core 1.15GHz
GPU----

BATTERY

Type of batteryNon-removable Li-ion batteryNon-removable Li-ion battery
Battery capacity 472mAh (46mm)
270mAh (42mm)
340mAh
Battery lifeStandby :5 days+,
Mixed usage: 3 days+
Mixed Usage:2 days
Charging typeCharging dockCharging dock
Wireless charging
Charging timeAbout 1-2 hoursAbout 1-2 hours
Battery saver modeYesYes
Solar powerNoNo
Rapid charging__

CLOCK FEATURES

Time/DateYesYes
StopwatchYesYes
AlarmYesYes

OTHER FUNCTIONS

Control cameraYesYes
Music controlYesYes
Find phoneYesYes

MISC

Compatibility Android 5.0+ & RAM 1.5GB+
iPhone 5+ and iOS 9.0+
Android 5.0+ & RAM 1.5GB+
iPhone 5+ and iOS 9.0+
Companion appSamsung Gear appSamsung Wearable app
Voice commandYesYes

BOX CONTENTS

Samsung Galaxy WatchSamsung Galaxy Watch 3 (45mm)
StrapsStraps
ChargerCharger
Quick start guideQuick start guide
NOTE: We can't guarantee that all the information on this table are 100% correct. Read full disclaimer. Please, report an error.
Official SiteOfficial Site

What’s the Difference?

Samsung Galaxy Watch vs Galaxy Watch 3 Features Compared
  1. Improved Design For Galaxy Watch 3
  2. The Galaxy Watch 3 looks almost like its predecessor, except that it’s now slimmer, more compact, and weighs a little less. The physical rotating bezel present on Galaxy Watch is also present on Galaxy Watch 3 but is now smoother and slimmer.

    Galaxy Watch 3 comes in two sizes just like its predecessor. It’s however now more compact at 41/45mm compared to 42/46mm, yet has a slightly larger 1.2/1.4 inches display compared to 1.2/1.3 inches of Galaxy Watch. It’s the same AMOLED technology that powers the display of both smartwatches. Corning Gorilla Glass DX has also been used to protect the respective screens.

  3. More Fitness Tracking Features on Galaxy Watch 3
  4. Galaxy Watch 3 comes with more fitness tracking features that make it a more comprehensive health tracker than it’s predecessor. Blood oxygen tracking, VO2 Max., ECG, blood pressure, and incidental fall detection are the new health-tracking present on Galaxy Watch 3 but not on Galaxy Watch.

    Moreover, about 120 home work-out videos have been introduced to Galaxy Watch 3. You can cast these videos to your smart TV and see your tracked metrics in real-time.

    Each of these two will track your steps, sleep in four stages, heart rate, calories, stress, and more. And there is an inbuilt GPS on both devices that enables you to track outdoor activities. There are also many preloaded work-out modes to choose from. Galaxy Watch 3 has been cleared by the FDA for ECG tracking, while it can also monitor blood pressure.

  5. Increased Storage Capacity
  6. Galaxy Watch 3 has twice the storage capacity of its predecessor. While it has 8GB storage capacity, Galaxy Watch has just 4GB. This of course allows you to store more of your favorite tracks and apps on the watch.

  7. Newer Tizen 0S 5.5 Platform
  8. Both smartwatches are powered by Samsung’s Exynos 9100 chip that’s built on a 10nm fabrication process. However, Galaxy Watch 3 runs on Tizen 5.5 out of the box which has added more interesting features that can improve users’ experience. Moreover, with a higher 1GB RAM on Galaxy Watch 3, it has a slightly better performance when compared to Galaxy Watch.

  9. Galaxy Watch 3 Has a Shorter Battery Life
  10. The price to pay for the slimmer, lighter, more compact and larger display of the Galaxy Watch 3 is that it has a shorter battery life than its predecessor. The Galaxy Watch 3 comes with a smaller 340mah battery capacity compared to 470mah of Galaxy Watch. As a result, it has about a 2-day long battery life compared to up to 4 days of Galaxy Watch. This is still very commendable, especially when compared to Apple Watch 5 or Fossil Gen 5 both of which can barely boast up to a day battery life.

Which is Better?

No doubt, these two are some of the best on the market, but Galaxy Watch 3 is a more sophisticated smartwatch than Galaxy Watch.

Although it cost a lot more, if the higher storage, improved performance, more fitness tracking features, and comfort matters more to you and you’re willing to compromise on battery life, then Galaxy Watch 3 is a better bargain.

However, Galaxy Watch is still a comprehensive fitness tracker with a sophisticated design and longer battery life. It’s a great choice if you’re tight on budget.

Should You Upgrade?

I already own the Galaxy Watch as well as Active 2 which I’ve been using for a while now, but I’ll be getting the Galaxy Watch 3 just to experience what’s new on it. If you feel the same way, it’s worthwhile upgrading, otherwise, the Galaxy Watch is still one of my favorite Samsung smartwatches. Update: I got the Galaxy Watch 3, and it’s no doubt a fantastic smartwatch.

Prices

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