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Smart watch samsung gear s3 frontier specifications. Samsung Gear S3 Classic - detailed description. Cons Gear S3

The concept of smartwatches has gone through several transformations over the past few years. From a companion to a smartphone, these devices have become a separate platform for applications, and now they are gradually sorting out the functions of multisport watches. The Samsung Gear S3 Frontier is just the representative of a new generation of smartwatches, in which traditional functionality is complemented by sports. Let's see how it all fits into the compact body of the device.

With the Gear S3 Frontier, Samsung continues to build on the design ideas of the . The new watch also has a round case, but looks more aggressive against the smooth lines of the previous model.

This is achieved due to the larger size, black color of the case and the geared navigation ring that is located around the screen. This style is the prerogative of the version of Frontier, designed for users who lead an active lifestyle.

But in general, the design of the watch case turned out to be universal, it will suit both men and women, and for different styles of clothing - the main thing is to choose the right strap, as well as the dial.

The Gear S3 Frontier comes standard with a black rubber strap, but standard 22mm straps can be used with the watch.

After the start of sales, Samsung promises to begin shipping additional straps, including models from renowned designer Arik Levy.

Display, control, interface

The Gear S3 Frontier uses a 1.3-inch Super AMOLED display covered with Corning Gorilla Glass SR+. The screen resolution is 360x360 pixels, taking into account the diagonal, this made it possible to achieve a pixel density of 278 per inch. The picture on the display looks clear and colorful, which is typical for Super AMOLED matrices. If you turn on the option in the settings that will constantly display the image of the dial, then the Gear S3 Frontier is easy to confuse with a regular watch.

Device management is implemented in the same way as in Gear S2. With this model, Samsung introduced for the first time a new interface for its smartwatches and a navigation ring. The solution is so simple and convenient that it’s even surprising that other smartwatch manufacturers have not yet come up with it. The ring around the Gear S3 Frontier's screen scrolls to the right or left, and allows you to scroll through screens, lists or icons in the interface.

In addition, there are two mechanical buttons on the right side of the watch case, one is responsible for stepping back, and the second for exiting the main screen, calling the main menu, and turning the device on and off. You can also control the watch through the touch screen, but in many cases the navigation ring is simply more comfortable to use.

Gear S3 Frontier's interface is built around a round screen, so its elements are positioned to maximize usable space. Understanding the logic of the interface is not difficult. The main screen is always the watch face, if you turn the navigation ring to the left, the notification center opens, if to the right - screens with widgets, you can delete them or add new ones.

A swipe from the top edge of the display down opens a panel that shows the charge level, connection status, as well as a number of buttons with options.

One of the advantages of smartwatches over conventional ones is the ability to change watch faces to suit your taste and style.

The Gear S3 Frontier has 15 pre-installed watch faces, and more can be downloaded or purchased from the Galaxy Apps store. Watch faces can simply show the time, as well as other information, such as the weather forecast or the number of steps taken.

The main menu of the Gear S3 Frontier is made in the form of a circle of round icons, which once again emphasizes the shape of the display.

Favorite applications can be displayed in a separate menu as widgets, so they immediately show additional information, allowing you to quickly check the weather forecast or start training, for example.

Smartphone connectivity, performance, alerts and programs

The Gear S3 Frontier connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth via the Samsung Gear app. For this, any model with Android version 4.4 or higher and at least 1.5 GB of RAM is suitable. Despite promises in the past to add support for iOS, this has yet to happen. Given the closed ecosystem of Apple, perhaps there will never be full compatibility.

Compared to the Gear S2, not only the design has been noticeably updated, but also the platform of the new watch. They use the Exynos 7270 processor with a frequency of 1 GHz, 768 MB of RAM and 4 GB of internal memory. The increase in performance is noticeable even with a cursory use of the watch, scrolling through menus, changing watch faces, launching applications, everything happens without lags and freezes.

Working with notifications in Gear S3 Frontier is implemented at the same level as in Gear S2, in the Gear program you can configure which messages, updates and other information from applications should be broadcast to the watch.

At the same time, with the Gear S3 Frontier, in some cases, you can not only read the contents of notifications, but also respond to some of them. This can be done with a pre-prepared phrase, voice, emoticon, or type text on the virtual keyboard.

