Samsung announces Gear S3 iOS-compatible smartwatches, one with LTE
On Wednesday, Samsung updated its Tizen-based smartwatch offerings with the LTE-connected Gear S3 Frontier and wi-fi Gear S3 Classic, promisimg iOS compatibility for both at some point.
The Gear S3 smartwatch is powered by a dual-core 1.0 GHz processor driving a 1.3-inch circular 278 ppi AMOLED display. Both models have 4 GB of storage, and 768 MB of application RAM.
Connectivity is provided with 3G/LTE wireless on the Gear S3 Frontier. Both models have Bluetooth 4.2, 802.11n wi-fi, and NFC. Sensors included on both models are an accelerometer, a gyro, a barometer, a heart rate monitor and an ambient light detector.
The new devices are large at 12.9mm thick, and either weighs 57g or 62g depending on model. For comparison, the Apple Watch 42mm model is 10.5mm thick and weighs 50g.
Both watches use the newly-announced Corning Gorilla Glass SR+, specifically designed for wearable devices. Samsung notes that both devices meet IP68 standards for water resistance.
Samsung claims that both the Gear S3 Classic and Gear S3 Frontier will be iOS compatible. However, Samsung also declared that iOS support would come to the older the Gear S2, and that has yet to materialize.
Pricing or release dates have not yet been announced. Apple is rumored to update the Apple Watch in the forthcoming "See you on the 7th" event, scheduled for Sept. 7, but a LTE radio is not among the expected upgrades.
The Gear S3 smartwatch is powered by a dual-core 1.0 GHz processor driving a 1.3-inch circular 278 ppi AMOLED display. Both models have 4 GB of storage, and 768 MB of application RAM.
Connectivity is provided with 3G/LTE wireless on the Gear S3 Frontier. Both models have Bluetooth 4.2, 802.11n wi-fi, and NFC. Sensors included on both models are an accelerometer, a gyro, a barometer, a heart rate monitor and an ambient light detector.
The new devices are large at 12.9mm thick, and either weighs 57g or 62g depending on model. For comparison, the Apple Watch 42mm model is 10.5mm thick and weighs 50g.
Both watches use the newly-announced Corning Gorilla Glass SR+, specifically designed for wearable devices. Samsung notes that both devices meet IP68 standards for water resistance.
Samsung claims that both the Gear S3 Classic and Gear S3 Frontier will be iOS compatible. However, Samsung also declared that iOS support would come to the older the Gear S2, and that has yet to materialize.
Pricing or release dates have not yet been announced. Apple is rumored to update the Apple Watch in the forthcoming "See you on the 7th" event, scheduled for Sept. 7, but a LTE radio is not among the expected upgrades.
Comments
And why this sole Samsung related story is being reported on Apple Insider...
It's also the fact that it has LTE, so battery life will be like 2 hours.
It'll be far more interesting (one way or another) when those aspects are accounted for, particularly if the actual iOS support ever materializes.
Perhaps the stories don't meet with your approval like an earlier one today that provided information about the exploding battery in the new Galaxy S7.
How about the one regarding the scratchable screen by soft objects with MOHs score of 3 again on Samsung's newest smartphone flagship.
I will wait on the release of the Apple Watch 2 and give the market some time before deciding if I even want a smart watch. By then the Samsung product can be had for $50 if I would even want one. If the Gear watch explodes, I'll take a pass altogether.
Apple's hardware is still top notch.
These S3s are hockey puck sided monstrosities.
Still heavier and thicker than an Apple Watch? Is battery life any better than what they currently offer?
Apple Watch still wins in my opinion and I imagine Tim Cook has something great up his sleeve (literally) to show us.
Their watch looks good - if you like traditional watches. Which is fine and I get it, but I prefer a watch to look, not like what it used to be but rather what it is. The thing that you are missing here though, is that this thing is 13mm thick. So a traditional watch which this tries to mimic, that is 13mm thick (over half an inch), is not really a good looking watch at all.
bullshit -- I track 2-hour workouts in the AW app and it doesn't come close to killing the battery. plenty left at bed time.
anybody who claims the AW has lousy battery doesn't use one.