Samsung Gear S3 Classic (SM-R775A) running Tizen Version 3.0.0.2 paired with Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U) running Android 8.1.0 and Samsung Experience Version 9.5.
Two Issues:
- Whenever I walk out of Bluetooth range, the watch insists on alerting me to text messages that have already been read. I need to clear the new notifications every time, which is quite annoying. This happened with the stock Samsung messaging app and also happens now that I have switched my default app to Android Messages (didn't want to do that, but it is the only way I can get text messages through my Mustang's factory installed head unit and Android Auto - that's a completely separate issue though!).
- When walking out of range, about 25% of the time, Number Sync will politely notify me that I have disabled it (which I have not) and will not reactivate until it is connected to my phone again. Aside from the 25% of the time that I walk away, it will also randomly notify me that I have turned it off when I my watch and phone are paired and in the same room. Again, I need to go into the watch settings and turn Number Sync back on.
For the $30 activation fee plus the additional $10 plus fees we pay every month for the LTE smartwatch, the performance is very inconsistent. Aside from these two issues, when I am in standalone mode connected to (and not connected to) wifi I will 50% of the time get an error that I'm not online when trying to use the voice to text, send a text, make a call, etc.
To have Samsung's top offerings perform like this for the initial cost and monthly charges is totally unacceptable. Problem is, I don't know if it is a Samsung, Android, Tizen or AT&T problem. One thing I do know... I didn't have this issue with my iPhone 7 Plus and Apple Watch Series 3 LTE. Sure, the hardware and customization is fun - more fun than the locked down apple iOS systems - but at least those systems worked, and working systems are ultimately what you pay for, aren't they?
Anyway, rant is over... if anyone has had these issues and has found a way to not make my $1300 (Yes - I'm talking to you too Note 9 since I don't know if the issue is with the watch or phone) worth of hardware work the way it should work, please let me know.
Thanks!
