The Honor Watch GS 3 has premium smartwatch aspirations; unsurprisingly, AMOLED technology has appeared. It is a well-worked screen with a size, brightness level, and resolution that is more than correct.
We are talking about a 1.43-inch AMOLED panel with a resolution of 366 x 366 pixels, which translates to 326 pixels per inch. As for its brightness, the firm promises us up to a thousand nits. Although it is difficult to measure on a day-to-day basis, we can ensure that the visibility of the clock screen is excellent, even when the light is tight, and that we have had problems reading the content at no time.
It is difficult to appreciate the pixels at a reasonable distance, the typical one at which a watch is usually used. The automatic brightness works well and quickly, and the panel detects well, although we will talk about the general performance of the clock in the following sections. What is not so good is the use of the front.
On the one hand, the Honor Watch GS 3 has curved edges with 2.5D glass. That makes the screen spill over the sides and has that sleek look we highlighted earlier, but it also causes some glare when light hits the screen directly. Of course, it is not a drama, but it never hurts to comment on it.
On the other hand, even though the box has a size of 45.9 x 45.9 millimeters, the screen has a diagonal of 1.43 inches (36.3 millimeters). As can be seen from the figures and images that accompany this article, there is a generous black frame bordering the screen. Thanks to the AMOLED screen and the fact that the structure is black, with a suitable watch face, we can hide it, but that does not mean it is there.
watch faces
Design: exquisite
As always, we start talking about the design. The Honor Watch GS 3 is available in three finishes (Ocean Blue, Midnight Black, and Classic Gold), the blue color being the one we have analyzed. The watch case is made of 316L stainless steel, while the case back is made of polycarbonate, a fancy name for plastic.
Unlike other smartwatches, Honor hasn’t beat around the bush and has opted to launch a single 46-millimeter model. What does that mean? That if you have a small wrist, it will surely be enormous. It’s a shame there isn’t a 42-millimeter version, but if you like big analog-looking watches, the Honor Watch GS 3 ticks all the boxes.
Honor Watch Gs 3 5
The watch weighs 44 grams without the strap, the correct weight and, on average, what we have already seen on the market. It is not uncomfortable at all, and less so when you get used to wearing it, although the truth is that its size can make it not entirely pleasant to wear while we sleep (that’s why we monitor sleep, although we’ll come back to that later).
On the right side, we have two buttons that, although they click a little, have a good journey. The pulsation area slightly engraves them to offer more friction, which is appreciated when having wet or dirty hands. The top button opens the application drawer, while the bottom one opens, by default, the sports modes, although it can be modified at will.
Unfortunately, Honor hasn’t gone for a digital crown, something we see more and more on smartwatches in this price range. That means that the only way we have to interact with the menus and icons is through gestures and keystrokes. The water resistance, which in this case is 5 ATM, has not been forgotten.
On the right edge, we have, in addition to the buttons, the speaker (for calls and music), while on the left edge, we find the microphone (again, for calls). At the bottom, made of plastic, we have the eight-channel PPG heart rate sensor, pulse oximeter, and charging pins. Very simple, nothing out of the ordinary.
In short, it is a watch that retains the design lines of analog watches and offers an elegant and very premium design. It is charming to the touch and looks good on the wrist. Personally, of the three models available, the blue one I think is the most refined and the best looking, but it is something that is left to the end user. I liked it a lot on the outside, but now we’ll see how it is on the inside.
However, first, we must talk about the strap and take off our hats. The Honor Watch GS 3 comes with a lovely blue leather strap. It is pleasant to touch the skin, and it feels resistant (although I do not, I would put it in the water, really). The closure is a standard buckle (detail of the engraved Honor logo included) and offers a double loop to prevent the strap from coming off.
But in the hypothetical case that we don’t like the strap, the strap is 22 millimeters with a standard coupling, so we can buy a 22-millimeter belt we want or use one we have at home. It is a wiser decision than opting for proprietary straps, and it seems to me a success that Honor has opted for this type of finish.
It’s hard to fault the design of the Honor Watch GS 3. The only thing that comes to mind is that the stainless steel of the case is shiny, ergo, a magnet for fingerprints. It is not something as dramatic as it can be on a mobile, but there it is. For the rest, we have been delighted with this smartwatch for now.
