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My Gear S2 Classic verdict after 1 month every day use:
Pros:
- Absolutely office compatible, looks great, really nice to wear and not too big for slim-wristed people like me
- Great battery time, runs in between 36h and 48h (I use it for time, notifications from 11 apps and 30 min sport recording every day)
- Excellent display (its AMOLED after all), even in strong daylight
- Probably the very best user interface, the bezel/lunette with the two buttons makes it very intuitive and easy to operate
- Thanks to MRTIMEMAKER endless watch faces (you basically don’t have to buy any…)
- Sturdy build (but also see cons for screen)
- Easy to connect and to administrate via GEAR App on my Samsung S6 edge
- All the apps shipping with it cover all my everyday’s needs
Neutral
- No speaker, I don’t really need it but the alarm clock is a bit lame using vibrations only
- Vibrations are quite weak (had to set it to strong and long duration to surely recognize them)
- HERE maps directions are not always distinct, so I have to look at my phone from time-to-time
- Built-in keyboard is hard to use and not really adapted to a round watch-face
- Currently very few applications in store (but it is getting a bit better everyday)
Cons
- S Voice is inferior to OK Google or Siri but it is needed due to mediocre keyboard
- No integration of Google Maps, Voice Search and only partly support of Google Now notifications (only first notification is displayed)
- Screen is only Gorilla glass, competition uses sapphire glass
- Notifications get overwritten by newer ones if they come from a different app (except for emails and SMS)
- Only the original charger (which is very pricey) works with this smartwatch, even that it seems to use wireless charging standards...
So at a scale from 1 to 10 (10 is best) I would give this watch an 8. With more apps to come it will get a straight 10!
My wishes for apps would be:
- Integration of Google Maps and Voice
- Keyboard alternatives
- Displaying (and editing to some extend) of notes apps like Google Notes, MS Notes etc
- A (working!) sleep tracker
- More information (tags) on currently played music in music app
- A simple(!) stock ticker
Thanks for the review. Min shows up tonight and I am particularly interested in your experience with other chargers. What did you try?
Thanks,
Fred
I totally agree with your review. I bought both S2's. For me, the classic was a little smaller than the 'sport'. The classic should have been larger to justify the $50 extra.
Uses Google Maps.. just a heads up...
Great review and very true. I used the gear s2 (non-classic) for a few weeks before I returned it. I will be getting the 3g version from verizon.
a huge upgrade for me would be the google now notifications all showing. In addition, the sleep tracking option would be great (which apparently will be available at some point based on other discussions online). The no speaker is a bit annoying, and I refuse to walk around with a bluetooth headset just so that I don't have to take my phone out of my pocket. Overall it seems that Samsung did a great job with this watch, and should be able to make it close to a "10" with a few further updates. I did find that the battery life could have been stronger too.
My desires for Samsung would be:
Full view of google now notifications (so basically pulling everything from my google now even if it wasn't a recent notification)
Sleep tracking (with the option of shutting everything on the watch aside from the time and the tracking items)
Customizable "sleep mode" (as opposed to only do not disturb and battery saving mode)
"watch only" mode (it would be nice to have my watch only without any notifications or anything else at times while saving battery-which would turn off all the "ometers", bluetooth, vibration, etc. and just give me the time)
Fast charging (this could hurt battery life, but it would be nice instead of the 2:15 it took to charge from 0-100% even if it's only to get a 25% boost in 10 minutes or whatever on a 250 mah battery... my notes 4 with off 300mah takes an hour to charge)
Overall... GREAT job samsung... really loved the watch. And looking forward to receipt of my 3g version
I have a sport but agree with most of this. I also have a moto 360, and save for the lack of Google maps and s voice instead of Google now, I find the s2 more powerful and enjoyable.
I also find the ui a lot more intuitive. Android wear you just need to memorize which swipe does what, there's nothing to clue you in. On the s2, it is apparent just by looking at it how to do most things.
They have really delivered on this, great first showing for this update to tizen and ui paradigm.
Swap google now for s voice, get Google maps going, offer a larger size, and they have a pretty compelling case to ditch android wear.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
Great review, thanks. Any updates since last written? The Gear S2 classic grabbed my attention and since my pebble steel is having issues with it's screen I figure it's time to start shopping. I have a note 5 and don't use S-voice as I find OK google works better, getting the S2 I assume I can't use that. So that brings me over to android wear.
sapphire crystal glass is fare more reflective than gorilla glass, so using it will also make the watch less visible under sunlight.
Mr.time maker is really ****ty it doesn't support anything other than watch face + 2 hands, might as well use the stock watch faces.
jacobgong said:
sapphire crystal glass is fare more reflective than gorilla glass, so using it will also make the watch less visible under sunlight.
Mr.time maker is really ****ty it doesn't support anything other than watch face + 2 hands, might as well use the stock watch faces.
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To be fair, Mr timemaker also supports something like three or four complications as well as many cool faces -- all for free. Nice change from stock faces without breaking the bank. For something more complex, then samsung gear watch designer software is a good bet.
sefrcoko said:
To be fair, Mr timemaker also supports something like three or four complications as well as many cool faces -- all for free. Nice change from stock faces without breaking the bank. For something more complex, then samsung gear watch designer software is a good bet.
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Click to collapse
Yes but the complication support is useless because you can't customise it so it never fits with the rest of the watch face.
it disgusts me to see a "tourbillon" watch that just has a Google image of a fixed tourbillon, or a white "complication" that doesn't even fit into the slot of where the complication is supposed to go on the watch face.
jacobgong said:
Yes but the complication support is useless because you can't customise it so it never fits with the rest of the watch face.
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Click to collapse
It works fine with many faces but I agree the lack of customization isn't ideal and doesn't fit well with some designs. If you're looking for something more robust I suggest using Gear Watch Designer.
After 2 months of use, my review of my G2 Classic:
1-Overall a good watch. Looks good, works well enough. I'll keep it.
2-POOR ALARM!! The main reason I use a smart watch is to get notifications and if this is so weak it does not wake me up in the morning or alert me of an email then it is a major fail for the watch.
3-Once I turn off those apps and functions I simply do not need or use (wifi, NFC, etc.) I get 2 days of battery life.
4-Screen is bright enough to be seen in direct sunlight - a major requirement for me.
5-The watch is waterproof - a major requirement for me.
6- The watch works with multiple email programs - a major requirement for me.
7-The watch functions are easy to work with in the most part.
8-Weather and Step Count are poor. The weather doesn't update hourly when you select that option. Only updates when I force it. Steps are off by several hundred from my phone. Not show stoppers, but poor. ((UPDATE - I just deleted all my non-stock Note 4 weather programs and used the one that came with the phone. Lo and behold it now updates hourly. So... use the stock weather app. Problem solved.)) ((CHANGE 2 24 Jan - now it doesn't work. Not sure why.))
9-Samsung Customer Service on this watch sucks. I called a couple of times and got people in India who obviously never heard of the watch and had nothing to offer.
What I"d like to see:
1-Get the damn update out! It's been a couple months and nothing in the US. I hear some of my criticisms will be answer by that.
2-Make the Weather and Step functions work as advertised.
3-FIX THE DAMN VIBRATION!! This is a major fail for the watch and the one reason why I do not recommend it to other professionals. It simply does not help me manage my time and, though I like the watch, had I suspected this I probably would have kept my Pebble. It woke me up in the morning.
