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Samsung Gear S to launch in the US on November 7
Math is a funny thing: according to Harry Nilsson, One is the loneliest number; according to Samsung, it’s the busiest. One is, after all, the number of years that have passed since the Korean chaebol began the most aggressive onslaught on the consumer market in the company’s history. Since fall 2014, Samsung has put forth an astonishing 7 tablet lines, and 5 smartwatches. (For those keeping track: Note 10.1 2014, Note PRO, Tab PRO, Tab 4, Tab S, Tab Active, Tab 4 Nook, Galaxy Gear, Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo, Gear Fit, and the Gear Live). Begin to count the mind boggling number of variants and chances are Samsung will have a new one out before you’re done. Ah wait, it already does.
Set for release in the USA next Friday (November 7th), the Gear S represents many things: Samsung’s first SIM-enabled smartwatch, Samsung’s first smartwatch with a virtual keyboard, and perhaps Samsung’s last venture into territory unneeded given its now epic financial problems.
Don’t let the pedigree fool you however, as the Gear S is in many ways what the original product should have been. Featuring a 2 inch curved SAMOLED display, an active mobile data connection via SIM (3G), an accelerometer, QWERTY keyboard software, UV sensor, barometer, S-Voice, a heart rate monitor, GPS and IP67 for dust- and water-resistance, and 4GB of on-board memory, literally the only thing it is missing is a camera.
The watch will be available in black and white from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile,Verizon, and at Best Buy’s Samsung Experience Stores. Pricing is yet to be announced, however the watch is already available here in Japan and retails for roughly $300 so expect something close to it.