Samsung Gear S3 Frontier vs S3 Classic

September 30, 2020

Our comparative and concise guide will help you to make your decision. But first, you need to ask yourself – What kind of person are you? Are you more outdoorsy, or perhaps more of a business tycoon, or maybe a bit of both?

Whatever your lifestyle is, we promise we can help you find the perfect smartwatch – both of these cracking watches have a ton of benefits.

So without further ado, let’s kick off our comparisons for you right away!

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier vs S3 Classic: Design Differences

So, let’s kick off with a bang and talk about design. Design is often the first thing we notice about a product, it’s what catches our eye first! It is also one of the main factors when making a purchase decision. After all, if we don’t like the look of something, the chances of purchase are often very low.

So, in the battle between the Samsung S3 Frontier vs Classic, there are some basic design differences that we are going to outline for you– This being said, both of these watches are the same size. They are, however, weighted slightly differently.

The Frontier weighs in at 62g, while the Classic is a touch less at 57g. These are both well-designed lightweight pieces that are not intended to weigh you down. With only a 5g difference between the two, it’s not a significant enough difference for you to feel it.

Both watches accept a standard 22mm watch strap, which can be purchased outside of Samsung. Between both smartwatches, the main differences are the look and feel of the products.

The Samsung Gear S3 Frontier is designed as a rugged outdoorsy watch, whereas the sleek and smooth design of the S3 Classic is more catered to those who spend their time in the office.

The Frontier features a rubberized, hardwearing strap that is more suited to an outdoorsy wearer – physical workers and laborers.

If you are more of an office type of guy, then the Classic might fit you better – its strap design is smooth, sleek, and is made of classic black leather – the clue is in the name (Classic)!

While it may not seem like there is much difference between Gear S3 Classic and Frontier. If we take a deep look at the smaller details there are a few.

Frontier’s buttons are bigger, more textured, and give the watch more of a sporty look. Classic’s buttons, on the other hand, are finished in a sleek metal and are slightly smaller, providing a more stylish, office look.

Samsung Gear S3 vs Gear S3 Classic: Features

So now the design is out of the way, let’s move onto the key features – which is a very important area to look out for whenever you are making a new technology purchase.

Although these watches both provide very different looks, when it comes to features they almost reflect each other completely.

Both of these smartwatches have an IP68 rating – (water and dust resistant). That means they are not swim-proof. Instead, they are able to be submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. That means they can withstand being dropped in water and heavy rainfall.

When comparing S3 Classic vs Frontier, we have found that both watches are of a very high standard – they both include some fantastic built-in features, such as:

An integrated gyro, GPS (this is an important feature and a staple of most modern smart-watches), barometer, accelerometer, and an optical heart-rate recorder/monitor.

Both of these fantastic products are compatible with Samsung’s health app. These models, when used correctly, can be a fantastic addition to cultivating a healthy lifestyle. They both also feature 4GB of internal memory, an in-built microphone, S-VOICE technology, and Samsung Pay.

Paying through your phone or watch is becoming more and more popular, and for good reason – Smartwatches are fast, accessible, and great if you fancy a well-earned beverage after a long sweaty jog.

With a smartwatch, you can leave bulging pockets and heavy wallets behind – The future is officially here!

Recommended: Garmin Vivosmart Hr vs Vivosmart 3: Ultimate Comparison

Samsung S3 Classic vs Frontier – Operating System

So what is the operating system like and what kind of apps can you use on your new smartwatch?

Samsung generally operates with its Tizen system, which is often said to be faster and more user friendly than Android or other systems.

Luckily for you, these amazing watches are compatible with both Android and IOS, so whatever phone you have, these watches should connect without a problem. This is an excellent feature that allows you to access all of your app information on-the-go.

If you’re unsure whether your chosen watch is compatible with your smartphone, you can take a look here – this will allow you to check if both products are compatible with your device.

On this webpage, Samsung lays out a popular smart-phone guide, simply check if yours on the list and then you are good to go!

Unlike some other watches on the market, when comparing S3 Frontier vs S3 Classic, we can safely say that they are both are excellent products. Samsung allows users to use Google Play Store as well as the standard Samsung App store, which means that you can have access to thousands of popular apps. Not bad, right?

Recommended: We compare the Samsung Galaxy Watch vs Gear S3 in this guide.

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier vs Gear S3 Classic: Battery Life

Battery life is a very important aspect of any piece of technology! We have all experienced our battery dying in some way or another, and without a charger to hand, it can often get us into a bit of a mess.

Luckily these products both have a very powerful battery life. Samsung states that these models can keep going for days. Both watches are fitted with an optimized battery (380mAh Li-ion) and can be used for up to three days (based on Samsung’s laboratory measurements).

It goes without saying that if you use your watch very often, or all day long, the battery will last for a shorter amount of time. Still, 3 days is not bad going. 

Both products can be charged wirelessly through the wireless charging dock provided.

So, when it comes to the battle between Gear S3 Frontier vs Gear S3 Classic, if we are going on battery life, it’s certainly a pretty close call.

Samsung S3 Classic vs Frontier: Can it make standalone calls?

Although we may be coming to the end of the battle between the Gear S3 Classic vs Gear S3 Frontier, we have seen that both watches have proven their ability when it comes to fantastic features.

We firmly believe that your choice will ultimately result from the type of lifestyle you lead. 

Effectively, neither can make standalone calls without being connected to your mobile device. However, this being said there are ways to bypass this, just have a little look on YouTube for more information.

As it stands, you can’t currently insert a separate sim-card, which means that you will have to have a mobile device to gain all the benefits, including on-the-go phone calls.

Note: If you need a watch that can make standalone calls then don’t miss this guide!

In this respect, there isn’t much difference when opting for Samsung S3 Classic vs Frontier. These products are made by the same company and they reflect that with matching features and specifications etc…

So, there you have it. We hope we’ve helped you to whittle it down somewhat. Please do take a look at more of our cracking reviews if you haven’t made your mind up yet.

What do we think?

Overall, we think that the Samsung G3 Gear Frontier is the best watch.

Why?

Well, due to its durability and suitability to outdoor use it’s got more to offer.

Although the design is less sleek than the Classic, it’s harder wearing, and for that reason, we think its best as it can be used in a range of environments.

Both models have topped the smartwatch charts when it comes to positive reviews and there are hundreds of 5-star ratings for both products online. Just take a look!

All of Samsung’s products have generous warranties which are a great benefit that can guarantee you tranquility and security on your purchase.

Surely, there is a reason for its overwhelming positive reputation. Because Samsung is one of the top technology producers, we are certain that you will be satisfied with your purchase.

If not, Samsung provides a good support site for any of its customers.

That being said, dependent on your needs, one of our top two watches might be a better fit for you. So if you are looking for more of a sleek classical office design and you want to impress your business partners at work – the ‘Classic’ is definitely for you.  

If you are more outdoorsy and want to take your watch on a few runs around the park, or perhaps a quick workout in the garden, then the ‘Frontier’ would be your best bet!

So there you go. We hope that we’ve helped you with your smartwatch journey. Don’t forget to check out our other posts for some more background info on other watches too.

About the Author Jamie

Jamie has a background in physics and electronics and has always been interested in technological innovation.

Since getting a Garmin Forerunner 220 way back in 2014, he's been obsessed with smartwatches, in particular running/exercise watches. He's our "go-to" guy for these!

He's currently wearing a Garmin 645 Music but can't wait to try the Venu 2 out in an upcoming review.

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