Samsung Gear S3 Frontier smartwatch review: an alternative to Android Wear models

Smartwatch Samsung Gear S3

In September, at IFA 2020, Samsung presented two versions of its new smartwatches: Gear S3 Frontier and Gear S3 Classic. We have already talked in the news about their key innovations compared to the previous version. Now that the watch has officially gone on sale in Russia, it’s time for detailed testing.

It is worth saying that this time Samsung decided to make the Classic and Frontier versions very close in almost all respects. The models have the same set of technical characteristics and differ, in fact, only in the presence of e-SIM. In addition, the Frontier version is claimed to be more protected: it is impact-resistant and resistant to high and low temperatures. It was the Frontier version that came to our test.

Specifications Samsung Gear S3

• CPU @1 GHz (2 cores)
• Touch round display 1.3″ Super AMOLED, 360×360, 302 ppi
• Random access memory (RAM) 768 MB, flash memory 4 GB
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n
• Bluetooth 4.2 LE, NFC, MST, GPS/GLONASS
• Microphone
• Gyroscope, accelerometer, heart rate sensor, light sensor, barometer
• 3G/4G (e-SIM support for Frontier variant), call transfer to smartphone via Bluetooth
• Lithium-ion battery 380 mAh
• Tizen operating system
• Degree of protection: IP68 (from moisture and dust), MIL-810G (the Frontier version claims protection from shock, temperature and vibration)
• Dimensions: 46×46×12.9
• Weight 57 g (Classic version) or 62 g (Frontier version)

For clarity, we compared the Gear S3 with previous versions of Samsung smartwatches, as well as with their competitors, the Apple Watch.

Packaging and equipment

The Gear S3 Frontier comes in a medium-sized black plastic box, shaped like a cylinder.

The watch in the box lies sideways and is magnetized to the docking station.

Under the plastic circle there is an additional silicone strap, a charger with a Micro-USB output (5 V 0.7 A), a small warranty booklet and a quick user manual in English.

Samsung traditionally puts a different size strap in the box along with the watch. Unfortunately, with the third generation of its smartwatches, the South Korean company decided not to have an additional main-size strap (as was the case with the Gear S2), so if something happens to the main strap, you'll most likely have to buy a new one. However, it is worth noting that the Gear S3 is compatible with absolutely any strap from various watch manufacturers, so you can choose the one that suits you best.

The wireless charging dock is good for its compact size and the presence of a magnet, thanks to which the watch is held while charging. In fact, the dock design is similar to what we saw in the Gear S2, so we won't repeat it.

Design

Let's take a closer look at the watch itself. They look great, it feels like you’re wearing not a smartwatch, but some kind of Tag Heuer. And this comparison is not accidental: the Gear S3 looks exactly the same as one of the models of the famous Swiss brand. However, Samsung is not at all shy about this and says that one of the goals when creating the Gear S3 was its similarity to a regular watch. All those who complained that smartwatches look somehow ridiculous can breathe easy.

The Frontier version looks brutal. Like the Gear S2, the watch screen is round and has no dead spots. Steel body, grey. You can control the Gear S3 either using the rim (bezel) or by “flipping” on the screen itself. If you have thin hands, you might want to take a closer look at the Classic version - it's a few millimeters narrower. For example, on the hand of the author of the article, Frontier looked too bulky.

Like the Gear S2, the main design element is the rotating bezel. Operating the watch is really very comfortable: every step in the menu is felt, so it’s really very difficult to miss the right item. When you control it using the bezel, you get real aesthetic pleasure: at such moments you understand that this is exactly how a smartwatch should be controlled.

There are two function keys on the right; they are easy to press. The bottom button allows you to exit to the home menu, the top button allows you to return to the previous menu or screen. Below the bottom button is a microphone hole. On the left there are three speaker holes - the watch can be used as a hands-free headset, which is very convenient if you are, for example, driving.

