Google already cut the Pixel Watch 3 LTE starting price from $350 to $250 to keep it competitive alongside the newer Pixel Watch 4. That was a solid deal. This is not that.
Right now on Amazon, the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 with LTE — originally $399.99 — is available for $159.99 in Matte Black with an Obsidian band. That’s $240 off, no coupon required. It’s the deepest discount any major US retailer has ever offered on this watch, and stock won’t last.
Google Pixel Watch 3 LTE
The Google Pixel Watch 3 is designed for performance, with advanced fitness from Fitbit; the 45mm screen is twice as bright and 40% larger than before, making it easier to see your stats and info
The Pixel Watch 3 isn’t new. It launched 18 months ago and was superseded by a faster, brighter Pixel Watch 4 last fall. But at this price, the age gap stops mattering.
You still get a capable Wear OS smartwatch with standalone cellular connectivity, solid fitness tracking, and Google’s long-term software support — which, for what it’s worth, is among the best in the Android wearables space. Google tends to fix the things that break, and it keeps supporting its devices well after competitors would have moved on.
One honest caveat
Our full Pixel Watch 3 review flagged occasional software bugs as a genuine frustration at launch. If stability is non-negotiable for you, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is worth a look instead.
But if you can live with the odd hiccup — or trust that Google patches them — this is hard to beat for the price.
The bottom line
The Pixel Watch 4 has better battery life. It’s also significantly more expensive. At $160 for an LTE smartwatch from Google, the Pixel Watch 3 becomes a straightforward decision for anyone who’s been sitting on the fence.
Place the Amazon order now. This kind of discount doesn’t stick around.
Google Pixel Watch 3 LTE
The Google Pixel Watch 3 is designed for performance, with advanced fitness from Fitbit; the 45mm screen is twice as bright and 40% larger than before, making it easier to see your stats and info
Let’s be real: if you saw the Honor Watch X5i on someone’s wrist, you’d probably assume it was an Apple Watch. Same silhouette, same vibe. But while Apple’s version will set you back $329, Honor’s take costs just 229 yuan — around $33. And somehow, it still brings a lot to the table.
Watch X5i design and display
The similarities to Apple’s wearable are obvious, and Honor clearly wasn’t shy about the inspiration. The casing is plastic, which helps keep the weight down to a barely-there 28.1 grams (41.4 with the strap). The AMOLED display is sharp at 450 x 390 pixels, smooth at 60 Hz, and backed by over 180 watch faces if you like switching things up.
Battery life stretches to three weeks under normal use — genuinely impressive at any price. Flip on always-on display and that drops to around six days, which is still perfectly respectable.
Features and health tracking
Don’t expect Apple Watch levels of performance. The X5i runs a modest processor with an RTOS, so the app ecosystem is limited and raw speed isn’t its strong suit. But for everyday use, it covers the basics well — heart rate, SpO2, stress, sleep, and cycle tracking are all here, alongside 109 sport modes ranging from cycling to, yes, darts.
You can also take calls directly from your wrist through your phone, and it works with both Android and iPhone.
Durability
One area where corners were clearly cut: water resistance sits at just 1 ATM. That’s fine for rain and a shower, but don’t think about taking it swimming. IP68 certification covers the dust and splash protection side of things.
Price and availability
Right now the X5i is only confirmed for China at 229 yuan (~$33). No word yet on international release dates or pricing.
For the initial batch of devices, Honor will start distributing new lock screen widgets today. The company has formally declared that a new version of the MagicOS smartphones would have intriguing additions and modifications in the near future.
The business will release new lock screen widgets for Honor devices running MagicOS 10.0.0.150, according to official information. The MagicOS 10.0.0126 build version will provide customers of Magic V6 foldables with the most recent improvements.
According to the business, the new lock screen widgets will be installed on the initial batch of devices on April 1st. Later on, the new modifications will be applied to the other devices.
“First of all, thank you for your continued attention to the lock screen widgets. This feature will be supported in MagicOS version 10.0.0.150 in April and will be rolled out to everyone gradually. We will answer your questions in advance.”
Additional information indicates that more than 20 lock screen widgets will be supported by the initial batch of smartphones. Real-time weather, air quality, UV index, timetable, alarm clock, YOYO (a fitness app), battery level, WeChat, and Alipay capabilities are all included in the list.
Users can try upgrading the relevant app, such as the clock, weather, and others, if a widget is absent from the settings or widget panel. Additionally, the lower left corner of the screen displays the step count statistics and other health-related information.
According to Honor, the official software team moved the lock screen step count to a unique step count widget and improved the overall visual appeal.
The business also stated that it will keep considering user input and offer more crucial widgets in the future. Currently, Honor Music, Notes, Calculator, Voice Recorder, Timer, and Stopwatch are among the widgets being developed. Third-party widgets might soon be added to the lock screen as well.
Before September 2026, the mobile tech scene is getting hotter. The aggressive specs of Qualcomm’s upcoming flagship CPU, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen6 Pro (SM8975), have been revealed by reputable source @DigitalChatStation. As expected, Xiaomi is set to unveil this powerhouse with the eagerly awaited Xiaomi 18 series, making it the first company to do so. Additionally, the future REDMI K90 Pro Max in the domestic market will be built around this silicon beast. Please take note that this device will be released worldwide under the POCO brand as the POCO F9 Ultra.
Inside the architecture redefining modern silicon
Now let’s explore the technological specifics. It appears that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen6 Pro will be an architectural monster. An enormous shared 16MB L2 cache, 8MB of SLC (System Level Cache), and an amazing 18MB of GMEM (Graphics Memory) are confirmed by leaked customs manifests and insider accounts. This configuration, when paired with an improved Adreno 850 GPU, is built to handle demanding workloads and intense gaming sessions.
Two super cores, three performance cores, and three efficiency cores make up the CPU’s unusual 2+3+3 cluster architecture. The SM8975 efficiently breaks existing memory bandwidth limitations by supporting next-generation LPDDR6 memory up to 16GB to fuel this demanding processor.
The system changes that are moving markets right now
Hardware doesn’t tell the whole story. Xiaomi HyperOS 4 will launch on these new flagship devices. HyperOS 4, which was designed from the ground up to be a very effective Android skin, will make full use of the new Snapdragon chip’s optimized 2+3+3 architecture and enormous L2 cache. Unprecedented battery life and excellent thermal control are anticipated as a result of this combination. HyperOS 4’s background task handlers will be able to maintain your most popular apps in memory without depleting the battery thanks to the aggressive cache architecture, guaranteeing that the user interface will stay instantly responsive even under high loads.
Honor isn’t spending any time getting its new Magic 8 Pro ready for its domestic China launch this month, even if it’s hard to believe that new flagship phone season has already begun again. My firsthand impressions are based on the pre-production unit that Honor supplied me prior to the launch.
Honor’s Magic OS 10 software, which is based on Android 16, is installed on this China model. It has Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 hardware, a state-of-the-art camera system, a beautiful, elegant design that is lighter than before, and the largest battery I’ve ever seen in a flagship phone – despite the weight decrease.
