We review the canceled Microsoft Band 3. And it's pretty great ... or it would have been.

The Microsoft Band 2 was an improvement in every way over the original Microsoft Band wearable. It featured a brand new design, a higher-resolution AMOLED display, a more comfortable fit on the wrist, and new features that made it a better fitness wearable. The Microsoft Band 2 wasn't perfect, however, and I was hopeful that with the next release of the Band, Microsoft would have nailed it. So when news broke that Microsoft was shelving its Band devices, I was heartbroken. The Band 2 was a great wearable, almost perfect, in fact, but it needed a few more additions before I could consider it the best wearable available at the time. Alas, that third Microsoft Band never came. But that doesn't mean Microsoft wasn't working on one. Best VPN providers 2020: Learn about ExpressVPN, NordVPN & more Luckily, I managed to get my hands on a Microsoft Band 3 prototype. It's a minor improvement over the Band 2, but it's those improvements that make it the best version of the Microsoft Band. I've been using it for over a week now, and this is my review. Microsoft Band 2 and Band 3 tech specs

Category Band 2 Band 3 Display Size 12.8 mm x 32 mm 12.8 mm x 32 mm Display Type Curved AMOLED Curved AMOLED Resolution 320 x 128 pixels 320 x 128 pixels Battery 48 hours (GPS may impact battery life) 48 hours (GPS may impact battery life) Average Charge Time Full charge in less than 1.5 hours Full charge in less than 1 hour. Sensors Optical heart rate sensor

three-axis accelerometer

Gyrometer

GPS

Ambient light sensor

Skin temperature sensor

UV sensor

Capacitive sensor

Galvanic skin response

Microphone

Barometer Optical heart rate sensor

3-axis accelerometer

Gyrometer

GPS

Ambient light sensor

Skin temperature sensor

UV sensor

Capacitive sensor

Galvanic skin response

Microphone

Barometer

Electrocardiogram

RFID Connectivity Bluetooth 4.0 LE Bluetooth 4.0 LE

Microsoft Band 3: What's different?

Unlike the jump from the Band 1 to the Band 2, the Band 3 doesn't change much in regards to design. There are a few notable differences, however. For example, the clasp on the back of the device features a slightly different, slimmer design. In fact, the entire bulk at the back of the Band is slimmer, making for a much more comfortable fit on your wrist. The Band 2 was already pretty slim on the wrist, but the Band 3 improves on that slightly. For example, I don't get the Band 3 caught on things as much as the Band 2. It fits around shirt cuffs comfortably, and it just sits snugger to your skin. The two silver nubs that sit against your skin on the back of the device have changed from being circular dots to long prods. I can't really feel a difference between the two. The last notable change in design is with the Action Button, which is no longer coated in black.

The slimmer clasp also means the Band 3 features a new charger, which is more square. It connects well and charges the device fast. I can usually get from around 10 percent to 100 percent in under an hour, which is an improvement over the one and a half hours it took to charge the Band 2. There's also an additional (microphone?) hole at the top of the front of the band. Now, while the design looks almost identical to the Band 2, Microsoft added one feature to the Band that many were asking for: waterproofing. The Band 2 was water-resistant, but the Band 3 is waterproof. There are two new sensors, too: electrocardiogram and RFID sensors. Microsoft Band 3: New features

The addition of waterproofing and the new sensors mean Microsoft added three new notable features to the Band 3: Swimming exercise tracking.

Enhanced well-being tracking.

RFID tag support. The most interesting addition is the enhanced well-being tracking, which works in conjunction with the electrocardiogram sensor that tracks your blood pressure. From this, the Band can tell you your stress levels, temperature and more. This is all useful information.

The ability to track swimming is handy, and you can track things like pacing, laps, breaths per minute, time and heart rate. The RFID tag support doesn't appear to work on our prototype, likely because these devices were never finished. Microsoft Band 3: Durability