Earlier this week, Apple announced the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus at an event in New York City. However, they were not the only devices revealed at the event, as the tech giant also gave the world the second iteration of the Apple Watch called Apple Watch Series 2. The successor to the first Apple wearable will compete with the Samsung Gear S3.
Apple Watch Series 2 vs. Samsung Gear S3
Launched in April 2015, the original Apple Watch quickly cornered the relatively small smartwatch market. With the Apple Watch Series 2, Apple hopes to continue that success and also attract new users, who may have in the past overlooked the Apple Watch.
Now most Apple smartwatch users were hoping for something entirely new. However, like with the new iPhones, Apple has opted for an iteration upgrade instead. But it’s not all doom and gloom; the tech giant has produced new hardware for the Apple Watch Series and has also incorporated new software features and created new straps.
Three new variants
As previously suggested by the rumor mill and now proven to be accurate, there are three new Apple Watch Series 2 variants. These options differ based on the material used in their cases and are Stainless Steel, Ceramic White, and Aluminium.
The new straps have been designed and created in partnership with the popular fashion brand Hermes.
The competition: Samsung Gear S3
In direct competition with the latest Apple smartwatch is the Samsung Gear S3. It is the seventh smartwatch from the South Korean manufacturer in three years. Available in two variants, the professional looking Gear S3 Classic and a more adventurous looking Gear S3 Frontier, Samsung has made several improvements over what came before in the Gear S2.
But the most important pieces of information you need to know right now are how they compare. So let’s have a look at display size, processor and operating system.
Display size
At 1.65 inches, the Apple device has the larger of the two displays, with the Gear S3 not far behind at 1.35 inches. As for overall dimensions, the Apple device is 390 x 312 pixels, while the Samsung model is 360 x 360 pixels.
Processor
With its latest wearable, Apple is claiming to have made a device that is two times faster than the previous incarnation because of the dual-core processor within it. At this moment, it is not possible to determine if this is indeed the case. However, in the coming weeks, real-world testing will begin, and one of my colleagues or I will let you know.
The Gear S3 also has a dual-core processor. However, it has been revealed to be running at 1Ghz, which has to be good for a small device on your wrist. Is it faster than the CPU found on the Apple Watch Series 2? Apple would have you believe it is not, but with it failing to reveal much detail about its device’s CPU, it is hard to know the truth.
Price
Concerning price, Apple has been the more open, but only because it has officially announced the device. It will be available for pre-order on September 9 and go on sale officially on September 15 for a starting price of $316.
As it currently stands, Samsung has yet to unveil the prices of the Gear S3, so the price and dates for pre-order and purchasing are not known.
Specs
