Full review of the Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch. Review of smart watches Samsung Gear S3 Frontier

Which I really liked then. Which was quite strange, because previous attempts by Koreans to make watches caused slight bewilderment.

Over the past year, my opinion about watches has not changed, but on the contrary, it has improved. For two reasons.

Firstly, after the review was published, they pointed out an inaccuracy to me: it turned out that the Gear S2 still knew how to keep the display on and show the time constantly. It’s just that this function was hidden quite deep into the watch itself. But initially everything was limited to a monochrome picture (white on black), which looked rather boring against the backdrop of the color dials of watches with Android Wear. But Samsung updated the firmware, after which color dials appeared in abundance. Let me emphasize that we are talking about color in standby mode. In active mode, the picture is full color, there is an excellent Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 360x360 pixels.

Secondly, there was simply a gigantic amount of watch faces for Gear 2. Tizen, let's say, is not the most widespread platform, and I never expected such diversity. And here there are both free and paid ones - you’ll get tired of choosing. My heart finally sank when dials appeared for the Gear S2 that copied the design of the “Commander” watch. This is probably not very good from the point of view of compliance with copyrights, but wearing smart “Commander” cards on your hand, and even constantly changing the design, is cool.

For me personally, the Gear S2 and the second-generation Moto 360 are quite equivalent. Both from the point of view of functionality and from the point of view of convenience. Samsung makes it very convenient to control using a rotating bezel, but Android Wear is not a hassle at all. The hardware of the watches is almost the same, and therefore they probably consume the same battery. By evening I usually had about 60% charge left. I don’t like survival experiments; I always put the watch on the docking station at night.

At the end of summer, Samsung announced a new model, the Gear S3. Any day now they will be sold in Russia, but I’ve already been wearing them for a week and am impressed.

What is the difference?

I’ll say right away that I studied the Gear S3 Classic, not the Gear S3 Frontier. The latter is distinguished by the presence of a SIM card inside and a radically black body color. I also need a SIM card in a watch, but the black case looks much better than the steel one. I hope that one day it will migrate to Classic.

It's immediately noticeable that the Gear S3 is much larger and thicker. In numbers, the difference does not look very significant - the screen diagonal has increased from 1.2 inches to 1.3 (at the same resolution), and the thickness has increased from 11.4 to 12.9 mm. The weight has grown from 47 grams to 59 (excluding the strap). Everyone likes watches in different sizes. Personally, the dimensions of the younger Moto 360 and Gear S2 seem optimal to me, but there are many men who prefer something more substantial. The Gear S3 is designed specifically for them. They are not huge, but really large, and you can see them from afar.

There are only two major hardware changes compared to Gear2.

The first is the appearance of a built-in speaker, so now you can talk for hours without a phone in hands-free mode. Motorists will definitely love this.

The second is a GPS receiver (also called GLONASS). Now, with Samsung watches, like the new Apple Watch, you can run without your phone, and they will record everything.

The remaining changes would be more accurately called cosmetic. The amount of RAM has increased - from 512 megabytes to 768. It’s hard to feel it. The volume of onboard flash remains the same, 4 GB. Instead of the Exynos 3250 SoC there is a new Exynos 7270, but there are the same number of cores (2) and the same operating frequency (1 GHz). Most likely, the advantage is only in power consumption, because the clocks are the same in operating speed. Still, the Tizen platform is in full control of Samsung, and it would be a sin not to optimize it for its own hardware.

The battery capacity has increased from 250 mAh to 380 mAh. By smartphone standards this is nothing, but by watch standards it’s a big step forward. Samsung promises up to four days of operation without recharging. My watch is new, the battery has not yet been trained, so it’s too early to judge the battery life. It happens that you use up 18% of the charge in a day, and sometimes you use up 35%. So I can only guarantee two days without recharging. The rest depends on the load, the watch face you're using, and your need to keep the screen lit all the time.

