Samsung Gear S3 launch date confirmed for 31 August, and you can watch live

There’s now no doubt that Samsung is going to be launching the Gear S3 in Berlin on 31 August. The next version of the Samsung’s smartwatch is set to launch as IFA 2016 opens in the German capital, with Samsung choosing the same venue it used to launch the Gear 2 in 2015.

Hitting its social channels, Samsung has invited the world to watch as the latest Gear is unveiled. On Twitter, Samsung posted a gif showing the moving hands of a watch, with the tagline “talk about 3”. If you’re doubting it’s Gear S3, Samsung has helpfully put the Gear branding in the bottom corner.

Stay tuned for a timely innovation. August 31. Berlin. pic.twitter.com/kUMG3l6BEs

— Samsung Mobile (@SamsungMobile) August 15, 2016

Using its own press channel, Samsung again repeated that message, running with the title “Samsung’s New Gear Launch Event”. So that’s that. 

Samsung will be live streaming the event, confirming that you can watch on Samsung’s news channel as well as on Samsung.com. We will of course be attending to event to bring you all the details from Berlin as they happen.

• Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch: What’s the story so far?
• What to expect at IFA 2016

The Samsung Gear S3 is the latest version of Samsung’s Tizen-based smartwatch. Rumours suggest that it will retain the rotating bezel that made its debut on the Gear 2, but that the watch will carry more sensors. There’s said to be several different versions of the Gear S3, and we’re hoping that it feels a little more substantial than the last version.

We’ve been tracking the rumours over the past year, so you can catch up on everything expected come launch day.