Gear S3 Frontier Vs Apple Watch

[Technarchy]

I love my S3. My only wish is for the heart rate monitor to be comparable with Apple Watch, but that's not going to happen anytime soon.

This is the biggest issue I experienced with the S3. The heart rate monitor is woefully inconsistent and unreliable.

Didn’t matter how much I cleaned the sensor glass or tightened or loosened the band or where it was placed on my wrist.

When it did track it was more like a pleasant surprise.

 

[JaySoul]

This is the biggest issue I experienced with the S3. The heart rate monitor is woefully inconsistent and unreliable.

Didn’t matter how much I cleaned the sensor glass or tightened or loosened the band or where it was placed on my wrist.

When it did track it was more like a pleasant surprise.

Yeah I'm pretty sure my S3 thinks I'm clinically dead for large portions of the day.

 

[The Game 161]

Not by default, I just had a quick look on the watchface store and there are a few calendar faces but not really sure what look and function you're after.

Something like the Siri watch face really I suppose.

 

[lowendlinux]

Oh well at least it's an option for you, eventually. I'm just too small a woman to wear it. (I tried my husband's and I was so close but just could not adjust) So I went all in with Nike Apple Series 3 LTE and iPhone upgrade path for my main cell number. The 4G version of the Gear S2 sportier Watch was really pushing it for me as far as size goes. And they really made it a bear to change bands for that model. I ended up sticking with the band that came with it. Which is a bit stiff and uncomfortable.

I wonder if Samsung will soon attempt to go after the women they dismissed (openly and verbally and very specifically) with a smaller Frontier type watch now that Apple has made smaller LTE watches possible.

If I sound a tad salty, I really was taken aback at the sexist tone of the dismissal of the female market when they introduced the Frontier. I'm not one to be particularly sensitive to perceived slights, but that one was front and center and my jaw dropped in surprise. They could have simply said they were looking at making smaller LTE watches in the future and left it at that. No, they had to throw in that crack about women not comprising a significant section of the market to make it worth the effort and we all just wanted fitness bands, so go buy their fitness bands. I think all the women spending loads of money on Apple Watches would disagree.

Their new sport watches are cute, but I want LTE. And they are still a bit big.
[doublepost=1506619006][/doublepost]@Technarchy this is an amazing series of photo comparisons and your observations are great. My husband does indeed love his Frontier. He used it with his Apple Watch and appreciated the notifications but said it was pretty well a useless pairing.

My wife said the same thing about every Android watch. I also think that the interchangeable band thing is great too it means we can match to what she wearing or just freshen it up. It won't be cheaper than the couple watches I get her a year initially hopefully she'll like and keep it for longer.

 

[Michael Goff]

Yeah I'm pretty sure my S3 thinks I'm clinically dead for large portions of the day.

Have you ever thought about not being clinically dead for large portions of the day?

 

[Oohara]

I'm waiting to see if the S4 is a bit slimmer. I like the screen size, but not a fan of the overall bulk.

The coming S3 Sport is a bit slimmer and less bulky. I'm definitely going to check it out if I end up getting a Note 8.

https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-gear-sport-vs-gear-s3

Overall I'd be happy to sacrifice some functionality to get a slimmer watch. Battery life doesn't need to last longer than a day for me, and I never use health tracking.

My dream remains a rectangular watch slightly smaller than the Apple Watch, considerably thinner, and built on the 80's digital watches aesthetics.

 

[Zaft]

I dont know I just feel they are so bulky. Every time I see someone wear the Gear 3 it looks huge. To me I can tell right away its not a real watch even though its trying to be.

Apple watch just looks more elegant IMO. I do like the rotating bezel for navigation, thats really nice.

I also like the always on watch face, I wish Apple watch had that. At least give us an option Apple..

 

[Klyster]

I've been wearing my Frontier to work everyday this week.
I wouldn't say it feels bulky, but I'm used to wearing normal watches, it definitely is larger than my old Gear 2.

