The Samsung Gear S3 Frontier smartwatch was released at the end of 2016. This is a device that makes it much easier to use a smartphone for active people, drivers and sports enthusiasts. The watch can not only show the time and work as a pedometer. They have many applications and capabilities.
IN Samsung review Gear S3 Frontier we will show all the features, advantages and disadvantages of the smartwatch and compare it with competitors in key indicators. During the writing process we used not only Technical information, but also the real experience of buyers.
The new Gear S3 was presented to the public at the presentation as part of IFA 2016. Like its predecessors, the curved Gear S and the first round watch Samsung Gear S2, the new watch has attracted a lot of attention from the public, and it's not just a big name, but also a great combination stylish appearance, advanced characteristics and thoughtful interface.
Samsung watches, like a year ago, came out in two modifications: now they are called Classic and Fronter. The differences between them are minor, but we will mention them where necessary.
Package immediately puts you in the right mood: she is round and discreet.
Contents of delivery quite predictable: a smaller replacement strap, Charger, docking station and small instructions.
Design largely retained the same features: round case, steel edging, rotating bezel for control. Classic are executed a little more gracefully, Frontier - rougher, this is clearly a purely masculine version. The difference is mainly in the design of the bezel (polished metal or notches) and buttons.
At the same time, the watch became slightly larger: dimensions 6 × 49 × 12.9 mm, the weight of the Classic model was 57 g, and the Frointer model weighed 62 g.
On the right side we see a couple of buttons through which the device is controlled.
On the left are subtle microphone holes.
On the back there is a heart rate sensor.
The strap fastening is standard, 22 mm, so you can always easily replace it with the model you like. The clasp is also standard, strong and reliable.
There is dust and moisture protection that meets the IP68 standard; Fronters are also protected from shaking, shocks and falls.
Display made using Super AMOLED technology and has a resolution of 360x360 pixels on a 1.3-inch diagonal. It is covered with Gorilla Glass SR+, created specifically for wearable devices.
The Gear S3's screen has all the characteristics inherent in Amoleds: high brightness and contrast, good viewing angles and deep blacks. All this gives the display excellent readability, sufficient even outdoors on a sunny day.
The watch also boasts a light sensor.
Control for hours it is implemented conveniently: the rotating bezel is responsible for scrolling through the menu, and answering calls and messages, buttons for going back and quickly going to main screen, and everything else can be done using the touch screen.
A prerequisite here is the installation of a proprietary Samsung apps Gear, through which the watch is set up and programs are installed on it.
operating system hasn't changed either. This is Tizen OS version 2.3.2 with a slightly increased set of software. We've already studied it in detail in our Gear S2 review. In principle, there are already enough applications for smartwatches. Without exoticism and outright stupidity, but everything you need is already in the list of applications.
Voice input is provided for typing messages and other information.
And a lot of different dials have been developed, for every taste, color and need. Moreover, the dials can be changed at least several times a day: for work with one, for training with another.
Speaking of training, everything is fine with the fitness functions: there is sleep monitoring, a pedometer, a heart rate monitor, etc.
There is support for Samsung Pay, which recently appeared in our latitudes.
On watches, Tizen OS has already proven itself well: it works quickly and smoothly, without glitches, and the interface, tailored to a specific screen, looks very harmonious.
Filling hours is quite predictable: it is based on a dual-core Exynos 7270 processor, made using a 14-nm process technology, its clock frequency is 1.2 GHz, random access memory 768 MB, built-in 4 GB storage.
Thanks to the presence of a speaker and microphone, the watch can broadcast calls coming to the phone.
Interfaces varied and mostly familiar: Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, GPS and GLONASS are used for navigation.
There is also a Frontier modification equipped with a module cellular communications 3G/LTE, but for us this option is not interesting at all due to the use of e-SIM technology, which is not supported by our operators.
Autonomy at the level of 3-4 days - always good news for smartwatch owners. It is guaranteed by a 380 mAh battery.
By the way, the watch has wireless charging, but here you have to come to terms with the duration of this procedure: from zero to maximum the battery will charge in about 2.5 hours.
