Samsung Announces Two New Smart Watches and New Wire-Free Gear IconX Earbuds

[MacRumors]

Samsung today held an event at the IFA trade show in Berlin, where the company introduced two new smart watches and a second-generation version of its Gear IconX wireless earbuds. The two new watches come just weeks ahead of the prospective launch date of Apple's third-generation Apple Watch, which is expected to feature LTE as its main selling point.

The new Samsung Gear Sport is positioned as a fitness-focused smart watch with a round 1.2-inch 360 x 360 AMOLED display and a 20mm strap, making it one of Samsung's slimmest smart watches. It features an improved interface, "military-level durability," and comes in two colors - blue and black.

Inside, there's a 1.0GHz dual-core processor, 4GB storage space, 768MB RAM, a 300mAh battery, and the traditional sensors, including a heart rate monitor, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, and more. It runs the Tizen operating system and is compatible with Android and iOS devices. Pricing for the Gear Sport has yet to be announced, and Samsung says it'll be available for purchase during the holiday season.

Samsung's Gear Fit2 Pro, available in red and black, is described by the company as an advanced GPS fitness band rather than a true smart watch. It includes GPS tracking functionality and a curved 1.5-inch 216 x 432 AMOLED touchscreen display. It also features a Dual Core 1.0GHz processor, 4GB storage, 512MB RAM, a 200mAh battery, and it comes in two sizes to fit different wrists.

The Gear Fit2 Pro, priced at $199.99, will be available for preorder starting on August 31 at 9:00 a.m from retailers like Amazon. Shipments will start arriving on September 15.

Both the Gear Sport and the Gear Fit2 Pro feature heart rate monitoring that Samsung says offers improved accuracy, water resistance and swim tracking in collaboration with Speedo, auto activity detection, and personalized wellness plans with fitness goals to reach.

Samsung's final new wearable is a second-generation version of its Gear IconX wire-free earbuds, which are Samsung's equivalent to Apple's AirPods. Samsung says the new IconX earbuds are lighter weight and more ergonomic, making them more secure and comfortable in the ear. They come in Black, Gray, and Pink, and support features like Bixby with gestures to activate the personal assistant.

The new Gear IconX features improved battery life (up to five hours of music streaming or seven hours of standalone playback), 4GB internal storage per earbud, and a charging case. The Gear IconX is set to be released this fall, but pricing has yet to be announced.

Article Link: Samsung Announces Two New Smart Watches and New Wire-Free Gear IconX Earbuds

 

[Morgenland]

"It runs the Tizen operating system and is compatible with Android and iOS devices."
LOL

 

[44267547]

I don't like the way those Watches look at all. I can appreciate the round design, but those look very minimalistic for Those who may appreciate that.

The Gear S3 Frontier had a bold style to it that I found more appealing:

 

[dwaltwhit]

From a purely aesthetic standpoint, I like the gear sport.

 

[Morgenland]

Earbuds can be bundled with The Potty Patty Potty Chair:

 

[phillipduran]

Why is this a MacRumor?

 

[Maetzle]

Why is this a MacRumor?

Because it's about products of one of the main competitors of Apple.

 

[djcerla]

The more smartwatches are released, the more the design work of Ive&Newson on the Apple Watch feels just "right" and timeless (pun intended).

 

[the future]

Because it's about products of one of the main competitors of Apple.

In wearables? I don't think so.

 

[BornAgainMac]

These Samsung products are not working for me. I don't like the design. Going to stick with Apple for these types of products and their phones, tablets, and computers.

 

[826317]

I wonder where they got the ring idea from..

 

[SBlue1]

Wish Apple would make in-ear AirPods. Would buy them in a heartbeat.

 

[kingpushup]

Icon X battery problem before was not Samsung’s claimed life but the actual life (like half).

So I had hoped to see Samsung demonstrate better actual test, like the many other new quality checks now to their phones.

 

[ChrisCW11]

Because it's about products of one of the main competitors of Apple.

Because Samsung showcases what Apple will do 5 years from now. Although this specific set of products are a bit of a stretch, I am sure Apple will come out with pink AirPod's one day.

 

[PJM83]

Wish Apple would make in-ear AirPods. Would buy them in a heartbeat.

