With the launch of the Samsung Gear S3, Samsung pulled out all of the stops. Perhaps less aesthetically pleasing than some other watches out there, it appears on the face of it to be a much better-equipped watch for the people that want to do more than just wear something snazzy.
The Gear 3 is a lot larger and thicker than other watches, which is maybe one downfall for the offering. Some also think it fairly similar to the Apple Watch Series 3 in terms of features, but the Apple watch series 3 could be slightly more expensive. So, let’s take a closer look at what they do and how they compare. You can find the Apple watch 3 on eBay here.
It’s all in the face.
The Samsung Gear S3 is certainly very similar to other models that have been released with rounded face. The rotating bezel adds a bit of size to the watch, unlike the Apple Watch Series 3, which has a kind of rounded square-shaped face that is also nice to look at and has soft edges.
The Gear S3 has a rubber flexible band whereas the Apple watch series 3 has a wide range of band choices giving you the option to pick what kind of fastening you prefer. Furthermore, they offer a Velcro band which is quite a nice touch. Both watches are certainly built very nicely.
Furthermore, the rotating bezel on the Samsung Gear S3 adds a very nice touch to the watch as it is easy to use. You rotate the bezel to navigate your way around the watch and it is a lot more precise, as when using the bezel, you do not accidentally tap on a different app or notification.
Features
The Samsung Gear S3 is a watch with wireless charging, which is a very useful feature. However, the Apple Watch Series 3 does not have that feature yet. The Gear S3 is on at all times by default and when you flick your wrist it wakes up, however, the Apple watch has a timer on it. This turns the screen off when there has been a period of inactivity so you have to click the side crown to wake it up.
When using the Samsung Gear S3 you use the rotating bezel to select where you want to go. The top button sends you back to the previous screen, secondly, the bottom button sends you back to the home screen. On the Gear S3 you are limited to what apps are available and you will also find that a lot of the apps are Samsung-stocked apps. There are some available to download but, again, this is very limited. The Apple Watch has a lot more choices when it comes to apps.
In terms of battery life, the S3 charges at approximately the same speed as the Apple Watch. However, the battery life is much longer than with the Apple alternative. Consequently, this can be a big bonus to those who wish to sleep track, as with the Apple Watch it often becomes necessary to charge the device overnight, which can mean you miss out on what could be essential tracking for some people.
Safety Features
Safety features are becoming increasingly more important across smartwatches. And when it comes to Samsung and Apple they are certainly on top of it. Their safety features are incorporated across nearly all their watches. Let’s talk about them and see how they compare!
Apple Watch Series 3
Apple Watch Series 3 was the first watch to incorporate fall detection! The whole watch however has a number of safety features. If you were to take a fall or a movement that mimics a bad fall sensors pick up on this and start the alert. The watch “taps” you on the wrist, then will send you an alert to respond to, and sounds off an alarm.
From there you will be able to select between letting the watch know you are OK or contacting emergency services. If there is a movement right after the fall then the watch will wait for you to respond to the alert rather than take the next steps. If there’s no movement in 60 seconds, the watch starts a 3o second countdown, starts to send more taps to your wrist, and sounds off loud alarms.
If there is no response to any of this then emergency services are contacted with your location and notification that you have fallen and are unresponsive. After they will alert any emergency contacts you have listed in your Medical ID.
Samsung Gear S3
The Samsung Gear S3 has features that run parallel to the Apple Watch but operate a little differently. The Samsung models have been recently improved as their original fall and incident detection relied heavily on an accelerometer. Now it can detect a fall even if the person is not moving. This accounts for things like fainting!
If you set off the sensors, the Samsung Gear S3 starts your 60-second countdown with an alert that they want you to respond to. If you don’t respond to it they contact those in your emergency contacts.
Extra Features
Many fitness watches certainly boast their ability to go underwater. However, the Samsung Gear S3 claims to only withstand 1.4 meters as opposed to the Apple Watch, which claims to be able to withstand up to 50 meters. So this enables you to swim with the watch on. The Samsung Gear S3 has a feature that, should you get it wet, allows you to select the ‘Eject water’ option and releases water from parts of the watch, such as the speakers.
In addition, the Samsung Gear S3 comes with a nice and neat wireless charger which is a bonus, whereas the Apple watch doesn’t. This is certainly a little disappointing as a wireless charger would be very useful for some.
You also have the Samsung Pay feature on the Gear S3 which works better than the Apple Pay as the Samsung Gear S3 does not require NFC. Therefore, you only need to look out for the contactless sign and you are able to use Samsung Pay. This is quite a big advantage, contactless payments are becoming an increasingly popular choice due to being more convenient, and not many people carry their wallets around anymore.
Fitness features
Down to what the real use of the watches is supposed to be all about, and that is tracking your health and fitness. With built-in GPS and heart rate monitor, both watches are certainly great for tracking your activity. Although the Apple watch has the advantage of the swim tracker, Samsung keeps up with their accurate automatic tracking and stats-packed activity monitoring so you are able to share your location with your friends and compete with your activity stats.
Some people find that Apple Watches inability – or unwillingness – to cooperate with its competitors when it comes to staying connected a little frustrating. Often, this leads to them having to download third-party apps they don’t particularly want to be able to challenge people on other platforms other than iOS. This can take up more room than they may be comfortable with on the watch. With Samsung being an Android-focussed company, it is much easier to compete with other users of Android devices, whether these are Samsung products or other Android competitors.
Pros of the Gear S3
- Very aesthetically pleasing watch
- 4G LTE option
- Good battery life
- Rotating bezel makes navigating around the watch easier
- Comfortable
- Wireless charging
Cons
- Somewhat heavier
- Not able to swim whilst wearing the watch
- Larger and bulkier to wear
| Samsung Galaxy S3 | Apple Watch Series 3 | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC, LTE | LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, NFC |
| Display | Super AMOLED | Second Gen.OLED Retina |
| Colour screen | Yes | Yes |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, Heart rate , barometer | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate |
| Size | 46mm | 38.6mm x 33.3mm |
| Weight | 63g | 28.7g |
| Battery life claim | 2 Days | 1/2Days |
| Waterproof | Up to1.4metres | Up to 50 metres |
Summary
In conclusion, both the Apple Watch 3 and Samsung Gear have some excellent features and we are sure either one of these can provide you with the features you need. The Samsung has an edge if you are looking for superior battery life however the Apple watch is a lighter design with a much better option for swimming. Also, be sure to check out the latest models from both companies. Head on to see a comparison of all the Apple Watch models here. So, if you have enjoyed this article, please leave us a comment and share it with your friends.
Last Updated on January 4, 2022
A highly motivated all-around writing professional with experience in writing about modern technology. Joanne writes for Superwatches for over 2 years now. Joanne specializes in product comparisons and reviews for us and we truly appreciate the quality of her work.
Lives in Congleton, UK.