Everything else about the Gear S3 is the same as the Gear S2. IP68 water resistance, accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate monitor, barometer, light sensor... If you like the idea of paying by the hour, it is also present in the S3, and if in the S2 Samsung Pay only worked with contactless terminals, then in the S3 they also added magnetic stripe emulation .

Personal impressions

I understand why Samsung decided to keep the screen resolution the same on larger (and more expensive) watches. For compatibility. Running after developers and persuading them to make new versions of watch faces and applications is quite troublesome (and expensive).

But still I cannot support this decision. Highly detailed watch faces that look like they've been painted on the Gear S2 show a bit of grain on the S3. There is nothing wrong. And, probably, if I had not walked with S2 for a long time before this, I would not have noticed anything at all. But, given the circumstances, I notice.

The bezel has grown along with the watch, becoming heavier and more difficult to turn. Perhaps it’s also because on the S2 the finger touches the teeth on the sides, which enhances grip, but here the finger slides along a wide strip of steel. Another small thing. And again - I notice.

In general, I rather like the increased dimensions. I don't have any strict preferences. In my huge collection of analog watches there are both very small and huge pieces, and there was something to suit everyone’s mood. Perhaps (perhaps) the watch should have been thinner by about 0.5 mm. But, rest assured, there will be those who would like to add half a centimeter on the contrary.

“Full” version of the dial

“Commander” in standby mode

The Gear S3 will keep a very close eye on you by default. “Wow, you’ve walked so many steps!”, “Hey, you’ve climbed five floors!”, “Hey, why are you sitting too long, come on, go walk around!” This can be turned off, or you can leave it - as you like. The radius within which the watch works with a smartphone via Bluetooth remains the same, and if you go beyond it, the watch will switch to Wi-Fi and continue sending notifications.

The main impression from the Gear S3 is that they are big. From a user experience point of view, everything is very, very similar. However, watches on Android Wear can do the same thing.

Yes, it’s worth clarifying that the watch works with almost any Android device (from version 4.4) and is partially compatible with the iPhone. That is, at the level of warnings about calls and messages. Full support for iOS is promised in the first quarter of 2017, but there is a small nuance: they started promising it back at the end of 2015...

Price and selection

I don’t yet know the official price of the Gear S3 Classic in Russia. In the States they cost $299 excluding sales tax, which in our money means about 21 thousand rubles. I can assume that a copy from the official supply will cost 24,990 rubles. The version with a SIM card (Frontier) costs the same.

At the same time, the official price of the Gear S2 Classic in Russia is 19,990 rubles, but can easily be found for 16-17 thousand. There are no plans to discontinue the previous generation yet.

Which option should I choose? If you need hands-free calling on the clock, take the Gear S3. It’s the same story if you run a lot and it’s important to overlay routes on the map.

Otherwise, everything depends only on size. If you want something bigger and more impressive, we take the S3. Do you prefer the compact version – S2. In any case, you won't be able to save much. If you are just trying to decide whether a smart watch is needed in principle, the cheapest and most decent ticket to this world is.

We constantly hear that smart watches “didn’t work” and that they are not needed. But, being a watch lover with considerable experience, I can only look at ordinary watches from the point of view of a collector. And only smart people can wear it.

Samsung Gear S3, despite significant changes in design, represents a smooth evolutionary development of ideas from S2, without turning its predecessors into archaism. You can choose calmly. Choice is wonderful.

The Gear S2 generation of smartwatches was already sufficiently balanced and functional to speak of their versatility. Three variations gave a choice to girls and boys, housewives and businessmen. Not forgetting, of course, about the group of technology geeks, for whom the main criterion is the need to flash screens and diodes from different places - from pockets to wrists.

Probably based on the sales of these three variations of the Gear S2, the decision was made to update only the Classic and Frontier models. At the same time, the sporty Gear S2 remained available for sale to its audience.

We tested the Gear S3 Classic version, which differs from Frontier in the design of the case and strap, as well as its resistance to high temperatures, shocks and vibrations.

