Samsung is taking the wraps off a new Gear S3 classic model with 4G LTE connectivity, and the smartwatch is heading to three out of four major U.S. carriers — AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
The obvious takeaway from this announcement is that the Gear S3 frontier is no longer the only smartwatch out of the two that can offer LTE, providing consumers with an additional option than just the sporty wearable.
"The new Gear S3 classic LTE raises the bar for connected smartwatch design. Adding LTE connectivity to the Gear S3 classic gives users the ability to stay connected on the go, even when they leave their phone behind," Alanna Cotton, Samsung Electronics America's vice president of marketing, says.
New Gear S3 Classic Basically The Same Other Than Added 4G LTE
Inside and out, the Gear S3 classic LTE is still a Gear S3 classic.
As such, it features a 1.3-inch Super AMOLED display with a 360 x 360 resolution, clocking in at 278 ppi. It also sports the same Corning Gorilla Glass SR+ and IP68 water and dust resistance that protects it from scuffs and uncontrollable elements.
Under the hood, it has the dual core 1.0 GHz Exynos 7270, 4 GB of storage, 768 MB worth of RAM, and a 380 mAh battery. Needless to say, it runs on Samsung's Tizen-based wearable OS, not on the more widespread Android Wear OS.
Other connectivity options aside from the added LTE include Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi, NFC and MST for Samsung Pay, and GPS. Meanwhile, the smartwatch's set of sensors consist of an accelerometer, gyro, barometer, a heart rate monitor, and one to support ambient light.
The difference between the old and new models all boils down to the capability of sending out text messages and calls and receiving them, as well as app notifications.
To be clear, compatibility is not going to change. In other words, any phone, including iPhones, with at least 1.5 GB of RAM and run on Android 4.4 KitKat or higher or iOS 9.0 or higher will work with the Gear S3 classic LTE.
Gear S3 Classic With 4G LTE Connectivity Isn't New To South Korea
While a Gear S3 classic with LTE capabilities is arguably big news in the United States, that's not the case in Samsung's home country of South Korea.
Back in January, SK Telecom announced the new model of the smartwatch, and at the time, it already seemed like it was only a matter of time before the wearable reached U.S. shores.
Gear S3 Classic 4G LTE Release Date: Don't Hold Your Breath Just Yet
Unfortunately, eager shoppers will have to wait for some time because there's still no release date for the Gear S3 classic LTE just yet, which will depend on the carriers. More than that, a trade-in option is still up in the air, particularly for those who bought the original Gear S3 classic.
What do you think of the new Gear S3 classic with LTE? Feel free to hit us up in the comments section below and let us know, especially if you're planning on picking one up.
