Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 vs Galaxy Watch 3: Must you improve?

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 might not appear too completely different from its latest predecessors, however simply three generations in the past, Samsung smartwatches had been working a special working system totally. Should you personal a Galaxy Watch 3, do you have to improve or maintain on to it? Learn our Galaxy Watch 6 vs Galaxy Watch 3 comparability for our ideas.

We talked about in our Galaxy Watch 6 vs Galaxy Watch 4 comparability that Samsung’s newer watches hadn’t modified a lot. That is true aesthetically as nicely. The Galaxy Watch 6 boasts a a lot bigger show mounted inside a broader dial, narrower bezels, and slimmer facet buttons. The bands additionally sit extra flush on the watch’s physique and have a brand new, extra handy launch and attachment mechanism. Apart from the returning rotating dial on the Galaxy Watch 6 Traditional, that is our favourite addition to the brand new watches.

The Galaxy Watch 3 reveals a extra brutish design, with a stainless-steel or titanium physique, a chunkier rotating (however nonetheless wonderful) bezel, two protruding buttons on its proper flank, and a sizeable bumper to guard them. It appears extra like an analog watch than Samsung’s newer gadgets.

When it comes to dimension, the Galaxy Watch 3 is the bigger of the 2 watches. It’s provided in two sizes, a 41mm for smaller wrists and a bigger 45mm various. The Galaxy Watch 6 comes with a 40mm or 44mm dial. It’s additionally far lighter and thinner than its older sibling, due to the usage of aluminum. Notably, the Galaxy Watch 6 Traditional additionally makes use of chrome steel and is greater than the usual Galaxy Watch 6 and the Galaxy Watch 3. Whereas its bezel is far narrower than the older watch, it options 43mm and 47mm dial choices. It’s now the biggest Samsung smartwatch you should purchase.

We don’t suppose one smartwatch appears higher than the opposite right here. Each are engaging wearables in their very own proper, however your style will finally decide your bias.

The Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 3 variations lengthen to their function choices. Let’s begin with the most important change.

In 2020, Samsung’s smartwatches nonetheless ran Tizen, a light-weight OS that didn’t demand a lot from the {hardware}. Consequently, the Galaxy Watch 3 solely requires 1GB of RAM and 8GB of inside storage. Regardless of these positives, Tizen lacks the broad app library the Galaxy Watch 6 can now entry with Put on OS. It’s additionally probably that Tizen received’t see a lot energetic growth sooner or later, contemplating that the Galaxy Watch 3 was the final Samsung smartwatch to run the OS.

On the time, Tizen was a a lot better wearable OS than what was then generally known as Android Put on. Nonetheless, Google and Samsung’s revised Put on OS is a extra refined and usable platform. Put on OS 4 and One UI 5 Watch debuts on the Galaxy Watch 6, bringing a extra mature function set and loads of Google app help. In contrast to the Galaxy Watch 3, the Galaxy Watch 6 will quickly achieve devoted Gmail, Google Calendar, WhatsApp, and different first-party apps. This provides the watch a utility benefit over its Tizen-powered predecessor. It additionally options double the RAM and storage capability of the older mannequin.

Should you personal an iPhone, the Galaxy Watch 3 is the one one of many two gadgets you possibly can pair along with your system. Though different Put on OS watches help Apple telephones, Samsung hasn’t facilitated this function on its newer watches.

The Galaxy Watch 6 has a extra superior health monitoring and wellness monitoring equipment. It’s headlined by the BioActive sensor trio that displays coronary heart fee, coronary heart well being through ECG, and physique composition with the biometric impedance sensor. It additionally displays blood oxygen saturation and sleep cycles and makes use of a pores and skin temperature sensor to enhance feminine well being monitoring. The Galaxy Watch 3 can monitor a consumer’s coronary heart fee and well being, blood oxygen ranges, and sleep, however that’s about it. It helps 40 sports activities modes and gives VO2 max estimates for runners, but it surely’s not a great choice for these extra severe about their well being.

Lastly, to match the newer {hardware}, the Galaxy Watch 6 additionally receives a couple of fitness-related upgrades to its software program. One UI 5 Watch now contains higher sleep monitoring than its predecessors, irregular coronary heart fee notifications, and customized coronary heart fee zones for runners. There’s an choice to create customized exercises, too, whereas the system may also file customers’ runs whereas on a monitor.

The Galaxy Watch 3 was an costly smartwatch when it launched in 2020. It initially demanded $399, which places it on par with the Galaxy Watch 6 Traditional and Apple Watch Sequence 8. Nonetheless, in 2023, now you can snag one for nicely below $300. Fortunately, this worth lower nonetheless retains it related three years later.

It was made accessible in two colours: Mystic Bronze and Mystic Silver. A Mystic Black choice was reserved for the bigger 45mm mannequin.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 made its debut on July 26, 2023. Normal availability kicks off on August 11. Those that preorder the system can even obtain a free Material Band, whereas these buying and selling in older gadgets may obtain a $250 worth drop.

The 2-device lineup begins at $299 for the 40mm normal mannequin — a $20 worth hike over the Galaxy Watch 4 however a $100 saving over the Galaxy Watch 3’s debut worth. The Galaxy Watch 6 Traditional boasts the Galaxy Watch 3’s launch worth of $399.

Colorways embody Graphite, Silver, and Gold for the usual mannequin and Black and Silver for the Traditional.

For these buying their first smartwatch, this isn’t a contest. The Galaxy Watch 6 trumps the Galaxy Watch 3 in quite a few aspects. It’s the higher health watch, runs a more moderen OS with higher {hardware}, and can obtain help for years to come back. The one actual sway that the previous mannequin has is its capacity to pair with iPhones. Should you personal an iPhone, it’s best to go for an Apple Watch anyway.

Should you personal a Galaxy Watch 3 and wish to improve, the Galaxy Watch 6 Traditional will probably be a extra like-for-like substitute. You’ll profit from a rotating bezel, a big, formidable lens, and a extra skilled aesthetic. That mentioned, should you’re on a strict finances and discover the Galaxy Watch 3 for below $200, it is perhaps value a punt. It stays a well-built smartwatch for individuals who crave slightly little bit of every thing.

That’s it for our Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 vs Galaxy Watch 3 comparability. Which is the smartwatch for you? Vote in our ballot under.