The Galaxy Watch Active 2 which succeeds the Galaxy Watch Active is a beauty to behold. It’s very compact, lightweight, and equipped with lots of interesting features. It has a lot in common with the older Galaxy Watch which succeeds the Gear S3 series. In this post, we’re comparing the differences between the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 vs Galaxy Watch vs Gear S3 to find out what has changed over the years.
One thing you should know is that, unlike the newer Galaxy Watch 4 series, the Active 2, Galaxy Watch and Gear S3 series which consist of the Frontier and Classic all run on the Tizen 5.5 operating system.
Also note that the Active 2 is available in 40mm and 44mm, while the Galaxy Watch is available in 42mm and 46mm. Meanwhile, the Gear S3 Frontier and Classic have just only one size.
Furthermore, all four watches are available in both Bluetooth and LTE models. The difference between the LTE and Bluetooth models is that the LTE model comes with an eSIM that enables cellular connectivity and thus, makes it a standalone smartwatch that can make and receive calls independent of a smartphone. The Bluetooth model requires your phone to be nearby to make and receive calls.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 vs Galaxy Watch vs Gear S3 Frontier Specifications Compared
| Product Info |
 Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 (44mm) (LTE) Full Specifications and Features |
 Samsung Galaxy Watch (46mm) Full Specifications, Features and Price |
 Samsung Gear S3 Frontier Full Specifications, Features and Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.97 | - | $79.97 |
| ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE |
| Device name | (LTE), Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 (44mm) | Samsung Galaxy Watch (46mm) | (Discontinued), Samsung Gear S3 Frontier |
| Device type | Standalone/Fitness smartwatch | Fitness/Classic smartwatch | Fitness/Sport smartwatch |
| Gender | Unisex | Men | Men, Unisex |
| Release date | September, 2019 | August, 2018 | November, 2016 |
| Predecessor | Samsung Galaxy Watch Active | Samsung Gear S3 | Samsung Gear S2 |
| Successor | Galaxy Watch 4 | Galaxy Watch 3 | Samsung Galaxy Watch |
| Versions | Bluetooth only, LTE | Bluetooth, LTE | Bluetooth, LTE |
| BODY | BODY | BODY | BODY |
| Dimension | 44 x 44 x 10.9 mm | 46 x 49 x 13 mm | 46 x 49 x 12.9 mm |
| Weight | 30 grams (aluminum), 42 grams (stainless steel) | 63 grams (excluding straps) | 63 grams |
| Shape | Circular | Circular | Circular |
| Case material | Stainless steel 316L | Stainless steel 316L | Stainless steel 316L |
| Strap material | Leather (stainless steel) | Silicone | Silicone |
| Bezel material | Bezeless, Stainless steel 316L | Stainless steel 316L | Stainless steel 316L |
| Strap size | 20 mm | 22 mm | 22 mm |
| Interchangeable strap | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Screen protection | Corning Gorilla glass DX+ | Corning Gorilla glass DX+ | Corning Gorilla Glass SR+ |
| Water resistance | Yes, 5ATM | Yes, 5ATM | Yes, 5ATM |
| Durability test | MIL-STD-810G | MIL-STD-810G | MIL-STD-810G |
| Swim-proof | Yes, recommended | Yes, recommended | Yes, recommended |
| Color | Aqua-black, Black, Cloud-silver, Gold, Pink-gold, Silver | Black, Silver | Black, Silver |
| DISPLAY | DISPLAY | DISPLAY | DISPLAY |
| Display size | 1.4 inches | 1.3 inches | 1.3 inches |
| Display type | Super AMOLED, Full color | Super AMOLED, Full color | Super AMOLED, Full color |
| Display resolution | 360 x 360 pixel | 360 x 360 pixel | 360 x 360 pixel |
| Pixel density | — | 391.63 PPI | 278ppi |
| Always on | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Custom watch face | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Input type | 2 Physical buttons, Digital rotating bezel, Touchscreen | 2 Physical buttons, Physical rotating bezel, Touchscreen | 2 Physical buttons, Physical rotating bezel, Touchscreen |
| CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth v5.0 | Yes, Bluetooth v4.2 LE | Yes, Bluetooth v4.2 LE |
| Bluetooth calling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GPS | Yes, GPS/GLONASS/BEIDOU | Galileo, Yes, GPS/GLONASS/BEIDOU | A-GPS, GLONASS, GPS |
