The Pro-Trek WSD F20 is a durable outdoor smartwatch with GPS, offline map support, and water resistance. In comparison, the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier offers a more stylish design with a rotating bezel for navigation and LTE connectivity for phone calls. Both watches have heart rate monitors, but the Pro-Trek is better suited for outdoor adventurers while the Gear S3 is more versatile for everyday use.
For those who crave adventure and exploration, the choice of a smartwatch becomes more than just a fashion statement. It becomes a vital tool, an extension of your awareness in the wilderness. Two prominent contenders in this arena are the Casio Pro-Trek WSD-F20 and the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier.
While both offer a range of functionalities, they cater to slightly different breeds of adventurers. This comprehensive guide delves into the rich history, design philosophies, feature sets, user experiences, and overall value proposition of these two powerhouses to help you equip your wrist for your next conquest.
A Legacy of Exploration
Casio Pro-Trek WSD-F20: Casio, a brand synonymous with rugged timekeeping instruments, launched the Pro-Trek line in 1994. The WSD-F20, released in 2016, marked a significant evolution. It integrated the robust outdoor functionalities of the Pro-Trek series with a smartwatch platform powered by Google’s Wear OS.
This marriage of traditional outdoor expertise and modern smartwatch technology established the WSD-F20 as a pioneer in the smartwatch realm for serious adventurers.
Samsung Gear S3 Frontier: Samsung entered the smartwatch market in 2013 with the original Galaxy Gear. The Gear S3 Frontier, released in 2016, was a successor to the successful Gear S2. It built upon its predecessor’s strengths with a more rugged design, advanced features, and a focus on fitness and activity tracking.
While not solely targeting the hardcore outdoor enthusiast, the Gear S3 Frontier offered a compelling package for those seeking a stylish and functional smartwatch with some outdoor capabilities.
Built to Withstand the Elements
Size and Weight: The Pro-Trek WSD-F20 prioritizes functionality over form factor. Its reinforced construction results in a slightly bulkier profile (56.4 x 63.5 x 13.7 mm) compared to the Gear S3 Frontier’s more streamlined design (49 x 57 x 12.3 mm). The weight difference is also noticeable, with the WSD-F20 tipping the scales at 83g compared to the Gear S3 Frontier’s lighter 62g.
Material Matters: Both watches prioritize durability but with slightly different approaches. The WSD-F20 boasts a reinforced resin case with a stainless-steel bezel and a urethane band. This combination prioritizes shock resistance and protection against the elements.
The Gear S3 Frontier utilizes a more premium-feeling stainless steel case with a choice of either a leather or silicone band. While the stainless steel offers good durability, the leather band might not be ideal for extreme activities.
Conquering the Elements: Both watches excel in water resistance. Both are rated up to 50 meters, meaning they can handle rain, splashes, swimming, and even shallow dives. The WSD-F20, however, goes a step further with its military-grade shock resistance certification (MIL-STD-810G).
This ensures it can withstand drops, vibrations, and extreme temperatures, making it a more suitable companion for harsh environments.
Displaying Information Clearly, Whatever the Conditions
Dual Display Advantage: The Pro-Trek WSD-F20 takes an innovative approach with its dual-layer display. A transflective LCD forms the bottom layer. This type of display offers excellent visibility in direct sunlight, perfect for checking time, basic stats, and outdoor sensor data even on the brightest day. On top of this sits a full-color OLED screen.
This layer provides vibrant visuals for map viewing, notifications, and app interaction, but requires activation and might be less visible in strong sunlight.
Super AMOLED Brilliance: The Gear S3 Frontier utilizes a single, circular Super AMOLED display. This technology offers rich colors, deep blacks, and excellent visibility indoors. However, its performance in direct sunlight is not quite on par with the WSD-F20’s transflective LCD.
Navigating the Interface: The WSD-F20 utilizes Google’s Wear OS. Android users will find this familiar, but the interface can feel slightly cluttered on a smaller screen. The Gear S3 Frontier employs Samsung’s Tizen OS, known for its smooth operation and a user-friendly rotating bezel for navigation.
This bezel allows for intuitive scrolling and selection, making it easier to interact with the watch, especially when wearing gloves or in wet conditions.
Feature Arsenal: Tools for Every Adventure
Timekeeping Essentials: Both watches offer the core functionalities you expect, including timekeeping, date display, alarms, stopwatch, and timer. The WSD-F20 goes a step further with sunrise/sunset times and moon phase displays, catering specifically to outdoor enthusiasts who rely on natural light cues.
Built-in for the Outdoors: The Pro-Trek WSD-F20 shines when it comes to dedicated outdoor features. It boasts a built-in GPS, barometer, compass, and altimeter. This combination provides invaluable data for navigation, altitude tracking, and weather monitoring.
It even offers offline maps and the ability to use GPS functionality in power-saving mode, extending battery life for extended expeditions. The Gear S3 Frontier focuses more on general fitness and activity tracking. While it does offer built-in GPS, it lacks the specialized outdoor sensors of the WSD-F20.
Beyond the Basics: Both watches offer illumination for low-light visibility. The WSD-F20 provides world-time functionality with sunrise/sunset information for different locations.
The Gear S3 Frontier boasts a built-in speaker and microphone, allowing you to make calls and interact with voice assistants like Samsung Bixby directly from your wrist. This can be a convenient feature for hands-free communication during workouts or on the go.
Fueling Your Adventures: Battery Life and Power Management
Battery Type and Life Expectancy: The Pro-Trek WSD-F20 utilizes a rechargeable battery with two operational modes. In full smartwatch mode, with all features active and the color display engaged, it can last around a day. This is comparable to most smartwatches.