4-The ability to set reminders by voice with Google Now off the watch. This is a function I use extensively on my phone and it would be better off my watch. Pebble actually has a separate app that does this as well and that would work too.
Some want more watch faces, more apps, etc. But since I'm not launching nuclear missiles from my watch I really don't want that much functionality. I don't need to see my photos on my watch, control my music, navigate, or many of the other things this watch does. I want some simple health functions, trustworthy notifications, and that's about it. I have one or two watch faces I use and I'm happy with that.
I've had my S2 Classic for 3 days now and I have no issues with notifications. What did you mean by the notifications getting over written? I've not yet had this issue. I can have notifications from sms, google+, facebook etc and can easily act upon them like comment on a google+ post. Unless you meant the same app it'll over write the notification or maybe I miss read. The keyboard I guess is mediocre but isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Is annoying that if you use made up words like nicknames for example you have no option but to press and hold the keys to choose individual specific letters but once you do that once you can save a word and I'm pretty impressed with the text prediction on it. Other than that I can type relatively quickly on it just having to get used to wear all the letters are now I'm used to using a qwerty keyboard on my phone lol.
S-voice is a little bit of a let down and would prefer the option to have google now but again it works better than expected seems to recognize what I say most of the time although is a little slow especially compared to google now. The only real massive fault I don't like about it is the lack of apps but this may improve with time and I hope it does because the bezel feature is pretty cool and it has potential just hope Samsung do all they can to get devs to make apps for it. The watch is smaller than I thought after looking at videos and pictures online but content is still readable and I compared it to my dad's wrist watch and the S2 is slightly bigger but is roughly the same size so helps give the look of an ordinary wrist watch which I like. Plus isn't bulky unlike my sony smart watch first gen.
I keep reading about weak vibrations which is strange. I set my Classic to long/strong vibration settings and always feel the vibration when it goes off. Maybe different on the sporty gear s2? Or just personal preference perhaps.
sefrcoko said:
I keep reading about weak vibrations which is strange. I set my Classic to long/strong vibration settings and always feel the vibration when it goes off. Maybe different on the sporty gear s2? Or just personal preference perhaps.
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Click to collapse
I had a Pebble and the vibration was strong enough to wake me from a deep sleep. The one on my S2 Classic is hard to feel when I'm awake, much less asleep. It's subtle enough that I have missed calls and calendar notifications. Glad it works for you but it sure doesn't work for me. Its several magnitudes weaker than Pebble.
rogerperk said:
I had a Pebble and the vibration was strong enough to wake me from a deep sleep. The one on my S2 Classic is hard to feel when I'm awake, much less asleep. It's subtle enough that I have missed calls and calendar notifications. Glad it works for you but it sure doesn't work for me. Its several magnitudes weaker than Pebble.
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Click to collapse
Ah that makes sense... I never owned a pebble but I can see how going from one device with much stronger vibrations to another one with weaker vibrations might be a problem. I don't use my Classic's alarm for sleep either (although I am a light sleeper anyhow so I imagine it would be ok for me there too lol). Ok, thanks for clearing it up for me. Hopefully samsung pushes out a future update that allows for greater vibration intensity (if the hardware supports it, that is). Personally I wish every smartwatch had a speaker too, so we wouldn't be forced to rely on vibrations all the time
sefrcoko said:
I keep reading about weak vibrations which is strange. I set my Classic to long/strong vibration settings and always feel the vibration when it goes off. Maybe different on the sporty gear s2? Or just personal preference perhaps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
After one month...
CONS
- I want SLEEP TRACKING!!!
- The bug of the alarm HAS TO BE FIXED asap
- There is no sound alarm (very bad)
PRO
- I don't use notification, so my watch is rarely connected, so my battery life is 4 days long (UAU!!!)
- Great screen
- Great usability
- Very elegant (I have the classic)
- Great designer for the watchfaces (attached my own face...)
- For my needs the APPs are sufficent
Final vote: 8 (it will become 9 with the Sleep Tracking)
Harmon Rabb said:
I have a sport but agree with most of this. I also have a moto 360, and save for the lack of Google maps and s voice instead of Google now, I find the s2 more powerful and enjoyable.
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Click to collapse
I have a Huawei Android Wear, and my opinion is the same as yours.
I went back and forth between the two for several weeks, and eventually just accepted the few limitations of the S2 3G vs. AW, and haven't had the Huawei on my wrist now for 3 weeks or so.
I'm a weather buff, so the one thing in addition to OK Google that I missed was the InstaWeather watch faces. They are absolutely awesome, with a really good animated radar face, and several others that are great.
I simply had to wean myself from glancing at my watch to see what's going on weatherwise (animated radar!), what was coming in terms of forecast, etc. It was painful, but not too much, and I found what I feel is among the best weather apps for Android out there, MyWeather. That helped a lot -- incredible graphical information, forecasts, etc.
If you like weather, download this app now, and have fun watching what's going on on the west coast right now as I type this
As for the rest, I really value the ability to make/receive calls, so the speaker is a big plus. The standalone 3G was a great bonus, but now that I've had it a while I'm find it far more valuable as a feature than I initially thought.
So, at this point the only thing I really have as a significant complaint is the poor performance of S-Voice. I've learned (and am still learning) the quirks of the program so that I can make it as successful for me as possible, but it falls far short of Google's voice recognition servers.
So, I have had this watch since late November, so, here's my honest opinion after ~7 weeks use. (I suspect I get unnecessarily flamed by Samsung Fans for this!!)
The Good
- The design, rotating bezel is the best attempt yet at a simple selection system for a smartwatch
- The battery life - I easily get 3 days
- The hardware - nice screen, snappy performance
- Answering/rejecting calls from the watch works very well and call quality is superb
- Notifications work well, but limited as to what one can do with them with non samsung phone
- Huge number of watch faces - but who needs more than one?
- When S-Voice is working (which is rarely) its handy for 'remind me to...', 'set alarm for...' requests.
- Controlling music player on phone works well enough
- Very few decent apps, but Remote Camera, Xenozu (Youtube), Gear Browser, Toggles, Flipboard work pretty well.
The Bad - (Warning - this is pretty scathing!)
- Only 1.4GB free on watch from the original 4GB
- Watch is full of junk that cannot be uninstalled (useless watch faces useless apps)
- Seriously compromised if not using with a Samsung phone (eg no email, limited sms messaging)
- No way to add SMS functionality via third party apps. Can send messages, but can not go back through old received messages.
- No Gmail/Email (pop3/imap) app, if you have a Samsung phone you get this feature, if not then tough. A stand alone imap-enabled client would have solved this.
- Often the only option in notifications is 'show on phone' eg from FB messenger/twitter notifications - where we are talking about just a few words, this defeats the purpose of the watch, I need to be able to read on watch and reply on watch. This limitation gets tiresome. 3rd parties EG FB/twitter could fix this with their own S3 app, or notifications that allow 'reply', but we all know they never will. Some other notifications (eg email are less limiting)
- Samsungs App store is god-awful - there are many poor quality, paid apps, and when one installs them and discovers they are rubbish there is NO WAY to get a refund (unlike the google play store). I have wasted £20 this way.
