July 2024: Strollberry is sunsetting.Here's why July 2024: After 6 years of working on Strollberry in my free time, it just stopped being sustainable. Find out more. eli
Britax Smile 3
<

Britax Smile 3

The full-size lie-flat with the smile-inducing basket
.eli
see 16 parent reviews

The Britax Smile 3 a 2020 version of the popular Britax Smile 2, and a continuation of the original Britax Smile. This full-sized stroller/stroller system is boasting the improved, minimalistic, and, therefore, more straightforward modern look with additional leatherette details. The new seat unit is now roomier and offers several recline positions, including a lie-flat. Although in (mainly) neutral melange colorways, Smile 3 introduces new materials and color variations. For maximum safety - just like its predecessor - the seat unit features a strap connecting the bumper bar with the seat, between the child's legs. The extendable UV hood is equipped with a silent-closing ventilation window. Keeping in line with the tradition of the versatile Smile, the suspension located on air-filled wheels, as well as front and center of the chassis, is necessary. The total weight capacity of the seat unit is now 22kg. Another added bonus of the Smile 3 is a simplified and comfortable 5-point safety belt system.

Committed to the philosophy of a massive shopping basket, which will make you smile (hence the name), the shopping basket holds up to 7kg. For better safety in low visibility conditions, the stroller features 3M reflective stripes. You can attach the optional carrycot in matching colors to the chassis as well, transforming the stroller into a full-featured travel system. Alternatively, it is possible to attach the Britax Römer car seat, no adapters needed. Using adapters, other well-known car seat brands are compatible too. The stroller can be bought separately but is also available in a set as a stroller system.

Britax Smile 3 Features & Specifications

The Basics

Type
Pushchair (seat and chassis only), 2in1 stroller system, 3in1 stroller system
Stroller weight
13 kg
Unfolded dimensions (h×w×l)
112 cm x 57 cm x 97.7 cm
Folded dimensions (h×w×l)
90 cm x 57 cm x 40 cm
Chassis material
Aluminum
Country of origin
Germany
Stroller available as a pushchair (seat unit configuration) only; newborn accessories (like a carrycot) need to be purchased separately
Yes

The Seat unit

Maximum weight capacity - seat load
22 kg
Recommended age range (best to use with a child of)
0-30 months
Reversible seat unit
Yes
Easy-release memory button(s) on the seat or the carrycot
Yes
L-shaped, bucket-type seat unit
No
Reclining backrest
Yes, 3 positions
Full-recline backrest (a bigger-than-a-150-degree-angle to a lie-flat)
Yes
Backrest recline type
Rear-located recline mechanism (e.g., lever-operated)
One-hand backrest recline system
Yes
Extendable backrest
No
Legrest positioning
Yes, 4 positions
Extendable leg rest
No
Wipe-clean layer on the leg rest
Yes
Footrest
Yes
Backrest height
48 cm
Width and depth of the sitting surface
30 x 23 cm
Total length of the seat unit
94 cm
A higher seat unit's position on the chassis
Yes
Height-adjustable seat
No
Seat unit's proper attachment indicator
No
2in1 convertible carrycot/seat unit (pramette travel system)
No
Fabrics removable for cleaning
No
Seat fabrics cleaning
Wipe-clean only
Safety harness type
5-point
Harness padding
Yes
Height-adjustable harness belts
Yes
Ventilation integrated into the seat
No
Second seat can be attached (single-to-double convertibility)
No

The Canopy (Hood)

Seat unit equipped with a canopy/hood
Yes
Extendable canopy/hood
Yes
The canopy/hood features a sun visor
Yes
Floating, follow-the-sun canopy
No
Height-adjustable canopy
No
Removable canopy
Yes
Waterproof canopy
Yes
UV protection in the (canopy) fabrics
Yes
Ventilation integrated into the canopy
Yes
A pocket integrated into the canopy
Yes
Peek-a-boo viewing window present on the canopy
Yes
Peek-a-boo window can be closed/covered
Yes
Quiet (magnetic/no velcro) peek-a-boo window
Yes
Reinforcing side clasps present on the canopy
No

The Bumper bar

Bumper bar
Yes
Bumper bar type (style)
Bar
Removable bumper bar
Yes
Gate-opening (swing-away) bumper bar
Yes
Height-adjustable bumper bar
No
Bumper bar features a fabric (non-wipe-clean) cover
No
Bumper bar features an extra crotch strap
Yes

