When the patent war between Apple and Samsung was in full swing, a picture was circulating on the Internet. On the left were Samsung smartphones before the release of the iPhone, in the middle were the iPhone 2G, and on the right were Samsung smartphones that came out after the iPhone and were suspiciously similar to it. History, though to a lesser extent, repeated itself with tablets. But by the time Apple introduced the Watch to the world, the situation had changed.
Many companies have released "smart" watches, and not even one, Google wrote an OS for them, and Samsung, among the pioneers, experimented and fantasized about design and filling. The Koreans adapted the Tizen operating system to work with watches and, like Apple later, banned the watch from working with competitors' smartphones. And then, finally, the Apple watch appeared, which some called a breakthrough, others - a failure. Six months later, Samsung responded with the Gear S2 smartwatch.
You've probably seen the presentation of the Gear S2 - aluminum case, round display, digital bezel. I also remember the round icons a la you-know-who, but conversations about copying and stealing ideas did not go further. Samsung's new watches are very different from the competition, both on WatchOS and Android Wear. But to understand this, you need to use them.
| Samsung Gear S2 | Samsung Gear S | Apple Watch | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | Super AMOLED, 1.2 ″, 360 × 360 (302 ppi) | Super AMOLED, 2.0 ″, 360 × 480 (300 ppi) | AMOLED, 1.5 ″, 272 × 340 (290 ppi) / 1.65 ″, 312 × 390 (304 ppi) | ||
| CPU | 2 cores @ 1 GHz | 2 cores @ 1 GHz | Apple S1, 1 core @ 520 MHz | ||
| Strap | removable, leather / polymer | removable, silicone | removable, leather / polymer / metal | ||
| Communication modules | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G (Not for Russia) | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | ||
| Protection | IP68 | IP67 | Not | ||
| Microphone | Yes | ||||
| Compatibility | Samsung devices running Android 4.3 and an extensive list of devices running Android 4.4 | Samsung devices running Android 4.3 and newer | IOS 8.3 and newer devices | ||
| Operating system | Tizen | Tizen | watchOS | ||
| Battery capacity | 250 mAh | 300 mAh | 205 mAh | ||
| Dimensions (edit) | 40 x 44 x 11.4 mm | 40 x 58 x 12.5 mm | 42 x 36 x 10.5 mm | ||
| Weight | 47 g | 83 g | 30 g | ||
| Price | 20,990 rubles | 16 790 rubles | 27 990 rubles | ||
There are four versions of Gear S2 - regular and Classic, each can be with or without 3G. Classic is encased in a 316L stainless steel case, the bezel is ribbed on the edges, and if you add 3G to this, the battery will increase from 250 to 300 mAh, the device will add 3 g in weight and 2 mm in thickness. But in Russia, Gear S2 3G will not be on sale, and therefore we will focus on the usual Gear S2 (sometimes they are called Sport) - they came to us for review.
⇡ Design and ergonomics
The case is protected according to the IP68 standard, the plastic back is screwed to the aluminum "body" with four screws. The display is slightly recessed and covered with Gorilla Glass. The watch is perfectly assembled and, despite the polymer strap and general plasticity, leaves the feeling of an expensive product.
The regular S2 has a non-ribbed bezel, which is bad. To twist the ring is the first and quite natural desire of anyone who gets acquainted with the device. Well, the bezel rotates perfectly if you hold it by the edges, and it gets stuck if you press from above. On Classic everything is clear, but here there is a chance to be disappointed, or even break out of ignorance.
S2 can be controlled not only with the bezel, but also through the touch screen, as well as the buttons on the end: "Back" and "Home". Between them is a small hole for a microphone, which, due to its location, is likely to quickly get clogged with dirt. Another problem is the strap attachment. If, while removing the backpack, touch the watch with a strap, the fasteners will unfasten. And this is already completely unpleasant - to drop or lose an expensive watch.
When the Gear S2 is still held on the hand, there are no problems with them. The size and shape do not interfere with either the wrist or the sleeves, the design does not shout with the brightness of colors - in general, while the display is off, you just have a stylish, pleasantly heavy watch on your wrist.
⇡ Display
When the display is turned on for the first time, it becomes clear that, despite the small size and not the highest density of dots, this is the best display among those that are generally put on a "smart" watch. It's all about Super AMOLED: it's not just bright - the brightest colors and really black blacks. Moreover, the same Super AMOLED on a smartphone, Edge +, for example, is good, but not so good. Perhaps it's the bright backlight. Well, it's just that AMOLED matrices look much more appropriate in watches than anything else. Black is very important here - it is the background of the system menu and all standard applications.
The size of the display is sufficient - not a competitor to the Moto 360, of course, but with what the watch can do it is convenient to work. And they can do a lot.
⇡ System and interaction with it
"Smart" watches can do more and more - this is no longer a fitness bracelet and not just a second screen of a smartphone. Of course, there is still room to grow, and now the best representatives of the industry are somewhat independent, but they can only do something with the help of a smartphone. Samsumg Gear S2, in general, belongs to these very best representatives. But I would like to start with something else.
