Apple Watch Series 2 vs. Samsung Gear S3: Smartwatch Smackdown

The Apple Watch Series 2 is here, and it looks a lot like the original Apple Watch ($300.00 at eBay) . It's still a square device that can tell time, display notifications, and track fitness stats.

But there are some big additions, including built-in GPS for more accurate distance and pace measuring, a waterproof shell so you can swim with it, a brighter display, and a faster processor thanks to the new Apple S2 chip.

The Samsung Gear S3 ($439.99 at Amazon) , one the best smartwatches we saw at IFA, is the most natural competition for Apple Watch Series 2. Let's compare them.

Design and Display
With Apple Watch Series 2 ($180.52 at Amazon) , the changes are mainly internal. It looks the same as the original, though Apple has added a ceramic case option in addition to aluminum or stainless steel; Apple says the ceramic case is four times tougher than stainless steel. Series 2 is also the same size as its predecessor; select the 38mm (1.5 by 1.3 by 0.4 inches) or 42mm (1.7 by 1.4 by 0.4) version.

The Samsung Gear S3 by comparison is larger than both. At 1.8 by 1.8 by 0.5 inches (HWD), it's bulkier and, with a circular shape, looks more like a traditional watch than Apple Watch. There are two models, Classic and Frontier, but the difference is cosmetic; the Classic is silver, and the Frontier is black.

The way you interact with each watch is similar. The Apple Watch uses a physical crown on the side of the case that you rotate to select apps; the Gear S3 has a bezel that also rotates. Both are great alternatives to tedious swipes that can obstruct the screen, but you can also tap the interfaces of both watches.

The Gear S3 has a 1.3-inch, 360-by-360-pixel Super AMOLED display, covered with Corning Gorilla Glass SR+ for increased scratch resistance. It's always on, so when you're not using it as a smartwatch you can use it to tell time. The Apple Watch Series 2 sports a brighter OLED Retina display twice as bright as the first Apple Watch at 1,000 nits, with a sapphire crystal or Ion-X glass covering, depending on the choice of case. The resolution is the same that you'll find on the original Apple Watch; 272-by-340 pixels on the 38mm model, and 312-by-390 pixels on 42mm. It uses the same pressure-sensitive Force Touch display that brings up different options when you push harder on the screen. Both watches have ambient light sensors.

You can customize the straps on each watch with silicone, leather, and bands from popular designers. Any 22mm strap can be used with the Samsung Gear S3, while the Apple Watch requires specialized bands.

As far as durability goes, the Gear S3 is practically an outdoor watch, with a military grade rating that protects it in high and low temperatures, and can survive dust, shocks, and vibrations. There's a big difference in water resistance. The Gear S3 is rated IP68, so it can survive in water up to 5 feet for up to 30 minutes, but it's not suitable for diving or swimming. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch Series 2 is water resistant up to 164 feet, and it can track swimming stats, including calories burned, distance traveled, pace, and strokes. Not only that, it uses the watch's built-in speaker to eject water that might seep in through the case. Apple cautions it shouldn't be used for scuba diving or waterskiing, though it should be a great choice for swimmers.

Battery life is up in the air for the Gear S3. Samsung is shooting for a four-day battery life with the always-on display turned off and two days with it turned on. At 18 hours, the battery life of the Apple Watch Series 2 is the same as original. Both use stands to charge.

Features
The Apple Watch Series 2 launches with watchOS 3, which comes with several upgrades like more watch faces, the ability to handwrite on the screen to send messages, and SOS functionality to alert emergency contacts to your location or dial 911. The Samsung Gear S3 can do all of this. What it can't do is run Pokemon Go, which will be available on Apple Watch before the end of the year.

Like the Gear S2 ($258.98 at Amazon) , the Gear S3 runs Samsung's Tizen operating system. Although Samsung says there will be more than 10,000 apps available at launch, app support is currently not as strong as Apple's.

Both watches are faster than previous iterations. The Apple Watch Series 2 uses a new dual-core S2 processor that Apple says is double the speed of the original Apple Watch's S1 chip, with a GPU that will deliver a 50 percent faster performance. Apple says to expect 60 frames per second in some apps.

Meanwhile, the Gear S3 has a dual-core 1GHz processor with 768MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. You can sync a pair of Bluetooth headphones to listen to MP3s you loaded or stream Spotify with an LTE-enabled model. There is no LTE-enabled Apple Watch yet.

As for sensors, the Gear S3 has built-in GPS, an accelerometer, gyroscope, and heart rate sensor—basically, everything the Samsung Gear Fit2 ($259.00 at Amazon) has, along with an altimeter, barometer, built-in speaker, and microphone. The Apple Watch Series 2 has an accelerometer, built-in GPS (which Apple says is instant), gyroscope, and heart rate monitor. Both should be great choices for athletes and runners, so you should expect to track calories, steps, distance, and all the usual activities and metrics with both watches. Although, the Apple Watch Series 2 seems like the clear choice for dedicated swimmers, especially since it can track indoor and outdoor swimming.

You can pay for goods with both watches without pulling out your wallet. Apple Watch uses Apple Pay, while the Samsung Gear has Samsung Pay. The advantage is in the Gear S3's corner, though, since it supports Magnetic Secure Transmission, so it can be used with any device that reads a credit card.

Price and Availability
The Samsung Gear S3 Classic and Frontier editions will come in LTE or Wi-Fi-enabled versions at an undetermined date at an unknown price. But if Samsung follows the Gear S2's roadmap, the Gear S3 will cost about $299.

The Apple Watch Series 2 comes in 38mm or 42mm sizes, just like the original Apple Watch. Along with a special Nike+ version, they will start at $369, while the existing Apple Watch (now known as Series 1) will get a processor upgrade and a price drop to $269. You can pre-order Series 1 and 2 now ahead of a Sept. 16 launch date. Apple Watch Nike+ will arrive next month.

The Samsung Gear S3 and Apple Watch Series 2 look like the best smartwatches we've seen in a while, with built-in GPS, heart rate monitoring, and other sensors to ensure worthwhile fitness tracking, and attractive, intuitive designs that should look good on the wrist. Check back soon for full reviews of both.