The Gear S3 Frontier's set of pre-installed programs includes calendar, reminders, alarm clock, weather, notebook, mail, messages, gallery, world clock, baro-altimeter, S Voice, S Health, music player and phone. The latest application allows you to use your watch as a wireless hands-free headset and make or receive calls. The quality of the external speaker is below average, but it is enough to answer a call while driving or at home when the smartphone is in another room. At the same time, there are no complaints about the microphone, the interlocutor does not complain about the transmission quality

Third-party applications for the Tizen platform, on which the Gear S3 Frontier is based, have become noticeably more over the past year. The activity of Ukrainian developers is especially pleasing.

Privat24, Portmone, Uklon, Tickets.ua, WOG, New Mail, Eda.ua and others appeared in the Samsung Apps store. In addition, you can install an application from Uber to call a taxi, as well as Yandex.Traffic and Yandex.Transport. However, watch faces are mostly offered in the Samsung Apps store for watches, and Google has not yet decided to go to Tizen. Although their own Android Wear smartwatch platform is having a hard time, the release of the new version, like the new watch, has been pushed back to 2017. However, the lack of a large number of really useful applications is a problem for all smartwatch platforms.

Sports and fitness functions

Tracking physical activity and sports is another area in which smartwatches will actively develop. This is clearly visible, both on and Gear S3 Frontier. Samsung is focusing on the development of its S Health service, which has become noticeably more functional in the new watch.

It’s worth starting with the fact that the S Health capabilities in the Gear S3 Frontier can be divided into fitness and sports. The former includes tracking basic physical activity such as steps, floors climbed and sleep. To this is added periodic measurement of the pulse, as well as the amount of water and coffee drunk.

Based on this information, the watch draws a pie chart that shows the number of calories consumed by the body, as well as the time spent in sleep, activity and rest.

Sleep is tracked automatically, you just do not need to remove the watch from your hand, while it determines its effectiveness, depending on how deeply you slept at night. Thus, the user should try to get enough sleep, and during the day sit less in one place, and walk at least 6000 steps and 10 floors, painting the S Helth diagram in green. If you sit in one place for an hour, the clock will vibrate and warn you that it's time to walk.

S Health sports features track running, cycling, elliptical, cycling, step, lunges, crunches, squats, abs, jumping, Pilates, yoga, rowing and more.

During sports, the watch monitors the pulse, while it should be noted that the measurement accuracy is almost at the level of chest sensors.

When running outdoors, you can also turn on the built-in GPS on your watch to keep track of your distance. For cycling, the Gear S3 Frontier even has a speedometer. In general, during exercise, the watch tracks distance, time, pace and heart rate, saving them in S Health. In addition, you can select a goal for each exercise, such as pace, time, distance, or calories while running, and Gear S3 Frontier will perform the basic function of a coach, telling you when to speed up and when to slow down.

In order to better understand the height to which the user climbs, the Gear S3 Frontier has an altimeter based on a barometer (determines the pressure difference at different heights), which in turn also measures atmospheric pressure and tries to predict whether it will rain or not.

The altimeter takes sea level data from the AccuWeather service base, depending on the user's location, which is determined via GPS.

The Gear S3 Frontier is IP68 water and dust resistant, which unfortunately doesn't allow the watch to be used for water sports. It is recommended to immerse them in water to a depth of no more than 1 meter and for up to 30 minutes.

autonomy

Built-in Gear S3 Frontier battery has a capacity of 380 mAh. The operating time of the watch is very dependent on how actively you use it. If the user watches the time, checks notifications and works with applications, then you can count on 3 days of battery life.

If you add sports to this, for example, running for 40 minutes with active GPS, then you will need to recharge the watch after 2 days.

Site rating +

The well-known consumer electronics manufacturer Samsung at the IFA 2016 exhibition in Germany presented to consumers two models of smart watches developed by the company's engineers: the budget version - Gear S3 Classic and the flagship model Gear S3 Frontier. In the design of devices, the manufacturer has included all the innovative developments that expand the functionality and performance of devices. Currently, sales of these gadgets have started in Russia.

