Haylou Watch 3: Complete Review to Decide If It’s Worth Buying

The Haylou Watch 3 is a smartwatch from Chinese brand Haylou, a subsidiary of Haylou Innovation linked to the Xiaomi ecosystem. The watch is positioned as an affordable option for those who want health monitoring, wrist notifications, and reasonable design without spending the equivalent of an Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch. The short answer: if you have a limited budget and don’t need integrated high-precision GPS or ultrafast operating system response, the Watch 3 can surprise you. But there are important nuances that will define whether it’s the right choice for your profile.

Haylou has built a reputation in Brazil mainly for its value for money. The Watch 3 continues this line, targeting those who want a look more like a “real” watch than a conventional fitness band. It competes directly with options that include Amazfit, Xiaomi Band, and entry-level versions of Samsung itself, so feature comparison will appear frequently throughout this review.

Before diving into technical sections, an important note: this article is based on official specifications released by the manufacturer and publicly available information. We did not perform proprietary laboratory tests on the device, and we recommend that you consult the updated technical sheet on the official Haylou website or at the point of sale before finalizing your purchase, especially because product specifications in this range may vary by region or batch.

Haylou Watch 3 Technical Specifications

AMOLED Display: A Strong Point That Justifies the Purchase

The AMOLED display (Active Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode) is display technology where each pixel emits its own light without requiring backlighting. In practice, this means deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, and lower energy consumption when the background is dark. For a smartwatch in this price range, having AMOLED is already a real advantage.

According to information released by the manufacturer, the approximately 1.96-inch panel offers good readability outdoors when brightness is at maximum. The interface responds well to touch in basic interactions like navigating between screens and accepting or rejecting notifications. The collection of watch faces (customizable dials) available through the Haylou Fun app is reasonable, with options that mimic the look of analog watches for those preferring something more classic.

The point of attention here is pixel density. Without an official number confirmed by the manufacturer, it’s not possible to say with precision how sharp small fonts are, so when testing in person at a store, observe whether notification text appears without visible aliasing. This detail makes a difference in daily use.

Health Monitoring: What Works and What Has Limitations

The Watch 3 monitors heart rate continuously, SpO2 (blood oxygen saturation), and sleep. SpO2 works through pulse oximetry, a technology that uses infrared light to estimate blood oxygen concentration without needing to prick your finger. It’s the same idea as finger oximeters, but with lower accuracy because wrist reading suffers more from movement and skin pigmentation interference.

According to the manufacturer, sleep monitoring divides the night into light, deep, and REM (Rapid Eye Movement, dream sleep) phases, plus records wake episodes. This data is displayed in the Haylou Fun app with simple graphs. For those who want an overview of sleep patterns, it works. Those needing detailed clinical analysis will need a certified medical device.

The integrated GPS is one of the Watch 3’s differentiators compared to cheaper fitness bands like the Galaxy Fit 3 vs Xiaomi Band 10, which rely on smartphone GPS to track routes. With its own GPS, you can run or bike without carrying a smartphone and still record the route. GPS accuracy at this price point tends to be functional for casual use, but may have drifts on routes with many tall buildings or tree coverage.

The sport modes declared by the manufacturer cover dozens of activities, from running and cycling to swimming and yoga. The 5 ATM resistance means it withstands swimming in a pool without problems. It’s not for diving, but for gym and rain running it’s more than adequate.

Battery and Autonomy: How Far It Actually Goes

The manufacturer declares up to 14 days of autonomy in typical use. This number, common in smartwatch marketing, considers heart rate at intervals, GPS off, and screen at moderate brightness. If you activate GPS for an hour-long run daily, autonomy drops significantly. With continuous GPS, expect something around 15 to 20 hours of tracking before needing to recharge, which is standard for the category.

The approximately 300 mAh battery is charged via proprietary magnetic cable, a common standard in smartwatches that makes docking easy but means losing the cable is a problem. Keep this in mind before traveling. The full recharge time, according to manufacturer information, is around 2 hours.

For moderate daily use (notifications, continuous heart rate monitoring, no daily GPS), 7 to 10 days between charges is a realistic and verifiable expectation. Compared to Wear OS smartwatches, which typically require daily charging, this number is a clear advantage of the Watch 3.

Software, App, and Smartphone Integration

The Haylou Fun application is available for Android and iOS. It centralizes health data, notification settings, watch face customization, and firmware updates. The app interface is simple, which can be seen as a plus for those who don’t want complexity, or as a limitation for those who like exploring data in more depth.

