Samsung Caters To Minimalists And Upscale Smartwatch Buyers With Gear S2 And Gear S2 Classic

Samsung just couldn’t let Google have all the spotlight today when it comes to smartwatches. Samsung has been teasing its Gear S2 for the past few weeks, but now the South Korean electronics giant is ready to give us the Full Monty on its reentry into the smartwatch market.

As Samsung clearly states, it has “come full circle” with the introduction of the Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch. While we always had an idea that Samsung’s latest smartwatch would once again dip into the Tizen OS well, the company today confirmed the news. And we also learned that Samsung is launching not one, but two Gear S2 smartwatches. There’s the Gear S2 that is made for “those who are on-the-go and have an admiration for minimal and modern design,” while the Gear S2 Classic is aimed at “users who prefer a more timeless watch design.” 

Samsung Gear S2

While not an exact apples-to-apples comparison, I would liken the Gear S2 to the entry-level Apple Watch Sport with its aluminum body and fluoroelastomer bands, while the Gear S2 Classic with its leather band options is geared towards the more upscale Apple Watch with its stainless steel body and higher quality watch band offerings. 

When it comes down to specs, both smartwatches feature a 11.4mm thin casing and a 1.2-inch 360x360 display that is a complete circle (take that, Motorola). Powering the Gear S2 is an undisclosed Samsung-sourced 1GHz dual-core processor paired with 512MB of RAM. You’ll even find NFC technology incorporated into the watch, which will no doubt support Samsung Pay in the near future. You’ll also be glad to know that the Gear S2 is IP68 certified for dust and water resistance. 

And for those that want an all-in-one communications device that would impress Dick Tracy, Samsung will also offer a version of the Gear S2 which incorporate 3G connectivity for phone calls using the world’s first ever e-SIM. The 3G version of the Gear S2 is slightly thicker at 13.4mm and weighs a little bit more as well (51 grams versus 42 grams and 47 grams, respectively, for the Gear S2 Classic and Gear S2).

Samsung Gear S2 Classic

Every Gear S2 will come with a wireless charging dock in the box to top off your battery at the end day (or should we say days). Samsung says that the Gears S2’s 250 mAh battery is good for two to three days of runtime per charge, which is quite respectable given that the Apple Watch is good for 24 to 48 hours before conking out, with most Android Wear devices matching those figures. The cellular-capable Gear S2 has a larger 300 mAh battery that will last up to two days per charge.

Samsung hasn’t provided any details on pricing or availability at this point, but we do know that the Gear S2 will be available with a Silver case and a White band or a Dark Grey case with a Dark Grey band. The Gear S2 Classic will only be available with a Black case and a Black Leather band (although we’re certain that other band options will be available at launch, or at least shortly thereafter).