While regulars in the smartphone market are one after another announcing smartwatches based on the OS Android Wear compatible with any Android with a version older than 4.3, Samsung is persistently developing a line of smart wearable devices based on its own brainchild - Tizen. We have not yet seen a smartphone on this OS. But it’s no longer possible to complain about the lack of applications and the underdevelopment of the system, since Samsung Apps is replete with programs for watches. How interesting was it? new flagship line - Gear S - taking into account the development of the platform on this moment, we'll look at it in this review.

What is this?

Flagship smartwatch in the Samsung line. They run Tizen OS and are compatible only with flagship Samsung smartphones of this and last year (that is, the last four generations). Gear S is equipped with a slot for nanoSIM.

Gear S is notable for its large 2-inch curved display with a high pixel density of 300 ppi. “The filling” is similar to the previous flagship of the line, Gear 2 - dual-core gigahertz processor, 512 MB of RAM, 300 mAh battery. The watch has 4 GB of internal memory to store music and application data. Despite the presence of a slot for a SIM card, a GPS module, the ability to use Mobile Internet and independently connect to Wi-Fi, the presence of a large number of popular applications in Samsung Apps, you cannot use the Gear S as an independent device simply because it needs a smartphone for the initial setup and installation of applications.

Do they need to be charged often?

In my hands, the Gear S worked stably for two days without a SIM card and GPS enabled while jogging. I rarely used them during training because S Health is not accurate enough to monitor my runs in this app, and I don’t use Samsung smartphones regularly, and my favorite running app (micoach) is not available for Tizen. I looked through half the notifications on the watch, from time to time - mail and SMS, a couple of times I used it as a headset, but solely for the sake of experimentation. As soon as I inserted the SIM card and connected the Bluetooth headset, the operating time was reduced to a day. Gear S also requires daily charging provided that you play sports with S Health. But in addition to the built-in battery, the Gear S can be powered by a battery located in the charging case. Then they are enough for another day of work. True, to charge you still have to remove the gadget from your hand.

How do they look?

There has been no revolution in the appearance of Samsung smartwatches, and the Gear S can easily recognize both the features of its predecessors and the recognizable features of Samsung mobile devices. The watch is protected from dust and moisture according to the IP67 certificate - that is, you can swim with it (up to half an hour) and take a bath. Although I would recommend removing the gadget during water procedures, if it is not necessary, in order to avoid unnecessary irritation on the hand.

The display is made using Super AMOLED technology, it is colorful, with excellent viewing angles. Large - as much as 2 inches. But thanks to the noticeable curvature (around the wrist), the watch display does not seem monstrously large. But I would not call the increase in diagonal the most “delicious” screen update, but the appearance of automatic backlight adjustment. The display resolution is 360x420 pixels; with a density of 300 ppi, it is impossible to see an individual pixel on it. The glare on the rounded screen does not interfere with the readability of information at all.

Near the Home key there is a light and UV sensor. Sometimes you want to press them out of habit - after all, Samsung smartphones have two navigation keys in this place

To put it bluntly, the Gear S looks like it has a wider display. At the same time, they took the proportions from the watch, from Android Samsung smartphones- a border around the screen and a hardware “Home” key. In my opinion, this is the cutest Samsung watch. I like them for their massiveness and the fact that the strap is wide. They seem to be less elegant than the same Gear Fit smart bracelet, but at the same time they look quite normal with delicate dresses.

The unpleasant side of either the increase in diagonal or the appearance of additional sensors is that the thickness of the Gear S has increased to 12.5 millimeters. It is almost not felt under the sleeves of clothing. But if you don't take the watch off at night, it starts to interfere. However, there is no point in wearing Gear S in a dream - they do not track its phases based on motor activity.

Samsung Gear S exist naturally in black and white (strap), and at the Berlin presentation of the device, straps with Swarovski crystals were presented. The spectacle is not for the faint of heart, in my opinion. But I have no questions about the aesthetics and reliability of fastening the “boxed” options. True, the white belt gets dirty over time. This is how the belt can be replaced.

On the back of the screen there are not only traditional contacts for connecting a charger and a sensor for measuring heart rate, but also a slot for nanoSIM. You cannot remove the plug using your nails - they will break. You must use a foreign object. But no water will get through such a reliable layer of rubber.

By the way, since the Gear S uses nanoSIM, and most Samsung flagships- microSIM, a usage scheme in which the card is usually installed in a smartphone, but during sports activities it migrates to a watch, in fact, few people will find it convenient. You will either have to purchase an adapter, or regularly suffer from carefully rearranging the nanoSIM into the micro slot. But on the other hand, who likes to be distracted by strange calls while jogging?

What can they do?

Without a SIM card installed, the Gear S is not much different from its predecessors, the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo.

No, of course, the watch does not have a camera, like the Gear 2, but I never felt that I was missing it. In hours, as in Samsung Galaxy Note 4, a UV sensor has appeared, which is definitely worth using in the summer for those who like to run during daylight hours. The interface is still controlled using gestures. Swiping up opens access to all applications, left or right - to screens with widgets (all of them except the first one and the page with notifications, the rest can be customized), downwards - exits applications. And on the main screen - access to quick information - about the state of charge, sound, screen brightness.

Desktop style, wallpaper, window design - all this can be customized, there are a great many design options. By default, this is a picture of a mechanical watch with semi-digital elements, which contains hints with directions to other desktops. But there can be any options - with a pedometer, alerts, weather.

The settings of the Gear S are similar to those in Samsung smartphones. Despite the fact that there are a great many of them here, everything is implemented conveniently.

The Gear S app menu has an option to “download more apps,” but they still send the user to the smartphone to get those others. Interaction with a smartphone occurs through our old friend Samsung app Gear, which is downloaded through Samsung Apps (when changing smartphones, the watch settings still have to be completely reset). There, in a special section of Samsung Apps, applications for the Gear watch are stored. Applications here are divided by type, in addition, there is sorting by popularity. Three tabs in the main menu, sorted by type and price (yes, paid programs there’s plenty here too) create the feeling that developers are adapting their programs for Tizen in incredible quantities. In fact, many applications are duplicated from section to section, thus creating a “crowd”. In addition to trying to artificially create a feeling of hectic life, what I didn’t like about the Gear apps was that, just like in Android apps, each developer has their own way in terms of design. Everyone looks completely different, like aliens from different planets.

Although I can’t say that I was missing something other than my favorite miCoach. Receive alerts from social networks You can use it on your watch without installing apps. But it will be difficult to answer using such a keyboard. There is no camera, so there is no need to post photos from the watch either.

