S3 Frontier Replace Battery or Replace Watch

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MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#299321 29-Aug-2022 12:17

My Samsung S3 Frontier Smart watch has a nearly dead battery, after nearly 5 years of faultless service.

Should I:

Replace the battery (<$100 for a slight bump in battery capacity); or

Get a new Watch 4 (~$650); or

Wait for a Watch 5 (~$750)?

Mike

Dingbatt

6756 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#2960761 29-Aug-2022 12:38

Depends if you want to continue with a Tizen watch or get one that uses Wear OS.

I’m disappointed there isn’t an equivalent looking watch to the S3 Frontier or GW4 Classic in the GW5 range.

I have had the S3 Frontier and now use a GW4. Wear OS has more app support.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

Blurtie

468 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2960779 29-Aug-2022 14:27

Check out Noel Leeming, they're currently doing some deals on the galaxy Watch 4.. a 46mm galaxy watch 4 classic BT can be had for a shade over $400 - https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/p/samsung-galaxy-watch4-classic-46mm-black/N207376.html

The non-classic 44mm version is a shade under $300 - in case that sways your decision.

I recently parted ways with my S3 Frontier earlier this year.. I do miss it. I've got the watch 4, and echo dingbatt's comments.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#2960827 29-Aug-2022 17:06

Blurtie:

Check out Noel Leeming, they're currently doing some deals on the galaxy Watch 4.. a 46mm galaxy watch 4 classic BT can be had for a shade over $400 - https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/p/samsung-galaxy-watch4-classic-46mm-black/N207376.html

The non-classic 44mm version is a shade under $300 - in case that sways your decision.

I recently parted ways with my S3 Frontier earlier this year.. I do miss it. I've got the watch 4, and echo dingbatt's comments.

Thanks I may do that. I only just realised the watch 5 has no bezel. That's a key feature for me and my cold wet fishy hands (behave 😀). So W5 is out of the running.

Mike

Dingbatt

6756 posts

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#2960843 29-Aug-2022 17:40

MikeAqua:

Thanks I may do that. I only just realised the watch 5 has no bezel. That's a key feature for me and my cold wet fishy hands (behave 😀). So W5 is out of the running.

The ‘virtual bezel’ on the GW4 works surprisingly well. Just as well as the physical one really.
My main thing about the Frontier and Classic is they look more like a conventional watch and less like a fitness tracker.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#2961121 30-Aug-2022 13:27

Dingbatt:

The ‘virtual bezel’ on the GW4 works surprisingly well. Just as well as the physical one really.

I thought the 4 had a real bezel and it was just the 5 that won't?

Touch features don't tend to work as well when your hands are wet and cold.

Mike

Blurtie

468 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2961125 30-Aug-2022 13:37

You'll be after the GW4 Classic then. That's got the physical bezel. The GW 4 and 5 don't.

To be fair, i thought i wanted the physical bezel too, but I'm not really bothered by it now. But from your use case, it sounds like it's an important feature for you.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#2961492 31-Aug-2022 12:03

Blurtie:

You'll be after the GW4 Classic then. That's got the physical bezel. The GW 4 and 5 don't.

To be fair, i thought i wanted the physical bezel too, but I'm not really bothered by it now. But from your use case, it sounds like it's an important feature for you.

If only I could take some frozen bait into the shop, get my hands covered in it and then try the virtual bezel!

Mike

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toejam316

1466 posts

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#2961576 31-Aug-2022 15:15

If using the touch screen is a problem, the virtual bezel will be a problem too. It uses the same basic technology, and you'd want to pick up a Galaxy Watch 4 Classic before they disappear. I suspect it won't be coming back, as it's an additional point of failure on an expensive device, so something Samsung will be glad to see the back of. The Watch 5 Pro has a raised bezel that uses the same tech but feels a lot nicer and more responsive vs the virtual bezel my Watch Active 2 has, but YMMV.

Anything I say is the ramblings of an ill informed, opinionated so-and-so, and not representative of any of my past, present or future employers, and is also probably best disregarded.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#2961944 1-Sep-2022 13:26

toejam316:

I suspect it won't be coming back, as it's an additional point of failure on an expensive device, so something Samsung will be glad to see the back of.

Is suspect you're right, although I wonder how prone to failure they were. I don't even know whether they encoded mechanically or via some other means.

Mike