Only this! The current ones just doesn't look right.

 

[Morgenland]

First images of the Charging Device leaked:

 

[Porco]

Rather than potties... the Gear IconX earbuds made me think of an aquatic avian society.

 

[44267547]

Why is this a MacRumor?

Because it's about products of one of the main competitors of Apple.

In wearables? I don't think so.

Samsung Watches still qualifies as a competitor product to Apple. Especially given that the releasing their LTE version of a Watch weeks before Apple likely is as well. Furthermore, it's also nice to read about other competitor the news on MacRumors versus frequenting other tech sites that report the same things.

 

[Mavicman]

The gear 2 classic and Frontier are good looking watches. These look like something made for kids. Not appealing at all

 

[tridley68]

Thoes two items are the most unappealing things that i have seen since breakfast.

 

[mistafro]

LMAO at people that say AirPods are ugly! Now you can appreciate the technology apple packs in such a slim light weight profile instead of these monstrosities! Haha!

 

[Zirel]

Samsung today held an event at the IFA trade show in Berlin, where the company introduced two new smart watches and a second-generation version of its Gear IconX wireless earbuds. The two new watches come just weeks ahead of the prospective launch date of Apple's third-generation Apple Watch, which is expected to feature LTE as its main selling point.

The new Samsung Gear Sport is positioned as a fitness-focused smart watch with a round 1.2-inch 360 x 360 AMOLED display and a 20mm strap, making it one of Samsung's slimmest smart watches. It features an improved interface, "military-level durability," and comes in two colors - blue and black.

Inside, there's a 1.0GHz dual-core processor, 4GB storage space, 768MB RAM, a 300mAh battery, and the traditional sensors, including a heart rate monitor, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, and more. It runs the Tizen operating system and is compatible with Android and iOS devices. Pricing for the Gear Sport has yet to be announced, and Samsung says it'll be available for purchase during the holiday season.

Samsung's Gear Fit2 Pro, available in red and black, is described by the company as an advanced GPS fitness band rather than a true smart watch. It includes GPS tracking functionality and a curved 1.5-inch 216 x 432 AMOLED touchscreen display. It also features a Dual Core 1.0GHz processor, 4GB storage, 512MB RAM, a 200mAh battery, and it comes in two sizes to fit different wrists.

The Gear Fit2 Pro, priced at $199.99, will be available for preorder starting on August 31 at 9:00 a.m from retailers like Amazon. Shipments will start arriving on September 15.

Both the Gear Sport and the Gear Fit2 Pro feature heart rate monitoring that Samsung says offers improved accuracy, water resistance and swim tracking in collaboration with Speedo, auto activity detection, and personalized wellness plans with fitness goals to reach.

Samsung's final new wearable is a second-generation version of its Gear IconX wire-free earbuds, which are Samsung's equivalent to Apple's AirPods. Samsung says the new IconX earbuds are lighter weight and more ergonomic, making them more secure and comfortable in the ear. They come in Black, Gray, and Pink, and support features like Bixby with gestures to activate the personal assistant.

The new Gear IconX features improved battery life (up to five hours of music streaming or seven hours of standalone playback), 4GB internal storage per earbud, and a charging case. The Gear IconX is set to be released this fall, but pricing has yet to be announced.

Article Link: Samsung Announces Two New Smart Watches and New Wire-Free Gear IconX Earbuds

Jony Ive just needs to iMessage this article to Tim Cook to get a raise.

One thing that I learned from following Apple and Tech news is that design is hard.

 

[Ted13]

Samsung Watches still qualifies as a competitor product to Apple. Especially given that the releasing their LTE version of a Watch weeks before Apple likely is as well. Furthermore, it's also nice to read about other competitor the news on MacRumors versus frequenting other tech sites that report the same things.

I'm all for this info being on MacRumors, but the idea that the Samsung watch is a serious Apple Watch competitor is laughable

 

[tigres]

look, we have activity bars on samsung now, circles and all.

 

[shaunp]

Like the look of the new watches, but this whole earphones without any cables nonsense is just going to end in tears when you lose one of them. You see with a cable you wouldn't lose one of them you'd lose..erm, both of them. I didn't think that through. Doh!