Samsung is attending the IFA 2016, an event that is set to begin tomorrow in Berlin Germany. Before even this annual event kicks off, the South Korean tech giant has stepped in with a new Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch – a wearable that comes in with lots of upgrades as compared to the Gear S2.
You will come across support for the company’s mobile payment platform – Samsung Pay – as well as the likes of GPS, cellular connectivity, improved battery capacity as well as a bigger screen. However, since Samsung has stuck to the same tradition of rolling out the smartwatch in different variations, not all of them have the same features.
The Samsung Gear S3 comes with Classic and Frontier versions and looking at each of the two models, you will for sure notice some real differences. There is no longer a plastic-like bezel, with Samsung coming in with a ridged, brushed metallic bezel that also rotates. The Gear S3 models are 12.9mm thick, up from last year’s 11.4mm, however, this was aimed at providing room for the addition of GPS in both models, with a single version of the two Frontier models adding cellular connectivity to its features. As for the other Frontier model, it depends on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for connectivity and so does the Classic Gear S3.
There are also some slight differences in the design of the Classic and Frontier Samsung Gear S3 smartwatches. Where the former comes with a stainless steel material, the latter features a matte black finish – still you get a leather strap on both models. Those who go for the Frontier Gear S3 will notice a slightly raised bezel that is also larger – something that adds a different feel to the watch. Furthermore, where the Classic Gear S3 packs rounded buttons, the Frontier comes with rectangular, textured buttons.
A bigger screen
As noted, there are some real changes on the new Samsung Gear S3 as compared to the S2. The new smartwatch will include a slight screen-size increment from 1.2 inches to 1.3 inches, but it keeps the same 360p resolution. Unlike the Gear S3 which displayed just eight colors when the watch went into standby mode, the Gear S3 will remain on at all times while displaying all colors.
As far as the battery life is concerned, Samsung says that the new Gear S3 should last up to four days thanks to the 380mAh battery capacity installed, up from the S2’s 250mAh. The charging ports and cables for the Gear S2 and Gear S3 are the same, which is good news.
If Android Wear is your preferred OS, you will be disappointed in the fact that the new Samsung Gear S3 works with the company’s Tizen OS. Despite this, you will still enjoy a number of nifty features such as the ability to answer calls by simply turning the bezel right or left. It is also easier to navigate apps than depending on screen swipes for the same.
As mentioned earlier, one of the greatest additions to the new Gear S3 is support for Samsung Pay, which works with both NFC and MST terminals. However, be ready to part with 399 euros, a sum that is equivalent to $445. Still, it is possible that Samsung could launch the Gear S3 in the U.S. with a price tag of $399.