Watch gear s. Review of the smart watch-smartphone Galaxy Gear S (R750). Curved Edge Screen

Official sales recently started in Russia Samsung smart watch The Gear S3 takes elements from its Gear S2 ancestor and expresses them in a new combination of design and functionality. Today we will look at what innovations Samsung has implemented in this device.

Specifications

• Screen: 1.3", IPS Super AMOLED, 16 million colors, 360x360 pixels, capacitive, 392 ppi;
• Operating system: Tizen 2.3.2;
• Processor: Exynos 7270, 1 GHz;
• RAM: 750 MB;
• Built-in memory: 4 GB;
• Battery: Li-Ion 380 mAh;
• Dimensions: 49 x 46 x 12.9 mm;
• Weight: 59 g (Classic), 63 g (Frontier);
• Communication: WIFI: 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz, NFC, Bluetooth 4.2 (A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP), GPS/GLONASS;
• Sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate sensor, barometer, light sensor;
• Available versions: Classic, Frontier.

Equipment

The watch is supplied in a cylindrical box made of thick matte black cardboard. The design of the lid is made in the form of a now popular technique - relief concentric circles. The company and model names are embossed. Depending on the version, the color of the top edge varies.

Unpacking is the main ritual after purchase, on which the first impression of the type of device depends. The Samsung Gear S3 is straightforward in this regard. You lift the top part of the “cylinder” - and there the watch lies beautifully on a stand for wireless charging, and the inscription “Samsung” is engraved as the signature of the author. As they say, “you just have to extend your hand and they are yours.”

The above is located on a plastic platform (in fact, the entire inner surface of the box is made of plastic), under which there are a user manual and a warranty card, in which everything is written in a tiny font; to read it, you need to strain your eyes quite a bit, and also Charger 5V 0.7A with a 1 meter long wire, which connects to the magnetic stand via a microUSB connector.

Appearance and features

General form Both versions of the Gear S3 are relatively similar: the combined stainless steel case is held together by four screws. A metal bezel rotates around the 1.3-inch display, making it easy to navigate through the interface. The watch has a standard 22 mm strap mount - this expands the possibilities for customizing the appearance, limiting only the variety of straps available.

The lower part is identical in both cases and contains an optical heart rate monitor with two LEDs, inscriptions indicating the model name, country of manufacture - Vietnam, and CE marking.

On the right side of the watch there are two buttons: “back” and “home”, next to the second there is a microphone.

On the other side there are three small speaker holes.

External differences concern the front part. Starting from the color (black for Frontier and silver chrome for Classic) and the shape of the buttons, to the material of the strap (genuine leather for Classic and silicone for Frontier), as well as weight - the weight of the watch officially indicated by the manufacturer is 59 and 63 g for Classic and Frontier respectively, but due to the straps the weight increases to 72 and 87 g, which is already more noticeably felt during direct use.

Samsung Gear S3 is protected according to the IP68 standard, which means complete protection from dust and moisture, as well as immersion in fresh water up to one and a half meters for 30 minutes, however, the manufacturer on the official website and in the instructions for quick start notes that swimming, showering and diving are prohibited in them. On the contrary, a consultant at the official Samsung store assured that you can swim in them safely. It is worth noting that the warranty does not cover damage caused by disruption or interruption of operation of the device due to flooding.

Unfortunately, in practice we were not able to test their water resistance, since someone opened the samples before us and did not tighten the screws completely, we decided not to risk it.
The Gear S3 Frontier also differs from the Classic in that it can withstand extreme temperature changes.

Regarding shock resistance, it is assumed that the steel case should withstand an ordinary drop from a height of one and a half meters (a typical height when putting a watch on the wrist), and the protruding bezel should protect the screen from direct physical impact. The display itself is protected from scratches and can withstand accidental contact even with metal objects such as a subway handrail or a car door.

Despite the same price for both versions, Frontier looks more expensive than Classic. It seems that the Classic was created as an addition to the "core" Frontier. Perhaps it’s the “whale” strap; on the Classic it looks rustic, poor, and not at all elegant, while on the Frontier it only adds even more brutality.

Frontier is very difficult to put on due to the thick silicone strap, which does not slip at all, but it is wider and fits snugly on the hand, and also better withstands diving, temperature changes and other extreme situations. Classics, on the contrary, are aimed at calm behavior of the “wearer”; with classic analogue dials, they look like ordinary wristwatches, which is why the user will be able to surprise “unenlightened” friends by raising his hand to see the time, and then twist the bezel to check the weather, notifications, find out the latest news, or even answer a call or write an SMS.

Display

What makes the Samsung Gear S3 look like a watch is its 1.3-inch (32.9 mm) round screen, equipped with an IPS Super AMOLED matrix with a resolution of 360x360 pixels, the density of which is 392 ppi. The clarity of the image is colossal, even the smallest symbols of the additional dials are visible without graininess.

The degree of brightness change is measured in 10 points, but the adaptive adjustment function depending on the lighting eliminates the problem of constant adjustment.
Color rendition is at the highest level, viewing angles are as wide as the maximum angle possible when looking at the watch.
The screen is covered with a layer of scratch-resistant glass and has an oleophobic coating.

The Always-on-display feature, as the name suggests, instead of turning off the screen, reduces the backlight level to a minimum so that the user does not have to shake his hand to activate the clock and see the time.

Iron

The applications and watch faces installed on the watch do not require as many resources as, for example, for smartphones, so 750 MB of RAM (500 MB in the Gear S2) is enough to quickly switch between elements of the Tizen OS interface.

Of the 4 GB of internal memory, only 1.6 GB is available to the user. They can be used as storage installed applications, images both sent to the Gear and screenshots of the watch itself, as well as music tracks for playback by the built-in player through the watch’s speaker or a Bluetooth headset connected to it.

On the back of the Gear S3 there is an optical heart rate sensor that reads very clearly, accurately repeating the rhythm of the heartbeat during the measurement process.