- Decent apps on the Samsung store are hard to come by. The (fairly pointless) Xenozu Youtube app, gear brower along with the widgets app (displays android widgets on yr watch) are about the only decent ones that exist. The latter eats battery on the phone though. One notable exception being the remote camera app which is good.
- Samsung pay still does not work in the UK, and no idea when or if it ever will.
- a good 80% of the 'apps' on the Samsung store are simply watch faces - I only need one watch face.
- What remains is an extremely poor collection of extremely buggy apps.
- The 'SMS Service is not available' response to S-Voice attempts to 'Send a text to xxx' requests is tedious. There was no need to screw the functionality up so much for non Samsung phone users.
- Very often S-Voice does not respond - just times out and gives a spoken error
- The remote connection (via wifi) when watch is not connected via bluetooth is unreliable. Its supposed to make a remote connection to phone and allow notifications/etc to still be sent to the watch. Most of the time, it does not work even where watch/phone are on same wifi network, I have never had it work when they are on different networks.
- The watch is fussy about wifi networks (it wont work at all in my workplace for instance). It connects, but no connectivity.
- S-Health is a pile of junk, it auto-detects cycling when I am doing 60MPH on the motorway for instance!!! Among many other issues. Where is the option to remove it and replace with Strava? S-Health on the phone also eats the phones battery in no time.
Samsung needs to up their game if they are serious about Tizen Smartwatches, supplying their own developers for free to the likes of facebook, twitter, whatsapp, hive, ifttt, Skitrax etc in order to ensure that apps for the watch get developed, or paying devs to develop for the platform. They also need to change their store to allow a refund window for rubbish apps.
Samsung could WRITE an IMAP app to fix the email hole on the watch (could be configured from phone, but then work without phone)
Nigel
I am a Samsung fan and I agree with a lot of your gripes, but with all Tech products the "honeymoon" period is pretty short, in other words the level of excitement wears off quickly.
But I agree, if they want Tizen to take off, they need to have major upgrades to the software side of the experience. Samsung is and always will be a great hardware manufacturer, but the software side is always a question-mark. This goes for the overloaded useless crap software on their galaxy phones to the poor software functionality of their smart tvs.
Google is releasing Android Wear upgrades so hopefully some competition outside of Apple will spruce things up, but I am not holding my breath.
BTW, I had to turn off S Voice as it would randomly turn on 2-3 times a day (I didn't even have voice recognition configured) when I was in meetings, very embarrassing. I should have the capability to uninstall it all together.
Also 100% agree on the refund period, like what the hell, in this day and age it should be an easy thing to do. Have bought so many faces and apps that look great and advertise great functionality to only be disappointed when seeing it work after installation. Money wasted.
The only reason I dont have a Samsung phone is the software. Hardware great, but why oh why do they have to mess with stock android so much!?
Sent from my SGP621 using Tapatalk
I bought the frontier to try out Tizen. The other reasons were Samsung Pay, GPS (coming from Huawei Watch) and IP68 certification. I was hoping there would be great apps to support it along the way. The watch build (minus the rotating bezel) is fantastic but Tizen and the current Gear apps are just not exciting enough and hence my feelings are similar to the OP. Maybe my expectations for a wearable are too much. However, I'm looking forward to what Under Armour has to offer since I like to track my runs. Still keeping my Huawei with latest Wear developer preview installed which I actually prefer over Tizen for its clean UI, Google search and wrist gestures. I hardly touch the Frontier's rattling bezel for the fear of it breaking loose. I wish I could tap the screen to turn on the display as with the Huawei. These are just my preferences but its good that I can have the same notifications on both watches at the same time using one phone and therefore be able to switch between the two.
I agree with the OP post plus I'm fed up with the bugs and crap altitude and barometer. Maybe I'll switch to the Fenix 5 when it's released.
I also own a Lg G watch r, and the thing i miss on Gear s3 are the lack of google`s software integration. Would like to use "ok google", by far superior to S-voice. Also google maps, with turn by turn navigation on my wrist.
The selection of watchfaces are awful on gear, and many of them does not look nice on the watch. Missing Watchmaker app, awesome selection of quality watchfaces created by users.
Like mentioned in OP, the notifications are not rich enough.. the idea of the watch making it easier is not working good enough. BUT im hoping there will be changes coming, because it an nice looking and powerful watch.
blackspp said:
I agree with the OP post plus I'm fed up with the bugs and crap altitude and barometer. Maybe I'll switch to the Fenix 5 when it's released.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fully agree with you. There is no apps and Samsung does not bring much to the table. It should be improving the experience, but in place they just rotate few features between models. They don't add new features, but only remove some to replace them with others. Then next models, swap them again (e.g. IR remote).
Progress will be to keep the existing and ADD something!
The only thing I enjoy with the Gear S3 is the look. I felt an improvement in quality, but nothing else. Hope that new intersting apps will get on board soon and that firmware update will be able to correct irrealistic figures from all sensors in that watch.
I fully agree with all of you.
I can use Google maps now with Directions, but even that one I have to start manually.
Toggles was new for me. (Thanks)
But still a lot of handy things as in the first part of Nigel's story.
Quick read my mail, etc etc, coming from a ,not too bad, Sony Smartwatch, its great.
And we have this beautiful KLM airline app.
S-Voice is a drama. (no Dutch)
But this is the Tizen choice. We knew it... lets face it.
Huib
Does anyone know if android wear 2.0 will support android pay on rooted phones? The only reason I'm keeping my Gear S3 is for samsung pay. The rest is too buggy as mentioned here. The other reason is spotify, which rarely works well for me anymore.
soundneedle said:
Does anyone know if android wear 2.0 will support android pay on rooted phones? The only reason I'm keeping my Gear S3 is for samsung pay. The rest is too buggy as mentioned here. The other reason is spotify, which rarely works well for me anymore.
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Click to collapse
There first has to be a watch that supports Android pay with nfc. Right now there isn't any and idk looks like they might not let root users unless they make a separate app for Android pay for watches like Samsung did for Samsung pay for the gear s3 on how it is separate from the Samsung pay phone version. We should know hopefully soon.
Geez!
I was tempted by the Amoled screen vs the LCD of the Moto 360 v2, but as I am an HTC phones user the limitations will be bad.
Though I see there are some custom roms, I wonder if they can fix most of the listed problems?
Samsung Pay with MST keeps me around. Truly groundbreaking on a watch. If you're not using that, then yeah I can see how you'd throw in the towel.
I'm mystified by the lack of app developers as well as Samsung's poor app offerings! I want to be able to read all Flipboard posts! I want better functionality from the calendar. I want Facebook, a better browser and a swyping keyboard! And I want them to fix the WiFi so you can connect to password protected networks!
Sent from my SM-N930T using Tapatalk
kronium said:
Samsung Pay with MST keeps me around. Truly groundbreaking on a watch. If you're not using that, then yeah I can see how you'd throw in the towel.
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Click to collapse
Likewise, first impression was "Wow great watch" but after a month with it, it got bland fast so I sold my Canadian version (which didn't have Samsung Pay on it). I found out through the forum that the American versions have Samsung Pay which would work in Canada and that Watchmaker could trigger Tasker so I decided to buy another one. Honestly love the watch now! Samsung Pay IS really groundbreaking and makes this watch totally worth it. (blah blah blah I know, spending money so that you can pay for more stuff you don't need...)
