Everything You Need to Know about Samsung's Gear S3 Smartwatch

Article by George Norman (Cybersecurity Editor)

on 01 Sep 2016

Samsung’s circular and good-looking smartwatch just got a lot better. At IFA 2016 in Berlin, the company just unveiled the Gear S3, a wearable device that combines timeless design with the latest in mobile technology.

Here’s the official launch video that quickly presents the Gear S3. When you’re done watching it, scroll down to see detailed specs and other useful information about Samsung’s latest smartwatch.


The Gear S3 is available as a Frontier and Classic version

The first thing you need to know about Samsung’s brand new Gear S3 smartwatch is that it is available in two versions: Frontier and Classic.



The Gear S3 Frontier has a rugged look and is suited for active explorers. The Gear S3 Classic on the other hand has a minimalist, elegant style similar to most iconic timepieces. According to Samsung, the goal was to "attain the same consistency and balance of a well-crafted luxury watch."

While the two differ a lot on the outside, they’re pretty much the same under the hood. The main difference is that the Gear S3 Frontier is available as a Bluetooth and as an LTE model, while the Gear S3 Classic is available only as a Bluetooth model.



Samsung Gear S3 – Main Specs
  • Operating system – Tizen.
  • Display – 1.3-inch circular Super AMOLED, 360 x 360, 278ppi, 16 million colors Always On Display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass SR+.
  • Size & strap – 46 x 49 x 12.9 with 22mm strap; Frontier weighs 62g while Classic weights 57g.
  • Processor – dual core 1.0GHZ processor.
  • Memory & storage – 768MB of RAM, 4GB internal memory.
  • Connectivity – 3G/LTE (Frontier only), Bluetooth, WiFi, NFC, MST, A-GPS/Glonass.
  • Sensor – Accelerometer, Gyro, Barometer, HRM, Ambient light.
  • Battery – 380mAH battery (with wireless charging) that lasts up to 4 days.



Just like Galaxy Note 7, the Gear S3 is water and dust resistant. You don’t have to take it off if you want to wash your hands for example.



Furthermore, the Gear S3 features Corning Gorilla Glass SR+, which is specifically designed for wearable devices to provide a tougher, more scratch resistant and crisp display.

While the Gear S3 is the perfect partner for the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy Note7, it’s perfectly capable of functioning as a standalone device. Thanks to the Gear S3’s built-in speaker, you don’t need your phone to call someone, nor do you need it to listen to music.




The Gear S3 is great for outdoor activities. Say you like to go running for example. The built-in GPS lets you accurately monitor your route. The Speedometer lets you track your speed. The Alti/barometer lets you track elevation and changes in weather. The rotating bezel lets you reject calls without having to touch the watch’s screen. And the S Health app will help you easily access lots of useful information.




Chances are that nothing will go wrong while you’re outdoors. Still, it’s best to prepare for the worst. With your safety in mind, Samsung added an SOS feature. To activate it, tap on the home button three times. Once activated, SOS will call a contact of choice and enable location tracking capabilities.




Obviously, multiple watch faces are available for all your customization needs.



To further customize your Gear S3, you can pair it with any 22mm band you want.




What we don't know right now is when Samsung will release the Gear S3 and how much it will cost. I'll make sure to update this article once that information becomes available. In the meanwhile, you might want to check out the Gear S3 page that Samsung set up.



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