Samsung Gear S3 review: More features, but is that enough?

Smartwatches haven’t had the best 2016. While the Apple Watch has made its comeback in Q4, it continues to dominate the segment with over 80 per cent share if you go by the latest Canalys numbers. We’ve not seen any new Android Wear watches, though the new versions are expected soon. But one player that’s been consistent in the space is Samsung with its Tizen-based Gear watches. The latest Gear S3 is finally in India after being launched in September at IFA 2016.

The Gear S3 now comes with GPS, though India is not getting the LTE version. It comes in two variants: frontier and classic. The ‘frontier’ is slightly more bulky, and rugged in design; the classic minimalist and closer to a real watch. Personally, I’d prefer the latter, but I have reviewed the frontier here.

Specifications: 1.3” Circular Super AMOLED display (360 x 360) 278ppi, Always On Display|Corning Gorilla Glass SR+ | Dual core 1.0 GHz processor | 4GB storage, 768MB RAM | Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi b/g/n, NFC, MST, A-GPS/Glonass | Tizen Based Wearable Platform 2.3.2| Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyro, Barometer, HRM, Ambient light | Battery 380mAh | Wireless charging (WPC Inductive) | IP68 water & dust resistance | Size: 46 x 49 x 12.9 mm, 63g (without band)

Price: 28,500

Gear S3 frontier

I’ve used the Gear S2 in the past, and it was a watch I really liked. The new Gear S3 frontier, though a bulkier version, comes with IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. This is good news, but that doesn’t mean you can take this for a swim just yet.

The Gear S3 has the familiar circular design we saw with the older version. There’s a rotating bezel on top, which can be used to control applications on the watch. For Android users, the Gear S3 now supports the capability of taking calls from the device itself; previously the call had to be continued on the phone with the Gear S2.