For lovers of hiking (especially mountain hiking), the Samsung Gear S3 has a built-in barometer and altimeter. The first measures pressure in hectopascals (hPa) and inches of mercury (inHg), and also shows a graph of further pressure changes based on data for the last 6 hours. If we convert hPa to mmHg. and compare with a regular home barometer, the difference in readings is minimal.
Altimeter (altimeter) is a device for measuring the altitude of an object’s “flight” based on GPS data.
Samsung Gear S3 has a built-in NFC module for using the service Samsung Pay.

The watch can work both in tandem with a smartphone and as an independent device; for this you need to activate Offline mode, which breaks the Bluetooth connection with the smartphone and all functions such as answering calls, showing notifications, receiving messages, etc. Uses built-in Wi-Fi to install apps and watch faces, and Bluetooth for connectivity wireless headphones. This mode is intended primarily for training without a smartphone.

Software

Some say that this is a useless waste of money, and those who confirm the benefits are divided into two “camps” - the first put sports functions at the forefront (pedometer, altimeter, heart rate monitor with appropriate software, etc.), and the second believe that it is not the functionality that is important, but the design and, first of all, convenience, which manifests itself in the fact that the watch allows you to constantly stay up to date with events, and not waste energy every time taking your phone out of your pocket (new notifications, instant reading and replying to messages , weather check, BT headset functions, etc.), and fitness functions are perceived only as an addition.

Samsung Gear S3 may well reconcile the controversial supporters of smart watches, as it perfectly combines functions that will suit everyone.

Connecting the Gear S3 to your smartphone and setting up some apps requires installing the Gear S app, available in Google Play and AppStore, the features and nuances of how the application works with iOS and Android will be discussed below.

The dial is the central element " home page", where you can add widgets and switch between them on the right side, and to the left of the watch face you can scroll through new notifications.

Pressing the home button opens a list of installed applications. They are also arranged in a circle. Some pre-installed applications are aimed at fast access to smartphone functions:

• Phone - opens a list of recent calls, contacts, and also allows you to dial any number and call directly from the watch.
• Contacts - allows you to select a contact (search) and call or send SMS directly from the watch. There are 4 types of input available to choose from: keyboard, dictation, drawing, emoticons.

• Weather - updates the weather data of cities selected in the Gear S application via a smartphone and displays the information on the watch screen.

• Music - combines the function of controlling music playback on a smartphone and a full-fledged mp3 player. Selected tracks are transferred to the watch's internal memory via the Gear S app on your smartphone.

• S Voice - voice assistant, an analogue of Siri, is capable of many things - from calling a contact or phone number, to viewing weather data, getting directions and searching for places. Displays information on the screen of a watch or smartphone.

• Organizer applications: Reminders, Calendar, World clock, Alarm clock.

• Flipboard News Briefing - a short, up-to-date news digest.

• Find phone - a useful utility that launches sound signal on a smartphone. Helps to find it not only if it goes missing in an apartment or house, but also if it is stolen or lost.

S Health

The watch app counts steps, calories, floors (based on altimeter data), regularly measures heart rate, monitors activity, reminds you to warm up every hour, and recognizes sleep time. You can keep track of the amount of water and coffee you drink,

S Health is a great training assistant. The database contains 16 types of exercises, each of which has a specific set of monitored activities. So, for example, while riding a bicycle, the watch will count speed, calories, distance and heart rate.

The smartphone program has a wide range of functions. The main goal is to maintain statistics, not only based on data from the Gear S3, but also by manually entering data. Using the program, you can control the number of calories consumed by choosing a dish - you can search through restaurant menus! You can also monitor your weight, blood sugar, blood pressure, etc.

The “Goals” mode will clearly show the progress of achieving the desired level of activity, nutrition, and sleep.

In the “Together” tab, you can compare your results with all S Health users, or with your age group, or you can add friends and arrange a competition.

Working with Android

It’s no secret, and it’s obvious that this watch will work flawlessly with Samsung smartphones, including instant connection, fast content sharing and the Samsung Pay function (but this is not certain, we haven’t tested it). The manufacturer also promises stable operation (or explains how to eliminate the shortcomings as much as possible) on the page of the global website with a list of devices compatible with the watches being reviewed, therefore, in order to answer the question about the interaction of the Gear S3 with any interpretation of Android OS, we chose the hero as a “guinea pig” recent review, Chinese Umi Max.

A pleasant surprise was that after installing the Samsung Gear application, as well as the two plug-ins required for operation, all functions except Samsung Pay work as they should. The connection was easy and quick, applications downloaded and updated reliably.

Despite the fact that our device is far from Samsung, S Health works to the maximum.

A couple of times there was an unexpected break in the watch-smartphone pair and to restore the connection I had to reboot the watch.

Working with iOS

In the last quarter of 2016, a beta version of the Gear S application based on iOS began to circulate on the Internet for connection with the Gear S2 and S3 smart watches and the Gear Fit fitness bracelet. Then, to install this application, you had to do several machinations in iPhone settings. On January 7, 2017, this application became available for download in the Russian AppStore. Its rating is unimportant, although there are not enough reviews, which suggests that there are quite a few perverted individuals who are ready to “connect the incompatible.”

First iPhone contact with Gear S3 is the most difficult and patient task. To connect to the phone, the device uses two Bluetooth channels: Bluetooth LE (Low Energy - a standard with more low power consumption) to maintain the connection and management functions such as sending messages, reading notifications, managing music, etc., and to use the watch as a Bluetooth headset, that is, for conversations using the built-in speaker and microphone, a standard Bluetooth channel is used.

You cannot close the application. It should always be running at least in the background.
The connection is quite fast, but downloading, installing and updating applications takes a very long time. So long that this may not happen at all. It is better to install applications one at a time, maximum two at a time, otherwise you will have to restart everything and get rid of installation errors that constantly pop up.

