Samsung Gear S3 vs Microsoft Band 2: Which has better specs and features?

The Samsung Gear S3's arrival is fast approaching and fitness junkies are wondering if they should wait for it or just go ahead and pick up the Microsoft Band 2. The two are in the fitness race and the only way to find out which one consumers should get is to know the specs and features of both.

According to reports, the two are different in many ways. The Samsung contender will be coming in two variants, the Classic and the Frontier. These will be sporting a 1.3-inch circular metallic waterproof chassis with rotatable bezels and a number of side buttons.

The only difference between the two is that the Classic comes with a thinner strap while the Frontier has a sturdier design strap. This means that the former is a lot more like a luxury watch while the latter is designed more for active users.

Meanwhile, Microsoft's product has a metallic silver chassis paired with a plastic silicon strap. Its rectangular display measures 1.26 x 0.5 inches. The new band is bigger compared to its predecessor and it's noted to come with an AMOLED screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 3.

When it comes to waterproof capability, the Gear S3 is detailed to win by default as it is made with IP68-rated dust-proof and waterproof protection. The Microsoft Band 2 is still not waterproof just like its predecessor.

For the performance level, the Microsoft Band 2 lacks in intense processors and memory but it has a wide variety of sensors that are necessary for fitness tracking.

One will be able to find an optical heart rate sensor, a gyroscope, a 3-axis accelerometer, skin temperature sensor, UV sensor, microphone and more. Meanwhile, the Gear S3 is equipped under the hood with a dual core 1.0 GHz processor paired with 768 MB of RAM and 4 GB of native storage space.

Samsung also still wins in battery area as it can last up to three to four full days while the Microsoft Band 2 can last up to two full days only.

For those who want to get an affordable smartwatch, the Microsoft Band 2 is only $250 while the Samsung Gear S3 is around $300 to $350. The latter is expected to come out this October.