The Watch 3 doesn’t run third-party apps like Google’s Wear OS or Apple’s watchOS. It operates in a closed system where functions are defined by Haylou’s firmware. This means you won’t install Spotify, Waze, or any additional apps on the watch. Those expecting a “smart” watch in the broad sense will be disappointed. Those wanting a health tracker with a nice screen and notifications will feel at home.

Notification synchronization works for messages, calls, and social media apps, with content viewable on the wrist. Responding to messages directly from the watch isn’t available the same way as on smartwatches with open platforms.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• AMOLED display with clean visuals for the price range
• Integrated GPS eliminates smartphone dependence during exercise
• 5 ATM water resistance, suitable for swimming
• Up to 14 days battery autonomy in moderate use (manufacturer declared)
• Bluetooth 5.3 with more stable and efficient connection
• Compatible with Android and iOS
• Accessible price in the context of GPS smartwatches

Cons:

• Doesn’t support third-party apps (closed system)
• Can’t reply to messages directly from wrist
• Proprietary magnetic charging cable
• GPS accuracy in dense urban environments may vary
• Health data locked in Haylou Fun ecosystem, no native integration with Google Health or Apple Health (confirm current app version)
• Anatel certification and warranty vary by sales channel

Competitors and Alternatives in Brazil

The Redmi Watch 4 is the main direct rival. It offers similar display size, also AMOLED, with higher declared autonomy and is within a similar price range. If you find both at the same price, it’s worth comparing app integration and parts availability in Brazil. The Amazfit Bip 5 has a consolidated presence in national stores and more easily accessible technical support.

For those evaluating the value-for-money context of affordable electronics from Asian brands, the same logic applies to other segments, like headphones, where detailed analysis of the Galaxy Buds FE vs Redmi Buds 6 Play shows how small price differences can represent big jumps in experience.

Brazil Situation: Anatel, Warranty, and Where to Buy

This is a critical point for those buying from smaller brands. The Haylou Watch 3 requires Anatel certification to be legally sold in Brazil. Imported products without certification may be held at customs and have no legal warranty coverage. Before buying, verify on the Anatel website if the model is certified, using the certification number that should be on the packaging or official technical sheet.

Brazilian legal warranty is 90 days for consumer products, but manufacturers like Haylou often offer 1-year contractual warranty. The problem is that enforcing this warranty on imported watches without official representatives in the country can be complicated. Stores like Shopee, AliExpress, and Mercado Livre sell the product, but post-sale support varies greatly among sellers. If that’s a priority for you, look for a reseller that explicitly states national warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Haylou Watch 3

Does the Haylou Watch 3 work with iPhone?

Yes, according to the manufacturer, the watch is compatible with iOS 10.0 or higher via the Haylou Fun app. The experience tends to be more limited than with Android, especially for notifications from specific apps, so it’s worth checking compatibility with the apps you use most before buying.

Can the watch handle swimming in a pool?

The declared resistance is 5 ATM, which equals 50 meters depth under static conditions. In practice, it’s suitable for pool swimming. It’s not recommended for tank diving or activities in deep water with high dynamic pressure.

Is the Watch 3 GPS accurate for urban running?

For casual use and route recording in parks or open streets, it should work satisfactorily. In cities with many tall buildings, like downtown São Paulo, the GPS signal may experience drops or small route mapping imprecisions. Athletes needing very precise cadence and route data should consider Garmin or Polar devices.

Can you pay by proximity with the Haylou Watch 3?

Based on publicly available specifications, the Watch 3 doesn’t have NFC (Near Field Communication, the technology that enables contactless payment). If contactless payment is essential for you, check the technical sheet of the latest product version before buying, as models and versions may vary.

Is the Haylou Watch 3 Worth Buying?

The Watch 3 fulfills well the proposal it sets out to: be an affordable smartwatch with an AMOLED display, integrated GPS, and decent battery life. It won’t replace a Garmin for serious runners or an Apple Watch for those living in the Apple ecosystem. But for those who want to go running without their smartphone in their pocket, see notifications on their wrist, and track basic health metrics without spending R$ 800 or more, the Watch 3 is an honest choice.

The main precaution before buying is checking Anatel certification and choosing a seller with clear support. Products without these two guaranteed points can become a headache if they need replacement or repair.

Recommended for: those wanting their first GPS smartwatch, users practicing running or cycling casually, people seeking basic wrist health monitoring without compromising budget, and those preferring long battery autonomy over advanced software features.

Price range: R$ 250 to R$ 450 in Brazil, depending on channel and exchange rate variation. Reference launch price around US$ 50 to US$ 70 in the United States.