While I didn't particularly notice the lack of selection of apps for the watch, I was amused by the presence of some programs in Samsung Apps for Gear. I liked that there are all sorts of exercises for training - it’s much more convenient to monitor them from a watch than from a smartphone. But, for example, recipes are already funny. Although I can imagine that it is convenient to monitor the order of adding ingredients from the screen on your wrist. But here's an application with the Kama Sutra, in which you can mark tried and tested options - this is more than funny. In this format, a smart wearable device begins to be perceived not as a separate entity, but as an integral continuation of the human personality, not as a companion, but as a part that is 100% fused with its wearer. This is how some applications look organically on the screen of the Gear S smartwatch.

There's something about the app design that I didn't really like, and it concerns the one native to Samsung S Health devices. The app itself looks great on the 2-inch screen, and it looked good on the Gear Fit's smaller display. It's comfortable. But the strange thing is that an entire display is devoted to triggering any sensor, while the largest and most convenient area for touching with a finger is reserved under background information. And to trigger the sensor, you need to hit the thin strip at the bottom of the screen with your finger. Everything would be fine, but the screen is slightly curved, and this already slightly reduces the likelihood of getting where you need to go. In addition, if at this moment you are walking down the street wearing gloves (for example, you decided to measure your pulse after a run), then it becomes difficult to get where you need to go. Hopefully this will be fixed over time. By the way, judging by my observations, S Health has begun to count steps and distance more accurately.

What about without a smartphone?

Samsung Gear S is not the first smartwatch that is equipped with a SIM card slot and can make calls. We previously reviewed watches with a similar feature under the iconBIT and AirON brands. The main disadvantage of competitors is that they, like Android itself, are poorly adapted to a small display. Android Wear and Tizen are another matter. So, since Gear S can act as a headset in itself (they are equipped with both a speaker and a microphone), and also have a special item in the settings for connecting a Bluetooth headset (by the way, if your headset is advanced enough, it can be connected to a smartphone at the same time Samsung, and Gear S), there are no problems with calls from the watch. Finding contacts on a small screen is inconvenient, but you can use voice search from the S Voice menu or a widget with the most popular contacts, or an event log in the end. The Gear S's Bluetooth connection is stable. The sound of the built-in microphone is loud. The only problem that I observed while using the watch with a SIM card was that the connection periodically disappeared. But this seems like a firmware issue that needs to be fixed.

My idea of ​​the scenario for using the Samsung Gear S without a smartphone is primarily playing sports. This scenario is also supported by the fact that the watch is equipped with a GPS sensor; there are a number of sports and simple maps for it. graphic applications(including Nokia HERE). The Gear S's own GPS module is turned on in an intricate way - in the S Health menu immediately before a run. And it’s also difficult to get your finger into it.

Another plus is that the Gear S has 4 GB of internal memory, of which about 2 GB can be dedicated to music. You can listen to it while jogging exclusively through a Bluetooth headset. Since the watch can act as both a smartphone player control panel and a standalone player, the player interface provides the ability to switch between modes. But, alas, there are no other settings here (playback order, equalizer, other delights of the Samsung player).

A smart watch that can act as a stand-alone accessory for sports activities is a convenient thing. And although I don’t believe in regularly rearranging SIM cards before a sporting event, using the Gear S as a “dialer” is also quite convenient, if you leave out the fact that most Samsung smartphones are equipped with slots for microSIM cards and you will need an adapter.

Are there any alternatives?

At the moment, Samsung Gear S can be found on sale in one online store at a price of about 5.5 thousand hryvnia. Unlike any Android Wear smartwatch, Samsung Tizen devices are only compatible with its Android flagships. Therefore, while smart watches on Android cheerfully compete with each other, watches on Tizen compete only for the wallets of Samsung flagships, both among themselves and with watches on Android. Although often a person who purchases top-end smartphones of one brand is more than loyal to it and is ready to buy accessories with the same nameplate. Based on this assumption, the closest alternative to the Gear S is the Gear 2 - a model with a camera on board and a decidedly masculine design. Considering that smartphones have the same platform and hardware, and even autonomy, the selection process is greatly simplified. In my opinion, the fair sex definitely goes for the Gear S - design is everything. If we ignore design issues, then, roughly speaking, we have to choose between favorable price the presence of a camera in the watch on the one hand and the ability to comfortably use it for sports or any other tasks without a smartphone in your pocket on the other. Of course, if the application you use to track your physical activity exists under Tizen. Fortunately, there is a large selection - Nike+, Runtastic, Endomondo, and S Health, and they will soon be joined by the little-known Dacadoo service.

Bottom line

I only had a passing acquaintance with devices such as the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo, but compared to them, the Gear S seems to me a more interesting device, since it has more competence on its side to act as a replacement for a smartphone in situations where it is needed. I have no complaints as such about the Gear S as a device - the watch looks great, is easy to use, is smart enough for its money and can do even a little more than we would like. The device still faces an obstacle on its way to the general public in the form of support exclusively for Samsung smartphones, and exclusively for the top segment. If you own such a smartphone and are looking towards a smartwatch, then the Gear S will definitely be one of the most interesting options on the market. They would, of course, benefit from normal autonomy (at least three or four days), but this would lead to an increase in size and weight, which is unacceptable for a wrist device. Also among the improvements that I would like to see in the interface of Samsung smartwatches is a more convenient menu for launching sensors in S Health and the appearance more fitness applications.

5 reasons to buy Samsung Gear S:

• excellent design;
• convenient management and user-friendly OS;
• Gear S has such popular applications as Endomondo, Nike+, Runtastic, and S Health has become more accurate
• the presence of a slot for a SIM card and the ability to use it independently from a smartphone for many tasks;
• the appearance of light sensors (and automatic adjustment of the screen backlight) and a UV sensor;

2 reasons not to buy Samsung Gear S:

• price factor;
• You don’t plan to buy a Samsung flagship smartphone;

Samsung manufacturers continue to delight their fans with unusual gadgets with advanced capabilities. Samsung Galaxy Gear S (SM-R750) is not just a smartwatch that is a smartphone headset. They perform the functions of a phone and a player, act as a personal trainer, prevent you from getting lost in an unfamiliar place, and take care of your health.

Appearance and ergonomics

The watch combines a strict, classic design and a youth-sports style. Thanks to the curved shape of the main unit and the elastic rubber strap, the Gear S SM fits comfortably on the wrist and does not cause discomfort during long-term wearing. The strap is adjustable and fits equally well on an adult and a child's hand. It is equipped with a reliable bracelet clasp that prevents spontaneous opening.

The black plastic case is equipped with a silver metal edging. The watch is completely sealed, protected from dust and moisture, and complies with the IP67 standard. Although the gadget does not allow you to go down to a depth of 50 m, which the Samsung Gear - Sport smart watch allows, you can safely visit gyms and engage in outdoor activities with it. A short stay of the device in water will not cause failure.

