The early days of smartwatches were a fascinating time, with Apple and Samsung leading the charge. The Apple Watch 42mm (1st gen) and the Samsung Gear S2 3G represented distinct approaches to wearable technology. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to see how these pioneers stack up today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Gear S2 3G edges out the Apple Watch 1st gen due to its more versatile Tizen OS, rotating bezel for navigation, and 3G connectivity. While the Apple Watch boasts tighter iOS integration, the Gear S2 offers a more complete standalone experience, especially considering its age.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | N/A | GSM 900 / 1800 |
| 3G bands | - | HSDPA 900 / 2100 |
| EDGE | No | - |
| GPRS | No | - |
| Speed | - | HSPA |
| Technology | No cellular connectivity | GSM / HSPA |
| | - | HSDPA 850 / 1900 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2014, September. Released 2015, April | 2015, August. Released 2015, October |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Sapphire crystal), ceramic/sapphire crystal back, stainless steel frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), stainless steel frame |
| Dimensions | 42 x 35.9 x 10.5 mm (1.65 x 1.41 x 0.41 in) | 51.8 x 44 x 13.4 mm (2.04 x 1.73 x 0.53 in) |
| SIM | No | eSIM |
| Weight | 50 g body (2.82 oz) | 51 g (1.80 oz) |
| | IPX7 water resistant up to 1 meter and 30 minutes | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Sapphire crystal glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 390 x 312 pixels (~303 ppi density) | 360 x 360 pixels (~302 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.65 inches | 1.2 inches |
| Type | Retina OLED, 450 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED |
| | 3D Touch display | Always-on display
Rotating bezel |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 520 MHz Cortex-A7 | Dual-core 1.0 GHz |
| Chipset | Apple S1 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8x26 |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX543 | - |
| OS | watchOS 1.0, upgradable to watchOS 4.3.2 | Tizen OS 2.3.2 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 8GB 512MB RAM | 4GB 512MB RAM |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, LE | 4.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | No | GPS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | No | No |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer |
| | Natural language commands and dictation | S-Voice natural language commands and dictation
MP3/M4A/AAC/WAV player
Photo viewer
Voice memo/dial/commands
Samsung Pay |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | Wireless | Wireless (Qi) |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 48 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 250 mAh (0.94 Wh), non-removable | Li-Ion 300 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Stainless Steel/Red, White, Brown/Black/Blue/Marine Blue Buckle, Blue/Stone/White/Storm Gray Leather Loop, Silver/Space Black Milanese Loop, Link Bracelet, Space Black Stainless Steel/Black, Black Link Bracelet, Pearl Woven Nylon | Dark Gray, Silver |
| Models | A1554 | SM-R7200, SM-R7320, SM-R7300 |
| Price | About 700 EUR | About 250 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.05 W/kg (head) 0.30 W/kg (body) |
Apple Watch 42mm (1st gen)
- Tighter iOS integration
- Larger display
- App Store ecosystem (at the time)
- Poor battery life
- No camera
- Outdated processor
Samsung Gear S2 3G
- Rotating bezel for easy navigation
- Longer battery life
- Standalone 3G connectivity
- More versatile Tizen OS
- Lower resolution camera
- Smaller display
- Limited app selection compared to Apple Watch (at the time)
Display Comparison
The Apple Watch 42mm featured a 1.5-inch (312 x 390) OLED display, known for its vibrant colors and sharp text. The Gear S2 3G had a 1.2-inch (360 x 360) AMOLED display, also excellent, but slightly smaller. Both offered good visibility in various lighting conditions, though the Apple Watch's slightly larger size gave it a minor advantage.
Camera Comparison
Neither device had a particularly impressive camera. The Apple Watch 1st gen lacked a camera entirely, while the Gear S2 3G had a 2MP camera, which produced low-resolution images suitable only for quick snapshots. Image quality was generally poor on both.
Performance
The Gear S2 3G's dual-core 1.0 GHz processor generally felt snappier than the Apple Watch's single-core 520 MHz Cortex-A7. While both devices showed their age by today's standards, the Gear S2's chipset provided a more responsive user experience, especially when navigating menus and apps. App availability was a factor, with Apple's App Store having a larger selection at the time.
Battery Life
Battery life was a significant differentiator. The Gear S2 3G typically offered 1.5-2 days of battery life with moderate use, while the Apple Watch 1st gen struggled to last a full day. The Gear S2's more efficient chipset and software contributed to its longer battery endurance.
Buying Guide
The Apple Watch 42mm (1st gen) is best for existing iPhone users deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem who want basic notifications and fitness tracking. The Samsung Gear S2 3G is a better choice for Android users seeking a standalone smartwatch with a unique rotating bezel and cellular connectivity for calls and data without a phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Apple Watch 1st gen still usable today?
Yes, but it's significantly outdated. Performance will be slow, and app compatibility may be limited. It's best suited for basic notifications and fitness tracking for existing iPhone users.
❓ Does the Samsung Gear S2 3G require a SIM card?
Yes, the 3G model requires a SIM card to enable cellular connectivity. This allows you to make calls, send texts, and use data without being connected to your smartphone.