I use tasker to control my home automation so that's a plus too.
I am fully aware that the Gear S3 is a smartwatch first and sport tracker second. But Samsung come on, at least have Strava come -on-board with a native app, S-Health sucks big time.
Yup. It seems to work okay with cycling. Just okay.
S Health is a humongous battery hog.
And how about a Pandora native app also.
I use the watch daily. I can see my notifications (text and Gmail) on the watch without looking at my phone. I also use Samsung Pay almost daily. I have the LTE version, so it it nice to be able to have a stand-alone device if needed. There are many, many reasons I like this watch. However, I think it is obvious that there is a huge lack of usable apps for this watch. Clearly, this is mostly because of Tizen, but Samsung is to blame for that. They have taken little initiative to get real app development. They could at least create a bridge that would allow some Android apps to function on Tizen. They are very hoggish and want to control all aspects of the watch for themselves but aren't moving fast to do so. They offer a BMW app for the watch, but how many people drive a BMW? Why not offer a Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge app, etc...? The list is way too long to mention here of usable apps that need to be available for this watch. So, as I have mentioned in other threads, the watch is great...it just severely lacks app development and Samsung's weak attempts (****ty contests) to inspire development is falling way short. I can only hope they change this very soon. Google should be releasing a pretty awesome watch very soon and I'm not sure if Samsung Pay is going to be enough to keep me with the S3. Especially since I can just use my phone for the same thing.
scott14719 said:
I use the watch daily. I can see my notifications (text and Gmail) on the watch without looking at my phone. I also use Samsung Pay almost daily. I have the LTE version, so it it nice to be able to have a stand-alone device if needed. There are many, many reasons I like this watch. However, I think it is obvious that there is a huge lack of usable apps for this watch. Clearly, this is mostly because of Tizen, but Samsung is to blame for that. They have taken little initiative to get real app development. They could at least create a bridge that would allow some Android apps to function on Tizen. They are very hoggish and want to control all aspects of the watch for themselves but aren't moving fast to do so. They offer a BMW app for the watch, but how many people drive a BMW? Why not offer a Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge app, etc...? The list is way too long to mention here of usable apps that need to be available for this watch. So, as I have mentioned in other threads, the watch is great...it just severely lacks app development and Samsung's weak attempts (****ty contests) to inspire development is falling way short. I can only hope they change this very soon. Google should be releasing a pretty awesome watch very soon and I'm not sure if Samsung Pay is going to be enough to keep me with the S3. Especially since I can just use my phone for the same thing.
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Click to collapse
I agree with everything you say except SPay! Amen!
Sent from my SM-N930T using Tapatalk
Ditto the two above posts...
I bought the watch 2 weeks ago and I love the way it functions personally. S health got a major upgrade 2 weeks ago, and to get the most of it you need to check off the activities that you like in the S gear app. So far I have just run and walked using this app. and it gives heart rate, and let's you know your pace and calories burned. I have yet to track weight training, and such. The Under Armor apps are there, but I seem to get and invalid email error so far. One of the best keeps getting better since the last heart rate monitoring addition.
Hi everyone,
Im a long time android user, currently without a samsung phone.
Im looking for a smart watch, using it as a regular watch (have always been wearing one) in the day-day life and as an activity tracker when doing sport (mountain biking and sometimes running)
I struggle to decide if to go with the samsung or one of the garmin fenix watches.
The altimeter-gps-hrm are the key features that I want to have statistics during my activity, and I've read conflicting opinions about bad readings.
1. Any of you who is also doing some kind of sport activity, Are you satisfied with the watch? Is it accurate enough?
2. Re watch apps and builtin apps, I understand that there is some bloatware, Can it be removed?
3. Re sensors readings and activity tracking, can it be exported to be used with other apps? Can I use orux maps on my phone and having an activity recording on the phone gather also the information from the watch?
4. Is it possible to load gpx files and a map beforehand and follow a route like that, offline, without a phone?
5. Is any of the watch functionality degraded when using a non-samsung phone?
I would like to hear as much information from the watch owners, because its hard to decide, on one hand having a watch that costs ~300$ and has a bright screen, smarter, or spending ~600$ for a watch that is allegedly better at activity tracking, but has a poor screen and functionality otherwise, and is much more expensive
eranyanay said:
Hi everyone,
1. Any of you who is also doing some kind of sport activity, Are you satisfied with the watch? Is it accurate enough?
2. Re watch apps and builtin apps, I understand that there is some bloatware, Can it be removed?
3. Re sensors readings and activity tracking, can it be exported to be used with other apps? Can I use orux maps on my phone and having an activity recording on the phone gather also the information from the watch?
4. Is it possible to load gpx files and a map beforehand and follow a route like that, offline, without a phone?
5. Is any of the watch functionality degraded when using a non-samsung phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi there, I was in your very same position and I ended up getting and, for the moment, keeping the S3 frontier. I had an old Epson ps100 which is very good for tracking HR all day long and spotting any activity, but very bad in all the rest (step counts bad, no floor counts, horrible app with no integration with withings or myfitnesspal). Then I bought the Huawei Fit Watch, cheap and nice, but since I do mostly indoor rowing there was no way to use it but by telling it I was cycling and, then, it would make random acquisition of GPS while I was actually indoor. Then I tried the Fenix 3 HR, amazing watch for tracking sport, dedicated program for indoor rowing, but waaaaay off in terms of active calories burned, it would have me burning active calories while watching TV on the bed! I tried two different units, very same issue. On internet you'll find a lot of people having this issue with all the Garmin HR watches, and no answer from Garmin EVER.
So I ended up trying the S3 Frontier. It costs exactly like the Fenix 3HR right now, but half of the new Fenix 5. Which in Europe arrives today. I won't write a review of the watch, but just try to answer to your questions:
1. Any of you who is also doing some kind of sport activity, Are you satisfied with the watch? Is it accurate enough?
I do indoor rowing every day. Plus stretching with a foam roller. I use "Indoor Cycling" program to track the first and "Yoga" to track the second. The watch gives me the same results in terms of HR and calories than the Epson PS100 and the Huawei Fit. So I would say it is accurate, if you keep skin and hr reader clean and tight. I'm a professional photographer, and when I go out on assignments I use the "Hiking" program to track steps, HR, altitude, and to track my gps route. It works very well, even if I'm out for hours and hours.
2. Re watch apps and builtin apps, I understand that there is some bloatware, Can it be removed?
You can remove some of the original programs, but not all of them. They don't take much space though.
3. Re sensors readings and activity tracking, can it be exported to be used with other apps? Can I use orux maps on my phone and having an activity recording on the phone gather also the information from the watch?
There are other app you can use instead of the native ones, like Endomondo (which gave me horribly high calories counting, though) or MapMyRun, etc. I don't know if you can track simultaneously an activity with both SHealth and Endomondo, though. Never tried. You can surely track you gps with ORUX on your phone while using another app on you watch. Remember that in the worst case scenario, if you disconnect the watch from the phone you can use the internal GPS on the watch to track your hiking using SHealth.