Super is used to read information and control the clock AMOLED display. The two-inch 360 by 480 pixel screen is distinguished by high color rendition and contrast of the displayed information. All controls are touch-sensitive. The only key present on the front panel is used to lock the gadget.

On the back of the watch there is a slot for a nano SIM card, a heart rate monitor window and a connector for connecting the charging unit. Unlike more early models, the R750 strap does not carry a functional load and can be replaced without problems.

Read also:

Review of the Suunto Spartan smartwatch line

Filling

The basis of the Samsung Gear watch is a dual-core processor with a clock frequency of 1 GHz. The amount of RAM is 512 MB, built-in memory is 4 GB. The gadget's operation is based on the Tizen operating system, which Lately is a priority for Samsung.

The gadget is equipped with:

• Light sensor. Provides comfortable screen brightness when ambient lighting changes. Reduces energy consumption
• Accelerometer. Reacts to rapid movement relative to the center of gravity. Gives commands to the pedometer
• Gyroscope. Determines the spatial location of the gadget. Can orient the image relative to the screen
• Barometer. Informs about changes in atmospheric pressure
• Geomagnetic sensor. Responsible for the operation of the compass
• Ultraviolet radiation sensor. Allows instant access to UV index information
• Heart rate monitor. Allows you to control your heart rate
• GPS/GLONASS module. Serves for orientation on the ground.

Possibilities

For connection smart watch Bluetooth v 4.1 is used with the smartphone. The features of this interface include low power consumption and a communication range of up to 100m, which is especially important for sports fans. Version 4.1. opens up the possibility of simultaneous broadcast of audio information and control of a smart device. Gear S watches are compatible with Samsung with basic Android version 4.3 and higher (S3–S6/Edge, Note2–Note4/Edge, S4 mini, S5 mini, A5, A7, Alpha). Synchronization is carried out using the Gear Manager application, which can be found in the Samsung Apps catalog.

The gadget is capable of:

• Provide video, sound and vibration signals
• Report the caller's number
• Inform about incoming calls and SMS messages on your smartphone
• Control your smartphone's player, etc.

Small smartphone

Despite its small dimensions, the Samsung Gear S smartwatch is capable of almost completely replacing a mobile device and approaching the functionality of a smartphone. The gadget is equipped with a slot designed for a Nano SIM card. WI-FI and 3G systems provide communication with mobile operators and open access to the Internet. Built-in speaker and microphone enable telephone conversations. The disadvantage of this function is that it is carried out through a speakerphone. The problem can be easily solved using a Bluetooth headset.

Read also:

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Interface and applications

Super AMOLED displays are responsive and easy to tap to switch from one mode to another. This is also facilitated by the use latest version TouchWiz, which allows you to minimum sizes screen, perform precise manipulations. The Gear S's home screen can display thirteen watch faces. Information about the current time can be combined with other data and keep the most necessary information on the display at all times.

The main menu is accessed by swiping your finger across the screen from top to bottom. The on-screen keyboard supports 69 languages. For smartwatches there are 16 presets installed applications. Of these, the “Phone” application should be highlighted, which meets all the requirements of a mobile device. In addition to the touch keyboard, control can be done using voice typing.

The autonomy of the gadget is evidenced by the “Navigator” application, which, with the support of the Here mapping complex, gives the watch owner accurate information about the location and allows you to plot the shortest route to your destination. Using the “S Health” utility, you can monitor your own health and receive information about your sports achievements.

Nutrition

Power is supplied by a 300 mAh lithium-ion battery. It is charged using a proprietary cradle, powered from the mains using the included adapter. With normal use, the battery lasts for 48 hours. Economy mode increases this period to 4 days. Thanks to the transition to the Tizen operating system, the device's power consumption is half that of previous Gears. For example: Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch - SM V700 with Android 4.2.2. in active mode they work for no more than a day.

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.

Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	39.8 mm (millimeters) 3.98 cm (centimeters) 0.13 ft (feet) 1.57 in (inches)
Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	58.3 mm (millimeters) 5.83 cm (centimeters) 0.19 ft (feet) 2.3 in (inches)
Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units measurements.	12.5 mm (millimeters) 1.25 cm (centimeters) 0.04 ft (feet) 0.49 in (inches)
Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.	84 g (grams) 0.19 lbs 2.96 oz (ounces)
Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale.	Black White
Certification Information about the standards to which this device is certified.	IP67

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds

Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.

SoC (System on Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components, such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation.	Samsung Exynos 4 Dual 4212
Technological process Information about technological process, on which the chip is made. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor.	32 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications.	ARM Cortex-A9
Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have more high performance compared to 32-bit processors, which for their part are more productive than 16-bit processors.	32 bit
Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute.	ARMv7
Level 1 cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small in size and works much faster than both system memory and other cache levels. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for it in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2.	32 kB + 32 kB (kilobytes)
Level 2 cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1 cache, but in return it has a higher capacity, allowing it to cache more data. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or in RAM memory.	1024 kB (kilobytes) 1 MB (megabytes)
Number of processor cores The processor core executes software instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel.	2
CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	1000 MHz (megahertz)
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphics applications. IN mobile devices it is used most often by games, consumer interface, video applications, etc.	ARM Mali-400 MP4
Number of cores GPU Like a CPU, a GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle graphics calculations for various applications.	4
GPU clock speed Speed ​​of work is clock frequency GPU speed, which is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	400 MHz (megahertz)
Amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted.	512 MB (megabytes)

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the quality of the information image directly depends.	Super AMOLED
Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches.	2 in (inches) 50.8 mm (millimeters) 5.08 cm (centimeters)
Width Approximate screen width	1.2 in (inches) 30.48 mm (millimeters) 3.05 cm (centimeters)
Height Approximate screen height	1.6 in (inches) 40.64 mm (millimeters) 4.06 cm (centimeters)
Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side	1.333:1 4:3
Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. More a high resolution means sharper detail in the image.	360 x 480 pixels
Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. More high density Allows you to display information on the screen with clearer details.	300 ppi (pixels per inch) 117 ppcm (pixels per centimeter)
Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display.	24 bit 16777216 flowers
Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics.	Capacitive Multi-touch
	Curved display

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Location determination

Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Samsung smartwatch users at the beginning of 2017 strongly assumed that the release date of the Samsung Gear S4, or as the new name became known, would fall at the event dedicated to the annual IFA consumer electronics show on August 31 in Berlin, Germany.

However, the Korean manufacturer has announced various wearables that include the Fit 2 Pro and Sport, and has retained the S3 as its flagship model. And while these wearables are top-notch and attractive, many are eagerly awaiting the next generation of Gear S.