The release version of the Gear S app is not far from the beta version. While using it to write a review, there were permanent freezes, lags, and disconnections. Many features, such as sending images from your watch to your phone, are not available.

S Health for iOS does not exist, it is included in the Gear S. Available measurements: steps, floors, water, caffeine, sleep, heart rate and 4 activities: walking, running, cycling, hiking.

Unfortunately, with the release of the tenth iOS versions, containing many additional features, in particular the effects of sent messages and stickers that will not be displayed in notifications, the point in buying the Gear S3 disappears, and the brand itself seems to oblige you to buy Apple Watch, despite their price. If you remove the heart rate monitor and altimeter with barometer, the benefits from the Gear S3 for iPhone are as much as from Chinese clones of popular smartwatches for 2000 rubles.

Battery

Samsung Gear S3 is equipped with a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 380 mAh, which is 130 mAh more than the Gear S2. Charging is carried out by connecting to a magnetic stand and there is no other method provided. Samsung promise fast charging, but in fact the watch charges up to 50% in 2 hours, and fully in 4 hours.

After fully charging and immediately pairing with the smartphone at 17:00 on the first day, without breaking the connection and taking into account that 70% of the time the watch and phone were just lying on the table, sometimes notifications came social networks- thus the charge lasted for 70 hours.
Those who want to get the most out of their watch, that is, use it for training, for talking, monitoring sleep, constantly receiving and responding to notifications, messages, and all this with always-on GPS and the Always-on-display function, can expect an average of one and a half days battery life.

To (emergency) save battery power, the Gear S3 has a power-saving mode that switches the home screen theme to grayscale, disables all features except calls, messages and notifications, disables Wi-Fi, limits maximum performance. In this mode, the watch can work up to 5 hours on the remaining 10%.

Results and conclusions

Compared to the previous generation of Samsung Gear, the watch marked with the number 3 has, in a word, grown. The screen has become larger, and most importantly, more convenient to use (although some may consider the size of the Gear S3 a disadvantage). Processor performance and RAM capacity have also increased. Gear S2 looked somehow frivolous, like a toy. Gear S3, if desired, can look like an expensive Swiss watch, you just need to set the desired dial and choose the appropriate strap.

Lovers of hiking and an active lifestyle will choose the brutal Frontier. For people who are closer to business and business style, elegant Classic ones are suitable. With S Health it will be very easy to start leading a healthy lifestyle, and with a high-capacity battery you will be less distracted by recharging.

Unfortunately, there are not very many applications in the local store, and for some watch faces the developers require a (sometimes considerable) fee. The internal memory is sufficient only in words, and iOS support is still too crude.
In addition, the Gear S3 is not a cheap pleasure. Price in the Samsung store is 24,990 rubles.

Pros:

• Design, rotating bezel, big screen with excellent brightness and color rendition
• Long autonomy
• Variety of watch faces
• S Health
• Works with any smartphone running Android above 4.4 and RAM from 1.5 GB
• Almost complete freedom of choice of strap
• Heart rate monitor, barometer, altimeter.

• Working with iOS
• Paid watch faces
• Few applications
• Price (as for a separate good smartphone)
• Long charge.

Brief overview of technical characteristics

There are 2 versions of Samsung Gear smartwatches: Classic and Sport. Next we will talk about the first option.

Specifications:

• 1-core processor, clock frequency 800 MHz;
• display: touchscreen, 1.63 inches, Super AMOLED, 320×320 pixels, 277 ppi;
• RAM: 512 MB;
• built-in memory: 4 GB;
• 2 microphones, 1 speaker;
• communication: Bluetooth 4.0;
• sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope;
• camera: 1.9 MP;
• battery: lithium-ion, 315 mAh;
• dimensions: 56.5×36.8×11.1 mm;
• weight: 73 g.

The company keeps secret what kind of processor it uses for the watch; it is clear that its power is low. Such a device does not require anything better, because it opens videos, supports games and the use of high-load programs.

The watch cannot work independently, there is no SIM card slot, so connecting to a smartphone is necessary. Moreover, synchronization is only possible with certain models of Samsung phones.

Packaging and equipment

The Samsung Galaxy Gear gadget is designed specifically for the line Note smartphones, therefore the packaging is appropriate. This is a cubic box made to look like light wood.

Inside the box are the watch itself, a charger that includes a cradle and a cable with a Micro-USB connector, and brochures with useful information on management. The gadget holder is gray with a ribbed finish that imitates leather.

Appearance and ergonomics

Let's look at the design now. The case materials are metal and plastic, the screen is covered with protective glass, which prevents scratches and other mechanical damage. On the back side, where the smartwatch comes into contact with the wrist, the Samsung inscription is pressed out, there are 5 contacts connecting to the same ones on the cradle. Also on the case there is a button to turn the device on (off), holes for the built-in speaker and microphone.

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The module gradually turns into a metal rubberized strap; it is not removable. The clasp is also made of metal, there is an adjustment for the volume of the hand, the device can be adjusted to fit a woman’s graceful hand, a rough man’s or a small child’s. On a Samsung smart watch bracelet Galaxy Gear The camera is located, with its help you can capture important moments.

If we talk about the convenience of the device, it has a larger screen than a regular watch, and the thickness of the device is 3 times greater. It is unlikely that they will fit well on a woman's elegant hand. However, they look neat due to the smoothed corners. The design leaves conflicting impressions. Next, let’s look at what this smart watch is capable of. Surely, this thickness is due to the useful functionality and the ability to install additional applications.

Screen Features

The device is controlled by a Super AMOLED touch screen.

Some gestures are supported:

• waving your hand from top to bottom in the first menu will open the camera;
• with a wave of your hand from top to bottom in the second menu, open the main menu of the watch;
• There is a scrolling of photos with gestures to the right and left.

