Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 release date, review: Specs of the Tizen-running smartwatch Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 include a SUPER AMOLED panel and a 1GHz procesor, available for $295 in 125 countries. Is Samsung’s newest creation worth your money?

“The Galaxy Gear 2 and Galaxy Gear 2 Neo are essential companion devices, allowing you to accept or ignore incoming calls and messages, and providing notification options based on your activity and habits. Both act as an extension of your daily life, giving you more control with a range of standalone features,” Samsung said in a statement.

“For example, you can control the other electronic products in your home, such as your TV and set-top box, through a WatchON Remote application with an embedded IrLED sensor. Plus, the addition of a standalone music player with Bluetooth headset means that even if you leave your smartphone at home, you can still enjoy your music when you are out and about.”

T3.com writes that the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 is a cross between the metal look of the Pebble Steel and the plastic feel of the Sony Smartwatch 2.

The Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 comes in silver and black and according to CNET, delivers an improved design, better notification and a new heart rate monitor. The wearable also has basic fitness tracking, which offers a lot of extras. Another advantage of the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 is that it’s water-resistant and has a range of interchangeable straps available.

The Gear 2 is a companion gadget for 17 Samsung types of devices. These are: Samsung Galaxy S5 / Galaxy Grand 2 / Galaxy Note 3 / Galaxy Note 3 Neo / Galaxy Note 2 / Galaxy S4 / Galaxy S3 / Galaxy S4 Zoom / Galaxy S4 Active / Galaxy S4 mini /
Galaxy Mega 6.3 / Galaxy Mega 5.8 / Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) / Galaxy NotePRO (12.2) / Galaxy TabPRO.

According to the Samsung.com microsite for the gadget, compatible device models may further be expanded and device compatibility could vary from country to country.

Major changes on the Gear 2 are with the hardware. The unit’s camera has moved from the strap to the body of the watch, which makes the strap interchangeable. PC Pro U.K. noted that the reduction on the size also means that the battery is smaller than the previous version. Samsung, however, is claiming a threefold improvement in the battery life of the device thanks in part to the efficiency that the Tizen OS would bring.

PC Advisor notes that though the newest model of the Samsung wearable is stylish, it still has a limited appeal. Some find the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 bulky and though it has a lot of advanced features, purchasing or having one is still seemingly awkward and generally unnecessary.