Smartwatch Samsung Gear S3. Smart watch Samsung Gear S3 frontier (SM-R760NDAASER) - Reviews Smart watch gear s3

The Samsung Gear S3 is without a doubt one of the best smartwatches in the world. Their secret to success is very simple: great looks and lots of useful features. If a lot of different information (photos and video reviews) has already been written about the first one on the Internet, then little has been said about the smart capabilities of the watch. This Galagram article covers all the secrets and tips for setting up the Gear S3 smartwatch.

This instruction will be useful for both beginners who have just purchased a gadget and confident watch users. We think everyone will be able to learn something new for themselves and use the device to the maximum.

How to turn on Samsung Gear S3

To turn on your watch, press and hold the Power (Home) button until the screen lights up and the Samsung logo appears. If the device does not turn on, connect it to a power source for at least 15 minutes and then try again. Perhaps the watch was simply discharged at “zero percent.” To turn off the watch, also press and hold the Power button. In the menu that opens, select “Shutdown” or Power off. Everything is simple and clear here!

How to connect Gear S3 to Android and iPhone

The watch connects to Android (Android 4.4 and above) smartphones and Apple iPhone (iOS 10 and above) via Bluetooth. So this instruction is suitable for both operating systems. To connect your Gear S3 to your smartphone, install the Samsung Gear app from the Google Play Store or AppStore. It is worth noting that some functions may not be available on the watch depending on the smartphone model. Of course, phones from the Samsung Galaxy line work best with the gadget.

  • Turn on the clock
  • On your smartphone, open the Samsung Gear app
  • If necessary, update the Samsung Gear app to the latest version
  • Click "Connect"
  • Activate Bluetooth when prompted by the app
  • Follow the instructions on your smartphone to complete the connection

You can also connect a Bluetooth headset or wireless headphones to the watch. To do this, follow these steps:

  • On the watch screen, tap Settings
  • Then select "Connections"
  • Tap the Bluetooth switch to activate the connection
  • Rotate the ring around the screen and tap on the Bluetooth icon
  • When you see the Bluetooth headset name appear on the screen, tap on it to connect
  • If you don't see your Bluetooth device, click "Scan" and then click the device name when you see it appear on the display

Well, the reverse action, to disconnect from a Bluetooth device (speaker or headset), do the following:

  • On the Apps screen, select Settings
  • Click "Connections"
  • Click on the Bluetooth device
  • Click the Settings icon
  • Click "Disconnect"

How to choose a different watch face

There are many different replacement watch faces available for the Gear S3. Most of them are available in the Gear app on your Android device, you can view it directly from the app, select the one that suits you, and set it as your main watch face.

Switching between third-party watch faces can be done on the phone as well as on the watch itself. To do this without the involvement of your smartphone or app, long-tap on the current option on the screen, then swipe left or right to view preset watch faces. Once installed, you can click on the Styling tab and select the display colors and customize it as you wish.

How to pay with your Gear S3 using Samsung Pay

A very useful feature, since you do not need to carry a wallet or even a smartphone with you. Just spend hours near a compatible payment terminal. Here's how to set it up. You must activate NFC and set Samsung Pay as your default payment method before using Samsung Pay on the Gear S3

  • On the Start screen with apps, rotate the frame to the Settings tab
  • Tap Connections > NFC, then tap NFC to
    enable this module
  • Now select the payment method “Samsung Pay”

Great, the setup is complete. Now, to pay for your purchase in the store, do the following:

  • On the Apps screen, rotate the frame and select Samsung Pay (or press and hold the Back key)
  • Scroll through the list of cards, select the card you want, and then
    click "Pay"
  • Touch the top of the Gear S3 to the card reader
  • Payment must be successful
  • This is all!

How to enable Always On display

Out of the box, the Samsung watch screen is configured so that it only activates when you “request.” In order to turn on the screen, you need to either raise your hand or press a key on the body. But there is one secret to making the Gear S3 screen always active. It's something like Always On Display on . To keep your watch "active" and showing the time all the time, do the following.

  • Go to "Settings"
  • On your watch and select the “Style” tab
  • Click "Always On"
  • Ready!

How to take a screenshot on Samsung Gear S3

Continuing the topic of setting up the display, we’ll tell you how to take a screenshot on this watch. First of all, all the screenshots taken on your device are saved in the “Gallery”. You can transfer screenshots from your Gear S3 to your smartphone. Screenshots transferred to your phone will be saved in the Gear folder in Gallery.

