After being listed at Best Buy yesterday, Samsung’s new Gear S3 smartwatch family is finally going on pre-order this week from most retailers and going on sale later this month.
The Gear S3 will be available in three variants, the Gear S3 Classic, Gear S3 Frontier, and the Gear S3 Frontier LTE. Pricing on the WiFi models land at $349 each and feature the same rotating bezel from the Gear S2. The Classic features a cleaner design and more pronounced buttons while the Frontier has a slightly more “sporty” look. Both models use Gorilla Glass SR+ on the 1.3-inch 360×360 AMOLED display. Both also feature 768mb of RAM, GPS, Samsung Pay, and a 380mAh battery with wireless charging.
The LTE model will also be available through Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, the latter of which is opening up pre-orders tomorrow, November 4th. Pricing on that model has not been announced. So far we know Amazon, Best Buy Macy’s, and Samsung’s own online store will be offering both WiFi variants. Like the Gear S2, the S3 family will work with any Android device with 1.5GB of RAM or more and Android 5.0+. iOS compatibility is “coming soon.”
Samsung Gear S3 Smartwatch Blends Distinctive Design with Enhanced Connectivity
US Preorder Begins November 6 – Available Starting November 18
RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ – NOVEMBER 3, 2016 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc. today announced the forthcoming preorder availability of Gear S3 LTE and Bluetooth models, a striking and innovative smartwatch that further solidifies Samsung as a leader in connected wearables. The cutting-edge timepiece will be available in two designs – the rugged Gear S3 frontier, and the sleek Gear S3 classic. Starting at $349.99, Gear S3 will be available at retailers including Best Buy, Amazon, Macy’s and Samsung.com, as well as participating wireless providers.
“Consumers are increasingly recognizing the benefits of a smartwatch that operates even without their phone,” said Gary Riding, senior vice president of Product Marketing at Samsung Electronics America. “With the LTE capability of Gear S3 it is easy to make or receive phone calls and read or reply to texts and notifications, so they can stay connected while leaving their phone behind.”
Distinct Design and Intuitive User Interface
Available in two designs, “frontier” and “classic,” and featuring the distinctive rotating bezel, the Gear S3 joins Samsung’s diverse portfolio of wearables. The Gear S3 showcases a design perfected by Swiss watch designer Yvan Arpa. The sophisticated design is combined with IP68 water and dust resistance1 and military-grade durability to protect against extreme temperatures, scratches and impact, making it the ideal smartwatch for the toughest conditions. Consumers can also customize their Gear S3 to fit their lifestyle or mood, thanks to thousands of available watch faces and the ability to swap out the band for any standard 22mm offering.
First Wearable with MST Payment Capabilities
The Gear S3 puts convenience at your wrist, with Samsung Pay providing the ability to make mobile payments virtually anywhere you can tap or swipe a credit or debit card. With Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) and Near Field Communication (NFC) support built-in, Gear S3 users will be able to make a purchase with Samsung Pay which is widely accepted across the U.S. Samsung Pay on Gear S3 protects credit card information with the same advanced security as Samsung Pay on a Galaxy phone, using tokenization, Knox and PIN protection.2
Enhanced Connectivity
The LTE version of the Gear S3 frontier enables wearers to receive calls, texts and alerts, listen to music, track fitness routes or download apps even when their phone isn’t nearby. With all models featuring a built-in speaker and microphone, even the BT version allows consumers to make and answer calls – without ever having to reach for their phone.3
Built-in GPS adds to the connectivity, empowering wearers to easily monitor their daily fitness activities and share their location with friends or in the event of an emergency with safety functions like the SOS feature. The S Health app makes it simple to not only track activity and heart rate, but also to set goals, post results and check leaderboards
Used as a standalone device, or as part of the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem, the Gear S3 offers an all-in-one wearable experience that seamlessly fits into – and enhances – any lifestyle.
The LTE4 version of the Gear S3 frontier will be available from AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Wireless providers will share availability and pricing.
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