The Smartwatch 3 is Sony’s third attempt at a smartwatch, an attempt which first started back in 2010 with the Liveview. That makes Sony a veteran of the smartwatch world and it shows in the design: with features this advanced, it won’t be overtaken by its rivals in a hurry.

The Smartwatch 2 was released in 2013, a waterproof Android watch with support for more than just Sony’s smartphones. It was a decent attempt, but lacked polish.

Android Wear

The Smartwatch 3 module easily detaches from the strap when off, but is held fast when closed on a wrist. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The new Sony smartwatch runs Google’s Android Wear, like the Motorola Moto 360, LG G Watch R and many others. Wear is a lot more user-friendly, attractive and useful than the customised version of Android Sony has used in the past.

Sony has made only small changes to Android Wear, with only three unique watch faces and nothing in the way of new built-in apps. Everything works as it should – voice searches and swipes are snappy, animations are smooth and the connection to an Android smartphone via Bluetooth is solid.

Sony’s LifeLog application, which tracks activity but also logs which tracks a user was listening to and other life events, works well with the smartwatch.

Always-on screen

The transflective display means the screen is readable using ambient light unlike most other LCDs screens which constantly require a backlight. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The Smartwatch 3 has an understated design compared to some of its competitors, with a simple and recognisably Sony aesthetic. The screen is a separate removable module from the band, which is just simple black silicone rubber.

It’s comfortable to wear, has a solid clasp and is waterproof to IP68 standards or submersion in more than 1m of water for 30 minutes. The rubberised band attracts dust like a magnet but is easy to clean.

The screen is one of Smartwatch 3’s biggest advantages over its competitors. It is a 1.6in square LCD, which is just as sharp as any of the others, but instead of constantly relying on a backlight it is transflective. That means it can be seen using ambient light without a backlight, a bit like the e-paper display on the Pebble.

When the watch is raised, the screen will light up and adjust the brightness automatically, but the transflective display is perfectly readable at a glance without the backlight. That makes the Smartwatch 3 one of the best smartwatches at actually being a watch and telling the time.

Three-day battery

Unlike all the other smartwatches currently available, the Smartwatch 3 uses a standard microUSB cable to charge – no annoying dock or losable dongle required. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Not needing a backlight all the time also means the Smartwatch 3 has the longest battery life of any Android Wear watch. Sony rates it for up to two days usage, but I regularly see three days on a single charge.

It will change with usage, but with notifications constantly pinging the watch, voice searches and step monitoring, the Smartwatch 3 lasted from 7am till 11pm on three consecutive days before needing a charge. The best of the rest only last just two days under similar conditions.

Charging takes an hour via a standard microUSB cable – no special dock or wireless charging pad required.

The Smartwatch 3 lacks a heart rate monitor, as has become common for Android Wear, but has an integrated GPS chip for tracking position without needing a smartphone, built-in Wi-Fi and NFC.

Android Wear support for the GPS chip is poor at the moment, with only a few third-party running apps able to use it, while Wi-Fi and NFC is not yet supported. Once the software is updated by Google, the Smartwatch 3 will be the only Android Wear watch with its own internet connection via Wi-Fi and with the possibility to do contactless payment among other features.

The clasp is comfortable, easy to use and holds firm when fastened without fear of popping open. The black silicone band collects dust like a magnet, but is easy to clean. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Price

The Smartwatch 3 costs £190 with either a black or yellow band, which makes is the most expensive square Android Wear watch, more than the £159 LG G Watch and £169 Samsung Gear Live, but cheaper than the round £200 Motorola Moto 360 and £225 LG G Watch R.

The Smartwatch 3 is initially available with a black or a yellow band, but Sony will sell extra bands such as this pink one. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Verdict

The Smartwatch 3 is a solid smartwatch with great battery life. It lacks a heart rate sensor, but has an attractive, understated design and a comfortable strap.

It has good specifications, which means it won’t quickly be out-paced by newer, faster smartwatches that also run on Android Wear, and that also offers potential for a lot more as the software evolves.

Whether people need a smartwatch is still debatable, but the Smartwatch 3 is the best square smartwatch on the market at the moment.

Pros: three-day battery life, transflective screen, auto brightness, comfortable, future-proofed Cons: no heart-rate monitor, design is understated, proprietary strap

LIVE on #Periscope: Sony Smartwatch 3 - hands on LIVE! https://t.co/4lDzBb4Kfv — Guardian Tech (@guardiantech) April 7, 2015

Other reviews

• Smartwatch review: LG’s G Watch R is chunky, masculine, and fast

• Motorola Moto 360 review: beautiful smartwatch spoiled by poor battery life

• Google smartwatches review: LG G Watch, Samsung Gear Live and Android Wear

• Sony Smartwatch 2 review: a second screen for your Android phone

• Samsung Gear 2 and Gear Fit review: smartwatches on the up