Screen

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. On the outer surface of the screen there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (effective, noticeably better than that of Google Nexus 7 (2013)), so fingerprints are removed much easier and appear at a lower speed than in the case of regular glass. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are slightly worse than those of the Google Nexus 7 2013 screen. For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected when the screens are turned off:

The screen of the Samsung Gear S3 is a little brighter (brightness according to photographs is 131 versus 113 for the Nexus 7). Note that from bright objects reflected in the screen, there is a not very pronounced bluish halo, more elongated along the wrist. The reflection ghosting is weak, which indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen. When manually controlling the brightness and displaying the white field in full screen, the maximum value (10 on the scale) of brightness was about 600 cd/m², the minimum (1 on the scale) was 10 cd/m². You can enable automatic brightness adjustment based on the light sensor, which is presumably located under the screen. Depending on the adjustment value (we present the results for 1, 6 and 10), in complete darkness the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 10, 20 and 130 cd/m² (the first two values ​​are normal), in an office illuminated by artificial light (about 550 lux) sets to 10, 130 and 300 cd/m² (only the average value is suitable). It turns out that the auto-brightness function works adequately and to some extent allows the user to customize their work to individual requirements. Note that the brightness decreases only after the screen is turned off and on. In very bright environments (from bright day lighting conditions outdoors, but without direct sunlight (20,000 lux) and brighter), the brightness always increases to an incredible 950 cd/m², regardless of whether auto-brightness is turned on or not. This ensures that the user always sees what the watch is showing him.

In the graphs of brightness (vertical axis) versus time (horizontal axis), only for low brightness can one see significant modulation at 50 Hz.

As a result, at low brightness there is a visible flicker of the image, but the modulation phase somehow changes depending on the coordinate on the screen, which significantly reduces the noticeability of the flicker.

This screen uses a Super AMOLED matrix - an active matrix on organic light-emitting diodes. A full-color image is created using subpixels of three colors - red (R), green (G) and blue (B) in equal numbers, as confirmed by a fragment of a microphotograph:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.

We observed a similar “structure” of the screen, for example, in the case of the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini smartphone. The spectra are typical for OLED - the primary color areas are well separated and appear as relatively narrow peaks:

Accordingly, the coverage is noticeably wider than sRGB, and there are no attempts to reduce it:

Note that the colors of regular images optimized for devices with sRGB screens appear unnaturally saturated on screens with a wide color gamut without appropriate correction:

Pay attention to the tomatoes and the shade of the girl's face. The color temperature of the white and gray fields is approximately 7500 K, and the deviation from the black body spectrum (ΔE) is 2 units. Color balance is acceptable. Black is just black from any angle. It is so black that the contrast setting is simply not applicable in this case. When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the white field is excellent. The screen has excellent viewing angles with a much smaller drop in brightness when looking at the screen at an angle compared to LCD screens. In general, the quality of the screen can be considered very high.

Interface and functionality

Like previous generations of smartwatches and other Samsung fitness devices, the Gear S3 runs the Tizen operating system. The South Korean company continues to believe in its OS and is actively developing it. At the time of writing, the watch was running Tizen OS version 2.3.2.

The user is greeted with a traditional menu consisting of the following applications: Settings, S Voice, Music, Weather, S Health, Contacts, Phone, Messages, Phone Finder, Gallery, Brief News, World Clock, Alarm Clock, Calendar, Reminders, Baroltimeter. You can install other applications from the Galaxy Apps store. You are unlikely to find Google and Yandex.Maps applications there, but it is quite possible to download Yandex.Transport or order a taxi using the watch.

As for the dials, there are 14 options available out of the box. If for some reason you don’t have enough of them, then welcome to the store. You can see the available watch faces in the screenshots below.

Of course, the Galaxy Apps store is developing, but it is still very difficult for it to compete with the similar Apple product.

Smartphone operation and compatibility

Samsung is actively working to ensure that its smartwatches reach as many users as possible. Literally at the time of writing this article, compatibility with iOS was implemented.

First, let's test how the watch works in tandem with the flagship smartphone Galaxy S7 Edge.