Appearance

As for the design, at the presentation we noted the skillfully made case in the style of premium versions of the classics. The set includes a 22 mm leather strap, which can be replaced if desired. The watch case itself is made of 316L stainless steel and is protected according to the IP68 standard. It is more massive than the second generation.

At one end there are two buttons for navigating the menu. There is a microphone hole under them. On the opposite end there are three speaker holes. Thus, you can use the watch as a hands-free headset.

Very convenient while driving - and absolutely inappropriate when used on the street. Imagine a more or less familiar picture when a passerby speaks in front of him or shouts at his wrist. Now add to that the clock screaming back at him.

The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass SR+, specially released for wearable devices. The display is round in shape, with excellent color reproduction and contrast, inherent only in Super AMOLED technology. Mechanical dials look quite natural. Only the absence of shadows when the lighting changes will reveal their artificiality.

One of the significant design moments is the navigation ring in the Samsung Gear S watch. The process of scrolling texts or selecting the desired item in the menu can be repeated again and again. I would like the sound of the clicking hinges and the accompanying vibration to never stop.

Personalization - don't be like everyone else

Making something more extravagant out of such a “round” classic is as easy as shelling pears. There are hundreds of watch faces in the app store. Here you will find everything from simulated mechanics with penumbra and moving gears to Lego-style dials, old-school Casio, steampunk or themes from the films “The Matrix”, “Alien” and “Star Wars”. In addition, some splash watch faces have additional color options.

After a positively received function Always On Display in the Galaxy S7 smartphone it also appeared in watches. Yes, the watch screen can work constantly, and some screensavers-clock faces coolly play up the transition from passive to active mode.

A curious thing: the watch monitors whether it is on your hand or not. The Always On feature will only work while you are wearing them.

Really smart

In a sense, the Samsung Gear S3 is a smartphone on your hand. And it’s not just the presence of a dual-core processor and RAM.

While Samsung was developing a community of software developers for the Tizen OS, many popular programs and even games appeared on the market. Yes, yes, the company believes that play Asphalt 8 and Fruit Ninja at a resolution of 360×360 - convenient.

After launching the taxi call application or maps, the watch may not use the smartphone navigation, but can independently navigate the terrain thanks to built-in GPS and GLONASS.

Thus, in Ukraine with the help of a watch you can call an Uber driver, look up traffic jams on Yandex Maps, pay for utilities in Portmone.com. Why “in Ukraine”? Well, because just recently we almost said by rote that almost all services in our country are not supported.

This also includes the presence of an NFC module, which makes contactless payment possible, not only through the branded Samsung Pay, but also through the Privat 24 application, specially adapted for watches.

This model has not yet received a digital SIM card module, which would allow you not to be tied to a smartphone and still use the Gear S as a standalone cellular device. However, we have already described the scenario of working as a watch phone above using the example of a situation on the street.

Interface

Watch programs are installed using the Samsung Gear smartphone application. Not only Samsung devices are supported, but also more or less new Android smartphones. iOS support is still in conceptual plans for the future.

The clock itself is set in the same program. True, on a smartphone they are more concerned with the interaction of devices - how to send notifications, transfer music, work with SHealth.

From the watch you configure the screen backlight settings, connection to wireless networks, and notification sounds. Changing dial skins is also done from the watch, but you need to download new ones on your smartphone.

In general, when you select something that cannot be used from the watch screen, the application on the linked smartphone automatically opens.

The watch also has other “smartphone” things, such as setting a PIN code, setting an energy saving mode, the S-Voice voice assistant, reading texts and replying with templates.

You can also increase the sensitivity of the Gear S3 screen so that touches with gloves are recognized.

Anti-sports classic

Software-wise, the Gear S3's fitness features haven't undergone any major changes. The watch can count steps, steps, heartbeats, calories burned, and also give achievements for completing intermediate results, such as 1000 steps taken and a walk of ten minutes.

