Two months on is it worth purchasing?

[Tmel14]

So I initially bought this watch on release and unfortunately had to return it due to massively overspending that month. I only had time to have a quick play with it but I loved the screen and the look (Classic) and am now really tempted to repurchase.

One thing I did note at launch was that the selection of apps was pretty woeful, basically everything was a watchface and there wasn't even Spotify, Uber etc. at least not in the UK app store. Has this situation changed at all? Is there any way of seeing a list of current available apps?

Secondly, one of my main reasons for buying would be tracking distance, pace and calories for runs using the watch as a standalone - can anyone tell me how reliable S Health (assume there's no there app available) is if it works well?

 

[OriginalMrC]

You won't be disappointed if you buy the gear s3. I've tried a few different smart watches and this is my favourite (before that I loved my pebble time steel). The hardware is fantastic and battery life good in comparison to android wear devices.

The fitness tracking works well but it is more accurate when connected to your phone. I use the watch as a stand alone device when running and its great, especially since you can connect BT headsets to it. However there is not much storage for your music (1.5 gb max).

As far as apps goes there are uber and Spotify apps now. Primarily though I use a smartwatch for notifications and fitness tracking and for that the s3 is perfect. Am therefore not fussed about the number of apps. It's also great for making and receiving quick calls and works flawlessly (as long as you are in BT range, and perfect when your phone is on charge or out of reach).

 

[dshrum84]

I love mine. My favorite things are knowing if I need to get my phone out when a notification shows up and being able to not use the phone at all for a lot of things since the watch has LTE (which I find worth it even without being a heavy phone user). I got a call the other day with my phone in the other room and didn't have to leave the room until I needed to take some notes on the call.

I think the app availability will grow as demand from us grows. I'm going to be sending requests to the devs of some apps I'd like to see in Tizen like Pandora, theScore and some others. Spotify and Uber are there now, though you might want to be aware that Spotify's watch app requires a premium account.

There are some improvements to be made, but they're not deal breakers. Hopefully Samsung will listen to us and keep improving things.

 

[Blumini06]

Get the LTE. It's worth it and add for better experience.

 

[Kalvin Kerns]

Get the LTE. It's worth it and add for better experience.

Why? I'll have mine BT connected and phone with me at all times. Other than doing something without having your phone on you, why would I want LTE?

 

[dshrum84]

I don't think you need LTE just for the sake of having it, but I did notice that my phone's battery died a lot faster with a constant BT connection going on. It was adjusting upwards as I used the watch more, but I went from 2 days to half a day initially. If you already have a constant BT connection to another watch now, you may not have any change.

 

[LdotAdot13]

I received a call last night from the wife, I was upstairs and my phone was in the kitchen. Took the call from my non Lte version and it worked perfectly. I honestly don't think there's a reason to pay extra. Just my opinion

 

[BOSSY TEXAS CHICK]

Why? I'll have mine BT connected and phone with me at all times. Other than doing something without having your phone on you, why would I want LTE?

Not everyone NEEDS a standalone feature but i honestly have to say HAVING the ability to use my watch ANYWHERE, ANYTIME is something i could NEVER again get used to "not having"... And being able to pay for EVERYTHING with it is the "icing on the cake"....

Not having a boatload of apps for it to me is a "blessing"... Thats what phone is for : )When i had my Android Wear the notifications, force closes and constant disconnection if i walked 5 ft away from phone was the biggest P.I.T.A, i all but hated it....

i cannot say enough great things about the Frontier LTE version. i LOVE it to bits and peices over Android Wear. No one was MORE surprised than me at Tizen, the smoothness, the brightness, the form factor, that rotating dial, etc, etc, etc...

BEST piece of tech i have EVER owned, bar none! (Well, its "neck in neck" with my S6 Edge Plus, love that MORE than i liked S7 Edge.... S7 was heavier & thicker, and wasn't loving the 12 MP shooter either, so i switched back, : )




BTC

 

[Ian Hand]

Unless you really need a smartwatch, don't bother.
I have always worn a watch since I was 5 years old, so that's the last 45 years, and my wife bought me the S3 Classic for Christmas. Initially, I liked the functionality but the novelty wore off within a week and I'm back to wearing my Omega watch.
If you do buy one, go for the Fronteer because the Classic looks and feels like a $10 fashion watch.
I think Apple have nailed it with their design because it looks much classier.

 

[OriginalMrC]

Unless you really need a smartwatch, don't bother.
I have always worn a watch since I was 5 years old, so that's the last 45 years, and my wife bought me the S3 Classic for Christmas. Initially, I liked the functionality but the novelty wore off within a week and I'm back to wearing my Omega watch.
If you do buy one, go for the Fronteer because the Classic looks and feels like a $10 fashion watch.
I think Apple have nailed it with their design because it looks much classier.

I disagree with your comment about the Apple watch and think the gear s3 looks much better. I agree that the frontier looks better than the classic though.

I would say to anyone don't buy a smart watch if you don't know what you will use it for. For me it's music controls, fitness tracking and the convenience of reading and replying to notifications without taking my phone out of my pocket. If you don't know why you want a smart watch then you probably don't need one.

