Recently, official sales of Samsung Gear S3 smart watches have started in Russia, inheriting the elements of the "ancestor" Gear S2 and expressing them in a new combination of design and functionality. Today we will look at what innovations Samsung has implemented in this device.
Specifications
- Screen: 1.3", IPS Super AMOLED, 16 million colors, 360x360 pixels, capacitive, 392 ppi;
- Operating system: Tizen 2.3.2;
- Processor: Exynos 7270, 1 GHz;
- RAM: 750 MB;
- Built-in memory: 4 GB;
- Battery: Li-Ion 380 mAh;
- Dimensions: 49 x 46 x 12.9 mm;
- Weight: 59 g (Classic), 63 g (Frontier);
- Connectivity: WIFI: 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz, NFC, Bluetooth 4.2 (A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP), GPS/GLONASS;
- Sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, pulse sensor, barometer, light sensor;
- Available versions: Classic, Frontier.
Equipment
The watch is delivered in a cylindrical box made of thick matte black cardboard. The design of the lid is made in the form of a now popular technique - embossed concentric circles. The company and model names are embossed. Depending on the version, the color of the top face differs.
Unpacking is the main ritual after purchase, which determines the first impression of the type of device. The Samsung Gear S3 is straight forward in this regard. You lift the top of the "cylinder" - and there the watch lies beautifully on the wireless charging stand, and the inscription "Samsung" is engraved, as the author's signature. As they say, "you just have to reach out your hand, and they are yours."
The above is on a plastic platform (in fact, the entire inner surface of the box is made of plastic), under which are the user manual and warranty card, in which everything is written in tiny print, you need to strain your eyes rather hard to read it, as well as a 5V 0.7A charger with a wire 1 meter long, which connects to a magnetic stand via a microUSB connector.
Appearance and features
The overall look of both versions of the Gear S3 is relatively similar, with a combination stainless steel case held together by four screws. A metal bezel rotates around the 1.3-inch display, making it easy to navigate the interface. The watch has a standard 22 mm strap mount - this expands the possibilities of customizing the appearance, limiting only the variety of available straps.
The lower part is identical in both cases and contains an optical heart rate monitor with two LEDs, inscriptions indicating the model name, the country of manufacture - Vietnam, and the CE marking.
On the right side of the watch are two buttons: "back" and "home", next to the second is a microphone.
On the other side, there are three small speaker holes.
External differences relate specifically to the front part. Starting from the color (black for the Frontier and silver chrome for the Classic) and the shape of the buttons, and ending with the material of the strap (genuine leather for the Classic and silicone for the Frontier), as well as weight - the weight officially indicated by the manufacturer is 59 and 63 g for the Classic and Frontier respectively, but due to the straps, the weight increases to 72 and 87 g, which is already more noticeable during direct use.
Samsung Gear S3 are protected according to the IP68 standard, which means full protection against dust and moisture, as well as immersion in fresh water up to one and a half meters for 30 minutes, however, the manufacturer on the official website and in the instructions for a quick start notes that swimming, showering and exercising diving is prohibited. The consultant in the official Samsung store, on the contrary, assured that you can safely swim in them. It is worth noting that the warranty does not cover damage caused by the malfunction or stoppage of the device due to flooding.
Unfortunately, in practice, we were unable to test their water resistance, since someone had opened the samples before us and did not completely tighten the screws, we decided not to risk it.
The Gear S3 Frontier also differs from the Classic in that it can withstand extreme temperature fluctuations.
Regarding shock resistance, it is assumed that the steel case must withstand an ordinary fall from a height of one and a half meters (a typical height when putting a watch on the wrist), and a protruding bezel is supposed to protect the screen from direct physical impact. The display itself is protected from scratches and is able to withstand accidental touches even on metal objects such as a handrail in the subway or a car door.
Despite the same cost of both versions, the Frontier looks more expensive than the Classic. It seems that the Classic was created as an addition to the "basic" Frontier. Perhaps the point is in the “whale” strap, in Classic it looks rustic, poor, not at all elegant, when it only adds even more brutality to Frontiers.
The Frontier is very difficult to put on due to the thick silicone strap, which does not slip at all, but it is wider and tighter on the hand, and also better tolerates diving, temperature changes and other extreme situations. The classics, on the contrary, are aimed at the calm behavior of the “carrier”, with classic analog dials they look like an ordinary wristwatch, which is why the user will be able to surprise “unenlightened” friends by raising his hand to see the time, and then twist the bezel to check the weather, notifications, find out breaking news, or even answer a call or write an SMS.
Display
What makes the Samsung Gear S3 look like a watch is a 1.3-inch (32.9 mm) round screen equipped with a 360x360 pixel IPS Super AMOLED matrix with a density of 392 ppi. Image clarity is colossal, even the smallest symbols of additional dials are visible without graininess.
The degree of change in brightness is measured in 10 points, but the function of adaptive adjustment depending on the lighting eliminates the problem of constant adjustment.
The color reproduction is top notch, the viewing angles are as wide as the maximum angle of incidence of looking at the watch is possible.
The screen is covered with a layer of scratch-resistant glass and has an oleophobic coating.
The "Always-on-display" function, as the name implies, instead of turning off the screen, reduces the backlight level to a minimum so that the user does not have to shake his hand to activate the clock and see the time.
Iron
Samsung equipped the Gear S3 with a 1GHz Exynos 7270 dual-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor based on a 14nm process for lower power consumption and improved performance (The Gear S2 uses an Exynos 3250, 28nm, ARM Cortex-A7, 1GHz).