To take a screenshot, simply press the Home key at the same time and swipe across the screen from the left edge to the right - as you can see, it’s very convenient! Go to the Gallery app to see all the screenshots.

How to set the time

There are two methods: automatic, which automatically updates the time zone. And manual - when you set the time on the Gear S3 watch yourself. Below are instructions for these two methods.

Auto:

  • Go to "Device"
  • Click Date and Time
  • Click the Automatic tab to enable or disable the automatic date and time update feature

Manual:

  • On the Applications screen, go to Settings
  • Click "Device"
  • Go to "Date and Time"
  • If necessary, tap Automatic to turn off automatic updates
  • To manually set the date, click “Set Date”
  • Select year, month and day to manually set the date
  • Then click "Set" (or install)
  • To manually set the time, find the "Set time" item.
  • Manually insert hours and minutes
  • Now click "Set" (or install)

How to install apps on your watch

Since Samsung Gear S3 runs on Tizen 3.0 OS, you can install popular applications on them, such as Yandex Navigator, Google Maps and others. To download apps to your Gear S3, you must be signed into a Samsung account on your phone. If you don't have a Samsung account, select "Sign Up" and follow the instructions.

  • You can download apps to your watch from your phone using the Samsung Gear app and the Samsung Galaxy Apps tab.
  • Swipe left on the watch screen or rotate the frame until you reach the Get more apps icon
  • Select the application you need
  • Select "Install"
  • Once the app has been installed, you can access it from your watch's full app list

How to download music to watch

On the home screen of your smartphone, go to Applications. Select Samsung Gear. The Samsung Gear app may be located in the Samsung folder on some phones. Then do the following:

  • Go to the “Settings” tab
  • Click "Submit Content for Transfer"
  • Tap Select Audio Tracks (may have a different name)
  • Check the box next to the audio files you want to move to the Gear S3
  • Then click "Done"

To have new songs automatically sync to your Gear S3 while your watch is charging, tap the slider next to Automatic Sync to turn sync on.

How to set and reset your PIN

Since smartwatches do not yet have a fingerprint scanner, data is protected using a regular PIN code. How to install the code and what to do if you forgot it, the tips below will help you with this.

To set a PIN:

  • On the Apps screen, tap Settings
  • Click "Security"
  • Tap Screen Lock
  • Tap Screen Lock Type
  • Press PIN.
  • Enter 4-digit password
  • Re-enter the 4-digit PIN to confirm

To reset your PIN:

  • Make sure the clock is turned off
  • Press and hold the power button until "Rebooting" appears on the display, then release the key.
  • On the “Rebooting” screen, use the “Power” key to confirm the device reset
  • After this, the watch will be reset to factory settings along with the PIN code

You should understand that a Factory Reset will result in a complete deletion of data from the watch. Use this method as a last resort if the information stored on your watch is important to you.

How to properly charge your Gear S3

The most important thing you need to remember is to always use the original charger and battery to maintain optimal battery performance throughout the life of your Samsung watch.

You can charge the watch through the original accessory that comes with the gadget. To do this, simply plug the USB cable into a power outlet and connect it to a power outlet or USB port on your computer. The device charges faster from a regular wall outlet. The charging process will be a little slower from a laptop.

Place the watch on the charging dock, making sure it is properly connected to the gadget. The device will now start charging. While charging, the watch screen will display a battery charging icon with the amount of time remaining until the battery is fully charged.

How to improve autonomy

Below are some tips to help you get the best battery life from your Samsung Gear S3. Follow these instructions and your watch will run much longer.

  • Set the minimum brightness
  • Turn off smart display activation
  • Disable Always On Display
  • Turn off continuous heart rate reading
  • Disable GPS in settings
  • Activate Power Saving Mode

A few months ago, Samsung released the next continuation of its line of smartwatches. The model was called Samsung Gear S3. We had one of the copies of this model in our editorial office. How do they differ from the previous model and smart watches from other manufacturers?

The history of watches goes back hundreds of years. More precisely, it took about 400 years for pocket watches on a chain to evolve into modern electronic devices on the wrist, in which time display is nothing more than one of the functions.

The first watches that could do more than just show time were released back in the mid-eighties of the last century. First separately by Seiko, and later in collaboration with Epson. The line was labeled RC, and the characteristics of the devices were ridiculous by today's standards, but absolutely fantastic for that time. For example, the RC-20, released in 1985, was equipped with an 8-bit processor, 8 KB of internal memory and 2 KB of RAM. The display had a resolution of 42 by 32 pixels. They were loaded with scheduling apps, notes, a world clock, and a calculator. The watch could be connected to a computer for programming. Most popular computers of the time were supported, such as the Apple II, IBM PC, NEC 8201 and others.

At the turn of the two millennia, an attempt was made to make another watch that was ahead of its time. In June 2000, IBM introduced the world to a prototype wristwatch running on Linux. The watch had an accelerometer, vibration motor and even a fingerprint sensor. Citizen was chosen as a partner and was ready to collaborate with IBM to create the WatchPad. It was assumed that the model would be equipped with a display with a resolution of 320 by 240 pixels and run on Linux 2.4. The watch also had to have a built-in calendar, Bluetooth, 8 MB of RAM and 16 MB of internal memory. The WatchPad was supposed to cost only $399, but for a number of reasons the project was canceled two years later.

So things went sluggishly with smartwatches until in 2012 Pebble presented its vision of such an accessory on Kickstarter, and the media increasingly began to feed the market with rumors about the imminent appearance of the iWatch, as they were called then. Here, as they say, “here we go.” All manufacturers began to produce their own versions of this device. Moreover, technology has already made it possible to do something really worthwhile.

Design was difficult early on, and few could come up with something interesting that didn't seem like a Tamagotchi toy on a strap. There were, of course, exceptions in the form of the Motorola Moto 360, but this was rare. Even the appearance of the cute curved Samsung Gear S didn't help the situation much.

Then they were replaced by the Samsung gear S2, which looked more like a classic watch, and on August 31, 2016, the newest Gear S3 was officially presented, one of the nice features of which is decent compatibility not only with Android devices, but even with the iPhone.

Now about the Gear S3 itself

Externally, the watch turned out to be solid and even impressive. They don't feel like a plastic toy on your wrist. But at the same time, I personally didn’t like the way they fit on my hand. I love big watches, and my main watch is a fairly large chronometer. It's big and weighty, but fits more comfortably than the Gear S3. This is where the first disadvantage lies. Also, despite the fashion for large watches among women, it is unlikely that they will fit well on the graceful wrist of a young girl. Of course, you need to try and try it on, but I very much doubt that in this case the Samsung Gear S3 will be a good option.

Housing, screen and controls

There are two types of housing. We had a black case at our disposal. Watches in this design are marked as “Frontier”, which means “border”. There is also a classic silver version with the predictable name Classic. Externally, Frontier is more aggressive and somewhat sporty, which cannot be said about the classic version, in which even the side buttons are made in a classic style, and if you install one of the traditional options as a dial, then at a quick glance it will be even more difficult to distinguish them from ordinary watches. Even on the Frontier, if you turn on the chronometer dial, then, of course, there is no one hundred percent similarity with the mechanics, but visually the sensations are very interesting. There is even a mode with a constantly lit screen to enhance the effect. There are a lot of options for watch faces. Only a dozen standard options are initially installed, but in addition to this, you can download many more to suit every taste.

The screen has a resolution of 360 by 360 pixels, which with a diagonal of 1.3 inches provides a pixel density of 278 pixels per inch. The matrix is ​​Super AMOLED, and the screen protection is Corning Gorilla Glass SR+.

In terms of functionality and content, the differences between the two versions of the model are minimal. These include only the weight, which for the classic is 57 grams, for the Frontier 62 grams, and the impact-resistant body of the latter. That's probably why they weigh more. The biggest difference is that some versions of the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier have the ability to work with an electronic SIM card.

The device case has a moisture and dust resistance level of ip68, which prevents dust from getting inside and allows you to immerse the watch in fresh water to a depth of one and a half meters for up to 30 minutes. True, on the Samsung website, of course, it is written that the watch is not suitable for diving and swimming.

Additional protection of the screen from scratches and damage is provided by the fact that the display is recessed into the case, and the bezel, which is the main control element of the watch, rises quite high above it. By rotating it, you can move between widgets and menu items, as well as adjust volume, brightness and much more. The bezel is discrete and rotates very smoothly and pleasantly. At the moment of rotation, if you bring the watch to your ear, you can hear a pleasant sound from its rotation, similar to the sound of the rotation of the crown of a mechanical watch. The idea of ​​rotating the bezel is obvious, since there have long been chronometers that implement a similar mechanism. True, there it performs a different function, but nevertheless, Samsung specialists are great for finding such a control method and being able to implement it efficiently.