Samsung says the Gear S2 works with any smartphone running Android 4.4 and up. It is not true. Firstly, the companion application can be easily installed on Galaxy backgrounds from 4.3. Secondly - and this is not so much fun - the attempt to pair the watch with the Meizu m1 note ended sadly - the device on Android 4.4.4 KitKat is not supported. So be careful and look at the compatibility plate: there are many smartphones, but there are no Meizu devices at all.
In addition, some features, such as S Voice, only work with Samsung smartphones. But there are also pluses - in addition to the classic Bluetooth connection, there is synchronization via the Internet. You connect the watch via Wi-Fi, and the phone - how convenient: the main thing is not to close the application - and the functions of sending notifications, albeit with a delay, will work. A good idea, which, however, could not be used during the test.
When you lift the watch to look at it, the screen lights up. It works ten, even eleven out of ten times: the screen lights up with any more or less significant wave of the hand - especially annoying while driving, but this is nit-picking.
The organization of the menu is outrageously simple and convenient. You can switch between screens with gestures or by turning the bezel. The screens themselves are applications, built-in and downloaded, and a menu from which you can get to the list of applications, contacts and settings. Screens can be added, removed and swapped. Let's say S Health is more important to you than contacts, and you don't need a calendar at all. You get into the settings, move S Health closer to the top of the list (by default, the main screen is occupied by the clock application), contacts - somewhere to the end, and you remove the calendar completely. It will remain on the device, but it will be possible to get there only through the menu with all installed applications.
As mentioned earlier, the main screen, a kind of starting point for the system, is the "clock". A long press on the dial opens a menu where you can select and customize their appearance. In general, there are a lot of dials, but there are twenty round ones. Some display heart rate, distance traveled, and other activities. The new skins can be downloaded via the companion app.
Swiping to the right of the "clock" opens the notification ribbon - it combines information received from the phone and the "news" of installed applications. You can reply to messages from social networks, managers or SMS from the watch using emoticons, ready-made phrases like "I'll call you back later" or S Voice. The latter allows you to dictate any text, but only works with Samsung smartphones. As a last resort, you can type the text the old fashioned way - there is a numeric keypad with letters: pressed four times on "7" - got "S". Anachronistic, inconvenient, but still better than QWERTY on the same screen.
There are more than enough built-in applications. In addition to the aforementioned calendar and clock, there is "Weather", alarm clock, music, timer and stopwatch, calls and messages, as well as contacts and a whole set of utilities for physical activity, which deserves special attention. The S2 comes preloaded with Nike Running and S Health. The first is simple and likely familiar running software, interesting primarily for branded features like sensor compatibility under the soles of Nike sneakers. The second is much more entertaining. Firstly, the entire system is filled with S Health “branches”: a pedometer, a heart rate monitor and even a water meter are placed on separate screens, but, in fact, are part of a single whole. Secondly, the application itself is able not only to collect information, but also to suggest training programs. There are a great many of them, however, you need to connect a smartphone. And thirdly, activity is automatically detected - in other words, the watch distinguishes between walking and running, which eliminates the need to manually start a workout. They do, but not always. If you walk fast enough, the watch starts "running" and starts to cheer you up with vibration and the phrase "Keep it up!" On the one hand, it inspires, on the other hand, the screen does not go out in this state and eats a lot of the battery.
Another nuisance - for some reason, the volume control through the "Music" application is very late. At the same time, other functions like pause work without delay.
The companion app for the most part duplicates the settings available on the watch and links them to the app store. Samsung promises tons of programs, but so far there are very few of them, and those that are promoted inside the store are not popular or are simply useless in Russia. The companion has settings for notifications, sync, and gesture controls. It can also make the watch vibrate and blink the screen to find it. The same can be done in the opposite direction if you have lost your phone.
Last year, we all saw the release of a new generation of smartwatches from Samsung called the Galaxy Gear. Naturally, smartwatches from one of the leading companies aroused unprecedented interest, which quickly subsided. But Samsung took this fact with dignity and immediately set to work on the new device, and the result was the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo.
general information
The Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch went on sale in February 2014. Samsung has taken into account all the mistakes of the past, heeded the claims and wishes of consumers, and released a truly noteworthy product. We will talk about it in our review.
Specifications
Manufacturer: Samsung
CPU
Battery
- Capacity, mAh: 300
- Working time, days: up to 4
Physical parameters
- Weight, g: 66 g
- Detachable strap: yes
- Dimensions: 37 × 58 × 10 mm
Additionally
- Protection against water, shock: yes
- Music player control: yes
- NFC: no data
- Price, $: from 399
Appearance
All Samsung products boast impeccable designs, and the Gear 2 is no exception. Externally, the watch is comparable to Asus' ZenWatch, and surpasses all other options on offer. The exterior of the Gear 2 has become an improved and refined variation of the Galaxy Gear - the Home button has been added, located between the display and the strap, the case itself has become sleeker and thinner, and the strap has been replaced with a removable one.
