Skip to main content

Samsung unveils new Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo smartwatches, ditches Android for Tizen

Following a pair of leaked images this morning, Samsung has just taken the wraps off of two new Gear smartwatches, the Gear 2 and the Gear 2 Neo. The difference between the two models is the lack of a camera on the Gear Neo. As rumored earlier this month, both of the models have ditched Android in favor of Samsung’s Tizen operating system.

According to Samsung, the switch to Tizen will offer many improvements to the end-user. First off, Tizen is much less power intensive, which means battery life has improved to 2-3 days, according to Samsung—much better than the one day life given by the original Gear. Tizen will also offer an “enriched application ecosystem” to the user.

In terms of specifications, both new Gear models are rocking a 1.63-inch touchscreen, 4Gb of internal storage, a 1GHz dual-core processor, a 300mAh battery and 512MB of RAM. The Gear 2 also features a 2MP camera with 720p video capabilities, while the Neo lacks a camera altogether.

Samsung hasn’t made a ton of changes to the physical design of the Gear with this refresh, but there are some tweaks. First, the camera is now located on the front of the watch, next to the IR blaster. It was originally located on the wrist strap, which cluttered the design and made taking pictures rather awkward. The mic has been moved to the body of the device, as well. Because of these changes, Samsung will now let users switch the wristband of the Gear with third-party bands. It’s unclear, however, if the Gear 2 will use the common 22mm strap like the Pebble, or if it’s something specific.

Samsung did not release any information regarding pricing, but did say the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo will be available worldwide starting in April. The Gear 2 will be available in Charcoal Black, Gold Brown and Wild Orange, while the Neo will be available in Mocha Grey, Charcoal Black, and Wild Orange. Samsung also says the watches will be compatible with “more than dozens” of Galaxy devices when released.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel