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Samsung Gear 2 Hands on, Quick Review, Photos and Video

Samsung announced the successors of Galaxy Gear at MWC and this time it dropped the Galaxy moniker and named them Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit. The Gear 2 Neo is the same Gear 2 minus the Camera. The Gear 2 switched from Android to Samsungs own Tizen OS, but that wasn’t a conspicuous change. Samsung has paid due attention to customer reviews and has adjusted the Gear line accordingly.

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Samsung Gear 2 Quick Specs

  • Display Size: 1.63 Inch Super AMOLED, 320 X 320
  • Processor: 1 GHz Dual Core
  • RAM: 512 MB
  • Software Version: Tizen OS
  • Camera: 2 MP
  • Internal Storage:  4 GB
  • External Storage: No
  • Battery: 300 mAh
  • Sensors: Hear rate sensor, Gyro, Accelerometer
  • Connectivity:  Bluetooth 4.0, Infra red

Samsung Gear 2 Hands on, Quick Review, Features, Apps and Modes Overview HD at MWC 2014[Video]

Design and Build

The Gear 2 is slightly slimmer and the first design change that you notice is the lack of 4 screws that were part of industrial design of Galaxy Gear. The Strap is now replaceable, it also comes with a 21 mm pin which means, you can get your own strap too.

The camera has moved to the main body along with the speaker and microphone. This time there is a home button too on the Galaxy Gear – something we like. The side buttons are no longer needed. At the back there is a heart rate sensor which can be used to monitor your heart beats in case you want too.

Another much appreciated improvement is the IP67 certification. The Galaxy gear has now increased its endurance to dust and water, a much needed functionality in smartwatches. The super AMOLED display remains same on all watches in the Gear series. Samsung has also provided with an IR blaster in Gear 2 which enables it to be your optional TV remote.


Camera and Internal Storage

The camera is the same 2 MP auto focus unit which we saw on Galaxy Gear. It is not a very good camera and you would most probably want to take out your Galaxy Smartphone out of your pocket to shoot pictures. That makes Gear 2 Neo a preferable option. You can nevertheless go for Gear 2 to satiate the spy in you.

The internal storage remains same at 4 GB. This time you can full songs directly in this storage and play them independent of your smartphone.

Battery, OS and Chipset

The battery capacity has been marginally reduced to 300 mAh without compromising on the battery backup. The Gear 2 will give you Typical Usage 2-3 days and Low Usage for up to 6 days. The OS is Tizen OS, but the menu and options remain same as Galaxy Gear. You won’t notice any change in the UI. The dual core processor is now ticking at 1 GHz instead of 800 MHz in Galaxy Gear.

Gear 2 Photo Gallery

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Conclusion

If you didn’t opt for Galaxy Gear because of its design language, you can consider Gear 2. It still is not all that appealing but does incorporate some much needed design features. If you didn’t buy it for the features it offered, Gear 2 offers little to change your mind. Apart from added heart rate sensor and option for independent music playback, not much has changed.

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Deepak Singh

The Author spent a significant chunk of his formative years resisting technology. He now keeps an eye on where the world is heading to, and drives a passive pleasure from this indulgence. His passion to write, learn and improve drives him each day. When his day ends, he enjoys the pleasant languor and detoxifies with family. You can connect with him on and Twitter