Specs and availability
Before making its way to other regions, such as Europe, later this year in Sunrise Gold, Sky Cyan, and Black hues, the Honor Magic 8 Pro will make its debut in China in October 2025.
At launch, the phone comes with a 7,200mAh battery and a single SKU with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. Because of European battery size constraints, the European model will come with a 6,270mAh battery.
Honor comes with a clear TPU case, a USB cable, a 100W charger, and a film screen protector already fitted on the phone. Very good deal when compared to other flagships!
Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner, 3D depth front camera for face recognition
Battery
7100mAh (China) or 6270mAh (Europe) Silicon-carbon battery
Charging
100W wired, 80W wireless
Durability
IP68, IP69, IP69k
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
RAM
12GB
Storage
512GB
Dimensions
161.15mm x 75mm x 8.4mm
Weight
213g
Colors
Sunrise Gold, Sky Cyan, Black
New designa and a huge battery
I could sense the difference from the previous year as soon as I took the Honor Magic 8 Pro out of the package. In addition to being smoother than before (in a non-slippery fashion, strange as that sounds), the phone’s soft, brushed metal sides also organically curve into the front and rear of the chassis, offering remarkable weight alleviation over the previous model.
Honor appears to have found a good mix between the flat side trend and a more pleasant set of curves, which is something I dislike about most phones with flat edges. Only the extreme margins of the corners are pushed into a curve, making the display flatter than before.
The new design’s touted feature is a new AI button, which is situated around two-thirds of the way down the phone’s right side. Although it may also be used as a camera control button with swipe-to-zoom capabilities, this long button, which is flush with the frame, is primarily used as an AI button right out of the box.
In China, YOYO video AI can be accessed by long-pressing the button; this capability at least somewhat resembles Gemini Live. Honor hasn’t officially disclosed their plans, but it’s probable that international versions will include this feature with Gemini rather than YOYO.
Additionally, you can personalize a single or double press of this button to take a screenshot for AI memories, start the camera, or open the AI memories center.
I really enjoyed this final feature since it made it simple for me to keep track of facts throughout the day. For instance, I came across a local post about a Harry Potter event that was taking place at the end of the month while perusing Instagram. The screenshot of this incident was saved in my AI memories when I tapped the AI button, and I can locate it by searching for “Harry Potter” in the AI memories app.
These days, my preferred method of finding information is this kind of context-sensitive information searching, which is comparable to the Pixel Screenshots app. You can even request that YOYO “find all my screenshots and eliminate the fuzzy ones” for the Chinese models. If you choose not to utilize it, the implementation is totally ignorable and doesn’t feel intrusive at all.
You will care about the improved battery even if you don’t give a damn about the new AI button. With Honor’s latest silicon-carbon battery technology, which has an incredible 7,100mAh capacity, the Magic 8 Pro has the largest battery I’ve ever seen in a typical flagship phone. Despite this, the phone weighs less than the one from the previous year.
The Honor Magic V5 also featured a comparable capacity increase and this battery technology. This isn’t “empty capacity” or anything because, at the beginning of the third day of my testing, I had barely less than 20% remaining after going two full days without charging. It’s authentic.
About the camera
Every shot I took with the Honor Magic 8 Pro impressed me on a pleasant fall day. As I’ve come to anticipate from Honor phones, this one performs especially well in motion capture, portrait mode, and with the telephoto camera. It’s not surprising to see that upgraded here with even better sensors because even Honor’s more reasonably priced phones capture beautiful portrait mode photos.
Images captured using the viewfinder’s 2x, 3.7x, or 10x presets are outstanding. The camera performed well in every situation I tested it in, and I doubt I could ask for more from any camera with a zoom of less than 10x.
Honor also emphasizes the phone’s capacity to capture images in difficult lighting conditions, an area where other phones frequently falter. One such moment is The Blue Hour, which occurs immediately before the sun sets.
In addition to the fact that color is typically difficult to capture at this time, longer exposure times are frequently required to obtain sharp images. Comparing the Magic 8 Pro to the Pixel 10 Pro XL, the former passed this test with flying colors.
Furthermore, all of the exciting new toys are buried in the AI processing, even though the telephoto camera has some amazing new stability and low-light characteristics as well as improved dynamic range.
Viewing your images in context is no longer the only use for motion photos. With only two taps, you can add motion trails, turn any motion snapshot into a slow-motion video, or make an amazing stop-motion animation with the Magic 8 Pro’s new AI editing features.
Additionally, Honor is introducing some cool new AI-based recoloring modes, including as Warm Sunset, Golden Autumn, and Romantic Blue, to give your old photographs a fresh look.
Honor Magic 8 Pro – raw power, AI and photography
As the international debut draws nearer, we’ll be discussing the many interesting and fresh announcements regarding this phone. As of right now, Honor’s most recent products are receiving great reviews, and the business is consistently improving both the hardware and software designs, such as the new MagicOS 10 that runs on Android 16.
Since Google is on its fourth generation of the Pixel Watch, time flies, if you will, and smartwatches are an essential component of our everyday digital environment.
Even though Google has been producing wearable software for a long time, it took some time to enter the market, but the Pixel Watch soon became one of the top substitutes for the Apple Watch.
Although the Pixel Watch 4 and the previous model may look very similar, this is not a bad thing because Google has made a number of changes and improvements that are difficult to notice at first sight.
The Pixel Watch 4 may be the greatest Wear OS smartwatch of the year, as Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 series has been somewhat of a letdown. To discover out, I’ve been using it for almost three weeks.
Design
The Pixel Watch 4 bears a striking resemblance to the original, as well as to the Pixel Watch 3. We frequently demand design overhauls as tech reviewers, but in this instance, I don’t believe one is presently necessary.
Google rectified a significant issue and released a bigger size last year. You can choose between 41- or 45mm models this year, and we are testing the larger one here in the new Moonstone design, which I think has a smart yet simple appearance that appeals to both genders.
If you choose the correct model, you might be able to match this color, along with some of the other colors, with the Pixel 10 phones. However, because Champagne Gold is only available in 41mm and Moonstone is only available in 45mm, it’s not that simple.
The Pixel Watch 4 is quite comfy to wear all the time. The aluminum body, which weighs only 37g for the larger version, and its sleek design are a match made in heaven.
You have the digital crown on the side to access your apps and scroll, as normal. There is also a button above it to view your recently used apps, however I never seem to utilize it.
Before we continue, there are two more design components to discuss, and the first one turns out to be better in person than anticipated.
In order to accommodate a new dock, Google has shifted the charging pin connectors to the side. These appeared to have been deliberately excluded from pictures of the watch. Many people, myself included, were concerned that they might appear rather unattractive as a result, but thankfully they don’t.
Since Google redesigned the device to be repairable, even though it still looks roughly the same, the other design element is unseen as such.
Fans have requested that, and now the Pixel Watch 4’s screen and battery may be swapped out if necessary. If you have an accident or want to replace the battery to prolong the device’s life, that’s fantastic news. You could even do it yourself.
