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Samsung Gear S2 Review: Bold, Stylish & Innovative

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Samsung Gear S2 Review: Bold, Stylish & Innovative


Richard Goodwin

03/02/2017 – 11:29am

The Samsung Gear S2 isn’t just one of the best looking smartwatches around, it’s also one of the smartest too

£234.00

Smartwatches might have failed to catch on as planned, but company’s like Apple and Samsung are still committed to the idea.

Granted, the flow of smartwatch releases has slowed in 2016/17 but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some excellent options about.

The Samsung Gear S2 is one of Samsung’s best smartwatches, and today we’re going to be taking a detailed look at what makes it tick (pun intended).

The main things I want to look at here is value for money, specs, features, usability and look and feel.

Apple’s Apple Watch is the biggest name in the smartwatch space, but Samsung’s Gear S2 has plenty of tricks up its sleeve. If you use a Samsung phone, is this the smartwatch to go for?

Let’s find out.

Samsung Gear S2 Review: Design

The star of the show here is the rotating bezel; it lets you seamlessly switch through functions. This is a highly intuitive way of interacting with the Gear S2; certainly preferable to constantly tapping on the display.

The overall look and feel of the Samsung Gear S2 is, ummm, nice. It looks like a smartwatch, sure, but it is styled subtly so it doesn’t look jarring when worn with a smart shirt or a suit.

It’s also water and dust resistant. The chassis is made from stainless steel as well and this gives the Gear S2 a robust, solid feeling on your wrist. Excellent stuff all round, Samsung.

One thing that really grinds my gears about smartwatches in general is that you HAVE to use the touchscreen to do anything. By removing the need to touch the display of the Gear S2 with the rotating bezel, Samsung has effectively made me a huge fan of this watch.

This is how ALL smartwatches should function; it’s a bloody revelation!

You’ll find back and home buttons on the side of the display as well; tapping either will wake the device from slumber, while a tap of the back key will take you to the apps menu. It also acts as the power on/off key too. Again, these keys are intuitive as hell. Way more so than Android Wear’s way of doing things.

Android Wear 0 – Tizen OS 1.

The display used on the Gear S2 is an AMOLED panel; it’s 1.2in across and has a pixel density of 302 ppi. I hadn’t used a smartwatch in a while ahead of testing the Gear S2 and the brightness, contrast and overall quality of the display really took me by surprise.

Samsung’s AMOLED panels really are the best in the business, even when you’re talking about little diddy one’s like this smartwatch setup.

Samsung Gear S2 Review: Specs

Unlike phones, smartwatches do not need a lot of grunt in the engine room. The Samsung Gear S2 features Samsung’s very own Exynos 3250 chipset paired with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage.

Performance is snappy, as you’d expect. During my time with the Gear S2 I did not experience any lag, freezing-issues or problems with functions. It worked seamlessly and flawlessly for the two weeks that I had the unit.

Beyond this the Samsung Gear S2 also runs an entire gamut of sensors, including a barometer, optical heart sensor and an accelerometer. You can use these to better track your activity.

Samsung Gear S2 Review: Features

TizenOS is a double-edged sword. On the one hand it is great for core features, optimisation and power management. But because it isn’t made by Google it means you miss all that lovely Google stuff – stuff like Google Maps, most notably.

The Samsung Gear S2 runs HERE Maps instead, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but if you’re a Google Maps addict and Google knows where you work, rest and play then switching to something else is a bit of a kick in the nuts.

TizenOS’ notifications system isn’t quite as sophisticated as Android Wear’s either. It’s not quite as polished, it lacks some of the niceties and, on occasion, it misses the odd email or text, despite it coming through on your phone.

TizenOS needs work, clearly, but Samsung is great with updates, so expect many of these issues – most of which are cosmetic – to be remedied in due course.

I do really hate not having Google Maps, though.

Samsung Gear S2 Review: Battery Life

TizenOS might be a little patchy with respect to performance. But one area where Samsung seriously takes it to the next level is battery – the Gear S2’s is off the hook!

Whether this is down to Tizen, the Exynos chipset or a combination of both remains to be seen. But the net result is brilliant; like, two solid days of usage-brilliant. That’s better than Apple Watch and pretty much anything else in the smartwatch space (excluding Pebble).

No complaints in this department. Kudos, Samsung.

Samsung Gear S2 Review: Conclusion

I really, really like the Samsung Gear S2. I like it because it looks and feels like a proper watch and you don’t have to fanny around poking the screen to do stuff on it.

I mainly use smartwatches to see who’s messaging or emailing me and for tracking my activity. The rest of the time it’s just there to tell me the time, and this is what I like about the Samsung Gear S2: it gets out of the way and acts like a proper watch most of the time.

It also has a ton of great features for tracking activity and monitoring your exercise routines. TizenOS is a little rough around the edges and Google Maps is sorely missed, but for a smartwatch the Gear S2 is easily one of the best I have ever tested.

Richard Goodwin 03/02/2017 - 11:29am

The Samsung Gear S2 isn’t simply some of the absolute best taking a look smartwatches round, it’s additionally one of the crucial smartest too

£234.00

Smartwatches would possibly have did not catch on as deliberate, however corporate’s like Apple and Samsung are nonetheless dedicated to the theory.

