When the Gear S2 was launched by Samsung last year, it was one of the few smartwatches on the market that offered some quality fitness-focused features. The South Korean giant followed this up with the Gear Fit 2 which launched earlier this year, and while this is a fitness-first sort of wearable, Samsung is keen to make the Gear S line of smartwatches great for all types of users, including those looking to track their activity. Rumors of the next-generation of the Gear S, the Gear S3, have been swirling with a possible launch during next month’s IFA trade show held every year in Berlin. This latest batch of rumors focuses on the much-improved fitness features of the Gear S3.
According to a report from SamMobile, the Gear S3 is going to feature a number of improved sensors and features geared to those looking to stay fit with the new smartwatch. First up is the new and improved barometer, which will be able to sense changes in pressure, and therefore issue weather warnings. Users will reportedly be able to set reference levels for where they are, and then they will be alerted to either a drop in pressure, or increase in pressure of 4 hPa, which would suggest a change in the weather. On top of this, the new Gear S3 is set to feature a quality speedometer that will use the GPS included in the watch to show the speed of runners as well as those riding a bike, perfect for those that want to keep a constant speed or see how far they can push themselves. Where elevation is concerned, the altimeter will also provide constant readings on the X and Y-axis to make it simple to see how far and how quickly a cyclist is climbing a hill, for instance.
If nothing else, it looks like Samsung is determined to use some of the lessons learned creating the Gear Fit 2 in their upcoming Gear S3, and these are the sort of features that will make Samsung very competitive, indeed. After all, the Apple Watch is very much focused on fitness, with much of the industry viewing it as the best smartwatch for fitness fanatics. Well, Samsung is looking to change all of this, and if it is to be announced during IFA 2016, we don’t have too much longer to wait.