When will the Samsung Gear S4 smartwatch be released in Russia? What is the presentation date of the device and what will be its price? We offer you an overview of all the information regarding the long-awaited new smart watches from Samsung.

News and rumors

At the beginning of 2017, the company announced its readiness to begin mass production of the Exynos 7 Dual 7270 processor, which will be the most likely candidate to power the next generation of smartwatches. This processor is faster than its predecessor and includes a smaller 4G LTE modem. This shows that the Korean giant still cares about keeping the S line alive and ready for a new batch in 2018.

Peculiarities

It is hoped that, within its Samsung updates will continue to improve software, working in smart watches. Many agree with the fact that although current smartwatches are quite bulky, they are still stylish and feature-rich. But future software improvements should fix some problems, such as inaccurate GPS tracking or questionable heart rate monitor readings. In parallel with the changes in new version watches, the company should also bring improvements to the Gear S3 software.

Charging from a smartphone?

On December 7, 2016, Samsung filed a patent for “Wireless Accessory Charger,” which states that “a mobile or wearable device can be charged via a dongle or wireless charging station when battery power is low or insufficient.”

The illustrations offered in the document showed the company's smartwatch positioned above a Galaxy smartphone, which is encased in a special case that serves as a docking station.

According to the patent description, the accessory case includes a magnetic coil that allows you to charge the device wirelessly. As we already know, a patent application does not necessarily lead to actual implementation, but it does confirm that companies are looking to solve big problems like electromagnetic waves and heat.

Voice assistant?

There are prerequisites for the fact that the S watch fourth generation Samsung's digital voice assistant Bixby can be used, which is included in Galaxy smartphones S8 and S8 Plus.

It's likely that Bixby will take the place of S Voice, as a company representative said that this assistant has been implemented in both the TV and the refrigerator; so why not build it into the watch?

Android Wear?

There are doubts that the South Korean manufacturer will switch to operating Android system Wear from Google, but somehow the upcoming new Gear Watch requires a much larger selection of apps.

And it looks like the company is set to use its own Tizen OS, which recently overtook Android Wear in popularity for the first time, according to a report from Strategy Analytics. During the first quarter of 2017, Tizen had 19% of the overall smartwatch market, compared to Google's platform's 18% (Apple's watchOS held 57% of the market).

So it is obvious that the newcomer to the S series will be equipped with the latest Tizen 3.0 operating system. Let's remember that Tizen 3.0 provided 64-bit compatibility, as well as support for 4K Ultra HD graphics and image and speech recognition, which is great for smartwatches.

What users expect from the new product

The most common question was what the new wearable device would look like. Images of fourth-generation smartwatches appeared on the Internet every now and then. But these were just guesses and assumptions. Let's look at some of them.

Curved Edge screen?

One of the company's patents, provided to Patently Mobile, hints that the watch could have curved display similar to the Galaxy S7 Edge smartphone. The patent shows a smartwatch with a touch-sensitive strip along the edge of the case. The Gear S3 is known to have a rotating bezel around the watch face, and a patented touch bezel could also become a reality someday.

Flexible display?

The 3Dnews resource published information about a patent that talks about smart watches with optical zoom, built into the middle of the dial. This document also highlights the inclusion of a strap with a screen that holds app shortcuts. This will allow users to use them on the bracelet without having to search through the tiny watch screen.

The Korean giant has been working on flexible and curved screens for a long time, so it is not surprising that the company will extend this idea to a watch strap. However, let's not forget that a patent often does not go beyond the scope of the idea.

Slim form factor?

Currently, many believe that the watch will have a lot in common with its predecessor S3, but in a thinner body thanks to the new processor. Like the S3, you can expect multiple versions with different bands to suit users' needs in both style and function.

Buyers want the S4 on their wrist to be smaller and slimmer, lighter and sleeker. Even if such an opportunity is available in at least one of the models in this line.

Functions

The S4 is expected to come with a 1.5-inch variant for people with larger wrist sizes. Users are also looking forward to an updated sleep monitoring system that will automatically calculate and recommend rest hours based on the number of calories burned and health data.

Health and fitness

It is known that the manufacturer has focused on fitness and sports with its Gear Sport watches and, most likely, this emphasis will be present in the Samsung Gear S4 2018 generation.

In an interview with the American satellite business news channel CNBC at the beginning of 2017, Samsung Mobile CEO DJ Koh said that “if the company can properly develop smartwatches to monitor health and provide the necessary information, then the market will grow.”

These words should correspond with the rebranding of S Health and even the release of new sensors or additional accessories for the wearable device. For example, the S-Patch 3 health patch, which was presented as a concept in January 2016 at CES, and recently appeared on the FCC list, indicating the company's readiness to launch S-Patch 3 to the masses.

Accurate activity tracking

We're already familiar with the Gear S3, which is packed with fitness tracking features including:

• heart rate monitor
• automatic workout recognition

However, according to user reviews, the device suffers from inaccurate data when tracking exercises. Likewise, the GPS function has become unreliable and disappointingly inaccurate. The same goes for the heart rate monitor.

Fans expect to see improvements to all of these features in the next model.

Other applications

One of the disadvantages of using Tizen's own operating system is the lack of available applications, so users are waiting for a counter-step from the company to be able to use more applications that work with the watch.

Lower price

The third generation watch has become one of the most attractive watches, offering a reasonable price, competing with Apple Watch 2. There is a fear that a successor will be expensive.

Demanding new additional functions along with improvements and bug fixes from previous models, users still want the product to be affordable. And if Samsung wants the watch to fly off the shelves in serious numbers, then a lower price would really help with that.

Battery

Time battery life The Gear S3 is generally quite impressive, but not when using the Always On Display. This is a feature that allows the screen to remain illuminated at all times so you can see the time.

It is very important for users to have a device that is optimized for long-term operation. They hope that the new S4 smartwatch will not only be thinner and lighter, but also offer excellent battery life.

Characteristics

Let's list the possible features, functions and specifications in the upcoming smartwatch.

Display	1.3/1.5" Infinity Display, Always On Display
Case and display protection	IP68: dustproof and waterproof; rotating bezel protection; Corning Gorilla Glass 5
operating system	Tizen OS for smartwatches
CPU	1.2 GHz Exynos 7 SoC
Memory	1.5 GB RAM, 4/8 GB storage
Peculiarities	A-GPS NFC smart alarm clock wireless charger viewing photos file sharing Email
Sensors	message sensors GPS based speedometer gyroscope SpO2 heart rate monitor barometer pedometer altimeter accelerometer
Battery	400mAh Li-ion battery, fast charging
Variations	Classic Frontier

Release date in Russia and price

So far, there is no clear answer to the question of when the wearable device will be released. Following the company's chronology, the last two watches were announced at the end of August before going on sale in November 2017. Most likely, the new product can be expected at the opening of IFA 2018 in late August - early September. It can also be assumed that the presentation of the next flagship will be along with the announcement of the next flagship Samsung smartphone in February 2018.

