Samsung Gear S3 preview: Big watches, bigger wearable family

Two new entries iterate on what the Gear S2 started, rounding out a full line of wearables.

Samsung was in at the ground floor with smartwatches with the original Galaxy Gear, and since then has dramatically changed its design and strategy year after year as the idea of what a smartwatch should be has evolved. They’ve dabbled with full-blown Android, Tizen, and Android Wear, but the Gear S2 of 2015 marked a refresh of the Tizen wearable platform that was dramatically better than previous iterations.

And in creating its best-yet smartwatch with the Gear S2, Samsung also made one of the top smartwatches available from any company. Its choice to open up beyond just Samsung phones had a large part to play in that, sure, but the sleek round hardware and new software experience were also great. A year on from that victory Samsung is rolling out the Gear S3 in two different variants: the Gear S3 Frontier is leading the charge with a masculine look and optional LTE while the Gear S3 Classic carries on from its predecessor. But in both cases we’re looking at upgraded internals, slicker hardware and a refreshed circular software experience.

In an interesting move, Samsung has also decided to launch the Gear S3 Frontier and Classic into a wearable lineup that still includes the now-year-old Gear S2 and S2 Classic, which will let these new models sit at the top of a line rather than be the sole offerings. Having the previous-gen models available at new lower prices below it can act as somewhat of a safety net for the upcoming Gear S3 Frontier and Classic, but we’re here to see how they shape up all on their own — here’s our hands-on preview with the latest Samsung Gear smartwatches.

Bigger and better

Samsung Gear S3 Hardware

The fact that the Gear S2 is sticking around after the launch of its successors sets you up for understanding the hardware design of these two new watches. With the small and sleek Gear S2 still available, Samsung took the opportunity to make the Gear S3 Frontier and Classic much larger devices, with 1.3-inch displays, 46 mm casings and extra thickness. The difference in naming this year doesn’t correspond to such a large delta of design between the models, either, with both clearly taking on some influence from the Gear S2 Classic.

The Gear S3 Frontier comes in a deep gunmetal finish and is far and away the more masculine of the two. Its rotating bezel is more imposing, with large gear-like teeth and more texture, standing out from the sleek body of the watch along with its angular textured buttons on the side. Around the body you’ll find a mixture of finishes that come together nicely — brushed on the top of the watch, but also shiny and mirror-like on the sides.

The Gear S3 Classic, on the other hand, is far more subdued and ready to fit in with a wider range of clothing. Its body is silver, once again with a mix of glossy and matte finishes around different portions that give it an interesting overall look. Its bezel is simple and flat with smaller teeth along the outside and a single chamfered edge that gives a sparkle as it turns. The side buttons are small and round, again exhibiting a subtle mix of textures.

Below the classy sculpted metal on both watches you’ll find an unsightly black plastic bulge, which of course is necessary from the standpoint of wireless charging, sensors and radios, but is still worth pointing out. Most smartwatches have plastic backs, but they’re not all this unsightly or visible while on the wrist.

These are nice looking watches, but they’re also probably too big for some wrists

Aside from the case design, both models are actually identical. The 1.3-inch circular displays are larger than the Gear S2 but still AMOLED and the same 360×360 resolution (though now with slightly larger pixels). You’re getting an Exynos processor, same as the Gear S2, paired with a larger 768MB of RAM and the same 4GB of storage for apps and local music. The larger casing means there’s a lot more room for battery: a considerable bump to 380 mAh (up from 250 mAh) that will offer an expected three to four days of usage. That’s a day more than the Gear S2, according to Samsung’s testing.

Like last year’s Gear S2 Classic, both Gear S3 models are ready to accept any 22 mm watch band of your choosing provided you have a couple simple tools. And many may consider this strap-swapping route, as the Gear S3 Frontier and Classic will not come in a variety of styles — the Frontier just comes in black and the Classic comes in silver, both with a simple band. Samsung is showing off dozens of bands in various colors, textures and materials that will be made available for purchase later as well, which is a big tease considering if you really like one you’ll have to buy it separately rather than choose it as your out-of-box strap.