Granted, the go with the flow of smartwatch releases has slowed in 2016/17 however that doesn’t imply there aren’t some very good choices about.

The Samsung Gear S2 is one of Samsung’s best smartwatches, and these days we’re going to be taking an in depth take a look at what makes it tick (pun meant).

The primary issues I need to take a look at here's worth for cash, specifications, options, usability and feel and appear.

Apple’s Apple Watch is the largest identify within the smartwatch area, however Samsung’s Gear S2 has quite a few tips up its sleeve. In the event you use a Samsung phone, is that this the smartwatch to head for?

Let’s in finding out.

Samsung Gear S2 Assessment: Design

The famous person of the display here's the rotating bezel; it allows you to seamlessly transfer thru purposes. This can be a extremely intuitive method of interacting with the Gear S2; unquestionably preferable to continuously tapping at the show.

The total appear and feel of the Samsung Gear S2 is, ummm, great. It seems like a smartwatch, positive, however it's styled subtly so it doesn’t glance jarring when worn with a sensible blouse or a go well with.

It’s additionally water and mud resistant. The chassis is comprised of chrome steel as smartly and this provides the Gear S2 a strong, forged feeling in your wrist. Very good stuff all spherical, Samsung.

Something that in reality grinds my gears about smartwatches typically is that you simply HAVE to make use of the touchscreen to do anything else. Through eliminating the want to contact the show of the Gear S2 with the rotating bezel, Samsung has successfully made me an enormous fan of this watch.

That is how ALL smartwatches will have to serve as; it’s a bloody revelation!

You’ll in finding again and residential buttons at the aspect of the show as smartly; tapping both will wake the software from shut eye, whilst a faucet of the again key will take you to the apps menu. It additionally acts as the facility on/off key too. Once more, those keys are intuitive as hell. Far more so than Android Put on’s means of doing issues.

Android Put on 0 – Tizen OS 1.

The show used at the Gear S2 is an AMOLED panel; it’s 1.2in throughout and has a pixel density of 302 ppi. I hadn’t used a smartwatch shortly forward of checking out the Gear S2 and the brightness, distinction and general high quality of the show in point of fact took me via wonder.

Samsung’s AMOLED panels in point of fact are the most productive within the industry, even while you’re speaking about little diddy one’s like this smartwatch setup.

Samsung Gear S2 Assessment: Specifications

In contrast to telephones, smartwatches do not have a large number of grunt within the engine room. The Samsung Gear S2 options Samsung’s very personal Exynos 3250 chipset paired with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of inside garage.

Efficiency is snappy, as you’d be expecting. All through my time with the Gear S2 I didn't revel in any lag, freezing-issues or issues of purposes. It labored seamlessly and flawlessly for the 2 weeks that I had the unit.

Past this the Samsung Gear S2 additionally runs a whole gamut of sensors, together with a barometer, optical center sensor and an accelerometer. You'll be able to use those to raised monitor your task.

Samsung Gear S2 Evaluate: Options

TizenOS is a double-edged sword. At the one hand it's nice for core options, optimisation and tool control. However as it isn’t made via Google it approach you omit all that beautiful Google stuff – stuff like Google Maps, maximum particularly.

The Samsung Gear S2 runs HERE Maps as an alternative, which isn’t essentially a nasty factor however when you’re a Google Maps addict and Google is aware of the place you're employed, relaxation and play then switching to one thing else is just a little of a kick within the nuts.

TizenOS’ notifications device isn’t somewhat as refined as Android Put on’s both. It’s now not slightly as polished, it lacks one of the most niceties and, sometimes, it misses the abnormal e mail or textual content, in spite of it coming thru for your phone.

TizenOS wishes paintings, obviously, however Samsung is superb with updates, so be expecting many of those disorders – maximum of that are beauty – to be remedied sooner or later.

I do in point of fact hate now not having Google Maps, although.

Samsung Gear S2 Assessment: Battery Lifestyles

TizenOS may well be slightly patchy with recognize to efficiency. However one space the place Samsung critically takes it to the following degree is battery – the Gear S2’s is off the hook!

Whether or not that is right down to Tizen, the Exynos chipset or a mixture of each is still noticed. However the web result's bright; like, two forged days of usage-brilliant. That’s higher than Apple Watch and just about anything within the smartwatch area (except Pebble).

No court cases on this division. Kudos, Samsung.

Samsung Gear S2 Assessment: Conclusion

I in point of fact, in point of fact just like the Samsung Gear S2. I adore it as it seems and looks like a right kind watch and also you don’t need to fanny round poking the display to do stuff on it.

I basically use smartwatches to peer who’s messaging or emailing me and for monitoring my task. The remainder of the time it’s simply there to inform me the time, and that is what I love concerning the Samsung Gear S2: it will get out of the best way and acts like a right kind watch more often than not.

It additionally has a ton of significant options for monitoring task and tracking your workout routines. TizenOS is somewhat tough across the edges and Google Maps is sorely overlooked, however for a smartwatch the Gear S2 is definitely one of the crucial absolute best I've ever examined.

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