Screen
The characteristics of the screen, when compared with the previous generation of smartwatches from Samsung, have not changed - all the same 1.63 inches and a resolution of 320x320. The watch cover is made of a special material that is resistant to damage and scratches. In general, the display is very good - excellent color reproduction and wide viewing angles. It is believed that the Samsung Gear 2's screen is by far the best thing to expect from a smartwatch.
Functions
Samsung Gear 2 does not have as wide functionality as Iconbit Callisto 100, since it is not a standalone gadget and, unlike the later model Samsung Galaxy Gear S, requires a connection to the phone. However, the Gear 2 bypasses all other smartwatch options in terms of the number of features. With this watch, you can answer calls, take photos, control your music player, count your steps and measure your heart rate. The operating system on which the Gear 2 smartwatch runs is called Tizen and was created by Samsung in conjunction with Intel. This OS is based on the Linux kernel and is quite easy to use.
Video
Outcomes
If the previous version of Samsung's smartwatch was a kind of engineering experiment, the Gear 2 smartwatch has become a full-fledged, competitive product. Samsung will have to compete with tough rivals such as Motorola, LG and Apple, so any miss in the early days of the watch market could be fatal. Of course, the price of the Gear 2 smartwatch is a bit overpriced, but Samsung took care of this and created a decent alternative - the Gear Neo with stripped-down functionality at a lower price.
Summing up, I must say that the Samsung Gear 2 smartwatch turned out to be successful, perfectly balanced and worthy of the user's attention. Therefore, if you have to choose a smartwatch and by a happy coincidence you have a smartphone from Samsung at your disposal, we recommend that you choose the Gear 2 or Gear Neo.
Gear 2 Neo is a great opportunity for Samsung to remind you of how high-quality technology it is capable of producing. In recent years, the company had many different models of smartphones and so on, but people with might and main compared their products with "apple", and nothing boded about progress. Nevertheless, Samsung announced a new smart watch Gear, and then their brother Gear 2 Neo. It was a real triumph. Why?
The uniqueness of smart watches
The Samsung Gear 2 Neo is a vastly improved version of the original watch. They not only look stylish, but also have a huge range of different functions. Such a watch will not replace the usual smartphone, but it will greatly expand the user's capabilities. The main idea behind the production of such gadgets is the ability to always be connected to your smartphone and control everything that happens in it.
Basic configuration
When ordering Samsung Gear 2 Neo online, the user will receive his watch in a box made in a wooden style. Starting with the Samsung Galaxy S4, the manufacturer releases its gadgets in exactly this package. It looks interesting and soundly.
Opening the package, you will see this miracle of engineering - a stylish watch packed in a protective film. In addition to them, the box contains a charger with a micro-USB connector, instructions in Russian and a charging unit. There are many negative reviews about the latter on the Internet, since it is a one-piece charger, and for connecting, say, to a computer, you cannot find a cable in the package bundle. This is frustrating.
Dimensions (edit)
Externally, the Samsung Gear 2 Neo watch is very similar to its predecessor. But this is only at first glance. The watch has become much lighter - only 55 grams. Many reviews on the internet claim that this 13-gram difference is quite noticeable.
The dimensions have slightly increased to 37.9x58.8x10 mm, but they are more graceful and look neater.
Appearance
First of all, the Samsung Gear 2 Neo has interchangeable straps, from which the electronics have been removed. The bracelet is now easy to adjust. Moreover, the manufacturer took care of a fairly wide palette of body colors, which undoubtedly only increased their rating in the eyes of buyers.
In addition, this model of smart watches from Samsung has once again proved that the company listens to its users, because many shortcomings of past gadgets have been taken into account and corrected. We are talking about the location of the function button, which has moved to the front panel, which greatly simplified its use.
Do not forget that although the watch still has a metal insert, there are many soft-touch details in the case.
Display
It is more common to call the display a dial, because we are talking about a watch. The dimensions of this part of the gadget are no less than 1.63 inches. This is sufficient for normal operation. And if we take into account the resolution of 320 x 320 pixels, then the question of the comfort of use disappears by itself.
Thanks to the oleophobic coating, the finger glides easily on the Super AMOLED screen. The screen itself is bright enough and does not darken in the sun.
Some body parts
If you continue to look at the front of the watch, then an infrared blaster is clearly visible above the screen. What is it for? This is a universal remote control for various appliances in the house. This thing works at a distance of four meters.
Under the screen, as mentioned earlier, the Home button has found its place. It is needed in order to block the clock and use some other software functions.
On the back of the Samsung Gear 2 Neo, you can clearly see the contacts for charging the watch, an optical sensor called a heart rate monitor, and, of course, a logo with additional information about the gadget.
On one side you can find a microphone, and on the other - a speaker, the benefits of which we will talk about later.
Interface
Since there are not enough buttons in the device, the basic principle of working with it is based on visual gestures, or, more simply, to work, you need to slide your finger to the right or to the left. A downward movement takes you to the menu, and a double tap with two fingers at once allows you to see the battery charge and connection.
The notifications on the Samsung Gear 2 Neo have earned a lot of love as they arrive promptly and loudly enough. And in principle, thanks to its own well-thought-out operating system and a Dual Core Exynos 1 GHz processor, the device is very smart and responsive.
As for the function of talking on the phone, the sensitivity of the microphone is enough to do it while driving. There is no need to bring the watch to your face.
Player
The Samsung Gear 2 Neo smart watch has a fairly large amount of memory at its disposal, namely 4 GB. This place can accommodate a number of music tracks and help brighten up any gray days. In order for the music to "migrate" directly to the gadget, you need to connect the latter to a docking station, and it, in turn, through a separately purchased cable, to a computer or other music storage. By the way, you can find all the music in the watch with just one touch to the corresponding widget.
Battery
What's a Samsung Gear 2 Neo review without talking about its battery? But it was she who caused the most delight among users. Why? The reason for this was its ability to hold a charge for several days under active load! If you use the watch for its intended purpose, then the battery will be more than enough for almost a week.
According to reviews, the most "gluttonous" watch is the player. So music lovers should stock up on an external battery in order to "feed" their gadget in time. By the way, a full charge takes an hour.
Sports assistant
One of the most popular functions of smartwatches can rightfully be considered a pedometer. He fairly accurately counts not only the number, but also the speed of your steps. In tandem with a heart rate sensor that reads information through the wrist, you can safely start calculating the calories you burn. The only aspect where smartwatches won't help is running, as the Samsung Gear 2 Neo doesn't have a GPS system.
Minuses
In addition to incomplete complete set, several points can be attributed to the obvious disadvantages:
- Speakerphone. It's nice that the microphone is sensitive enough, but you won't be able to talk for hours in a crowded place, because no matter what you are told, others will hear it.
- Only Samsung. The trouble is that the Samsung Gear 2 Neo is only compatible with devices of the same brand. No, you can connect other devices, but the weather, messages and other functions are simply absent and the watch becomes exclusively a fitness assistant and player.
- Alerts. This is a rather controversial issue, but if you receive an alert with a long content, then the clock will simply not show its end.
- You cannot install third-party applications. Although this point should also be attributed to compatibility. True, some go for tricks - connecting root-rights and so on. But we're talking about a gadget that you want to use without worrying about anything!
Dignity
Of course, I want to talk about the advantages more than about the disadvantages. It's worth starting with the software. What is special about it?
In addition to the player, the watch has a "Sleep" mode, which will help control your heart rate and sleep phases. This function is especially useful for people who, even with a sufficient amount of night rest, feel unwell.
The Workout mode will help you capture all the results of your efforts and show how hard you have been exercising.
Another equally important advantage of the watch is the ability to control the gadget from a distance. This is both call management and the ability to send pre-prepared templates in SMS messages. It is also important that the user chooses which notifications to receive on the watch. This is nice in light of the sheer number of apps that like to impose their notifications.
A very loud speaker and a good built-in vibration motor will not allow you to miss an important call. This will especially appeal to business people and girls who, due to the fact that the smartphone is in their purse, miss calls.
This version of the watch is able to stay under water for some time at a depth of up to one meter. Of course, swimming with them is not worth it, but such moisture resistance allows you to carelessly wash your hands, walk in the rain, and so on.
One of the pleasant bonuses, users consider the ability to change the wallpaper and download various applications from the store.
General impressions
Holding the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 Neo smartwatch in your hands, you realize that this is a completely finished product. Everything in it is balanced and stable. He is quite nimble and responsive. Of course, this watch cannot be called ideal, but it once again proves that Samsung is still capable of producing interesting novelties. The firm still knows how to create really high-quality things and listen to the opinions of its customers.
Contents of delivery:
- Charger
- Charging unit
- Instructions
Positioning
The first smartwatch model from Samsung went on sale in October 2013, it was announced together with the Galaxy Note 3. Initially, the watch worked only with this smartphone model, as well as several new products, but at the beginning of 2014 the total number of supported devices exceeded two dozen.
None of the manufacturers of such devices have a six-month update cycle. The pace taken at Samsung indicates that the company considers this a priority. The update speed of the first model is also about fixing bugs, Samsung has listened carefully to consumer complaints and tried to fix them.
The main complaints about the first Gear, which are also outlined in our review, are the short operating time (24 hours with sufficient load), the electronics in the strap and, as a result, the fear of water. Minor bugs in the software were corrected by new firmware versions, respectively, in the new models they are not initially available.
While the first version of Gear ran on Android, the Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo, and the youth version of Gear Fit started running on Tizen. This operating system was developed by Samsung in conjunction with Intel for tablets and smartphones, but eventually found application in various electronics, since it ceased to be a priority for the company. Android remains the mainstream for Samsung, but the problem is that there was no wearable version of Android when the Gear 2 and other models went on sale, and it would have been a waste of time and effort to build such a version by Samsung. So, Google plans that a similar version of the platform will appear in early summer, and the first product will be Moto 360.
The choice of Tizen is justified by the fact that for the consumer it does not matter what OS is in his watch, he is only interested in the functionality of the device. The platform change made it possible to achieve, with better characteristics (faster processor, slightly less battery), a 2-3 times increase in operating time. While the company guaranteed 25 hours of battery life for the first Gear, the Gear 2 has been working for 2-3 days. I will make a reservation that some people claim that the first hours they work for about the same - this means that they use little of the capabilities of the clock. For them, two days will probably turn into four or even more. The capacity of the built-in battery (Li-Pol) has decreased from 315 mAh to 300 mAh.
In the future, we can expect the appearance of watches from Samsung both on Tizen and Android, most likely, these two versions will exist in parallel for some time and develop simultaneously. Samsung doesn't like to put all their eggs in one basket.
If the first generation of Gear was exclusively a product for technology enthusiasts with a large number of built-in sores, then the second looks completely different, despite the external similarity and only half a year difference in the release date. This is already a full-fledged mass product, stable and devoid of serious flaws. However, let's talk about this below, but first, let's try to figure out what is the difference between Gear, Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit. It is easy to do this on the plate.
| Gear | Gear 2 | Gear 2 Neo | Gear Fit | |
| Replaceable strap | Not | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | 1.9 megapixels | 2 megapixels | Not | Not |
| Protection standard | IP55 | IP67 | IP67 | IP67 |
| Heart rate sensor | Not | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Control panel (infrared) | Not | Yes | Yes | Not |
| Display | 1.63 inches, 320x320 pixels, SuperAMOLED | 1.63 inches, 320x320 pixels, SuperAMOLED | 1.84 inches, 432x128 pixels, SuperAMOLED | |
| Battery | 315 mAh, Li-Pol | 300 mAh, Li-Pol | 300 mAh, Li-Pol | 210 mAh, Li-Pol |
| Weight, gram | 73.8 | 68 | 55 | 27 |
| Dimensions, WxHxT, mm | 36.8x56.6x11.1 | 36.9x58.4x10 | 37.9x58.8x10 | 23.4x57.4x11.95 |
| Speakerphone, microphone | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not |
| S Voice | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not |
| CPU | 800 MHz | 1 GHz, dual-core | 1 GHz, dual-core | 1 GHz, dual-core |
| RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Built-in memory | 4GB | 4GB | 4GB | 4GB |
| Price in Russia (early April) | 11,990 rubles | 12,990 rubles | 9 990 rubles | 7 990 rubles |
It's easy to understand that Gear 2 Neo is a simplified version of a watch without a camera, with a completely plastic case, there are no other differences.
Design, ergonomics, interchangeable straps
Perhaps the design of the first version of Gear and the new watch is very close, but you can easily distinguish them by the key, which is in the new watch, and on the old one it was on the right side and it was inconvenient.
Formally, we can assume that the design has not changed much, the main difference is the lack of electronics in the strap, as a result, you can buy new bracelets from Samsung or other companies (strap 20 mm, standard setting). But I'm not sure that most of the straps will fit this watch, you will have to suffer with this. Also, despite the fact that during the announcement the company showed straps from Moschino and Nicholas Kirkwood, you should definitely not expect them to appear on the general sale. Recently, cooperation with fashion brands has turned for Samsung into a kind of representative activity at exhibitions, accessories do not reach the consumer. Also, as a rule, images of these accessories are not published, so as not to provoke many questions about where to buy them and when they will be available.
In the standard delivery, you can choose a Gear watch with a strap in black, bright orange or golden brown, Neo with orange, gray or charcoal black.
In the photo on the left you can see the Gear 2 Neo, on the right - the Gear 2.
The window on the Gear 2 Neo is an IR transmitter, not a camera. The latter is not in this watch.
A metal insert on the Neo surrounds the screen, while on the Gear 2 it is larger and occupies the entire front surface, which gives the watch a more solid look. They need to be tried on by hand, but the strap has become more comfortable, the clasp has been slightly changed. In general, there is no discomfort, you can safely sleep in the watch, you do not feel them on your hand.
On the inside you can see an LED that measures the heart rate, a new feature in the second generation of watches. Exactly the same design can be seen near the flash on the Galaxy S5, that is, Samsung is trying to implement it en masse.
There are several devices on the market that allow you to measure your heart rate, in particular, the Alpha MIO watch, which is designed for sports and measures the heart rate constantly in real time, can be called the best.
Unfortunately, the Gear's implementation of this feature is far from perfect. You need not to move, not talk and, apparently, not breathe. Measurement of the pulse the first time, as a rule, does not work. You cannot do this while walking. It is difficult to do this during a conversation. If you have a wet hand, there will be no measurements. As you can imagine, it is easier to say when this function can work - only under ideal conditions. Moreover, for most Android smartphones, you can download programs for measuring heart rate for free; the flash of your device is used as a sensor. Measurement accuracy is no worse than the Gear, and a state of rest is required.
Based on this, it is not possible to say that the Gear's heart rate function is useful. This is an additional feature, which in future models will obviously be finished and made better. Or they will completely abandon it, since in this form it is simply not applicable in practice.
