Gear S2 3Gby Samsung

TECHWALLA
VERDICT
A solid product. Despite some flaws, it's still a good value.
78 %
TECHWALLA SCORE
based on the following sites
  • 95%
  • 86%
  • 70%
  • 60%
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PROS

  • The addition of a cellular connection to the Gear S2 means you don't need your phone nearby to send and receive calls and texts.
  • It includes GPS, which is useful for tracking location and mapping runs.
  • It's attractive and easy to use.

CONS

  • Cellular carriers charge an additional $5 to $10 per month to use the service.
  • Battery life is short and gets shorter when you use the watch's cellular connection.
  • Notifications beyond calls and texts require that you have a phone nearby.
Smartwatches are great--as long as you have a smartphone with you too, right? Not so with the Samsung Gear S2 3G, the cellular-connected version of Samsung’s popular smartwatch. It has its own cellular connection that allows you to make and receive phone calls and send and receive texts without a connection to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. It has its own speaker and microphone so you simply talk into your wrist. The smartwatch includes GPS for tracking location and mapping runs, and it can play music.
Name Gear S2 3G Apple Watch LG Watch Urbane Gear S2 Gear S
Manufacturer Samsung Apple LG Samsung Samsung
Techwalla Score
78%
80%
74%
72%
59%
List Price $300 $349 $350 $300 $200
95%

I've been on the hunt for my perfect smartwatch for a couple years. The Apple Watch is close, but the lack of GPS and self-contained cellula…

I've been on the hunt for my perfect smartwatch for a couple years. The Apple Watch is close, but the lack of GPS and self-contained cellular service keep it from perfection. These are both functions that are available in the Samsung Gear S2 and once again Samsung is beating Apple to the punch.

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86%

[F]or the most part it works absolutely seamlessly. However, considering most of us now always have our phones with us anyway, I'm not sure …

[F]or the most part it works absolutely seamlessly. However, considering most of us now always have our phones with us anyway, I'm not sure it's worth paying nearly another £300 for unless you're a serious fitness fanatic.

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70%

Naturally the whole reason to buy the eSIM-toting 3G version of the Gear S2 is the extra freedom a mobile connection affords you. It’s great…

Naturally the whole reason to buy the eSIM-toting 3G version of the Gear S2 is the extra freedom a mobile connection affords you. It’s great if you need to leave your phone on charge when stepping out of the office for a while, safe in the knowledge that you won’t miss any important calls or notifications,...

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60%

See, that's the thing: I always have my phone on me. Why would I ever leave home without it? There's no way I'd rely on my watch as a phone.…

See, that's the thing: I always have my phone on me. Why would I ever leave home without it? There's no way I'd rely on my watch as a phone. And, that, ultimately, is the problem with the Gear S2 -- and maybe the whole idea of a standalone "watch phone."

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And, perhaps the biggest issue, the S2’s battery life is deplorably short when it is relying on a cellular connection. Go for a long run and…

And, perhaps the biggest issue, the S2’s battery life is deplorably short when it is relying on a cellular connection. Go for a long run and try to play music, track your activity, and send or receive a few messages and it might not be alive when you’re done.

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