Yes, if in a couple of days SHealth sees that you are sitting 90% of the time, it will not only begin to remind you to move, but will also praise you more actively for even minimal activity.

Despite this, the Gear S3 Classic is poorly suited to the role of a sports gadget. Yes, the watch measures a lot and is not afraid of water, but it is large and chrome-plated. In addition, the leather strap will not allow you to swim, but it is easy to sleep with them give a black eye to your loved one in the middle of the night.

While they are perfectly suited to the role of replacing a classic or a geeky gadget, running with them is uncomfortable. In this regard, a more successful version for an active lifestyle is the Gear S3 Frontier version.

There is also baro-altimeter, a rare thing for modern wearable devices. More often it is found in specialized sports watches, tailored for specific sports.

The peculiarity of its operation is that in order to obtain data on the current atmospheric pressure, the sensor needs calibration. And for this we need current information about the pressure at a known altitude at a given geographical point. In theory, this information could be provided by a weather service. But conventional services do not update this information often enough and do not do it geographically accurately.

How long do they live?

A very important question in view of the number of sensors this watch is packed with.

The increased size of the case played into the hands in this regard. It accommodates a larger 380 mAh battery. It takes about an hour to an hour and a half to fully charge from the wireless docking station.

If you don’t receive all notifications in a row, reduce the brightness of the backlight, measure your pulse once or twice a day and check what time it is a dozen times, then a full battery charge will last for five days work.

Add to this the introductory reading of letters and SMS, increased display brightness and activity tracking, you can not charge the watch for about four days.

If you want everyone around you to check out the animation of the new screensaver dial, and to receive notifications from your smartphone about every sneeze on social networks, then prepare to charge your watch every two days.

Is it a lot or a little? Gear S2 lived for about the same four days. The new Pebble 2 with a seemingly economical E Ink screen and heart rate monitor, the test of which is already being prepared by our Test Laboratory, can last one or two days.

Taking into account the excellent screen, sufficient hardware for performance and lack of lag, and the number of sensors, we can say that the autonomy of the Gear S3 is at a very good level.

conclusions

Note that the addition of a number of features missing from the Gear 2 and Gear S2 made the purchase of the new generation more rational. You truly get a self-contained wearable gadget.

Gear S3 looks even nicer and more organic. Especially the Frontier model. The ability to change straps, the variety of dials and the always-on display only encourage the creation of an individual image.

In addition, they will have to be charged no more than once every couple of days. The set of sensors and the ever-expanding base of applications in the Gear S3 model will qualitatively expand the lineup of Samsung smartwatches.

And for all their advanced features and pleasant little touches during user interaction, we give them a well-deserved Editors' Choice.

Specifications Samsung Gear S3 Classic (SM-R770)
Screen:	1.3”, 360×360, Super AMOLED
CPU:	dual core, 1 GHz
RAM:	768 MB
Inner memory:	4 GB
Heart rate sensor:	optic
OS:	Tizen
Protection:	IP68
Communications:	Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC
Geopositioning:	GPS, GLONASS
Additionally:	Always on Display, speaker, microphone
Battery:	380 mAh
Dimensions:	49×46×12.9 mm
Weight:	59 g
Provider:	"Samsung Electronics Ukraine"
Price:	10,000 UAH

Grade:

Case design

Replaceable straps

Lots of applications

Personalization

– overall body of the Classic model

Video review of Samsung Gear S3 Classic

Samsung Gear S3 Classic - new or restyling?

New flagship smartphones are released once a year, despite what changes have been made, the new model receives a new digital index. But in the automotive industry, everything is a little different. For example, let's take BMW, they don't release a new 7 every year. They do this once every 6–7 years. Of course, during this time, many new technologies are being developed and implemented in the auto industry, and BMW understands that the 7 needs to be updated, but it still does not match the new index. This is how restaling models appear. They improved it a little here, adjusted it a little there, and now - a new car. But in reality it's still the same old 7.

This is the analogy I see 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 all I can do is test drive the new product - Samsung Gear S3 Classic - today in our review.

