Samsung Smartwatch To Compete With Apple's? Gear S2 Offers Must-Have Features & Specs


Samsung smartwatch was officially announced, and many tech savvies believe that the Gear S2 can go up against Apple's best-selling wearables.

It was revealed in the press release, made just days before the IFA, that the Samsung smartwatch comes in two variants — the regular Gear S2 (sporty model) and the Gear S2 classic, which has a black leather band.

What does this new gadget have to offer? Check out the list of features and specs below.

1. Rigged with NFC

The near field communication (NFC) technology allows the device to be used for contactless payment. Samsung Pay will reportedly be available in the United States and South Korea soon.

Other than the new Samsung smartwatch Gear 2, Galaxy Note 5, Glaxy S6 Edge + and Galaxy S6 Edge and S6+ have this feature.

2. Longer Battery Life

The battery life is actually dependent on the type of usage, but it has been reported that Apple Watch's battery life can range between 18 up to 24 hours.

Samsung is claiming that the Gear S2's can range from 48 to 72 hours, The Verge learned.

3. 3G Connectivity

Unlike other smartwatches, which have to be connected to a mobile handset, the Gear S2 can reportedly work on its own without being tethered to a smartphone, CNBC reported.

Recent reports suggest that customers will have the option to purchase a Gear S2 with 3G connectivity feature. Both with and without the 3G connectivity will include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1.

4. Display & Bezel

Samsung smartwatch sports a 1.2-inch, round AMOLED display at a resolution of 360x360 pixels. The new watch was reportedly rated at IP68 dust and water resistant, according to Wired.

It was also reported that one way to control the watch using the rotating bezel. Although, it also has home and back buttons.

5. Other Features

Heart rate tracker is one of the features in the new Samsung smartwatch. It was noted that Gear S2 would have a 24-hour activity log for fitness progression monitoring.

Of course, texts, calendars and emails are there too. As for 3G compatible models, online reports suggest that voice calls are allowed.

Tech critics are convinced that the only downside of Samsung's new gadget is its software, Tizen, which believed to be way behind Android's and Apple's. The company has reportedly been working with the OS developer to expand its ecosystem.

Samsung smartwatch's pricing, market release and more details about its functionality are expected to be unveiled during the IFA event on Thursday.

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