Applications and watch faces installed on the watch do not require as many resources as, for example, for smartphones, so 750 MB of RAM (in Gear S2 - 500 MB) is enough to quickly switch between Tizen OS interface elements.
Of the 4 GB of internal memory, only 1.6 GB is available to the user. They can be used as a repository of installed applications, images sent to the Gear and screenshots of the watch itself, as well as music for playback by the built-in player through the speaker of the watch or a Bluetooth headset connected to it.
On the back of the Gear S3 is an optical heart rate sensor that reads very clearly, accurately following the rhythm of the heartbeat during the measurement process.
For lovers of hiking (especially mountainous), the Samsung Gear S3 has a built-in barometer and altimeter. The first measures pressure in hectopascals (hPa) and inches of mercury (inHg), and also shows a graph of further pressure changes based on data from the last 6 hours. If you convert hPa to mm Hg. and compared with a conventional home barometer, the difference in readings is minimal.
Altimeter (altimeter) - a device for measuring the height of the "flight" of an object based on GPS data.
The Samsung Gear S3 has built-in NFC for using the Samsung Pay service.
The watch can work both in tandem with a smartphone and as an independent device, for this you need to activate the Offline mode, which breaks the Bluetooth connection with the smartphone and all functions such as answering calls, showing notifications, receiving messages, etc. Uses built-in Wi-Fi to install apps and watch faces, and Bluetooth to connect wireless headphones. This mode is intended primarily for training without a smartphone.
Software
Samsung Gear S3 work on the platform of an open operating system based on the Linux kernel - Tizen 2.3.2, adapted to the "clock" shell.The public is arguing especially actively about the benefits and functionality of smart watches today, because the wearable electronics market is “flourishing”, new players are appearing, and competition is growing.
Someone says that this is a waste of money, and those who confirm the benefits are divided into two "camps" - the first put sports functions at the forefront (pedometer, altimeter, heart rate monitor with appropriate software, etc.), and the second believe that it is not the functionality that is important, but the design and, first of all, convenience, which is manifested in the fact that the watch allows you to constantly stay up to date and not waste energy to get the phone out of your pocket every time (new notifications, instant reading and reply to messages , weather check, BT-headset functions, etc.), and fitness functions are perceived only as an addition.
The Samsung Gear S3 may well reconcile polemical smartwatch enthusiasts, as it perfectly combines features that will suit everyone.
To connect the Gear S3 to a smartphone and set up some programs, you need to install the Gear S app, available on Google Play and the AppStore, the features and nuances of the app with iOS and Android will be discussed below.
The watch face is the central element of the “home page”, where you can add widgets and switch between them to the right, and to the left of the watch face you can scroll through new notifications.
Pressing the home button opens a list of installed applications. They are also arranged in a circle. Some pre-installed applications are aimed at quick access to smartphone functions:
- Phone - opens a list of recent calls, contacts, and also allows you to dial any number and call directly from the watch.
- Contacts - allows you to select a contact (search) and call or send SMS directly from the watch. There are 4 types of input available to choose from: keyboard, dictation, drawing, emoticons.
- Weather - updates the weather data of the cities selected in the Gear S app via your smartphone and displays information on the watch screen.
- Music - combines the function of controlling music playback on a smartphone and a full-fledged mp3 player. Selected tracks are transferred to the watch's internal memory via the Gear S app on your smartphone.
- S Voice is a voice assistant similar to Siri that can do a lot - from calling a contact or a phone number, to viewing weather data, getting directions and finding places. Displays information on the screen of a watch or smartphone.
- Organizer apps: Reminders, Calendar, World clock, Alarm clock.
- Flipboard News Briefing - a short up-to-date news digest.
- Find my phone - a useful utility that starts a sound signal on a smartphone. It helps to find it not only in case of its loss in an apartment or house, but also in case of theft or loss.
Samsung claims that there are more than 10,000 apps available in the Galaxy Apps store - this doesn't seem to be true. In addition to the huge number of watch faces (including paid ones), most of which were developed during the Gear S2 days, the applications that are suitable for installation on the Gear S3 mainly belong to the “health and fitness” group, or these are utilities of industry giants, like Yandex with a metro map and traffic jams.
S Health
S Health is an application developed by Samsung to track the activity of the wearer of the Gear S3 watch (or Gear Fit bracelet). First you need to download the app from Google Play, then create or log into an existing Samsung account, and then enter your physical data and activity level.
The watch app counts steps, calories, floors (based on altimeter data), measures heart rate regularly, monitors activity, reminds you to warm up every hour, recognizes sleep time. You can keep track of the amount of water and coffee you drink,
S Health is a great workout companion. The database contains 16 types of exercises, each of which has a specific set of monitored activities. So, for example, while riding a bike, the watch will count the speed, calories, distance and pulse.
The smartphone application has a wide range of functions. The main goal is to keep statistics, not only based on data from Gear S3, but also by entering data manually. With the help of the program, you can control the number of calories consumed by choosing a dish - a search is available on the menu of restaurants! You can also monitor weight, blood sugar, blood pressure, etc.
The Goals mode will visually show the progress of achieving the desired level of activity, nutrition, sleep.
In the "Together" tab, you can compare your results with all S Health users, or with your own age group, or you can add friends and arrange a competition.
Working with Android
It's no secret, and it's obvious that this watch will work flawlessly with Samsung smartphones, including instant connection, fast content sharing and Samsung Pay (but this is not accurate, we did not check). The manufacturer also promises stable operation (or explains how to eliminate shortcomings as much as possible) on the page of the global site with a list of devices compatible with the monitored watch, therefore, in order to answer the question about the interaction of Gear S3 with any interpretation of the Android OS, we chose the hero as a “guinea pig” a recent review by the Chinese Umi Max.
A pleasant surprise was that after installing the Samsung Gear app, as well as the two necessary plug-ins, all functions except Samsung Pay work as they should. The connection was easy and fast, applications are downloaded and updated stably.
Despite the fact that our device is far from Samsung, S Health works to the maximum.
A couple of times there was an unexpected break in the watch-smartphone pair and the watch had to be restarted to restore the connection.
Working with iOS
In the last quarter of 2016, a beta version of the iOS-based "Gear S" app for connecting with the Gear S2 and S3 smartwatches and the Gear Fit fitness bracelet began to circulate on the Internet. Then, to install this application, you had to do a few tricks in the iPhone settings. On January 7, 2017, this application became available for download in the Russian AppStore. His rating is unimportant, although there are not enough reviews, which means that there are quite a few perverts of individuals who are ready to “connect the unconnected”.
The first contact of the iPhone with the Gear S3 is the most difficult and patient thing to do. To connect to the phone, the device uses two Bluetooth channels: Bluetooth LE (Low Energy - a lower energy standard) to support connection and management functions such as sending messages, reading notifications, controlling music, etc., and to use the watch as a Bluetooth headset , that is, for conversations using the built-in speaker and microphone, a standard Bluetooth channel is used.
You cannot close the application. It should always be running at least in the background.
The connection is quite fast, but it takes a very long time to download, install and update applications. So long that it may not happen at all. It is better to install applications one at a time, maximum two at the same time, otherwise you will have to restart everything and get rid of constantly pop-up installation errors.
The release version of the Gear S application is not far from the beta version. While using it to write a review, there were permanent freezes, lags, disconnections. Many functions, such as sending images from the watch to the phone, are not available.
S Health for iOS does not exist, it is part of Gear S. Available measurements are: steps, floors, water, caffeine, sleep, heart rate and 4 activities: walking, running, cycling, hiking.
Unfortunately, with the release of the tenth version of iOS, which contains many additional features, in particular, the effects of sent messages and stickers that will not be displayed in notifications, the point in buying Gear S3 disappears, and the brand itself, as it were, obliges you to buy an Apple Watch, despite their price. . If you take away the heart rate monitor and altimeter with barometer, the Gear S3 for iPhone is as useful as the Chinese clones of popular smartwatches for 2000 rubles.
Battery
The Samsung Gear S3 is equipped with a 380 mAh lithium-ion battery, which is 130 mAh more than the Gear S2. Charging is carried out by connecting to a magnetic stand and there is no other way. Samsung promises fast charging, but in fact, up to 50% of the watch is charged in 2 hours, and fully charged in 4 hours.
After fully charging and immediately pairing with a smartphone at 17:00 on the first day, without breaking the connection and considering that 70% of the time the watch and phone just lay on the table, social network notifications sometimes came - thus the charge was enough for 70 hours.
Those who want to get the most out of the watch, that is, use it for training, for talking, monitoring sleep, constantly receiving notifications, messages and responding to them, besides, all this with always-on GPS and the Always-on-display function, can expect an average of one and a half days of battery life.
To (emergency) save battery, the Gear S3 has a power saving mode that switches the home screen theme to grayscale, turns off all functions except calls, messages and notifications, turns off Wi-Fi, limits maximum performance. In this mode, the watch can work up to 5 hours on the remaining 10%.
Results and conclusions
Compared to the previous generation of Samsung Gear, the number 3 watch has, in a word, grown up. The screen has become larger, and most importantly, more convenient to use (although someone may find the Gear S3's size a disadvantage). Processor performance and RAM have also increased. Gear S2 looked somehow frivolous, toy. Gear S3, if desired, can look like an expensive Swiss watch, you just need to put the right dial and choose the right strap.
Hiking and active lifestyle lovers will choose brutal Frontier. For people who are closer to business and business style, elegant Classic will suit. With S Health, it's easy to start a healthy lifestyle, and with a high-capacity battery, you'll be less distracted by recharging.
Unfortunately, there are not very many applications in the local store, and developers require a (sometimes considerable) fee for some watch faces. Internal memory is enough only in words, and iOS support is still too raw.
Besides Gear S3 - not cheap pleasure. The price in the Samsung store is 24,990 rubles.
Pros:
- Design, rotating bezel, large screen with excellent brightness and color reproduction
- Long autonomy
- Variety of watch faces
- S Health
- Work with any smartphone on Android above 4.4 and RAM from 1.5 GB
- Almost complete freedom of choice of strap
- Heart rate monitor, barometer, altimeter.
- Working with iOS
- Paid watch faces
- Few apps
- Price (as for a separate good smartphone)
- Long charge.
The Samsung Gear S3 is without a doubt one of the best smartwatches in the world. Their secret to success is very simple: great looks and lots of useful features. If a lot of different information is already written about the first on the Internet (photo and video reviews), then little is said about the smart capabilities of the watch. In this article, Galagram is done with all the secrets and tips for setting up the Gear S3 smart watch.
This manual will be useful for both beginners who have just purchased the gadget, and confident watch users. We think everyone will be able to learn something new for themselves and use the device to the maximum.
How to turn on Samsung Gear S3
To turn on the watch, press and hold the Power (Home) button until the screen lights up and the Samsung logo appears on the screen. If the device does not turn on, plug it into a power source for at least 15 minutes, and then try again. Perhaps the clock was simply discharged "at zero percent." To turn off the watch, also press and hold the Power button. In the menu that opens, select "Shutdown" or Power off. Everything is simple and clear here!
How to Connect Gear S3 to Android and iPhone
The watch is connected to Android (Android 4.4 and above) smartphones and Apple iPhone (iOS 10 and above) via Bluetooth. So this instruction is suitable for both operating systems. To connect the Gear S3 to your smartphone, install the Samsung Gear app from the Google Play Store or the AppStore. It is worth noting that some functions may not be available on the watch due to the smartphone model. Of course, phones from the Samsung Galaxy line work best with the gadget.
- turn on the clock
- On your smartphone, open the Samsung Gear app
- Update the Samsung Gear app to the latest version if necessary
- Click "Connect"
- Activate Bluetooth when requested by the app
- Follow the instructions on your smartphone to complete the connection
You can also connect a Bluetooth headset or wireless headphones to the watch. To do this, follow these steps:
- On the watch screen, tap "Settings"
- Then select "Connections"
- Touch the Bluetooth switch to activate the connection
- Rotate the ring around the screen and press the Bluetooth icon
- When you see the name of the Bluetooth headset appear on the screen, click on it to connect
- If you don't see the Bluetooth device, click "Scan" and then click the device's name when you see it appear on the display
Well, the reverse action, to disconnect from a Bluetooth device (speakers or headsets), do the following:
- On the Apps screen, select Settings
- Click "Connections"
- Click on Bluetooth Device
- Click the "Settings" icon
- Click Disconnect
How to choose another watch face
There are many different interchangeable watch faces for the Gear S3. Most of them are available in the Gear app on your Android device, right from the app you can view, select the appropriate one and set as the main watch face.
Switching between third-party watch faces can be done on the phone as well as on the watch itself. To do this without your smartphone and app, long tap on the current option on the screen, then swipe left or right to view the preset watch faces. Once installed, you can click on the Styling tab and select display colors and customize it as you like.
How to pay with Gear S3 with Samsung Pay
A very useful feature as you don't need to carry your wallet or even your smartphone around. Just spend hours near a compatible payment terminal. Here's how to set it up. You must enable NFC and set Samsung Pay as your default payment method before using Samsung Pay on the Gear S3
- On the start screen with applications, rotate the frame to the "Settings" tab
- Tap Connections > NFC, then tap NFC to
enable this module - Now select the payment method "Samsung Pay"
Great, setup is complete. Now, to pay for a purchase in the store, do the following:
- On the Apps screen, rotate the bezel and select Samsung Pay (or press and hold the back key)
- Scroll through the list of cards, select the desired card, and then
click "Pay" - Touch the top of the Gear S3 to the card reader
- Payment must be successful
- This is all!
How to turn on the Always On display
Out of the box, the Samsung watch's screen is set up so that it only activates when you "request". In order to turn on the screen, you need to either raise your hand or press a key on the case. But there is one secret how to make the Gear S3 screen always active. It's something like Always On Display on . To keep your watch constantly "active" and show the time all the time, do the following.
- Go to "Settings"
- On your watch and select the "Style" tab
- Click "Always On"
- Ready!
How to take a screenshot on Samsung Gear S3
Continuing the topic of display settings, we will tell you how to take a screenshot on this watch. First of all, all screenshots taken on your device are saved in the "Gallery". You can transfer screenshots from Gear S3 to your smartphone. Screenshots transferred to your phone will be saved in the Gear folder in Gallery.
To take a screenshot, simply press the Home key at the same time and swipe across the screen from the left edge to the right - as you can see, very convenient! Go to the Gallery app to view all screenshots.
How to set the time
There are two ways: automatic, for which automatic updating of the time zone is provided. And manual - when you yourself set the time on the Gear S3 watch. Below are instructions for both of these methods.
Auto:
- Go to "Device"
- Click "Date and Time"
- Click on the Automatic tab to enable or disable the automatic date and time update feature
Manual:
- On the Apps screen, go to Settings
- Click "Device"
- Go to "Date and Time"
- If necessary, tap Automatic to disable the automatic update feature
- To manually set the date, click "Set Date"
- Select year, month and day to manually set the date
- Then click "Set" (or install)
- To manually set the time, find the "Set time" item.
- Manually insert hours and minutes
- Now click "Set" (or install)
How to install apps on your watch
Since Samsung Gear S3 runs on Tizen 3.0 OS, you can install popular applications on them, such as Yandex Navigator, Google Maps and others. To download apps to your Gear S3, you must sign in to your Samsung account on your phone. If you don't have a Samsung account, select "Sign up" and follow the instructions.
- You can download apps to your watch from your phone using the Samsung Gear app and the Samsung Galaxy Apps tab.
- Swipe left on the watch screen or rotate the bezel until you reach the Get more apps icon
- Choose the app you want
- Select "Install"
- Once the app has been installed, you can access it from your watch's full list of apps
How to download music to your watch
On the main screen of your smartphone, go to "Apps". Select Samsung Gear. The Samsung Gear app may be located in the Samsung folder on some phones. Then do the following:
- Go to "Settings" tab
- Click Submit Content to Transfer
- Tap Select Audio Tracks (may be called differently)
- Check the box next to the audio files you want to move to the Gear S3
- Then click "Done"
To have new songs automatically sync to your Gear S3 while your watch is charging, tap the slider next to auto sync to turn sync on.
How to set and reset a PIN
Since smart watches do not yet have a fingerprint scanner, data protection is carried out using a regular PIN code. How to install the code and what to do if you forget it, the tips below will help you with this.
To set a PIN code:
- On the Apps screen, tap Settings
- Click "Security"
- Tap Lock Screen
- Click "Screen Lock Type"
- Click PIN.
- Enter a 4-digit password
- Re-enter the 4-digit PIN to confirm
To reset your PIN:
- Make sure the clock is off
- Press and hold the power button until "Rebooting" appears on the display, then release the key.
- On the "Rebooting" screen, press the "Power" key to confirm the reset of the device
- After that, the watch will be reset to factory settings along with the PIN code
You must understand that a Factory Reset will completely erase data from your watch. Use this method as a last resort if the information stored on the watch is important to you.
How to properly charge your Gear S3
The most important thing to remember is to always use the original charger and battery to maintain optimum battery performance throughout the life of your Samsung watch.
You can charge the watch through the original accessory that comes with the gadget. To do this, simply plug the USB cable into a power outlet and connect it to a power outlet or USB port on your computer. The device charges faster from a conventional wall outlet. From a laptop, the charging process will be a little slower.
Place the watch on the charging dock, make sure it is properly connected to the gadget. The device will now start charging. While charging, the watch screen will display a battery charging icon with the amount of time remaining until the battery is fully charged.
How to improve autonomy
Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your Samsung Gear S3 watch. Follow these instructions and your watch will run much longer.
- Set the brightness to minimum
- Disable smart display activation
- Disable Always On Display
- Turn off continuous heart rate reading
- Disable in GPS settings
- Activate power saving mode
Today it is almost impossible to surprise someone with a smart watch. Many manufacturers are engaged in their release, but only a few achieve truly noteworthy results. Samsung stands out against this background, which offers users high-quality products with excellent functionality and stunning design.
Her latest developments are no exception. We are talking about the collection of Samsung Gear S3, which includes two variations of hours. These are Frontier and Classic models. Each of them deserves attention and it's time to get to know them in more detail.
Specifications
Appearance and features
The design of the devices is largely similar to the previous model. The rounded shape of the case harmonizes with the stainless steel bezel. The bezel completes the picture, which can be rotated to control the watch. The Classic is characterized by a slightly more elegant performance, while the Frontier has a somewhat rough and masculine form.
The control components are standard and are located in the usual places. In this aspect, the manufacturer remained true to himself and did not come up with anything new. The strap has a standard fastening format of 22 mm, which, if necessary, can be replaced with any other product. Enclosures are IP68 protected. It provides good protection against moisture and dust.
The dimensions that the Samsung Gear S3 watch have are completely identical. Width - 46 mm, height - 49 mm, thickness - 12.9 mm.
Frontier or Classic
Classic offers a design that is as close as possible to the appearance of conventional watch models. Vintage is perfectly complemented by a leather strap. This combination makes the accessory almost indistinguishable from the beloved by many classics.
Frontier looks just the same impressive. The bezel along the contour is supplemented with special risks. This makes the device even more attractive. A stylish and modern strap based on silicone completes the picture.
The difference between the models is insignificant. Frontier offers more ergonomic shape and improved button comfort. And the bezel looks more attractive. Classic has a stricter form factor, which can leave almost no one indifferent. He is able to optimally complement the image of a business person and harmoniously fit into the style he professes.
The Frontier handles extreme temperature changes and fluctuations very well. Such smart watches weigh only a few grams more than their counterparts. The main difference lies in the hardware. Frontier has an integrated LTE module, and
The Classic boasts only Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Compliance with the MIL-STD 810G standard ensures Frontier productive and trouble-free operation even under the most extreme conditions.
Display
A high-quality 1.3-inch display is responsible for displaying data and contact with the user. It has a touch format and a round shape. SuperAMOLED allows you to get an output picture with excellent brightness, color reproduction and saturation. There are no distortions, data can be read without problems even in excessive ambient light. The resolution is small and is only 360x360. But this does not affect the comfort of use.
Due to the easy immersion inside the case, it is possible to protect the glass from scratches and other defects. Additional protection is provided by Gorilla Glass SR+. The Always On Display option keeps the screen always on. But at the same time, the brightness is minimal and the power consumption is quite insignificant.
Management and OS
In the context of management, it is the bezel that deserves special attention. Due to the special engraving, it does not slip in the hands and eliminates the slightest possibility of incorrect response to user commands. Rotating the bezel in different directions allows you to quickly get to the desired menu item and execute the required command.
There are a couple of mechanical buttons. They found a place on the right side of the gadget. Even more simplifies the process of managing the touch screen. Just a couple of swipes are enough, and the necessary information is already in front of the user's eyes.
The operation of the system is carried out through the Tizen OS. The performance is in perfect order, no errors were found in the work. Everything is very simple, fast and with the maximum level of comfort. Implemented seamless integration of watches with mobile devices. It requires iOS 9 or later and Android 4.4 or later.
Hardware platform
The smart watch is based on a 2-core Exynos 7270 chipset. Its frequency is 1 GHz, it supports 14 nm technology and is characterized by the lowest power consumption during operation.
768 MB of RAM is enough for seamless interaction with various applications. The internal memory has a capacity of 4 GB, but the user has an available order of 1.5 GB. For personal data and musical compositions, this is enough.
Using the Samsung Gear S3 watch is possible not only in conjunction with mobile devices, but also in a completely independent format. This requires activating the offline mode, which completely closes the gadget from third-party contacts. In this case, the Wi-Fi module is used to work with applications, and via Bluetooth it is possible to connect headphones or external acoustics. This option will be appreciated by all lovers of training in peace and without an annoying smartphone nearby.
Sports opportunities
Each of the models has a pre-installed speedometer, GPS, altimeter, heart rate monitor and even a barometer. Such equipment provides comprehensive monitoring not only of the active phase of life. It is also very useful during sleep.
GPS-receiver and baro-altimeter allow you to measure with maximum accuracy the number of steps taken, the height relative to sea level, pressure drops that have occurred over the past 6 hours.
You can view all the information you receive in the relevant sections of the S Health app. There you can also activate various modes of functioning, depending on the exercises performed and the load being experienced.
Music and local apps
Smart watch Samsung Gear S3 allows you to fully manage your music collection. For this, everything necessary is provided. Moreover, management is possible not only for those compositions that are on the smartphone, but also for standalone ones. You can store them on the built-in storage, and switching tracks is carried out directly on the screen of the gadget.
Pleased with a large number of applications that are available for integration into this device. Some of them are pre-installed even before the user purchases the watch, most can be downloaded from cloud storage or specialized resources without any problems.
There are also many games that are designed specifically for these devices. They are controlled by the bezel. An interesting and rather original solution, which will surely appeal to many.
autonomy
The capacity of the built-in battery pack is 380 mAh. The indicator, although not the highest, but it is enough for the full functioning of the gadget for several days. With the active loading of the system, the period may decrease to about 1.5-2 days. In standby mode, this period can stretch for days and weeks. The manufacturer did an excellent job in this direction and undoubtedly deserves sincere praise and gratitude.
Charging is done wirelessly. The corresponding module is included in the scope of delivery. As a nice addition, it has an LED sensor that signals the state of charge and the level of fullness of the battery.
Warranty
Samsung offers a standard warranty for its gadget. It lasts for 12 months and does not cover accidental damage or normal wear and tear caused by use.
Instead of a conclusion
The Samsung Gear S3 watch is a product that can hardly be called revolutionary or innovative. But it captivates users with its performance, well-implemented ergonomics and simply incredible functional equipment.
The high-quality execution of the case and internal components makes it possible to count on a long and absolutely trouble-free operation of the device. The price tag of the gadget can be called moderate, and the cost itself fully corresponds to the opportunities that it opens up.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the main advantages, the following deserve special attention:
- Simplicity and convenience of the interface;
- Hassle-free replacement of the standard strap;
- Long period of autonomous functioning;
- Protection of the body from moisture and dust;
- Excellent interaction with Samsung Pay.
There are also disadvantages. Although some of them can be quite subjective. Among them:
- Large dimensions that are not entirely appropriate on a small wrist;
- The possibility of breaking the connection with the smartphone in some situations.
The Gear S2 generation of smartwatches was already balanced and functional enough to speak of their versatility. Three variations gave a choice to girls and boys, housewives and businessmen. Not forgetting, of course, about a group of technological 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 Gear S2 variations, the decision was made to update only the Classic and Frontier models. At the same time, the sported Gear S2 remained available for sale to its audience.
We tested the Gear S3 Classic version, which differs from the Frontier in case and strap design, as well as resistance to heat, shock and vibration.
Appearance
As for the design, we noted at the presentation a skillfully executed 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 protected according to the IP68 standard. It is more massive than the second generation.
On one end there are two buttons for navigating the menu. Under them there is a microphone hole. On the opposite end there are three speaker holes. Thus, you can use the watch as a hands-free headset.
Very comfortable to drive - and completely 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 changing lighting will reveal their artificiality.
One of the design highlights is the navigation ring on the Samsung Gear S. The process of scrolling through texts or selecting an item from a menu can be repeated over and over again. I want the sound of clicking hinges and the vibration that accompanies them to never stop.
Personalization - don't be like everyone else
To make 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 imitation 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, for some screensaver dials there are additional color options.
After a positively perceived function Always On Display in the Galaxy S7 smartphone, it also appeared in the watch. Yes, the watch screen can be on all the time, and some dial screen savers are cool to play with the transition from passive to active mode.
A curious thing: the watch keeps track of whether they are worn on the hand or not. The Always On feature will only work when you are wearing them.
Really smart
In a sense, the Samsung Gear S3 is a smartphone in your hand. And it's not just the presence of a dual-core processor and RAM.
During the time that Samsung has been developing a community of software developers for Tizen OS, a lot of popular programs and even games have 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 or map application, the watch may not use smartphone navigation, but independently navigate the area thanks to built-in GPS and GLONASS.
Thus, in Ukraine with the watch you can call an Uber driver, view the traffic jam score on Yandex Maps, pay a utility bill in Portmone.com. Why "in Ukraine"? Well, because until quite recently we almost learned by heart that almost all services in our country are not supported.
This should also include the presence of an NFC module, which makes contactless payment possible, not only through 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 not to be tied to a smartphone and at the same time use the Gear S as a standalone cellular device. However, we have already described the scenario of working as a clock phone above using the example of the situation on the street.
Interface
Watch programs are installed using the Samsung Gear smartphone app. Not only Samsung devices are supported, but also more or less new Android smartphones. Support for iOS is still in the conceptual plans for the future.
In the same program, the clock itself is configured. 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, connect to wireless networks, and notification sounds. Changing the skins of the dials is also done from the watch, but you need to download new ones already on your smartphone.
In general, when you select something that cannot be used from the watch screen, the application automatically opens on the linked smartphone.
The watch also has other “smartphone” features, such as setting a PIN code, setting up power saving mode, S-Voice voice assistant, reading texts and responding with patterns.
You can also increase the sensitivity of the Gear S3 screen in order to recognize touches while wearing gloves.
Anti-sport classic
The Gear S3's fitness features have not undergone any major changes in software. The watch can count steps, steps, heartbeats, calories burned, and also give achievements for completing intermediate results, such as 1000 steps taken and a ten-minute walk.
Yes, if in a couple of days SHealth sees that you are sitting 90% of the time, he will not only start reminding you to move, but will also praise more actively even for minimal activity.
Regardless, the Gear S3 Classic is a poor fit for a sports gadget. Yes, the watch measures a lot and is not afraid of water, but it is big and chrome-plated. In addition, the leather strap will not allow you to swim, and in a dream they are easy put a black eye loved one in the middle of the night.
If they are one hundred percent suitable for the role of replacing classics or a geek gadget, then running with them is uncomfortable. In this regard, a more successful version for an active lifestyle is the Gear S3 Frontier version.
There is here and baro-altimeter, a rare thing for modern wearable devices. More often it is found in specialized sports watches, sharpened for specific sports.
The peculiarity of its work is that in order to obtain data on the current atmospheric pressure, the sensor needs calibration. And this requires current information about the pressure at a known height in a given geographic point. Theoretically, this information can be provided by the weather service. But conventional services do not update this information often enough and do not do it geographically very accurately.
How many live
A very important question in view of how many sensors this watch is stuffed with.
The increased size of the case in this regard played into the hands. It fit a larger battery capacity of 380 mAh. It takes from an hour to an hour and a half to fully charge from a wireless docking station.
If you do not receive all notifications in a row, reduce the brightness of the backlight, measure your pulse once or twice a day and see what time it is a dozen times, then a full battery charge will last for five days work.
Add to this 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 notifications about every sneeze on social networks come from your smartphone, then prepare to charge the 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 a heart rate monitor, the test of which is already being prepared by our Test Lab, can live one or two days at all.
Considering the excellent screen, the stuffing sufficient for performance and lack of lags, the number of sensors and 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 in the Gear 2 and Gear S2 made the purchase of the new generation more rational. You really get a self-sufficient wearable gadget.
Look Gear S3 even prettier and more organic. Especially the Frontier model. The ability to change straps, the variability of dials and the always-on display only encourage you to create 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 application base in the Gear S3 model will qualitatively expand the lineup of Samsung smart watches.
And for all their advanced features and nice little things in 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, WiFi, NFC |
| Geolocation: | GPS, GLONASS |
| Additionally: | Always on Display, speaker, microphone |
| Battery: | 380 mAh |
| Dimensions: | 49×46×12.9mm |
| Weight: | 59 g |
| The supplier: | «Samsung Electronics Ukraine» |
| Price: | 10 000 UAH |
Grade:
Case design
Interchangeable straps
Lots of applications
Individualization
– the overall body of the Classic model
A few months ago, Samsung released the latest addition to its line of smartwatches. The model was called Samsung Gear S3. We have one of the copies of this model in the editorial office. How do they differ from the previous model and smartwatches from other manufacturers?
The history of watches has more than one hundred years. More precisely, it took about 400 years for a pocket watch on a chain to evolve into modern electronic devices on the wrist, in which the time display is nothing more than one of the functions.
When did smartwatches first appear?
The first watches that could do more than just show the time were released back in the mid-eighties of the last century. First separately by Seiko, and later in collaboration with Epson. The line was marked RC, and the characteristics of the devices were ridiculous by today's standards, but absolutely fantastic for that time. For example, the RC-20, released in 1985, was equipped with an 8-bit processor, 8 KB of internal memory, and 2 KB of RAM. The display had a resolution of 42 by 32 pixels. They were equipped with applications for planning cases, notes, a world clock and a calculator. The watch could be connected to a computer for programming. Most popular computers of the time were supported, such as Apple II, IBM PC, NEC 8201 and others.
At the turn of two millennia, an attempt was made to make another clock ahead of its time. In June 2000, IBM introduced the world to a prototype wristwatch running on Linux. The watch had an accelerometer, vibration motor and even a fingerprint sensor. Citizen was selected as a partner and was willing to work with IBM to create the WatchPad. It was assumed that the model will be equipped with a display with a resolution of 320 by 240 pixels and run on Linux 2.4. The watch also had to have a built-in calendar, Bluetooth, 8 MB of RAM and 16 MB of internal memory. The WatchPad was supposed to cost only $399, but for a number of reasons the project was canceled two years later.
So things were sluggish with smartwatches, until Pebble presented its vision for such an accessory on Kickstarter in 2012, and the media began to fuel the market with rumors about the imminent appearance of the iWatch, as they were then called. Here, as they say, “let's go”. All manufacturers began to stamp their versions of this device. Moreover, technology has already made it possible to do something really worthwhile.
The design was difficult early on, and few could come up with something interesting that didn't feel like a Tamagotchi toy on a strap. There were, of course, exceptions in the form of Moto 360, but this was rare. Even the arrival of the cute curved Samsung Gear S didn't help much.
Then they were replaced by Samsung gear S2, which already looked more like a classic watch, and on August 31, 2016, the latest Gear S3 was officially presented, one of the nice features of which is decent compatibility not only with Android devices, but even with iPhone.
Now about the Gear S3 themselves
Externally, the watch turned out to be solid and even impressive. They don't feel like a plastic toy on the wrist. But at the same time, I personally did not like how they sit on my hand. I love big watches, and my main watch is a fairly large chronometer. It's big, heavy, but sits more comfortably than the Gear S3. Here lies the first disadvantage. Also, despite the fashion for large watches among women, it is unlikely that they will sit well on the graceful wrist of a young girl. Of course, you have to try and try on, but I really doubt that in this case the Samsung Gear S3 will be a good option.
Case, screen and controls
The body is of two types. We had a black case at our disposal. Watches in this design are marked as “Frontier”, which means “border” in translation. There is also a classic silver version with the predictable name Classic. Outwardly, Frontier is more aggressive and somewhat sporty, which cannot be said about the classic version, in which even the side buttons are made in a classic style, and if you set one of the traditional options as a dial, it will be even more difficult to distinguish them from ordinary watches with a quick glance. Even on the Frontier, if you turn on the chronometer dial, then, of course, there is no 100% similarity with the mechanics, but visually the sensations are very interesting. There is even a mode with a permanently lit screen to enhance the effect. There are a lot of options for watch faces. Only a dozen standard options were initially installed, but, in addition to this, you can download many more others for every taste.
The screen has a resolution of 360 by 360 pixels, which, with a diagonal of 1.3 inches, provides a pixel density of 278 pixels per inch. Matrix Super AMOLED, and screen protection Corning Gorilla Glass SR +.
In terms of functionality and filling, the differences between the two versions of the model are minimal. These include only the weight, which is 57 grams for the classics, 62 grams for the Frontier, and the shockproof case of the latter. That's probably why they weigh more. The biggest difference is that some versions of the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier have the ability to work with an e-SIM card.
The case of the device has a level of moisture and dust resistance ip68, which eliminates the ingress of dust and allows you to immerse the watch in fresh water to a depth of one and a half meters for up to 30 minutes. True, on the Samsung website, of course, it is written that the watch is not suitable for diving and swimming.
Additional screen protection from scratches and damage is ensured by the fact that the display is recessed into the case, and the bezel rises quite strongly above it, which is the main control element of the watch. By rotating it, you can move between widgets and menu items, as well as adjust the volume, brightness, and more. The bezel is discrete, and it spins very gently and pleasantly. At the moment of rotation, if you bring the watch to your ear, you can hear a pleasant sound from its rotation, similar to the sound of the rotation of the crown of a mechanical watch. The idea of bezel rotation lies on the surface, since there have long been chronometers that implement such a mechanism. True, there it performs a different function, but nevertheless, Samsung specialists are great for finding such a method of control and being able to implement it efficiently.
The bezel is especially pleasing in combination with the Tizen operating system that runs the watch and is built around this control, unlike Android Wear, where you have to swipe across the screen many times more often. But the disadvantage of this Tizen, in comparison with Android Wear, is the lack of a full-fledged voice assistant. There is also an analogue here, but it works somewhat worse than the usual “Ok! Google".
Fitness
For fitness, there are traditionally many functions. These include activity tracking, stair counting, a heart rate monitor that monitors status every 15 minutes, and even GPS. Separately, it is worth noting the barometer and altimeter, which will not be useful to everyone, but they will definitely find their connoisseur.
If you are doing any kind of sport with gloves on or just walking down the street on a cool day, then there is a mode for this that increases the sensitivity of the screen, thereby allowing you to use it without removing your gloves. Of course, this will not always work, and if you have gloves that are comparable in appearance to welding gloves, then nothing will work, but in some situations it will definitely be more convenient.
Charging and autonomy
According to Samsung, the battery in the Gear S3 lasts for 4 days of use. I cannot confirm this. I managed to go with them for only two days with fairly active use. If you significantly reduce the load on the battery, you get a maximum of three days, no more. If you activate the always-on screen mode, then the increased power consumption will predictably take a few more hours of battery life from the battery. It turns out that there is nothing outstanding in this matter, everything is almost like that of competitors. The capacity of the built-in battery, by the way, is 380 mAh, which also does not cause sacred awe.
The watch is charged contactlessly, which is convenient, but the charging itself is inconvenient. If it were in the form of a flat tablet, it would be much nicer, otherwise it is very angular and uncomfortable in a bag if you need to take it on the road. But the box can be turned into a charging station. We pass the wire into special slots - and you're done. But, as for me, it would be more logical to draw a wire output at the bottom of the box.
Straps
Samsung has taken a very pleasant step towards meeting users. The belts are 22 mm wide, which allows you to install not only one of the options offered by the company, namely multi-colored rubber, leather and crocodile embossed, but also the lion's share of the usual universal ones. At least from the trophy grandfathers with whom he went through the war.
Cross platform and memory
A nice feature of the watch is their certain cross-platform. It can be used with both Android and iOS. All you have to do is download the app and you're done. At the same time, there is no need to talk about truncated functionality. At least if you compare other phones on Android (not Samsung) and iOS.
The built-in memory of the watch is 4 GB. Decently, but only one and a half are available to the user. But you can fill them with music, connect wireless headphones and go for a run without a phone, and the training statistics will be collected by the built-in software, including GPS, which I mentioned earlier.
Results
So what can be said about the watch, summing up? The watch turned out to be pleasant and quite similar to classical mechanics. I would even add an optional “tikalka” mode for connoisseurs to make the imitation even more believable, and they would be more likely to look at this gadget. Otherwise, by and large, these are ordinary smart watches at the level of competitors, and in some places a little higher, but in any case, these are just smart watches with their inherent functions. You can use them to make phone calls, not miss notifications and reminders, collect activity statistics, but for real mechanics fans, they will not be able to replace what they are used to. It is all the more difficult to call a fashion watch for 25,000 rubles. Not cheap for a smart watch, but for those who can afford a really expensive watch, or even just an expensive one, and want to show everyone that they can afford it, as well as those who just love a beautiful classic watch, the Samsung Gear S3 is not fit. Even if the Tag Heuer Connected smart model, which was supposed to become a bridge between smart watches and classic Swiss mechanics, did not take root, then there is also nothing more to be said.
For myself, I decided that neither good design nor cross-platform stimulate my desire to buy such a watch. Even with all my openness to something new. For me, the main thing that turned me off was the somewhat clunky Gear S3, which makes them less comfortable than many even larger models, and the lack of a breakthrough in battery life. I've always said that it's okay to charge your watch every night, but it would be interesting to use something that lasts significantly longer than everyone else. In any case, everyone decides for himself what to use.