Of course, you can grab any 22mm strap and throw it onto a Gear S3. Samsung has smartly chose to use quick release pins on their straps, placing a small metal nub on the underside of the lugs that you can grab onto with a fingernail to, well, quickly release the strap. It’s not quite Apple Watch elegant or easy, but it’s better than reaching for a specialized tool to do it.

In the default color combinations the Gear S3 Frontier and Classic are very handsome, and I use that descriptor specifically because these watches honestly seem to skew towards a strong, masculine design — even the more neutral Gear S3 Classic. That’s the case in terms of design but perhaps just as importantly size, where the new larger casing and extra thickness make the Gear S3 Frontier and Classic hefty. My larger wrists, which comfortably hold everything from a Gear S2 up to 48 mm analog watches, were totally fine with a Gear S3 Frontier or Classic on them, but I don’t think the feeling will be mutual among those with a smaller circumference down near their hands.

To each their own, I suppose, but I would most definitely caution anyone who isn’t used to wearing large watches to go see and try on a Gear S3 Frontier or Classic before buying it. Even though you may like the looks, the size may be tougher to handle — and in the end you may be better off with the smaller (and now cheaper) Gear S2 and S2 Classic.

Going rugged with MIL-STD 810G and Gorilla Glass SR+

Both the Gear S3 Frontier and Classic are IP68 water resistant like their predecessors, and have Gorilla Glass SR+ scratch-resistant display coverings. The Gear S3 Frontier goes another step with a MIL-STD 810G rating as well.

The MIL-STD 810G rating is rather ambiguous, as it nominally says that the watches are able to withstand excessive heat and cold, pressure, shock and vibration. The issue being that there aren’t rigorous checks to actually certify that a device is 810G compliant — so it doesn’t actually guarantee anything. But in trusting that Samsung has faithfully built the Gear S3 Frontier and Classic to the MIL-STD 810G spec you can expect it to be quite a bit tougher than your average smartwatch, and much tougher than the wrist it’s likely to be attached to whenever it encounters such situations.

An upgrade to LTE

Improving from last year, the Gear S3 Frontier will be available as an LTE variant if you feel you need standalone connectivity on your watch. Just like the 3G versions before it that means you’ll be able to pull down data to your wrist, make and receive phone calls (but VoLTE this time) and stream music via apps like Spotify without the need for your phone to be nearby. The Gear S3 Frontier LTE will also include GPS, which like the Gear Fit 2 will have a primary function of following your movements for fitness tracking.

Adding LTE doesn’t bring any extra size or trade offs

Unlike its predecessor the mobile data version of the Gear S3 Frontier has the same case size as the standard version, and of course offers the same specs as well. That means there’s no bump in battery for the cellular model, though the large bump over even last year’s 3G model should lead to the same or slightly better battery life — keeping it in the two to three day range.

We’re still waiting to hear about pricing information and which carriers will be offering the LTE version, but a good place to start would be Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, which all carried the 3G versions of the Gear S2 and S2 Classic.

Little tweaks all around

Samsung Gear S3 Software

When it comes to the software, Samsung hasn’t made huge changes to what was very successful — albeit sometimes unintuitive — on the Gear S2.

With the latest version of its Tizen wearable platform there’s a distinct doubling down on the circular interface and the amount you interact with the rotating bezel of the watches. Rather than simply using the rotation for navigating the interface, you can now use it to take actions on the screen — for example when a call comes in or a reminder pops up, you can twist one way to accept it and another way to dismiss. For incoming text messages and emails, you can navigate through a set of “smart replies” with the bezel to quickly respond rather than dictating through voice or taking out your phone. In an attempt to do even more without touching the screen, there are also new voice commands for quick actions like reminders and to-do lists.

A few new features to an interface that was already solid and feature rich

Coinciding with the new larger batteries, there are two new battery saving modes. At 15% the Gear S3s will drop down to just a basic set of functions, losing third-party apps but retaining the watch face, notifications and incoming calls on the Frontier LTE. Once you hit 5% battery the watch will go to a “watch only” mode that simply just shows the watch face so you can still tell time — in this mode, the watch can last another full day from that little sliver of battery.

Samsung is also continuing to tout its app collection for the watches, which is growing but still very small. A new ADT app with always-available monitoring, a refreshed Uber experience and Spotify streaming music highlight the bunch, but there are lots of other big names like Yelp, BMW, NPR, CNN, Glympse, USA Today, WatchESPN and Nest that are still available. The app experiences are still a pretty mixed bag here, though — those with specific easy-to-use functions are very useful, while others that cater to a “browsing” experience just still aren’t suited to a smartwatch.

Over a dozen diverse watch faces are pre-installed, many of which are brand new to the Gear line and are tailored to the look of the hardware. The watch faces look even better when the screen is dim as well thanks to changes in the always-on mode, which displays double the colors. There are also thousands of watch faces available to download through Galaxy Apps, though you can’t really argue the third-party face offerings are as robust as Android Wear’s on Google Play.

For all of the Gear S2 and S2 Classic buyers out there, the most important part of all of this is that Samsung is committing to bringing this software experience back to your year-old watch as well. That means you’ll get the same smart replies, app compatibility and interface actions as the new watches through a basic software update rather than dropping money on a new (and bigger) watch.

Samsung Pay

Samsung Pay is already available in a limited form on the Gear S2, but the Gear S3 Frontier and Classic go all-in with a proper Samsung Pay implementation that mirrors what you get from its recent phones — both NFC and its amazing MST technology. The combination means you can tap your new watch on basically any payment terminal that takes card swipes, rather than just those with tap-and-go functionality.

Adding MST to Samsung Pay on your watch is a huge deal

In terms of user experience, it couldn’t be much simpler. Press and hold the back button to launch it, and you’ll see your stored cards as synced over from Samsung Pay on your phone. Choose the card and then tap it to the terminal — you just paid. When it comes to security, the watch doesn’t store any of your payment details — it’s all retained on the phone, and the watch can only carry 10 transaction tokens at a time.

That means you can make 10 payment attempts without your phone being connected, and if your watch is removed from your wrist you have to enter a four-digit PIN code. All of the security is done correctly here.

Need time to wear it

More Gear S3 to come

The Gear S3 Frontier and Classic are clear improvements over the Gear S2 line, with bigger displays, better hardware, larger batteries and new capabilities. The only downside to be found here is the size of the watches, which may not be compatible with smaller wrists — though that “issue” is heavily mitigated by the fact that the Gear S2 and S2 Classic are still on sale at new lower prices and will be receiving the latest software by the end of the year.

We’ll have more coverage of the Gear S3 Frontier and Classic, as well as updates for the Gear S2 line, as the devices and more information become available.

Get your Eye of the Tiger on with these ferocious wallpapers!

Some cats are cuddly. These are not.

Who’s a good kitty? Who’s a good kitty? These are good kitties, with their massive paws, their sharp claws, and enough bite force to crush your throat. Okay, maybe that last part isn’t so good, but these good kitties make good wallpapers, because while they look cute and cuddly, they are also deadly, which takes your home screen from glum to grrrrrrrreat!

Is it nap time yet? I think it’s nap time… This is one of the most adorable tiger pictures I could find, and that is saying something. Yes, it’s not completely ferocious, but it is reminding me to make like this tiger and give in to sleep. Speaking of which, it’s time to shut my phone off for a few minutes and grab a cat nap.

Tiger Nap

This dark wallpaper is surprisingly deep for its simple appearance. Rather than simple orange stripes in this negative-image tiger, you can see a whole jungle scene within the bright lines if you start to look for it.