Generally, Gear S3 is a really interesting step in the evolution of Samsung smartwatches: increased autonomy, stylish appearance, although not universal (yes, we admit, you can’t wear such a watch with an evening dress), but very pleasant. Tizen OS is difficult to attribute to the advantages or disadvantages of the device: on the one hand, the operating system is good in itself and has a sufficient set of applications, on the other hand, it is opposed by a seasoned competitor in the form of Android Wear with frequent and impressive updates and a very large set of software.
Of course, the watch may not suit you. For example, you have very thin wrists, on which such a colossus would simply look out of place, or you don’t need a smart watch at all. Moreover, as just an accessory they cost a lot: in Europe their cost starts from 400 euros.
Contents of delivery
- Strap
- Instructions
- Charging station
Specifications
- Screen 1.3 inches, 360x360 pixels, SuperAMOLED, Corning® Gorilla® Glass SR+, glove mode
- Built-in Li-Pol 380 mAh battery, up to four days of operation
- Tizen OS
- Dimensions – 46x46x12.9 mm, weight 57 and 62 grams (Classic/Frontier)
- Silicone or leather strap, 22mm, fits any strap
- Water and dust protection IP68, MIL-810G (Frontier, vibration, shock and temperature protection)
- Heart rate sensor
- Voice control S Voice, updated version
- Samsung Pay (does not work on watches in Russia)
- SOS mode, sending messages to emergency numbers
- Barometer, altimeter, speedometer
- S Health
- 3G/4G, eSIM (Frontier model only)
- 768 MB RAM, 4 GB internal memory
- BT 4.2, Wi-Fi b/g/n, USB 2.0, NFC, MST, GPS/Glonass
- Dual-core 1 GHz processor
- Navigation Here
Positioning
Exactly the same as a year or two ago, it is necessary to answer the question of why smart watches are needed and for whom they were created. The market for smart watches has never become widespread; a negligible number of them are sold per year compared to smartphones; the numbers differ by orders of magnitude. For example, in the third quarter of 2016, about 2.7 million watches were shipped to channels (IDC data), and even less were sold. For comparison, about 350 million smartphones were shipped in the same quarter.
In my opinion, there are exactly two reasons for this situation. The first and main thing is that many companies created smart watches without regard to the watch market. Remember the first generations of Gear watches, their design could be called anything, but not classic for a watch. But that was some three years ago!
Samsung went through a search for the right form factor and the necessary functions for the watch, managing to change several generations of Gear watches along the way. The same Apple largely borrowed Samsung's ideas for the Apple Watch, following a well-trodden path. I am sure that after some time they will borrow the ideas contained in the Gear S3.
The Gear S3 model is divided into two devices - Classic and Frontier. Conventionally, the “junior” model looks a little smaller, lacks the military protection standard MIL-810G (shock, temperature, vibration), and does not have a built-in 3G/4G module with an eSIM card (not supported in Russia). But otherwise, these watches are identical and offer the same set of features. The differences lie in the design and if the cost of the watches is equal, they will choose what they like best. This is an unusual approach for electronics manufacturers; usually, the more features, the higher the cost. But not here. Now Samsung is trying to adopt the approach of watch companies, which puts design first and only then additional functions. For the first time, Samsung hired a watch designer to develop a watch; the Gear S3 was created by Yvan Arpa, who is an extraordinary person in every sense. Some consider him a temporary worker, while others admire his ability to shock, which only a watch with petrified dinosaur feces is worth. But I like what he does in the Spero Lucem collection, not only with watches, but also with pens and knives. You can look at these items.
Ivan Arpa approached the creation of the Gear S3 from the perspective of a watch; smart functions were taken into consideration secondarily. And for the first time for the Gear line, the watches turned out to be typical of Swiss manufacturers, and not of the creators of electronics.
The previous Gear S2 was made in the style of a regular watch, but they clearly lacked attention to detail; any comparison with even entry-level Swiss models revealed that the Gear was created by an electronics manufacturer. This feeling is difficult to describe, you just feel the weight of the watch on your wrist, how the material is processed, which seems to be the same, but feels completely different. However, the design of the Gear S2 was liked by many and was seen as a step in the right direction.
