The Apple Watch Extremely 3 is nice, however you may in all probability skip the improve

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is a good smartwatch that is virtually equivalent to its predecessors. Positive, there are just a few upgrades, together with a much bigger show and barely higher battery life, however you probably have an Apple Watch Ultra 2 and even the unique Apple Watch Extremely, there’s not a lot purpose to improve, until you are the kind of one who at all times must have the latest-and-greatest gadget. The Apple Watch Extremely 3 is the definition of a minor improve, particularly if you evaluate it to the Apple Watch SE 3 (the Apple Watch Sequence 11 can be a reasonably minor bump).

With this in thoughts, who’s the Apple Watch Extremely’s viewers? I believe it is individuals totally new to the Apple Watch Extremely line. Possibly you personal an older Apple Watch Sequence smartwatch, and you have been excited about taking the rugged wearable plunge? Or, maybe you are trying to leap ship out of your trusty Garmin smartwatch (my brother did this with the Apple Watch Series 10 final yr after operating into a number of points along with his Garmin)? No matter the reason being, the Apple Watch Extremely 3 feels prefer it’s aimed squarely at individuals new to the smartwatch, slightly than these trying to improve from their present Extremely.

Over the previous few weeks, I’ve grown to essentially recognize the Apple Watch Extremely 3’s distinctive options, primarily its stellar battery life and distinctive design.

The Apple Watch Extremely 3 has by no means actually felt prefer it was for me, primarily as a result of I’ve very skinny wrists and discover the smartwatch a bit too cumbersome and hefty for my style. However to my shock, over the previous few weeks, I’ve grown to essentially recognize the Apple Watch Extremely 3’s distinctive options although it is nonetheless a really large smartwatch, primarily for its stellar battery life and distinctive design. Would I go for it over the Apple Watch Sequence 11, although? I nonetheless do not suppose so.

4/5

Model: Apple
Coronary heart Fee Monitor: Sure
Working System: watchOS 26
Case dimension: 49mm

The Apple Watch Extremely 3 provides minor upgrades over the Apple Watch 2, together with a barely greater show and improved battery life.

Professionals & Cons

Gorgeous show
Sturdy design
New Satellite tv for pc options provide peace-of-mind
Battery life enhancements are welcome

Nonetheless large and hulking
Not a lot of an improve over the Extremely and Extremely 2
Related characteristic set to the Sequence 11

I am primarily trying on the Apple Watch Extremely 3 from the angle of somebody that desires extra battery life, a rugged, extra sturdy design, and that appreciates the Extremely 3’s extra distinctive options (like its greater show), even when they do not make the most of them on a regular basis.

Iterative, however significant upgrades

For those who already personal the Apple Watch Extremely 3, you are not lacking a lot

The Apple Watch Extremely 3 is clearly a greater smartwatch than the Extremely 2, however like I discussed earlier than, the improve is not large. First off, there is a new show that is greater than earlier Extremely’s because of its thinner bezels. If somebody pointed this out to me, would I discover instantly? In all probability not, but it surely’s nonetheless a welcome improve. Different show upgrades embrace the truth that second hand on the always-on show now strikes. Once I have a look at my authentic Apple Watch Extremely’s show beside the Extremely 3, I can see the enhancements, however in any other case they don’t seem to be that noticeable.

Different upgrades embrace the addition of 5G connectivity, which makes downloads barely sooner in the event you’re keen to pay the extra payment for a knowledge connection. I nonetheless obtain all the pieces forward of time over Wi-Fi for offline listening as a result of it is sooner. The smartwatch additionally now options satellite tv for pc textual content messaging, location sharing, and emergency calling (5G connectivity with the Apple Watch Extremely 3 is not but accessible in Canada). It is essential to notice that location sharing and textual content messaging by way of satellite tv for pc requires a mobile watch connection to work, which whereas comprehensible, remains to be disappointing given including smartwatch information to a plan might be costly.

On the identical time, the brand new satellite tv for pc options are welcome additions given the Apple Watch Extremely’s extra active-focused viewers, however whether or not they’ll be helpful for you actually is dependent upon how you plan to make use of the watch. It is essential to notice that you’re going to solely be capable of use these options when there is not any different type of connection accessible, and whereas I did run by the satellite tv for pc connectivity demo Apple provides, I have never examined them out myself.

Model: Apple
Coronary heart Fee Monitor: Sure
Working System: watchOS 26
Case dimension: 49mm
Battery: As much as 42 hours
Connectivity: 5G mobile and satellite tv for pc

The Apple Watch Extremely 2’s battery life will get a bit higher

For some, getting just a few extra hours out of the Extremely 3 is perhaps the explanation to improve

The important thing improve which may entice some individuals to the Apple Watch Extremely 3 over the Apple Watch Sequence 11 is the notable battery life enhancements. In comparison with my expertise with the Apple Watch Extremely, I will get roughly 2.5 days of use out of the smartwatch earlier than I must cost it. This features a few notifications, continually checking the time, and no less than one 30-minute run the place I listened to music throughout that point interval.

This can be a large enchancment over the marginally over 24 hours I used to be capable of get out of the unique Apple Watch Extremely and considerably in step with the 48 hours the Extremely 2 is able to (I have never used an Extremely 2 myself, so I can not communicate to its battery life). Since I cost the smartwatch each evening anyway, this is not an enormous deal to me, however on the off likelihood I overlook, the extra battery life provides welcome peace of thoughts. People who go on prolonged tenting journeys or multi-day hikes will certainly recognize this improve, although.

You additionally get entry to watchOS 26 options like Exercise Buddy, which provides considerably foolish encouragement if you’re exercising, and, after all, Liquid Glass.

The one different improve is the brand new S10 chip. After a considerably tough preliminary quarter-hour after organising the Apple Watch Extremely 3 that concerned fixed bouts of lag whereas navigating menus, my expertise has been clean. My time with the primary Apple Watch Extremely and its S8 chip has been equivalent, although, so as soon as once more, the S10 appears like a little bit of overkill for smartwatch chip.

After all, there are nonetheless a number of well being monitoring options, together with coronary heart fee monitoring, ECG readings, blood oxygen ranges (sure, it is lastly again), and new with the Extremely 3, hypertension alerts and an general Sleep Rating (the Apple Watch Sequence 9 and above helps this characteristic, too). You additionally get entry to watchOS 26 options like Exercise Buddy, which provides considerably foolish encouragement if you’re exercising (so long as you could have a knowledge connection), and naturally, Liquid Glass. In contrast to most individuals, I believe Apple’s controversial new UI seems to be nice on the Apple Watch Extremely 3’s sprawling show.

Who’s the Apple Watch Extremely 3?

For those who’re a fan of larger watches and battery life, it is perhaps for you

For those who personal an authentic Apple Watch Extremely or an Apple Watch Extremely 2, you may skip this improve. Then again, in the event you’ve been on the fence about Apple’s cumbersome, however very durable-feeling smartwatch, now is a good time to drag the set off given the battery life enhancements.

Including to this, in the event you go off-grid regularly, the assorted new satellite tv for pc options provide precious peace-of-mind. Everybody else is probably going higher off with the Apple Watch Sequence 11 or in some instances, the Apple Watch SE 3.