Close Menu
  • Guides
    • Televisions
    • Computers
    • Apps
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • News
    • Audio
    • Computers
    • Digital Cameras
    • Gadgets
    • BD/DVD
    • Gaming
    • Televisions
    • Mobiles
    • In-Car News
    • Internet
  • Round Ups
    • Tablets
    • testnews
    • Audio
  • Reviews
    • Mobiles
    • Apps
    • Televisions
    • In-Car
    • Gaming
    • Audio
    • Gadgets
    • Digital Cameras
    • BD/DVD
    • Computers
  • Home
Tech Guide Podcast

Go to the top of the class with Episode 645 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast

By Stephen FenechMay 20, 20250

Go to the top of the class with Episode 645 of the top-rating Tech Guide…

Arlo upgrades its home security to now include advanced audio detection

May 20, 2025

Pump up your tyres and listen to the latest episode of the Two Blokes Talking Electric Cars podcast

May 19, 2025

Vodafone says Telstra has been overstating its mobile coverage claims for more than 15 years

May 19, 2025

Are you paying too much for your SIM-only plan? Time to check if there’s a better option

May 19, 2025

Samsung Neo QLED 8K QN990F TV review – the pinnacle of home entertainment quality and performance

May 19, 2025
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
Tech GuideTech Guide
  • Home
  • Latest News

    Go to the top of the class with Episode 645 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast

    May 20, 2025

    Arlo upgrades its home security to now include advanced audio detection

    May 20, 2025

    Pump up your tyres and listen to the latest episode of the Two Blokes Talking Electric Cars podcast

    May 19, 2025

    Are you paying too much for your SIM-only plan? Time to check if there’s a better option

    May 19, 2025

    The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen – The Abyss

    May 16, 2025
  • Reviews

    Samsung Neo QLED 8K QN990F TV review – the pinnacle of home entertainment quality and performance

    May 19, 2025

    Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones review – an already excellent product just got even better

    May 16, 2025

    Belkin SoundForm headphones review – remarkable value and impressive audio quality

    May 5, 2025

    Garmin Instinct 3 smartwatch review – a great way to keep track of what’s important to you anywhere

    April 28, 2025

    Google Pixel 9a smartphone review – an affordable allrounder that delivers everything you need

    April 14, 2025
  • Blog

    Would you believe the massive global IT outage could have been far worse

    July 22, 2024

    Hey Tesla the affair is over – I’ve now gone back to my ex

    August 4, 2023

    Why we should all do our part and download the coronavirus contact tracking app

    April 20, 2020

    It’s two years since I went solar and the savings have been enormous

    October 15, 2019

    Why we need to return to one on-field referee after massive NRL Grand Final blunder

    October 7, 2019
  • Apple

    Apple reveals new accessibility features including Magnifier for Mac and Braille access

    May 14, 2025

    iPhone Battery Dramas: Repair Choices and DIY Fixes

    May 10, 2025

    Apple names the Australian winners of its WWDC25 Swift Student Challenge – and four are from Queensland

    May 9, 2025

    Journey’s REEVUS drink bottle can be tracked on the Find My network and is also a magnetic phone stand

    April 25, 2025

    Apple Watch was released 10 years ago today and changed the way we monitor our health and fitness

    April 24, 2025
  • Samsung

    Samsung Neo QLED 8K QN990F TV review – the pinnacle of home entertainment quality and performance

    May 19, 2025

    Samsung unveils its super thin Galaxy S25 Edge smartphone – and it’s stunning

    May 13, 2025

    Samsung to launch its super thin Galaxy S25 Edge smartphone next week

    May 8, 2025

    Samsung releases its biggest range of OLEDs ever in sizes from 42-inch all the way up to 83-inches

    April 9, 2025

    Samsung 2025 OLED S95F TV review – the entertainment experience has gone to another level

    April 7, 2025
Tech GuideTech Guide
Home»Reviews»Gadgets»Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch review – great design and stylish functionality
Gadgets

Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch review – great design and stylish functionality

Stephen FenechBy Stephen FenechDecember 7, 2016Updated:May 22, 20181 Comment5 Mins Read
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

One of the biggest compliments I heard when I was wearing the new Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch was that it looked like a real designer watch. And that’s exactly what Samsung was going for.

The Gear S3 was designed as a watch first before it was developed as a technology product so it would appeal as much to a watch lover as it would to a lover of technology.

Samsung created two timeless designs – Classic and Frontier.

Classic (which is the watch we reviewed) has a silver Sunray brushed finish, traditional style crowns and a classic leather band.

Frontier is black with accented buttons to give it a rugged outdoor look.

Both would look right at home whether you’re in a business suit or on the beach.

The Gear S3 is compatible with a standard 22mm watchbands but Samsung also has quite a range to choose from as well.

In terms of look and feel, the Gear S3 is bigger than the previous model and exudes higher quality than its more plastic predecessor.

gears3review1

The device also has a built-in speaker and microphone this time so you can now make calls from your wrist with surprising quality as well as hear your voice messages.

Users can talk to the Gear S3 to set reminders or call or text anyone on your contact list.

You can even play music through the speakers and stream from third-party apps like Spotify and My Music Cloud.