| NFC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac |
| MEMORY | MEMORY | MEMORY | MEMORY |
| RAM | 1.5GB | 0.75GB | 0.75GB |
| ROM | 4GB | 4GB | 4GB |
| Memory card slot | No | No | No |
| CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | None | None |
| SIM type | Nano-SIM | None | None |
| Band | — | — | No |
| NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS |
| SMS alert | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Calls alert | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Email alert | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Event reminder | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Third-party apps alert | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reply to Notifications | - | - | - |
| MEDIA | MEDIA | MEDIA | MEDIA |
| Audio | mp3/mp4 | mp3/mp4 | mp3/mp4 |
| Bluetooth music | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | No | No | No |
| Radio | No | No | No |
| SENSORS | SENSORS | SENSORS | SENSORS |
| Accelerometer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Altimeter | Yes | — | Yes |
| Ambient light | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Barometer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | — | — | — |
| ECG | Yes | No | No |
| Gyroscope | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HRM | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pulse oximeter (SpO2) | No | No | No |
| Temperature | No | No | No |
| Other sensors | — | — | — |
| ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING |
| Blood oxygen | No | No | No |
| Blood Pressure | Yes | No | No |
| Calories | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Distance | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ECG tracking | Yes | No | No |
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Steps | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Floors climbed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stress | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fall detection | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Menstrual cycle | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| VO2 Max | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Swim-tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Underwater heart rate tracking | No | No | No |
| On-screen workout | No | No | No |
| Sport modes | 39 | 39 | 39 |
| BATTERY | BATTERY | BATTERY | BATTERY |
| Battery type | Non-removable Li-ion battery | Non-removable Li-ion battery | Non-removable Li-ion battery |
| Battery capacity | 340mAh | 472mAh | 380mAh |
| Battery life | Regular: 2 days, Standby :5 days+ | Regular: 4 days, Standby:10 days+ | Regular usage: 3 days+, Standby:10 days+ |
| Charging type | WPC based wireless charging | WPC based wireless charging | WPC based wireless charging |
| Charging time | 1-2 hours | 1-2 hours | 1-2 hours |
| Solar charging | No | No | No |
| PLATFORM | PLATFORM | PLATFORM | PLATFORM |
| Chipset | Exynos 9110 | Exynos 9110 | Exynos 7270 |
| CPU | Dual core 1.15GHz | Dual core 1.15GHz | Dual core 1.0GHz |
| GPU | — | — | — |
| Operating system | Tizen 5.5 | Tizen 5.5 | Tizen 5.5 |
| MISC | MISC | MISC | MISC |
| Companion app | Samsung Gear app | Samsung Gear app, Samsung Health App | Samsung Gear app, Samsung Health App |
| Compatibility | Android 5.0+ & RAM 1.5GB+, iPhone 5+ and iOS 9.0+ | Android 5.0+ & RAM 1.5GB+, iPhone 5+ and iOS 9.0+ | Android 5.0+ & RAM 1.5GB+, iPhone 5+ and iOS 9.0+ |
| Payment system | Samsung Pay | Samsung Pay | Samsung Pay |
| Voice command | Yes, Bixby | Yes, Bixby | Yes, Bixby |
| Find my phone | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Box content | Charger, Manual, Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 (44mm), Straps | Charger, Manual, Samsung Galaxy Watch, Straps | Charger, Manual, Samsung Gear S3 Frontier |
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 vs Galaxy Watch vs Gear S3: What’s The Difference?
There are lots of similarities across all three watches, and this includes the same display type, same fitness tracking features, ability to reply to notifications, 4GB storage capacity and the presence of a microphone and speaker in all.