It should be noted that the differences between these models are that the flagship model Gear S3 Frontier has an e-SIM module and a higher degree of protection against shocks, temperature extremes, and an aggressive environment. All other characteristics of the devices are almost identical. This review is dedicated to the description of the more advanced Gear S3 Frontier, which is currently the company's flagship product.

Module name	Module parameters
Monitor	1.3-inch Super AMOLED round touch screen with 360×360 ppi, 302dpi image resolution.
Shell	Tizen
CPU	Dual core CPU, clocked at 1 GHz
RAM	768 MB
Flash drive memory	4 GB
WiFi	802.11b/g/n
Bluetooth	4.2LE
Near field communication module	NFC
Magnetically Safe Transfer System	MST
Microphone	There is
Fitness tracker features	Accurate accelerometer, heart rate and light sensor, gyroscope, barometer.
Index of protection against water and small particles	IP68
Using the e-SIM	There is
Internet	3G/4G
Navigation Position Sensors	Glonass, GPS
Synchronization with a smartphone	Carried out via Bluetooth
Accumulator battery	Made with lithium-ion technology, 380 mAh capacity
Index defining protection against temperature differences, vibrations and shocks	MIL-810G
Overall dimensions of the device	46×46×12.9mm
The weight	62 g

Packing the device and its acquisition

Sports watches from the South Korean company Samsung are placed in a small, black plastic cylinder and are held on the charger case with a magnet. In the next section of the box under a plastic cover are placed:

comfortable silicone strap;
a small manual for using the device in English;
warranty booklet;
charger (voltage 5 V, maximum current 0.7 A) with Micro-USB output.

Samsung strives to meet the needs of different customers, so in addition to the main one, there is a strap of a different size in the package. The manufacturer refused to equip with a spare strap, the same as the main one.

On a positive note for the user, the Gear S3 mount allows you to install straps from different manufacturers.

The charger is provided with a magnet that holds the smart watch while charging and has a compact size. The design and functionality of the charger are practically the same as the previous model.

Appearance of smart watch

The company's engineers have created a device design that meets the standards of Swiss brands. Sports watches from Samsung no longer look bulky and ridiculous on the hand. Now the appearance of the device resembles the appearance of one of the Tag Heuer models. The company's specialists realized the wishes of fans of Samsung devices and made a device, the appearance of which does not differ from ordinary chronometers.

The appearance of the watch will emphasize the brutality and masculinity of a man. The round display of the device is devoid of dead zones, the case is made of durable steel and has a gray color. The device is controlled using a special rim (lunette) or through the monitor sensor. For people with thin wrists, the Classic model is more suitable, as it has a smaller thickness.

The rotating lunette (bezel) gives the look of the sports watch a unique touch and makes it easier to control the device. The touch screen has good sensitivity and makes it easy to manipulate the program menu.

On the right side of the device, there are two function buttons. The upper key, after a light press, returns to the previous menu item, and the lower one opens the home page tab.
At the bottom of the case, under the bottom key, there is a hole that makes it easier for sound to enter the microphone. On the left side of the chronometer there are three holes that provide hands-free mode using the speaker.

Chronometer Display

The touch screen of the stylish sports chronometer Samsung Gear S3 Frontier is protected by a special mirror-smooth glass that is resistant to scratches. The grease-repellent display coating protects the screen from fingerprints much better than the Google Nexus 7 2013 model. Although it is slightly inferior to this model in terms of anti-glare properties.

The display has a photo rage value of 131, which is 18 units higher than the Nexus 7, but reflections from bright objects on the screen create a faint bluish fringing that stretches out towards the wrist. There is no air between the protective layers of the display surface, so ghosting is almost invisible. At the maximum brightness of the display (manual control, scale value 10 units), the light emission is approximately 600 cd/m2, and in one division about 10 cd/m2.

The design of the device provides a light sensor that allows you to automatically change the brightness of the screen, depending on the ambient light. Tests have shown that when the brightness levels of 1,6,10 are set on the tuning scale, the brightness is automatically reduced in absolute darkness up to 10, 20, 130 cd/m2. The first two readings obtained are normal. With office lighting (about 550 lx), the luminous flux from the screen is 10, 130, 300 cd / m2, only the average indicator corresponds to the norm.