Design and ergonomics of Samsung Gear S3 Classic

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to compare the Gears S3 head-on, since I tested from the previous generation, and now I have a classic watch on test. But nevertheless, the differences are noticeable. The hours have become larger. If the Gear S2 Classic was 40 millimeters in diameter, then the Gear S3 Classic grew to 46 millimeters. Now the previous generation can be called female, since now the watches have become truly masculine, large and heavy. And since the size has increased, the mass has increased accordingly. Now it's 57 grams, instead of 42 grams excluding 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 splendor. 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 become 15% larger. In terms of management, everything is the same as before. There is a rotating ring around the display. 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, on which there is a heart rate sensor and a connector for wireless charging.

Display and control

I 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 has dropped to 278 ppi. But even with this density, the pixels are impossible to see. AMOLED matrix, everything is unchanged here. If you know the features of the AMOLED matrix, then it is already 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 level 7. I feel comfortable with him at any time of the day. And for those who can’t decide on the brightness level or often switch it depending on the situation, there is an auto-brightness sensor that behaves quite correctly and does not raise any questions. The display is protected by special protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass SR+.

Like Samsung's flagship smartphones, the watch now has the Always On Display feature. Your display will always be on in clock mode. For example, my main dial is yellow with black accents, and when the watch goes to 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 this for? For example, I’m driving or typing on a laptop, the clock is in my field of vision and, glancing at it, I see the time. Previously, you had to make a characteristic hand movement to turn on the screen.

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

Interface

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

All notifications are collected to the left of the clock, widgets are located to the right. Pressing the Home key takes you to the main application menu. In the third generation of Gear S, Samsung focused on sports. The Gear S3 Classic has GPS and GLONASS modules. Thanks to them, you can track your activity during a workout, and things like a barometer, altimeter and speedometer will determine the level of atmospheric pressure, altitude and your speed while jogging or cycling. This way, you no longer need to take your smartphone to training.

Let's continue the theme of sports in watches. The S Health app is well integrated with the one on your smartphone. You can measure your heart rate, steps, time, get data on running, cycling, and so on. Surprisingly, the watch measures heart rate quite accurately, although there is still some error. You can also use the watch to track the number of cups of water and coffee you drink.

The watch also has an NFC chip, thanks to which you can make purchases using Samsung Pay. Since Samsung's payment system does not work in the Ukrainian market, do not think that you do not need NFC at all. Just install the Privat24 application 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. This is convenient when you are driving.

What we couldn't test was the watch's integration with BMW's Connected service. Samsung says that using BMW's proprietary app, you can receive notifications on the Gear S3 about upcoming trips, information about gas levels, open/close the car using the watch, and much more.

Connection and notifications

In this regard, everything is quite familiar for wearable devices from Samsung. To connect the Gear S3 Classic, you will 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 application 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 permanent and RAM. Below is a selection of watch faces and apps from the store. The second tab contains everything for setting the clock. Select and style your watch faces, manage notifications, manage apps, send files to your Gear, and more.

On your watch, you can not only read and delete notifications, but also interact with them. For example, you can reply to an 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 virtually no effect on operating time. The watch has a 380 mAh battery and its autonomy depends on your usage style. My S3 Classic works for 2 days, this is with Active Display activated, but without GPS. If you also turn on GPS, autonomy will drop to 1 day. But if you turn off both GPS and Active Display, you can count on 3-4 days of work.

The watch also has an 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 a regular watch. The Gear S3 will be prompted to activate this mode when the charge drops to 15%. Then it will remind you again at the 10% and 5% marks.

conclusions

Summarize. I still haven't gotten around to using the Apple Watch, which may be why I still consider Samsung's Gear S line to be the best smartwatches 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 pay ₴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, the Gear S3 is just a restyling of the 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 first thing that becomes noticeable is that the Samsung Gear S3 is a large watch, very large. And in this they follow the proven path of the Apple Watch. The watch includes everything that is expected of it - GPS, heart rate sensor, water resistance, NFC, fitness tracker functions, altimeter and even LTE (but only in some cases).