The display diagonal is 1.63 inches with an extension of 320x320 pixels. The picture is bright and saturated, brightness is adjustable, excellent viewing angle. The only thing is that Samsung Gear smart watches do not behave well in the sun: the colors fade, although the text remains readable. To save battery, the backlight is set to 7 seconds, but this parameter can be changed in the settings. The screen lights up when you move your hand, and thanks to the built-in accelerometer, the watch detects the rise and rotation of your wrist.

The touch response speed is good, sometimes it happens that the sensor does not work, but such cases occur infrequently.

Strap

The bracelet of the Samsung galaxy gear sm v700 smart watch deserves special attention. The strap is hypoallergenic, so it is gentle on the skin in the summer. The bracelet is made to be comfortable, but at the same time rigid. This is intended because there is electronic “stuffing” inside that is connected to the camera unit and speaker. The strap fits directly into the body of the device; it is an integral part of it. The camera protrudes above the surface of the bracelet, but appearance and it doesn’t spoil the impression of the watch.

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You don’t have to worry about the electronics, they are reliably protected, but intentionally breaking the smart watch bracelet is not recommended.

Camera and its capabilities

The 1.9 Megapixel Samsung camera has image autofocus. It can’t compete with a photo taken from a phone, but you will get some high-quality shots. Similar ones are used on front cameras smartphones and are intended primarily for video communication. The photo module allows you to shoot videos up to 15 seconds long, and the photo extension is 1280×960 or 1392×1392 pixels.

The camera has some difficulties with accentuating details, white balance, and it will be difficult to photograph something worthwhile on a cloudy day - you don’t even have to try. In sunny conditions, an acceptable photo comes out, and most importantly, very quickly. The watch is always on your hand, you don’t need to take it out of your pocket, so the photo is ready in just a couple of seconds.

The camera is on the bracelet, which makes the process both easier and more difficult. Sometimes you just have to twist your hand to “catch” the object of interest. It is much easier to take a “spy” photo with a watch than with a smartphone, but it is not a fact that the user will go unnoticed.

There is one more problem - pictures are saved in the device’s memory, and if it is full, they are automatically deleted. What saves the situation is the ability to transfer photos via Bluetooth to a smartphone: manually or automatically.

Platform, processor and application installation

Single-core smartwatch processor Samsung Galaxy The Gear has a frequency of 800 MHz. The device now works with a smartphone Galaxy Note 3, but in the future it will support several more devices of the same line. There is no talk about other phone manufacturers yet.

You can work with the device by connecting via Bluetooth. Next, the Gear Manager application is installed, where you can experiment with the watch settings, install programs on it and manage it.

Gear S3 classic - a modern classic on your wrist, a combination of vintage design and modern technologies. The marks on the bezel are applied using a laser. The pushers, made in the style of classic crowns, harmoniously complement the design of the case. The Gear S3 classic is built using 316L stainless steel alloy for a high level of protection. The Gear S3 classic is designed to last for days without needing to be recharged or connected to your smartphone.
The Gear S3 classic gives you freedom.

Innovation in a rugged package

The Gear S3 classic combines the best of traditional watches with innovative devices. One glance is enough to appreciate their stunning design. A comfortable strap, a unique rotating bezel, a clear dial and a powerful battery make the smartwatch so easy to use and allow you to use it for up to 4 days without recharging.

Always active screen

The updated full-color always-on screen is virtually indistinguishable from the classic watch face. Choose the interface that suits you. The watch comes preloaded with 15 screen designs, and you'll find even more in Galaxy Apps!
Make your watch truly unique!

Control with one movement!

Enjoy the ease of use of the Gear S3 classic. Manage notifications, adjust volume, answer calls by simply rotating the bezel left or right. You can easily operate your watch even with wet hands or gloves.

Change your style
changing straps!

Find a strap that's right for you. The Gear S3 classic features a universal mount that's standard on traditional watches. Samsung replacement bands are durable and elegant. Emphasize your unique style!

Dark blue leather strap

Call from
smart watch!

Let the Gear S3 classic be your smartphone. The built-in speaker and microphone make it possible to make and receive calls without your smartphone and listen voice messages and reminders*. In addition, you can enjoy your favorite tracks thanks to the built-in music player.

Built-in GPS

With the Gear S3 classic, you'll never go astray again, even without your smartphone. Thanks to the built-in GPS, you can build walking routes, calculate the distance to your destination, and even find the best cafes and restaurants nearby.

*GPS navigation without a smartphone or Wi-Fi connection will require downloading apps or maps,
do not require an Internet connection and may incur a download fee.

Tracks for the road

Connect your Bluetooth headphones and listen to your favorite tracks during workouts and trips!
The Gear S3 classic's 4GB of internal memory lets you take your favorite music with you, even without a smartphone.

* Listening to music from online resources is possible if Wi-Fi is available.

Built-in sensors

Gear S3 classic features a barometer and constantly monitors your pressure, keeping you informed of any unexpected or expected changes in as much detail as needed to help you plot a new route. An altimeter and speedometer help you track your speed and show your current altitude.
Smart watches allow you to always be one step ahead.

4 days without recharging!

Thanks to the capacious battery, you can go without charging for up to 4 days!

*Battery charge time may vary depending on usage and settings.

SOS messages quickly and easily

Simply press the Home key three times to instantly send your location to your selected contacts. They will be able to track your movements in real time.

* The service is provided by the Glympse platform. Available services may vary by country and region.

SOS messages

Press the Home key three times to send your location to selected contacts.

Water protection
and dust

Wear the Gear S3 classic in any weather, in any situation. IP68 water and dust protection allows the watch to withstand immersion in fresh water to a depth of 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes.

*Not suitable for diving or swimming.

More than 10,000 applications

You don't need a smartphone to download apps for the Gear S3 classic. Just go to Galaxy Apps from the Gear S3 classic screen and download the apps you trust, the ones you can't live without, or the ones you've always wanted to try!
Easier than ever!