The Gear S3 goes one step further and for the first time, a Samsung watch looks and feels like a Swiss watch, without any discounts or concessions. Not the best expensive models, but they are quite comparable to the same Tag Heuer Connected, there is no difference between them.
Now a few words about what happens to the “old” watches. Samsung has completely changed the approach to these accessories; now they have a maximum life cycle and it is not determined by one or another function; at the time of Gear 2, the functionality was already maximum. From now on, new models expand the line, but do not replace the devices that came before them. So, Gear S2/S2 Classic are not disappearing from the market; they remain in the line of devices from Samsung. That is, the company will continue to produce them, sell them, and it is planned that they will exist simultaneously with the Gear S3. At the same time, the Gear S3 is positioned higher than any previous watch from Samsung.
Compared to Gear S2
We see Samsung taking the approach of watch companies; new watches with an updated design do not replace the previous ones, but complement the line and exist simultaneously with them. This approach is not typical for electronics manufacturers.
The positioning of the Gear S3 is very simple - the audience for this watch will be both technology enthusiasts, who have always chosen the Gear line, but also ordinary users who choose watches and look at both smart electronics and ordinary watch brands. Perhaps for the first time, Samsung has a chance to expand the potential audience of smartwatches, since this model is perceived completely differently than everything that came before.
Design, materials and hardware – Classic vs Frontier
The first thing you notice is that the watch has become more massive, while the case size in both models is the same - 46x46x12.9 mm, the standard strap is 22 mm, you can use any watch manufacturer's straps. If the S2 used its own latch, then there is nothing like it. In the photo you can see the old latch.
And this is what the new strap looks like, which can be made of any materials - rubber, silicone, leather, and so on.
The choice of additional straps is huge, and you can use a strap from any manufacturer.
Exactly the same 316L steel is used as in the Gear S2, but the case has become more massive, and the watch looks noticeably better on the hand.
They left the rotating bezel (bezel), it serves as a control element, and they made it ribbed, which is not bad. Both versions of the watch support the IP68 protection standard, but the Frontier model also adds protection against temperature, shock, vibration, and all this is at the military level. That is, if the Classic is a typical watch, then the Frontier is made with a non-killing material (MIL-810G standard. The watch is protected from impacts with stones and other objects, and is suitable for active sports.
The weight of the watch is 57 or 62 grams (without a strap, the Frontier is heavier), which is not much compared to conventional mechanics, but the watch is felt on the hand and its weight is pleasant, a kind of golden mean. The clasp is comfortable, no complaints.
If in the previous generation the screen was 1.2 inches, then here it is 1.3 inches, but for the sake of application compatibility the resolution was left the same - 360x360 pixels. The AlwaysOn Display function is supported, that is, the screen can be on all the time! According to preliminary data, with this function the watch will work for about 2 days. The screen is covered with Corning® Gorilla® Glass SR+. The glass is resistant to everyday scratches and is difficult to damage. Among the additional features, you can enable increased screen sensitivity in the menu, then it will support clicks while wearing gloves.
The larger body size allowed for a larger battery size, now 380 mAh is supported as before wireless charger using the cradle that is included in the kit. Charging time is about two hours.
Gear S3 and Gear S2
On average, this watch lasts up to 4 days, depending on what notifications you receive, how often you receive them, and what features you use. For me, with maximum screen backlight, calls on the clock, they usually work for two full days (synchronization is also enabled for everything, both via Bluetooth and WiFi).
Side keys on Classic is easier, and less convenient.
While on the Frontier they are ribbed and due to this they press well.
As before, a dual-core processor with a maximum frequency of 1 GHz is used, but the amount of RAM has increased from 512 to 768 MB (Tizen 2.3.2). If the Classic has support for Bluetooth® 4.2, Wi-Fi b/g/n, NFC, MST, GPS/Glonass, then the Frontier also adds a 3G/4G module (eSIM, support depends on the operator). In Russia, watches do not support eSIM, and there is also no support for Samsung Pay.
