We follow the path of innovation and experimentation

In September, at IFA 2014, Samsung presented new flagship its line of smartwatches: 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.

Main features Samsung Gear S, which distinguishes them not only from previous Samsung Gears, but also from competitor watches, is support for SIM cards (that is, the watch can be used as a standalone device, without a smartphone!) and 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 the charger is connected (any charger for a smartphone 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 Samsung wearable devices this year have it, and competitors have begun equipping 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 in only three mobile devices ah: LG G Flex smartphones and Samsung Galaxy Round, and also 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. There is automatic brightness adjustment based on 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 top part the screen no longer comes into 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 installed applications, and for some of them there is 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 modern man does not part with the smartphone, and the watch in any case becomes only 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 the interlocutor already 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 ancestry back to operating system MeeGo, which, in turn, has its roots in Maemo (you can read the history of these projects). 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. The manufacturer, practically undisguised, has pushed the recently released Samsung Gear Live model on Android Wear far away and has not taken 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.

An interesting and very useful application is “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“see” the clock - set samsung app Kies. 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 to objectively evaluate the duration battery life Smartwatches are almost impossible, 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 scenario using Gear S “live” on one battery charge less than 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 could cross 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.

While regulars of the smartphone market are one after another announcing smartwatches on the Android Wear OS, compatible with any Android with a version older than 4.3, Samsung is persistently developing a line of smart wearable devices 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 is the new flagship of the 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. Runs Tizen OS, compatible only with flagship smartphones Samsung 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 high pixel density - 300 ppi. “Stuffing” is similar to the previous flagship of the line, Gear 2 - dual-core gigahertz processor, 512 MB random access memory, 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?

Revolutions in appearance Samsung smart watch did not happen, and in Gear S you 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 a 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 automatic adjustment backlight. The display resolution is 360x420 pixels; with a density of 300 ppi, it is impossible to see an individual pixel on it. 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, the proportions were taken from the clock, from Samsung Android 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 naturally comes 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 charger and a sensor for measuring pulse, 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 watches, like in Samsung Galaxy Note 4, a UV radiation 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 the smartphone occurs through our old familiar Samsung Gear application, which is downloaded through Samsung Apps (when changing the smartphone, 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”. Besides the attempt to artificially create a feeling of hectic life, the thing 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, and there are a number of sports and simple mapping applications for it (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 devices on Tizen are compatible only with its flagships on Android. 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 the person who acquires top smartphones 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;
• flagship samsung smartphone you do not plan to buy;

With some changes and improvements, both in terms of design, functions and autonomy. From this Galaxy comparisons Watch and Gear S3 you will find out exactly what has changed and how the new version is better than its predecessor.

Samsung Galaxy Watch vs Gear S3: Design

Although these two models are very similar in appearance, ours Galaxy look The Watch looks more sophisticated and elegant than the Gear S3. But again, this depends on personal preference. For those unaware, the Gear S3 comes in two variants: Classic and Frontier. As the name suggests, the former looks more classic, while the latter looks more sporty. Both versions have a case diameter of 46 mm.

The Galaxy Watch comes in one design, but with two case sizes: 42 and 46 mm, with the 46 mm version only available in a silver case with a black bezel around the screen, and the 42 mm version in black or rose gold, which should appeal to girls and women.

One of the features of the new watch model is a realistic dial with hour hands and an imitation of the sound of a mechanical watch, thanks to which the gadget can easily be mistaken for a classic analog watch.

Galaxy Watch and Gear S3 features

In terms of functions related to activity tracking, Samsung devices have always been inferior to gadgets from such companies as Fitbit, Garmin or Polar. But with the Galaxy Watch, Samsung is moving to new level features, adding several new features.

The watch can automatically detect the start of a workout and can control up to 39 sports modes. To obtain more accurate data, the watch is equipped with a GPS module, so during training you can get data on speed, trajectory and route.

Another one new feature– stress management system. Combined with data from a heart rate sensor, this system can determine the user's stress level and recommend breathing exercises and meditation to reduce it. Galaxy Watch also received advanced sleep monitoring, with automatic detection of sleep depth and phases.

Another watch will help you control your calorie and water consumption, which was not the case in the previous model. The Gear S3 had some of these features, but it can't detect stress levels and can't track as many sports modes.

In terms of other features, the Galaxy Watch also comes with NFC module for contactless payments via Samsung Pay, but without MST, which, unfortunately, is not supported by us. The watch also supports the use voice assistant Bixby and control other Samsung gadgets from your watch using the SmartThings app. Otherwise, with the exception of minor differences, the functionality of these two models is identical.

