Sony SmartWatch 3 review: Fitness functions will give Apple Watch run for its money

Sony's alternative to the Apple Watch has a retro charm and is a lot cheaper but lacks a heart rate monitor.

A visitor tries out a Sony SmartWatch 3 at the Sony stand at the 2014 IFA home electronics and appliances trade fair in Berlin. Sean Gallup / Getty Images

You may have heard about a clever new time-telling device that is going to be launched on Friday. But before the world goes AppleWatch mad, let’s remember it’s not the only smartwatch available on the market.

Sony's SmartWatch 3 is one of the latest in a number of smart timepiece options for the Android smartphone user, sitting alongside similar offerings from LG, Motorola, Samsung and Asus.

If you're looking for a chic timepiece, the Smartwatch 3 isn't for you. Its rectangular face and rubber strap (a metal strap is also available) has a certain 1980s charm, but don't expect a gold-plated version any time soon. Setting the watch up is pleasingly simple; you just place it on your Android smartphone's NFC reader, and you're good to go within a couple of minutes.

Once it’s up and running, the SmartWatch 3 has the same functionality as other devices running Google’s Android Wear platform, enabling you to read text messages and emails, display photos, count your steps, and monitor the weather. It also supports a growing number of apps, including WhatsApp, Pinterest and Amazon.

Beyond the standard Android functionality, Sony has designed the SmartWatch 3 with runners in mind; the device comes with built-in GPS and 4GB of internal memory, the upshot being that you can track your run and listen to music (via Bluetooth headphones) without having to take your smartphone along.

While this is a nice feature, it places a greater strain on battery life, meaning the device may not go the distance for 24 hours. And, unlike the Apple Watch and the newest generation of smartwatches, there’s no heart rate monitor.

The SmartWatch 3 is available for about Dh850 on souq.com, making it about a third cheaper than an entry level Apple Watch at US prices. The Apple Watch will win the plaudits for its higher specifications, but if you’re an Android user that doesn’t need to constantly monitor your heart rate, the SmartWatch 3 is a decent enough option, especially if you don’t mind its retro looks.

Q&A more than a timepiece

John Everington offers more insights into the burgeoning smart watch market:

So there are already plenty of smartwatches available. Are people buying them?

Yes, but not exactly in their droves. The research firm Statista last week estimated that just over four million smart watches were sold worldwide in 2014. Not insignificant, but not massive either.

Will the entry into the market of a certain fruit-themed company make a difference?

It appears likely. Apple was not the first to launch either a smartphone or a tablet, but its entry into the market had an explosive effect on sales, both for the company and its competitors.

Sorry to ask a silly question, but what actually is the point of a smartwatch?

While smartphones and tablets have become mass market items, it’s still unclear as to whether smartwatches will follow suit. Two things stood out when I used the SmartWatch 3. Firstly, the fitness tracking capabilities, especially being able to track my runs and measure my steps. Such capabilities may gain traction with users as heart rate monitors and other sensors are added.

But do I need a watch for that?

Bear with me. The second feature was the ability to swiftly check email and messages on the go. When your phone beeps, you can read the message and dismiss or delete it without taking your phone out of your pocket. It sounds like a small thing, but it’s actually very convenient.

And just to check: does it also tell the time?

Yes.

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