The test results showed that the automatic adjustment of the screen illumination functions quite adequately, and the user can choose the most comfortable screen brightness mode for himself. The automation system provides a decrease in the brightness of the monitor only after the exit from the inactive mode. With an ambient light of 20,000 lx and above, even with the automatic display brightness adjustment function turned off, the monitor raises its illumination to 950 cd/m2. This brightness value will allow the user to see the image on the screen under any circumstances.

The use of an innovative active LED matrix by the company's engineers allows you to get a clear color image. The pixel matrix consists of 3 parts that provide the display of primary colors: red, green and blue. The brightness level of each sub-pixel produces colors in all hues.

The display of black on the monitor from any viewing angle is excellent, the color balance is above average. When viewing the screen at a 90-degree angle, white uniformity is excellent. Image clarity is quite high even at very small viewing angles. Analysis of the totality of indicators makes it possible to draw a conclusion about the high quality of displaying images on the screen.

Control system and functionality

Samsung is putting a lot of effort into developing its own Tizen operating system. All sports electronic devices produced by this company are running this software shell. At the time of writing this review, the smartwatch was running Tizen 2.3.2. and ensure their efficient operation.

The classic menu of the software shell developed by Samsung programmers consists of:

Other software products can be additionally installed using the Galaxy Apps store. Traditional applications from Google or Yandex Maps cannot be installed, but calling a taxi through the Yandex Transport application will work.

Sports chronometers are equipped with 14 different watch faces, in the absence of a suitable one, you can purchase your favorite watch face in the Galaxy Apps store.

South Korean Samsung is making great efforts to develop its online platform Galaxy Apps, but, unfortunately, today it is losing in competition with the same store from Apple.

Synchronization with a smartphone

The company's employees strive to create electronic devices that work with smartphones from different manufacturers and are able to maintain a connection with different software shells. The Samsung Gear S3 Frontier successfully syncs with devices that also run the iOS software platform.

When connecting the watch to devices released for the Galaxy line, including when synchronizing with the flagship model Galaxy S7 Edge, the pre-installed Samsung Gear application is launched, which allows you to control and configure the device, as well as process data received from the chronograph. Synchronization with the LG G4s smartphone running on the Android software platform took quite a long time and required the installation of several special applications.

You only need to install one app, Samsung Gear S, to connect your smart timer to an iPhone running iOS. Once installed on your iPhone, it allows you to effectively control your sports watch. Other devices on the iOS operating system are not supported by the smart chronometer.

When driving a car, the watch allows you to receive and send calls, unfortunately, the e-SIM module is not serviced by cellular companies in Russia, so synchronization with a smartphone is required to ensure communication.

Positive and negative sides of the gadget

It is rare to find a device that is ideal for any user and without flaws.

Advantages:

friendly and intuitive operation;
long enough straps that can be easily changed;
long battery life without recharging (up to 4 days);
serious protection against moisture and dust;
handy Samsung Pay app.

Disadvantages:

inability to use applications not developed by Samsung;
large dimensions that will not allow you to look beautiful on a hand with a thin wrist;
problems with connecting to a smartphone and with connection stability.

The presence of shortcomings does not beg the dignity of smart watches from Samsung. This is an excellent and reliable device with a large set of useful features.

Conclusion

The developers of the South Korean company have created an excellent device that incorporates all the best from previous smartwatch models and many useful, innovative solutions. Model Samsung Gear S3 Frontier has successfully passed all the tests. It is perfect for people leading an active life, because it has successfully confirmed certificates for protection against small particles and water (IP68 index) and vibration, shock resistance (MIL-810G index). This device is not afraid of high temperatures or severe cold.
If a person is already using the previous version of the model from the line of smart chronometers: Gear S2 or Gear S, then the Gear S watch released 3 years ago has simply become obsolete and should be replaced with new ones. They have shorter battery life, they don't support 4G, they don't have the best charging block design.

The Gear S2 model is still manufactured at the company's factories and engineers continue to improve it, now it belongs to a more budget segment of the sports gadgets market. The Gear S2 has almost the same features as the next Gear S3 and is compatible with both Android and iOS smartphones. Therefore, a person who loves new items and is not financially constrained needs to replace his gadget with a more productive one, and from a practical point of view, the Gear S2 is a worthy and relevant model.

The development of compact, electronic devices makes life easier and better, but, unfortunately, these useful devices cannot fully replace a smartphone and are only their addition.