The bezel is especially pleasant in combination with the Tizen operating system, under which the watch runs and which is built around this control, in contrast to where you have to swipe across the screen many times more often. But the disadvantage of this Tizen, in comparison with Android Wear, is the lack of a full-fledged voice assistant. There is also an analogue here, but it works somewhat worse than the usual “Ok! Google.”

Fitness

Traditionally, fitness has many functions. These include activity tracking, stair climb counting, a heart rate monitor that monitors your condition every 15 minutes, and even GPS. Separately, it is worth noting the barometer and altimeter, which will not be useful to everyone, but will definitely find their connoisseur.

If you play any sport with gloves on or just walk down the street on a cool day, then a mode is provided for this that increases the sensitivity of the screen, thereby allowing you to use it without taking off your gloves. Of course, this will not always work, and if you have gloves comparable in appearance to welder’s gloves, then nothing will work, but in some situations it will definitely be more convenient.

Charging and autonomy

According to Samsung, the battery in the Gear S3 lasts for 4 days of use. I can't confirm this. I was only able to use them for two days with fairly active use. If you significantly reduce the load on the battery, you will get a maximum of three days, no more. If you activate the always-on screen mode, the increased energy consumption will predictably take several more hours of battery life away from the battery. It turns out that there is nothing outstanding in this matter, everything is almost the same as that of competitors. The capacity of the built-in battery, by the way, is 380 mAh, which also does not cause sacred awe.

The watch charges contactlessly, which is convenient, but charging itself is inconvenient. If it were in the form of a flat tablet, it would be much nicer, but as it is, it is very angular and fits awkwardly in a bag if you need to take it on the road. But the box can be turned into a charging station. We thread the wire through the special slots - and you're done. But, as for me, it would be more logical to make the wire outlet at the bottom of the box.

Straps

Samsung has made a very nice step to meet users. The belts are 22 millimeters wide, which allows you to install not only one of the options offered by the company, namely multi-colored rubber, leather and crocodile-embossed ones, but also the lion’s share of the usual universal ones. At least from his grandfather’s trophy ones, with whom he went through the war.

Cross-platform and memory

A nice feature of the watch is its certain cross-platform functionality. Use is possible with both Android and iOS. All you have to do is download the app and you're done. At the same time, there is no need to talk about reduced functionality. At least if you compare other phones on Android (not Samsung) and iOS.

The built-in memory of the watch is 4 GB. Decent, but only one and a half are available to the user. But you can fill them with music, connect wireless headphones and go for a run without a phone, and training statistics will be collected by the built-in software, including GPS, which I talked about earlier.

Results

So what can we say about the watch, to sum it up? The watch turned out to be pleasant and quite similar to classical mechanics. I would even add an optional “ticking” mode for connoisseurs, so that the imitation would be even more believable, and they would be more likely to look at this gadget. Otherwise, by and large, these are ordinary smartwatches at the level of competitors, and in some places a little higher, but in any case, these are just smartwatches with their inherent functions. They can be used to conduct telephone conversations, not miss notifications and reminders, and collect activity statistics, but for real fans of mechanics they will not be able to replace what they are used to. Moreover, it is difficult to call a watch for 25,000 rubles fashionable. It's not cheap for a smartwatch, but for those who can afford a really expensive watch, or even just an expensive one, and want to show everyone that they can afford it, and for those who just love a beautiful classic watch, the Samsung Gear S3 is not will do. If even the smart Tag Heuer Connected model, which, according to forecasts, was supposed to become a bridge between smart watches and classic Swiss mechanics, did not take root, then there is also no need to talk about anything more.

For myself, I decided that neither good design nor cross-platform stimulating my desire to buy such a watch. Even with all my openness to something new. For me, the main off-putting factor was the Gear S3's somewhat clunky nature, which makes it less usable than many even larger models, and the lack of breakthrough in battery life. I've always said that there's nothing wrong with charging your watch every night, but it would be interesting to use something that lasts significantly longer than all the others. In any case, everyone decides for themselves what to use.

I'm quite into smartwatches because they're convenient and useful in some ways. For more than three years now I have been using smart watches, although always only one – . It so happened that they were the ones that suited me the most because of the always-on display, autonomy and some other features. Over these three years, I tried almost all the popular models, but all of them did not suit me for various reasons. But even Pebble is no longer suitable for me, specifically mine are outdated, they have a childish design and over time they begin to have problems with the display. Well, but my new ones also broke. At first I thought about getting a new generation, but decided against it due to the lack of GPS. Today I’ll talk about the Gear S3 Frontier - a very cool smartwatch that would have completely satisfied me just recently.