Samsung Galaxy Watch vs Gear S3: Specifications and Software

Like the Gear S3, the Galaxy Watch runs on the Tizen operating system (version 4.0). To pair with a smartphone, an updated application (formerly Samsung Gear) is used.

The 46mm version of the Galaxy Watch uses the exact same screen as the Gear S3. This is a Super AMOLED panel with a diameter of 1.3 inches with a resolution of 360*360 pixels. The 42 mm version has a screen with the same resolution of 360*360 pixels, but with a smaller diameter - 1.2 inches. Using protective glass Galaxy screens Watch is better protected from impacts and scratches than the Gear S3 with Gorilla Glass SR+.

Another change affected the processor. Behind Galaxy performance Watch answers new processor Exynos 9110 with a frequency of 1.15 GHz, while the previous model is powered by an Exynos 7270 chip with a frequency of 1.0 GHz. Memory in both cases: 768 MB of RAM and 4 GB of internal memory. Galaxy version Watch with LTE will receive 1.5 GB of RAM, but it will not be available in our market.

Samsung Galaxy Watch and Gear S3: waterproof and battery life

The autonomy of the new watch model has improved significantly. If the Gear S3 could last a maximum of 4 days without charging, then for the Galaxy Watch this time changed to 7 days, thanks to a 472 mAh battery. But this only applies to the 46 mm version. The 42 mm watch has the same autonomy as the previous model.

In terms of water resistance, the Gear S3 is IP68 rated for water and dust resistance, meaning it can withstand short periods of submersion in water. The new model has a water resistance level of 5 ATM, which means they can withstand swimming and even diving to shallow depths.

Let's sum it up

The Samsung Galaxy Watch is a clear improvement over the Gear S3, but probably not enough to make you want to sell your Gear S3 and buy one right now. new version. Evolution, of course, is obvious, but this is precisely evolution, and not a revolutionary leap forward.

The Samsung Galaxy Gear S watch is the third generation of the Gear line, significantly different from the first two.

The first thing you should pay attention to is the microSIM card that Samsung specialists equipped the watch with. Hence, they can be used to make calls even without additional devices. The fundamental difference between the new product and other generations of Gear is the ability to use this device not only independently, but also with a phone (companion). This significantly expands the scope of the watch. For example, you can wear them on the beach or in the pool and receive calls without using your phone.

This feature, naturally, affected the duration of the device’s operation without charging, as well as its price (it is the highest among all Gear representatives). In general, the model in question is the flagship in the line of Samsung smartwatches, which is a completely ready-made product for the market of ordinary buyers, and not exclusively for enthusiasts. So what does this watch have to offer?

Design

The watch has a rectangular shape, a plastic case and is quite large in size. At the same time, they are quite thin and look very nice on the hand. However, it all depends on the taste and preferences of each person.

The Samsung Galaxy Gear S strap, like previous models, is not equipped with electronics. Its length is enough even for a large hand, and the clasp is a simple but reliable latch. It is available in two colors: white and black. It remains to be seen whether we can count on a wider range of colors, but experience suggests that it is more likely not than yes. On the other hand, in the announcement of this product, the straps were decorated Swarovski crystals. However, it is unlikely that you will be able to find something similar in retail. The strap can always be replaced, but this will require some effort - the consequences of the curved case make themselves felt.

Advantages and disadvantages

The OLED display with a diagonal of 2″ and a good resolution of 360x480 pixels has an arcuate shape that is comfortable for the hand. This may cause screen glare, which, as a rule, does not cause any particular problems, since the picture will be clearly visible both indoors and outdoors.

On the inner surface of the watch there is a sensor that determines the heart rate, as well as a special slot for a SIM card (micro-SIM). By opening this micro-connector, the watch is automatically turned off, and when a card is inserted, it turns on.

Gear S supports the IP 67 protection standard, which allows you to wash your hands underwater and swim in the sea without fear of damage. Among the controls, there is a single button located under the screen, which, in fact, determines the ease of use of the watch. Next to it there is an indicator that regulates the degree of illumination of the display, as well as a sensor that measures ultraviolet radiation for a more comfortable visual perception. Unlike Gear2, this model does not have a camera.

The main drawback of the watch is the long charging time (it takes about three hours):

• The charging current is 0.15A;
• charging base capacity (external battery) – 350 mAh.

This means that once the device is charged, you can take the base with you and recharge the watch as needed throughout the day. There is an indicator on the case that displays the charging process.

Availability external battery itself hints at the short operation of the watch from the built-in LiPol battery with an energy capacity of 300 mAh, although the manufacturers claim that the watch can work without recharging for up to two days. True, the developers do not specify what mode the device must be in in order to last that many hours.