The Pixel Watch 4 can now be fixed at home because it is fastened together with screws rather than glue. Even its IP68 water and dust resistance need be maintained.
It even received a 9 out of 10 for repairability from Ifixit, which referred to it as “the best repairable smartwatch on the market.”
Although you probably won’t need this feature anytime soon, it’s important to note that the Pixel Watch 4 has Gorilla Glass 5 rather than sapphire glass like some of its competitors.
As a result, it is less scratch-resistant, but it should withstand drops and impacts better. We haven’t experienced any issues with watches that have been in use for a year or longer, and the same glass has been used in watches from earlier generations.
Google Pixel Watch 4
he Google Pixel Watch 4 is a stunning display of precision craftsmanship, with Gemini, your built-in AI assistant, Google’s longest-lasting battery, and comprehensive tools for next-level health and fitness performance
You wouldn’t notice the Pixel Watch 4’s new screen beneath the glass front, showing how well it conceals its improvements. The Actua 360 AMOLED screen has a domed display and is referred to by Google as the “first-of-its-kind.”
It truly differs significantly from both its predecessors and others. You can see what’s available from the side thanks to its slight fish-eye vision, which is similar to what you get from glass beer pumps at bars.
It’s not so spectacular, but the experience is enjoyable and the “active area” is bigger than it was previously.
The resolution and dynamic refresh rate of 1–60 Hz are among the specifications that are essentially the same everywhere. At 3000 nits, the new peak brightness is comparable to several “Ultra” category smartwatches.
While I’ve been testing the Pixel Watch 4, the weather has been not that sunny, but on one particularly sunny day outside, I used it without any problems.
The Pixel Watch 4’s left-side speaker is respectable and more than capable of picking up Gemini’s responses. If you would like, you can also use it to make a phone call.
Google Pixel Watch 4
he Google Pixel Watch 4 is a stunning display of precision craftsmanship, with Gemini, your built-in AI assistant, Google’s longest-lasting battery, and comprehensive tools for next-level health and fitness performance
The Pixel Watch 4 features a the new operating system, WearOS 6 in addition to a new processor, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5 Gen 2.
Sometimes things don’t happen quickly. It may take a moment or two to load certain apps, like Spotify, and call out Gemini, but this usually happens on the first time. You’ll also need to exercise patience if you’re connecting to a Nest camera’s live stream.
Similar to Pixel phones, the Pixel Watch 4 features Google’s Material 3 Expressive design language and the most basic version of Wear OS 6 (Samsung, for instance, puts One UI 8 Watch over the top).
With optimized designs, animations, vibrant colors, and more, it performs incredibly well on the smartwatch. In my view, part of it appears too young on phones, yet it feels more modern. A dozen watch faces are pre-installed, but adding additional is simple.
Once more, the tiles on either side of the watch face – which are effectively widgets – provide instant access to features and information and may be tailored to your specific needs.
The experience is further improved by a new haptic feedback engine, which makes everything from scrolling to notifications clear and responsive.
On the Pixel Watch 4, Gemini takes the role of Google Assistant (the AI bot is being implemented on all devices). If you’d like, you can even configure it to wake up with a wake-to-wake command.
Although I’ve seen that I use the watch much more than my phone, it can be challenging to understand its limitations. Naturally, it can respond to requests, but this option is only a shortcut to my current heart rate, even though the welcome guide that came with it stated that it could “inform you about your heart rate.”
Additionally, there are AI capabilities like Smart Replies that try to provide tailored recommendations based on your writing style. When someone asks what coffee they would like, the Google Store example shows a selection of two coffees.
I’m lucky that this works with WhatsApp, which is where I send all of my messages, but it doesn’t seem to know me well. I was given three different ways to request a black coffee, which is the only type of coffee I don’t consume, in response to the coffee question. All it said in a group chat was “hahaha.”
It’s also important to note that Smart Replies only function on Pixel phones.
Some safety features include fall detection, loss of pulse detection, check-in, crash detection, and emergency SOS, but I haven’t required any of them. Please take note that satellite connectivity requires the LTE models.
Google Pixel Watch 4
he Google Pixel Watch 4 is a stunning display of precision craftsmanship, with Gemini, your built-in AI assistant, Google’s longest-lasting battery, and comprehensive tools for next-level health and fitness performance
It performs all the functions you would anticipate from a top smartwatch, but Google hasn’t improved the tracking sensors from the Pixel Watch 3.
The default watch face displays the steps, calories, floors, and other metrics along the border of the larger 45mm screen. The Fitbit app, which is due to undergo a major revamp, also includes information on skin temperature, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and other aspects of exercise.
Google Pixel Watch 4
he Google Pixel Watch 4 is a stunning display of precision craftsmanship, with Gemini, your built-in AI assistant, Google’s longest-lasting battery, and comprehensive tools for next-level health and fitness performance
You may explore many areas on the Pixel Watch 4 and the Fitbit app on your phone, which provides you with a comprehensive picture of your activities. Everything in my testing, including sleep tracking, which provides you with a score and a summary of your night, is correct.
To get “advanced insights, personalised recommendations, and energizing workouts,” you will need Fitbit Premium, which costs £7.99/$9.99 per month or £79.99/$79.99 per year. One of the best features of Fitbit Premium is the Readiness score, which considers all the data to determine how much you should take that day.
Fitbit Premium is available for free for six months with the Pixel Watch 4, so you can at least give it a try before determining if it’s worth the money. Morning Brief, which provides you with a summary of your calendar, sleep patterns, and weather, won’t require it.
Via Fitbit, Google does a great job of presenting all the information and helping you achieve your goals.
You may focus more on things like the Cardio Load metric and the Fitbit phone app, which offers a plethora of workout videos and a running coach (though I haven’t been able to try the AI personal health coach because it’s only available in the US), if you’re more of a fitness enthusiast than I am.
If fitness is a top priority for you, you can choose a Garmin or something similar, but for a more popular wristwatch, I think the Pixel Watch 4 performs admirably.
It can automatically track several of the 52 sports that are available for activity tracking. The selection is a little odd given that pickleball (whatever it is) is right there and boxing is AWOL, but other watches can do many more, frequently much over 100.
Dual-band GPS is now available for more precise tracking during walks, runs, and other activities. I discovered that it picked up a signal in a matter of seconds. It recorded my walks around the neighborhood with a good degree of precision, even though I don’t live in a dense forest where technology has a greater influence.
The bodily reactions feature (as well as equivalent features on competing watches) that tracks your emotional state hasn’t convinced me yet. This still looks basic, though, as it seems to identify an elevated heart rate—which might be caused by nearly anything.
Along with the ability to record your mood—whether it be joyful or anxious, for instance—you will receive a message. The few “feelings” I could choose from meant that I was rarely able to choose how I truly felt, and when I could recall what I was doing at the time, it was usually something routine like getting my kid ready to leave the house.
Google Pixel Watch 4
he Google Pixel Watch 4 is a stunning display of precision craftsmanship, with Gemini, your built-in AI assistant, Google’s longest-lasting battery, and comprehensive tools for next-level health and fitness performance
You can use the Pixel Watch 4 for up to 30 or 40 hours (41 and 45 mm, respectively) with the display always on thanks to Google’s ability to squeeze a little larger battery into both sizes.
