Samsung Gear S3 vs. Microsoft Band 2: Battle of Tech Wearables; How Will the Fitness Tracker Fare Against the Smartwatch?
The current market for wearables is still pretty small as compared with other portable devices, being properly introduced only about 3 years ago. However, big companies such as Microsoft and Samsung are already diving in, offering the Microsoft Band 2 and Samsung Gear S3 that focus on fitness and productivity. We take a look at these two to see which one is right for you.
Design
The Microsoft Band 2 has a metallic silver overall finish. The band, or strap, is made of a durable plastic silicone material that fits comfortably. The rectangular and elongated display is also curved, subtly following the contour of the wrist. It is a simple and sporty general design, with the strap hooking together with a clip.
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The Samsung Gear S3 comes with two options—the Classic and Frontier. The Classic looks and feels a lot more like luxury watches, with a metallic design and a thinner strap. The Frontier then caters to the more active users, offering a more rugged and sturdy design. Both variants are circular in nature, with clicking, rotatable bezels and multiple side buttons.
Display
The Microsoft Band 2 has a 1.26 x 0.5-inch rectangular curved display. It has a 320 x 128 resolution and an AMOLED screen covered with Gorilla Glass 3. Noticeable pixilation is apparent in the display, especially when viewing notifications.
Both Samsung Gear S3 models come with a 1.3-inch circular display. They sport Samsung's trademark Super AMOLED display, with a very dense 360 x 360 resolution. The new Gorilla Glass SR+ made especially for wearables cover the glass.
Performance
Being merely a fitness tracker, the Microsoft Band 2 does not pack intense processors and memory. It is equipped, however, with a plethora of sensors necessary for fitness tracking. There is an optical heart rate sensor, a gyroscope, a 3-axis accelerometer, GPS, ambient light sensor, UV sensor, skin temperature sensor, capacitive sensor, galvanic skin response sensor, barometer, and a microphone.
The Samsung Gear S3, being a full-pledged smartwatch, packs a dual core 1.0GHz processor, complete with 768MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. A huge chunk of the sensors found on the Microsoft Band 2 are also present. The Gear S3 is also fully waterproof, as opposed to the water resistance of the Microsoft Band 2.
Software and Battery
The fitness tracking features of the Band 2 is impeccable. There is a heart rate monitor, calorie tracker, sleep tracker, and can even measure the oxygen passage through the body. The Health dashboard also features health tracking metrics.
The Gear S3 runs on Samsung's proprietary Tizen 2 software platform. It also features fitness tracking functionalities, in addition to compatibility and pairing possibilities with Android and iOS devices. This allows users to take calls, reply to messages, and so much more using the smartwatches.
Microsoft then claims that the Band 2 can last for up to 2 full days. However, Samsung's offering packs a 380 mAh battery that can last from 3 to 4 full days.