A large display and a long-lasting battery are, of course, also included. Where would we be without them? But you can choose the design of the watch: the sportier design was called “Frontier”, and the second was called “Classic”.

Interestingly, Samsung changed the firmware for the Gear S3 from Android Wear to Tizen. As a result, there are slightly fewer applications for the watch. Let's see how this will affect the popularity of the watch, because both LG Watch Sport and Huawei Watch 2 were released at the same time.

The new system also has its advantages - for example, it is compatible with all smartphone models with Android 4.4 or a later version installed, which are ready to sacrifice at least one and a half gigabytes of RAM for the benefit of the watch.

And also, Samsung watches are compatible with Apple products (those that boast iOS 9 and later versions). So most can be confident that the Samsung Gear S3 will work perfectly with their trusty smartphone.

Design and appearance

First of all, let's talk about weight - the watch weighs 59 grams and this, in principle, is not much, but it is still inferior to its constant competitor Apple Watch with a difference of 13.4 grams.

What cannot be denied is the feeling of a good quality watch. The assembly, as always, is excellent, and the metal frame around the 1.3-inch display leaves a very pleasant aesthetic impression. It should be noted that the watch inspires trust - its dust- and water-repellent qualities are even confirmed by an IP68 certificate.

The glass frame can be rotated and serves for navigation, just like the touchscreen and two buttons that add a nice retro watch feel.

By the way, the frame is precisely the main and most convenient navigation method. With its help you can move between screens, lists, scroll and select applications. Actions can be confirmed by clicking on the screen. This system can be changed in the settings.

One of the buttons takes you to the home screen, the other takes you back. Once you get used to the button layout, the controls become quite comfortable.

There is a heart rate sensor on the back of the watch. This is a rather original solution, which turns out to be very useful for those who prefer to constantly monitor their heart rate.

The “Classic” model comes with a leather watch strap. It, like all leather, needs to be broken in a little. The good news is that the belts can be changed, which means that you can choose the right option for any style.

And for those who are more interested in the functions of a fitness tracker, which we will talk about later, it is better to pay attention to the corresponding sports model “Frontier” - it includes a rubberized belt, which is much more comfortable to wear when playing sports. True, it is a little rougher in design and weighs 62 grams, but otherwise there are few differences and the replacement belts are also suitable for this model.

Models with LTE are also available in some countries, but not in all yet.

Clock screen

The Super AMOLED display of this watch has a diagonal of 1.3 inches and a resolution of 360x360. This is now one of the best smartwatch screens available in the market. This is not surprising, just look at Samsung smartphones.

The screen is always on, meaning you can always see the time. This, of course, affects the life of the battery.

But where the Gear S3 positively differs from other watches is the brightness of the screen - in any weather conditions you will always be ready to answer the question “What time is it?”

Exploitation

There aren't many apps on the Gear S3 yet. This, of course, is due to the decision to abandon Android Wear - a more developed system. Therefore, for now Samsung can boast of its own applications, several third-party ones and games. But we are sure that the range will soon expand, because not all developers are familiar with Tizen yet.

Synchronization

To stay connected, the Gear S3 cleverly transitions from Wi-Fi to Bluetooth syncing and back again. Not only that, but the watch does this automatically, allowing it to send notifications, information, etc.

Music lovers will be very pleased with the playback function on the Samsung Gear S3. If you listen to music on your smartphone, the watch allows you to switch between tracks using the watch frame and see exactly what is playing and even the album cover.

You can download MP3 tracks directly to your watch, so you can listen to music directly from it. You can stream radio using Bluetooyj and much more. The sound is loud and very high quality, especially for a watch.

All this is done quite simply; uploading music, photos and other media is not difficult at all.

Thanks to the available screen types, you can choose any watch face you prefer, be it classic or digital.