If you have the same smartwatch requirements as I described above, I recommend looking at the Apple Watch 2 or Samsung Gear S3. The first is for users of Apple technology, the second is Android. Unfortunately, neither the first nor the second work with other systems. Although there is information that the Gear S3 and other Gears may become compatible with iOS.

I'm not afraid to call the Gear S3 the most beautiful smartwatch on the market. They are moderately compact, have a classic design, and the straps can be easily changed. By the way, changing the belts is very simple; for this there is a special lever on the back side. Frontier is a rougher, more masculine version of the S3. But there is also a classic version, for girls and suits.

This one kind of encourages you to go on a hike, go on an expedition, or challenge yourself to a new challenge. And the classic one asks you to drink coffee and continue sitting on the chair in front of the computer. Okay, no, of course, but the “frontier” is much more beautiful, in my opinion.

The Gear S3 Frontier works with any Android smartphone, not just Samsung. To connect them to your device, you need to install the Samsung Gear Manager application. From the application you can install watch faces, applications, download music, synchronize data with S Health, set up notifications, the location of everything - in general, anything you want.

I’m glad that, unlike Apple Watch, Pebble and some others, the glass here is not only strong (Gorilla Glass SR+), but also deeply recessed into the frame. This allows you to avoid accidental contact with third-party objects and the appearance of chips/scratches.

I really liked the display itself: Super Amoled, 1.3-inch diagonal, resolution is 360x360 pixels, density 278 pixels per inch. There is an Always On Display function, which is very necessary in a watch, but with this type of display you still have to choose: either convenience or autonomy. However, according to observations, energy consumption does not increase much when the function is turned on, since the picture becomes more faded.

By the way, one of the most important characteristics of a watch is autonomy. I don't review watches that last less than 2 days. Because 2-3 days in just smartwatch mode means one workout and 20-30 percent of the remaining charge. Frontier live on a single charge without training, but with a constantly active display for 2.5-3 days. It's not bad. On a training day, they need to be charged to the maximum, because the GPS will eat up about 40-50% for a 10 km run. The watch charges in about 2 hours from a standard charger, which consists of a wireless dock and a power supply connected via MicroUSB. This dock is already familiar to users of Samsung wearable technology. It is convenient, but you need to carry it with you so as not to be left without a watch while traveling. In principle, as with the vast majority of other watches.

Having GPS on board is very nice. With the watch, you can safely go for a run without a smartphone, and then synchronize all the data with the S-Health service. Unfortunately, other services are not supported, but from S-Health you can synchronize with Runkeeper, for example. It's nice to have a built-in 4 GB on which you can download music to listen to while downloading. During classes, the watch can give hints; there is a built-in speaker for this.

The expeditionary and sports focus is emphasized by the fact that the watch is drop-resistant and can operate at temperatures from -40 to +70 degrees Celsius. But the moisture protection is weak, as for such a device, the standard is ip68, which means a depth of up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. If water gets inside, this will not be considered a warranty case. Therefore, regard this as moisture protection, and not water resistance.

I liked the interface of the previous generation, but here everything is excellent: beautiful, understandable, convenient. There are more and more applications and this, of course, makes us happy. Now you can browse the store, find beautiful watch faces and applications, there are even games. I am glad that Samsung is attracting and encouraging app developers for wearable technology at the global and local levels. What’s frustrating is that big developers (Evernote, Runkeeper, Strava) don’t make apps for Samsung watches.

As before, control is carried out through four elements: two mechanical keys on the right side, a mechanical wheel around the display and the touch screen itself. I must say that this is probably the most convenient control among smart watches. You can compare it with the Apple Watch, which also has a wheel, but in Android Wear you need to move around the screen, which is inconvenient for a wearable gadget.

Problems with control are felt only during sports activities. Everything is the same as before, you cannot customize the training screens. While running, for example, you can only look at certain data, when runners need at least three fields: pace, distance, time. And here is one thing, for another you need to scroll with a wheel or sensor, which is inconvenient during training. By the way, I talked about this in my review of a cool bracelet.

Can a watch be considered a multisport watch? Definitely not. This is primarily a smartwatch, but a very good one. For example, you still need a chest-mounted heart rate monitor; the built-in one is only suitable for resting conditions. There is no support for large services like Strava, Runkeeper. Also, for multi-sports, they lack water resistance, greater autonomy, more convenient blind control and customization of sports screens.

