Smartwatch poll: would you rather be seen with an Apple Watch or Samsung Gear S3?

posted by Paul K. / Sep 13, 2016, 8:24 AM

Smartwatch poll: would you rather be seen with an Apple Watch or Samsung Gear S3?

Smartwatches are a weird gizmo on the market, which is a bit hard to sell. Manufacturers seem to have figured out somewhat of an effective recipe, though — it needs to be sporty, with lots of health-tracking features and robust body; it needs to be geeky, with a lot of apps and sync options; and it needs to be stylish, so people wouldn't mind being seen with one in public.

While many are trying to strike the perfect balance between looks, function, and successful marketing, Apple's Watch and Samsung's Gear S lines seem to be at the top of the smartwatch niche right now. And we were recently introduced to the new generation of both families of wearables — the Apple Watch Series 2 and Samsung Gear S3.

The differences in both are still striking — Apple's Watch is square-shaped, runs a proprietary operating system named watchOS, and is strictly locked to Apple's ecosystem; Samsung's Gear S3 continues to be circular, tries to imitate a mechanical watch as much as it can, also runs a proprietary operating system — Tizen — and supports Android devices with iOS syncing coming soon.

Both watches have multiple stylings and can have their watch bands swapped. The Gear S3 accepts any standard watch band, while Apple's Watch has a proprietary lock — have to sell them $500 Hermes bands. Otherwise, we have the health and fitness apps, the internal GPS, microphone, and speaker units on both. Both devices are worthy competitors, the question is — which one do you prefer?

Apple Watch Series 2 vs Gear S3: Which one would you buy?

Apple Watch Series 2 (any version)

17.68%

Samsung Gear S3 (any version)

82.32%

Options

46 Comments

1. manojmcn

Posts: 633; Member since: Jul 16, 2015

Paul K.- Please correct the heading. Should be 'or' instead of 'of'

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 8:26 AM 1

7. trojan_horse

Posts: 5868; Member since: May 06, 2016

I rather want to be seen with a Gear S3, bruh!

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 8:35 AM 7

8. sgodsell

Posts: 6653; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

I kind of like the looks of my new all black Q Marshal smart watch. I was one for silver or titanium looking watches. I still am, but I really like the looks of Fossil's new Q Marshal. I actually would love to get the new Asus ZenWatch 3 as well (silver).

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 8:38 AM 1

10. paul.k

Posts: 282; Member since: Jul 17, 2014

Thanks

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 8:40 AM 2

2. willywanta

Posts: 497; Member since: Jun 04, 2014

the apple watch looks so bland when placed side by side with the gear s3

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 8:27 AM 16

14. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

Or any watch period, to be honest. Looks like something you get from a bubblegum machine. I want an Apple Watch, but form over function at that cost is not for me.. Even though the Geear S costs the same, you actually get useful functions. WiFi, GPS, Barometer, cellular, UV, Heart Rate, 4G and more. I know the form factor prevent certain features, all of them basically repeat the functions of a good smartphone. But you have to be crazy to spend that much money on limited Apple Watch features that are useless and toyish.

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 8:43 AM 12

22. sgodsell

Hey everyone look at my Apple watch. It's square and has its watch face off for most of its life. Real smart watch, that you can't or even others can't quickly glance at to check the time. At least those Apple users can still wear it when it's dead after 18 hours, and it will have the same functioning watch face, off all the time.

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 9:01 AM 5

36. JunitoNH

Posts: 1946; Member since: Feb 15, 2012

Lord.....I have to agree with you on that one. As long as the Apple Watch keeps the looks from a Dick Tracy cartoon, not buying.

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 12:38 PM 2

25. ECPirate37

Posts: 283; Member since: Jul 14, 2011

The S3 looks great, but I still like my Huawei Watch better. I've figuring it out. It is that my bezel is concave. Most round out, but this one focuses in

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 10:03 AM 3

42. tedkord

Posts: 17043; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

The Huawei does look great. Probably the best looking smartwatch currently out.

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 7:35 PM 1

46. schinnak

Posts: 116; Member since: Oct 26, 2011

Well, they didnt put the better looking Gear S3 frontier next to the apple watch in the pic here. That would have made the apple watch look like a toy.

posted on Sep 15, 2016, 3:04 AM 0

3. HugoBarraCyanogenmod

Posts: 1408; Member since: Jul 06, 2014

Like it or hate it, if Apple watch ugly, why it still the top seller among smart watch?

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 8:30 AM 10

6. LebronJamesFanboy

Posts: 671; Member since: Mar 23, 2013

The Apple watch is easily the best looking smartwatch IMO.

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 8:33 AM 13

17. bobby84

Posts: 595; Member since: May 13, 2016

I doubt that. The gear s3 has always on display and 4 days battery life that's over 3 days longer than the Apple watch. No to mention it has 4g cellular service which means you can call text, stream music etc without a phone. A always on display and mst payment to work almost anywhere.

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 8:48 AM 17

32. ChickenDinner

Posts: 30; Member since: Feb 14, 2016

He said best looking. Said nothing about the features.

