Right now every electronics company is trying to figure out what the special sauce is that will help it bring smartwatches to the wrists of mainstream consumers – last week, Motorola launched a new version of its Moto 360. Yet so far, no one has quite figured it out.
With the Gear S2, Samsung is giving it another go, starting with form factors that recall traditional watches and a few new interface touches to breathe life into what is already starting to feel like a well-trodden gadget.
The Gear S2 is actually a pair of watches, the S2 and the S2 Classic. The latter is a single 40mm watch with a glossy black finish, a knurled ceramic bezel, and a leather strap that can be swapped for any normal watch strap. The standard Gear S2 on the other hand is 42mm across, comes in silver or dark grey, and can only use special Samsung-compatible straps. Both sit nicely on the wrist, and the more modest sizes and round shapes are welcome changes from the chunky, rectangular design of the original Gear S.
Beyond the form factor, the biggest news with the Gear S2 is the rotating bezel.
You twist the bezel to navigate through menus and apps, and it has a slight clicking action to give you some feedback. You turn left for notifications and right to get into apps. It's really simple, and there are always the two buttons and the normal touchscreen interactions for additional functionality.
While most high-profile smartwatches from everyone – except Apple, of course – are running Android Wear software, the Gear S2 runs Samsung’s own Tizen operating system. If you are deeply tied into the Samsung ecosystem across your television, phone, and appliances, this might not be so bad. The Gear S2 is still compatible with almost any phone running Android version 4.4 KitKat or later (not just Samsung phones), so don’t worry if you do not have the latest Note 5.
That said, I wish this watch just ran Android Wear and dispensed with Samsung’s partially walled-garden philosophy. When it comes to all things mobile, more connectivity, more compatibility, and more universal interactions never hurt.
Q&A
What’s the battery life like?
For all the hand-wringing over smartwatch battery life, charging it overnight seems pretty much a requisite these days. Samsung says the S2 can last two to three days on a charge, but we will have to see how it performs in the wild. With a quote like this, though, you should be covered for at least that first full day. To charge the S2, you drop it into a wireless charging cradle.
How does it fare in the connectivity stakes?
All the S2 models include Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, There will also be a special edition to come with built-in 3G, too.
Doesn’t Tizen have a smaller app ecosystem than some competitors?
Yes but Samsung says there will be about 1,000 apps when the watch launches, including all the usual stuff such Uber and Twitter, plus proprietary fitness tracking software S Health. There are also special watch faces for the S2, numbering 26 in all. These range from the simple to a few that integrate with apps such as ESPN to show sports scores or Bloomberg to keep up with stocks.
When can I get my hands on one and for how much?
The Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic will go on sale in the US in early October. Samsung isn't offering any more information, including what they will cost.
business@thenational.ae
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