Realme Watch 3 review

 Realme introduced the aptly called Realme Watch more than two years ago, and since then the manufacturer has steadily increased the range of wearables available. Its newest product, the Realme Watch 3, is positioned as a straight replacement for the Realme Watch 2, which was released last year and offered a respectable feature set and a long battery life for the price of INR 4,125 ($55/€45).

For INR 3,500 ($44/€44), the model for this year features an updated look with a larger screen, squared-off borders, and Bluetooth calling in addition to the standard sports and activity tracking. How does the Realme Watch 3 compare to its rivals, and are the new features enough to justify an upgrade?

Realme Watch 3 specifications

• Display: 1.8", 240 x 286 pixel color screen, 323ppi pixel density, 500 nits peak brightness, 2.5D Gorilla Glass 3
• Straps: Detachable silicon straps, 22mm width, 130-220mm adjustable length
• Features: IP68 rating, Bluetooth calling, speaker, Real-time heart rate monitor, 24/7 SpO2 monitor, Sleep tracking, Stress monitoring, Sports tracking, VO2 Max, Step Counter, Meditation, Smart Notifications, Idle Alert, Drink Reminder, Phone Finder, Weather Forecast, Music and Camera Control
• Sports Modes: Outdoor Run, Indoor Run, Outdoor Walk, Indoor Walk, Outdoor Cycle, Indoor Cycle, Strength Training, Football, Yoga and Cricket (100 more in Realme Link app)
• Sensors: PPG optical heart rate sensor, SpO2 sensor, 3-axis accelerometer, Rotor Vibration Motor
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, Compatible with Android 5.1+ and iOS 11+
• Battery: 340 mAh
• Colors: Black, Grey
• Dimensions: 45 x 37 x 11.5 mm
• Weight: 40 grams

Even while the Realme Watch 3's body is still entirely made of plastic, it seems more upscale than its predecessor. Now flat, the sides have a bright polish that from a distance gives the impression that it is a metal alloy. For this examination, we have the black colour option with an intriguing gunmetal appearance.

Realme is also selling a grey variant that offers a lighter shade on the casing and a lighter-colored watch strap. Speaking of the watch strap it’s made from a durable silicone material and is of the standard 22mm variety so you can swap it for any other band you may have laying around.

The watch weighs just 40 grams, making it comfortable to carry all day. There’s a single button on the right side that can wake up the watch and also act as a back button. You also get a microphone on the same side while the speaker is located on the left.

Even while the Realme Watch 3's body is still entirely made of plastic, it seems more upscale than its predecessor. Now flat, the sides have a bright polish that from a distance gives the impression that it is a metal alloy. For this examination, we have the black colour option with an intriguing gunmetal appearance.

While the Realme Watch 2's 1.4-inch diagonal LCD panel has grown to 1.8 inches on the Watch 3, the resolution has decreased to 240 x 286 pixels from the watch's crisper 320 x 320 pixels output from the previous year. Fair enough, the distinction isn't apparent in normal use, however it's strange that the newer model watch has a lesser resolution screen.

The Watch 3's LCD display lacks Always on Display (AoD) capabilities, unlike OLED displays on several rival smartwatches. You must manually choose the screen's brightness because it doesn't automatically adjust. There are four brightness levels, starting at 20%. I found the 40% choice to be fully useful in the majority of situations, even when outdoors in the blazing August sun. The Realme Watch 2 from last year had a top brightness of 600 nits, therefore the Watch 3's 500 nits peak brightness is adequate.

Features

The Realme Watch 3 offers continuous SpO2 tracking, stress and sleep monitoring, along with 24/7 heart rate monitoring, just like most contemporary smartwatches. In addition, the watch tracks more than 110 sports and activities. 16 sports modes can be active simultaneously on the watch, and switching between them involves opening the Realme Link app on your phone.

Additionally, Realme offers more than 100 watch faces through the Link app, which instantly sync to the watch. The watch can only hold four watch faces at once, so if you wish to add more, you'll need to delete the current ones. Other helpful features of the watch include an alarm, a weather widget, and a reminders app.