However, as a trekker, an assistant in everyday life and even during sports activities, they are very good. If it weren't for the lack of iOS support, I would call it the best smartwatch. In the meantime, these are some of the...

And about the cost. The official price tag in Ukraine is 10,000 UAH or almost 370 dollars. And this is a lot, considering that for this money you can buy a real multisport watch. But if you just need a cool wrist gadget, they are very good.

Video review of Samsung Gear S3 Frontier

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

Review of a pleased new smartwatch model from Samsung - Gear S3 frontier. Original, of course.

On my blog there are not many reviews of products more expensive than 100-200 bucks, only once there were yes. After all, in the case of very expensive things, you don’t really want to trust their fate to the postal services, you want to have a working guarantee... And it’s somehow psychologically difficult when a lot of money is debited from the account, and you have to wait until you receive the goods later. Mb.

And then SUDDENLY we see a review of the Samsung Gear S3 frontier, and I’ll add a little harshness - it was purchased closer to the release date and for a larger amount than it costs now. Bought in Germany by my friend and therefore I will leave a link to the German Amazon - https://www.amazon.de/Samsung-Gear-Frontier-R760-grau/dp/B01N9BRTAH/

There they still cost an insane 400 euros ($425.95), but time moves on and now in Ukraine you can buy an S3 frontier at a retail outlet for 9,999 UAH ($368.74). Perhaps it’s already available somewhere and even a little cheaper, yes. However, this is a smartwatch and it seems to me that the price is incredibly high for such a device - 400 bucks, 300.

Among other things, I wanted a smartwatch as a headset (for conversations while driving), I wanted notifications to go to the screen on my hand and without the need to take out a “shovel”, I just wanted a beautiful smartwatch.

At one time, a person was already seriously thinking about the previous generation of smartwatches from Samsung (S2), but time goes by and if you are already seriously spending money, then with an eye on the next couple of years. And then it makes sense to buy the latest model, albeit for a lot of money.

There was practically no choice between the frontier and the classic model due to the stable preference for a sporty style of clothing and without the need for any kind of officialdom. But the difference is almost only in the coloring of the case and small details of the appearance, in the bracelet - artificial leather (similar to silicone) VS leather. The set includes two halves of the bracelet - S and L sizes. The 22mm mounting pin on the watch allows you to install any other “watch” bracelet, be it a cast steel or NATO bracelet. And you can do it yourself at home, you don’t have to go to a watchmaker.

Specifications Samsung - Gear S3 frontier

The fact of the matter is that there is practically no difference in characteristics between classic and frontier. Naturally, this is a requirement in the current version of Android/iOS (the latest from iPhone 5 and later with iOS 9.0 and higher).

Even the package of the same wireless charging at 5V 0.7A is identical and here only the transmitter is irreplaceable, and the cable/charging unit is not particularly remarkable.

The main functionality hints more at the sports component - a pedometer/heart rate monitor/all sorts of calorie counters. There are also quite a few brains and you can even put separate toys.

The battery is not small in terms of characteristics stated up to 4 days. There is a lot of holivar on 4pda on the topic of autonomy time. Thrifty comrades write about working with Xiaomi and 2-3 days of autonomy frontier, more prosperous owners of flagships from Samsung proudly declare 4-5 days of autonomy. My friend has a top-end Samsung with a price tag of a couple of frontier price tags, but this did not add autonomy to him. That is, they are removed from charging in the morning and the next day in the evening they have 20+-% charge, and they go off for charging.

It's funny that a friend used to run using Nike+ Run Club with a smartphone and GPS turned on, but now the frontier has successfully contacted this program and after the run it leaks to it. Time is running so hard, I’m now also trying to start running - 1-2 km in mixed mode. And I saw a screenshot from a friend of a 25 km+ run O_o

We see how the data merged from a smartwatch with GPS draws a track.

On my hand, the Samsung Gear S3 frontier looks like a very large model -

Let's watch a video about the internal menu of the S3 frontier, how two buttons work - menu / back, how to use the bezel to move between shortcuts and tap on specific ones

It's time to finish this whole thing and I asked the main question to my friend - did you like your choice, what is your real review of the Samsung Gear S3 frontier?