The watch has a fully sealed case, which provides an IP67 protection level. The only moving element is the center key. The instructions do not recommend diving with watches (they may not be able to withstand this), and also not to swim. Thirty minutes under water at a depth of up to one meter, our sample withstood with ease, no water droplets under the screen were observed, and in other places it is impossible to look at them.
The charging block from the kit is put on the watch, a microUSB cable from charging is already inserted into it. It takes about 45 minutes to fully charge the watch. From the computer - about an hour. The connector is made on the side, which is much more convenient than its location on the first Gear, when it was necessary to insert the wire by touching the strap.
Perhaps, it must be said that the watch has a vibrating alert and it is felt perfectly well, I prefer to set it up, since the vibration of the watch on the wrist is the best reminder. The signal may not be heard on the street, while the vibration is always felt.
There is a gyroscope and an acceleration sensor, so they are activated the moment you raise your hand to see the time. In our video, you can see that this does not happen instantly, but with a slight delay. You cannot activate the clock by tapping on the screen - this is done in a number of competing models.
The connection with the phone is carried out using Bluetooth (version 4.0), while the watch can work with only one phone. In order to bind them somewhere else, you need to reset all data. This can be considered a serious drawback, since you cannot use the watch with a tablet and a phone at the same time. And this is a very common scenario.
Of the new chips, it is worth noting the built-in IR remote control, right on the clock you choose a brand of TV or other equipment (there are almost all brands), set up and use. This is a fantastic feature that really captivates.
Gear manager on phone - settings and applications
In order to use the watch, you need to pair it with your device (phone or tablet). From the Samsung Apps, download Gear Manager and follow the prompts on your watch or phone screen.
In Gear Manager, you can customize your preferences, select additional programs that are installed on the watch. Convenient interface for settings, since it is not so simple and easy to do this on a watch due to the small size of the screen.
From a pleasant surprise - archiving all your settings, that is, by resetting the clock, you will automatically get all the settings again, you will not need to do this work a second time.
From what should be done first of all, it is to disassemble the order of functions and their order in the menu, so it will be easier and faster to manage the clock. I will not describe all the capabilities of the manager. It is worth choosing a program that will start when you double-click on the center key, for me, for example, this is a camera.
Watch interface - control and work with them
Raise your hand, and the clock turns on the screen for 7 seconds, which by default displays the time, date and weather. The backlight time can be changed to a longer time, then the battery consumption will be higher. You can also choose different watch faces or clocks with application icons or with a pedometer.
In the settings, you can choose the font size, both for the menu and for messages - the function allows you to customize everything for yourself, your vision.
On the main screen, just slide your finger from top to bottom to bring up the camera, but moving from bottom to top launches the dialer. Scrolling horizontally, you will see menu items that you can sort as you like. I will describe the main features of the watch.
In contacts, you can see your address book, and it is sorted in alphabetical order of the language that is selected in the menu, but then a second language and the ability to quickly search follow.
In the list of calls and SMS, you can see who you spoke to, dial these numbers and talk directly from the watch, using it as a headset (there is no headphone output) - you listen to the sound from the speaker, but speak into the case. It is worth taking the watch away, and the sound for your interlocutor deteriorates.
You can return to the previous menu by moving from top to bottom, unlike the first Gears, there are no false positives and everything works fine.
S Voice - in theory, this is an excellent function for voice dialing, adding tasks to the calendar, sending SMS - in practice it works well on the phone itself, but practically does not work in the watch. To begin with, communication with the phone is via Bluetooth, which is rather slow, and the function works unhurriedly. Apparently, in order to speed up the process, they tried to make the recording as light as possible in size, as a result, the recognition quality suffers. Even in a quiet room, S Voice is practically inapplicable - it doesn't work. On the street, you can safely forget about using it. With the Russian interface, he, moreover, does not know how to look for English names in a notebook, he simply ignores them.
The camera is located on the body, which is not very convenient, but bearable. The watch screen acts as a viewfinder, the matrix size is 2 megapixels. Surprisingly, on a sunny day, the pictures are quite decent (1920 x 1080 pixels, they are not square like in the first Gear), video can be recorded at 720p (30 frames per second), the duration of the video is up to 15 seconds. Pictures and videos are automatically transferred to the phone, they will immediately appear in a separate folder in the gallery.
Samsung is one of the main players in the smartwatch market. True, the first generation model (GALAXY Gear) drew a lot of criticism. The new Gear 2 watch is an enhanced and improved version. In particular, the novelty is waterproof (IP67), has a built-in remote control for consumer electronics and runs under the new Tizen operating system. The built-in camera has not gone anywhere either, so the watch can be used for spy purposes (only the sound that cannot be turned off prevents complete disguise).
The GALAXY Gear was Samsung's controversial announcement last year. Despite the fact that the watch is metal and on a full-fledged Android (it is disguised by a shell, but easily accessible - read more in our review), on the whole the device turned out to be very controversial. The pricing policy also did not contribute to popularity, 14,990 rubles at the start of sales is too expensive for an experiment. As a result, the demand turned out to be appropriate.
