Gear S3 gets teased in Samsung IFA 2016 invite

While maybe not quite as key as it was in past years, IFA is still an exciting time of the year for tech enthusiasts. At the show we get bombarded with all sorts of new devices and developments. Manufacturers also like to get in on the fun and build up anticipation for their part of the Berlin-based trade show. IFA 2016 will officially begin on Sept. 4th, but like usual, we can expect the big names to kick it off a couple days prior. And like clockwork, Samsung has just dropped a teaser with its press conference schedule – Sept. 1st from 11-12pm. (Update: Samsung has now issued a second, mobile-only invite, bringing the Gear S3 launch event a day earlier – to August 31 at 6pm Berlin time.)

That’s not all though. The image shows clock hands, which totally hints at the launch of a new smartwatch. It’s not directly stated, but based on the fact that the current Gear S2 dropped at IFA last year and an earlier report affirmed its IFA 2016 debut (with the possibility of a “super-luxury variant”), we feel that it is pretty safe to say that the Gear S3 will be announced at this year’s IFA. Any doubt has now been removed with the new invite stating ‘Samsung’s new Gear launch event’ and the tagline “Let’s talk about 3”.

Despite running Samsung’s own Tizen OS, the Gear S2 went on to being a highly regarded smartwatch. Its ergonomic design, superb display, smooth performance, and neat rotating bezel make for a great experience. However, the software is a little hit or miss, and application support needs some catching up to Android Wear. We’ll have to wait and see if Samsung has made the right refinements.

Are you looking forward to seeing what the Gear S3 has to offer? Are current Gear S2 owners plenty satisfied with your smartwatch experience? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!