4. Is it possible to load gpx files and a map beforehand and follow a route like that, offline, without a phone?
Kind of. You can load GPX files using either Komoot or Gear Navigator. Komoot is available only for users with a Samsung phone. I don't have it so I can't speak for it. I use Gear Navigator, and it works fine, but it requires the Gear Navigator Companion running on your phone. It gives you a map on the phone so you can see where you are compared to the track, but you still need your phone with you. The new Gear Navigator Standalone states it can use GPX too, and it works without a phone, but it still needs internet access or it refuses to work, so either you have the LTE version of the watch or it will still require a phone for the internet access. So, right now there is no app like Garmin ones which will allow you to have gpx tracks without maps working offline, but you have gpx tracks with maps (even satellite maps) working online. The best is I could track my "free hike" with SHealth, stop at the arrival, use the SHealth on the phone to export the GPX, open it with Gear Navigator, and have the watch showing me how to get back following my steps. That was nice.
5. Is any of the watch functionality degraded when using a non-samsung phone?
Right now some, but some of these get corrected to work with any android phone from time to time. Right now you don't have the "email" app (you can still read incoming emails, but you can't answer them or scroll through them). You don't have Uber and Komoot. You don't have the new matching themes. I can't think of other limitations right now, but probably there are. Nothing major, though, since I'm using mine since 18 days with daily workouts and hikes and all of the smart features (which are waaaaay better than any Fenix or Sunto watch) and I'm good with it.
lucarossini said:
hi there, I was in your very same position and I ended up getting and, for the moment, keeping the S3 frontier. I had an old Epson ps100 which is very good for tracking HR all day long and spotting any activity, but very bad in all the rest (step counts bad, no floor counts, horrible app with no integration with withings or myfitnesspal). Then I bought the Huawei Fit Watch, cheap and nice, but since I do mostly indoor rowing there was no way to use it but by telling it I was cycling and, then, it would make random acquisition of GPS while I was actually indoor. Then I tried the Fenix 3 HR, amazing watch for tracking sport, dedicated program for indoor rowing, but waaaaay off in terms of active calories burned, it would have me burning active calories while watching TV on the bed! I tried two different units, very same issue. On internet you'll find a lot of people having this issue with all the Garmin HR watches, and no answer from Garmin EVER.
So I ended up trying the S3 Frontier. It costs exactly like the Fenix 3HR right now, but half of the new Fenix 5. Which in Europe arrives today. I won't write a review of the watch, but just try to answer to your questions:
1. Any of you who is also doing some kind of sport activity, Are you satisfied with the watch? Is it accurate enough?
I do indoor rowing every day. Plus stretching with a foam roller. I use "Indoor Cycling" program to track the first and "Yoga" to track the second. The watch gives me the same results in terms of HR and calories than the Epson PS100 and the Huawei Fit. So I would say it is accurate, if you keep skin and hr reader clean and tight. I'm a professional photographer, and when I go out on assignments I use the "Hiking" program to track steps, HR, altitude, and to track my gps route. It works very well, even if I'm out for hours and hours.
2. Re watch apps and builtin apps, I understand that there is some bloatware, Can it be removed?
You can remove some of the original programs, but not all of them. They don't take much space though.
3. Re sensors readings and activity tracking, can it be exported to be used with other apps? Can I use orux maps on my phone and having an activity recording on the phone gather also the information from the watch?
There are other app you can use instead of the native ones, like Endomondo (which gave me horribly high calories counting, though) or MapMyRun, etc. I don't know if you can track simultaneously an activity with both SHealth and Endomondo, though. Never tried. You can surely track you gps with ORUX on your phone while using another app on you watch. Remember that in the worst case scenario, if you disconnect the watch from the phone you can use the internal GPS on the watch to track your hiking using SHealth.
4. Is it possible to load gpx files and a map beforehand and follow a route like that, offline, without a phone?
Kind of. You can load GPX files using either Komoot or Gear Navigator. Komoot is available only for users with a Samsung phone. I don't have it so I can't speak for it. I use Gear Navigator, and it works fine, but it requires the Gear Navigator Companion running on your phone. It gives you a map on the phone so you can see where you are compared to the track, but you still need your phone with you. The new Gear Navigator Standalone states it can use GPX too, and it works without a phone, but it still needs internet access or it refuses to work, so either you have the LTE version of the watch or it will still require a phone for the internet access. So, right now there is no app like Garmin ones which will allow you to have gpx tracks without maps working offline, but you have gpx tracks with maps (even satellite maps) working online. The best is I could track my "free hike" with SHealth, stop at the arrival, use the SHealth on the phone to export the GPX, open it with Gear Navigator, and have the watch showing me how to get back following my steps. That was nice.
5. Is any of the watch functionality degraded when using a non-samsung phone?
Right now some, but some of these get corrected to work with any android phone from time to time. Right now you don't have the "email" app (you can still read incoming emails, but you can't answer them or scroll through them). You don't have Uber and Komoot. You don't have the new matching themes. I can't think of other limitations right now, but probably there are. Nothing major, though, since I'm using mine since 18 days with daily workouts and hikes and all of the smart features (which are waaaaay better than any Fenix or Sunto watch) and I'm good with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Thank you for the deep insights of your experience with the watch.
I have some followup questions,
1. How well do you feel the Altimeter/Berometer accurate? I read some contradictive opinions, some say they are accurate and some are not. Does it track height, floors, steps well?
2. Hi,
Thank you for the deep insights of your experience with the watch. It really makes me think more positive about buying one.
The main downside is that Im not a samsung user, so Im afraid that I will have less apps, watchfaces or settings/functionality.
I dont care for most apps, but Komoot actually looks nice.
I have some followup questions,
1. How well do you feel the Altimeter/Berometer/GPS accurate? I read some contradictive opinions, some say they are accurate and some are not. Does it track height, floors, steps well? Do you get location right?
2. Isnt there any way to sideload watchfaces/themes or komoot app onto the watch?
eranyanay said:
I have some followup questions,
1. How well do you feel the Altimeter/Berometer/GPS accurate? I read some contradictive opinions, some say they are accurate and some are not. Does it track height, floors, steps well? Do you get location right?
2. Isnt there any way to sideload watchfaces/themes or komoot app onto the watch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Komoot looks nice, but has no map on the watch, only directions. Gear Navigator, instead, has map, and even streetview.
The Altimeter/Barometer has no normal hiccups you could expect on these sensors when mounted on watches. They always had, even my old digital Casio Pro Trek had. Though, thanks to the GPS auto adjustment, they are usually correct. They work very well in detecting floors as long as you swing your arms while climbing up stairs and never stop in the middle. They work very well during hiking or skiing. Garmin has worse luck with the altimeter, my first unit said I was at 6000 meters over sea (I live in Rome, we are barely 20m over sea) an wasn't corrected by the GPS in any way. The GPS works fine, though I think I always had the phone with me while tracking, so it might have been the phone GPS I used...
I just found another app I can't have because I don't have samsung, it is called Pears. However, consider that the new apps are all coming for all the phones (worst luck if you use iOs), and that I don't really feel crippled. Also, the new watch update corrected the way SHealth reads HR during workout and now SHealth has HR zones and evaluate calories accordingly. It is much better, now I feel in line with Garmin during workout (out of workouts Garmin was terrible, S3 wins).
To answer to your last question, though, there is no way I'm aware to sideload apps. You should have to change phone to upload those, since I think when you do the watch gets reset. But, again, they aren't so many. And some of those may not even be available in your country (another little issue, some countries don't have Gear Navigator for example!).