The Wheels

Number of wheels
4
Front wheel(s) type
Air-filled (inflatable) tires
Rear wheels type
Air-filled (inflatable) tires
Front wheels diameter
19 cm
Rear wheels diameter
28 cm
Swivel wheels
Yes
Lockable wheels
Yes
Removable wheels
Yes
All wheels are double wheels
No
Wheels equipped with mudguards
Yes, rear only
Two-wheel mode
No

The Suspension

Suspension
Yes
Wheels with suspension
All
Suspension type
Mechanical (internal spring-loaded mechanism)
Adjustable suspension softness
No
Rocking chassis
No

The Brake

Central brake system/type
Push-push pedal brake (flip-flop friendly)
Deceleration handbrake
No,

The Fold

Folding system
Flat (compact) fold
One-hand fold
No
Plane-travel-friendly stroller with an ultra-compact fold (suitable as carry-on luggage)
No
Folds with the (forward-facing) seat attached
Yes
Folds with the rearward-facing seat attached
No
Self-standing fold
Yes
Auto-lock feature of the folded chassis
Yes
Folded stroller can be pulled behind like luggage
No
Stroller folds and/or unfolds by itself
No
Equipped with a carry strap/carry handle
No
Outward fold (the seat fabrics are on the outside after folding)
No

The Handlebar

Handle height adjustment
Pivoting
Handlebar material
Leatherette (PU/eco-leather)
Handlebar height
80-113 cm
Reversible handlebar (handle can be flipped to the other side)
No
Safety wrist strap
No

The Basket

Shopping basket
Yes
Large shopping basket
Yes
Basket's weight capacity
7 kg
Closable basket
No
An extra basket can be attached to the frame
No
A pocket integrated into the seat/elsewhere on the stroller frame
No

The Carrycot

Carrycot compatible
Yes (without adapters)
Internal dimensions of the carrycot - mattress measurement
73 x 33 cm
Carry handle on the carrycot
Yes,
Inclining carrycot mattress
No,
Foldable carrycot
No,
Rocking-base carrycot
No
Ventilatilated carrycot base (bottom ventilation system)
No,
Carrycot installable in the car instead of a group 0+ car seat (Auto carrycot)
No,
Carrycot positioned high on the frame
No

The Car seat

Car seat compatible
Yes (with adapters), Yes (without adapters)
Car seat sold separately
Yes
Maxi-Cosi/Cybex car seat attachment-type adapters available
Yes
Britax Römer car seat attachment-type adapters available
Yes

The Accessories & Extra features

Parent tray/organizer on the handlebar (included)
No
Cup holder can be attached
Yes
Reflective elements
Yes
No pushchair mode/seat-unit configuration available
No
Rain cover included
Yes
Mosquito net included
No
Leg cover (apron) included with the seat unit
No
Seat liner/insert included
No
Changing bag included
No
Carry bag/transport cover for the folded stroller included
No
Motorized/Baterry-powered
No
LED light(s)
No
Built-in audio speakers
No
A storage/bag can be attached instead of a seat
No

Best Deals for Britax Smile 3

Parent reviews of the Britax Smile 3

3.0/5
Add YOUR review
if you own(ed) it, own it ;-)
parents say thx^^

Everything I was looking for

5
  • inflatable wheels
  • suspension
  • extended canopy on the seat (even when the baby is sleeping)
  • full sitting, lying down position
  • the seat folds together with the frame
  • takes up little space in the boot of the car
  • reversible seat
  • adjustable belts on the seat without me having to adjust them from the back 👍
  • load capacity of the sports section up to 22 kilos
  • easy handling
  • adjustable handle height
  • when the baby is lying towards the parent, it is harder to access the shopping cart (nothing terrible 😉)

I've had a few Britaxes and I've always been satisfied. Britaxes are not designer prams, but they are super practical. This one is the top for me so far. Everything I was looking for, I found in it 👍

  • Solid chassis
  • Nice design
  • Can be put to lie down
  • It is reversible
  • Inflatable wheels both front and back
  • Squeaks both at the point of attachment of the structure and at the point of positioning of the handle
  • Difficult to manoeuvre with one hand
  • Has a large storage space in the basket, but partitioned by a bar that gets in the way
  • Wheels rattle when turning
  • The canopy falls off the hinge when tilted

We had high expectations from the stroller, which unfortunately it did not meet. At the price of this stroller it is a big disappointment.

We switched to it from a Britax Go Next, which although a few years old, was wider, heavier, and used to its fullest, ultimately squeaked less and handled better than the Smile III. The review is only on the seat part. I'll try to evaluate it objectively.

We use the stroller despite its shortcomings, but I would definitely not buy it again.