Tiger Striped

Tigers are powerful, furry, springs, always coiled up and waiting to strike. They seemed fairly electric on their own, and just imagine how big a shock you’d get if one snuggled up against your leg? This dark wallpaper adds the static anticipation of a tiger preparing to pounce.

Tiger 2: Electric Whiskeroo

Okay, remember what I said before about tigers elevating your big kitty wallpaper? Yeah, I might’ve been stretching the truth a bit. This is a nostalgic wallpaper for me, like I feel like I have a watching folder and notebook in one of my old school backpacks….

Foral Tiger by Schecken

Most kitties are majestic and ever so cuddly or pouncy, but even they sometimes have to drop the nice act and just roar at an idiot. He almost seems to be roaring Eye of the Tiger, with his tongue out like that. “And he’s watchin’ us all with the EYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!”

Roar by Gagalogi

Google’s OnHub celebrates first birthday with Philips Hue integration and $20 off through September

We’ve always thought that Google’s OnHub routers were some of the best products in their class, but we’ve also been waiting to see something done with the low-energy radios that they shipped with. From our initial review in January 2016:

With built-in support for IEEE 802.15.4, Low-energy Bluetooth Smart and Weave, OnHub will be able to connect to new products like door locks, cameras, automated sprinklers, vacuum cleaners and more directly. This opens up plenty of possibility for Google in the home automation and Internet of Things space.

OnHub turns One today, and we are finally seeing it.

Google has announced native Philips Hue integration is now available when using an OnHub router with the Hue hub. Users on both the protected and guest Wi-Fi networks can access the controls by simply navigation to On.Here in any browser. This makes Philips Hue the first devices that can be controlled and not just accessed through OnHub. We hope to see it followed by many more.

Google is also cutting the price of the TP-LINK OnHub model for folks who buy from Google or Amazon between now and September 30. If you’ve been waiting to get one — especially if you use Philips Hue lamps — now is a great time to buy.

See at Amazon

No more squinting – Instagram now lets you pinch to zoom

Instagram has announced a new feature that’s easy on the eyes.

Everyone who uses Instagram has found themselves in the interesting predicament of stopping to look at a photo and straining to see some odd object in the background or maybe a mark on someone’s face. The same thing goes for videos. The team behind Facebook-owned Instagram probably noticed users across the world squinting at their phones, because it has just done something to alleviate their woes. 

The company has developed a pinch-to-zoom feature for both photos and videos. It will be available across the entire iOS app, meaning it will work on media not only in your feed but also on people’s profiles and in the Explore tab. Although the feature is coming to iPhone users first, Instagram said will be rolling out to Android “in the coming weeks” as well. 

So, how does it work, exactly? Simple: Make a pinching gesture with your pointer finger and thumb anywhere on a photo or video that you’d like to see in closer detail, and then open your fingers (un-pinch, basically) while gliding across the touchscreen. That section of the media will simultaneously zoom-in as you open your fingers. It’s pretty easy to figure out. 

If you still need help, or if you’re wondering what pinch to zoom looks like, check out Instagram’s example below. PetaPixel also posted a hand-on, and from that video, it seems like when you pinch photos and videos, a lightbox-like effect occurs, and then the media comes out of the frame.

 

Starting today, you can pinch to zoom on photos and videos in feed, on profiles and on Explore. Dive into an adorable puppy’s smile or into every detail of your friend’s new shirt. Over the past six months, you’ve seen many exciting changes come to Instagram, from a new icon to longer videos and even a new way to share everyday moments with Instagram Stories. And as things change, we’re still focused on improving the core parts of Instagram. Zoom is available today for Instagram on iOS. Zoom will be available on Android in the coming weeks.

A video posted by Instagram (@instagram) on Aug 31, 2016 at 8:00am PDT

Asus ZenWatch 3 preview: Android Wear marches on

Asus has unveiled its latest ZenWatch model, following two watches that have tried to be a little different in the original ZenWatch and ZenWatch 2.