The watch has an updated pulse sensor, a different module is used, it is located under the glass on the inside. The new sensor is less sensitive to shaking and can be used during training and running.
Separately, I would like to note the return of hardware GPS/GLONASS; accordingly, there is full-fledged navigation directly in the watch, without a companion smartphone. Maps, as before, Here.
Among the new features, I would like to note the presence of two side buttons that can be configured to call up the necessary functions. Also, most of the menu has been redrawn for the use of the rim, for example, answering a call, hanging up, and the like. But the most important thing, in my opinion, is that now again, like in Gear 2, you can talk by the hour. This is especially interesting in Frontier, which de facto turns into a phone when the eSIM card is working. Many Gear 2 users did not upgrade their watch to the Gear S2 due to the missing GPS, the inability to take notes by voice, and the inability to talk on the phone, which has now been eliminated.
The SOS function allows you to send your coordinates and message to specified numbers (Frontier), this was not the case on previous models.
Another interesting point is that in addition to hardware GPS, this watch has a hardware barometer and altimeter, which are used in sports applications (incline, distance traveled uphill), and can also locally predict the weather. The speedometer shows your current speed.
For those who don’t want to take out their phone to create a reminder, it is possible to write a reminder on the screen by hand; it will be recognized and translated into text.
Interface, working with the clock, pre-installed programs
Circle UI interface, sometimes called Round UI. The logic of the watch is built around control using the bezel. So, scroll through the screens with the rim, by default they show you the time. Rotate to the right and see your widgets that you installed yourself, for required applications. Rotate to the left and in front of you are various notifications from your phone; in standby mode, a yellow dot indicates that new messages have appeared.
You can get to the circular menu for applications by pressing the bottom button; you can go up to the top level by pressing the top button. The menu contains your applications, and there may be several circles with them. You decide where and how to place the labels to make it convenient for you.
Having found the desired item or icon, you click on it, then you can scroll through the list with the rim or scroll the page. For example, when reading a website or email, you turn the page with the rim. This is good because it saves time, you don’t close the screen and always see the information. You must understand that no one will read treatises on the watch; it could be an SMS or something small, but not noticeable in size text.
There are already over ten thousand watch apps, but most of them are simply unnecessary. And attempts to find the announced 10,000 applications in the store turned out to be a complete fiasco, at most several hundred, most of which are design options for the main screen with a dial. The number of applications is growing year by year, but there are almost none that are really needed; the watch has everything from the very beginning.
Pay attention to how the dials look by default; each of them can be further customized, changing the colors, for example, from black to white and vice versa.
Notifications arrive on the watch in the usual manner, plus there is S Health (the watch can measure steps, heart rate (both constantly and on request). As a sports watch, the Gear S3 is noticeably better than the previous Gear S2, fits tighter on the hand, measures more accurately because of this, the heart rate also increases during active games or jogging.
There is an interesting thing in S Health: now you can compete with your friends to see which of you can complete the most steps. And there is a widget on the watch that shows your progress. Interesting and motivating stuff.
In addition to steps and distance traveled, the watch also counts how many floors you have walked, and can measure height (this is where the altimeter comes in handy).
In the previous model, my complaint was S Voice and how it works. Voice recognition in Russian was a painful task, but in S3 this aspect was greatly improved. The bad thing is that S Voice only works with Samsung phones, although the watch can be connected to any Android smartphone. On the good side, the quality of voice recognition has become very decent. And again about the sad thing - in a crowd or on the street, the watch’s microphone reacts to extraneous sounds and therefore you can use S Voice only in a quiet room, in other cases there is a lot false positives or it is simply not working correctly.
The watch is very easy to understand, but there are questions about how to view the gallery (photos become round), and the gallery presentation is painfully reminiscent of the cloud of icons on the Apple Watch. Despite the fact that there is 4 GB of memory inside, you can only copy 200 photos from the gallery to the phone.
Navigation works on Here maps, everything is quite simple, including showing routes (on foot, by bike or by car, with approximate travel times). Nothing special, it’s unlikely that such navigation will be in demand among ordinary people.
