Samsung’s first smartwatch, the Galaxy Gear failed to excite critics. Many criticised its poor battery life and lack of connectivity.
At the time, we said: “Nothing in the Samsung Galaxy Gear justifies the £299 price tag and the fact that it’s utterly dependent on the Galaxy Note means that to have a companion to your Galaxy device you’re looking at over £500 for the pair.”
Even with the expansion of compatible devices, it was still lacking.
Can Samsung turn that around with the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch?
This is an article about the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch. We’ll be rounding up all the latest news and rumours about the handset in the run up to its unveiling next year.
Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch: Specs
Most of what has been reported on the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch has been around the features that we’re likely to see.
The most likely of all the rumours is an increase in the list of compatible devices. Samsung shot itself in the foot by limiting the smartwatch to Samsung Galaxy smartphone and tablet owners.
While they’re numerous, they aren’t the only ones out there.
Sony previously said that companies have only one opportunity to get their smartwatch one a person’s wrist. If someone else gets there first, you’ll never get that wrist.
Locking the device down to your own smartphones puts up a barrier to that. Don’t be too surprised to see the next Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 being compatible with most Android smartphones.
If it is smart, Samsung will also make a play for iPhone owners and look to snap up iPhone and iPad owners’ wrists before Apple’s often delayed iWatch finally turns up.
As for other features, there are reports that Samsung will be putting a GPS chip into the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch. A GPS chip would be a welcome addition and would open up a raft of new possibilities for app makers.
We’d also expect a battery battery. 25 hours is not enough. We expect to be able to use the device without charging it for at least three days, similar to the Sony Smartwatch 2, but even that realistically is too often.
Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch: Price
The £299 price tag stung – even more so when you took into account that you can only use it if you have a Samsung smartphone.
Don’t be surprised if Samsung looks to either cut the price in the next version, or cram as many new features into it to justify the price.
Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch: Design
The Galaxy Gear 2 will feature a new slimmer design according to one Samsung exec who claims that the new smart watch will boast an all-new appearance to contradict the 'bulky' design of the original.
There's no word on whether this means there will be a change in design to the software as well but if leaked screenshots of TouchWiz are anything to go by then the Galaxy Gear 2 could sport a brand-new look both in terms of the hardware and the software.
Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch: Launch
The Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 will launch alongside the new Galaxy S5 according to Samsung Mobile vice president Lee Young Hee who, in an interview with Bloomberg, confirmed that the smart watch would launch the same time as the much-anticipated flagship smartphone.
“We’ve been announcing our first flagship model in the first half of each year, around March and April, and we are still targeting for release around that time. When we release our S5 device, you can also expect a Gear successor with more advanced functions, and the bulky design will also be improved.”