It’s perhaps a little worrying, then, that the latest ZenWatch doesn’t so much strive to be different, preferring to step towards the mainstay of Android Wear devices out there.

We got the chance to see the Asus ZenWatch 3 soon after the reveal at IFA 2016 in Berlin.

Asus ZenWatch 3: Design

The smartwatch script is now becoming rather familiar. Crafted from luxury materials, designed to exhibit craftsmanship and suit all styles, in all situations, the result is that the ZenWatch 3 isn’t so much a statement of individuality, but the latest in a line of round Android Wear devices.

Measuring 45mm in diameter, the ZenWatch 3 is a large device, but that’s in part necessitated by the 1.39-inch display that sits within it. Whether you think it’s too big or not comes down to personal taste: for those of us who wear a larger watch, the size is perfectly acceptable.

Pocket-lint

The shift to a round device will find favour with those who found the previous rectangular model a little too formal. The ZenWatch 3 adds chunk, at about 10mm thick, a more masculine design, although the pairing of light leather with the rose gold model might be slightly more effeminate than the silver and gunmetal (pictured) alternatives. 

The overall build feels solid enough once it’s on the wrist, although the weight feels a little on the light side. It takes you a little by surprise as it looks like it should have more heft. These things are important in the world of watches, where many associate heft with substance. That said, the Tag Heuer Connected is very light, so the ZenWatch is in good company.

The biggest point of differentiation, however, falls into two camps. Firstly, this is the first Android Wear device to feature three buttons and that adds interest and adds a sort of chronograph chic to the affair.

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The second point of differentiation is the lugs. These hold the strap in place, offering the same quick releases sliding tab that Asus has used before for easy removal of straps. But the top detailing of the lugs strikes us as a little too finicky. The cut in next to the bezel narrows them before they expand to accommodate the width of the strap. It’s more exciting than the straight lines of the Moto 360 watches and more practically executed than the overly extended lugs of the LG Watch Urbane.

The major win for Asus is in the feel of the rear. Where some devices have felt too cheap on the wrist, the ZenWatch has a more sophisticated feel where it touches skin. It also offers IP67 water protection, so it won’t mind the odd splash. 

Asus ZenWatch 3: Hardware and display

Packed into the heart of this stainless steel wearable is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 2100 chipset. This is one of a new breed of smartwatches with a core that’s designed with wearables in mind – and more power efficient than the Snapdragon 400 of previous generation devices. 

There’s 512GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage, which makes for a picture that’s pretty typical. We didn’t have the chance to fully test the ZenWatch in our brief hands-on period, but we’d expect the performance to match that of other devices of its ilk.

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As we mentioned, there’s a 1.39-inch 400 x 400 pixel resolution AMOLED display on the front. This looked as though it offered vibrant colours, with plenty of detail on this small window into your world. The display is topped with Gorilla Glass 3 for protection.

The ZenWatch 3 is packed with the sensors you expect, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and the whole thing is powered by a 340mAh battery. It’s not the highest capacity out there, but there’s an extended battery option, which gives at 40 per cent boost if you clip it on the back. 

We didn’t see the optional battery pack, and we have no idea about the practicality of wearing this extra battery at the same time as the watch. 

What is more appealing is Asus’ HyperCharge offering. This will charge the battery to 60 per cent in just 15 minutes, via the charger that magnetically snaps to the back. Smartwatches have all so far struggled to deliver a healthy battery life, but at least Asus looks to be doing something about that.

Pocket-lint

Asus ZenWatch: Software and features

Just as Android Wear device design is becoming a little uniform, so too is the experience. Although Android is accepting of adaption and change, the experience of living with an AW watch is pretty similar.

Asus has tried to tackle this slightly stale position with the inclusion of a programmable button. This can be set to launch your app of choice, so you can always get to your most important app on your wrist.