 

[jlczl]

Unless you really need a smartwatch, don't bother.
I have always worn a watch since I was 5 years old, so that's the last 45 years, and my wife bought me the S3 Classic for Christmas. Initially, I liked the functionality but the novelty wore off within a week and I'm back to wearing my Omega watch.
If you do buy one, go for the Fronteer because the Classic looks and feels like a $10 fashion watch.
I think Apple have nailed it with their design because it looks much classier.

I have an Onega in my watch collection. It is in my top 5 of my collection of about 20 watches. I still use it for church or for formal occasions but my Frontier is my go to watch. After having it on controlling my music, recording some of my workouts, tracking my sleep, screening my calls and texts and responding to some of them, having my phone on silent all the time and not having to look at my phone when someone's phone rings thinking it's mine........... I just feel naked and vulnerable without it lol.

BTW, I don't see how anyone would think the design of the Apple Watch is anything close to classy. It looks like a piece of tech on your wrist whereas the Frontier looks the part of a real watch.

 

[Blumini06]

Why? I'll have mine BT connected and phone with me at all times. Other than doing something without having your phone on you, why would I want LTE?

The convenience and complete experience with the watch alone. Without LTE I feel like a dog on a leash. This is just my personal opinion that's all. Also, able to work out without having to drag a phone across the gym is a novelty. I use Jabra Elite with to listen with and I am completely free from distraction. It gives me a break and less temptation to check my phone between my sets. If BT is good enough for that's great but what if somehow your phone dies on you? At least you have a stand alone watch. Again this is all just my opinion and I use to have an Apple watch and always wanted a stand alone version watch. And Samsung has finally out done Apple in watch department. I also love the fact that it looks like a normal watch. Anyways, its a matter of preference at the end of the day.

 

[Blumini06]

Not everyone NEEDS a standalone feature but i honestly have to say HAVING the ability to use my watch ANYWHERE, ANYTIME is something i could NEVER again get used to "not having"... And being able to pay for EVERYTHING with it is the "icing on the cake"....

Not having a boatload of apps for it to me is a "blessing"... Thats what phone is for : )When i had my Android Wear the notifications, force closes and constant disconnection if i walked 5 ft away from phone was the biggest P.I.T.A, i all but hated it....

i cannot say enough great things about the Frontier LTE version. i LOVE it to bits and peices over Android Wear. No one was MORE surprised than me at Tizen, the smoothness, the brightness, the form factor, that rotating dial, etc, etc, etc...

BEST piece of tech i have EVER owned, bar none! (Well, its "neck in neck" with my S6 Edge Plus, love that MORE than i liked S7 Edge.... S7 was heavier & thicker, and wasn't loving the 12 MP shooter either, so i switched back, : )


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BTC

Well said! I couldn't agree more.

 

[Adaboy]

Unless you really need a smartwatch, don't bother.
I have always worn a watch since I was 5 years old, so that's the last 45 years, and my wife bought me the S3 Classic for Christmas. Initially, I liked the functionality but the novelty wore off within a week and I'm back to wearing my Omega watch.
If you do buy one, go for the Fronteer because the Classic looks and feels like a $10 fashion watch.
I think Apple have nailed it with their design because it looks much classier.

That's the first I've heard some one say the apple watch looks classier than the Frontier. Apple watch looks techy, sporty. It looks good but the S3 looks great especially with the different bands!

 

[Tmel14]

Am I in the complete minority thinking the Classic looks nicer than the Frontier?

 

[dshrum84]

Am I in the complete minority thinking the Classic looks nicer than the Frontier?

No. I personally prefer the Frontier but my style is more casual. Even with a fair amount of people on the forums here it's a small sample size, so I think the split for looks preference will be no more than 65/35.

I had a Gear Fit 2 for awhile and liked it. I thought it looked right for what it was. I only stopped using it because I replaced my Samsung phone with an HTC before Samsung figured out to let other phone users use their watches.

 

[jsk0703]

I've had the frontier since day 1 and it's been great. No regrets whatsoever and I haven't gone back to my trusty Seiko kinetic that I loved.

Like others I was initially upset with app and feature availability but that has been changing.

 

[Kalvin Kerns]

No. I personally prefer the Frontier but my style is more casual. Even with a fair amount of people on the forums here it's a small sample size, so I think the split for looks preference will be no more than 65/35.

I had a Gear Fit 2 for awhile and liked it. I thought it looked right for what it was. I only stopped using it because I replaced my Samsung phone with an HTC before Samsung figured out to let other phone users use their watches.

I think the Classic looks like a cheap imitation of a real watch. The Frontier looks far better IMO.

 

[pinkivy98]

Am I in the complete minority thinking the Classic looks nicer than the Frontier?

I have the Frontier. I don't like the Classic look at all.

 

[anthony2558]

For me having the ability to respond to text messages without having to use my phone is perfect. I also like that I can take calls on my watch when I'm working in the shop, the phone is on the table, but when I'm under a car it's just that much easier.

But yes, if you don't know what you would use a smartwatch for, then don't buy one. If you must, you can always go on Swappa or eBay to find a nice used one for sale on the cheap. The OG Moto 360 is a good one.