Honor’s GS 3 is a fine-looking watch with plenty of nice functions, but it nearly didn’t get up and running in this review. The problem was the app.

Typical of gadgets these days, there is next to no information in the box, save a quick-start guide with a QR code in it. The QR code points to an app used across multiple Honor devices, but not the Honor GS 3 smartwatch. The watch needs the (Android) phone to set up, so with no app there is effectively no watch. Endless attempts at pairing the device to the phone were in vain. Finally, a search for another app resulted in finding the compatible ‘Honor Health’. A few hours late, but the review had started.

Even when the right app had been identified, sign-up wasn’t swift and the amount of information and access required felt unnecessary. Given Honor’s roots in Huawei and its reputation for enthusiastic data gathering, this felt intrusive.

The watch itself looks good. The brown leather strap has a quality...