Another area that Asus wants to make a difference is in customisation. There are six themes and 50 custom watch faces. You can even design your own watch face using the accompanying smartphone app. That said, there’s no shortage of watch faces available on Google Play, if you’re struggling to find something you like.

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Perhaps the strangest offering is a full ZenFit suite. This fitness app wants to assist you on your activities, but we can’t say that a metal watch and leather strap really suits physical exercise. As much as Asus wants to jump on the fitness bandwagon, there is no heart rate sensor and there is no GPS. We can’t say we’ll really miss that, but at the same time, we’ll likely leave our fitness tracking to a specialised device. That said, Asus has stated that the measurements you get from the ZenWatch 3 are 95 per cent accurate.

First Impressions

The Asus ZenWatch 3 is a welcome addition to the Android Wear portfolio and for the €229 asking price, you get a pretty good quality device with reasonable looks and hopefully performance that will keep other devices at bay. 

There’s only so much you can tell about a smartwatch from a brief period of time with it, but first impressions are pretty good. There haven’t been many smartwatch launches in 2016, so if you’re looking for something up to date, the Asus might be your smartwatch of choice.

There’s no word on when the ZenWatch 3 will be available, but we’ll be sure to bring you a full review as soon as we can.

Asus ZenPad 3S 10: Hello iPad lookalike

The Asus ZenPad 3S 10 is a 9.7-inch tablet that could easily be mistaken for an iPad, certainly on first glance. The device, which was on display at the company’s event in Berlin in the run up to IFA, offers a lightweight design, with a premium, compact build.

Featuring an all metallic body, the ZenPad 3S 10 claims to offer the world’s thinnest bezel at 5.3mm, along with a “class-leading” screen-to-body ratio at 78 per cent and the result is a lovely looking device that is feels much lighter than it’s finish would suggest.

It offers a thickness of just 5.8mm, making it nice and slim, while the 0.8mm diamond-cut chamfers make for some great detailing. The rear, which has a smooth matte texture features a subtle Asus logo in the centre, while the edges are rounded, making it a delight to hold.

At the bottom of the ZenPad 3S 10, you’ll find a USB Type-C port, along with five-magnet stereo speakers. The tablet features smart amplifier technology that is said to allow the speakers to be driven at higher volumes without causing distortion, and it also supports Hi-Res Audio.

Additionally, Asus has included DTS Headphone:X that will automatically optimise and tune headphones to provide the effect of a 7.1-channel surround-sound home theatre system. We didn’t get a chance to test the sound out during our short amount of time with it, but we will do when we get it in for review.

The display on the ZenPad 3S 10 is 9.7-inches as we mentioned, and it sports a 2048 x 1536 pixel resolution. The slim bezel looks lovely and the colours appeared to be nice and vibrant, though the screen did pick up some serious fingerprints.

When it comes to watching video, Asus has included what it calls Tru2Life video-enhancement technology to the device. This is said to increase sharpness and contrast of videos, supporting the company’s aim to make the new tablet good for entertainment. Again, we weren’t able to test this during our hands on but we will look at that feature in more detail when it comes to our review.

Beneath the display is an oblong home button that features a built-in fingerprint sensor, the first tablet from Asus to do so. It allows users to lock and unlock the device, as you would expect, and it will also work with supported apps for authentication.

Under the hood, the ZenPad 3S 10 has a hexa-core MediaTek 8176 processor that is supported by 4GB of RAM. From our brief experience, everything seemed nice and smooth to operate, with no lag switching between various apps. There is 64GB of onboard storage with a microSD slot allowing for expansion up to 128GB.

A 5900mAh battery keeps the tablet ticking along for up to 10 hours when watching a film, or u to 12 hours when surfing the internet on Wi-Fi. The ZenPad 3S 10 also supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 technology however, which means if you do run out of juice, it will be back to full in around three hours.

In terms of software, the ZenPad 3S 10 features a fully customised version of Android Marshmallow. Everything looks quite cartoony, but it’s nice and colourful and easy enough to navigate around.

