Samsung Gear S2 Smartwatch available today from $499

The race is really on now for Smartwatch dominance and of course market-share.  With the Apple Watch stealing most of the headlines the question is – what are the options?  Today Samsung makes available its latest contender the Samsung Gear S2.

I’ve seen a lot of Smartwatches, and frankly they are all excellent, they’ve just evolved a lot over the years and we’re now seeing a move back to a traditional watch design and a new emphasis on apps and functionality over just notifications.

This is the Samsung Gear S2 – simple, classic watch design, vastly different to the previous smartwatches from Samsung which have tried to re-define the watch.

I liked the look of it from the get-go.  But this Video I shot at IFA in Berlin was what convinced me Samsung was on to something.

That twisting dial around the face is genuinely intuitive, and that’s something everyone has struggled with – including Apple.

For some reason Samsung have gone it alone though, opting for their own Tizen software to power this thing, which will prove interesting from an App support perspective, but if the market share of Samsung has the influence that it should, then the App developers should follow – and fast.

Compatibility is not limited to Samsung Devices, with the Gear S2 able to b activated from Android-powered devices via the Gear Manager app which is in the Google Play store.

One feature of note that’s unique to the Gear S2 is WiFi, with a known WiFi connection you can stay connected even when your smartphone isn’t in the same room.

Available in Dark Grey with a Dark Grey band, and Silver with a White Band as a “S2 Classic” and “S2” while the “S2 Classic” is also available in a black case with a leather band.

The Classic is a slightly smaller device, with a 39.9mm face, while the S2 standard has a 42.3mm face.

You can buy them from today at Samsung Experience stores in Melbourne and Sydney, with availability more widely in November.

The Gear S2 will be $499, the S2 Classic $599, with watch bands available from $59 to $89.