Experimentally, it was possible to find out that when connected via Bluetooth phone and activated SIM card, as well as incoming notifications from various programs and synchronization with a frequency of 15 minutes, the watch can work for no more than a day and a half. Be that as it may, the device is guaranteed to last a full day without an external battery. By changing the settings, you can increase the operating time of the Gear S to two days or even more.

The vibration alert present in this watch is a great alternative to the regular ringer as it feels great while standard signal On the street you might not hear it.

Gyroscope and acceleration sensor equipped with this model, are activated during the period of raising the arm.

The watch can only work with one phone, connected when Bluetooth assistance 4.1. This is a big disadvantage, since you won’t be able to use this device simultaneously with a tablet and a phone.

Another major drawback is that the Gear S can only be set up as a complete standalone device with a companion phone. Initial setup only possible on Galaxy Note 4 and no other models are supported. Many have gotten used to the fact that Samsung smart watches are compatible only with smartphones and tablets of this brand, but in this case the compatibility is completely low.

Let's sum it up

The Gear S watch differs from the seemingly ideal device of the previous generation (second) both in its functionality and use. In this model additionally installed programs easily adapt to the display, which has become significantly larger compared to previous Gear products. Since the design is the main thing in a watch, that’s what you should pay attention to. Before purchasing this device, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with it in detail, since its cost is quite high.

Color design of Android watches Samsung Galaxy Gear S

In general, one gets the feeling that Samsung, like other companies that produce similar products, are not entirely sure of the specific area of ​​application of such devices. An example can be given Apple model Watch, which does not have a single specific use case announced by the manufacturer. They share a significant flaw with the Gear S - it’s not entirely clear the target audience of this product and its intended purpose. Apple representatives position their product as a fashion accessory. It follows from this that functionality is given a second place, if not a third place.

Samsung specialists, in turn, proceed from the opposite: they offer multifunctional devices, whose weak point is design. As a result, when viewed from a practical standpoint, the Gear S is an enthusiast product that will soon be replaced by new, more advanced watches.

Contents of delivery

• Strap
• Instructions
• Charging station

Specifications

• Screen 1.3 inches, 360x360 pixels, SuperAMOLED, Corning® Gorilla® Glass SR+, glove mode
• Built-in Li-Pol 380 mAh battery, up to four days of operation
• Tizen OS
• Dimensions – 46x46x12.9 mm, weight 57 and 62 grams (Classic/Frontier)
• Silicone or leather strap, 22mm, fits any strap
• Water and dust protection IP68, MIL-810G (Frontier, vibration, shock and temperature protection)
• Heart rate sensor
• Voice control S Voice, updated version
• Samsung Pay (does not work on watches in Russia)
• SOS mode, sending messages to emergency numbers
• Barometer, altimeter, speedometer
• S Health
• 3G/4G, eSIM (Frontier model only)
• 768 MB RAM, 4 GB internal memory
• BT 4.2, Wi-Fi b/g/n, USB 2.0, NFC, MST, GPS/Glonass
• Dual-core 1 GHz processor
• Navigation Here

Positioning

Exactly the same as a year or two ago, it is necessary to answer the question of why smart watches are needed and for whom they were created. The market for smart watches has never become widespread; a negligible number of them are sold per year compared to smartphones; the numbers differ by orders of magnitude. For example, in the third quarter of 2016, about 2.7 million watches were shipped to channels (IDC data), and even less were sold. For comparison, about 350 million smartphones were shipped in the same quarter.

In my opinion, there are exactly two reasons for this situation. The first and main thing is that many companies created smart watches without regard to the watch market. Remember the first generations of Gear watches, their design could be called anything, but not classic for a watch. But that was some three years ago!

Samsung went through a search for the right form factor and the necessary functions for the watch, managing to change several generations of Gear watches along the way. The same Apple largely borrowed Samsung's ideas for the Apple Watch, following a well-trodden path. I am sure that after some time they will borrow the ideas contained in the Gear S3.

The Gear S3 model is divided into two devices - Classic and Frontier. Conventionally, the “junior” model looks a little smaller, lacks the military protection standard MIL-810G (shock, temperature, vibration), and does not have a built-in 3G/4G module with an eSIM card (not supported in Russia). But otherwise, these watches are identical and offer the same set of features. The differences lie in the design and if the cost of the watches is equal, they will choose what they like best. This is an unusual approach for electronics manufacturers, usually than more features, the higher the cost. But not here. Now Samsung is trying to adopt the approach of watch companies, which puts design first and only then additional functions. For the first time, Samsung hired a watch designer to develop a watch; the Gear S3 was created by Yvan Arpa, who is an extraordinary person in every sense. Some consider him a temporary worker, while others admire his ability to shock, which only a watch with petrified dinosaur feces is worth. But I like what he does in the Spero Lucem collection, not only with watches, but also with pens and knives. You can look at these items.