And I received an almost completely positive response. A watch made of pleasant materials (watch steel, scratch-resistant glass), a watch with chic, even sometimes redundant functionality for an undemanding user (you can change displays/cut customizations on them/install toys/install third-party applications/set up NFC), and most importantly - everything works as it should. This added a little bit of butthardness to me, after many, many Chinese smartwatches.

But still, the price at this moment is colossally high, as for me, I’ll buy half of Aliexpress for this money. And the comrade himself finally joked that the only thing he lacks there is artificial intelligence, so that he could talk like with a living person. And for this money, it’s supposed to be like that =)

And, there is also a problem when the measurement is taken separately in the watch, and separately in the phone application - for 5-7 km of running, the difference in the final numbers sometimes reaches 5-10 meters. Really, it's a shame?

In this review, my traditional afterword is not very appropriate. But in each of my reviews, I finally recommend buying on Aliexpress with some discount by using EPN cashback - a cashback specialized specifically for Aliexpress and getting back about 7-15% of the money spent there. That is, for a total of 100 bucks spent on Ali on different products and different orders, the total cashback will return about 7-15 dollars. And the final price for all of them will no longer be 100, but 85-90 bucks. Here is the invitation link with all the details - https://cashback.epn.bz/?i=41c2a

  • 1. Rating
  • 2. Specifications
  • 3. Packaging and accessories
  • 4. Design and ergonomics
  • 5. Display
  • 6. Interface
  • 7. Compatibility
  • 8. Performance and functionality
  • 9. Autonomy
  • 10. Conclusion
  • 11. Video review of Samsung Gear S3 Frontier
  • 12. Pros and cons

At IFA 2016, Samsung presented the third generation of its Gear smartwatch line. The new model received two branches: Classic and Frontier. The first option is designed for a mass audience, while the second has expanded functionality and a more expressive appearance. The review of the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier will tell you about the main functions of the device and summarize the efforts of the Korean company to improve the already popular S2 smartwatch.

Information about Samsung Gear S3 Frontier

8.0 Rating

Packaging and equipment

The contents of the delivery set are neatly packed in a stylish cylindrical box. The accessories are separated by several cardboard partitions for better stability during transportation. The watch is already magnetized to the charging station out of the box.
Inside:

  • Samsung Gear S3 Frontier;
  • Dock station;
  • Power unit;
  • microUSB cable;
  • Silicone strap;
  • Documentation.

The cost of the Frontier version in Russian online stores is about $375.

Design and ergonomics

The developments of the previous generation S2 in the new model were embodied in a more aggressive appearance. The round body of the Frontier has increased slightly in diameter and acquired a corrugated edging. The toothed ring is also an important functional element - it can be used to turn pages in the menu and receive notifications.
Despite the sporty design, the S3 may well suit formal business attire. To do this, you need to choose the appropriate dial and strap. There will definitely be no problems with the latter; Samsung produces straps in three sizes (S, M and L) for a 22 mm mount on the case. You can also use any other strap from a third-party manufacturer with your watch. A designer line of accessories from fashion designer Arik Levi is expected to be released soon.
The body of the device is predominantly made of 316L steel with a matte finish. Only the back cover with sensors is made of glass. Frontiers are bulky and may not fit the tight sleeves of some shirts. For such cases, it is recommended to take a closer look at the Classic model. It is lighter and smaller than the older version.
Samsung does not hide the fact that when developing the appearance of the S3, they were guided by the elite TAG Heuer Connected watch. There are no “dead spots” with plastic inserts on the device’s touch screen; the displayed information occupies 100% of the allotted area. In addition to the bezel, you can control the menu with two keys on the right side of the case.
On the left are three small holes for the earpiece. The Frontier does a great job as a wireless headset. The watch allows you to safely talk while driving without being distracted from the road.
Despite the sports-oriented model, using the S3 in training is quite problematic. The device is too bulky and hinders sudden movements of the wrist. In addition, the heart rate sensor does not always correctly read the body’s indicators.

Display

S3 Frontier displays information on an AMOLED matrix with a resolution of 360*360 pixels. Considering the small diagonal (1.3 inches), the pixel density still does not reach the level of modern smartphones - 278 dpi allows you to distinguish individual points on the screen, but the quality of the screen as a whole can be called high. On top of the matrix there is a protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass SR+ with a good oleophobic coating.
The clock display works in tandem with a light sensor. The brightness changes smoothly and correctly. S3 can also display basic data with minimal power consumption in AlwaysOn Display mode. A similar function is available in the flagship Galaxy S7 smartphones.
The picture on the screen is perfectly visible from almost any angle. Considering your current heart rate or the number of steps taken while running is not difficult. The disadvantages include the excessive sensitivity of the orientation sensor. You have to constantly turn the watch away from you so that the display is not backlit again. The situation is aggravated by the heavy case, which, if the strap is not too tight, constantly strives to slide down.
Frontier can determine whether the device's functionality is currently being used. If the S3 is just lying on the table, the power saving mode is activated. To bring the device back to life, you just need to put the strap on your hand. In this case, you need to wait about five seconds for the screen backlight. A small, but still a flaw that should be corrected with subsequent OS updates.

