Smart Watch review Samsung Gear S2

The first Smart Watch review Samsung were presented in 2013 and in a relatively short period of time the company managed to create three generations of these devices. But if the first models in the lineup Gear looked like a laptop computer on his hand, the Smart Watch review Samsung Gear S2 is really difficult to distinguish from the ordinary wristwatch. Let’s see what they can do, and what the difference from the previous models.

Smart Watch review Samsung Gear S2 will be sold in Europe in two versions: classic and sports (also in the version with 3G). We were on the test got it last, and it is characterized by Classic size body design and a rubber strap. As for the rest, their capabilities are at the same level.

Design and materials: Smart Watch review Samsung

Gear housing S2 is formed in the shape of a circle with two projections, which gradually becomes a rubber strap. The case has smooth lines, the design is dominated by minimalism, but it does not make watches expressionless, on the contrary, they look elegant.

Gear Display S2 is also rounding, and a complete circle, it is not cut off from the bottom, such as a Motorola Moto 360. Although a rubber strap, S2 Gear does not look like a sports watch, their appearance rather is called universal. Dimensions Gear S2 constitutes 42.3 × 49.8 × 11.4 mm, on the hand, they look like a normal watch, and not as a gadget.

Gear housing S2 is formed of metal, toughened glass protects the display. The lower part of the body where the LED heart rate sensor, the plastic covers.

In general, the materials and build quality Gear S2 leaves a pleasant impression.

Strap: Smart Watch review Samsung

Samsung Gear S2 comes with rubber straps in two sizes. The latter does not cause irritation, leaves a pleasant tactile feel and well-kept watch on his hand.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that the mechanism of the strap to the housing Gear S2 proprietary. This means that the clock cannot be connected to standard straps have to be content with the brand.

Control: Smart Watch review Samsung

To work with the Gear S2, Samsung came up with an unusual, but very convenient way to manage. Besides the traditional for this class of devices touch screen to make menu navigation, you can watch with a ring around the screen, which scrolls to the right and left the side.

Thus, the user does not obscure information on the screen with your finger and it is free to flip through. This is especially true when reading SMS or email messages. Without belittling can say that Samsung has come up with a better way to navigate through the interface clock. Control via the ring – it is so simple and convenient solution that involuntarily wonder how this one does not think before.

Overall control Gear S2 is carried out not only by means of a touch screen or a ring around it. On the right side, there are two hours of mechanical buttons: one is responsible for returning a step back in the menu, and the second for the inclusion, access to the main screen to dial, as well as a menu with the applications.

Interface: Smart Watch review Samsung

Gear S2 interface is well thought out and adjusted to the circular screen. If Scroll your finger across the display to the right or to do the same ring, you can open a menu with widgets applications, it may be a quick access to settings and programs, weather, calendar, and other heart rate monitor.

If the main screen Scroll the dial to the left, it opens a menu with alerts. Here they will be collected and stored until the user is familiar with them and do not remove.

A gesture on the screen from top to bottom Gear S2 opens the status bar that displays battery power, the status of the connection to the smartphone and lock alerts, quick access to the player controls and adjust the brightness.

Display: Smart Watch review Samsung

The round touchscreen Samsung Gear S2 has a diagonal of 1.2 inches and a resolution of 360 × 360 pixels, which allows it to form a picture of a density of 302 pixels per inch.

The display uses a matrix SuperAMOLED, making him an excellent viewing angles and the reference black.

Brightness adjustment has 10 levels while already on the 8th to display information Gear S2 free to read even in bright sunlight.

Platform: Smart Watch review Samsung

Underlying Gear S2 is 2-core Samsung Exynos 3250 with a frequency of 1 GHz, 512 MB RAM and 4 GB of internal memory. From wireless options in hours has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, and 3G-module version Gear S2 3G. Sensors are presented with an accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, sensor lighting and, of course, the heart rate monitor.

Work Samsung Gear S2 operating system Tizen. Platform performance interface allows working hours without noticeable delays.

Connecting to your phone: Smart Watch review Samsung

By Gear S2 smartphone connect directly via the protocol Bluetooth 4.1 or via the same Wi-Fi, if the devices are on the same network. In the latter case is significantly increasing battery consumption hours. To work with the Gear S2 need a smartphone with Android 4.4 and above, and with a minimum of 1.5 GB of RAM.