The approximate price of the Samsung Gear S4 will be around $600.

Update - 2018.06.27

The upcoming announcement of the Gear S4 may be evidenced by the appearance of a Samsung device on the EEC (Eurasian Economic Commission) website in the Regulatory and Reference Information database in the “Unified Register of Notifications on the characteristics of encryption (cryptographic) means and goods containing them.” And this means that the company is preparing its new device for release.

However, there is no detailed information about the gadget, only the name of the product in the form of 4 model brand names: SM-R800, SM-R805, SM-R810 and SM-R815. Probably, all these models in the line will differ in the presence or absence of some components, such as NFC, LTE, or other characteristics: sizes, materials, straps, color, etc.

Interestingly, the code name SM-R800 has previously appeared in a number of rumors from some news publications.

Update - 2018.07.10

New name for Galaxy Watch (Update 07/10/2018)

A reputable blogger under the nickname Ice Universe posted on his Twitter page the latest information about the upcoming Samsung Gear S4 smartwatch. The leaker noted that there is a possibility that the device will be called Galaxy Watch.

The tweet lists a number of characteristics of the new product, including a 470 mAh battery, the device’s ability to measure blood pressure and interact with the user in a new way. It is also noted that the watch will run on Android Wear, when, like all the company’s current wearable gadgets, they use Tizen OS.

Whether the information from Ice Universe will be confirmed remains to be seen.

Another confirmation that the next watch will have this name is the fact that the company registered the “Samsung Galaxy Watch” logo with the Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Korea (KIPO) on June 20 this year.

But the document has the status “Pending examination”, that is, an application for trademark has been accepted by the Office (corresponds to minimum requirements for submission of applications) and has not yet been transmitted to the experts.

Bixby virtual assistant

According to Sammobile's website, the Gear S4 (Galaxy Watch) will come with Bixby support. This digital assistant has already been used in all flagship Galaxy smartphones, starting with the S8, but it has not yet reached wearable devices. Owners lucky enough to interact with voice control have been impressed by Bixby's ability to do almost everything with just one touch. It is worth noting that the functions voice assistant Currently not available in Russia.

The source claims that Bixby will indeed be present on Samsung's upcoming smartwatch. However, the innovation should not add an additional button to the device, unlike flagship phones companies. Essentially, Bixby will replace S Voice as your primary virtual assistant on the Gear S4, so it's likely that the home button on the watch will be used to access Bixby. And, of course, you can activate the assistant using the voice command “Hi, Bixby.”

Bixby 2.0 will offer faster response times and will be aimed at "expanding the industry's own ecosystem," Samsung Mobile Division chief DJ Koh said last year.

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We follow the path of innovation and experimentation

In September, at the IFA 2014 exhibition, Samsung presented the new flagship of its line of smart watches: Gear S. On the one hand, this model can be considered a continuation of the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo - it uses the same Tizen OS that debuted in these devices. But on the other hand, with the letter S instead of the number 3, the manufacturer emphasizes that the new product has gone quite far from its predecessors: perhaps it will even become the beginning of a new model range.

The main features of the Samsung Gear S, which distinguish it not only from previous Samsung Gears, but also from competing watches, are support for SIM cards (that is, the watch can be used as a standalone device, without a smartphone!) and a large curved screen. Previously, we had only seen curved screens in wearable gadgets on the Samsung Gear Fit, a very successful hybrid of a fitness bracelet and smartwatch. But there the screen was relatively small in area, while the Gear S has perhaps the largest display among all competitors.

Video review

To get started, we suggest watching our video review of the Samsung Gear S smartwatch:

Now let's look at the specifications of the new product.

Specifications Samsung Gear S

• CPU @1 GHz (2 cores)
• Touch display 2.0″ Super AMOLED, 360×480, 300 ppi
• Random access memory (RAM) 512 MB, inner memory 4 GB
• Bluetooth 4.1LE
• Microphone, speaker
• Gyroscope, accelerometer, heart rate sensor
• 2G, 3G (nanoSIM support), call transfer to smartphone via Bluetooth
• Li-ion battery 300 mAh
• Tizen operating system
• Compatible with Samsung devices running Android 4.3 and later
• Compliant with IP67 protection standard
• Dimensions 37x58x10 mm
• Weight 83g (with strap) / 35g (without strap) (measured by us)

For clarity, we decided to make a table with the characteristics of other top smartwatches (including previous version Gear), adding to it those parameters that are currently key when choosing a device of this type.

	Samsung Gear S	Samsung Gear 2	Motorola Moto 360	Sony Smartwatch 3
Screen	touch, color, curved Super AMOLED, 2.0″, 360×480 (300 ppi)	touch, color, Super AMOLED, 1.63″, 320×320 (278 ppi)	round, touch, color, IPS, 1.56″, 320×290 (277 ppi)	touch, color, transreflective, 1.6″, 320×320 (283 ppi)
Protection	yes (IP67)	yes (IP67)	yes (IP67)	yes (IP68)
Strap	removable	removable	removable	removable
SoC (CPU)	2 cores @1 GHz	2 cores @1 GHz	TI OMAP 3 (no details provided)	4 cores @1.2 GHz
Internet	3G/Wi-Fi	no (only via smartphone)	no (only via smartphone)	no (only via smartphone)
Camera	No	yes (2 MP)	No	No
Microphone, speaker	There is	There is	microphone only	microphone only
Compatibility		Samsung devices running Android 4.3 or higher		devices running Android 4.3 and higher
operating system	Tizen	Tizen	Android Wear	Android Wear
Battery capacity (mAh)	300	300	320	400
Dimensions* (mm)	39.9 × 58.1 × 12.5	37×58×10	∅46×11.5	unknown
Weight (g)	83 (with strap) / 35 (without strap)	66	59	45 (without strap)*

*according to manufacturer information

As you can see, the screen of the Samsung Gear S is simply unrivaled: both in size and resolution. On top of that, it’s Super AMOLED, and curved too (however, we’ll talk about the practical side of this quality later).

At the same time, some concern is caused by the fact that with a very high (by the standards of wearable devices) screen resolution and the presence of communication modules, the battery here is far from the most capacious - less than, for example, that of the Moto 360.

Otherwise, everything is familiar and similar to the previous Gear. Well, it’s also worth noting that the device is quite thick - more than its competitors and Gear 2. But at the same time, given the curvature of the case, thickness may not be such a big problem. But this is already worth talking about in the process of directly getting acquainted with the device.

