14 DAY TRIAL // Samsung has been working on bringing the Gear Manager app from Android to iOS for a while, and although the release of the final app was projected to take place earlier this year, the company is only now approaching the final development stages.
And since we’re almost there, it was only a matter of time until the app got leaked, so today we can finally get the IPA file to see what this is all about.
Before anything, it’s worth noting that this is not the final version of the app, but still a beta, however, we’re being told that it’s very close to the stable build that should be published in the App Store sometime in the near future.
What you need to do is download Samsung Gear Manager for iOS using this link, double-click it to install with iTunes (your iPhone needs to be connected to the PC) and then go to Settings > General > Device Manager, tap on Samsung, and click “Trust.” After that, the Samsung Gear Manager app should show up on your home screen.
The application only works with Samsung Gear S2 or S3, so if you own a Gear Fit, you won’t be able to pair it with the iPhone. The application simply does not detect the smartwatch, and you can’t get past the first step.
Not there just yet
But even if you do, there’s not much you’ll get. This version of the Samsung Gear Manager app for iOS is super similar to the one that got leaked a long time ago and which many of us already tested. The problem in both cases is that you’re still not getting the full Samsung Gear functionality for Android and some features are missing, such as options to delete emails from the smartwatch.
Additionally, the iOS app lacks significant customization options, such as faces, and if you previously purchased custom faces on Android, there’s no way to make them available on your iPhone.
For most people, that shouldn’t really be a problem, but on the other hand, it’s very clear that Android continues to be the best choice for those who want to make the most of their Samsung smartwatches. On iOS, Apple Watch continues to be the king, and Apple has its own ways to keep others away from its platform.
It remains to be seen if the full power of Samsung smartwatches will ever arrive on iPhones, but for the moment, the Samsung Gear S3 can’t become an Apple Watch killer on Apple’s own playground.