With Battery Saver enabled, this lasts for 48 or 72 hours, although you should avoid using the watch in that mode unless absolutely necessary.
The purpose of your smartwatch will determine how long its battery lasts. We’ve been testing the 45mm model, and with less use, we can get two days and nights on a single charge, sometimes even more.
Regular charging is necessary for users who use GPS to track intense exercises every day, use the screen in direct sunlight, and use other battery-draining features.
When you do, though, it’s incredibly quick, and Google’s new Quick Charge Dock is a lot more stylish option than the earlier chargers.
Although the dock is modest and might use some weight to maintain its flatness (cable management is crucial in this situation), I still greatly like it over the prior version or other competitors. The screen will indicate whether the other end of the cable is plugged in or whether the contacts are not perfectly aligned. It will also display the time and remaining battery life when charging.
Even for the 45mm with a larger battery, charging is remarkably fast (25% faster than the Pixel Watch 3); our testing even surpass Google’s claims in this regard. I watched it go from completely dead to 50% in 15 minutes and 89% in 30 minutes.
One important aspect of the Pixel Watch 4 is that the battery can be changed, as stated in the design section. You might even feel comfortable doing it at home. If you want the item to endure many more years before you need to upgrade, this could be essential.
Google Pixel Watch 4
he Google Pixel Watch 4 is a stunning display of precision craftsmanship, with Gemini, your built-in AI assistant, Google’s longest-lasting battery, and comprehensive tools for next-level health and fitness performance
The Pixel Watch 4 is priced at £349/$349.99, which is the same as its predecessor despite the numerous improvements.
Naturally, that will result in the WiFi/Bluetooth model’s smaller 41mm size; hence, it will cost more to add LTE connectivity or go with the larger 45mm.
Pixel Watch 4 (41mm Wi-Fi) – £349/$349/€399
Pixel Watch 4 (41mm LTE) – £449/$449/€499
Pixel Watch 4 (45mm Wi-Fi) – £399/$399/€449
Pixel Watch 4 (45mm LTE) – £499/$499/€549
In spite of Google, you can get it via US retailers like Amazon, Argos, Currys, Very, John Lewis, and Best Buy.
It’s fairly priced, falling between the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (£319/$349.99) and the Apple Watch Series 11 (£369/$399). To get the most out of Fitbit, you may need to purchase Fitbit Premium, as previously suggested.
Google Pixel Watch 4
he Google Pixel Watch 4 is a stunning display of precision craftsmanship, with Gemini, your built-in AI assistant, Google’s longest-lasting battery, and comprehensive tools for next-level health and fitness performance
With just a few minor problems, the Pixel Watch 4 is, in our opinion, the greatest Wear OS watch available.
Although you may disagree, it’s the most attractive watch, and Google did a fantastic job of making it repairable so you can change the screen or battery – possibly at home.
The interface looks and functions fantastic, the new Quick Charge Dock is a blessing, the domed screen is a treat, the performance is generally smooth, and there are many smartwatch, fitness, and health capabilities.
Gemini still needs more improvement, and Smart Replies are limited. In addition, the OnePlus Watch 3 offers a more durable smartwatch at a lower cost.
However, if you’re searching for a flagship smartwatch that does almost everything well, the Pixel Watch 4 is a great all-arounder and comes highly recommended.
All specs
Wear OS 6
41 or 45mm
Actua 360 display, AMOLED, 1-60Hz, 3000 nits peak
Snapdragon W5 Gen 2
2GB RAM
32GB storage
Heart rate monitor
SpO2
ECG
Skin temperature
Microphone
Speaker
Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth 6.0
Satellite SOS (LTE models)
Ultra Wideband
Dual-band GPS
eSIM
NFC
325/455mAh battery
Quick Charge Dock
Gorilla Glass 5
IP68/5ATM
31/37g
Google Pixel Watch 4
he Google Pixel Watch 4 is a stunning display of precision craftsmanship, with Gemini, your built-in AI assistant, Google’s longest-lasting battery, and comprehensive tools for next-level health and fitness performance
The Amazfit Balance 2, a smartwatch that puts your fitness first, is the sequel to the Balance.
The Active 2 has the intelligence to cover you whether you’re a Hyrox fan, want something to help you train for a marathon, or want to jump in the water with it. In addition to tracking, it aims to assist you in making more informed choices regarding when to workout and when to take a day off.
Through the ability to pay for itself, stream music while on the go, and download apps to improve the Balance 2’s functionality, it seeks to compete with the Apple Watch and Wear OS devices, such the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8.
Design and display
Like the original Balance, the Balance 2 features a totally circular case with a thin physical bezel, a single pusher, and a rotating crown-style button. Overall, it’s a quite stylish watch, but it’s a little chunkier than the previous Balance due to its 12.3mm thickness.
The well-weighted aluminum alloy used to make that 47mm case has polymer around the rear, which houses the optical sensor array. The silicone strap is rather commonplace and not all that unlike from those found on sports watches made by Garmin or Polar. The box comes with two different colored straps that you can interchange between, which is excellent.
A 1.5-inch AMOLED touchscreen with 480 x 480 resolution is front and center; its dimensions and resolution are identical to those of the original Balance.
The Balance 2 has a maximum screen brightness of 2,000 nits, which is something that smartwatch manufacturers currently love to boast about. Overall, the display provides a positive experience. It responds to swipes, touches, and prods, is razor sharp, and provides good visibility in brighter outdoor light.
Sapphire glass, which offers some of the strongest protection available on a watch, shields its display from scratches. It’s nice to see it on a more affordable watch because it’s typically found on much more costly ones. Additionally, there were no scratches found throughout testing.
The Balance 2 is also very waterproof. It has a waterproof rating of 10ATM, which is higher than the 5ATM found on the original Balance. Because of this, it can now be immersed in water up to 100 meters deep. Furthermore, it can be used for recreational diving up to 45 meters. Generally speaking, a smartwatch that can do that would cost a lot more.
Amazfit Balance 2
Built for Performance and Style: The sleek aluminum body and 1.5″ durable sapphire crystal glass screen of the Balance 2 smart watch offer a premium, resilient design, while dual speakers provide clear audio cues during training.
Similar to other Amazfit smartwatches, the Balance 2 is powered by a proprietary operating system. It comes with Zepp OS 5.0, which has a significant AI effect. You can utilize Zepp Coach for exercise or the mediocrely helpful Zepp Flow smart assistant.
In addition to those AI-powered smarts, you’ll also receive standard smartwatch features, such as the ability to check notifications, which are shown on the watch as a stream. They accomplish the task, but they are not the actionable type. There is a well-optimized music player with playing controls, as well as the option to answer calls over Bluetooth, where the built-in speaker and microphone provide good loudness and clarity.
Zepp Pay, which is currently available in 31 countries, does support contactless payments. Although it’s not nearly as smooth as Apple Pay, it does allow you to leave your contactless cards and extra change behind, something that other Apple Watch and Wear OS wristwatch competitors make more difficult.
