Samsung is at the LEADING THE EDGE OF INNOVATION ON WEARABLES … especially with smartwatches. In addition to the Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo which was released barely a few months ago in April, Samsung has just released the all new Gear S smartwatch, and I think it is just amazing. The Gear S comes with its own 3G connectivity that allows it fully replace the functionality of your phone, and it comes with a rich plethora of apps that meet entertainment, utility and health needs. Here is a quick comparison of its specs and how it stacks up (or outclasses) the Gear 2 line of devices.
Galaxy Gear Live vs Gear 2 vs Gear S
| Samsung Gear Live | Samsung Gear 2 | Samsung Gear S | |
| Screen Size | 1.63 inches | 1.63 inches | 2.0 inches |
| Resolution | 320 x 320 | 320 x 320 | 360 x 480 |
| Network | Nil | Nil | 900/2100 or 850/1900 (3G) 900/1800 or 850/1900 (2G) |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth® v4.0 LE | Bluetooth® v4.0 LE, IrLED | WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n, A-GPS/Glonass Bluetooth®: 4.1 USB 2.0 |
| Screen Shape | Square | Square | Curved (Rectangle) Super AMOLED |
| Dimensions | 1.49 x 2.2 x 0.35 | 1.45″ x 2.29″ x .39″ | 39.9 x 58.1 x 12.5T |
| Weight | 59g | 68g | 67g |
| Mobile OS | Android Wear | Tizen | Tizen |
| Processor | 1.2 GHz processor | 1.0 GHz Dual Core Processor | 1.0 GHz Dual Core Processor |
| Battery Life | 300 mAH | 300mAh, 2-3 days typical usage | 300mAh Li-ionTypical Usage 2days |
| Storage Space | 4GB | 4GB | 4GB |
| Color choices | Black, Wine Red | Charcoal Black, Gold Brown and Wild Orange | Black, White |
| Other sensors | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Heart Rate | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Heart Rate | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Heart Rate, Ambient Light, UV, Barometer |
| Price | $199 | $199 | |
| RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB | 512MB |
Verdict
Many people are skeptical regarding the long term stickiness of wearables. Would people be interested in using the heartrate monitor, taking calls from their wrists etc? I think the technology is here to stay, and with the right kind of apps that cater to appropriate use cases, these devices hold great potential to improve life , and encourage habit formation. Samsung is undoubtedly leading the frontlines of innovation and with additional sensors for pressure, uv, ambient light on the Gear S, there’s even more opportunity for a health applications and the quantified self.
Yes, the Gear S, is bigger and possibly more niche (and for ladies too) as a fashion ornament, but it is very powerful, and represents major progress in the evolution of capabilities of smartwatches and wearables in general. And for developers, more sensors, means more use cases and more flexibility to create! With this device, Samsung has also demonstrated the feasibility of developing truly connected, independent wearable devices and I believe this is the beginning of more smart wearables which will have 2G or 3G connectivity modules . How do you like the Gear S ? Weigh in with comments below.
