Samsung's Tizen OS-powered Gear S3 smartwatch series, which was unveiled at IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin) 2016 in September, will finally hit stores this month.
Samsung on Friday confirmed that the new Gear S3 will be first made available in its home market South Korea and will be released worldwide including Australia, Dubai, France, Germany, Singapore, UK, and the US November 18 onwards.
Also read: Lenovo launches Phab 2 Plus with dual-camera, AR photography feature
For those unaware, the Gear S3 comes in two models -- classic and frontier, which is a rugged variant for outdoors. They house almost the same hardware, but differ in a few aspects. The latter boasts LTE support and built-in speakers, wherein users can activate voice messaging and listen to their favorite tunes.
The former lacks these two aforementioned features. Furthermore, the classic model has minimalistic look, while the Frontier features rugged exterior design, best suited for people who love trekking. Other key specifications such as display, battery, RAM, storage, fitness tracking sensor and OS remain the same.
They come with 1.3-inch circular super AMOLED display with AOD (Always-On-Display) feature and IP68 water-and-dust resistant certification. Under the hood, it houses 1.0GHz dual-core processor, 768MB RAM and 4GB inbuilt storage.
Samsung Gear S3 series also boasts Heart Rate Monitor and 380mAh battery, which can keep the device running for close to four days.
The Gear S3 series also features NFC (Near Field Communication) and MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission), thus paving way for cash-less transaction via Samsung Pay. [This payment option is currently available in the US, Australia and Singapore only].
Another notable aspect of the Gear S3 series is its safety feature. Users can activate SOS and location tracking capabilities to alert family, friends and emergency professionals when facing dire situation.
Samsung has confirmed that the new Gear S3 series is compatible with Google Android and Apple iOS devices.
As of now, Samsung Gear S3 series price details are still under wraps.
Stay tuned for more updates.
Key specifications of Samsung Gear S3:
| Models | Gear S2 frontier | Gear S2 classic |
| Display | 1.3-inch Circular Super AMOLED screen, Full Color Always On Display, Corning Gorilla Glass SR+
|
1.3-inch Circular Super AMOLED screen, Full Color Always On Display, Corning Gorilla Glass SR+
|
| OS | Tizen Wearable Platform v2.3.2 | Tizen Wearable Platform v2.3.2 |
| Processor | 1.0GHz dual-core CPU | 1.0GHz dual-core CPU |
| RAM | 768MB | 728MB |
| Storage | 4GB | 4GB |
| Network | 3G/LTE, | ------------- |
| Battery | 380mAh with Wireless charging (WPC Inductive) | 380mAh with Wireless charging (WPC Inductive) |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Gyro, Barometer, HRM (Heart Rate Monitor), Ambient light | Accelerometer, Gyro, Barometer, HRM, Ambient light |
| Add-ons | IP68 water & dust resistance certification, Bluetooth® 4.2, Wi-Fi b/g/n, NFC (Near Field Communication), MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission), A-GPS/Glonass |
IP68 water & dust resistance certification, Bluetooth® 4.2, Wi-Fi b/g/n, NFC, MST, GPS/Glonass |
| Dimensions | 46 x 49 x 12.9 mm | 46 x 49 x 12.9 mm |
| Weight | 62g (without band) | 57g (without band) |
| Band | 22mm | 22mm |