Other apps and watch faces are also available to you. Since the preloaded watch faces aren’t very great, I would highly advise looking at the other possibilities available in the store.
There is a variety of both free and paid applications accessible. GoPro, DJI, and Sonos all have a limited number of approved apps. In addition, you will need to seek for the most helpful ones to download. No, Google Play isn’t.
The software experience on the watch is a fairly standard gesture-based one. Key functionalities are all accessible with a finger swipe. While it is still busy in areas like device settings and workout tab navigation, the Zepp companion app has grown a little less cumbersome overall.
Is the experience on the wristwatch comparable to that of an Apple Watch or a Wear OS smartwatch? No, in my opinion. Is it sufficient? If you’re not too picky about having the greatest smartwatch features, I’d say there’s enough to please most people.
Amazfit Balance 2
Built for Performance and Style: The sleek aluminum body and 1.5″ durable sapphire crystal glass screen of the Balance 2 smart watch offer a premium, resilient design, while dual speakers provide clear audio cues during training.
Now let’s go into the specifics of the Balance 2, which is mostly a smartwatch that tracks your exercises. It possesses almost all of the necessary components to accomplish that.
Training insights like VO2 max and recovery time recommendations, the ability to create and follow training regimens, the newest dual-band GPS technology for more precise outside monitoring, and the ability to sync data to third-party fitness apps like Strava are all available.
When compared to one of Garmin’s best dual-band sports watches, the Balance 2 did well in our GPS testing from a tracking perspective. However, it did occasionally record somewhat shorter distances for certain outdoor exercises.
During exercise, the heart rate sensor also performed well. It performed well for average and maximum heart rate measurements when I used it for interval-style exercises instead of a dedicated heart rate monitor. The possibility to attach external heart rate monitors is also a nice feature in case you ever doubt the accuracy of the wrist-based data. It performed similarly to other swim trackers for pool swims in terms of stroke detection, pace, and distance.
In addition to promoting its Hyrox modes, Zepp Health also provides recognition for a variety of strength-based exercises for individuals who enjoy strength training.
Generally speaking, these modes function well. It can track runs and effort levels for the latter, whether you’re using it for Hyrox sessions or on race day. You may create training regimens on the app and choose exercises that will sync with your watch. It’s all quite simple.
Free color maps are also available for people who enjoy exerting themselves on adventures; these must be downloaded from the app and then synchronized across. Although it might not have as many settings as the greatest watch-based mapping support available, it still performs far better than the majority of smartwatches in this area.
I would argue that the Balance 2 is catching up to the sports watch industry if you want it to be more of a training partner. It didn’t feel very helpful or insightful to use the AI-powered Zepp Coach and premium Zepp Coach Chat capabilities.
With data and assistance comparable to sports watches, the Balance 2 may be used to build workouts and rely on training insights, such as VO2 Max predictions and training load.
The Balance 2 will track the length of sleep, create sleep scores, and separate sleep into its several phases. The data for the core sleep data has been quite comparable on the most of the nights that I’ve been wearing it in conjunction with the Oura Ring 4.
Battery
The Balance 2 is a smartwatch that can endure a week of heavier use or go weeks without needing to be charged. According to Zepp Health, the battery can last up to 21 days, but if you’re using the most power-hungry functions, it will only last 10 days.
The Balance 2 is a smartwatch that can endure a week of heavier use or go weeks without needing to be charged. According to Zepp Health, the battery can last up to 21 days, but if you’re using the most power-hungry functions, it will only last 10 days.
There is a tiny proprietary charging cradle that needs one of your own USB-C charging cables to power back up when it’s time to charge because one isn’t included in the package. Although you won’t be charging it as frequently as you would other smartwatches, it is also a reasonably quick charger.
Amazfit Balance 2
Built for Performance and Style: The sleek aluminum body and 1.5″ durable sapphire crystal glass screen of the Balance 2 smart watch offer a premium, resilient design, while dual speakers provide clear audio cues during training.
If you’re searching for a more affordable alternative to numerous sports watches that combine smartwatch and sports tracking capabilities, the Amazfit Balance 2 is another evidence that Zepp Health is making significant strides with its smartwatches.
The same thing that hinders other Amazfit smartwatches also hinders the Balance 2. It’s still not nearly the whole package. There are many things that it does well, but overall, the program is a little sloppy and just falls short of the competition.
I’d be more persuaded that watches like the Balance 2 are respectable substitutes for the top sports smartwatches available if Zepp Health could improve those aspects.
Ever since they upended the industry by releasing flagship phones that reduced the market share of the iPhone, I have been evaluating OnePlus smartphones. Somewhere, that crispness was lost as OnePlus grew over the years.
However, the OnePlus 13s seems like a relaunch, a return to the original OnePlus: community-driven, focused, and straightforward. With its sleek, small design, the 13s makes a far bigger statement than the OnePlus 13 and 13R, which suggested a return.
Design
The OnePlus 13s is elegant, solid and small, and it hits the mark right away when you hold it. Yes, the clean symmetry and flat frame make it resemble an iPhone, but it never comes across as a cheesy knockoff. In fact, it feels just as good in the hand as phones like the Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16 Pro.
In a time when smartphones weigh 220g, the 13s is surprisingly light at 8.15mm thin and 185g. A textured glass finish that feels smooth without being flashy or slick is used on the back. On flat surfaces, the flush camera module makes sure there is no wobbling. The Green Silk version, which feels as high-end as it looks, is a lovely addition that is exclusive to India.
Also, OnePlus’s well-known Alert Slider has been transformed into the Plus Key, a configurable button that can be mapped to start apps and even initiate AI activities. It can be long-pressed to switch between quiet, vibrating, and ringing modes. Sensible and realistic without being overly dramatic.
An added plus is the phone’s IP65 designation, which allows it to withstand dust, rain, and unintentional splashes but falls short of complete waterproofing like the flagship models. That’s a victory for a little Android flagship.
Display
On paper, the 6.32-inch LTPO AMOLED may appear small, yet it excels in key areas. It is bright, sharp, and able to withstand the intense sunlight of Delhi thanks to its FHD+ or 1.5K resolution, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and maximum brightness of 1600 nits.
The color calibration by OnePlus is also flawless; it’s rich without being overpowering. The viewing experience is visually pleasing whether you’re watching Instagram Reels or IPL highlights, and I didn’t miss the 4K that was missing from my Netflix series. To be honest, I don’t see why anyone would be upset about losing out on the extra nuances of 4K on a screen this small.
Even wet hands—or sweaty ones during hot summers—won’t impair touch response thanks to Aqua Touch 2.0.
For individuals who find the large 6.7-inch slabs of today awkward, the Oneplus 13s provide a wonderfully portable option without feeling claustrophobic.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 12GB LPDDR5X RAM, and UFS 4.0 storage are installed under the hood. In summary, its performance is on par with flagship models.