Equipment

The watch arrived to us without a box, so there will be no detailed story about packaging and accessories. But we will still tell you about one element of the kit, without which the watch cannot operate. This is the charging dock attachment.

It is connected to the watch from the inside - so that the contacts on the attachment coincide with the contacts on the watch. The nozzle locks tightly with a slight click.

On the right side of the nozzle there is a Micro-USB connector, to which it is connected Charger(any smartphone charger will do).

In principle, the dock attachment of the Gear S is very similar to the similar element of the Gear 2 and Gear Fit, but it is more massive, which, of course, is a minus. In addition, if six months ago this decision was perceived quite calmly, now it already looks like an anachronism. The Moto 360 and LG watches have taught us that you don't need to attach the charger - just put the watch on it.

Design

The design of the device itself evokes mixed emotions, but, in any case, it attracts attention and interests: the first thing you notice is the screen with a very strong curve.

A metal frame is visible around the screen. It not only protects the glass from possible impacts and falls, but also greatly improves appearance. Basically, when the watch is put on your hand, you can only see the screen, the elegant edging around it and a little bit of the strap (bottom and top above the screen). It is important that the strap does not protrude from the sides of the screen. The photo below shows why.

This is the watch case, removed from the strap: as we can see, under the screen there is plastic, inside of which is all the electronic stuffing. The strap runs exactly along the entire body, as if clasping it. But thanks to the groove in the plastic part, the strap is hidden and camouflaged. In general, this cannot help but evoke an association with the Samsung Gear Fit, which had the same design principle.

Let's pay attention to one more element on the front surface: the power button. It turns on the screen when it is off, and vice versa; in addition, if we click on it when we are in some menu or application, we will see the start screen (with a clock face). And if you press and hold, you will see a menu that allows you to restart the watch, turn off the power, turn on/off communication modules or vibration.

The button is metal, oblong, very unusual to the touch (it has a very small pattern on it, beautifully reflecting in the light and felt like a slight roughness). The button is pressed with average elasticity, but you don’t have to worry about accidental pressing with the sleeve of your clothing when the watch is on your hand. To the right and left of the button are light sensors.

Now let's look at the back of the case. It is made of white plastic. And here we see several important elements at once. In the center is a heart rate monitor (all wearables have it) Samsung devices this year, and competitors began to equip their models with it). Under the sensor are contacts for connecting the charging unit.

At the top there is a speaker. It is needed, first of all, for telephone conversations. The sound from it is quite audible, even when the watch is worn on the hand. But, of course, you won’t catch the nuances of your interlocutor’s intonation, and he is completely unsuitable for music. Finally, the most interesting element: the SIM card slot.

It is closed with a lid that fits very tightly. We were unable to open it without improvised means such as a metal clip or some strong thin object. You can try to pry it with your fingernail, but there is a high risk of breaking the nail. On the one hand, this is not bad - while wearing the watch on your hand, the SIM card is guaranteed not to fall out. On the other hand, if you need to remove the SIM card outside the home (for example, to put it in a smartphone or tablet), this will be very difficult to do.

Another important point: nanoSIM cards are used here, which will also cause a lot of problems for owners of Samsung smartphones (and the watch does not work with smartphones from other manufacturers). Apparently, the best option in such conditions is to use nanoSIM and carry an adapter to Micro-SIM with you. But, of course, this is not very convenient. One way or another, support for SIM cards is, in principle, a unique feature of Samsung watches (if we talk about wearable devices from world-famous companies), so you have to make any decision.

The watch case itself is quite light, only 35 grams (for comparison, the weight of the Sony SmartWatch 3 without a strap is stated at 45 grams), but the strap is quite heavy. Its mass is primarily due to its massive metal clasp. By the way, it is quite difficult to get used to - at first it seems that it is fastened very tightly. But if you get used to it and understand that you don’t need to press on it from above, but rather move the buckle a little forward, the watch will begin to fasten much easier.

The strap is quite pleasant to the touch; it is made of silicone and does not cause irritation or chafe. The watch, worn on the wrist, looks a little bulky, but there is an element of futurism in it: you want to say “wow!” It's practically a smartphone wrapped around your wrist! Maybe a little thick, but still!

It’s hard to say how quickly it will become boring and cease to delight, since none of the competitors have announced anything like this.

Screen

It is clear that the screen plays a key role in this product. Its parameters are truly impressive: a two-inch Super AMOLED with a resolution of 360x480 and a pixel density of 300 ppi. And, of course, curvature. Let us remind you that we have previously seen a curved screen only in three mobile devices: the LG G Flex and Samsung Galaxy Round smartphones, as well as in the Gear Fit bracelet. Detailed testing The display was conducted by the editor of the “Projectors and TV” section, Alexey Kudryavtsev.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface curved along the cylinder, resistant to scratches. There is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating on the outer surface of the screen (effective, slightly better than the Google Nexus 7 (2013), which we use as a reference sample for screen tests), so fingerprints are removed much more easily and appear less quickly. speed than in the case of ordinary glass. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are slightly better than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen. However, there is a not very pronounced bluish halo from bright objects. There is no double reflection, which indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen. With manual brightness control and when the white field was displayed in full screen, the maximum brightness value was about 270 cd/m², the minimum was 8.8 cd/m². In stock automatic adjustment brightness by the light sensor (located to the left of the button on the front panel). IN automatic mode When external lighting conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases (both abruptly). In complete darkness, the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 8.8 cd/m² (in the dark during a sleep break, it’s normal to look, but in general it’s a bit dark), in an office illuminated by artificial light (approximately 400 lux) it sets it to 80 cd/m² (acceptable), in a very bright environment (corresponding to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or slightly more) increases to 370 cd/m², which is even higher than the maximum with manual adjustment. As a result, the auto-brightness function works quite adequately. Given the good anti-glare properties, on a sunny day outdoors, screen readability will remain at an acceptable level (in automatic mode), and in complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value manually, or again, entrusted to the automation. At lower brightness, some flickering is detected. In the graphs of brightness (vertical axis) versus time (horizontal axis), you can see that at maximum brightness, modulation with a frequency of 60 Hz has an insignificant relative amplitude, but at medium and minimum brightness, modulation with a frequency of 240 Hz and a high relative amplitude appears:

In fact, everything is not so scary, since the screen flickers line by line in scanning mode along the long side. That is, there is no simultaneous flicker of the entire screen, which significantly reduces visible flicker. This screen uses an OLED matrix - active matrix organic light-emitting diodes. A full-color image is created using subpixels of three colors - red (R), green (G) and blue (B) in equal numbers, as confirmed by a fragment of a microphotograph:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.

