Samsung Gear S3 Classic smartwatch review: it couldn’t be better

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

Exterior

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

Don’t be like everyone else

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Really smart

 

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

 

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

 

 

After launching the taxi call application or maps, the watch can no longer use the smartphone’s navigation, but can independently navigate the terrain thanks tobuilt-in GPS and GLONASS.

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

Interface

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

Anti-sports classic

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

Therefore, we recommend using the GPS built into the watch to determine a more accurate location

 

Battery

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

Taking into account the excellent screen, sufficient 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 from the Gear 2 and Gear S2 made the purchase of the new generation more rational. You truly get a self-contained wearable gadget.

 

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

 

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

 

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

Rating:

+ case design

+ replaceable straps

+ many applications

+ individualization

+ GPS and NFC

- overall body of the Classic model