The Tizen-based Samsung Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo smartwatches are here before the company’s phones (read: Galaxy S5), take over our attention completely. But one thing is sharply obvious when you look at the two launches; wearables like these have little reason to exist.
A smartwatch sucks up electricity even if minimal amounts and is just another gadget you need to remember to keep charged. So Samsung has tried to make its Gear 2 more useful than the predecessor. First off, the design has been changed a little so that the camera sits on the main body instead of the strap, giving it a more elegant look.
The Samsung Gear 2 and its Neo variant connect to (unnamed for now) Galaxy smartphones over Bluetooth v4.0 LE. But they can also be independent music players with no need of being hooked up to a handset as long as a Bluetooth headset is available. Just store your songs in the 4GB of onboard space and you’re good to go.
If you want to know what else is new about the smartwatch series apart from the shift from Android to Tizen, the 800MHz processor and 315mAh battery have been left out in favor of a 1GHz dual core chipset and a 300mAh battery. Plus, a 2MP camera replaces the 1.9MP one.
Samsung Gear 2 and Neo specfications:
– Tizen-based OS
– 1.63-inch, 320 x 320p S-AMOLED touchscreen
– Dual core 1GHz processor
– 2MP camera (only on Gear 2)
– Bluetooth v4.0 LE connectivity
– 512MB RAM, 4GB ROM
– IrLED for remote control function
– Standalone music player
– Health and fitness monitoring apps
– IP67-rated waterproof and dustproof
– 300mAh Li-ion battery
– 2 to 3 days of average use
– OR 6 days on low usage
– Gear 2: 68g, 36.9mm x 58.4mm x 10mm
– Gear 2 Neo: 55g, 37.9mm x 58.8mm x 10mm
No word on the price as yet, but the Samsung Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo are set to hit markets in April.