The Oneplus 13s doesn’t blink whether you’re balancing multiple tabs on Chrome, Instagram, WhatsApp, and BGMI. Because of the vapor chamber cooling mechanism, it maintains frame rates steadily even throughout extended gaming sessions. Even in hot 40°C summers, OnePlus has managed to keep thermals under control thanks to some serious engineering.
You can easily reach a steady 120 frames per second on BGMI, and even after an hour of gaming, the phone remains warm – not hot. The 13s provides consistently regardless of whether you’re a casual user, gamer, or multitasker. Importantly, there are no sporadic lags or harsh throttling, even while multitasking for extended periods of time—something that even larger phones can have trouble with.
Camera
Here’s where things get interesting. The OnePlus 13s skips the trendy ultrawide lens and instead goes for a more focused setup: 50MP Sony LYT-700 primary sensor (f/1.8, OIS) 50MP 2x telephoto lens 32MP front camera with autofocus
50MP Sony LYT-700 primary sensor (f/1.8, OIS)
50MP 2x telephoto lens
32MP front camera with autofocus
Photos appear natural in daylight because of the great dynamic range and well-balanced colors. The 13s captures realistic images without the highly saturated processing we frequently see in typical Indian settings, such as bustling marketplaces, bright outdoor spaces, or verdant landscapes.
It also performs well in low light. Though not nearly as good as Google’s Pixel Night Sight or Xiaomi’s Leica-tuned cameras, nighttime street images are detailed with controlled noise. The 2x telephoto is excellent for portraits and tighter framing, but the absence of an ultrawide will be a pain if you enjoy taking landscapes or group shots.
The 32MP selfie camera is a delight – crisp, sharp, and excellent for video calls even under average indoor lighting.
With minimal tweaking, Oneplus 13s will produce Instagram-worthy photos for the majority of users. You might want to look elsewhere if you’re a purist photographer who longs for zoom versatility or ultrawide enchantment. However, the 13s is equally good for everyday recollections and social networking.
Battery
OnePlus somehow managed to fit a 5,850mAh battery into this slim body – and it pays off massively. In daily use – think 5G on, social media, camera, gaming, video calls – the 13s comfortably lasts a full day and often stretches into the next morning. In fact, it’s easily one of the longest-lasting compact flagships around right now.
Heavy BGMI gamers can pull around 7 hours of continuous play. Normal users will easily see 6-7 screen-on hours on a typical day, which is remarkable for a phone this size.
Additionally, charging is quick—80W SuperVOOC will charge you from 0% to 100% in about 50 to 60 minutes. Although wireless charging isn’t included, it’s hardly a deal breaker at this price point in India, where conventional charging is still common.
Another noteworthy feature is bypass charging, which minimizes battery wear and lowers heat by powering the phone directly during games rather than using the battery. Excellent for extended battery life and for gamers.
Conectivity
All of the well-known bands are supported by the OnePlus 13s’ extensive 5G band coverage. Even in challenging locations like metro stations and basements, it maintained robust 5G connectivity in real-world usage.
Even in spotty locations, there are very few dropouts during voice and video calls, indicating great call quality. During commutes, the stereo speakers are ideal for streaming YouTube or Netflix because they are clear and loud.
There’s dual SIM 5G standby, Wi-Fi 7 readiness for future-proofing, and even an IR blaster – a small but underrated feature for controlling your ACs, TVs and more. My personal favorite.
OnePlus 13s OS
On the Oneplus 13s, OxygenOS seems quick, clean, and bloat-free. Just like OnePlus enthusiasts would have hoped. With four years of Android OS upgrades and six years of security fixes, this phone is long-lasting and free of spam and advertisements.
Additionally, OxygenOS 15 has been polished with small features that improve everyday usability, such as Open Canvas for multitasking and smooth Mac/Windows file transfers.
Additionally, OnePlus guarantees Private Computing Cloud security for its AI capabilities, which means that your private information won’t be taken to the cloud without your permission.
All specs
Category
OnePlus 13s
Display
6.32 -inch 120Hz LTPO AMOLED, 2640×1216, 1600 nits max
OS
OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, Adreno 830, 3nm
RAM
12GB LPDDR5X
Storage
256GB/512GB UFS 4.0
Rear camera 1
50MP Sony Lytia LYT-700, PDAF, OIS
Rear camera 2
50MP Samsung JN5 tele, 2x optical zoom
Front camera
32MP GalaxyCore GC32, autofocus, 4K video
Ingress protection
IP65 dust and water resistance
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, limited 5G bands, NFC, dual-band GPS
Security
Optical in-screen sensor
Audio
USB-C, stereo sound, AptX HD, LDAC, LHDC 5.0
Battery
5,850mAh battery, 80W charging
Dimensions
150.8 x 71.7 x 8.2mm, 185g
Colors
Green, Pink, Black
Overall
The OnePlus 13s distinguishes itself in a crowded market for large slab phones by subtly delivering the necessities. It’s smart without being overbearing, strong without draining your battery, and high-end without breaking the bank.
The OnePlus 13s is difficult to overlook for anyone desiring a small flagship experience without sacrificing quality, be it professionals seeking power in a portable device, ardent Android users, or previous iPhone enthusiasts wishing to transfer. It’s not the most affordable flagship available.
It isn’t the most dazzling. However, for mosts’s tech-savvy users that prioritizes functionality over flash, it might be the best option.
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Admittedly, I made a snap judgment about the Amazfit Bip 6 based on its affordable price. I didn’t think it would compete with more expensive smartwatch rivals, much less hold its own at $80. I can tell, however, that it’s more than simply a terrific deal after a couple days of testing.
The Bip 6 is unique in a time when the majority of smartwatches cost hundreds of dollars since it does more than just the basics. During my testing of the Amazfit Bip 6, I discovered that the battery life lasted more than a week on a single charge, the fitness monitoring was reliable, and the advanced health indicators were accurate. One of the few smartwatches under $100 that is truly worth your time is this one, especially when you consider that it is compatible with both Android and iPhone.
It’s hardly the most sophisticated timepiece available. Compared to more expensive models, the Amazfit Bip 6’s design and navigation feel clumsy, but overall, it seems like a minor price to pay for everything else it offers.
The watch isn’t the most sophisticated one available. Comparing the Amazfit Bip 6 to more expensive models, the design and navigation feel clumsy, but this seems like a minor price to pay for all the other features it offers.
For those who prioritize functionality above style, the Amazfit Bip 6 offers a simple and cost-effective way to get started with smartwatches. It’s perfect for first-time smartwatch purchasers who want to experiment with fitness and health tracking without breaking the bank. iPhone users who are interested in smartwatches but aren’t ready to commit to an Apple Watch will find it especially enticing.
Design
Although it feels light, the 44mm watch looks bulky on my medium-sized wrist (6.5 inches), and it doesn’t come in any other size. The Amazfit Bip 6’s design is straightforward and practical; it has the boxy, flat appearance of an old Pebble Watch, with a slight curve to the screen and a metal trim that gives it a bit of polish. The 1.97-inch AMOLED display (390×450 pixels) looks bright and crisp indoors, but I have trouble seeing what’s on screen in direct sunlight.
