You’ve decided: you like Samsung phones, so you’re going to buy a Samsung watch. That sounds simple enough, until you hit the Amazon search page and realise that this isn’t like buying an Apple Watch; there are several different wearables to choose from, all at different prices not to mention various shapes and sizes.
So which Samsung watch do you want to buy? This guide should give you an insight into the differences between them, to ensure you get the right one on your wrist.
Samsung Gear S3: The best Samsung watch you can buy
Price when reviewed: £350 | Buy now from Amazon
At the very top of the Samsung watch tree is the Gear S3. This comes in two flavours: the Classic, which is a more dressy timepiece, and the Frontier which looks a bit more rugged.
The choice is entirely cosmetic, as features-wise they’re identical. And that means you get an awful lot for your money. Both have a super-sharp 1.3in 360x360 AMOLED display, both can be controlled by a fancy rotating bezel and both have a 380mAh battery which promises to keep the watch ticking for 3-4 days, assuming you don’t rinse the GPS.
GPS isn’t the only nice sensor thrown in, by the way. Both Gear S3s pack in an accelerometer, a heart rate monitor, an ambient light sensor, a barometer, NFC for Samsung Pay and an altimeter. The only thing that’s really lacking is full waterproofing, so you can’t take either watch swimming, though both are water-resistant enough to wear in the shower or cope if there’s a little light rain outside.
Samsung Gear S3 Classic Smartwatch (Bluetooth), SM-R770NZSAXAR – US Version with Warranty
Samsung Gear Sport: The best Samsung watch for athletes
Price when reviewed: £300 | Buy now from Amazon
If the lack of waterproofing puts you off the Gear S3, then it may be seriously worth looking at the Gear Sport. It offers all the niceties of the Gear S3, with added support for swimming up to a depth of 50 metres. Plus, as the screen in 0.1in smaller than the S3, it looks slightly sharper despite sharing the same 360 x 360 resolution.
It’s not as snazzy looking, but it is slightly smaller if you’re trying to keep things on the subtle side. Unfortunately, this (slight) reduction in size does come with a hit to battery life, with the Gear Sport packing just a 300mAh battery inside.
Samsung Gear Sport Smartwatch (Bluetooth), Black, SM-R600NZKAXAR – US Version with Warranty
Samsung Gear S2: The cheapest Samsung watch you can get
Price when reviewed: £250 | Buy it now from Amazon
Smartwatch technology doesn’t move as fast as phone tech, and the truth is that most of the niceties of the 2016 Gear S3 and 2017 Gear Sport can be found in 2015’s Gear S2. The screen is just as good, it keeps the rotating bezel and even the processor is the same one found in the Gear Sport, so you shouldn’t have to worry about sluggishness.
There is a ‘but’ incoming, however. In fact, there are a few. First off, despite keeping NFC, a heart rate sensor, the barometer and accelerometer, there is no room for GPS built in. That means if you’re looking to track a run or a bike ride, you’ll need to keep your phone on you.
Secondly, at just 250mAh the battery in the Gear S2 is even smaller than the battery in the Gear Sport. It’ll still get through a couple of days, but you’ll find yourself reaching for the charger a lot more often.
Finally, while the Gear S3 supports any 22mm watch strap, the Gear S2 needs a strap specifically designed for it. That’s not to say you can’t replace it, but your options are significantly more limited.
Still, there’s a pay off to all these compromises: the price. While the Gear S2 launched at £250, it can now be had for under £160 if you shop around. Though obviously if you are shopping on eBay, try to make sure you get one that’s not been in the wars…
Samsung Gear Fit2: A cheap and cheerful fitness tracker
Price when reviewed: £179 | Buy it now from Amazon
The Gear Fit series is an interesting one. Typically sold as fitness bands rather than smartwatches, they nonetheless do pretty much everything the Gear S series does, but in a more understated manner.
It’s a different shape, but the 1.5in rectangular screen is just as good as what you’d find in the Gear S range, with AMOLED technology and a 216 x 432 resolution. The battery takes another hit, mind – it’s just 200mAh in this version, which is enough to go to two days if you go easy on the GPS.
Otherwise, most things are present and correct. As it’s a fitness tracker, step counting gets a prominent placement, but it also keeps an eye on your heart rate and sleep, like its pricier siblings. The only thing that’s obviously missing is NFC, which means you won’t be paying for things with Samsung Pay on the wrist, alas.
With the release of the Gear Fit2 Pro (below), the price of this watch has begun to tumble, and a wearable that launched at £179 can now be had for under £100 if you shop around the second-hand market.
Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro: The best Samsung band for swimmers
Price when reviewed: £199 | Buy it now from Amazon
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the Gear Fit2 Pro looks an awful lot like the Gear Fit2. There’s a reason for that: for most intents and purposes, they’re completely identical, offering the same feature set and smart design.
However, there are three differences that Samsung touted at the launch, though one of those – downloadable Spotify playlists – is now shared across both thanks to a firmware update. Of the other two differences, one is incredibly minor – it uses a buckle instead of a stud to fasten it – while the other is a total game changer: it’s swimproof for tracking your lengths in the pool.
Obviously if you’re a swimmer, this or the Gear Sport is the one for you. If not, you could save yourself quite a bit of money by opting for the almost-as-good vanilla Gear Fit2.