We observed a similar “structure” of the screen, for example, in the case of the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini smartphone. The spectra are typical for OLED - the primary color areas are well separated and appear as relatively narrow peaks:

Accordingly, the coverage is noticeably wider than sRGB, and there are no attempts to reduce it:

Note that on screens with a wide color gamut, without appropriate correction, the colors of regular images optimized for sRGB devices appear unnaturally saturated. The color temperature of the white and gray fields is approximately 7500 K, and the deviation from the black body spectrum (ΔE) is 8 units. Color balance is acceptable. Black is just black from any angle. So black that the contrast parameter is simply not applicable in this case. When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the white field is excellent. The screen has excellent viewing angles with a much smaller drop in brightness when looking at the screen at an angle. However, at large angles the white field takes on a distinct blue-green tint. The situation is aggravated by the fact that due to the strong curvature of the screen, even when viewed from a slight angle, in the direction perpendicular to the hand, one of the edges of the screen will already be at a very strong angle, darkened and with a blue-green tint to the white field.

Testing the display and normal use of the watch raised an important question for us: how comfortable is it to use a device with such a curved display? In principle, in our opinion, the bend could have been made even a little smaller - when scrolling through the menu, for example, you have to twist the hand with which we touch the screen too much. And it’s not always possible to take in the screen with one glance (after all, when the watch is on your hand, it’s not often that your hand is turned strictly perpendicular to your gaze). For example, if the hand with the watch is slightly tilted away from the gaze, then the upper part of the screen is no longer in the field of view. On the other hand, if the screen is slightly straightened, then the body of the device will protrude more and get in the way in the sleeve of clothing. And, of course, the greater the bend, the greater the surprise and admiration of people who are not indifferent to technical achievements, the gadget causes.

Pairing with a smartphone

Like the Samsung Gear Fit, the Gear S smartwatch only works with Samsung smartphones, and only those running Android 4.3 or later. To get started, you need to install the Gear Manager application from the Samsung Apps catalog.

We connected our smartphone (Samsung Galaxy S5) to the watch without any problems. As for the application itself, its functionality is generally familiar to us from Gear Fit and Gear 2, except that some icons have been updated and added additional features customization that matches the Gear S.

In the "My applications" section we see a list of installed applications, and for some of them there are additional settings. In particular, by setting the Gallery application, you can send any images to your watch. Android Wear devices do not have this feature. And given that the Gear S's screen is quite large and very clear, viewing photos on it can be quite pleasant, especially in conditions where it is not possible to view the same pictures on a larger screen.

Like the Gear 2, the Gear S can install third-party apps from the Samsung Apps catalog. These applications include both free and paid ones. Moreover, according to our feelings, the latter are no less, if not more, than free ones, and sometimes they ask for a fee even for such basic things as a metro map.

An interesting question: how correctly do Gear 2 apps display on the Gear S screen, which has not only a different resolution, but also a different aspect ratio? We didn't find a setting in Samsung Apps that separates Gear 2 apps from Gear S apps, but we can assume that all the apps displayed support both devices. By at least, we couldn't find an app that didn't display correctly on the Gear S screen (for example, it would stretch vertically, distorting the proportions, or appear with black bars at the bottom and top). All apps work and look like they were written specifically for the Samsung Gear S.

At the same time, the set of applications is still very modest - for example, there is no such simple thing as a client for Vkontakte. But let's see what the watch can do without third-party apps!

Samsung Gear S functionality

Home and unique functional Samsung feature Gear S - the ability to work as a smartphone. You can insert a SIM card into the watch and make calls, write SMS, read news, in general - do many of those operations that in other smart watches are only possible if you have a smartphone connected to it. The Gear S is a completely autonomous device. True, to get started you will still need to connect it to your smartphone or Samsung tablet, and in the future, in the absence of a SIM card, a smartphone will be necessary to perform most operations. But, for example, if you are going for a walk or jog and are afraid of missing an important call, then you should move the SIM card from your smartphone to the Samsung Gear S and take only the watch with you.

This is the most likely scenario for using a SIM card in a watch. Other options that come to mind seem very exotic and far-fetched, since it’s really difficult to think of situations where you will use a watch instead of a smartphone. The reality is that a modern person does not part with a smartphone, and the watch in any case becomes just an addition (by the way, if you have both a watch and a smartphone with you, and a SIM card in the watch, then you can transfer a call from the watch to the smartphone and communicate with your interlocutor via smartphone). Another thing is that in the case of the Samsung Gear S, this addition is much more functional than all Android Wear devices, which are practically incapable of anything without a smartphone.

The Gear S runs on the Tizen operating system, just like the Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit. Let us remember that this is the brainchild of Samsung and Intel, based on the Linux kernel and working with HTML5 applications. Tizen traces its pedigree to the MeeGo operating system, which, in turn, is rooted in Maemo (the history of these projects can be read). At Mobile World Congress 2014 we saw a large Tizen stand, where engineering samples of smartphones running on this OS were presented, and in June, a commercial sample of a smartphone with Tizen, called Samsung Z, but a month later it was launched (seemingly due to the small number of applications for Tizen). A little later Samsung budget smartphone on Tizen, and it seems like this model will be on sale in India in November. However, November is just around the corner, and there has been no news about a Tizen smartphone since then. In general, the future of Tizen in mobile devices is still a big question mark, but in smartwatches, as we see, Samsung is stubbornly relying on this OS. Recently released Samsung model The manufacturer, practically without disguise, pushes it to hell and does not take any steps to promote it, confirming our assumptions that this model is nothing more than a friendly gesture towards Google. And for Samsung itself, the priority today is the Tizen line. However, compared to Android Wear, Tizen OS does have a number of advantages (although there are also disadvantages).

Let's take a look at the watch interface and the set of pre-installed applications.

The start screen is the clock itself. There are 13 options available, and each of them can be customized by setting the display of exactly the information that is required. Among the standard dials, there are three that are truly amazing. Here are photographs of two of them, which only partially convey their magnificence (in fact, they look much more beautiful).

Please note that the mini-dials here are customizable, that is, for example, on the blue version, you can display a compass at the bottom instead of the number of notifications, and on the white version, instead of the remaining battery charge, you can display the number of steps. To switch to another watch face, you simply hold your finger on the screen and select from the thumbnails that appear - just like Android Wear. And in order to exit to the main application menu, you need to swipe up on the screen.

A total of 16 applications are pre-installed: Phone, Contacts, Messages, Email, Schedule, Settings, Navigator, S Health, Running, Music, Brief News, Weather, S Voice, Alarm Clock, Gallery and Find Device. Let's comment on those that were not mentioned in the review of Gear 2 and Gear Fit, or that work differently than there.