Ivan Arpa approached the creation of the Gear S3 from the perspective of a watch; smart functions were taken into consideration secondarily. And for the first time for the Gear line, the watches turned out to be typical of Swiss manufacturers, and not of the creators of electronics.

The previous Gear S2 was made in the style of a regular watch, but they clearly lacked attention to detail, any comparison with Swiss models even entry level gave away that the Gear was created by an electronics manufacturer. This feeling is difficult to describe, you just feel the weight of the watch on your wrist, how the material is processed, which seems to be the same, but feels completely different. However, the design of the Gear S2 was liked by many and was seen as a step in the right direction.

The Gear S3 goes one step further and for the first time, a Samsung watch looks and feels like a Swiss watch, without any discounts or concessions. Not the most expensive models, but they are quite comparable to the same Tag Heuer Connected, there is no difference between them.

Now a few words about what happens to the “old” watches. Samsung has completely changed the approach to these accessories; now they have the maximum life cycle and it is not determined by these or those functions; at the time of Gear 2, functionality was already at its maximum. From now on, new models expand the line, but do not replace the devices that came before them. So, Gear S2/S2 Classic are not disappearing from the market; they remain in the line of devices from Samsung. That is, the company will continue to produce them, sell them, and it is planned that they will exist simultaneously with the Gear S3. At the same time, the Gear S3 is positioned higher than any previous watch from Samsung.

Compared to Gear S2

We see Samsung taking the approach of watch companies; new watches with an updated design do not replace the previous ones, but complement the line and exist simultaneously with them. This approach is not typical for electronics manufacturers.

The positioning of the Gear S3 is very simple - the audience for this watch will be both technology enthusiasts, who have always chosen the Gear line, but also ordinary users who choose watches and look at both smart electronics and ordinary watch brands. Perhaps for the first time, Samsung has a chance to expand the potential audience of smartwatches, since this model is perceived completely differently than everything that came before.

Design, materials and hardware – Classic vs Frontier

The first thing you notice is that the watch has become more massive, while the case size in both models is the same - 46x46x12.9 mm, the standard strap is 22 mm, you can use any watch manufacturer's straps. If the S2 used its own latch, then there is nothing like it. In the photo you can see the old latch.

And this is what the new strap looks like, which can be made of any materials - rubber, silicone, leather, and so on.

The choice of additional straps is huge, and you can use a strap from any manufacturer.

Exactly the same 316L steel is used as in the Gear S2, but the case has become more massive, and the watch looks noticeably better on the hand.

They left the rotating bezel (bezel), it serves as a control element, and they made it ribbed, which is not bad. Both versions of the watch support the IP68 protection standard, but the Frontier model also adds protection against temperature, shock, vibration, and all this is at the military level. That is, if the Classic is a typical watch, then the Frontier is made with a non-killing material (MIL-810G standard. The watch is protected from impacts with stones and other objects, and is suitable for active sports.

The weight of the watch is 57 or 62 grams (without a strap, the Frontier is heavier), which is not much compared to conventional mechanics, but the watch is felt on the hand and its weight is pleasant, a kind of golden mean. The clasp is comfortable, no complaints.

If in the previous generation the screen was 1.2 inches, then here it is 1.3 inches, but for the sake of application compatibility the resolution was left the same - 360x360 pixels. The AlwaysOn Display function is supported, that is, the screen can be on all the time! According to preliminary data, with this function the watch will work for about 2 days. The screen is covered with Corning® Gorilla® Glass SR+. The glass is resistant to everyday scratches and is difficult to damage. Among the additional features, you can enable increased screen sensitivity in the menu, then it will support clicks while wearing gloves.

The larger body size allowed for a larger battery size, now 380 mAh is supported as before wireless charger using the cradle that is included in the kit. Charging time is about two hours.

Gear S3 and Gear S2

On average, this watch lasts up to 4 days, depending on what notifications you receive, how often you receive them, and what features you use. For me, with maximum screen backlight, calls on the clock, they usually work for two full days (synchronization is also enabled for everything, both via Bluetooth and WiFi).

The side keys on the Classic are simpler and less convenient.

While on the Frontier they are ribbed and due to this they press well.

As before, a dual-core processor with a maximum frequency of 1 GHz is used, but the amount of RAM has increased from 512 to 768 MB (Tizen 2.3.2). If the Classic has support for Bluetooth® 4.2, Wi-Fi b/g/n, NFC, MST, GPS/Glonass, then the Frontier also adds a 3G/4G module (eSIM, support depends on the operator). In Russia, watches do not support eSIM, and there is also no support for Samsung Pay.