However, where the WSD-F20 truly shines is its power-saving mode. By disabling most smart features and relying solely on the transflective LCD for basic timekeeping and sensor data display, the battery life can be extended to a remarkable one week.
This extended life makes it an ideal companion for long backpacking trips or off-grid adventures. The Gear S3 Frontier offers a more typical smartwatch battery life, lasting 2-3 days on a single charge with moderate usage.
Power on Demand: The WSD-F20 excels in power-saving features. Its dedicated power-saving mode allows you to prioritize core functionalities while significantly extending battery life. The Gear S3 Frontier offers typical power-saving options like reducing screen brightness and limiting background app refresh, but they don’t offer the same level of battery optimization as the WSD-F20’s dedicated mode.
Battery Replacement Considerations: Both watches require specialized tools and potentially professional help to replace the battery. The WSD-F20’s focus on ruggedness might make accessing the battery slightly more complex due to its reinforced construction.
However, the extended battery life of the WSD-F20 in power-saving mode means battery replacement might be less frequent compared to the Gear S3 Frontier which requires charging more often.
Price and Value: An Investment in Exploration
Retail Price Comparison: The Pro-Trek WSD-F20 generally carries a higher price tag compared to the Gear S3 Frontier. The WSD-F20’s specialized outdoor features, rugged build quality, and dual-layer display contribute to this price difference.
Value Proposition: Value depends on your priorities. For outdoor enthusiasts who prioritize functionality, durability, and long battery life in remote locations, the WSD-F20 offers excellent value. Its features like GPS, barometer, compass, and extended battery life in power-saving mode become invaluable tools on extended expeditions.
If you value a wider app selection, a more streamlined design, and everyday smartwatch features like calling functionalities, the Gear S3 Frontier might be a better choice. However, its battery life might not be ideal for extended outdoor adventures where frequent charging is not an option.
Long-Term Considerations: Both watches are built to last. The rugged construction and water resistance ensure they can withstand the elements.
However, the WSD-F20’s potentially more complex battery replacement due to its design might be a factor to consider. Additionally, the availability of replacement parts and software updates for older models could also influence your long-term value proposition.
The User’s Voice: Real-World Experiences
Pro-Trek WSD-F20: Users consistently praise the WSD-F20’s comprehensive outdoor features, excellent sunlight readability of the transflective LCD, and its long battery life in power-saving mode. These aspects make it a reliable companion for serious outdoor enthusiasts.
Common complaints include the bulkier size compared to some smartwatches, occasional limitations of Wear OS, and the potentially complex battery replacement process.
Samsung Gear S3 Frontier: Users appreciate the Gear S3 Frontier’s stylish design, user-friendly Tizen OS, and the vast app selection available from the Galaxy Apps store.
This makes it a versatile smartwatch for everyday use and fitness tracking. Some users report average battery life compared to some other smartwatches and a slightly less rugged build compared to the WSD-F20.
Overall User Satisfaction Ratings: Both watches enjoy positive user reviews. The WSD-F20 caters to a more specific audience of outdoor enthusiasts who prioritize its specialized features. The Gear S3 Frontier receives acclaim for its well-rounded smartwatch functionalities and stylish design. Ultimately, the choice depends on the user’s specific needs and preferences.
The Final Verdict: Choosing Your Companion for the Trail
Choosing between the Pro-Trek WSD-F20 and Samsung Gear S3 Frontier boils down to your priorities and intended use:
For the Hardcore Adventurer: If you prioritize dedicated features like GPS, barometer, compass, long battery life in remote locations, and a rugged build for extreme conditions, the Pro-Trek WSD-F20 is the clear winner. Its trade-offs are a slightly bulkier design and a less extensive app ecosystem compared to the Gear S3 Frontier.
For the Everyday Explorer: If you value a stylish design, a user-friendly interface, a wider app selection for everyday use, and calling functionalities, the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier is a compelling option. However, its battery life might not be ideal for extended outdoor adventures where frequent charging access might be limited.
Finding the Middle Ground: If you value some outdoor capabilities but also prioritize everyday smartwatch features, consider these aspects:
App Selection: The Gear S3 Frontier offers a wider range of apps for various uses. However, the WSD-F20 does offer core outdoor-focused apps and basic functionalities like notifications and music control.
Fitness Tracking: Both watches offer basic activity-tracking functionalities. However, the Gear S3 Frontier might offer more advanced fitness tracking features depending on the specific model and software version.
Beyond Specs: The Intangible Factors
Beyond the technical specifications, consider the overall philosophy of each watch:
- The Pro-Trek WSD-F20: It prioritizes functionality over form. It’s a tool for exploration, built to withstand harsh environments and provide vital data for navigation and decision-making.
- The Samsung Gear S3 Frontier: Strikes a balance between functionality and style. It aims to be a versatile companion for everyday life, offering both fitness tracking and some outdoor capabilities alongside the standard smartwatch features.
The Final Thought: Performance vs. Experience
Ultimately, the choice between the Pro-Trek WSD-F20 and Samsung Gear S3 Frontier depends on what kind of experience you seek on your wrist. The WSD-F20 prioritizes raw performance and dedicated outdoor features, making it a true adventurer’s tool.
The Gear S3 Frontier provides a more well-rounded and user-friendly experience, excelling as a stylish and functional smartwatch with some outdoor capabilities.
Whichever watch you choose, remember it’s an extension of your adventurous spirit. Let it be a reliable companion on your next exploration, helping you navigate the trails, conquer challenges, and create lasting memories.