The only difference between the Galaxy Watch and Gear S3 series is that the former has slightly longer battery life.
Meanwhile, the Active 2 with the shortest battery life is more compact and weighs less than the Galaxy Watch and Gear S3 series. The Active 2 also features blood pressure and ECG measurements which are not present in the other two. Thus, it’s a more comprehensive activity tracker.
Furthermore, the Active 2 has a digital rotating bezel against the physical rotating bezel of the Galaxy Watch and Gear S3 series. I prefer the physical rotating bezel, it actually makes navigation easier, unlike the digital rotating bezel which is kinda obstructive.
Which is Better?
All three watches from Samsung are fantastic choices for keeping a tab on your active life. The design of each of these three is also great, but the Active 2 has the most compact design and is a more comprehensive activity tracker with ECG and blood pressure measurements featured.
Samsung Galaxy Watch vs Gear S3 Frontier vs Classic
The Samsung Galaxy watch succeeds the Gear S3 series which consists of the Frontier and Classic. All three watches come in a stylish and elegant design, while also being comprehensive smartwatches with the LTE models having standalone capabilities. Each of these three is also loaded with lots of features and is also fitness-focused. We compare the Samsung Galaxy Watch vs Gear S3 Frontier vs Classic specs and features, so you know the differences.
Samsung Galaxy Watch vs Gear S3 Frontier vs Classic Specifications Compared
| Product Info |
Samsung Galaxy Watch (46mm) Full Specifications, Features and Price |
Samsung Gear S3 Frontier Full Specifications, Features and Price |
 Samsung Gear S3 Classic Full Specifications, Features and Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | - | $79.97 | $69.97 |
| ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE | ABOUT DEVICE |
| Device name | Samsung Galaxy Watch (46mm) | (Discontinued), Samsung Gear S3 Frontier | (Discontinued), Samsung Gear S3 Classic |
| Device type | Fitness/Classic smartwatch | Fitness/Sport smartwatch | Fitness/Classic smartwatch |
| Gender | Men | Men, Unisex | Unisex |
| Release date | August, 2018 | November, 2016 | November, 2016 |
| Predecessor | Samsung Gear S3 | Samsung Gear S2 | Samsung Gear S2 |
| Successor | Galaxy Watch 3 | Samsung Galaxy Watch | Samsung Galaxy Watch |
| Versions | Bluetooth, LTE | Bluetooth, LTE | Bluetooth, LTE |
| BODY | BODY | BODY | BODY |
| Dimension | 46 x 49 x 13 mm | 46 x 49 x 12.9 mm | 46 x 49 x 12.9 mm |
| Weight | 63 grams (excluding straps) | 63 grams | 59 grams |
| Shape | Circular | Circular | Circular |
| Case material | Stainless steel 316L | Stainless steel 316L | Stainless steel 316L |
| Strap material | Silicone | Silicone | Leather |
| Bezel material | Stainless steel 316L | Stainless steel 316L | Stainless steel 316L |
| Strap size | 22 mm | 22 mm | 22 mm |
| Interchangeable strap | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Screen protection | Corning Gorilla glass DX+ | Corning Gorilla Glass SR+ | Corning Gorilla Glass SR+ |
| Water resistance | Yes, 5ATM | Yes, 5ATM | Yes, 5ATM |
| Durability test | MIL-STD-810G | MIL-STD-810G | MIL-STD-810G |
| Swim-proof | Yes, recommended | Yes, recommended | Yes, recommended |
| Color | Black, Silver | Black, Silver | Black, Silver |
| DISPLAY | DISPLAY | DISPLAY | DISPLAY |
| Display size | 1.3 inches | 1.3 inches | 1.3 inches |
| Display type | Super AMOLED, Full color | Super AMOLED, Full color | Super AMOLED, Full color |
| Display resolution | 360 x 360 pixel | 360 x 360 pixel | 360 x 360 pixel |
| Pixel density | 391.63 PPI | 278ppi | 278ppi |
| Always on | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Custom watch face | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Input type | 2 Physical buttons, Physical rotating bezel, Touchscreen | 2 Physical buttons, Physical rotating bezel, Touchscreen | 2 Physical buttons, Physical rotating bezel, Touchscreen |
| CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY | CONNECTIVITY |
| Bluetooth | Yes, Bluetooth v4.2 LE | Yes, Bluetooth v4.2 LE | Yes, Bluetooth v4.2 LE |