First of all, this is, of course, the Telephone. You can dial numbers using the numeric keypad or select from a list of recent calls. You can also go to contacts. Note that searching for contacts using voice control didn’t really work for us: at first the watch could not recognize the last name of the required contact for a long time (instead of “Uvarov” the watch suggested “Ufa-Ufa” and the like), and then, when it finally succeeded to recognize the last name correctly, they reported that it was not in the contact list (although it was there). In general, don't rely on voice control for the Phone and Contacts apps.

Curious and very useful application— “Brief news.” Actually, from the name it is quite clear that this is a news aggregator. 10 thematic categories are supported (Business, Technology, Sports, Celebrities, etc.). You can choose all 10, or just a few. News on selected topics will be collected into feeds that can be scrolled with a vertical swipe across the screen (one screen - one news). The transition between thematic feeds is a horizontal swipe. By clicking on the headline and picture of any news, you can read the entire material. Very convenient (for example, when you are traveling on the Moscow metro during rush hour, and you have Wi-Fi, but there is no free space at least to get a smartphone). One thing is not clear: how to change the list of Internet resources with which the aggregator works.

The last application that is worth mentioning separately is “Navigator”. It's based on the Here maps and, in theory, could be quite useful. But in this case it works somehow strange. Firstly, it does not want to determine the location without a smartphone - even with Wi-Fi connected and a SIM card in the watch. Secondly, it offers to download maps to your smartphone so that you don't need an internet connection, but after downloading we didn't feel any difference. It seems that the watch does not know how to receive maps downloaded locally from a smartphone. Or does this require some special settings.

But the problems don't end there either. The program searches for the required address with ease. That is, it is not on the first try that the watch recognizes the entered information. Perhaps these problems will be solved by updating the firmware, and the watch will go on sale with a correctly working application. But even in its very idea it is very imperfect. Even when the address is found and the route is plotted, we do not see the actual map on the watch - only advice on how many meters to walk/drive in which direction. Obviously, the usefulness of this is very doubtful, especially when walking around the center of Moscow or another old city.

PC connection

The watch can be connected to a PC under Windows control. Windows treats the Gear S as a removable drive with a capacity of 2.50 GB, of which 2.24 GB are free (apparently 260 MB is the OS and hidden system files). It is curious that the Gear 2 had a slightly larger memory capacity (2.64 GB out of 2.81 GB is available to the user). I wonder what this difference is due to.

Inside we will find four folders: Downloads, Music, Images and Sounds. In fact, you can download pictures, music and ringtones into them for later playback on the watch (however, the same can be done through a smartphone with the Gear Manager application).

When connected to Mac computer the watch was much less functional (we were using an iMac running OS X 10.10). Firstly, Android File Transfer did not recognize them.

However, it would be surprising if it worked out, because this is not Android, but Tizen. The only way To “see” the watch - install the Samsung Kies application. After installation from the Samsung website, it restarts the computer, then reports the presence of an update, after installing it again requires a reboot, and in the end it still says that only firmware updates are supported for the Gear S (which were not available at the time of testing).

In general, it makes sense for Mac users to connect the watch to the computer only for recharging (of course, this option is also available on Windows).

Autonomous operation

We have already noted more than once that it is almost impossible to objectively assess the battery life of smartwatches, since everything will depend on the usage scenario: it is not yet possible to create any formalized scenarios (as, for example, when testing tablets and smartphones). It is all the more difficult to comment on the battery life of the Samsung Gear S, since there is nothing to compare it with - watches on Android Wear have completely different functionality. In this case, a lot depends on whether you will use the watch as a smartphone (that is, insert a SIM card into it and use it for conversations) or not. If not, you can expect the Samsung Gear S to last just as long as the Android Wear watch we tested earlier. That is, one and a half to two days is quite enough. And with minimal use - even longer. If you use the watch intensively, the battery can be discharged within a day. According to our feelings, in a similar usage scenario, the Gear S “live” on one battery charge less than the Gear 2: obviously, this is a consequence of a significantly larger screen area and resolution and the presence of Wi-Fi and 3G modules. On the other hand, we cannot say that the watch is discharged rapidly. So you don’t have to constantly sit at the charger.

conclusions

Samsung Gear S is one of the most interesting devices of the year: both in hardware and software. They are equipped with the best (among wearable devices) and truly innovative screen, and by the end of the year no one will surpass them. And in terms of functionality, this is the most advanced smartwatch model we have ever seen. In fact, Gear S is the first Tizen smartphone, isn't it?

Unfortunately, there are still some flaws in the software (they may not be in the commercial version of the device), and the pre-installed applications do not fully reveal the potential of this device. In particular, there is a lack of a full-fledged browser (optimized for this form factor, of course). On this watch, access to mobile versions sites would be quite useful, given the screen size and resolution.

In addition, on Android Wear devices we are already accustomed to Google Now. Samsung's analogue, S Voice, is outright inferior to it and cannot yet be recommended for real use. The same applies to the Navigator application, which is unable to compete with Google Maps... In general, sometimes no, no, and the thought flashes: if we crossed Android Wear and Tizen, we would get a different operating system for watches. In the meantime, the Tizen interface is more logical and convenient, but without Google services this OS often turns out to be even less functional than a stripped-down OS Android settings Wear.

Another unclear situation is with applications. There seems to be no feeling that there are very few of them (although, probably, still less than for Android Wear). But many of them are paid, and it is obvious that with all the aggressive promotion of the Tizen line, Samsung is unlikely to be able to compete with the expansion of Google, supported by LG, Sony, Asus, Motorola and even Samsung themselves (even formally, “for show”) . Consequently, the fleet of applications for Android Wear will grow faster than for Samsung watches, even though the hardware and technology of the Gear S is now superior to all models on Android Wear that we have seen, and also to the announced ones.

And most importantly, Samsung continues to limit the circle of possible users of its Tizen devices to owners of Samsung smartphones. Obviously, this greatly reduces the range of possible users - even compared to Android Wear. Hence the slow growth in the number of applications: today, a developer, choosing between Tizen and Android Wear, will almost certainly prefer Android Wear, even if the total number of Samsung watches sold this year exceeds the sales of all three available models on Android Wear.

The result is a completely classic example of a gadget (in the original, narrow sense of the word): something amazing, technically innovative, with various cool features and standing out from similar devices, but impractical and of little use in everyday life, and not in spy thrillers. Especially if you consider the price: Samsung Gear S will be sold here for 14,990 rubles - more expensive than all other smartwatches on the market. At least until the Apple Watch comes out.

For its innovative curved display and new take on smartwatch functionality, we award Samsung our Original Design Award.