• Compact version of Translator for smart watches. Say something in Russian, English, Ukrainian or Turkish - and the application will show the translation on the screen. You can translate into any of the 85 languages ​​known to the Translator. Among them are English, French, Spanish, German, Turkish, Tatar. The application works on its own, without a smartphone - as long as there is Internet.
• The navigator determines where you are and helps you quickly assess traffic congestion in the city. The main screen of the application shows the current traffic score, and the other screens show the forecast for the next 5 hours. Add Traffic Jams to the widget panel so that your current score is always visible.
• Compact version of Transport for watches on the Tizen platform. The application selects the five stops closest to you and shows when and what kind of transport will arrive at them. For example, this way you can find out if a suitable bus stops nearby. Or check whether it is worth walking to the next stop or whether it is better to wait for the bus here.
• A taxi makes it easy and quick to place an order - you don’t need to call anywhere to call a car. The application will tell you when and what kind of car will arrive at your location. The built-in map will tell you where the driver is waiting for you.

We follow the path of innovation and experimentation

In September, at the IFA 2014 exhibition, Samsung presented the new flagship of its line of smart watches: Gear S. On the one hand, this model can be considered a continuation of the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo - it uses the same Tizen OS that debuted in these devices. But on the other hand, with the letter S instead of the number 3, the manufacturer emphasizes that the new product has gone quite far from its predecessors: perhaps it will even become the beginning of a new model range.

The main features of the Samsung Gear S, which distinguish it not only from previous Samsung Gears, but also from competing watches, are support for SIM cards (that is, the watch can be used as a standalone device, without a smartphone!) and a large curved screen. Previously, we had only seen curved screens in wearable gadgets on the Samsung Gear Fit, a very successful hybrid of a fitness bracelet and smartwatch. But there the screen was relatively small in area, while the Gear S has perhaps the largest display among all competitors.

Video review

To get started, we suggest watching our video review of the Samsung Gear S smartwatch:

Now let's look at the specifications of the new product.

Specifications Samsung Gear S

• CPU @1 GHz (2 cores)
• Touch display 2.0″ Super AMOLED, 360×480, 300 ppi
• Random access memory (RAM) 512 MB, internal memory 4 GB
• Bluetooth 4.1LE
• Microphone, speaker
• Gyroscope, accelerometer, heart rate sensor
• 2G, 3G (nanoSIM support), call transfer to smartphone via Bluetooth
• Li-ion battery 300 mAh
• Tizen operating system
• Compatible with Samsung devices under Android control 4.3 and later
• Compliant with IP67 protection standard
• Dimensions 37x58x10 mm
• Weight 83g (with strap) / 35g (without strap) (measured by us)

For clarity, we decided to make a table with the characteristics of other top smartwatches (including previous version Gear), adding to it those parameters that are currently key when choosing a device of this type.

*according to manufacturer information

As you can see, the screen of the Samsung Gear S is simply unrivaled: both in size and resolution. On top of that, it’s Super AMOLED, and curved too (however, we’ll talk about the practical side of this quality later).

At the same time, some concern is caused by the fact that with a very high (by the standards of wearable devices) screen resolution and the presence of communication modules, the battery here is far from the most capacious - less than, for example, that of the Moto 360.

Otherwise, everything is familiar and similar to the previous Gear. Well, it’s also worth noting that the device is quite thick - more than its competitors and Gear 2. But at the same time, given the curvature of the case, thickness may not be such a big problem. But this is already worth talking about in the process of directly getting acquainted with the device.

Equipment

The watch arrived to us without a box, so there will be no detailed story about packaging and accessories. But we will still tell you about one element of the kit, without which the watch cannot operate. This is the charging dock attachment.

It is connected to the watch from the inside - so that the contacts on the attachment coincide with the contacts on the watch. The nozzle locks tightly with a slight click.

On the right side of the nozzle there is a Micro-USB connector, to which the charger is connected (any charger for a smartphone will do).

In principle, the dock attachment of the Gear S is very similar to the similar element of the Gear 2 and Gear Fit, but it is more massive, which, of course, is a minus. In addition, if six months ago this decision was perceived quite calmly, now it already looks like an anachronism. The Moto 360 and LG watches have taught us that you don't need to attach the charger - just put the watch on it.

Design

The design of the device itself evokes mixed emotions, but, in any case, it attracts attention and interests: the first thing you notice is the screen with a very strong curve.

A metal frame is visible around the screen. It not only protects the glass from possible impacts and falls, but also greatly improves its appearance. Basically, when the watch is put on your hand, you can only see the screen, the elegant edging around it and a little bit of the strap (bottom and top above the screen). It is important that the strap does not protrude from the sides of the screen. The photo below shows why.

This is the watch case, removed from the strap: as we can see, under the screen there is plastic, inside of which is all the electronic stuffing. The strap runs exactly along the entire body, as if clasping it. But thanks to the groove in the plastic part, the strap is hidden and camouflaged. In general, this cannot help but evoke an association with the Samsung Gear Fit, which had the same design principle.

Let's pay attention to one more element on the front surface: the power button. It turns on the screen when it is off, and vice versa; in addition, if we click on it when we are in some menu or application, we will see the start screen (with a clock face). And if you press and hold, you will see a menu that allows you to restart the watch, turn off the power, turn on/off communication modules or vibration.

The button is metal, oblong, very unusual to the touch (it has a very small pattern on it, beautifully reflecting in the light and felt like a slight roughness). The button is pressed with average elasticity, but you don’t have to worry about accidental pressing with the sleeve of your clothing when the watch is on your hand. To the right and left of the button are light sensors.

Now let's look at the back of the case. It is made of white plastic. And here we see several important elements at once. In the center is a heart rate monitor (all Samsung wearable devices this year have it, and competitors have begun equipping their models with it). Under the sensor are contacts for connecting the charging unit.