The Asus ZenPad 3S 10 will be priced at €379, but availability details have yet to be announced.

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier vs S3 Classic: What’s the difference?

It was hardly a secret that Samsung was going to unveil the Gear S3 smartwatch at its Berin Unpacked event on 31 August. But two watches? It was rumoured, and now it’s official: the Gear S3 will arrive in Frontier and Classic variants. How, then, do they differ?

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier vs Gear S3 Classic: Design differences

On paper the Frontier and Classic don’t sound very different: they both measure the same (46.1 x 49.1 x 12.9mm), while the Frontier is a shade weightier at 62g to the Classic’s 57g.

The real difference is who these watches are pitched at: the Frontier is the more rugged looking and comes with a rubberised strap as standard, while the more classic looking Classic (clue’s in the name, eh?) comes with a black leather strap as standard. However, both models can accept any 22mm standard watch strap – not just those provided by Samsung.

Small details in the finish help define one watch from the other too: the Frontier has larger, textured buttons, which resemble more the sportswatch-like design compared to the more protruding metal buttons of the Classic.

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier vs S3 Classic: Features are a near mirror

But just because the Frontier looks the sportier model, doesn’t mean it comes with a sportier feature set. Indeed both Gear S3 models are IP68 dust-proof and water-resistant, and both feature built-in gyro, accelerometer, barometer, GPS and optical heart-rate monitor.

So both Frontier and Classic are capable of fitness and tracking – a feature Samsung is keen to push with its S Health app.

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier vs Gear S3 Classic: To LTE or not LTE?

In some territories a second version of the Frontier will come equipped with LTE/3G for on-the-go connectivity.

But that’s not the case in the UK. “Samsung are not planning to launch the LTE variant in Europe at this time”, the company told us, when quizzing the appearance of the “LTE/3G” mention of the official product spreadsheet.

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier vs Gear S3 Classic: Battery life

Both Frontier and Classic have a 380mAh capacity battery, which is a jump over the previous Gear S2, said to deliver three to four days of use per charge. That’s yet to be seen in the real-world, but here’s hoping.

The LTE model, however, is unlikely to last nearly as long. Not that we need to worry about that in the UK.

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier vs Gear S3 Classic: Tizen OS

Core to the Gear S3 is its Tizen operating system. Both the Frontier and Classic models shun Android Wear, just as the earlier Gear S2 did – which will also remain in the line-up.

Both Gear S3 models are controlled by a combination of rotational bezel, twin buttons and touchscreen – we actually find it more intuitive and neater to use than Android Wear, which isn’t something we would have said of Tizen a couple of years ago.

In its latest form there are more apps then ever before too, including Spotify. So whether you want health, music, social, notifications and other content – or just for the Gear S3 to be your main watch – then both models will have you covered.

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier vs S3 Classic: Always-on screen

Taken as a standalone watch and, despite a 1.3-inch circular digital screen, the Gear S3 Frontier and S3 Classic each offer an always-on display capable of displaying animations and a full array of 16-million colours. That means, even when not active, the watch face is always visible to read the time.

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier vs Gear S3 Classic: Wrap-up

In summary, then, the Frontier and Classic aren’t hugely different. Their feature set only differs by the Frontier’s addition of 5g weight, its different strap and the more rugged looking, sportier design.

Price point and release date are currently unknown. We’ll update as and when the official info is released.

Samsung Gear S3 preview: The final Frontier for smartwatches?

The Samsung Gear S smartwatch is back for round three and it’s bigger, bulkier and better than ever before. It’s also available in two varieties: the Gear S3 Frontier and the Gear S3 Classic.

So what’s the deal with Frontier and Classic choices? Not a great deal, really. The Frontier weighs 62g, compared to the Classic’s 57g, comes with the rubberised rather than leather strap by default and has different button finishes for a more rugged look and feel. Otherwise both models measure the same size and have identical specs.