On any of the Galaxy devices, you already have the necessary application to work with the clock, it’s called Samsung Gear. The principle of its operation has not changed since the Gear S2, so we will not repeat it and describe it in detail - if you want, take a look at our Gear S2 review. It’s much more interesting to check the Gear S3’s operation with other devices: for example, we tried connecting the watch to the not-so-new LG G4s.

You won't be able to simply connect your watch to the LG G4s (or any other Android device). You will need:

1. The Samsung Gear app itself
2. Gear S Plugin
3. Samsung Accessory Service

Moreover, after installing them, you can only connect the watch. To get the full experience, you'll need a Samsung Account (to download apps), and if you want to use S Health on your Android device, you'll also need to download it separately.

Of course, progress compared to the Gear S2 does not stand still, and this time we were able to “make friends” of the watch with an LG smartphone, but the connection process took us quite a long time.

As for connecting to iOS devices (we are talking about the iPhone, since the Gear S3, unfortunately, does not work with other iOS devices), here to work with the watch you only need the Samsung Gear S application. After you install it on your iPhone, you can fully manage your watch: install and uninstall applications, as well as track other important information.

The watch can be used to receive and send calls. This is very convenient if you are, for example, driving and reaching for your phone is not very comfortable at the moment. Unfortunately, unlike the Gear S (the first generation of Samsung smartwatches), you won’t be able to use the Gear S3 as a standalone device: it must be paired with a smartphone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Currently, virtual e-SIM is not supported by Russian mobile operators.

Battery life

On average, when using the Gear S3 in conjunction with a Samsung device, the watch lasts about 2 days. This is a good indicator, especially considering that the display, Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi are always on. In “normal” mode, where the screen turns on only when you use the watch, the Gear S3 can last up to 4 days.

conclusions

Samsung Gear S3 is a logical continuation of the line of smart watches from the South Korean company, which is certainly worth a closer look if you are planning to purchase this type of device. The Frontier version that we tested is recommended for everyone who leads an active lifestyle: the watch has various degrees of protection, is not afraid of shocks, high and low temperatures, so it is almost impossible to break it. But if you have small hands or lead an “office” lifestyle, we would recommend checking out the Classic version.

A logical question immediately arises: is it worth taking the Gear S3 if I have a Gear S2 or Gear S? In the case of the Gear S, it’s definitely “yes” - after all, this device came out three years ago and is already obsolete. The Gear S has a smaller battery capacity, no support for fourth-generation cellular networks, and a very controversial charger concept. But with the Gear S2, not everything is so simple: the model appeared in 2020, but Samsung is still actively working on its development: the fact that it was not removed from the market, but made into a cheaper version, speaks volumes. From a software point of view, the Gear S2 is almost as good as the Gear S3: it can also connect to other Android devices or iPhones. Therefore, in this case, you should be guided only by your desire and financial capabilities: if you have the funds to buy a new toy, great, you can go to the store to buy it. No - you have a good, current model, and you may well miss the new product.

Sports and fitness functions

Tracking physical activity and sports activities is another area in which smartwatches will actively develop. This is clearly visible on both the Apple Watch Series 2 and the Gear S3 Frontier. Samsung is focusing on developing its S Health service, which has become noticeably more functional in the new watch.

It's worth starting with the fact that the S Health capabilities in the Gear S3 Frontier can be divided into fitness and sports. The first includes tracking basic physical activity such as steps, number of floors climbed, and sleep. To this is added periodic heart rate measurement, as well as the amount of water and coffee drunk.

Based on this information, the watch draws a pie chart that shows the number of calories consumed by the body, as well as the time spent sleeping, active and resting.

Sleep is tracked automatically without taking the watch off your wrist, and it determines its effectiveness depending on how deeply you slept at night. Thus, the user should try to get enough sleep, sit in one place less during the day, and walk at least 6,000 steps and 10 floors, coloring the S Helth diagram in green. If you sit in one place for an hour, the watch will begin to vibrate and warn you that it is time to walk.

S Health sports functions allow you to track running, cycling, elliptical, bicycle, step machines, lunges, crunches, squats, abs, jumping, Pilates, yoga, rowing and other exercises.

