Though since release it's arguably been outshone by the circular styling's of the Moto 360 and LG G Watch R, while the premium Apple Watch is also turning heads.īeing able to change the straps will be a real boon to some users, but I quite like the straps that match. The screw holes might have disappeared, which is something of a shame given than added to its premium industrial design, but it's still got a very sleek look to it. The contrast ratio of the OLED screen means if you're doing something like timing your food, checking out how many steps you've taken or just flicking through music, it looks really nice and is a pleasant experience on something you've spent so much money on.ĭesign-wise I'm a real fan of what Samsung has done with the Gear 2 - it's hard to fault the industrial design that won plaudits in its last iteration from jewellers. It's not great if you're trying to do anything with high res images, such as pictures or similar, but it's fine for any snaps you've taken using the Gear 2. The screen, a 1.63-inch OLED affair, is excellent too. ![]() The Sony Smartwatch 2 and the Pebble Steel are both better devices in terms of size, but Samsung's mixture of industrial design and more refined elements (like the camera and IR blaster integration) still brings an element of premium quality to proceedings. It's hard to explain, but the fact the strap is now a separate piece to the main body of the watch has forced Samsung to refine the design of things like the camera and the home button. The design of the Gear 2 is very similar to the first iteration of Samsung's smartwatches, but still manages to come with its own sense of unique style. Not to mention the fact that there are now Android Wear devices such as the Moto 360 and even Samsung's own Gear Live, which command lower price tags - or the Gear S which packs GPS and its own SIM slot. The battery life is improved massively, the Gear 2 can splash around in water and dust thanks to being IP67 rated and comes in a range of nicer colours (rose gold and silver) and is generally a much better device - but is it worth the still-high price tag Samsung is commanding, especially when the Gear 2 Neo (the same smartwatch made out of inferior materials and dropping the camera) is so much cheaper? To alleviate that reason for purchase, Samsung has decided to add in some fitness ability with the Gear 2 in the shape of a refined pedometer and a heart rate monitor, as well as exercise tracking so you can run, walk, hike or cycle. The reason is simple: while the Gear 2 is a cool thing to have (Samsung doesn't want it being known as an accessory, rather a standalone device) it still struggles to have a real use case, which is why dropping that much money can be a hard sell to consumers still getting to grips with spending so much on a smartphone. That's close to the cost the original emerged at, and it suffered thanks to that price tag. ![]() While it's managed to bring in some key specs and improve the design somewhat, the Gear 2 is still a rather expensive smartwatch, coming in at £250 ($295, AU$350). You will need a compatible Samsung device in order to use the Gear 2, of which there are currently at least 18, including the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Alpha, though surprisingly the Galaxy Note 4 isn't currently listed as officially supported. It's also now imbued with an infra-red blaster, meaning you can control your TV and set top box from the comfort of your own wrist. This means that you can now change straps on your Galaxy Gear, which is one of the main disadvantages we noted in the original.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |