Vratislav Holub The latest watch from Apple is now the Apple Watch Series 7, which was introduced less than a month ago. Alongside them, however, the Cupertino giant itself also sells the cheaper SE model, which was introduced last year alongside the Apple Watch Series 6, and the old Apple Watch Series 3 from 2017. Therefore, many people wonder if the "three" are even worth buying in 2021, or is it not better to invest in a newer model. Although the answer to this question is not entirely clear, this time we will shed light on this issue together and point out whether it is really appropriate to spend around 5 thousand for a 4-year-old watch.
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Amaya Toman Lots of features at an affordable price
Before we jump into the aforementioned question, let's quickly recap what the Apple Watch Series 3 can actually do, and where it falls short compared to newer models. Although it is an older piece, it still has a lot to offer and is not far behind in terms of functions. That is why it can relatively accurately monitor the user's activities or record training sessions, and it is also water resistant, thanks to which "watches" can also be used, for example, for swimming. It is also a matter of course that the watch functions as an extended hand of the iPhone, and therefore can handle receiving messages or notifications, it also allows you to send messages, and in the case of the Cellular model, there is also the option to make calls even without an iPhone.
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Of course, the Apple Watch Series 3 also offers an NFC chip for possible payment via Apple Pay and also offers its own App Store for direct download of applications. As for the health functions, it can easily handle measuring the heart rate or calling for help via the Distress SOS function. In terms of options, even these older Apple watches definitely have something to offer and are not that far behind.
Unfortunately, they lack, for example, a sensor for measuring ECG or blood oxygen saturation, the possibility of automatic fall detection, an Always-on display and offer a slightly smaller screen than their successors. They are also not the best in terms of storage, which is the so-called Achilles heel for the Apple Watch Series 3. While the basic GPS model offers only 8 GB and the GPS+Cellular version 16 GB (not available in our country), for example, the Series 4 offered 16 GB as a base and the Series 5 then 32 GB, which Apple has stuck to until now.
So is the Apple Watch Series 3 worth buying in 2021?
Now let's move on to the main thing, i.e. to the question of whether the purchase of this watch in 2021 is actually still worth it. The main attraction in this regard may be the price, which is 5490 CZK for the version with a 38 mm case and 6290 CZK for the version with a 42 mm dial. The Apple Watch Series 3 is therefore the most affordable watch from Apple in the current offer.
In any case, no one who expects/demands from the watch the mentioned functions in the form of blood oxygen saturation measurement, ECG or fall detection should think about purchasing them. At the same time, Series 3 is not suitable for users who cling to a larger display with small frames, as in that case they would be rather disappointed with this generation. It is also necessary to take into account the absence of always-on. Even so, this piece may come in handy for someone. In terms of price/performance ratio, it is not the worst device, which, moreover, with regard to all its functions, still has a lot to offer and can undoubtedly make everyday life easier. In this regard, support for the latest watchOS 8 operating system can also please.
Latest Apple Watch Series 7:
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But let's pour some pure wine. The Apple Watch Series 3 doesn't seem like the best choice and you should rather stay away from them. In any case, the main problem is not the absence of some functions or the smaller display, but the small storage and general age. Apple will most likely not bring a new operating system to this watch - and if it does, the question is how it will actually work on such old hardware. The storage then causes problems for users even during the updates themselves, which are a real thorn in the heel. The watch offers so little free space that when you try to update, the system itself will tell you to unpair the "Watch" from the iPhone and then perform a complete restore.
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So, for most users, the Apple Watch Series 3 is quite unsuitable and it is possible that they will bring more sadness than joy. On the other hand, however, they can be suitable for so-called undemanding users who want a smart watch primarily for displaying time and notifications, for example. In such a case, however, the question arises whether it is not better to buy another, possibly cheaper model, or, on the contrary, to pay a few thousand extra for the Apple Watch SE, which has a higher chance of working significantly longer.
So for 2500,- max.
AW3 have had a major problem with updates for about a year now. Since they have a very small internal memory, the update does not take place correctly, but only in the factory settings mode. So it has to be completely reset, updated and then set up all over again every time. Apple even lists this harness as a recommendation on its website. I know from practice that this is the only option, I recommend getting rid of them as soon as possible, before they become completely unsaleable even as a bargain because of this defect. And definitely don't buy them.
But watchOS 8 should solve this problem.
I confirm, before the update they showed that they only had 4,2 GB capacity, after updating to watchOS 8 (unlike watchOS 7,3, which I had to delete them for) they show 8 GB capacity.