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Whichever you may choose the Gear S3 is pitched as a watch first and foremost. Both models mimic the earlier S2 Classic, complete with rotational dial control and Tizen operating system, albeit on a much larger scale given the new devices’ 1.3in screen size. And it’s that physical size that makes the Gear S3 very “Huawei Watch” and, therefore, probably not to everyone’s tastes.

Saying that, having spent some time with both devices, they are of a formidable build. And that extra size pays dividends to battery capacity: it’s 380mAh this time around, delivering what Samsung claims is a three to four day battery life on one charge. When it has run low, pop it onto the magnetic charger and it’ll wirelessly recoup. If you want even longer battery life then a Power Saving mode limits the device’s functionality to a watch with messages and calls.

The S3’s new, larger screen, which has a 360 x 360 pixel resolution, has seen an upgrade in its dormant state too: the always-on display can display a full range of 16-million colours, even when the device is not actively in use. That means you’ll always be able to see the watch face and tell the time, even when not drawing on battery life as heavily. New faces even include the second hand, which displays in real-time even via the always-on display. A great touch – although it can’t quite beat a genuine analogue watch design in our view.

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Keeping with the true watch theme, gone are the Gear’s days of fussy watch straps. Instead, in addition to the standard rubberised/leather options from Samsung (in small or large sizes), you can attach any standard 22mm watch strap to the Gear S3. Mix and match, do as you will, the choice is yours.

Of course the Gear S3 Frontier and S3 Classic are so much more than just watches. Core to their feature sets are a gyro, accelerometer, barometer, GPS and optical heart-rate monitor. Which sounds all very “sportswatch”. Because it is: Samsung wants these features to be available to all, in both S3 models, to provide a window into its S Health app for step-tracking, running, cycling, climbing and all manner of other fitness tracking. Anyone with S Health can even compete against one another to achieve the most activity – which, as it’s an Android app, doesn’t lock people into the Tizen OS watch system only.

It could be easy to try and speak foul of Tizen as an operating system, given its infancy, but Samsung has persevered in the area and now offers a legitimate alternative to Android Wear. One that many will prefer (it splits the Pocket-lint team, for example). Having pushed the OS onto the original Galaxy Gear back in 2014, there have been refinements plus, crucially, a lot more apps are now available to get your teeth into – from messaging, to emails, even to Spotify and beyond.

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Yep, Spotify. The new Gear S3 even has a speaker output so you can listen to your favourite tunes, albeit via a Bluetooth connection with your phone, which renders that Spotify feature effectively pointless because you might as well just stick with the phone. Only a Gear S3 Frontier LTE will work around that problem, but that third phone iteration won’t be available in the UK or Europe, according to Samsung.

First Impressions

The Samsung Gear S3, in both Frontier and Classic models, looks to be a step forward for the Gear smartwatch range. And a good looking one at that. But the step-up in size means this chunky slice of wristwear won’t suit all.

Still, the boost in battery life associated with the size gain ought to make a big impression, if its three-to-four days per charge rings true. The “watch first” approach – with features such as the always-on display and solid build quality – will also help give Samsung a fighting chance to keep the high-end watch makers with an eye on this market, such as Fossil, at a distance too.

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As feature set goes, the Gear S3’s Tizen OS makes a point of difference over current Android Wear devices – and we think it’s actually more intuitive to use with its rotational dial bezel and button controls, rather than constant screen-jabbing (although the S3 does have a touchscreen too). And with features that encompass sportswatch, smartwatch and, well, just plain ol’ watch, Samsung is certainly taking no chances.

The last piece of the puzzle, however, is price. And without a pound-sign associated to this wearable we can’t yet make a final judgement call on just how much of an impact it will make. With the Gear S2 remaining in the line-up, we suspect the premium S3 options will come bearing a more significant price tag – up there and beyond that of even the Huawei Watch, we suspect.