Samsung unveiled its latest wearable Tizen-based smartwatch, the Gear S3, during the IFA 2016. The Gear S3 will have two models, the Classic and the rugged Frontier, while its predecessor offered three, Sport, Classic and Frontier. This comparison will involve the Classic models.
The Gear S3 is more appropriate to wear with formal clothes than its predecessor. It still has its great rotating bezel, to help navigate through its interface, but contains fewer ridges. The two buttons are still present but are now classic crown-looking buttons.
The new model also sports a slightly bigger screen, a 1.3-inch AMOLED screen offering 360 x 360 resolution with around 302 ppi pixel density. The S2 has a 1.2-inch screen but a higher pixel density at around 302 ppi. Both offer Always-On displays but instead of turning gray when the display goes dim, the new one offers a colored one. Both watches are water- and dust-proof certified, which means that they will survive everyday use against, handwashing, running through the rain and a few more. Both are models use Corning Glass, but the S3 has been upgraded to SR+, which offers better scratch protection.
When it comes to weight, the Samsung Gear S3 is heavier than last year's model. It is roughly 30 to 38 percent heavier, depending on the compared models. The battery is 400 mAh for the latest, compared to only 250 mAh for last year's release.
Underneath, the latest model contains a dual-core Exynos 7270 clocking in at 1.0 GHz, with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal memory. It is running Tizen Wearable OS 2.3.2. Connectivity wise, it got plenty, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi b/g/n, NFC, MST, and GPS/Glonass. Sensors include Accelerometer, Gyro, Barometer, HRM, Ambient light, and Speedometer. The previous model contains almost a similar specification, except for its RAM, which only comes in at 512 MB.
Those who will opt to have the Samsung Gear S3 Classic will not have any issues when pairing it up with their Android phones, just like the Gear S2. The wearable OS is not limited to Samsung only phone.
The company mentioned no official pricing for its upcoming watches, but last year's model started at US$300.