During sports, the watch tracks your heart rate, and it should be noted that the measurement accuracy is almost at the level of chest sensors.

When running outdoors, you can also turn on the watch's built-in GPS to track your distance. For cycling, the Gear S3 Frontier even has a speedometer. Overall, during a workout, the watch tracks distance, time, pace and heart rate, storing them in S Health. You can also select a goal for each exercise, such as pace, time, distance or calories while running, and the Gear S3 Frontier will perform a basic coaching function, telling you when to speed up and when to slow down.

In order to better understand the altitude to which the user rises, the Gear S3 Frontier has an altimeter that works on the basis of a barometer (determines the difference in pressure at different altitudes), which in turn also measures atmospheric pressure and tries to predict whether it will rain or not.

The altimeter takes sea level data from the AccuWeather service database, depending on the user’s location, which is determined via GPS.

The Gear S3 Frontier case is protected from water and dust according to the IP68 standard, which, unfortunately, does not allow the watch to be used for water sports. It is recommended to immerse them in water to a depth of no more than 1 meter and for up to 30 minutes.

Phone app

The watch works in conjunction with a smartphone via the Samsung Gear application.

• For Android devices it can be downloaded from the link on Google Play
• for iOS - link to App Store

To be able to install additional applications and expand the functionality of the gadget, you will need to create an account. The application is only suitable for setting the clock.

To track your activity, you need to download and install S Health software on your smartphone.

• for Android download from the link on Google Play
• for iOS - link to App Store

Or the Nike Running Club app

• for Android
• for iOS link to the App Store. They are already installed on the watch by default.

But the application allows you not only to configure the device, but also to install or even create your own watch face by selecting components from those already available or downloading them from the Internet.

Design, construction

In fact, the two pairs of watches are very similar in appearance: both models have a round display with a diameter of 1.3 inches, sport silicone straps with metal fittings, two physical buttons on the side (just like brothers).
Obviously, the devices have different matrices and resolutions, but the response of the touchscreen and the speed of operation are the same in comparison. The body of the Samsung Gear is made of 316L stainless steel, unlike the Blaze Light, which is made of polycarbonate. The display on the S3 Frontier is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass SR+, but the Light doesn't claim any glass protection. Both models use a standard strap, which is 22mm wide. Finding a suitable replacement will not be difficult. It feels, of course, that the Samsung is heavier than the Blaze. And after my easy hours, Frontiers are uncomfortable for me. Perhaps for men it will not be so noticeable.

But the coolest design feature of the Samsung Gear S3 is its round bezel. Using it, you can reject or accept incoming calls, adjust the volume and brightness level of the screen, turn off alarms and notifications, and navigate the menu. It's very convenient, you don't even need to use the touchpad.

Autonomy

The capacity of the built-in battery pack is 380 mAh. The indicator may not be the highest, but it is enough for the gadget to fully function for several days. With active system loading, the period may decrease to approximately 1.5-2 days. In standby mode, this period can last for days and weeks. The manufacturer has done an excellent job in this direction and undoubtedly deserves sincere praise and gratitude.

Charging is carried out via wireless technology. The corresponding module is included in the delivery kit. As a pleasant addition, there is an LED sensor that signals the charging status and battery full level.

Conclusion

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier is a powerful wearable gadget and it has the same disadvantages as its brothers: limited autonomy of 1-2 days, 87 grams of weight due to software “stuffing” and a metal base, a complex set of characters due to a limited screen and , in fact, the cost of the product (about $300 at the moment).
There are many more advantages, because in your hands you will have a full-fledged device with Internet access, the ability to make calls, make contactless payments and, in general, look stylish. Blaze Light is deprived of the ability to make calls, WiFi is not provided, and NFC is here exclusively for domestic monetary transactions in China (Alipay). These smart watches are quite light, even for me, as a girl, and naturally their battery life is much longer precisely due to the lack of serious technological filling. Although all their functionality works properly, there is nothing to be “stupid” about them, especially since they often receive firmware updates. Their cost is about $50.