Also included is built-in GPS.

gears3review4

This will make the Gear S3 even more attractive to customers looking to use the device to track their activities and to use it with popular fitness apps.

One feature it has retained is the rotating bezel around the circular display with the user interface responding to the movement to quickly answer or reject calls and scroll through your apps.

And there is no need to treat the Samsung Gear S3 with kid gloves either – it is water resistant to a depth of 1.5m for 30 minutes and has military-grade durability to resist dust and shock.

The Samsung Gear S3 can pair with any Android phone that’s running the Gear companion app.

INTERFACE

One of the strengths of the Samsung Gear S3 is the interface which is easy to navigate through the circular bezels and crowns.

Accessing your notifications and apps are quick and easy.

gears3review2

Speaking of apps, there are even more that can be accessed through the Gear S3 including Spotify, Uber, Yelp, CNN, USA Today, GoPro Shutter and Philips Hue.

In fact, there are now more than 10,000 apps that will work with the Gear S3.

There are also a number of input methods with the Gear S3.

You can use handwriting mode where you can easily scribble one letter at a time on the screen or the predictive keyboard.

It’s also possible to send drawings, emojis and even audio recordings.

PERSONALISATION

There are plenty of ways you can make the Samsung Gear S3 look exactly how you like.

This could be changing bands to suit your style or whatever you’re wearing.

gears3review12

Samsung has partnered with artist and industrial designer Arik Levy who will introduce watch faces and matching bands.

gears3review13

Another easy personalisation is the watch face which can be adjusted with a long press of the screen and a scroll through the many stylish choices.

gears3review14

There are also many watch faces which can be downloaded through the Gear app.

FITNESS

As a fitness companion the Gear S3 is an ideal choice.

It can automatically detect whatever you’re doing like running, walking, cycling, the rowing machine and elliptical.

And when you tell it to, it can also monitor step machines treadmill runs, pilates and yoga.

gears3review8

Gear S3 can also count your exercise reps as well.

And, of course, all of your results can be seen on the watch and within the Gear app.

But the Samsung Gear S3 also works with other third-party fitness apps like Nike+Running and can also be used with golf apps like Golf Navi and Smart Caddie (it has built-in GPS remember?)

OUTDOORS

The Samsung Gear S3 is not only a smartwatch it is also an outdoor watch and has a number of features that can provide additional information and enhance your experience.

One is the Alti/Barometer which can detect your altitude and changes in the weather.

gears3review5

Also onboard is a speedometer (which uses the built-in GPS) so you can see how far you’ve travelled and your average speed, maximum speed and total travel time.

SAMSUNG PAY

The Gear S3 can also be your wallet with the inclusion of Samsung Pay.

After you’ve registered your cards, you just press and hold the back key, tap the pay button and hold it near the terminal. And that’s it! You’ve paid.

gears3review7

BATTERY

Having a smartwatch means you’ve got yet another device to charge.

But the good thing about the Samsung Gear S3 is that it only need to be charged every three or four days.

For our use, we usually got three days out of it before it need a recharge on its cradle.

If you’re using the built-in GPS more often that’s going to run it down to about two days.

But to get to four days of battery, you’d have to be sitting pretty still and not get too many notifications.

VERDICT

The Gear S3 is easily Samsung’s best smartwatch and one of the best on the market. It features the design and style of a real watch and combines that with all the smarts you’ll ever need.

It’s not cheap at $599 but that’s still a pretty competitive price to pay for a watch that also happens to be a solid smartwatch as well.

[taq_review]

 

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Stephen Fenech
  • Website

Stephen is the Tech Guide editor and one of Australia's most respected tech journalists. He is a regular on radio and TV talking about the latest tech news, products and trends.

Related Posts

Samsung Neo QLED 8K QN990F TV review – the pinnacle of home entertainment quality and performance

May 19, 2025

Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones review – an already excellent product just got even better

May 16, 2025

Belkin SoundForm headphones review – remarkable value and impressive audio quality

May 5, 2025

1 Comment

  1. Steve Gray on April 5, 2017 3:55 PM

    any feedback on the gear S3 from the punters out there?

100% Human
Tech Guide only publishes quality 100% Human content you can trust. AI has never and will never be used to generate any articles and reviews despite the rise of AI and the flood of AI-generated writing elsewhere. We also reject the use of our content to be used by AI in any form whatsoever.

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest news from The Tech Guide.

Sign up for the weekly Tech Guide newsletter so you can stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews.
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Reviews
  • Blog
  • Apple
  • Samsung
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Reviews
  • Blog
  • Apple
  • Samsung

Samsung Neo QLED 8K QN990F TV review – the pinnacle of home entertainment quality and performance

Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones review – an already excellent product just got even better

Belkin SoundForm headphones review – remarkable value and impressive audio quality

Garmin Instinct 3 smartwatch review – a great way to keep track of what’s important to you anywhere

Google Pixel 9a smartphone review – an affordable allrounder that delivers everything you need

Samsung 2025 OLED S95F TV review – the entertainment experience has gone to another level

Go to the top of the class with Episode 645 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast

Pump up your tyres and listen to the latest episode of the Two Blokes Talking Electric Cars podcast

The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen – The Abyss

© 2025 Techguide. Designed by Multimediax.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.