Thanks,
Last thing come to mind, and Im not sure, I see some threads here about watchfaces mentioning themes available at the samsung apps store, is it available for android users in general, without the samsung?
What other tools available out there?
eranyanay said:
Thanks,
Last thing come to mind, and Im not sure, I see some threads here about watchfaces mentioning themes available at the samsung apps store, is it available for android users in general, without the samsung?
What other tools available out there?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when you pair the watch on your phone, the latter will automatically install Samsung Gear App Store. That's the store. You'll find all the hundreds of watchfaces and the (few good) apps there. I also just tested Gear Navigator and it seems to work offline too, using the maps in the cache. So it could work on a long hike in areas without internet. I haven't found a way to load GPX tracks on the Gear Navigator Standalone, though.
Thanks.
I think you got me convinced
So far I thought maybe I'll wait.
I think I will go for it.
Just gotta find some glass screen protector so I wont be sad when it scratches...
eranyanay said:
Thanks.
I think you got me convinced
So far I thought maybe I'll wait.
I think I will go for it.
Just gotta find some glass screen protector so I wont be sad when it scratches...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't put any on mine. The watch has Gorilla Glass on it, it's just slightly worse than the Sapphire the Fenix 3 and 5 have (if you pay 100$ more). The watch has been on my wrist every minute for almost a month, sustained skiing (with several high speed crashes), workouts, children (I have a 5yo and a toddler), dog (australian Shepherd), cooking, BBQing, cycling, and it doesn't have a single, slightest, scratch on the glass nor on the bezel. The protectors are way less strong, they will keep getting scratches, you'll think they saved the glass from those, but I don't think so. That said, it is just my opinion, if you feel safe with one just buy it, they are cheap and disposable
Try to get the watch from Amazon or some other vendors with a good return policy, in case you don't like it. As I said, I changed several HR watches in the last couple of months before finding one I like. You may have a totally different experience. Better safe than stuck with a watch you don't like.
I use Gear S3 to track gym sessions (mostly 45 minutes indoor elliptical). Switched from Polar M400.
Until the last update the pulse and calories count were on the low side (pulse about 5 beats less than Polar, 298 calories for session where Polar counted 400).
Since the update trained once today, pulse and calories got really close to those of Polar.
I have nothing to add except that there is an Uber app.
Sent from my SM-N930T using Tapatalk
Would you say there is a good smart watch alternative in the Android wear field?
I have been looking at the Huawei watch 2 but it's not as pretty,not having an altimeter, and also seems to have kind of bad battery life. Only their HRM sensor seems an improvement.
A published review from yesterday on wearable.com mentions negative feelings about pace and HRM reading for the s3.
Is it possible to connect a BT or ANT enabled heart rate chest strap?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
eranyanay said:
Would you say there is a good smart watch alternative in the Android wear field?
I have been looking at the Huawei watch 2 but it's not as pretty,not having an altimeter, and also seems to have kind of bad battery life. Only their HRM sensor seems an improvement.
A published review from yesterday on wearable.com mentions negative feelings about pace and HRM reading for the s3.
Is it possible to connect a BT or ANT enabled heart rate chest strap?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look up the TicWatch on YouTube. I came really close to buying that.
RaymondPJR said:
Look up the TicWatch on YouTube. I came really close to buying that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What did you do eventually?
What did you buy, or didnt buy, and what was the reason for it?
Im really into the S3 design, Just thinking if I should wait until Sep/Oct where a S4 might get out
I had the Garmin Fenix 3 Sapphire and really like the watch, but the phone interconnectivity was really lacking for my use and I didnt get it with the integrated HRM. I got the Frontier and really like it. For my exercise use the only thing that I don't care for is the Altimeter, it seems to be off quite often (there have been plenty of discussions on that)
I do however like the new app integration of Endomondo. If you want to import GPX files, I am pretty sure you can do that. Not too sure about S Health.
eranyanay said:
What did you do eventually?
What did you buy, or didnt buy, and what was the reason for it?
Im really into the S3 design, Just thinking if I should wait until Sep/Oct where a S4 might get out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the Gear S 3 Frontier in the end for two reasons. The battery life of the TicWatch was not as good plus I found I could get the LTE version Frontier for $349.00 if I ordered direct from Samsung. TicWatch isn't as expensive plus you can use Google apps, but that wasn't enough in the end.
Sent from my SM-N930T using Tapatalk
I was seriously thinking today about the garmin fenix instead.
But honestly, I do sport activity maybe twice a week, and I prefer to have only good GPS reading, and take into consideration that the altimeter and HRM may be inaccurate
and the screen of the garmin is really disappointing, and as a watch, the watchface there looks very poor
So I think I will go with the gear s3.
I only wonder if its possible to connect HR strap to it. Is it?
Wrist HRM are innaccurate in realtime on more then 100 BPM, basically when your BPM is same around 20 more seconds then it's accurate , it's just the way the blood flows in wrist, while HRM on my phone (s7 edge) is exactly the same as EKG, meaning it's showing realtime bpm as tested by some doctor (artery in finger is almost in direct contact with heart) and wrist veins need time to "update". Altimeter needs to be calibrated when you need to use it, it's using small pressure sensitive membrane , and well it's really sensitive ( calibration is done by downloading relative pressure info for your place where you live and algorythm tries to define your height, and most of the time is correct. Fenix 3 has transreflect screen, meaning that insted of having backlight it's using outside light, hence perfect sun visibility, + you can't really compare 16 color display to SAMOLED 16.7m colors
eranyanay said:
I was seriously thinking today about the garmin fenix instead.
But honestly, I do sport activity maybe twice a week, and I prefer to have only good GPS reading, and take into consideration that the altimeter and HRM may be inaccurate
and the screen of the garmin is really disappointing, and as a watch, the watchface there looks very poor
So I think I will go with the gear s3.
I only wonder if its possible to connect HR strap to it. Is it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IMO, unless you're a huge activity person the Garmin is way overkill, and, yeah the screen res on the Fenix 3 was NO comparison to the Gear S3, not even in the same league. 350x350 compared to 218x218 (?)...............
I was able to get my S3 Frontier (Non LTE) on special at Amazon for $300. I like the Frontier far more than the Fenix 3
Sorry to bring suddenly the opposite input, but as a lot of other users are reporting on all the S3 forums around the globe, the new update messed badly with the battery and with other watch functionalities. In my case, a few days after the update the battery started going down twice as fast as before, I am talking about 1% every 10 minutes, which means 6% per hour, so around 17 hours of autonomy. The watch used to last me 48 hours before.
Yesterday the watch went completely crazy for a couple of minutes, opening random apps while I was in the middle of a workout. I was forced to reboot it (loosing all the workout I had done so far on SHealth) and then it was ok again. This morning I had another issue when I tried to install the update for HERE Maps (a good navigator) and it wouldn't let me. I tried all the possible combination of rebooting and cache cleaning, and since I still had the battery issue I decided to go for the hard reset, as suggested by many other users.
A horrible idea.
