The Xiaomi Watch S3 is an reasonably priced smartwatch with a extremely customizable look that features swappable bezels. It may well observe your well being, health, and sleep, carry telephone notifications to your wrist, and final a number of days between prices. The draw back? It runs Xiaomi’s software program, which feels a bit fundamental, and you’ll neglect about third-party apps.
Closing in on a month with the Xiaomi Watch S3, I’m impressed by its monitoring capabilities, contemplating the comparatively low value, and the changeable bezels are a neat concept. However I’m additionally wonderful with saying goodbye to it. The Watch S3 has too many limitations for me, nevertheless it’s vital to do not forget that this system is lower than half the value of probably the most reasonably priced possibility in our finest smartwatches information.
Earlier than we dig in, it’s value noting that there’s a world model of the Xiaomi Watch S3, nevertheless it’s not offered within the US, there is no official US assist, and sure options (like NFC for funds) differ by area.
Smartwatch Chameleon
{Photograph}: Simon Hill
For folk who wish to match their watch with their outfit, the Xiaomi Watch S3 has a singular trick up its sleeve within the form of interchangeable bezels. Altering the strap on a watch may be impactful, however with the ability to change each the strap and bezel nearly makes it appear to be a very completely different system.
The Watch S3 has fairly a chunky 47-mm aluminum case with angled lugs and two buttons on the proper. A stainless-steel bezel sits on prime of the display screen, and you’ll rotate it to take away and exchange it with a distinct bezel. It’s simple when you get the dangle, and there’s a wee marker on the within that will help you align. The bezels slot into place securely, and I by no means fearful about them coming unfastened.
Connect a brand new bezel and the Watch S3 suggests an identical watch face. It is a neat trick. There are greater than 100 watch faces in each conceivable fashion, and you’ll even create your individual. Altering the strap can be easy, so you possibly can shortly change your look. My favourite of the straps and bezels Xiaomi despatched was the fashionable inexperienced and black combo. You get one black or silver bezel with an identical fluororubber strap with the Watch S3, and alternate options should be bought individually.
The 1.43-inch AMOLED display screen has a layer of protecting Corning glass. The show is roomy and crisp, however the comparatively low peak brightness of 600 nits (a luminance measurement) meant it was typically laborious to learn in direct daylight. The Watch S3 can be 5ATM rated for water resistance, which means you possibly can swim with it.
{Photograph}: Simon Hill
Streamlined for Stamina
The Xiaomi Watch S3 focuses on the fundamentals with name and notification alerts out of your telephone; well being, health, and sleep monitoring; and a handful of utilities like a voice recorder, digital camera shutter management, and compass. It runs HyperOS, so there aren’t any third-party apps like you will see on a Google Put on OS smartwatch.
Navigating across the Watch S3 is slick and lag-free. HyperOS is just not probably the most engaging software program and lacks a cohesive design, with a mixture of boring and garish icons. Nevertheless it principally labored effectively, except for the odd missed notification from my telephone. It connects through Bluetooth 5.2, and you should utilize it with any telephone working Android 8 or iOS 12 or later. I examined with the Xiaomi 14 Extremely.
