Differences with Frontier BT and LTE???

[castone001]

Are there any real significant differences with the two versions other than one has cellular service and one is only BT. I get the Standalone part of the LTE but I never really used it that way for my Gear S.

 

[daves221]

Not a compete answer but fyi the bt (non lte) version also has wifi. If your watch has wifi service and your phone has service (cellular or WiFi), you will get notifications on your watch. I think you can also send /receive text messages but not voice calls (although Samsung I think claimed your could make voip calls from the watch with the right app, however it's not clear what that app is). Sorry to be slightly vague but if the above matters to you, you can check it out further.. Hth, in part.

Besides the LTE version being a tiny bit heavier I don't think there are any other differences between the LTE and non LTE frontier. I'm sure others will chime in.

If I have time to test the wifi features, I'll post back.

 

[creekwater1482]

Pretty much what daves221 stated. LTE has standalone option with the cell network. May be a tad heavier. Other than that, all other things should be the same. I've got the LTE version. Haven't tried wifi option out since I have the cell network.

 

[Ntchwaidumela]

The major difference is that you have the LTE network for completely standalone capabilities, which includes its own separate phone number. The nice thing about that is you can forward your phone number to your watch when you don't want to carry your phone and not miss any calls. The voice quality on the Gear S was fantastic, incoming and outgoing, so I'm sure the S3 is just as good. Also, having the separate number allows you to give that number to "special" people. I will never have another watch without that capability; the extra cost is worth it to me. BTW, you'll need a separate network plan for the watch. My carrier, TMO, only costs me $5/mo. for the watch's network service, which includes unlimited calls and text, plus internet service.

 

[castone001]

Thanks Folks!!
Ok ill hold out for the VZW LTE version.

 

[creekwater1482]

May be waiting a while. From what I've read online there doesn't appear to be any set time frame on when they may release the LTE version. Maybe what I read is old news but other threads on here seem to indicate that same issue.

 

[Jaycemiskel]

I've been reading a lot of mid January. I'll wait until then and see.

 

[boufa]

The LTE version is out. I got on at AT&T yesterday.

 

[Kalvin Kerns]

The LTE version is out. I got on at AT&T yesterday.

None available here in California. At least not in my area. Also nothing at best buy and I was told today they cannot order more... Very odd. That's fine then I'll wait to see what AW 2.0 brings. Apparently Samsung isn't too worried about selling these things.

 

[afblangley]

None available here in California. At least not in my area.

AT&T and T-Mobile have a ready supply. If the local store doesn't have it in stock they can get it within a few days. It can also be ordered online.

The S3 is a niche item, they aren't going to sell by the millions, so brick and mortar stores aren't going to stock a lot of them.

 

[rinkeedink]

Non-US bluetooth versions likely will not have Samsung Pay installed. You are certain to have Samsung Pay installed on a LTE verson bc it is a US market compatible version. But you take your chances with bluetooth only versions having samsung pay installed depending on where you buy it. I know bc I bought a BT Frontier at best buy store in person. Had Samsung pay installed. I returned it bc I Liked look of Classic better, but could only find Classics online from amazon and walmart through third party resellers. Both turned out to be international versions that do no have samsung pay installed and cant be installed. Moral of story, buy at a BT Classic or Frontier at a BB store if you want Samsung Pay or pony up for an LTE version.

 

[Kalvin Kerns]

AT&T and T-Mobile have a ready supply. If the local store doesn't have it in stock they can get it within a few days. It can also be ordered online.

The S3 is a niche item, they aren't going to sell by the millions, so brick and mortar stores aren't going to stock a lot of them.

Niche you say? Funny, Best Buy has tons of Apple watches and I'd have lumped them in as a "niche" item to, yet you can easily walk into a store and buy one right now where the Samsung watches are not available anywhere.

Seems a heavy bias against Samsung by Best Buy or else Samsung is really failing at rolling this out.

 

[daves221]

Niche you say? Funny, Best Buy has tons of Apple watches and I'd have lumped them in as a "niche" item to, yet you can easily walk into a store and buy one right now where the Samsung watches are not available anywhere.

Seems a heavy bias against Samsung by Best Buy or else Samsung is really failing at rolling this out.

Samsung and best buy have a relationship and there are Samsung stores in best buy. Best buy is missing sales because they can't get product. I'd put my money on Samsung, for whatever reason, is not able to make them available to meet demand (or is trying to create artificial shortages but I kinda doubt it).

 

[Richard Servello]

AT&T and T-Mobile have a ready supply. If the local store doesn't have it in stock they can get it within a few days. It can also be ordered online.

The S3 is a niche item, they aren't going to sell by the millions, so brick and mortar stores aren't going to stock a lot of them.

Ha, no. Do me a favor and find me a source that isn't a scalper.

 

[afblangley]

I'm not condoning how Samsung is handling the rollout of the S3. All I'm saying is that if someone wants one, they can get them. Back in November, it was hard to even see one in the flesh. Now, the stores have floor models on display. I've visited Best Buy and carrier stores in Chicago and Miami over the past two weeks. I've purchased two smartwatches for Christmas, an S3 and an Apple Watch. Apple's supply isn't better than Samsung. It seems better because there are so many incarnations of it, that there's something in stock, but when it comes down to getting a specific variant, it's likely not in stock. Not even at the Apple store or available online in time for Christmas. That simply wasn't the case with the S3.

The reality is that Apple has sold millions more watches than Samsung, even though it has been at the game longer, and has offered more capable products than Apple. This will continue to be the case with S3, like its predecessor, because there's no inherent audience for it, not because there isn't enough supply.

 

[Kalvin Kerns]

I'm not condoning how Samsung is handling the rollout of the S3. All I'm saying is that if someone wants one, they can get them. Back in November, it was hard to even see one in the flesh. Now, the stores have floor models on display. I've visited Best Buy and carrier stores in Chicago and Miami over the past two weeks. I've purchased two smartwatches for Christmas, an S3 and an Apple Watch. Apple's supply isn't better than Samsung. It seems better because there are so many incarnations of it, that there's something in stock, but when it comes down to getting a specific variant, it's likely not in stock. Not even at the Apple store or available online in time for Christmas. That simply wasn't the case with the S3.

The reality is that Apple has sold millions more watches than Samsung, even though it has been at the game longer, and has offered more capable products than Apple. This will continue to be the case with S3, like its predecessor, because there's no inherent audience for it, not because there isn't enough supply.

I had exactly the opposite experience. Bought my wife her Apple watch 2 weeks ago by walking into a Best Buy and picking it up, took 15 minutes. Still waiting to find a Gear S3 Frontier (probably going to pass on it now since it's already time for a new Samsung smartwatch and the S3 is obsolete). I consider devices obsolete a month after they first come out

 

[Richard Servello]

So you never get anything?

 

[Kalvin Kerns]

So you never get anything?

Lol... Pretty much.

 

[dshrum84]

Ha, no. Do me a favor and find me a source that isn't a scalper.

T-Mobile and AT&T selling through their branded brick and mortar stores are scalping? The only place I could find an LTE Frontier was through the T-Mo store itself (obviously didn't look for an AT&T version). I had it 3 days after launch while Best Buy and Amazon were back ordered on the other versions.

 

[coryh131]

I don't understand this thread. I walked right into a T-mobile store and bought my Frontier.