Samsung Gear 2 launched with unbeatable fitness functions

Samsung unveiled two new computerized wristwatches on Sunday. This morning, hours before the world’s biggest mobile phone trade show, Mobile World Congress, opens in Barcelona, Samsung shot the latest salvo in the wearable gadget war.

Samsung had launched its first smart watch, designed to work as the ultimate companion device to a mobile phone: like Dick Tracy, you could use it to make and answer phone calls, read texts and emails on the watch screen, snap photos and videos and more.

According to the news of The Guardian, The Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo improve on the original Galaxy Gear, which received poor reviews and was described by Samsung as an unripened fruit, by being at least 5.8g lighter and 1.1mm thinner.

The new smartwatches have ditched Google’s Android software in favour of Samsung’s own new Tizen software and have enhanced functionality with fitness and health tracking, and the ability to play music via Bluetooth headphones without needing to connect to a smartphone or tablet.

“Offering extended connectivity features, stylish customisation options and a robust application network, we have enhanced everything that people love about the original Galaxy Gear to create a second generation of wearable devices that offer unparalleled smart freedom,” said Simon Stanford, vice president of IT & mobile for Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland.

Both models have improved designs, including a slightly less industrial edge than before thanks to the removal of the chunky screw-fastening effects that dominated the first model. And the camera is now on the screen rather than halfway round the strap as it was last time. This made it good for taking photos without being noticed but still required nimble wrists to do so.

Samsung has fitted an accelerometer and gyroscope – capable of acting as a pedometer as well as an optical heart rate monitor – to the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo. It means the device can integrate with Samsung’s health and fitness tracking applications, replacing the need for additional fitness tracking gadgets like the Fitbit or Misfit Shine.

Both smartwatches have a 1GHz dual-core processor with 512MB of RAM and are estimated to have a 2-3 day battery life by Samsung. Pricing was unavailable, but the Gear 2 is expected to be priced similarly to the original £300 Galaxy Gear.