The Samsung has finally lifted the restriction, because of which the last version of the smart watch company official could only connect to its smartphones. Of course, there was the unofficial app that lets you do it, but, judging by the reviews; they do not work so well. Now it is enough to say the app from Google Play and Samsung Gear connect smart watches.

Notifications: Smart Watch review Samsung

C using the application Gear in your smartphone, you can set any warning will be displayed on Gear S2. They support the display of all alerts that can come to your smartphone, and while some of them can be answered even themselves hours.

For example, in Gear S2 is well-implemented integration with Gmail, the letter can not only view or delete, and archive, as well as to respond to them.

In the latter case, you can use previously harvested phrases, emoticons or manually type the answer on a small keyboard.

Health and Heart Rate Monitors: Smart Watch review Samsung

Heart rate sensor located on the back of Gear S2 uses a green LED and a photosensor, which determine the amount of blood in the veins, which changes during the contractions of the heart.

Unlike previous versions of the clock Gear, the sensor began to work better, especially during exercise. While running Gear S2 and the chest heart rate monitor Suunto, as expected, did not show the same results, but the difference was small data.

These heart rate monitor and pedometer are Gear S2 going to proprietary applications Samsung S Health, which is now also available for other Android smartphone.

In addition, S Health on Gear S2 user can run the track running, walking, cycling, bike, step machine, elliptical trainer, as well as the consumption of water and coffee.

During a workout, the watch can keep track of the distance (in pedometer or GPS smartphone), and continuously measure the pulse.

Watches and vibration are an alert message if the user does not move for a long time, and cheering when he still decided to walk.

Applications: Smart Watch review Samsung

In terms of the availability of third-party applications, the new version of Tizen is to some extent a backward step compared to previous releases. The Samsung Apps store programs for Gear S2 is not to find such popular applications like Evernote or Foursquare and, in general, the number of available downloads small.

Basically, the user is prompted to install the new dials, including paid. However, there are for Gear S2 and useful third-party applications, while functionally they are better than what was previously available to Tizen. For example, a program to monitor is the run Nike +, as well as navigation Here Maps.

In addition, there for Gear S2 and simple games such as clone Flappy Bird.

As a result, currently third-party software for the new platform Samsung smart watch is really small. However, the company is trying to make up for it with plenty of built-in applications, this S Health, and built-in calendar and voice recorder, and the weather, and many more programs that are now an integral part of the smart phone.

Autonomy: Smart Watch review Samsung

The volume of the built-in Gear S2 battery is only 250 mAh (300 mAh in a model with 3G), but it’s enough for two full days of work hours with the included notifications, pedometer, periodic measurement of the pulse and the brightness of the display, exhibited at 6 out of 10. Autonomy not the most outstanding, but given that the majority of smart hours must be charged every day, this is a normal result. Gear S2 battery is discharged in a day, if at the time of exercise include continuous measurement of the heart rate, or if the clock is connected to Wi-Fi.

If you charge the battery to a minimum, and reach the charge in the next couple of hours will not work, then Gear S2 can activate the power-saving mode. He turns off the alarm and background processes and interface switches to black and white. But in this mode, normal hours Gear S2 can work out much longer.

The charges Smart Watch review Samsung Gear S2 through the induction charging, which is anchored to the Statement of the metal case. A full charge takes about 1.5 hours.

Verdict: Smart Watch review Samsung Gear S2

The model Smart Watch review Samsung Gear S2 can be called a worthy continuation of the line of smart watches Samsung. It surpasses predecessors in design, functionality, ease of use, and can compete with the best representatives of this class. Tizen platform began to look modern; the designers did a great job over the appearance of the operating system and navigation. But most importantly, smart watches with Tizen – it is no longer exclusive to the smartphone Samsung. Gear S2 can work with other Android smartphone, which can have a positive impact on their popularity, and thus for the Tizen there will be more applications. Samsung, of course, has not yet managed to overcome the underlying disease smart watches, they still need to be charged more often than I would like, however, the other parameters Gear S2 – it’s one of the best smart watches in the Europe market.

Pros Smart Watch review Samsung:

+ Design
+ Lots of dials
+ Management
+ Display
+ The rate of work
+ Interface
+ Support for alerts from your smartphone
+ Heart Rate Monitor
+ Works not only with the Android smartphone Samsung

Cons Smart Watch review Samsung:

– Few third-party applications
– Own a mechanism replacement strap

Source: device-boom