Samsung’s latest wearable features a circular shape, rotating bezel, and the ability to make phone calls independent from a smartphone.
The device comes in two basic models: the Gear S2 has a simpler, more modern look, while the Gear S2 Classic has a more traditional appearance. Both feature a 1.2-inch circular AMOLED screen with 360 by 360 pixels. The Gear S2 is powered by a dual-core 1.0GHz processor and has 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage. Samsung says the 250mAh battery provides up to two days of battery life.
Connectivity includes Bluetooth, NFC, and WiFi, and internal sensors include an accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate monitor, ambient light, and barometer for tracking movement and otherl conditions. The Gear S2 runs Samsung’s Tizen operating system and comes with a handful of tools for managing email, messaging, calendar appointments, and weather. Other functions include voice commands, S Health and Nike+ Running apps, a media player, and photo gallery.
The Gear S2 is also available in a 3G variant with the ability to make calls and handle limited data when not around a smartphone. The 3G version has a larger 300mAh battery and a thicker chassis than the Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic. T-Mobile was the first U.S. carrier to voice support for the 3G version of the watch.
For $5 per month (when added to a phone plan), Gear S2 owners will be able to make unlimited calls, send unlimited messages, and use 500MB of data from their smartwatch. Pricing and availability were not disclosed.