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 10:51 AM 3

19. sgodsell

You are someone that would love anything that Apple made. Even if Apple made and sold poop on a stick, then you would love that too, and say it's the best looking poop on a stick. Clearly you have not been looking to see what is on the Market. If you like Apples one and only square style, and you think it's the best looking smart watch, then clearly that is your prerogative. But I would easily bet you a million dollars that it would never make the best looking watch or smart watch. I would bet many would prefer a smart watch that looked inconspicuous instead. A smart watch that looks like a regular watch. As a matter of fact many look at mine and think it's a regular watch, but it's a smart watch. That is what I wanted. Instead Apple choose to make theirs a unique square. So everyone who is wearing one can advertise for Apple, and say I am an Apple user and I have an Apple watch to show to the world.

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 8:50 AM 15

26. LebronJamesFanboy

Most of what you said is debatable, and the first thing you said is absolutely false. I've used android phones the past 4 years, and am just now trying out an iPhone 7.

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 10:04 AM 10

35. sgodsell

So by saying you had Android phones the past 4 years means what exactly? When it comes to your statement of the Apple watch is the best looking smart watch. Then clearly that is your opinion, and judging from most of the results of the survey so far. Most would definitely disagree with your discission on the Apple watch to be the best looking smart watch. Also if you still have Android devices, then a Apple watch only works with iPhones. Whereas many other smart watches work with Android and iOS. Not to mention Apple's watch display is off for most of its life. Many others have their watch faces on.

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 12:15 PM 3

37. LebronJamesFanboy

"So by saying you had Android phones the past 4 years means what exactly?" Read your first paragraph on post 19. You're making me out to be an Apple loyalist when I'm not.

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 1:18 PM 4

9. trojan_horse

@HugoBarraCyanogenmod Apple Watch (and every other iDevice) is top-selling because of the loyal Apple fanbase. We already know that. Sales doesn't mean best, when it comes to quality and functionality in a smartwatch!

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 8:39 AM 17

12. -Shadow-

Posts: 95; Member since: Mar 26, 2013

Because it is an apple product. Apple has the most loyal followers (isheep as some say).

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 8:42 AM 10

20. TechieXP1969

How do you know it is? Has Apple mentioned any sells numbers? NOPE Here is the thing. Carriers don't sell them, because they lack cellular capabilities, so they can't tie you to a plan. Funny though, because VZW and T-Mobile both did offer the WiFi only version of the Gear S2. It's not ugly per se, its just boring for what it costs. As far as sales, show us confirm sales number. Good luck! Neither company has released any. All we know is Apple has shipped maybe 3M of them. Yet how many were sold to end users? Let us do the math. Using an example of all 3M shipped to the USA, with a population of 350M people. Look at the odds of anyone even owning one. I see 2 employees who were theirs. I've now seen 3 in the wild. Best Buy can't even give them away even at $99 they had the base model for. The display is to tiny, the features are absent and it won't work without your phone. All which the Gear has an advantage over. You're question simpletons who will buy anything Apple? Why? I've seen a female wearing one which is surprising. But I seen females with the Gear S2, Fitbit, Microsoft Band and other cheap options. I guess all those buyers you claim, dont wear them?!

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 8:52 AM 0

23. Feanor

Posts: 1275; Member since: Jun 20, 2012

...Because of brand loyalty. The Apple Watch IS the worst looking smartwatch, people will just but whatever Apple brings to the market. Heck, owners of the original Apple Watch will buy the 2nd Edition, despite the fact that it looks identical, only to have the latest of Apple. Do you think that anyone would swap their watch with another identical? No. It's only Apple that has such a strong image that they can form people's aesthetic criteria and bend them their way. Objectively the Apple Watch is a non-descript square thing with no personality whatsoever that people think is a design icon because of its fruity badge.

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 9:15 AM 2

28. lyndon420

Posts: 6376; Member since: Jul 11, 2012

Good question. Baffles me as well. The a-watch looks horrible (unless you're a geeky kid), and it won't last a full day on a charge even with the watch face off most of the time. Honestly I doubt any OEM could make a square watch look elegant or worthy enough to be worn in public with pride. How many people actually bought apple's watch only to return it... that's what I'd like to know.

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 10:12 AM 1

4. Jimrod

Posts: 1605; Member since: Sep 22, 2014

Without looking and just based on general comments in favour of Android here I'll guess at 75-80% in favour of the Samsung. :p

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 8:30 AM 0

16. surethom

Posts: 1560; Member since: Mar 04, 2009

Im an android user but personally I dont care on the OS its all about the look. I am looking to get the Withings Steel HR, a Normal analog watch but with a small screen & Heart Rate monitor mainly because of the Size & look.

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 8:45 AM 2

43. tedkord

Why, the S3 isn't an Android device. But from a purely aesthetic standpoint, the S3 is definitely better looking.

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 7:37 PM 0

5. ctdog4748

Posts: 797; Member since: Mar 05, 2016

Definitely the Apple Watch, the Gear S3 just looks like any other big, gaudy sport-style watch.

11. surethom

Apple watch Wrong shape look weird that shap but Samsung watches are Massive, if only Samsung had a 40" to 42" version then Samsung all the way. Round smartwatches will always look better, a square or rectangular Analog look ok ish but a smartwatch that is Square or rectangular with screen off just look cheap

posted on Sep 13, 2016, 8:41 AM 1

13. bobby84

S3 I really want the 4g built in. Besides Apple watch want work on my phone, and i know it will be a bunch of proprietary stuff I just don't want to deal with.