You can leave your phone at home

With the Samsung Gear s3, you can afford not to use your regular smartphone. Absolutely any function can be used on smartwatches. To create an extended playlist, the user gets 4GB of memory inside the watch. In addition, GPS, calls, messages also remain available. Thanks to the Wi-Fi function, you can safely access the Internet.

As for the sound quality, it remains on top even at the maximum volume level. During the conversation, no interference, sound distortion was detected. However, for listening to audio recordings, it is worth giving preference to a Bluetooth headset.

Today, the Gear s3 is the only watch that supports the Samsung Pay app. Therefore, paying with a plastic card of any bank has become even more convenient. It is important to note that the application has a limit of 10 payments, after which you will have to re-verify each card.

But you don't have to count every purchase, the smartwatch will notify you in advance of the required procedure. In addition, the level of security is quite high. Without entering a personal PIN, the Samsung Pay app will not work. Of course, it is not quite customary to pay for hours in a store, but the usefulness and convenience of such a function are invaluable.

Battery

The Samsung Gear s3 is equipped with a high capacity battery. The charge level can last four days. But with the active use of many functions and applications, you will have to charge the smart watch every one and a half to two days.

Even so, Gear s3 differs significantly from other smartwatches with a very long time span in offline mode. If the smart watch is in standby mode, then the level of their charge will decrease at a minimum rate.

The Samsung Gear s3 comes with a wireless charging kit from the factory. The indicator light diodes will tell you about the status of the battery level.

Other features

Before starting work, the smartwatch will offer to install an additional application that will help you monitor your physical activity. These may include:

the amount of water consumed;
at what frequency do heart contractions occur;
the number of steps taken, etc.

It is important to note that testing of this function has shown that it is able to show the exact number of steps taken. But at the same time, the number of pulse beats was measured incorrectly, but the error was minimal. In automatic mode, running movements, cycling, swimming in water and so on can be measured.

The conclusion of this study will be the following - the S Health app on the Samsung Gear s3 works great. The indicated errors in some measurements are insignificant, basically - all readings were correct.

Therefore, smart watches can be used during sports. Manufacturers claim that Gear s3 is simply indispensable for a person with an active lifestyle who maintains a sports lifestyle, but they are hardly suitable for a professional athlete.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any other gadget, Samsung Gear s3 is endowed with a number of positive and negative characteristics. The positive features of the device include:

user-friendly interface;
straps (22 mm) that can be easily replaced;
functioning in the "autonomous" mode can last for two to four days;
protection against moisture penetration into the internal device of the watch;
Ability to use the Samsung Pay app.

Along with these significant advantages, there are still some disadvantages. These are:

large size, which is not suitable for people with a narrow wrist;
third party applications cannot be supported;
violation of synchronization and connection with the connected smartphone.

In any case, the device is worthy for all lovers of Samsung gadgets.

Warranty

Samsung did not break the established traditions, so the warranty for the Samsung Gear s3, both classic and sporty, is the same as for other modern devices - one year.

Conclusion

Today, the smart watch Samsung Gear s3 can hardly be called a gadget that has changed the needs of mankind. This is due to the fact that many people do not need to use this type of device in everyday life. Although the Gear s3 gives its owner a fairly quick access to most of the necessary applications, it cannot become an absolute replacement for a standard smartphone. Today, smart watches can only be an addition to the gadget.

Samsung Gear S3 Classic video review

Samsung Gear S3 Classic - new or restyled?

New flagship smartphones come out once a year, regardless of what changes have been made, the new model receives a new digital index. But in the automotive industry, everything is a little different. Take BMW for example, they don't release a new 7 every year. They do it every 6-7 years. Of course, during this time, many new technologies have been developed and implemented in the auto industry, and BMW understands that the 7-ku needs to be updated, but it still does not pull on a new index. This is how reystaling models appear. A little improved here, a little corrected there, and now - a new car. But in fact, it's still the same old 7-ka.

This is the analogy I am looking at in relation to the gadget that we will look at today. The manufacturer assures everyone that this is a new model, but it seems to me that it is just a restyling of last year's device. Whether this is true or not is up to the buyer to decide. And I just have to test drive the new product - Samsung Gear S3 Classic - today in our review.