At the top there is a speaker. It is needed primarily for telephone conversations. The sound from it is quite audible, even when the watch is worn on the hand. But, of course, you won’t catch the nuances of your interlocutor’s intonation, and he is completely unsuitable for music. Finally, the most interesting element: the SIM card slot.

It is closed with a lid that fits very tightly. We were unable to open it without improvised means such as a metal clip or some strong thin object. You can try to pry it with your fingernail, but there is a high risk of breaking the nail. On the one hand, this is not bad - while wearing the watch on your hand, the SIM card is guaranteed not to fall out. On the other hand, if you need to remove the SIM card outside the home (for example, to put it in a smartphone or tablet), this will be very difficult to do.

Another important point: nanoSIM cards are used here, which will also cause a lot of problems for owners Samsung smartphones(and the watch does not work with smartphones from other manufacturers). Apparently, the best option in such conditions is to use nanoSIM and carry an adapter to Micro-SIM with you. But, of course, this is not very convenient. One way or another, SIM card support is basically unique opportunity Samsung watches (if we talk about wearable devices from world famous companies), so you have to make any decision.

The watch case itself is quite light, only 35 grams (for comparison, the weight of the Sony SmartWatch 3 without a strap is stated at 45 grams), but the strap is quite heavy. Its mass is primarily due to its massive metal clasp. By the way, it is quite difficult to get used to - at first it seems that it is fastened very tightly. But if you get used to it and understand that you don’t need to press on it from above, but rather move the buckle a little forward, the watch will begin to fasten much easier.

The strap is quite pleasant to the touch; it is made of silicone and does not cause irritation or chafe. The watch, worn on the wrist, looks a little bulky, but there is an element of futurism in it: you want to say “wow!” It's practically a smartphone wrapped around your wrist! Maybe a little thick, but still!

It’s hard to say how quickly it will become boring and cease to delight, since none of the competitors have announced anything like this.

Screen

It is clear that the screen plays a key role in this product. Its parameters are truly impressive: a two-inch Super AMOLED with a resolution of 360x480 and a pixel density of 300 ppi. And, of course, curvature. Let us remind you that we have previously seen a curved screen in only three mobile devices: LG G Flex and Samsung Galaxy Round smartphones, as well as in the Gear Fit bracelet. Detailed testing The display was conducted by the editor of the “Projectors and TV” section, Alexey Kudryavtsev.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface curved along the cylinder, resistant to scratches. There is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating on the outer surface of the screen (effective, slightly better than the Google Nexus 7 (2013), which we use as a reference sample for screen tests), so fingerprints are removed much more easily and appear less quickly. speed than in the case of ordinary glass. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are slightly better than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen. However, there is a not very pronounced bluish halo from bright objects. There is no double reflection, which indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen. When manually controlling brightness and when displaying a white field in full screen maximum value brightness was about 270 cd/m², the minimum was 8.8 cd/m². There is automatic brightness adjustment based on the light sensor (located to the left of the button on the front panel). IN automatic mode When external lighting conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases (both abruptly). In complete darkness, the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 8.8 cd/m² (in the dark during a sleep break, it’s normal to look, but in general it’s a bit dark), in an office illuminated by artificial light (approximately 400 lux) it sets it to 80 cd/m² (acceptable), in a very bright environment (corresponding to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or slightly more) increases to 370 cd/m², which is even higher than the maximum with manual adjustment. As a result, the auto-brightness function works quite adequately. Given the good anti-glare properties, on a sunny day outdoors, screen readability will remain at an acceptable level (in automatic mode), and in complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value manually, or again, entrusted to the automation. On reduced brightness some flickering is detected. In the graphs of brightness (vertical axis) versus time (horizontal axis), you can see that at maximum brightness, modulation with a frequency of 60 Hz has an insignificant relative amplitude, but at medium and minimum brightness, modulation with a frequency of 240 Hz and a high relative amplitude appears:

In fact, everything is not so scary, since the screen flickers line by line in scanning mode along the long side. That is, there is no simultaneous flicker of the entire screen, which significantly reduces visible flicker. This screen uses an OLED matrix - active matrix organic light-emitting diodes. A full-color image is created using subpixels of three colors - red (R), green (G) and blue (B) in equal numbers, as confirmed by a fragment of a microphotograph:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.

We observed a similar “structure” of the screen, for example, in the case of the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini smartphone. The spectra are typical for OLED - the primary color areas are well separated and appear as relatively narrow peaks:

Accordingly, the coverage is noticeably wider than sRGB, and there are no attempts to reduce it:

Note that on screens with a wide color gamut, without appropriate correction, the colors of regular images optimized for sRGB devices appear unnaturally saturated. The color temperature of the white and gray fields is approximately 7500 K, and the deviation from the black body spectrum (ΔE) is 8 units. Color balance is acceptable. Black is just black from any angle. So black that the contrast parameter is simply not applicable in this case. When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the white field is excellent. The screen has excellent viewing angles with a much smaller drop in brightness when looking at the screen at an angle. However, at large angles the white field takes on a distinct blue-green tint. The situation is aggravated by the fact that due to the strong curvature of the screen, even when viewed from a slight angle, in the direction perpendicular to the hand, one of the edges of the screen will already be at a very strong angle, darkened and with a blue-green tint to the white field.

Testing the display and normal use of the watch raised an important question for us: how comfortable is it to use a device with such a curved display? In principle, in our opinion, the bend could have been made even a little smaller - when scrolling through the menu, for example, you have to twist the hand with which we touch the screen too much. And it’s not always possible to take in the screen with one glance (after all, when the watch is on your hand, it’s not often that your hand is turned strictly perpendicular to your gaze). For example, if the hand with the watch is slightly tilted away from the gaze, then the upper part of the screen is no longer in the field of view. On the other hand, if the screen is slightly straightened, then the body of the device will protrude more and get in the way in the sleeve of clothing. And, of course, the greater the bend, the greater the surprise and admiration of people who are not indifferent to technical achievements, the gadget causes.