  • Very slim
  • Relatively cheap
  • The wheels are wobbly

Do not buy. The front wheels are wobbly out of the box.

  • Smooth on bumpier roads
  • Wheels are good sized for gravel
  • Shopping basket is reasonably spacious
  • Wide stable base
  • Cannot operate well with one hand (across the board this is the case. As a mother, I cannot get the pram ready with my child in one hand. The same goes for their car seat buckle and rotating base system you need two free hands for all of this which is a failure in their engineering team I cannot understand.
  • The folding system is really not well engineered. Case and point, try opening this in the dark/try opening it with one hand/the carrier basket gets stuck and is difficult to refit/front wheels need to first be locked, then the basket then the actual base can be collapsed/collapsed stroller is secured by 1 flimsy plastic clip than needs to be pushed to the side in order to open and that plastic tag is black so you never find it easily.
  • Takes up a lot of space when folded your boot in range rover is over half full.

I wouldn't buy this again. Maybe more British than German engineering ha joking aside, it's an ok product but not relative to the price tag.

Purchased the full kit and it leaves me wanting more especially when it comes to materials selection and manufacturing quality.

The seller suggested this pram to us. I never had one, so I didn't know what I'll need. I just wanted a 3in1 set. The car seat, the bassinet and the seat, all look nice and feel comfy. Just our little girl is happier in our Manduca ergo carrier.

  • design
  • roomy reversible seat
  • looks great on paper
  • wobbly
  • bad plastics/joints/quality..?

A disappointment. Sooo roomy and robust feeling but sooo wobbly right out of the box…

Feels cheap and rattly for the price

2
  • Style
  • Basket
  • Spacious parts
  • Loose & rattly frame
  • Cheap plastics
  • The brake works funny (not always properly
  • I expected higher quality

The frame was loose right out of the box and got even looser. It feels like the plastics and joints are simply cheaper. Overall feels cheap and rattly for the price. I would't choose it again.

Not worth the price

1
  • Looks good on paper
  • Low quality

Not worth the price. Faulty and getting rusty. Not recommended.

I am only not sure about the chassis

4

I really like its looks and all the functions. I am only not sure about the chassis that is on the looser side. We'll see how it lasts.

I'll be smarter with the second baby

1
  • Design
  • Spacious basket
  • Handy brake
  • Small front wheels, can not handle forest and field roads
  • Too Heavy
  • Hard to control with one hand
  • Bad chassis, scrubs, squeaks, grunts, the whole wobbles terribly
  • The handle of the sports car is unreasonably high, the little one has upturned hands, I don't think she will ever grow into it.
  • The sewn-on seat belt straps to the backrest are too high and push into the back and head, it cannot be ripped off!
  • The carrycot is small and shallow - the baby will not fit in the fleece at 6 months
  • The basket is not closing
  • All equipment must be purchased - then it will be very expensive
  • Very high purchase price

I let myself be convinced in the store because I had no experience. But over time, I know it was a mistake. Cheaper prams are of better quality, even the Polish ones. They said it's German, but everything is made in China, so, unfortunately...

I really liked the pram, but there are a lot of things that bother me and are ill-conceived, such as a small carrycot and a nonsensical handrail at the sports car. I'll be smarter with the second baby.

Your questions about the Britax Smile 3

1)

My husband is 6ft2 and may want to use the stroller on its highest handlebar setting. This looks like it will bring him very close to the frame when walking (yet he has a far longer stride length than I do). It looks like raising the handle bars will actually bring him over the carrycot!

Has anyone found this a problem? Thank you (we cannot view this in a shop as we live in the UK and will need to ship it from Germany or Sweden).

Hello!

Well, you ARE right. A rotating style of a handlebar WILL make the stroller's base and the rear axle closer and therefore make your husband kick the rear bar if making long steps. Read our guide about handlebar types and their pros and cons here to know more.

On the other hand, your hubby is not extremely tall, my man is pretty much the same height, and usually, when he adjusts his steps just a bit, he doesn't have the problem of kicking the stroller with pivoting handles much. If he were much taller, the problem would be much more prominent.

With this, rather tall/robust model, I think you should be fine. On the other hand, my experience with it, and more moms confirmed me this, is that the Britax's Smile 3 is made cheaper than one would expect, mainly ni the plastics area. If I should recommend something, go for a Britax Go Big2 or an Uppababy if needing something long-lasting. At least, that's what I would do.

Good luck!

.eli - 03 Sep 2021

This is your place to ask us a (quick) question about the Britax Smile 3