All of the bands tend toward the sporty side of the design spectrum, and unless you choose an alternate band from Amazon, there isn’t really any way to dress it up. The black sport band that came with my review device is also available in charcoal, stone, and red (which I might have preferred).
Software and UI
The Amazfit Bip 6 doesn’t provide the most seamless onboarding experience right out of the box, and I had to do some tweaking to get the watch configured the way I wanted it. There isn’t a real always-on display, so I changed the watch face that came with it, changed the battery settings to keep the screen on when working out, and changed which fitness metrics I wanted to see while running. Determining the true functions of the physical button and other swiping movements also required some trial and error.
Although it’s not as user-friendly as other smartwatches like the Apple Watch or Galaxy, you should be able to figure it out if you delve deeply enough into the settings.
It’s not as user-friendly as other smartwatches like the Apple Watch or Galaxy, but if you dig deep enough into the settings, you should be able to figure it out. The Amazfit Bip 6 doesn’t offer the most seamless onboarding experience right out of the box, and I had to do some tweaking to get the watch configured the way I wanted it. There isn’t a real always-on display, so I changed the watch face that came with it, changed the battery settings to keep the screen on while working out, and changed which fitness metrics I wanted to see while running.
Thankfully, Android phone users can respond to texts using a keypad or voice recognition, but iPhone consumers are stuck without a remedy unless they use a third-party app. The fact that Flow functionality is dependent on the phone and that the Bluetooth range is excruciatingly limited (at least with an iPhone) doesn’t help either. When my phone was only a room away, I frequently lost connectivity. If you rely on Find My Phone as a lifeline to find your phone, this renders the feature essentially worthless.
Amazfit Bip 6
Stylish Design, Vibrant Display: The lightweight aluminum build blends effortless style with workout durability, while the vivid 1.97″ AMOLED display keeps your data easy to read, even under bright sunlight.
One of the best things about the Amazfit Bip 6 is undoubtedly its battery life. I tested it with several GPS workouts, heart rate monitoring, and running with the always-on display, and it still lasted more than a week—eight days, to be precise—between charges.
The manufacturer claims a two-week guarantee, which I probably would have achieved if I had been more cautious with the settings. After a day and a half, more expensive competitors like the Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, and Pixel Watch require charging. The battery life of even the more costly Apple Watch Ultras with bigger batteries is only three days.
However, there isn’t a fast-charging option that I’m aware of, and it will take roughly two hours to go from zero to full when you eventually need to return for a charge. I’d rather leave it charging overnight once a week than have to find a time throughout the day to recharge it again, even though I’ll pick longer lasting battery life over faster charging any day.
Additionally, as the box only comes with a magnetic charging puck that must be plugged in, you will need to provide your own USB-C charging cable (and brick). The charging brick is no longer included with the majority of modern watches, such as the Apple Watch and Pixel Watch, although the charging cable is still included.
Fitness features
It would be an understatement to claim that the watch covers the fundamentals of fitness tracking. Along with detailed analytics for runners and other popular sports, it offers every workout you could possibly need. Since running is my major method of exercise, I primarily tested the running exercises.
At first, using the Amazfit Bip 6 to track a run feels unsteady because it takes around ten seconds to lock onto a GPS signal, which can be a deal-breaker when you’re ready to go. It’s off to the races after it locks in, though. Even without my phone, the GPS functioned consistently across several runs. Surprisingly, heart rate monitoring, including zone breakdowns, held up well. I utilized the Polar chest strap HR monitor, the industry standard for consumer heart rate tracking, to test smartwatches, and the results was comparable.
Amazfit Bip 6
Stylish Design, Vibrant Display: The lightweight aluminum build blends effortless style with workout durability, while the vivid 1.97″ AMOLED display keeps your data easy to read, even under bright sunlight.
It monitors strength training during indoor exercises and even makes an effort to determine which muscle groups are being used. Accuracy is still unknown because I didn’t perform a conventional strength training session, but during a Pilates practice that I had designated as strength training for testing purposes, it accurately identified arm muscles.
Health and wellness
Amazfit Bip 6 awarded me around an hour’s worth of sleep “bonus credit” on weekend nights when I was fully awake since it had trouble detecting the difference between when I was sleeping and when I was watching White Lotus. Notably, the Apple Watch has previously made the same error, which raises doubts about my level of consciousness at the end of the day while I’m dozing off on the couch.
However, the actual measurements are quite useful because they monitor breathing quality, sleep stages, and changes in temperature and heart rate. Like the vitals check on other wearables like the Apple Watch and Oura ring, this might help indicate the onset of diseases.
Zepp Aura add-on, which includes sophisticated sleep analysis, AI-powered coaching, and tools to help identify issues like sleep apnea and insomnia, is also available if you really want to go into your health and sleep data. It generally costs $150 a year, but right now it’s only $60.
Additionally, I had some issues turning off notifications while I slept, and I had to manually configure the “do not disturb” option because it didn’t match what I had configured on my phone.
Zepp App for Amazfit Bip 6
All of this health data has the flaw of having little to no context. There is no instruction on what the statistics imply, what is deemed normal, or how to act based on them, whether you’re looking at the watch’s instant results or the Zepp app’s long-term health trends. I didn’t test the Aura premium option for this evaluation, but perhaps it helps make sense of everything.
Amazfit’s own Zepp OS powers the watch, and the Zepp app on your phone controls all of your data and settings. It manages the app and watch face stores in addition to system settings and health metrics. The Zepp app’s layout is confusing and has multiple tabs, so good luck locating what you need.
The data itself is frequently difficult to grasp, even if you are able to locate the necessary tab. I consider myself well-versed in fitness jargon, having reviewed smartwatches and fitness trackers for over ten years, yet even I had doubts about the meaning of several of these numbers.
An AI-powered food journal that automatically enters nutritional data and calories from a barcode or photo is an additional bonus function. I used a homemade cheese sandwich to test it, and I was surprised by how accurately it calculated the number of calories. I then compared the results with the real nutritional data for each ingredient. I can see this as a useful tool for those who prefer to monitor their intake in order to manage their weight, but have not kept long-term logs for a thorough examination of this feature.
Amazfit Bip 6
Stylish Design, Vibrant Display: The lightweight aluminum build blends effortless style with workout durability, while the vivid 1.97″ AMOLED display keeps your data easy to read, even under bright sunlight.
Although it won’t impress you right away, the Amazfit Bip 6 is a powerful, discreet tracker that constantly goes above and beyond where it matters most. Easily the greatest option we’ve tested in its price category, it’s the kind of uncommon find you don’t expect to find in the world of smartwatches under $100.
The Garmin Instinct 3, a tough and more reasonably priced version of the well-liked Fenix 8, is the latest in Garmin’s series of sports smartwatches to use AMOLED panels. In addition to the AMOLED screen, Garmin is using this chance to upgrade the new Instinct with its most recent multi-band GPS technology, increasing storage and strengthening the smartwatch’s capabilities.
Instinct enthusiasts now have an outdoor watch that seems more like a smartwatch thanks to the addition of a color display to the Instinct 2, which was a good performer.