The watch has an updated pulse sensor, a different module is used, it is located under the glass on the inside. New sensor Less sensitive to shaking, you can use it during training and running.

Separately, I would like to note the return of hardware GPS/GLONASS; accordingly, there is full-fledged navigation directly in the watch, without a companion smartphone. Maps, as before, Here.

Among the new features, I would like to note the presence of two side buttons that can be configured to call up the necessary functions. Also, most of the menu has been redrawn for the use of the rim, for example, answering a call, hanging up, and the like. But the most important thing, in my opinion, is that now again, like in Gear 2, you can talk by the hour. This is especially interesting in Frontier, which de facto turns into a phone when the eSIM card is working. Many Gear 2 users did not upgrade their watch to the Gear S2 due to the missing GPS, the inability to take notes by voice, and the inability to talk on the phone, which has now been eliminated.

The SOS function allows you to send your coordinates and message to specified numbers (Frontier), this was not the case on previous models.

Another interesting point is that in addition to hardware GPS, this watch has a hardware barometer and altimeter, which are used in sports applications (incline, distance traveled uphill), and can also locally predict the weather. The speedometer shows your current speed.

For those who don’t want to take out their phone to create a reminder, it is possible to write a reminder on the screen by hand; it will be recognized and translated into text.

Interface, working with the clock, pre-installed programs

Circle UI interface, sometimes called Round UI. The logic of the watch is built around control using the bezel. So, scroll through the screens with the rim, by default they show you the time. Rotate to the right and see your widgets that you installed yourself, for required applications. Rotate to the left and in front of you are various notifications from your phone; in standby mode, a yellow dot indicates that new messages have appeared.

You can get to the circular menu for applications by pressing the bottom button; you can go up to the top level by pressing the top button. The menu contains your applications, and there may be several circles with them. You decide where and how to place the labels to make it convenient for you.

Having found the desired item or icon, you click on it, then you can scroll through the list with the rim or scroll the page. For example, when reading a website or email, you turn the page with the rim. This is good because it saves time, you don’t close the screen and always see the information. You must understand that no one will read treatises on the watch; it could be an SMS or something small, but not noticeable in size text.

There are already over ten thousand watch apps, but most of them are simply unnecessary. And attempts to find the announced 10,000 applications in the store turned out to be a complete fiasco, at most several hundred, most of which are design options for the main screen with a dial. The number of applications is growing year by year, but there are almost none that are really needed; the watch has everything from the very beginning.

Pay attention to how the dials look by default; each of them can be further customized, changing the colors, for example, from black to white and vice versa.

Notifications arrive on the watch in the usual manner, plus there is S Health (the watch can measure steps, heart rate (both constantly and on request). As a sports watch, the Gear S3 is noticeably better than the previous Gear S2, fits tighter on the hand, measures more accurately because of this, the heart rate also increases during active games or jogging.

There is an interesting thing in S Health: now you can compete with your friends to see which of you can complete the most steps. And there is a widget on the watch that shows your progress. Interesting and motivating stuff.

In addition to steps and distance traveled, the watch also counts how many floors you have walked, and can measure height (this is where the altimeter comes in handy).

In the previous model, my complaint was S Voice and how it works. Voice recognition in Russian was a painful task, but in S3 this aspect was greatly improved. The bad thing is that S Voice only works with Samsung phones, although the watch can be connected to any Android smartphone. On the good side, the quality of voice recognition has become very decent. And again about the sad thing - in a crowd or on the street, the watch microphone reacts to extraneous sounds and therefore you can use S Voice only in a quiet room, in other cases there are many false positives or it simply does not work correctly.

The watch is very easy to understand, but there are questions about how to view the gallery (photos become round), and the gallery presentation is painfully reminiscent of the cloud of icons on the Apple Watch. Despite the fact that there is 4 GB of memory inside, you can only copy 200 photos from the gallery to the phone.

Navigation works on Here maps, everything is quite simple, including showing routes (on foot, by bike or by car, with approximate travel times). Nothing special, it’s unlikely that such navigation will be in demand among ordinary people.

Music can be controlled directly from the watch, and you can also download your songs to the Gear S3's memory. If desired, you can connect wireless headset directly to the watch, then you won't need a phone to listen to music.

Look at the remaining capabilities in the screenshots, I think they will describe themselves what the watch can do, I won’t dwell on ordinary functions.

On your smartphone you install Gear Manager, which allows you to fully customize your watch, and from there you have full access to the application store.