Samsung has officially unveiled its latest smartwatch, the Gear S, which boasts 3G connectivity so it can serve as an independent device instead of just a companion.
It's not been very long since Samsung launched its Gear Live smartwatch, but the company is now at it again with yet another wearable that joins its Gear family. The company has been rumored for quite some time to be working on a new smartwatch that would have its own connectivity rather than depending on a smartphone, and it now turns out those rumors were true. The smartwatch in question has now made its official debut as the Samsung Gear S, however, not the Gear Solo as previously dubbed.
The 3G connectivity may not sound like much for a device nowadays, but for a smartwatch it sure makes it stand out of the crowd. Having 3G connectivity allows the Samsung Gear S to make or take calls and text messages without requiring users to pair it with a smartphone. Other smartwatches out there are still reliant on their compatible smartphones to offer such functionality.
In terms of specs and features, the Samsung Gear Live comes with a 2-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen with a resolution of 360 x 480 pixels, a 1.0Ghz dual-core processor under the hood, 512MB of RAM, and a 4GB internal storage capacity. A 300 mAh battery should last for up to two days on a single charge.
Its dualband 2G and dualband 3G connectivity allows the smartwatch to go online independently, in addition to supporting calls, messaging, and apps such as turn-by-turn navigation. Other connectivity options include Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, A-GPS/GLONASS, and USB 2.0. On the software side, the gadget runs Samsung's Tizen OS, not Google's Android Wear platform like the Gear Live.
As expected, the Samsung Gear S also comes with an array of sensors such as an accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, ambient light, heart rate sensor, UV, and barometer. The gadget is also certified for dust- and water-resistance.
"Samsung is leading this exciting and rapidly developing wearable category through progressive innovation," JK Shin, CEO and Head of IT & Mobile Communication at Samsung Electronics, boasts in the press release on Thursday, Aug. 28. "The Samsung Gear S redefines the idea of the smart wearable and the culture of mobile communication. It will let consumers live a truly connected life anywhere, anytime."
"Designed with an elegant, curved Super AMOLED display and flexible band, Samsung Gear S fits comfortably on user's wrist. Through 3G connectivity, the Samsung Gear S offers a new, powerful wearable experience and gives consumers the freedom to live their life on the go."
Samsung Gear S owners will also be able to take advantage of the S Health and Nike+ Running apps, as well as Samsung's S Voice, a gallery, media player, news app, HERE-powered navigation with turn-by-turn directions for pedestrians, and more. Support for contacts, notifications, and emails, is also on board.
Although the Samsung Gear S is able to serve as an independent device, it can also act as a companion if users prefer to pair it with a smartphone. In addition to the new smartwatch, Samsung also introduced a new Gear Circle gadget, which is a Bluetooth accessory that vibrates to notify of incoming calls and messages. This accessory can be used as a headset, and clips around the neck when not in use.
The Samsung Gear S will make its commercial debut in October, but the company has yet to provide exact pricing and availability details. In terms of color options, the smartwatch will be available in black or white paint jobs.