Design and ergonomics of the Samsung Gear S3 Classic

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to compare the Gears S3 head-on, as I tested from the previous generation, and now I have a classic watch on the test. Nevertheless, the differences are noticeable. The hours got bigger. While the Gear S2 Classic was 40mm in diameter, the Gear S3 Classic grew to 46mm. Now the previous generation can be called feminine, because now the watches have become truly masculine, large and heavy. And since the dimensions have grown, the mass has grown accordingly. Now it is 57 grams, instead of 42 grams without the strap.

The main part of the watch case, as before, is made of stainless steel. Outwardly, they resemble high-quality Swiss watches. The materials are chosen very well, and the leather strap complements all this magnificence. It is removable and has a standard watch mount. Thanks to this, you can use any 22mm strap with the S3 Classic.

As before, the main part of the watch is occupied by the display. As the dimensions of the watch have grown, so has the display. It has grown by 15%. In terms of management, everything is the same as before. Around the display is a swivel ring. On the right side there are two mechanical keys “Back” and “Home”, as well as a microphone, on the left side there is a speaker. The bottom of the watch is covered with black plastic, which houses the heart rate sensor and the wireless charging connector.

Display and control

I have already said that the display has become 15% larger, but now let's talk about this element in more detail. The diagonal has increased from 1.2 inches to 1.3 inches. But the resolution remains the same - 360x360 pixels. The pixel density dropped to 278 ppi. But even with such a density, the pixels cannot be seen. Matrix AMOLED, everything is unchanged. If you know the features of the AMOLED matrix, then it’s clear to you that the screen is good. Contrast, brightness, color saturation, viewing angles - everything is in place.

The Gear S3 Classic has 10 backlight levels. I, as before, use the 7th level. I feel comfortable with him at any time of the day. And for those who can’t decide on the brightness level in any way or often switches it depending on the situation, there is an auto-brightness sensor that behaves quite correctly and does not raise questions. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass SR+.

As in the flagship smartphones of Samsung, the watch has an Always On Display function. Your display will always be on in clock mode. For example, my main dial is made in yellow with black accents, and when the watch goes into Always On, the colors are inverted. The dial turns black with yellow numbers and hands. And since the black color in the AMOLED matrix is achieved by turning off the pixels, the battery charge is practically not consumed. What is it for? For example, I am driving or typing on a laptop, the clock is in my field of vision, and when I glance at it, I see the time. And before, you had to make a characteristic movement with your hand to turn on the screen.

In terms of management, everything remains the same. You have a rotary ring that has become even more functional, a touchscreen display and mechanical keys.

Interface

In terms of interface, everything remained almost the same, there were only cosmetic changes. The main screen is a clock, this is logical. At the top is a curtain that houses the battery level, brightness settings, sound profiles, enabling Do Not Disturb and Airplane modes, and launching the music player.

To the left of the clock, all notifications are collected, to the right are widgets. When you press the Home button, you get to the main application menu. In the third generation of Gear S, Samsung has focused on sports. The Gear S3 Classic has GPS and GLONASS modules installed. Thanks to them, you can track activity during your workout, and things like barometer, altimeter and speedometer will determine the level of atmospheric pressure, altitude and your speed while jogging or cycling. Thus, now you do not need to take your smartphone to training.

Let's continue the theme of sports in hours. The S Health app is well integrated with that of the smartphone. You can measure heart rate, steps, time, run, bike ride and so on. Surprisingly, the watch measures the pulse quite accurately, although there is still an error. Also, using the watch, you can mark the number of cups of water and coffee drunk.

The watch also has an NFC chip, thanks to which you can make purchases using Samsung Pay. Since the payment system from Samsung does not work on the Ukrainian market, do not think that you do not need NFC at all. Just install the Privat24 app on your watch and pay for purchases with a Privat Bank card.

It is worth noting the presence of moisture and dust protection according to the IP68 standard. You can not only wash your hands, but also take a shower without taking off your watch. But there is no 3G module in the classic version of the device. The Gear S3 Classic can only be used as a smartphone headset. It's handy when you're driving.

What hasn't been tested is the watch's integration with BMW's Connected service. Samsung says that using a proprietary application from BMW, you can get notifications on upcoming trips, information about gas levels, open / close the car using the watch and much more on the Gear S3.