The Gear 2 is a bug fix and Samsung's second foray into the smartwatch market. Unlike the first generation, there are two watch options available at once: the simpler Gear 2 Neo and the full-fledged Gear 2. What is important, the price even for the older modification is lower than last year's - 12,990 rubles (and the youngest one costs 9,990 rubles). The difference between the Neo is that the model is made in a plastic case and lacks a built-in camera.
Most notably, Samsung has ditched Android in favor of Tizen in its new watch. In light of the announcement of the Google Android Wear platform, the decision looks temporary. Nevertheless, at the moment, Koreans are planning to actively use Tizen in other categories as well. Although until recently there were doubts about who needed him and why. As you can see, Tizen is still alive and even reached commercial use.
Samsung Gear 2 is the first watch to run Tizen OS.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Screen: color, touch, 1.63 inches, Super AMOLED, resolution 320 x 320
- Processor: Dual Core 1.0 GHz
- Operating System: Tizen
- Memory: 4 GB, 512 MB RAM
- Camera: 2.0 MP with autofocus (1920 x 1080, 1080 x 1080, 1280 x 960), video recording (720p @ 30 fps)
- Connection: Bluetooth 4.0 LE, IrLED
- Battery: Li-ion 300 mAh, standard operating mode 2-3 days, economy mode - up to 6 days
- Sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate sensor
- Protection: IP67 dust and moisture proof, noise reduction
- Dimensions and Weight: 36.9 x 58.4 x 10mm, 68g
DESIGN, ERGONOMICS
Externally, the new Gear 2 watch is very similar to last year's GALAXY Gear. The recognizable metal body remains, but there are many changes in the details. Perhaps the main thing is that the watch has become more compact and lighter. Compare: it was 36.8 x 56.6 x 11.1 mm, 73.8 g, and now 36.9 x 58.4 x 10 mm, 68 g. In addition, the metal latch has decreased and the strap has changed for the better. Now nothing rests on the hand, wearing the watch has become noticeably more comfortable.
Externally, the new Gear 2 watch is very similar to last year's GALAXY Gear.
The design was slightly changed: they removed the screws, moved the camera from the strap to the body, moved the control button from the end to the front panel, and also added a heart rate sensor to the back of the body. But again, with all these changes, the Gear 2 still resembles the GALAXY Gear, which some will like, some will not. In my opinion, all modern "smart" watches look controversial, and Samsung is no exception, although compared to the rest of the Gear 2 is very nice. I think the main breakthrough here should be expected later, in particular, Motorola presented an interesting variant. But we must clearly understand: if the Koreans have watches already almost on sale, then all concepts are a matter of the future.
In addition to the more comfortable design, the Samsung Gear 2 strap has another advantage - it is now replaceable. Three colors are available: jet black, golden brown and bright orange. Hypoallergenic rubber strap. As mentioned above, here the Koreans took into account the comments, and Gear 2 is much more comfortable to wear. But for recharging, a removable cradle with a microUSB connector is still used. It can be easily lost if carried around.
The Samsung Gear 2 comes in three colors: jet black, golden brown, and vibrant orange.
A distinctive feature of the new generation Gear is IP67 protection. This means complete protection from dust, protection from moisture and splashes, the ability to immerse in water to a depth of 1 m for up to 30 minutes.
Samsung Gear 2 can be submerged in water up to 1 m deep for up to 30 minutes.
We tested the Gear 2 with water treatments and were satisfied. The device remained fully functional. True, jets of water can interact with the touchscreen and accidentally reject a call or send a message, so we recommend that you follow what is happening on the screen or block the clock when you are going to shower.
FUNCTIONALITY
The Samsung Gear 2 is based on a 1 GHz dual-core processor (the first generation had 800 MHz) and 512 MB of RAM. The interface works smoothly, without stuttering. Where the GALAXY Gear had Android as its operating system, it now uses Tizen. For the average user, there is almost no difference. Previously, it was possible to install full-fledged Android applications through the SDK, but hardly many people use this. But the battery life has improved.
The Samsung Gear 2 watch is based on a 1 GHz dual-core processor.
The Gear 2 is powered by a 300mAh battery (the first generation had 315mAh). The manufacturer claims 2-3 days in standard operating mode and up to 6 days in economy mode. According to our tests, it turns out just 2-3 days. In the same mode, the first generation of Samsung watches had to be charged every day, with more economical use, they could last about two days. With a lower battery capacity, progress is evident, but so far there has been no revolution. So far there are no technologies that allow "smart" watches to work at least a week without sacrifices, primarily from the screen (the Gear 2 has a large enough, colorful, bright one, and therefore consumes decently).
The screen remains the same - color, touchscreen, with a diagonal of 1.63 inches (41.4 mm) and a resolution of 320 x 320 pixels. It looks great in the sun. The rest is an ordinary element without any peculiarities. As expected, there is multi-touch, which allows you not only to scale the menu with a pinch, but also to perform various actions by double-clicking - to find out the charge level and launch the menu of active applications. You can set the watch to vibrate every hour so that the screen does not turn on again. As with all other gadgets in the Gear line, the screen is turned off by default. It can be turned on with the aforementioned single button, or it can be done automatically by raising your hand and looking at the screen. In the second version, the motion sensor is constantly on, so the charge is consumed more actively.