| Bluetooth calling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GPS | Galileo, Yes, GPS/GLONASS/BEIDOU | A-GPS, GLONASS, GPS | A-GPS, GLONASS, GPS |
| NFC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac |
| MEMORY | MEMORY | MEMORY | MEMORY |
| RAM | 0.75GB | 0.75GB | 0.75GB |
| ROM | 4GB | 4GB | 4GB |
| Memory card slot | No | No | No |
| CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY | CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY |
| Technology | None | None | None |
| SIM type | None | None | None |
| Band | — | No | No |
| NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS | NOTIFICATIONS |
| SMS alert | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Calls alert | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Email alert | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Event reminder | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Third-party apps alert | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reply to Notifications | - | - | - |
| MEDIA | MEDIA | MEDIA | MEDIA |
| Audio | mp3/mp4 | mp3/mp4 | mp3/mp4 |
| Bluetooth music | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | No | No | No |
| Radio | No | No | No |
| SENSORS | SENSORS | SENSORS | SENSORS |
| Accelerometer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Altimeter | — | Yes | Yes |
| Ambient light | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Barometer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | — | — | — |
| ECG | No | No | No |
| Gyroscope | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HRM | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pulse oximeter (SpO2) | No | No | No |
| Temperature | No | No | No |
| Other sensors | — | — | — |
| ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING | ACTIVITY TRACKING |
| Blood oxygen | No | No | No |
| Blood Pressure | No | No | No |
| Calories | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Distance | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ECG tracking | No | No | No |
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Steps | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Floors climbed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stress | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fall detection | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Menstrual cycle | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| VO2 Max | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Swim-tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Underwater heart rate tracking | No | No | No |
| On-screen workout | No | No | No |
| Sport modes | 39 | 39 | 39 |
| BATTERY | BATTERY | BATTERY | BATTERY |
| Battery type | Non-removable Li-ion battery | Non-removable Li-ion battery | Non-removable Li-ion battery |
| Battery capacity | 472mAh | 380mAh | 380mAh |
| Battery life | Regular: 4 days, Standby:10 days+ | Regular usage: 3 days+, Standby:10 days+ | Regular usage: 3 days+, Standby:10 days+ |
| Charging type | WPC based wireless charging | WPC based wireless charging | WPC based wireless charging |
| Charging time | 1-2 hours | 1-2 hours | 1-2 hours |
| Solar charging | No | No | No |
| PLATFORM | PLATFORM | PLATFORM | PLATFORM |
| Chipset | Exynos 9110 | Exynos 7270 | Exynos 7270 |
| CPU | Dual core 1.15GHz | Dual core 1.0GHz | Dual core 1.0GHz |
| GPU | — | — | — |
| Operating system | Tizen 5.5 | Tizen 5.5 | Tizen 5.5 |
| MISC | MISC | MISC | MISC |
| Companion app | Samsung Gear app, Samsung Health App | Samsung Gear app, Samsung Health App | Samsung Gear app, Samsung Health App |
| Compatibility | Android 5.0+ & RAM 1.5GB+, iPhone 5+ and iOS 9.0+ | Android 5.0+ & RAM 1.5GB+, iPhone 5+ and iOS 9.0+ | Android 5.0+ & RAM 1.5GB+, iPhone 5+ and iOS 9.0+ |
| Payment system | Samsung Pay | Samsung Pay | Samsung Pay |
| Voice command | Yes, Bixby | Yes, Bixby | Yes, Bixby |
| Find my phone | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Box content | Charger, Manual, Samsung Galaxy Watch, Straps | Charger, Manual, Samsung Gear S3 Frontier | Charger, Manual, Samsung Gear S3 Classic |