Following the IFA show held in Berlin, Samsung showcased its Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic smartwatches that sport an improved look, interface, and functionality. Samsung's latest line of smartwatches come with an innovative rotating bezel interface and offer Samsung Pay.
In the past, Samsung experienced problems in terms of product style and design. However, its 2015 Galaxy S6 and now its Gear S2 and Gear S2 classic smartwatches are changing customers' perceptions on the company's products. The new Samsung smartwatches are believed to be the Korean company's response to the Apple Watch and similar devices by Huawei, LG, and Motorola.
The Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic do away with bulky, square displays and stick to a more traditional design. Tech Radar reports that the smartwatches were designed to become more like a fashion accessory with its smaller round screen.
Samsung's Gear S2 has a sporty vibe with its minimalist design and rubberized band. It comes in gray and silver colors. On the other hand, the Gear S2 Classic looks more formal and timeless with its gray casing and leather strap.
Aside from the sleek design, what is revolutionary in these two Samsung smartwatches are its intuitive interface according to Digital Trends. Samsung created an original interface designed specifically for the Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic, the rotating bezel which helps navigation in a limited screen space. The bezel is discreet and can be controlled with taps and twists. It rivals Apple's Digital Crown and Google's swipe and voice controls.
This new interface, which matches the shape of the screen, works like a clock. The user can twist clockwise and counterclockwise to bring up widgets, navigate the app menu, and zoom in on apps. There are also two buttons on the side of the watch that act as back buttons for easier navigation.
Another feature unique to the Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic is the use of Samsung Pay through NFC. It means that the watches can be used for payment purposes. However, it only works with Samsung phones. Yet, the company says that the smartwatches are compatible with Android phones running Android KitKat and higher versions although some features like Samsung Pay will not be available.
Both the Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic have the same connectivity options and a 250 mAh battery. SamMobile compared the two smartwatches' specifications and features. The Samsung smartwatches have a 1.2" circular Super AMOLED main display with 360 x 360 resolution, 512 MB RAM, Bluetooth v4.1 and WiFi connectivity, and an Exynos processor. Other features include dust and water resistance and sensors such as barometer, accelerometer, heart rate, and gyroscope.
Rumors on the selling price of the Gear S2 say that the smartwatch will be sold in US stores for $350 on October. Meanwhile, the Gear S2 Classic smartwatch is said to cost $503 or 449 euros in the German market.
Join the Conversation