I would have thought I'd had scratched it already but it isn't scratched, I'm an automotive entry certifier, I'm squeezing my arms into car interior panels, under dashes, in between engine and suspension part etc..
I use a sandblaster and there is always sandblaster sand around the place.
I'm impressed with this watch, the battery life seems to keep getting better.
I tried to get a glass screen protector but it left an almost 1mm bleed around the edge of the screen, unusable for me.
[doublepost=1506722875][/doublepost]

Something like the Siri watch face really I suppose.

I had a quick look but didn't see anything but there are too many faces for me to look through them all.

 

[The Game 161]

I've been wearing my Frontier to work everyday this week.
I wouldn't say it feels bulky, but I'm used to wearing normal watches, it definitely is larger than my old Gear 2.

I would have thought I'd had scratched it already but it isn't scratched, I'm an automotive entry certifier, I'm squeezing my arms into car interior panels, under dashes, in between engine and suspension part etc..
I use a sandblaster and there is always sandblaster sand around the place.
I'm impressed with this watch, the battery life seems to keep getting better.
I tried to get a glass screen protector but it left an almost 1mm bleed around the edge of the screen, unusable for me.
[doublepost=1506722875][/doublepost]
I had a quick look but didn't see anything but there are too many faces for me to look through them all.

Do you still get notifications when you have your phone on for example? as i know you don't on the apple watch

 

[Klyster]

Yes, they pop up, and if I miss them I rotate the dial left, if I'm not wearing gloves then I can swipe left also.

 

[monty77]

Loving mine .. HRM as others have said is a bit vague, means I wear strap tighter than I would otherwise. If they knocked £50 off the price, or bundled them with a phone at a discount they could actually do some sales of these things.
[doublepost=1506798690][/doublepost]

Do you still get notifications when you have your phone on for example? as i know you don't on the apple watch

If you mean on as in while you're using it then yes, and it's an option if you don't like it. Choice is a good thing Apple ;-)

 

[lcs101]

The coming S3 Sport is a bit slimmer and less bulky. I'm definitely going to check it out if I end up getting a Note 8.

https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-gear-sport-vs-gear-s3

Overall I'd be happy to sacrifice some functionality to get a slimmer watch. Battery life doesn't need to last longer than a day for me, and I never use health tracking.

My dream remains a rectangular watch slightly smaller than the Apple Watch, considerably thinner, and built on the 80's digital watches aesthetics.

Appreciate the suggestion. Not as much of a fan of the sport though...I prefer the real estate and rounder regular S3. Just want the thickness trimmed down. Again, I do appreciate it though.

 

[deanthedev]

I have an AW3. Aside from the obvious reason to get one (already have lots of iOS devices and Apps with companion Watch versions), the big one for me is water resistance. I do a lot of boating and water sports and the 1.5M of the Gear just doesn’t cut it. Even the 50M rating of the AW3 isn’t enough for everything I do, but it covers most of them.

 

[Oohara]

I have an AW3. Aside from the obvious reason to get one (already have lots of iOS devices and Apps with companion Watch versions), the big one for me is water resistance. I do a lot of boating and water sports and the 1.5M of the Gear just doesn’t cut it. Even the 50M rating of the AW3 isn’t enough for everything I do, but it covers most of them.

The S3 sport also has 50 m water resistance, it's got one up on the regular S3 on that point.

 

[Klyster]

I have an AW3. Aside from the obvious reason to get one (already have lots of iOS devices and Apps with companion Watch versions), the big one for me is water resistance. I do a lot of boating and water sports and the 1.5M of the Gear just doesn’t cut it. Even the 50M rating of the AW3 isn’t enough for everything I do, but it covers most of them.

A Garmin Fenix 5 is rated higher than both, 100 metres.
Worth a look perhaps?

 

[Zipster3]

That watch on the left in photo above looks like something out of a $2 shop imo.

 

[ronnie.dee]

Thinking about getting the S3, but I'm not sure what it's limitations are. Anyone know if I can still use it with Maps/Google Maps the way Apple watch does? As in, if I have maps set up, will the turn by turn be forwarded to the S3 screen?

 

[Shanghaichica]

That watch on the left in photo above looks like something out of a $2 shop imo.

Only the watch on the left? Surely the one on the right looks like a $1 Watch.

