Samsung has launched its new Gear S2 smartwatch ahead of the IFA technology trade show
in Berlin, stepping up its game against the much-hyped Apple Watch with a new circular design and 3G connectivity.
Samsung teased the new device last week, with the company’s head of design for America, Dennis Miloseski, posting an image of himself wearing the Gear S2 on his personal Instagram account, saying he was taking it for a “test drive”
Now Samsung has confirmed that the device will come in two different versions – the Gear S2 with a minimal and modern design, and the Gear S2 Classic for people who prefer a “timeless” watch design. Both have a rotating bezel, along with “Home” and “Back” buttons, for easier access to notifications and applications.
At 11.4mm thick, the Gear S2 is slimmer than some of its round-faced smartwatch rivals, like the Moto 360 and LG Watch Urbane, suggesting it will lie flatter on the wrist. It also has a 1.2-inch circular screen with a 360 x 360 resolution (302 ppi).
Both devices feature a 1 GHz dual core processor and run on the company’s Tizen operating system, rather than Google’s Android Wear software. This means they will only be compatible with other Samsung devices.
The watch will provide notifications of calendar appointments, emails and news, and users can also send texts directly from their wrist thanks to in-built 3G connectivity. It will also allow for mobile payments, activity tracking, smart car keys and remote control of home devices.
Samsung claims the Gear S2’s battery can last from two to three days, and features wireless charging. The Samsung Gear S2 will be available in a dark grey case with a dark grey band and silver case with a white band. The Samsung Gear S2 classic will be available in a black case with a leather band.
you can now get one for yourself
