Samsung’s new Gear S3 Frontier watch is the next level in smartwatches. Many of the features are similar to the Samsung Gear S2 watch but with improvements that make this recent version much more versatile. Once you see what the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier can do, you may be tempted to rely more on the watch than on your phone.

The New Design of the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier

Image via Flickr by Janitors

The Samsung Gear S3 Frontier is a bigger, heavier smartwatch than the small and thin Gear GS2, but with increased size comes increased performance. The Samsung Gear S3 Frontier offers stand-alone LTE phone service, work-anywhere Samsung Pay, music streaming from Spotify, and compatibility with Android phones and iPhones with versions iOS 5 and newer.

Samsung’s Gear S3 Frontier is a device that you can take and make calls from and connect to apps as you can with your phone. Turn the bezel, and you can answer your calls or turn up the volume. Another turn of the bezel lets you scroll through long texts, apps, and messages.

A built-in fitness app, the Samsung S Health, features a heart rate monitor and activity tracker like the Samsung Gear S2, but it can also log your water and coffee intake and recommend stretching exercises while standing. The device is like having a fitness coach built into your watch.

With the S-Voice feature, you can set an alarm, call a contact, get the weather, and ask simple questions. Like the Samsung Gear S2, the Gear S3 Frontier is IP68 certified, which means it’s a dust and water-resistant, but not waterproof, device.

Features More Like a Real Watch

The Samsung Gear S3 Frontier has a rugged, outdoor look with a dark matte finish and a durable rubber strap. With military-grade standards incorporated into the design, it’s tough enough to handle the outdoors and extreme temperatures. Even an occasional drop won’t cause problems.

A simple pin mechanism behind each strap lets you swap out with other 22mm watch bands to change your look. The Samsung Gear S3 Frontier has the rotating bezel like the Gear S2 that allows you to easily interact with the watch face. Additionally, the watch has a brushed finish on its surface and textured finish on the edges to allow you to more easily grip it when turning.

The Samsung Gear S2 comes in three styles while the Gear S3 only comes in two, the Frontier and the Classic. While the Classic is more of a dress watch to wear with a suit and tie, the Frontier can go with any style. But both Gear S3 versions are larger and heavier than the previous Gear S2 watches.

Compare the Watches

Samsung Pay is also included with the Gear S3 Frontier, but unlike the feature on the Gear S2, you can use the app anywhere you can swipe or tap to pay, and you don’t have to feel limited to using only certain scanners. Leave your wallet and phone at home and wear your watch when you’re out jogging or exercising, and you can still buy that bottle of water after your workout. When you pair your Samsung Gear with T-Mobile’s reliable network, for example, you can enjoy unlimited talk, text, and data while you use the Gear S3 Frontier on one of the nation’s largest 4G LTE networks. Additionally, T-Mobile will give you a free line of service with your purchase.

A larger watch and larger display face makes reading easier. New Gorilla Glass technology used for the face creates a more scratch-resistant face. A continuous display mirrors the display on a conventional watch yet always maintains its color face. Both watches have Samsung’s Tizen software and are compatible with any Android smartphone and some iPhones.

Additionally, the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier also has 50 percent more RAM capacity and 50 percent longer battery life, which means you only have to recharge the battery about every three to four days. As more and more wearables hit the market, you know you can trust the Samsung Gear brand to give you quality and value.