ASUS ZenWatch 3 Review

The ASUS ZenWatch3 smartwatch is the latest watch from Asus, designed as a luxury piece for those who want in on the wearable world but won’t compromise on style.

Design

The ZenWatch 3 marks Asus’s departure from the square design of its predecessor ZenWatch 2. It is designed from jewellery-grade 316L stainless steel that is cold-forged, making it 82%
stronger than traditional steel.

The watch is circular like a traditional timepiece, with a diamond-cut bezel. Depending on your choice of watch face – and there are plenty, it’s easy to forget that you are wearing a
smartwatch.

The ZenWatch 3 is available in three color options: Gunmetal, Rose Gold and Silver. Genuine Italian leather straps add to the luxurious look and feel. The straps are proprietary, though. You will not be able to use straps from other vendors. This is not a small watch. At 45mm wide and 9.95 mm thick, it’s not bulky but may not be a good fit for small wrists.

Display

The display features a circular 1.39-ich (35.3mm) AMOLED display, with a 400 x 400 pixels resolution. It provides sharp text and vibrant images.

The screen is protected by a Gorilla Glass 3 surface, keeping it safe from scratches.

Asus managed to create the first fully-circular Android Wear smartwatch with an ambient light sensor without using the flat tire effect like the Moto 360. The sensor keeps the screen quite bright but seems to dim the brightness a little too much at times.

The choice of watch faces is limited to six, but you can get an additional 55 faces with the ZenWatch Manager app.

Features

One of the most noticeable features of the ZenWatch 3 is the three buttons on the right side. The crown button can control a series of functions, including brightness modes. The
top button can be customized to launch your favorite app. The bottom button sets the Eco Mode, which is like an airplane mode for watches.

The ZenWatch3 has 512 Mb of RAM, 4Gb of storage, Bluetooth 4.1 and WiFi. It’s easy to pair a bluetooth headphone and there’s plenty of space for your music playlists.

There is also a speaker and microphone, so you can make and answer calls and dictate messages.

The fitness features are basic. It can track steps, distance, calories burned and basic workouts like pushups and situps. But there’s no heart monitor, so it may not be the best choice for a primary fitness tracker. The watch can also monitor your sleep patterns and remind you to move after you sit for too long.

With a rating of IP67 for water resistance, the ZenWatch 3 can be submerged in up to one meter of water for thirty minutes. It’s ok to shower with it, but swimming should be avoided.

Software

At the time of release of the ZenWatch 3, Google had announced a delay on its new Android Wear 2, so the watch ships with Android Wear 1.5. It should be able to update, but it’s not confirmed.

Besides the Android Wear app that is needed to pair the watch with your smartphone, Asus offers other apps that can help you fully use your watch.

The Zenwatch Manager makes it easy to swap watch faces. Your selection is immediately reflected on the watch.

Not only it offers 55 customizable faces, but you can also create your own with the FaceDesigner function. Other functions of the ZenWatch Manager include Find My Phone, and SOS feature and the Forgot Phone option that triggers a buzz on the watch when out of range of the paired phone.

There is also the ZenFit app, if you like to keep track of your activities on the phone, but it’s not necessary.

Battery Life

The ZenWatch3 features a 340 mAh battery, giving you good battery life. On average, users have reported almost 2 days with moderate use and less than a day in always-on mode.

The watch is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor. Consuming 25% less energy than its predecessor Snapdragon 400, it results in improved battery life.

Battery can be extended even further with the new Eco Mode, which can be set by a click of the bottom button. When on Eco Mode, networking and notifications are disabled, with an
extra gain of 200% in battery life.

Charging is made easier by HyperCharge technology, which can get you 60% charge in 15 minutes. That’s a convenient way to get your watch ready when you’re on the go. The charging connector is magnetic and snaps automatically into the right place.

There is also an optional battery pack will give you an extra 40 percent battery. It will make the watch thicker, though.

Conclusion

If you want to give smartwatches a try, but value style over harcore tech and fitness features, the Asus ZenWatch3 is one of your top choices.

It gives you the basic functions like answering calls,  reading messages and counting steps, without looking like a gadget. It truly looks and feels like a premium watch.