Sony SmartWatch 3 starts shipping this week, Sony says


There have been a few mixed messages concerning the launch date of the Sony SmartWatch 3, but now we can confirm – the device is shipping from the end of this week.


Those who were the first in the UK to pre-order will get their SmartWatch 3 around the end of the week, Sony has told us in a statement. It will go on general sale from November 16.


The statement reads: "Users among the first to pre-order SmartWatch 3 in the UK will be receiving their devices from the end of this week – wider availability and shipping will commence from November 16."


So it seems Sony's next smartwatch will arrive sooner than we thought.


The SmartWatch 3 was originally expected to land on October 23, which was last Thursday. This morning, the release date of November 16 popped up on the Sony site. That date is a Sunday, which seemed a bit odd, but Sony has confirmed it will go on general sale from then.


Microsoft is expected to announce its own smartwatch imminently. It's thought to have a fitness focus. Fitbit also unveiled the Surge earlier today. It claims the device is a "fitness super watch".


We'll have to wait and see how the Surge stacks up, though its seven-day battery life is certainly impressive. Much more so than the Apple Watch's, anyway.


Things should really hot up in the New Year, when the Apple Watch hits shop shelves.


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