Fitness functions

As we have already said, in terms of activity tracking, the Samsung Gear S3 is absolutely fine. To track your running, the watch has a built-in GPS navigator and an accelerometer that monitors your speed. Samsung's S Health app is fully compatible with your watch, so you can monitor all your metrics. The clock reminds you of inactivity and even animates movement.

For beginners and sports enthusiasts, Samsung has also prepared useful features. Tips remind you to warm up if you move a lot and even explain how to do it correctly.

It's also not surprising that the Samsung Gear 3 tracks various types of workouts - squats, jumps, and so on.

Fairly accurate distance tracking is another plus of Samsung watches. And of course, it’s nice to see your progress all the time thanks to the screen. That brightest screen that is always on. And it is especially worth noting the function of turning on when you raise your hand - it works one hundred percent.

In addition, the watch has built-in programs that allow you to increase speed and endurance.

The heartbeat sensor does not work perfectly, but we know very well that not a single tracker has yet achieved perfection, however, in most cases its readings are very correct.

We've already noted that the watch is capable of tracking a variety of workouts, but here's another feature that will please health enthusiasts - the Samsung Gear S3 automatically recognizes the types of workouts. If you run, ride a bike, or are generally active (even while doing simple housework), the watch will start tracking your activity and counting calories burned after 10 minutes. Isn't that great?

Of course, the watch also tracks sleep. And they cope with this quite well, recognizing the duration and phases of sleep.

Battery

It's time to talk about the battery, which, as we already mentioned, needs to be quite powerful to support the display. The Samsung Gear S3 battery has a capacity of 380 mAh and can withstand four days of operation under standard conditions. That is, if you do not overload it with constant use of GPS or music.

The watch charges very quickly, also with wireless charging. One thing where Samsung has still surpassed its competitor Apple Watch 2 is charging. But there will be more.

The Gear S3 also has a convenient low battery mode - with it, the screen goes into monochrome mode, and the battery will last longer without recharging.

Conclusion

The Samsung Gear S3 is definitely a very interesting new smartwatch. Lots of features, wide tracking capabilities, incredibly high-quality display. All this makes up a very positive picture and gives a head start to many representatives of similar products on the market.

In many ways, this watch is unique and, of course, they will be improved every year, but the direction that Samsung has chosen for the development of the Gear watch at the present time is definitely pleasing.

For now, we can only wait for the next new product from Apple and compare two irreconcilable competitors to make a final verdict.

At the international forum IFA 2016, Samsung presented one of the models of the third generation of Gear smart watches. The device is available in two versions - and Frontier. The first model is designed for mass demand, and the second for a more selective category of consumers, since the Samsung Gear S3 frontier sm 760 smart watch has expanded functionality and an original stylish design.

Potential and ergonomics

The previous generation of watches forced developers to take a fresh look and improve the watch model. The device turned out to be more aggressive in appearance. The body of the product has increased in diameter and changed its edging - it has become slightly corrugated and with uneven edges.

Control

The main role in the structure of the watch is played by the “digital crown”, a special toothed ring (bezel). It controls basic functions. By scrolling the wheel on the display, all notifications in installed applications pop up one by one while working with the main menu. By clicking on the “window” you can view the details in detail.

Let's say that when working with the “digital crown,” the device speeds up the process of controlling the gadget in the chosen direction.

Strap

Despite the fact that the watch is made in a sporty style, it may well suit a strict business style. Especially for such options, a wide selection of straps in various shades is offered. It’s also impossible to go wrong with the dimensions - Samsung produces three types of sizes S, M and L. The watch case has a diameter of 22 mm, so changing the strap is not difficult. In addition, if you prefer a strict style in everyday life, then take a closer look at the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier watch. They will fit perfectly into a business look.

Display

The body of the Samsung S3 Frontier smartwatch is made of cold forged steel with a matte finish. Only the back of the lid is made of glass, since there are sensors underneath it. The company does not hide the fact that when developing the model, the appearance was guided by the Swiss TAG Heart Connected watches, known for their relationship to elite devices.

The display fully displays all information; there are no voids or so-called “dead zones”, which are usually filled with plastic parts. In addition to the “digital crown,” the watch is controlled using two buttons located on the right side of the case.

Device Features

Let's consider the main characteristics of the presented watch model:

compatible with Android device;
calendar;
Email;
social notifications;
makes it easy to make and receive phone calls;
simple navigation, clear picture;
touch display with a resolution of 360 x 360;
wireless connection with your smartphone;
Bluetooth connection.
autonomous connection (this means that the watch can work for a long time without recharging);
space for a SIM card and an additional memory card chip;
Wi-Fi;
a device that allows you to make and receive calls and texts on your watch with the mobile number of your smartphone, even when the phone is nearby;
store music in memory and play via Bluetooth or speaker;
music player with support: FLAC, mp3 and WAV, in 3gp, MIDI and OGG format;
dialing phone numbers, accessing favorite contacts;
ability to view recent calls;
voice recognizer, voice dialing commands, call waiting, caller ID, identifier;
alarm clock, timer and stopwatch;
screen lock;
customizable font sizes;
reminders (set the clock to display reminders at specific times);
“find your phone” function;
multi-language support (includes 15 languages);
flight mode;
4 default melodies + vibration;
determination of barometric pressure;
heart rate monitor;
GPS for improved location accuracy.

Equipment

The watch set is in a stylish cylindrical package (small box). The contents are separated by neat cardboard partitions to improve stability during transportation. The device is initially magnetized to the charging part of the product. The average estimated cost in Russian online stores is $370-400.

The kit includes:

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier;
strap;
wireless charging dock;
Quick Start Guide;
user guide.

Classic vs Frontier, what's the difference?

Comparing the two models, what you notice first is that the watch has begun to look more massive, despite the fact that the case in both models is the same (46x46x12.9 mm), the strap is normal (22 mm), can be replaced with other similar ones strap models from other manufacturers. If the previous version of S2 galaxy used a separate latch, then the new version has nothing like that.

Case and strap

Strap options can be different, it all depends on the material and color scheme. They are produced from leather, silicone, rubber. In addition, the case diameter is universal, so straps from other manufacturers will easily fit them. The metal case of the watch uses the same steel as in the Gear S2 watch - 316L, but the case itself has changed - it has become more massive and looks noticeably better.

In the new version of the smartwatch, the rotary mechanism (benzel) remains; it performs the same function as before, but its edging has been made ribbed. Both versions of the watch have an IP68 protection standard, preventing the ingress of moisture, dirt and dust. But, the Frontier model also added such functions as protection against shocks, temperature surges, and monitoring for increased vibration. This innovation is made according to military standards.

We can say that the Classic is the standard version of the watch with the usual set of functions, and the Frontier is a universal “unbreakable” model with the MIL-810G protection standard (the watch is suitable for active training, it is protected from strong impacts, etc.). If you weigh the watch without a strap, the Frontier has an advantage - it is heavier. The fastening element is comfortable, there are no complaints here.

Consider the screen

If in the previous version the size was 1.2 inches, then the improved model has 1.3 inches. The resolution was left the same 360x360 pixels for application compatibility. The smartwatch has a feature that supports AlwaysOn Display, thanks to which the screen is always on. Testing has shown that active work is possible within two days.

The screen is covered with special Corning Gorilla Glass SR+. This makes the watch resistant to scratches and cracks on the glass. In addition, the function ensures high sensitivity of the sensors (if you preset the menu), then the screen will respond to finger touches even with gloves.

The increased screen size has made it possible to improve the charging battery; the capacity has increased to 380 mAh. Wireless charging connection is carried out using the cradle included in the kit. The average duration of a full charge is two hours. The average operating time of the watch depends on what notifications and applications are installed; it is approximately 3-4 days.

The lower side buttons on the previous Classic are simpler and less comfortable, while on the Frontier they have a ribbed surface that makes them easy to press.

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