Xiaomi Watch S3 Smartwatch Review

Xiaomi’s latest smartwatch, the Watch S3, is catching attention. It looks great with high-quality finishes and a neat feature that allows you to change the case color. The screen is large, and the battery lasts a long time. We tested it out for a few days to see what it’s really like. Here’s our review of the Xiaomi Watch S3.

Design & Build

The Xiaomi Watch S3 comes in a round shape, similar to earlier models in the same series. Compared to its predecessor, the Watch S3 is slightly larger with a case size of 47 × 47 × 12 mm, versus the tch-s2 which was 46 × 46 × 10.7 mm. This new model has two buttons on the side and includes a speaker and microphone.

This smartwatch offers a special feature with its bezel. You can customize it by purchasing different colored bezels separately. This allows you to access new personalized virtual watch faces. However, some people find Xiaomi’s prices for these bezels expensive. The watch automatically detects the change and installs the new virtual watch faces.

The Xiaomi Watch S3 is a 5ATM water resistant rating, suitable for different situations. Its comfortable default wristband adjusts well to fit any wrist size. You can change how it looks by switching different bezels and stylish bands. They’re easy to swap using the built-in lug system. These bands use a spring bar and can be replaced with your preferred band, as long as it matches the width.

Display

This watch has a round screen. It’s an AMOLED display that’s 1.43 inches big. The screen resolution is 466 x 466 pixels, giving it 326 pixels per inch.

The screen is bright enough to read in any situation, even in direct sunlight. The Watch S3 has a sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness based on the surrounding light. It also has an always-on mode, so the display never fully turns off. This mode keeps the screen easy to read and looks good, even with lower brightness. You can turn off the always-on mode at night, either manually or by setting a schedule.

To customize the watch faces, you’ll use the Mi Fitness app. There are a lot of designs to choose from, and most users will find something they like.

Software And Performance

HyperOS, despite its new name, didn’t show any real changes compared to older Xiaomi watches without Wear OS in our tests. The app icons and menus look a bit different now, but that’s pretty much it. Xiaomi claims HyperOS will eventually improve how their devices connect and work together, but for now, it’s mostly the same as before, just with a new name.

If you’re looking for a smartwatch that covers the basics well and has long battery life, consider one with HyperOS like the S3, rather than Google’s WearOS. It lacks some apps and advanced phone features, but during my review of the Watch S3, I found it handled everything I needed, including maps and replying to notifications.

The interface is straightforward and works smoothly without any delays. You can use the watch in a few ways: double-tap the screen, raise your wrist, or press either side button. Once you’re in, swipe down to see notifications or swipe up from the bottom to access the control center page.

You can swipe left or right to see widgets, which are grouped app cards. Each widget card can hold up to four apps. You can set these apps on your watch or in the Mi Fitness app’s widgets tab. Notifications on the Watch S3 arrive quickly, but you can only dismiss them, as we mentioned earlier.

The built-in speaker works okay, but it’s a bit tough to hear clearly during phone calls in noisy places. The microphone picks up voices well, and people I talked to said they could hear me loudly and clearly. Throughout my review, the watch stayed connected to my iPhone 15 Pro without any interruptions.

Battery Life & Charging

With a battery capacity of 486 mAh, Xiaomi claims the Watch S3 can last up to 15 days on a single charge. However, actual battery life may vary based on how you use it. If you keep the always-on display mode on, the smartwatch is supposed to last about 5 days without needing to recharge. During our testing, with all tracking features on and the screen constantly lit up, the Xiaomi Watch S3 lasted more than five days.

We also noticed the excellent fast charging capability, which allowed us to go from 0% to 100% battery in just one hour. The only downside is the slightly bulky Xiaomi charger with its magnetic proprietary connector.

Health Tracking

The Watch S3 lets you track your heart rate using a special sensor. You can choose how often it checks your heart rate, from every 1 to 30 minutes. Checking more often uses more battery. The accuracy of the heart rate readings was similar to other smartwatches we tested recently. You can also get alerts if your heart rate goes too high or too low, letting you know when it goes above or below a certain level.

Blood oxygen tracking (SpO2) is available around the clock. Our tests showed that both heart rate and SpO2 readings are comparable to those from other smartwatches and health trackers, as well as dedicated pulse oximeters. Keep in mind, these readings are not medical-grade, as these devices are designed for monitoring overall health. We compared the heart rate and blood oxygen measurements from the watch with those from a specialized heart rate monitor and pulse oximeter, and found similar results.

Xiaomi is promoting its new sleep analysis feature, boasting better accuracy. Our testing shows it accurately records when you fall asleep and wake up. It categorizes your sleep into deep, light, and REM stages. After wearing the Watch S3 for a week, you’ll receive a personalized sleep report. This report includes a fun “sleeping animal” based on your sleep patterns and a suggested daily schedule for better rest and recovery.

I noticed a problem where my sleep tracker mistakenly recorded some extra awake times, even though I stayed in bed all night without getting up. Hopefully, Xiaomi can fix this issue in their next software update. When you use the SpO2 feature for sleep tracking, it also gives you breathing scores that can alert you to possible signs of sleep apnea.

Specifications

• Size: 47 mm x 47 mm x 12 mm
• Screen Resolution: 466 x 466 pixels
• Screen Type: AMOLED
• Weight: 44 g
• Heart Rate Sensor: Yes
• Sleep Analysis: Yes
• Ambient Light Sensor: Yes
• Water Resistance Rating: 5ATM

Conclusion

The Xiaomi Watch S3 impresses with its colorful 1.43-inch AMOLED screen. It tracks your health around the clock, monitoring your heart rate and blood oxygen levels (SpO2). It offers a wide range of sports modes. You can personalize it with different bezels and straps, which is unusual for its price range.

It doesn’t have fancy extras like wireless charging or lots of third-party apps, but its battery lasts well and it runs smoothly on HyperOS. It’s a great pick for people who care about style and want a smartwatch that covers the basics really well.