Watches look best when they’re round. At least, that’s the way Samsung sees it. Their new Gear S2 smartwatch has been unveiled here at IFA. There’s going to be two versions, including one with 3G connectivity baked in.
The specs include a 1.2” Super AMOLED 360×360 circular screen at 302ppi, a dual-core 1 GHz CPU and it’ll be running the Tizen OS.
The watch will have 4GB of on-board storage and 512MB of RAM. It also has WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC and it’s IP68 certified dust and water resistant. Expect wireless charging and a typical 2 day usage.
Navigation comes via a rotating bezel which, when used with the Home and Back buttons, means you can zip through the applications and notifications quickly.
The watch is available as the “Gear S2 classic” with a genuine leather band and matching black finish. The “Gear S2” has a fresher, modern design for the more “on-the-go” customer.
Conor Pierce, Vice President, IT & Mobile Division, Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland, tells us..
The Samsung Gear S2 (is) the first-ever watch with voice capability and a host of connected features like being able to make calls without the need for a smartphone. You’ll want to wear it from day to night as the ultimate fashion accessory.
We don’t have pricing at the moment but they will be showing off these devices in a couple of days in Berlin.
Measuring in at 11.4mm, there’s notifications for emails, calendars appointments, news and you can send texts too. For added Knight Rider-style functionality, the 3G version has an e-SIM so you can speak into your phone.
Both devices also pack in lots of fitness functionality with a heart rate monitor and motivational reminders. It’ll track your fitness and produce daily reports on how you’re doing. Not only that, but the NFC functionality means that you can also potentially pay for a sports drink without having your wallet too.
SAMSUNG UNVEILS CIRCULAR SMARTWATCH – THE SAMSUNG GEAR S2
Latest Samsung Gear features a circular design for the ultimate intuitive wearable experience
LONDON, UK – 1st September, 2015 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced the Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch, the company’s latest offering in the wearables category.
The Samsung Gear S2 comes in a versatile, circular design with an intuitive, custom UX and advanced features that allows users to enhance and personalise their mobile experience.
The Gear S2’s unique rotating bezel, along with the Home and Back buttons, ensures people will have a quicker, more precise method to comfortably access notifications and applications.
Available as two different options – the Gear S2 and the Gear S2 classic – Samsung has designed the Gear S2 to appeal to a wide range of people. The Gear S2 classic is made for those who prefer a more timeless watch design, offering an elegant black finish with a matching genuine leather band. The Gear S2 is ideal for those who are on-the-go and want a smartwatch with a minimal and more modern design.
“Samsung has pioneered and led the wearables category over the last few years, bringing exciting new innovations into the market,” said Conor Pierce, Vice President, IT & Mobile Division, Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland. “The Samsung Gear S2 is the most exciting smartwatch to date and offers customers a completely new wearable experience. With an incredibly vibrant screen, it’s the first-ever watch with voice capability and a host of connected features like being able to make calls without the need for a smartphone. You’ll want to wear it from day to night as the ultimate fashion accessory.”
At 11.4-millimeter thin, the Samsung Gear S2 brings a light and compact design to your wrist. It offers an incredibly vibrant viewing experience for a smartwatch, thanks to its 1.2-inch circular screen and its 360 x 360 resolution (302 ppi). The applications on the Gear S2 can be viewed with amazing clarity so that users don’t miss notification pop-ups. Also, with the latest Tizen OS and an optimized 1-GHz dual core processor, the Samsung Gear S2 can perform tasks easily and efficiently.
Users can stay connected with at-a-glance notifications to check calendars, e-mails, news and can even send important texts directly from their wrist. Users can choose the Gear S2 with 3G connectivity which incorporates the first-ever e-SIM with voice capability, to perform quick functions without being closely tethered to their phone.
New fitness functions on the Samsung Gear S2 will encourage consumers to stay healthy and active. The 24-hour activity log lets users view daily activity progress and patterns at a glance. It will also send reminder updates to motivate users to stay on track with their fitness goals.
For the ultimate convenience, the Samsung Gear S2 comes with NFC technology which will enable mobile payments without the need for a wallet. Samsung is working with a wide selection of partners across different industries to expand the usability of wearables and streamline consumers’ mobile lives in a variety of ways, including smart car keys, residential room keys, and remote controls to manage a connected home.
All of these connected features will be supported by a battery that can last up to 2-3 days, allowing consumers to stay connected without the hassle of constantly having to recharge. To charge, simply place the Samsung Gear S2 on the wireless charging dock right out of the box.
The Samsung Gear S2 reflects Samsung’s commitment to openly collaborate with developers and partners to bring increased customization and applications to its devices. Samsung is working closely with partners to offer a range of watch faces and watch bands so users can pick the design that best suits their style. Users can easily change the band with one click, and change the watch face for a more personalised Gear experience.
A variety of apps optimised for the Gear S2’s circular user interface will be available at launch. Through open collaboration with developers and partners, Samsung is continuing to enrich its wearable ecosystem and provide users with a more optimized and unique smart wearable experience.
The Samsung Gear S2 will be available in a Dark Gray case with a Dark Gray band and Silver case with a White band. The Samsung Gear S2 classic will be available in a Black case with a Leather band.
The Samsung Gear S2 and Gear S2 classic will be showcased for full media hands-on and more applications will be demonstrated with partners at Tempodrum, Berlin on 3 September.