Interface

Like most other miniature devices from Samsung, the S3 Frontier runs Tizen OS. This particular model comes pre-installed with Tizen 2.3.2.
The principle of clock control has remained virtually unchanged since the previous model. As before, you can use more than just the display for navigation. The ridged navigation ring around the screen does a great job of navigating through menus, making the S3 easy to operate even with gloves on.
Two mechanical buttons on the side of the case are responsible for going back, going to the main screen and turning off the device. In normal mode, the watch always displays the watch face. Rotating the bezel to the left opens notifications, and to the right – a menu of widgets. A light swipe from top to bottom displays options and the current state of Frontier.
Initially, 14 preset watch faces are available to the user. The range is expanding almost endlessly with new additions from the Galaxy Apps store. The entire interface is built on the Circle UI principle, icons are placed in a circle and occupy the maximum amount of free space.

Compatibility

Frontier was created for maximum audience coverage; immediately after the release of the watch, the developers implemented the ability to synchronize it with iOS devices. Samsung smartphones paired with S3 work perfectly. The flagship Galaxy S7 and S8 already have a pre-installed application for synchronizing with the clock. But owners of other Android devices will have to tinker a little.
First you will have to download Samsung Gear, Gear S Plugin and Samsung Accessory Service. Then you need to register your account (Samsung Account). It will be used for the correct operation of the S Health health tracker. On iPhone, the process is slightly simplified; you only need to install the first application from the specified list.
The watch is equipped with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC and GPS/GLONASS modules. The built-in microphone and speaker mean you don't have to take your smartphone out of your pocket to take every call. S Voice dialing is supported for convenient sending of messages. In the settings, you can specify automatic connection mode via Bluetooth without unnecessary notifications.

Performance and functionality

The Frontier hardware platform is represented by a 14nm Exynos 7270 processor with a maximum clock frequency of 1 GHz, 768 MB of RAM and four gigabytes of internal memory. Compared to the previous generation, there is a noticeable increase in performance even when flipping through the interface. All menus open without delays or sagging.
You can respond to incoming messages with a pre-prepared phrase, text or emoticon. Pre-installed apps include Calendar, S Voice, S Health, Player and Phone. The Samsung Apps store is constantly updated with new programs, so there should be no problems with updating the software.
The internal service S Health has expanded its capabilities. Now there is a fitness and sports mode. The first one reads information about steps taken, heart rate, fluids drunk and number of hours of sleep. Based on this data, the application builds interactive activity graphs. If a person sits in one place for more than an hour, the watch begins to vibrate, warning about the need for a walk.
Sports mode monitors running, squats, jumping and a whole range of other exercises. At the same time, the pulse, movement speed, and distance traveled are monitored. You can choose the number of calories to burn, then Frontier will inform you about the desired pace of exercise. The built-in altimeter gives you an idea of ​​the change in altitude above sea level.

Autonomy

The built-in 380mAh battery allows you to use the watch for approximately 3-4 days in normal mode without rigorous training. Active sports with GPS tracking will drain the battery in two days. If you need more autonomy, pay attention to budget ones.

To power the S3 Frontier, a docking station with inductive charging technology is used. Simply place the device on a special platform; it will independently charge the battery to 100% in about 2 hours.

Conclusion

The Samsung Gear S3 Frontier is still one of the few smartwatches with adequate battery life and functionality. The device copes well with all the tasks assigned to it. The only drawback can be considered the excessive massiveness of the S3, due to which they will not be comfortable for those with thin hands. Otherwise, this is a great accessory for anyone who is constantly on the go.

Video review of Samsung Gear S3 Frontier

You can find more interesting smart watch models in our selection: ""

  • Waterproof IP68
  • Availability of Always On Display
  • Universal strap holder
  • Convenient control
  • Ability to receive phone calls
  • High price
  • Massive body
  • Complex synchronization with third-party smartphones
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