Pairing with a smartphone

Like Samsung Gear Fit, smart watch Gear S work only with Samsung smartphones, and only on Android based 4.3 or newer. To get started, you need to install the Gear Manager application from the Samsung Apps catalog.

We connected our smartphone (Samsung Galaxy S5) to the watch without any problems. As for the application itself, its functionality is generally familiar to us from Gear Fit and Gear 2, except that some icons have been updated and added additional features customization that matches the Gear S.

In the "My Applications" section we see a list of installed applications, and for some of them there are additional settings. In particular, by setting the Gallery application, you can send any images to your watch. Android Wear devices do not have this feature. And given that the Gear S's screen is quite large and very clear, viewing photos on it can be quite pleasant, especially in conditions where it is not possible to view the same pictures on a larger screen.

Like the Gear 2, you can install apps on the Gear S third party developers from the Samsung Apps catalog. These applications include both free and paid ones. Moreover, according to our feelings, the latter are no less, if not more, than free ones, and sometimes they ask for a fee even for such basic things as a metro map.

An interesting question: how correctly do Gear 2 apps display on the Gear S screen, which has not only a different resolution, but also a different aspect ratio? We didn't find a setting in Samsung Apps that separates Gear 2 apps from Gear S apps, but we can assume that all the apps displayed support both devices. At least we couldn't find an app that didn't display correctly on the Gear S screen (for example, it would stretch vertically, distorting the proportions, or appear with black bars at the bottom and top). All apps work and look like they were written specifically for the Samsung Gear S.

At the same time, the set of applications is still very modest - for example, there is no such simple thing as a client for Vkontakte. But let's see what the watch can do without third-party apps!

Samsung Gear S functionality

The main and unique functional feature of the Samsung Gear S is the ability to work as a smartphone. You can insert a SIM card into the watch and make calls, write SMS, read news, in general - do many of those operations that in other smart watches are only possible if you have a smartphone connected to it. The Gear S is a completely autonomous device. True, to get started you will still need to connect it to your smartphone or Samsung tablet, and in the future, in the absence of a SIM card, a smartphone will be necessary to perform most operations. But, for example, if you are going for a walk or jog and are afraid of missing an important call, then you should move the SIM card from your smartphone to the Samsung Gear S and take only the watch with you.

This is the most likely scenario for using a SIM card in a watch. Other options that come to mind seem very exotic and far-fetched, since it’s really difficult to think of situations where you will use a watch instead of a smartphone. The reality is that modern man does not part with the smartphone, and the watch in any case becomes only an addition (by the way, if you have both a watch and a smartphone with you, and a SIM card in the watch, then you can transfer a call from the watch to the smartphone and communicate with the interlocutor already via smartphone). Another thing is that in the case of the Samsung Gear S, this addition is much more functional than all Android Wear devices, which are practically incapable of anything without a smartphone.

The Gear S runs on the Tizen operating system, just like the Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit. Let us remember that this is the brainchild of Samsung and Intel, based on the Linux kernel and working with HTML5 applications. Tizen traces its pedigree to the MeeGo operating system, which, in turn, is rooted in Maemo (the history of these projects can be read). At Mobile World Congress 2014 we saw a large Tizen stand, where engineering samples of smartphones running on this OS were presented, and in June, a commercial sample of a smartphone with Tizen, called Samsung Z, but a month later it was launched (seemingly due to the small number of applications for Tizen). A little later Samsung budget smartphone on Tizen, and it seems like this model will be on sale in India in November. However, November is just around the corner, and there has been no news about a Tizen smartphone since then. In general, the future of Tizen in mobile devices is still a big question mark, but in smartwatches, as we see, Samsung is stubbornly relying on this OS. The manufacturer, practically undisguised, has pushed the recently released Samsung Gear Live model on Android Wear far away and has not taken any steps to promote it, confirming our assumptions that this model is nothing more than a friendly gesture towards Google. And for Samsung itself, the priority today is the Tizen line. However, compared to Android Wear, Tizen OS does have a number of advantages (although there are also disadvantages).

Let's take a look at the watch interface and the set of pre-installed applications.

The start screen is the clock itself. There are 13 options available, and each of them can be customized by setting the display of exactly the information that is required. Among the standard dials, there are three that are truly amazing. Here are photographs of two of them, which only partially convey their magnificence (in fact, they look much more beautiful).

Please note that the mini-dials here are customizable, that is, for example, on the blue version, you can display a compass at the bottom instead of the number of notifications, and on the white version, instead of the remaining battery charge, you can display the number of steps. To switch to another watch face, you simply hold your finger on the screen and select from the thumbnails that appear - just like Android Wear. And in order to exit to the main application menu, you need to swipe up on the screen.

A total of 16 applications are pre-installed: Phone, Contacts, Messages, Email, Schedule, Settings, Navigator, S Health, Running, Music, Brief News, Weather, S Voice, Alarm Clock, Gallery and Find Device. Let's comment on those that were not mentioned in the review of Gear 2 and Gear Fit, or that work differently than there.

First of all, this is, of course, the Telephone. You can dial numbers using the numeric keypad or select from a list of recent calls. You can also go to contacts. Note that searching for contacts using voice control didn’t really work for us: at first the watch could not recognize the last name of the required contact for a long time (instead of “Uvarov” the watch suggested “Ufa-Ufa” and the like), and then, when it finally succeeded to recognize the last name correctly, they reported that it was not in the contact list (although it was there). In general, don't rely on voice control for the Phone and Contacts apps.

