After 2013’s Gear and last year’s Gear S, Samsung has finally made its mark when it comes to smartwatches with its latest smart wearable, the Gear S2.
After the previous version of the wearable device didn’t exactly generated the hype that the Korean tech giant was expecting, it has finally made a bold move to reshape its vision of a smartwatch.
According to The Australian, the Korean manufacturer has finally nailed its perfect smartwatch thanks to its decision to ditch Android Wear and replace it with Tizen.
Tizen is an open-source operating system wherein Samsung also played a major role in its development. The Samsung Gear S2 does not only changes how a smartwatch operates and is used, it also gives its competitor, the Apple Watch, some significant advantages.
The Gear S2 still looks like a typical Android watch with a round screen and also works with non-Samsung phones. Basically, the Gear S2 is setting itself to be a device of its own category and not just an accessory for the brand’s flagship smartphones.
It comes with a durable stainless steel body and watch bands that can be customized. It also comes in different colors and style with Samsung even partnering with Alessandro Mendini to bring his taste of humor and sense of color to the device.
Released earlier this month, The Gear S2 sports a 1.2-inch 360×360 AMOLED display with a pixel density of 302 pixels per inch. It is powered by a 1.0 Gigahertz dual core processor and is IP68 certified.
The successor of the Gear S is apparently dust-resistant and Samsung claims that it can also immerse in shallow water. It packs 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage.
The device comes in three variants: Gear S2, Gear S2 Classic, and Gear S2 3G. The Gear S2 is priced at $350 while the Gear S2 Classic is priced at $400. The Gear S2 3G, which will be unveiled towards the end of the year, is estimated to cost a little over $450 while the price for watch bands ranges from $59 to $89.
PC Mag reports that the smartwatch is finally coming to T-Mobile and Verizon next month. Verizon customers can now pre-order the $349.99 wearable, which will be available for online purchase starting November 6.
However, if users will add the new two-year activation upgrade, they can get the watch for only $299.99, but will entail them to shell out $5 a month for their Gear S2 wireless account.
For T-Mobile customers, they can get the smartwatch on November 15 for $359.99 unlocked. If they wish to add the device to their current phone plan, all they have to do is add $5 per month and they can already call, tweet, and email on the go with unlimited talk, text, and data.
It pairs up with Android phones that have a Gigahertz processor and run at least Android 4.4 KitKat. For non-Samsung phone users, downloading the Samsung Gear app is required to be able to use the device. The smartwatch allows Android enthusiasts to upload 1GB and up to 200 images.
The resolution gives a bright and easy to read texts and an appropriate font and font size. The device is packed with a 250 mAH lithium battery. All variants of the device can run on wireless charging.
According to reviews, the smartwatch can last more than 28 hours on a single charge. When the battery is almost drained, the Gear S2 automatically switches to a lower power mode
One of the best things users love about Samsung’s wearable device is the bezel. Along with its great user interface, the bezel rotates very well.
Rotate it clockwise, or swipe it to the left and you can access your smartphone’s apps and upcoming events. Twist the bezel or swipe it to the right and the notifications will pop-up.