It took me the whole day with I don't know how many trials to finally finish a restore (bluetooth disconnections, network failures, plugin which stopped working, you name it). The restore, by the way, is just apps, watchfaces, and a few settings. No widget restore. No notification restore (even though it is listed in the backup option). No SHealth restore (I lost all of my tracked info on the watch, not on the phone though). No app order restore. I managed to install the new version of HERE maps, but now I can't install Gear Navigator Companion anymore. It gets downloaded and transferred to watch, but the installation fails every time. So I lost the only app able to use gpx tracks on my watch. And, what do you know, battery is exactly like before, meaning every ten minutes I loose a 1%.
Quite frustrated and wildly disappointed, I'm seriously considering to return the watch and try a Fenix 5s instead. I loved how the S3 worked before the update, though I liked the new way to calculate calories and HR zones. But I can't have a watch that doesn't last at least two days or that provides this kind of random issues after a hard reset and attempted restore... that really scared me.
Another update will come.
Sent from my SM-N930T using Tapatalk
First let me say this is a very fine piece of Hardware and I have been researching it these last few days and got nowhere, yes I see the demo's and reviews and it's all great but...………………………… and it is a big but
and please correct me if I am wrong and take it as a question more than a statement
- I cannot get access to view the available apps unless I have a Samsung phone - which I don't
- I have done numerous searches to find what I want and come up with near enough nothing
Currently I have a Smartwatch with a single watchface that is giving me all this when I look at it
Time Day and date at my location
Time at another location
Watch Batt Status
Phone Batt Status
Weather today temp hi/lo with pic
Currency conversion of my choosing (set on phone) realtime
It shows me all messages from all my messaging apps on my phone with the text, sms, line, FBmessenger WhatsApp etc.
Incoming calls with contact details or number etc
I can set my phone on the other side of the room and fully control my music player (poweramp) with album art etc, my music is stored as mp3 on the phone so is there even a music player app for the Gear S3 that can access the music on my phone and play it controlling the phone and playing from the phone ?
I really would like to buy this watch but can it do all that, can it even do all that with separate apps if want to scroll through to get there for stuff like currency and media control (Sony Phone)
can someone please confirm
Yes I get that I am not going to get a watch face that will show me what my current one does but is it even possible using apps widgets downloaded to the phone and/or watch to at least give me the functionality I have now
And I stress I am not being critical of the Gear S3 because I really like it and I want one provided it can tick all the boxes
Probably with a Wear OS watch
dersie said:
Probably with a Wear OS watch
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes I agree, I've been doing a lot of reading up these last few days and the Samsung Gear S3 is the best watch on the market but it fails miserably because they opted to break from Android OS (Wear), I think they were trying to become Brand Specific like Apple but that is never going to work on Android - very foolish
I have narrowed my choices down to 3, Ticwatch Pro, LG and Fossil, Ticwatch is slightly in the lead, but I have decided that it must be Android OS, just a pity Samsung S3 went a different direction, I am not going to buy a watch that only functions for 50% of what I want no matter how good the Hardware is, to me it is a fail and wouldn't take it at half the price
Geoffxx said:
yes I agree, I've been doing a lot of reading up these last few days and the Samsung Gear S3 is the best watch on the market but it fails miserably because they opted to break from Android OS (Wear), I think they were trying to become Brand Specific like Apple but that is never going to work on Android - very foolish
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the Gear S3 is the best watch at this time.
Wear watch are really horrible. Very bad battery life (sometime not last the day), a lot of bug and hang, often the watch take long seconds to respond (when it works, often not works but do not know why ???) ..... apps are very rare do not mistake I have G-Watch, R-Watch, LG-Sport, Sony SW3, Asus ZW2, Ticwatch E) all are almost unusables. You must install app (and often faces) with the phone AND AFTER use the watch (with tiny screen) to go on Playstore WITH the watch (when it works).
With Tizen you have the "Watchmaker" app (same as Wear OS) and you can have advanced watch face. On Tizen I have note app, Google Task app, evernote app..... nothing for Wear and almost none of this kind
dersie said:
I think the Gear S3 is the best watch at this time.
Wear watch are really horrible. Very bad battery life (sometime not last the day), a lot of bug and hang, often the watch take long seconds to respond (when it works, often not works but do not know why ???) ..... apps are very rare do not mistake I have G-Watch, R-Watch, LG-Sport, Sony SW3, Asus ZW2, Ticwatch E) all are almost unusables. You must install app (and often faces) with the phone AND AFTER use the watch (with tiny screen) to go on Playstore WITH the watch (when it works).
With Tizen you have the "Watchmaker" app (same as Wear OS) and you can have advanced watch face. On Tizen I have note app, Google Task app, evernote app..... nothing for Wear and almost none of this kind
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why not address my first post and tell me exactly (from my requirements) what the S3 can and cannot do
lets start with a live exchange rate widget or even stock quotes, I am still using a Sony Sw2 and it does everything I want it too, I actually just bought an LG Watch Urbane 2 nd Edition LTE Unlocked for 100GBP brand new, very cheap IMO
also if I buy and Samsung Gear S3 I lose 50% of the functionality because I don't have a Samsung phone and never will have
And what we lost with a no Samsung phone ? The only thing is, maybe, the Samsung Email app wich works with Samsung watch. But even with a Samsung phone I use Aquamail and not the Samsung mail. All others things works same with samsung and other phone since the S2 serie.
dersie said:
And what we lost with a no Samsung phone ? The only thing is, maybe, the Samsung Email app wich works with Samsung watch. But even with a Samsung phone I use Aquamail and not the Samsung mail. All others things works same with samsung and other phone since the S2 serie.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe you are wrong about that
Remember I don't have one and was unable to look at apps because I don't have Samsung phone.....but here is what I have read
- messaging doesn't work properly
- music player (control) extremely limited
- email
- calling functionality
- limited apps but I honestly don't know this for sure because I can't access the app store to look, what I do know is that AW is 100% supported with apps for absolutely everything I would ever need
like I mentioned - stuff like currency/stock tracking doesn't exist, XE is AW enabled but doesn't exist on S3
I use Poweramp as my music player on my phone and can completely control it from my ancient Sony SW2 - go figure, this is extremely useful if I am out and want to hook my phone up to an external sound system - my phone sits meters away and I can control everything from SW from my seat, does Samsung S3 support Poweramp ?? well I don't know because I cannot access the secret Samsung app store without a Samsung Phone or SW - maybe they are hiding it
The list my friend is endless, like I said in my OP - the Gear S3 is IMO the best hardware out there but is unusable on a none Samsung setup and even if you have Samsung phone it is still limited because of lack of app support
IMO Samsung made an error not adopting Android Wear and would have dominated the market it they had
Like said, since Gear S2 Samsung apps works on all Android phone with 1.5Go RAM. Works also on IOS but limited for app wich have an android compagnon app. Messaging is like all others apps and works same way on Wear OS or Tizen OS.
Email ? wear has not really an email app, works just with notification system like Tizen OS. Same for all
Geoffxx said:
I believe you are wrong about that
Remember I don't have one and was unable to look at apps because I don't have Samsung phone.....but here is what I have read
- messaging doesn't work properly
- music player (control) extremely limited
- email
- calling functionality
- limited apps but I honestly don't know this for sure because I can't access the app store to look, what I do know is that AW is 100% supported with apps for absolutely everything I would ever need
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a OnePlus 6 and a S9+, currently my Gear S3 is paired with my OnePlus.