An interesting and very useful application is “Brief News”. Actually, from the name it is quite clear that this is a news aggregator. 10 thematic categories are supported (Business, Technology, Sports, Celebrities, etc.). You can choose all 10, or just a few. News on selected topics will be collected into feeds that can be scrolled with a vertical swipe across the screen (one screen - one news). The transition between thematic feeds is a horizontal swipe. By clicking on the headline and picture of any news, you can read the entire material. Very convenient (for example, when you are traveling on the Moscow metro during rush hour, and you have Wi-Fi, but there is no free space at least to get a smartphone). One thing is not clear: how to change the list of Internet resources with which the aggregator works.

The last application that is worth mentioning separately is “Navigator”. It's based on the Here maps and, in theory, could be quite useful. But in this case it works somehow strange. Firstly, it does not want to determine the location without a smartphone - even with Wi-Fi connected and a SIM card in the watch. Secondly, it offers to download maps to your smartphone so that you don't need an internet connection, but after downloading we didn't feel any difference. It seems that the watch does not know how to receive maps downloaded locally from a smartphone. Or does this require some special settings.

But the problems don't end there either. The program searches for the required address with ease. That is, it is not on the first try that the watch recognizes the entered information. Perhaps these problems will be solved by updating the firmware, and the watch will go on sale with a correctly working application. But even in its very idea it is very imperfect. Even when the address is found and the route is plotted, we do not see the actual map on the watch - only advice on how many meters to walk/drive in which direction. Obviously, the usefulness of this is very doubtful, especially when walking around the center of Moscow or another old city.

PC connection

The watch can be connected to a PC under Windows control. Windows treats the Gear S as a removable drive with a capacity of 2.50 GB, of which 2.24 GB are free (apparently 260 MB is the OS and hidden system files). It is curious that the Gear 2 had a slightly larger memory capacity (2.64 GB out of 2.81 GB is available to the user). I wonder what this difference is due to.

Inside we will find four folders: Downloads, Music, Images and Sounds. In fact, you can download pictures, music and ringtones into them for later playback on the watch (however, the same can be done through a smartphone with the Gear Manager application).

When connected to Mac computer the watch was much less functional (we were using an iMac running OS X 10.10). Firstly, Android File Transfer did not recognize them.

However, it would be surprising if it worked out, because this is not Android, but Tizen. The only way“see” the clock - install the application Samsung Kies. After installation from the Samsung website, it restarts the computer, then reports the presence of an update, after installing it again requires a reboot, and in the end it still says that only firmware updates are supported for the Gear S (which were not available at the time of testing).

In general, it makes sense for Mac users to connect the watch to the computer only for recharging (of course, this option is also available on Windows).

Autonomous operation

We have already noted more than once that it is almost impossible to objectively assess the battery life of smartwatches, since everything will depend on the usage scenario: it is not yet possible to create any formalized scenarios (as, for example, when testing tablets and smartphones). It is even more difficult to comment on the duration Samsung works Gear S, since there is nothing to compare it with - watches on Android Wear have completely different functionality. In this case, a lot depends on whether you will use the watch as a smartphone (that is, insert a SIM card into it and use it for conversations) or not. If not, you can expect the Samsung Gear S to last just as long as the Android Wear watch we tested earlier. That is, one and a half to two days is quite enough. And with minimal use - even longer. If you use the watch intensively, the battery can be discharged within a day. According to our feelings, in a similar usage scenario, the Gear S “live” on one battery charge less than the Gear 2: obviously, this is a consequence of a significantly larger screen area and resolution and the presence of Wi-Fi and 3G modules. On the other hand, we cannot say that the watch is discharged rapidly. So you don’t have to constantly sit at the charger.

conclusions

Samsung Gear S is one of the most interesting devices of the year: both in hardware and software. They are equipped with the best (among wearable devices) and truly innovative screen, and by the end of the year no one will surpass them. And in terms of functionality, this is the most advanced smartwatch model we have ever seen. In fact, Gear S is the first Tizen smartphone, isn't it?

Unfortunately, there are still some flaws in the software (they may not be in the commercial version of the device), and the pre-installed applications do not fully reveal the potential of this device. In particular, there is a lack of a full-fledged browser (optimized for this form factor, of course). On this watch, access to mobile versions sites would be quite useful, given the screen size and resolution.

In addition, on Android Wear devices we are already accustomed to Google Now. Samsung's analogue, S Voice, is outright inferior to it and cannot yet be recommended for real use. The same applies to the Navigator application, which is unable to compete with Google Maps... In general, sometimes no, no, and the thought flashes: if we crossed Android Wear and Tizen, we would get a different operating system for watches. In the meantime, the Tizen interface is more logical and convenient, but without Google services this OS often turns out to be even less functional than a stripped-down OS Android settings Wear.

Another unclear situation is with applications. There seems to be no feeling that there are very few of them (although, probably, still less than for Android Wear). But many of them are paid, and it is obvious that with all the aggressive promotion of the Tizen line, Samsung is unlikely to be able to compete with the expansion of Google, supported by LG, Sony, Asus, Motorola and even Samsung themselves (even formally, “for show”) . Consequently, the fleet of applications for Android Wear will grow faster than for Samsung watches, even though the hardware and technology of the Gear S is now superior to all models on Android Wear that we have seen, and also to the announced ones.

And most importantly, Samsung continues to limit the circle of possible users of its Tizen devices to owners of Samsung smartphones. Obviously, this greatly reduces the range of possible users - even compared to Android Wear. Hence the slow growth in the number of applications: today, a developer, choosing between Tizen and Android Wear, will almost certainly prefer Android Wear, even if the total number of Samsung watches sold this year exceeds the sales of all three available models on Android Wear.

The result is a completely classic example of a gadget (in the original, narrow sense of the word): something amazing, technically innovative, with various cool features and standing out from similar devices, but impractical and of little use in everyday life, and not in spy thrillers. Especially if you consider the price: Samsung Gear S will be sold here for 14,990 rubles - more expensive than all other smartwatches on the market. At least until the Apple Watch comes out.

For its innovative curved display and new take on smartwatch functionality, we award Samsung our Original Design Award.