Design
Similar to Garmin’s Fenix line, the Instinct 3 has a display that can be charged using solar power or an AMOLED. It is the more costly of the two, but you do get the benefit of this year’s major improvement if you get it with an AMOLED screen.
Also, the watch is available in a few different case sizes. There are two sizes for the Instinct 3 AMOLED and solar models: 45mm and 50mm. To make things even more confusing, there is also an Instinct E, which is the smallest and least expensive variant of Instinct that is available for purchase.
The 45mm AMOLED Instinct 3 in its limited edition Neotropic colorway was strapped to my wrist, demonstrating Garmin’s willingness to experiment a little more with color schemes for its less expensive outdoor wristwatch. In keeping with that more whimsical motif, the linked 22mm strap makes use of one of Garmin’s more difficult-to-use mechanisms in the event that you wish to switch out your strap.
The polymer and aluminum bezel that encircles its sizable 1.2-inch AMOLED screen with 390 x 390 resolution takes center stage.
Even while it is not the biggest or most pixel-dense AMOLED panel on a Garmin watch, it is nevertheless bright, colorful, and sharp enough to look at. Instead of the more durable Gorilla or Sapphire glass used on more costly Garmin watches, that display is shielded by chemically toughened glass. Garmin has abandoned the sub-display from earlier generations in favor of a new display technology, while the solar version of the Instinct 3 still uses it. Rather, the redesigned user interface that evokes the familiarity of previous Instinct models preserves the sub-display.
Surprisingly, the colorful display lacks touchscreen technology, thus there are five physical buttons scattered throughout the case to control the watch software. Even after a week of continuous use, the buttons are still a tad stiff.
An LED flashlight that is both brilliant and embedded in the case’s top. Toggle it on or off by double-tapping the physical button on the top left or by activating it from the quick settings.
When Garmin initially started adding features to its watches, I felt they were a bit of a gimmick, but today they are really helpful. When I am out at night and do not want to grab for my smartphone torch, it is perfect for navigating my room without turning on the lights.
With a 10 ATM rating, it has the same underwater durability as the Instinct 2. This implies that you will receive a watch that is capable of surviving in water up to 100 meters deep. It is more than capable of handling pool and open water swimming, but you will not want to take it diving.
Software and features
Although the display may be different, Garmin has not significantly altered the Instinct 3’s smartwatch functionality.
With Android users being able to view images in some notifications, this watch still makes it simple to receive notifications from an iPhone or Android phone.
Garmin’s Glances allows you to prioritize the data you want to see on a regular basis, and the Morning Reports once again provide easily readable summaries of important statistics like sleep and training status.
Garmin Pay is available for contactless payments, but you are sadly out of luck if you want a music player. Instead, you install apps, data fields, and watch faces from the Connect IQ Store using the 32GB of storage that is now available straight from the watch itself.
In addition, Garmin decided not to incorporate its most recent voice-centric capabilities, such as a voice recorder and Bluetooth calling. Most people should be content with what the software section has to offer, therefore I do not think this will be a deal killer for them.
Nevertheless, the software experience differs from that of the Fenix 8 AMOLED. It seems a little strange to me that Garmin kept the sub-display layout in the user interface even after discontinuing it with the AMOLED Instinct 3. In this form, it truly does not seem to bring any value.
The Instinct 3 is easy to use and, at the very least, very Garmin. Even casual users can easily start a workout, receive a notice, check the weather, or view training insights, but power users can delve deeper to find optional settings and modes.
Touchscreen functionality makes much more sense now that the sub-display is no longer an option, however this may be related to compatibility with the Instinct 3 solar model, which still makes use of the sub-display. In any case, using it on an AMOLED panel is a little strange.
Battery
Garmin claims that the Instinct 3 has a weeks-long battery life. Whether you decide to use the most precise GPS mode, keep the screen on always, or utilize all of the continuous wellbeing monitoring capabilities will determine how many weeks you can spend without it.
According to Garmin, the 45mm Instinct 3 model may last up to 18 days in smartwatch mode—basically, without the need for any sophisticated tracking features. That decreases to seven days if the AMOLED screen is used continuously. Additionally, you might enjoy twenty-three hours to sixteen days if you are using that new multi-band GPS technology.
The latter occurs during the use of its Expedition GPS mode, which sacrifices overall accuracy in order to guarantee that it can track expeditions lasting several days or even a week. I have been use it in a combination of always-on and raise-to-wake screen modes.
It can readily survive a week between charges, even with the inclusion of an AMOLED screen, according to my experience mostly utilizing the most precise multiband GPS mode. That decreases dramatically when using the always-on display mode, and with consistent GPS and exercise tracking, it was closer to five days than the seven days that were promised.
Fitness tracking features
Garmin adheres to the outdoor-focused origins of the Instinct. Running, cycling, swimming (in pools and open water), and golf are its main sports modes. The watch has glanceable widgets that show more adventure-focused statistics, such as tides and sun and moon activity, for individuals who enjoy the great outdoors.
Regarding headline changes, Garmin has strengthened its indoor training and sleep tracking features and introduced its newest multi-band GPS technology. Multi-band compatibility is a plus, and like other Garmin watches I have used, it provides a pleasant improvement in GPS accuracy.
Heart rate monitoring is handled by Garmin’s older Gen 4 Elevate sensor, but you will not be able to use the ECG feature that is available with Garmin’s Gen 5 sensor arrangement.
Overall, the heart rate sensor did a good job of tracking heart rate during the day and night and during exercise. Unsurprisingly, accuracy decreases with increasing effort, thus if you want to get the most precise exercise HR data, I would consider pairing an external heart rate monitor.
The absence of complete maps is a disheartening omission, particularly considering that this is an outdoor watch with an AMOLED screen. Garmin continues to provide the same, more straightforward breadcrumb navigation, allowing users to import and upload routes to the watch through the Garmin Connect app.
You can find your way back home or in the correct direction with the help of that easier navigation. However, you can not help but ask if Garmin ought to have included full maps on the more expensive Instinct 3 when you take into account that less expensive outdoor watches, such as the Amazfit T-Rex 3, do.
The enhanced support for workouts is the first. In essence, you will see animated cues to assist you in performing exercises correctly when you download routines from the accompanying Connect app. By enabling you to view muscle maps in the Connect app, Garmin further enhanced strength training by providing a visual indicator of whether or not you have ignored your leg days.
To better suit it for triathlons, a multisport mode has been added, which is another noteworthy new feature. For individuals who take their speed training more seriously, it also features Garmin’s more sophisticated interval training mode.
Once more, it is a feature-rich outdoor watch with a strong core experience, but I can not help but feel that Garmin could have added one or two things that are only available on their more costly models.
Thoughts
With the addition of an AMOLED screen and multiband GPS, the Garmin Instinct 3, is now a superior smartwatch and outdoor watch. However, it is strange that capabilities like full map support and touchscreen compatibility are missing. As a result, it is not quite a Fenix Lite and lacks many outdoor capabilities that other smartwatches provide at lower prices.