I get my messages through Google voice and Facebook messenger, both work well. The random text messages work too. With all of these I get notifications but don't have the history, which is fine IMO, I can see and reply to messages, but I don't need to start a conversation from my watch in my usage.
I can play/pause/fast forward/rewind/adjust volume. It works for what is playing already, so I can't start my podcast unless it is 'ready' in the Android system (ie, if I press the play button on my headphones and it would play the podcast/music).
Email, I get notifications for Gmail, can't start a conversation on the watch though.
I can call and recieve calls.
The apps appear to be the same.
I tried the TicWatch pro, it was good, but the health features were crap compared to the S3, plus no MST and slightly worse battery life made me go back to the S3.
Edit: I'm not sure about the watch face thing..... Maybe later this week I can set up the watch designer from Samsung and see if some/all can be added to a watch face.
_Dennis_ said:
I have a OnePlus 6 and a S9+, currently my Gear S3 is paired with my OnePlus.
I get my messages through Google voice and Facebook messenger, both work well. The random text messages work too. With all of these I get notifications but don't have the history, which is fine IMO, I can see and reply to messages, but I don't need to start a conversation from my watch in my usage.
I can play/pause/fast forward/rewind/adjust volume. It works for what is playing already, so I can't start my podcast unless it is 'ready' in the Android system (ie, if I press the play button on my headphones and it would play the podcast/music).
Email, I get notifications for Gmail, can't start a conversation on the watch though.
I can call and recieve calls.
The apps appear to be the same.
I tried the TicWatch pro, it was good, but the health features were crap compared to the S3, plus no MST and slightly worse battery life made me go back to the S3.
Edit: I'm not sure about the watch face thing..... Maybe later this week I can set up the watch designer from Samsung and see if some/all can be added to a watch face.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
like I said - 50 functionality, I want something that will work and is fully supported not something that is going to be hit and miss, but it is by far the best in terms of HW.
Over that last few days I have come across many people saying the same thing "I wish it was Android OS" even on this forum where one of the longest threads is about exactly that - porting AW
Geoffxx said:
like I said - 50 functionality, I want something that will work and is fully supported not something that is going to be hit and miss, but it is by far the best in terms of HW.
Over that last few days I have come across many people saying the same thing "I wish it was Android OS" even on this forum where one of the longest threads is about exactly that - porting AW
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I've had WearOS, the only thing that was better (and not by much) was side loading Facebook messenger lite. Otherwise, IMO, Tizen and WearOS are very close in functionality, with WearOS winning in apps and Tizen in hardware. WearOS had more apps, but most aren't very useful, and I can program watchface in Tizen easier then WearOS. Tizen had more built in (probably do to the lack of third party apps) so things like sleep tracking works better.
Honestly, but a watch from somewhere with a good return policy and try it out, it's the only way you'll know if it works for you. I'd do this with both watches and see which works better in your specific use case.
I'm honestly not trying to persuade you one way or the other, just having used both OS's recently I want to give an accurate description as to their strengths and weaknesses.
_Dennis_ said:
I've had WearOS, the only thing that was better (and not by much) was side loading Facebook messenger lite. Otherwise, IMO, Tizen and WearOS are very close in functionality, with WearOS winning in apps and Tizen in hardware. WearOS had more apps, but most aren't very useful, and I can program watchface in Tizen easier then WearOS. Tizen had more built in (probably do to the lack of third party apps) so things like sleep tracking works better.
Honestly, but a watch from somewhere with a good return policy and try it out, it's the only way you'll know if it works for you. I'd do this with both watches and see which works better in your specific use case.
I'm honestly not trying to persuade you one way or the other, just having used both OS's recently I want to give an accurate description as to their strengths and weaknesses.
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Thanks for the reply and I do understand, I'm in buying mode and have been reading and looking for hours upon hours just absorbing info on all the options, I started this thread for that exact purpose and it is turning out the way I wanted - input from experienced people that is helping me get through the clutter, I have order a watch that I managed to get at a reasonable price 100 sterling for an LG Urbane 2nd addition so no huge investment, the LG sport is a better watch but 2-3 times the price, so I will get it in a couple of days and see how I go with that, unfortunately I won't have my new phone until Sept (Xperia XZ2 Premium) so I will have to manage with my dated Xperia Z1 but it should give me an idea of what I'm dealing with
again thx for taking an interest in my thread you have been very helpful
had my first day with the LG and wow absolutely superb, helped along with the App watchfaces which is also superb
funny I set the watch up and charged it and went out, I actually thought there was something wrong when it showed 100% battery for 2 hours and then started to very slowly drop, I am now 8hrs in and still have 67% battery which I think is impressive, and I had an always on face with lots of widgets, very impressed
- HR on 3rd party watch faces are not real-time making 3rd party face suck
- Calendar complication for next meeting info - is not available on 99.99% of watch faces
- Spotify is a battery guzzler and managing offline downloads is just plain terrible. Most times the downloaded stuff doesnt even load without an internet connection - the implementation is terrible
- YT Music is another disaster - cant find and download music on the watch. Cant select music on my phone to download on the watch in a simple way....clunky way of getting the watch to play the music you want
- The watch isn't as snappy, lag free as the world makes it seem - it struggles more times than not when trying to open music apps, many times they force close. It's good - not ultimate as we make it sound
- No google assistant - this is a joke!
- Power saving - not enough options to customize this
All things said, still the best watch for android yet!
I agree. I would call it the least bad as opposed to the best. Always compromises. I can't quite trust it for notifications etc. Terrible battery life if using LTE as stand alone while running and listening to music on BT earbuds.
Still an upgrade over Active 2...for WearOS alone...all my stuff just works between watch and phone now its googled. Maintenance effort is down 80%...
This is my first real smartwatch. I have a fitness tracker disguised as smart watch (Honor Magic Watch 2).
Anyway, besides what you have said already, i would add:
- original strap (HORRIBLE). Even the highest end model (46mm classic LTE) comes only with the rubber/silicone strap (and it's terrible). Come on Samsung... The classic model should come with a leather, metal something that is actually... CLASSIC looking!
- the space to fit the strap is not really 20mm, but rather 19.8mm. I have measured as others have also and it's true.Try and fit metal 20mm straps and you will most probably have issues and will have to Dremel it... Other materials should be ok, because they are soft and give away a bit.
- Deep sleeping on this watch is completely broken! I have slept with this and my fitness tracker, and (amazingly) they recorded the very same amount of sleep, down to the minutes. But while I had over an hour of deep sleep on the fitness tracker, i had close to none on my Samsung classic 4. And it's not just me, many many people reporting this.
- ECG and Blood pressure working only on Samsung phones (without the mod)
- Having to unlock the watch every time I take it off, instead of only when opening Google/Samsung Pay. There should be at least an option for this.
That said, I'm really really liking this watch and have 2. Can't wait for it to mature more both in terms of the OS and the apps availability and how they perform
- ECG and Blood pressure working only on Samsung phones (without the mod)
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Before I bought it, I didn't find any information about it. Not a nice play from Samsung Thank you dante63 for the mod
KreGgiants said:
- Having to unlock the watch every time I take it off, instead of only when opening Google/Samsung Pay. There should be at least an option for this.
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I think that it is OK. I do not want to spy anyone on my watch while I am away. I sometimes forgot to wear it when leaving to work.