The screen of Samsung Gear 2 is color, touch, multi-touch is supported.
The camera is an interesting feature of the Gear 2 and is increasingly seen in smartwatches. A 2.0 megapixel module with autofocus and the ability to record HD video (720p) is used. There is no flash. The most basic settings are resolution, focus mode, sound, signature, location, voice control, and for video only resolution, location tags and voice control. In terms of the quality of shooting, the Gear 2 camera is approximately on the level of the front cameras in top smartphones, that is, the pictures are quite good (for a watch).
The built-in camera of the Samsung Gear 2 allows you to take good photos (at the level of the front cameras in smartphones) and shoot HD video.
The negative points are about restrictions. In total, no more than 50 photos can be taken on the watch (as in the GALAXY Gear), then you need to transfer the material to your smartphone. The duration of the video is no more than 15 seconds (but sound recording is possible). Although the built-in memory is 4 GB, which would be enough for more. By the way, the GALAXY Gear had a 10 second limit. Another unpleasant moment is that at the minimum battery charge (10% or less), the camera is forcibly turned off. Such flaws in the implementation do not add attractiveness to the device.
OS TIZEN, APPLICATIONS
The Gear 2's main menu has five screens. In addition to the main screen with the clock, the following shortcuts are located here: pedometer, workout, heart rate, control panel, notifications, logs, dialing, contacts, applications, camera, settings, player, WatchON, S Voice, device search and voice memo.
You cannot make calls or reply to messages without a smartphone using the Gear 2. But when the smartphone is within reach (10 m), it is used for communication. The watch has a microphone and a speaker, you can talk or transfer a call to your smartphone (and vice versa) at any time. As for typing, it uses voice input using S Voice. The Gear 2 doesn't have a browser, so browsing the web won't work, and even on such a screen it would not be very convenient.
Among the interesting novelties are the built-in infrared port and the WatchON application, which allows you to use the watch as a remote control for consumer electronics. The application has a good base of devices, including by country (this is useful for working with STBs of operators - Akado, Beeline, etc.).
The Samsung Gear 2 has a built-in infrared port.
When it comes to sports, a workout regimen will be the most useful. It allows you to set various parameters by determining the location (using GPS in your smartphone). For example, if you want to run 5 km, during the process Gear 2 will measure your heart rate and give recommendations, and according to the results of the run - detailed statistics. Training is provided for running, walking, cycling and hiking. You can collect and analyze information about your activity in the new S Health application, which is preinstalled in GALAXY smartphones.
The standard functions of the Gear family have not gone anywhere, for example, searching for a smartphone from a watch (and searching for a watch from a smartphone) - the signal on the second device turns on. There is a pattern lock when the watch moves away from the smartphone. You can change the background and look of the clock. For example, take a photo with a camera and immediately put it on the main screen as a substrate. The editor of quick replies has appeared (there is no keyboard in the watch, and using S Voice is not always convenient). But third-party software is more interesting.
The Samsung Gear 2 watch supports Russian voice recognition (S Voice).
As mentioned above, Android apps can no longer be installed on the watch, since they run on Tizen. A developer kit (SDK) has been released, and the company is already working with over 100 partners to bring several fitness and shopping apps, social networking, reading news, listening to music and more. Next, I'll talk about the available apps for the Samsung Gear 2.
As you can see, some interesting apps for Gear 2 are already available. Time will tell how this process will develop. In my opinion, there will be serious competition from Google's Android Wear platform. In addition, the move is expected by Apple, which has not announced anything yet. In any case, it's very good that Samsung has already started to actively attract developers. Third-party software is what distinguishes smart watches in the first place. And in order to interest the buyer now, you need to do this. It's good that Koreans understand this.
OPINION HI-TECH.MAIL.RU
Samsung Gear 2 is hardly the perfect watch. But in comparison with the first generation, the gadget has been improved in almost everything. The novelty is more compact and lighter, much more convenient and at the same time more functional. A built-in infrared port has appeared, the case has become waterproof, you can change the strap. It's hard to say how much of an interesting development platform Tizen will turn out to be, but the battery life after abandoning Android is clearly a plus. The set of applications is still small, while some of them are very interesting. A significant limitation of the Gear 2 is that the watch is still an accessory, meaning that many activities require a smartphone or tablet. In particular, it is impossible to call from the clock or immediately send a photo to a social network. Only Samsung's GALAXY line is supported as a companion, which means that owners of other brands are automatically bypassed. From the functional points, I would like more memory and increased operating time. Wouldn't hurt to have some kind of network access (built-in Wi-Fi or SIM card slot). Hopefully this will be implemented in the next version of Gear. The bottom line is an interesting (but not practical) gadget that will interest fans of unusual novelties. True, you will have to pay a lot. The model is expected in Russia in April at a price of 12,990 rubles. There is also a more affordable plastic version of the Gear 2 Neo without a camera for 9,990 rubles. In comparison, the new Pebble Steel is officially $ 249 (plus tax and shipping).