Music can be controlled directly from the watch, and you can also download your songs to the Gear S3's memory. If you wish, you can connect a wireless headset directly to the watch, then you will not need a phone to listen to music.
Look at the remaining capabilities in the screenshots, I think they will describe themselves what the watch can do, I won’t dwell on ordinary functions.
On your smartphone you install Gear Manager, which allows you to fully customize your watch, and from there you have full access to the application store.
As soon as this gear s3 frontier watch went on sale (December 2016), I was immediately excited about the purchase, I liked the design, the ability to change dials, view notifications and calls without taking the phone out of my pocket. WITH Samsung phone galaxy s7 connected without difficulty, and away we go - I only took them off when I went to bed or put them on charge. You can see the possibilities in numerous reviews; I will tell you about personal impressions and shortcomings of my gear s3. The battery charge lasts for a day when the display is on and about 100 notifications and calls per day. When turned off, about 2-3 days, provided you do not talk by the hour. Convenient voice control function for an incoming call: you see that someone is calling you and say “answer” or “reject” and the action is performed; in the “answer” scenario, the watch puts the caller on speakerphone. When a bluetooth headset is connected, you can switch to talking using the watch or headset. Voice assistant does not recognize speech well, sometimes you have to yell at him to wake up, and when asked to call someone, he does not understand what they want from him. When the increased sensitivity of the screen is turned on, it can be used with gloves - cloth, leather, ski gloves. I was particularly pleased with the ability to download music from the phone to the watch. While jogging, you can leave your phone at home and listen to music from your watch through Bluetooth headphones, and also turn on Samsung health and GPS, then your ears will also receive the necessary information about the workout (pace, mileage, etc.), however, the pulse measurement is crooked. At the same time, the battery charge is reduced by approximately 50% per hour of such training. Yes, and in different versions of the firmware the watch behaved differently, the screen was constantly on, showing training data, then it went out and you had to shake your hand to see the indicators. By the way, the motion sensor does not always work correctly when you lift the watch, and you have to raise your hand several times for the screen to light up. After half a year of use, I discovered that the battery charge was “melting before our eyes” - it began to discharge literally in 6-8 hours. I took it to service under warranty, the watch was sent to service in Moscow, 2 weeks later it was returned - the problem remained. The report said that the software was changed and no problems were found. In his service center, right in front of the employees, he demonstrated that there was a problem, then they suggested calling the Samsung hotline (in general, the people at Samsung service centers are either mediocrities or lazy people, in a word, until you get into trouble, they won’t do anything normally ). On hotline Samsung explained to the operator the problem with the drop in charge, said that the employees service center in my city they can confirm this fact. Then the operator recommended once again sending the watch to service in Moscow. After another 2 weeks, the technician from the service center called me and confirmed that there was still a problem and said that he had completely changed the board, and now the battery works as it should. In addition to all this, I swam in the pool, in the river, under the shower - the water does not get inside, it only pours into the speaker and microphone, causing the sounds to be distorted until it dries. Also, when immersed in water or under the shower, the Bluetooth connection with the phone is lost. The watch case turned out to be strong! While snowboarding in the snows of Elbrus and the forests of Cheget, I repeatedly touched trees or other hard objects for hours - the glass turned out to be durable, only the bezel received scratches. Over time (after about 1.5 years) I discovered that here and there on the metal rim (between the glass and the bezel) the black paint was coming off - not critical. By the way, later, in order to avoid a “tragedy”, I pasted protective glass with Ali. Software that is updated periodically eliminates some glitches, but makes others worse. So at one time the watch began to simply freeze - the screen did not turn on, the buttons and bezel did not respond, I had to reboot by holding down the menu button for 10 seconds.
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 SoC Exynos 3250 is new Exynos 7270, but 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 clear to judge the time battery life early. 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. Dials with big amount Details that look like they were painted on the Gear S2 show a slight graininess 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 did you sit too long, come on, go walk!” 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 needed Speakerphone by the hour - 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.
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