 

[deanthedev]

The S3 sport also has 50 m water resistance, it's got one up on the regular S3 on that point.

But no LTE. Why one or the other? Why can’t I have both?

 

[Dodgeman]

Didn’t read every post in this thread but plan on going to this watch and either a Note 8 or S8+.
Just debating if I have use for the pen and it’s features.

 

[Technarchy]

Didn’t read every post in this thread but plan on going to this watch and either a Note 8 or S8+.
Just debating if I have use for the pen and it’s features.

The S-Pen is not just a pointer. It’s loaded with features you get attached to pretty quick.

I haven’t had a Note in about 3 years and I still miss the S-Pen functionality.

 

[convergent]

Nice review. Just to add to what you posted... after a few days with the S3 coming from 2 years with the original AW worn every day...

- I was very pleasantly surprised at how well I like the S3... the bar was set high by AW use.
- S3 navigation with the dial is so much better than AW, especially when working out or doing yard work and have sweaty hands. Too much swiping on AW that is near impossible with wet hands. S3 is more intuitive.
- Ability to type a response to a message or email is huge on S3. I never replied from AW except with quick response list.
- Battery life is so much better even with always on watch face.
- Apps list is pretty short for the S3, but frankly most of the AW apps I had I could live without.
- I miss the complications on AW faces. But there are a million S3 faces out there so just need to find different ones to do what I want.
- Love all the watch faces for the S3. Can't believe Apple STILL hasn't put this into AW, as superficial as Apple is, this is low hanging fruit for incremental revenue and customer loyalty.

Loving my frontier, the faces rock.
I use always on display and get home with 70% battery left.
I'm not treating it like jewellery either, this watch is going to get scratched and such if I'm not careful but I want it to be a useful tool rather than pretty toy.
I love how it looks like a watch too.
But I've only had it since Friday.

I wonder if Tizen 3 will bring anything tangible?

multiple image hosting

Which watch face is that on your S3... I really like it.

The sleep tracking is ridiculously accurate. Give it a try. Even when I power nap seated upright in the office chair for lunch it picks it up as sleep time. I have no idea how it knows, but it does.

What app are you using for sleep tracking? I downloaded a few but didn't quite get how they worked. And with one of them my watch must have lost contact with my wrist a few minutes into my sleep so it didn't track the rest of the night. The sensor does seem to be more sensitive than the AW for sure.

I dont know I just feel they are so bulky. Every time I see someone wear the Gear 3 it looks huge. To me I can tell right away its not a real watch even though its trying to be.

Apple watch just looks more elegant IMO. I do like the rotating bezel for navigation, thats really nice.

I also like the always on watch face, I wish Apple watch had that. At least give us an option Apple..

The AW is definitely smaller looking, but the S3 is not really bigger than many watches people wear these days. My daughter is pretty petite and the watch she wore yesterday is nearly identical in size and such as the Gear S3 Frontier.

I wouldn't call the AW elegant. To me, its so ugly that its cool.... but only because Apple made it. And I wore mine every day for 2 years. I wish Apple would do a round version.

The always on display is really cool and I'm enjoying that... on the S3 and the Note 8.

I have an AW3. Aside from the obvious reason to get one (already have lots of iOS devices and Apps with companion Watch versions), the big one for me is water resistance. I do a lot of boating and water sports and the 1.5M of the Gear just doesn’t cut it. Even the 50M rating of the AW3 isn’t enough for everything I do, but it covers most of them.

What are you doing in the water? I swim, water ski, wakeboard, shower, etc.. with the original AW and its not even technically waterproof. I would think the S3 would handle that. 50M is 150 feet deep!

 

[Technarchy]

What app are you using for sleep tracking? I downloaded a few but didn't quite get how they worked. And with one of them my watch must have lost contact with my wrist a few minutes into my sleep so it didn't track the rest of the night. The sensor does seem to be more sensitive than the AW for sure.

Sleep tracking is built into S-Health. No apps needed

 

[convergent]

Sleep tracking is built into S-Health. No apps needed

OK, so I just need to leave the watch on and it takes care of it?

 

[Klyster]

Which watch face is that on your S3... I really like it.

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