Connection and notifications

In this regard, everything is quite familiar for wearable devices from Samsung. To connect the Gear S3 Classic, you need a smartphone with Android version 4.4 or higher, 1.5 gigabytes of RAM and Bluetooth 4.1 or Wi-Fi for remote connection. The Samsung Gear app itself also received cosmetic changes, but this did not affect the functionality in any way. In the application, you can see brief information about the watch: battery charge, information about the permanent and RAM. Below is a selection of watch faces and apps from the store. The second tab has everything to set the clock. Choose and style watch faces, manage notifications, manage apps, send files to Gear, and more.

On the clock, you can not only read and delete notifications, but also interact with them. For example, you can reply to SMS using your voice, a preset phrase, or the built-in keyboard. You can also interact with e-mail clients, instant messengers and many other applications.

autonomy

Compared to the previous generation, the Gear S3 Classic received a larger battery, but this had little effect on the operating time. The watch has a 380 mAh battery and its autonomy depends on how you use it. My S3 Classic has been working for 2 days, this is with Active Display activated, but without GPS. If you also turn on GPS, autonomy drops to 1 day. But if you turn off both GPS and Active Display, you can count on 3-4 days of work.

Remained in the clock and energy-saving mode. As before, the Gear S3 Classic will turn off all smart functions, the display will turn black and white and the smart watch will turn into a pumpkin, or rather, into an ordinary watch. Gear S3 will offer to activate this mode when the charge drops to 15%. Then it will remind you again at the 10% and 5% mark.

findings

Summarize. I still haven't been able to use an Apple Watch, which may be why I still consider the Samsung Gear S line to be the best smartwatch on the market. I used to say this about the second generation, but now about the third. If you are going to join the world of smart wearable devices, if you need a high-quality and beautiful watch, if you are ready to shell out ₴10,000 (about $380) for it, the Samsung Gear S3 Classic is exactly what you need. But if you already have a Gear S2, then I don’t see much need to buy a new watch. As I said at the beginning of the article, Gear S3 is just a restyling of Gear S2. And if they were called, for example, Gear S2s, it would be justified.

Prices in online stores

It is possible to display similar models if this one is not in the catalog for your region.

The Apple Watch 2 dominates the smartwatch market, but it's only compatible with iOS devices. Samsung is known for its Android smartphones and the company has launched a compatible Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch. But do they outperform the competition, including those with Android Wear?

Smart watch Samsung Gear S3 — Reviews

Samsung Gear S3 is a smartwatch with classic style

There are two models of Samsung Gear S3 - Classic and Frontier. The Gear S3 Frontier has a sporty design, is 5 grams heavier, and comes with a more durable silicone strap. Frontier also has a 3G/LTE module, so we chose this version for testing.

Both models are reminiscent of the Gear S2 Classic smartwatch, but with the screen enlarged to 46mm wide, they feel too big on small wrists. The round shape and classic design makes the S3 look like a regular watch. Apple Watch against their background looks like a watch from the future, although Gear S3 seem more solid.

There are several pre-installed watch faces to choose from, and the companion app allows you to choose additional design options.

Build quality is excellent, the Frontier version really looks like a $22,000 watch. They are made of stainless steel, like Gear S2, and here the same degree of protection - IP68. With this smart watch, you can not only get caught in the rain, but also swim under water at a depth of up to a meter.

Samsung uses Gorilla Glass SR+, the latest version of Corning's protective glass, now even more resistant to damage and scratches.

The watch has a good and comfortable strap, but it quickly gets dirty. If this does not suit you, it can be easily replaced with another one, 22 mm long.

There are two buttons on the right side of the S3, but they're textured and don't stand out enough on the body. Top - "Back", bottom - "Home".

The display on the Samsung Gear S3 is Super AMOLED, similar to the one on the Gear S2, and it has the same 360×360 pixel resolution. The Gear S3 is larger, so there are fewer pixels per inch, but this does not affect the image quality, all colors are quite clear and deep.

There is also the Always On Display feature, which has moved from Samsung smartphones to smart watches. With it, the screen of the device always burns a little, the dial is distinguishable, but little energy is wasted. If you bring the watch to your face, it will automatically work at full brightness (the mode can be turned off).

Gear S3 follows the tradition of the series in many ways, so we have a beautiful and practical smart watch.

Has a swivel bezel but no gesture support

The rotating bezel on the Gear S3 is similar to the one on the Gear S2 Classic, in the tradition of regular watches. When turned, it sounds like a combination lock with a dial. The bezel allows you to scroll through the interface and switch between screens, but you need to be careful, it's easy to make a mistake and scroll too far.

The bezel of the Samsung Gear S3 cannot be used with one hand, which is where it falls short of the features of other smartwatches.

Voice control is supported through “S Voice” – you can set reminders, make calls, open applications and much more with it, but then all the similarity of the Gear S3 with a regular watch will become a minus if the user starts “talking” with them in a public place.

Tizen is a fast OS

Tizen runs very smoothly, faster than Android Wear. The Gear S3's interface has remained simple, and hasn't changed much from the S2. By rotating the bezel or sliding your finger across the display, you can scroll through the screens with widgets. S3s are compatible with some Android apps, but generally only work with those on Tizen.

There are problems with synchronizing notifications between the watch and the smartphone, especially if the latter is not from Samsung. For example, when using a Google Pixel with a Gear S3, we noticed that deleting emails after the clock left them in place, and read notifications continued to be marked as unread.

But there are no such problems on the Galaxy S7 Edge, probably because it is a smartphone from Samsung. Annoyingly, while the watch is technically compatible with any Android phone, Samsung has prioritized its gadgets.

Notifications generally look good, but if you pair the S3 with a non-Samsung smartphone, you'll run into bugs and sync errors. However, there may be problems with Samsung and the need to adapt some applications. In any case, we expected more from a watch for 22,000 rubles.

Leave your phone at home

Thanks to the LTE module, having a Samsung Gear S3, you can practically abandon your smartphone, and use all its functions on your watch. 4 GB of internal memory should be enough to download a lot of songs. You can also make calls, type messages and use GPS. Thanks to Wi-Fi, you can connect your gadget to the Internet.

Even at maximum volume, the sound and call quality remain normal. This is enough for communication, but for listening to music, a pair of Bluetooth headphones is more suitable.

The Gear S3 is the first smartwatch to support Samsung Pay with NFC and MST standards. This means that you will be able to use these hours to pay at the cash desks of the terminals. There is no need to constantly use your smartphone with Samsung Pay and stores information, you can complete 10 transactions before you need to pair again. Samsung Pay requires a PIN, so you don't have to worry about security.

Mobile payments work the same as they do on the Apple Watch, but Samsung Pay is more common. Using the watch to pay may be a bit strange, but it's a really cool feature of the S3.

Battery

The Gear S3 Classic and Frontier have a 380mAh battery, and Samsung claims it will last up to four days on a single charge. With Always On Display, Wi-Fi, LTE, GPS and high brightness, the time will be reduced to 1.5-2 days.

Either way, the S3 has longer battery life than most smartwatches, and drains very slowly when idle.

A wireless charging kit is included. It is equipped with an LED indicator, which makes it clear when the gadget is charging, and when it is already fully charged.

Fitness features in Samsung Gear S3

Samsung itself offers to install "S Health" - an application for tracking physical activity. On the Samsung Gear S3, it can be used to measure water intake, steps, heart rate, sleep quality, and more.

When testing, the number of steps on the stairs was accurately determined, and with the pulse there was an error of only 3 beats. Also, you can automatically track specific activities: walking, running, cycling, swimming, and so on. All in all, the app on the Gear S3 performed great and the measurements were in line with other apps on the smartphone.

Outcome

Watch Samsung Gear S3 can not be called a revolutionary gadget, those who did not need other smart watches are unlikely to change their minds about them. But, with Gear S3 you will have access to notifications, calls and other functions, although, anyway, this watch cannot completely replace a smartphone yet - only supplement it.

Thanks to water resistance and protective glass, you can expect that the device will last you at least 2 years, after this period, smart watches will be considered obsolete anyway.

The Apple Watch is generally better than the Samsung Gear S3, but it's not cross-OS compatible. If you have an Android smartphone (especially from Samsung) and the willingness to spend 22,000 rubles on a smart watch, Gear S3 will be the best choice.