Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch Specs EmergeSamsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch Specs Emerge
Samsung smartwatch will have oversize 2.5-inch screen but only 10 hours of battery life.
Apple iWatch Vs. Smartwatches Past And Present
Apple iWatch Vs. Smartwatches Past And Present(click image for larger view and for slideshow)
With only a few days to go before it is announced, leaks continue to clarify what Samsung's Galaxy Gear smartwatch will offer. The latest leak tells us more about the screen and about potential battery life.
A near-full spec sheet has emerged that provides a number of details. First, the smartwatch will have a 2.5-inch OLED screen with 320-by-320 pixels. The 2.5-inch screen is bigger than the screens offered on competing devices. For example, the Sony SmartWatch 2 has a 1.6-inch screen with 220-by-176 pixels. Entering the market with such a large screen will surely set the Galaxy Gear apart from competitors. We also know that the screen won't be flexible.
"We will be introducing a new wearable concept device called Galaxy Gear at our own event," said Lee Young-hee, executive VP of Samsung's mobile business, earlier this week. "The Gear won't have a flexible display. The new device will enhance and enrich the current smart mobile experience in many ways. It will lead a new trend in smart mobile communications. We are confident that the Gear will add meaningful momentum to the mobile industry."
[ Could smartwatches divert buyers from tablets? Read Tablet Sales Face Growing Threat From Smartwatches, Phablets. ]
Other specs point out that the device will have a dual-core 1.5-GHz processor with 1 GB of memory and two different storage options: 6 GB or 8 GB. These storage options don't make much sense, as most devices offer 4, 8, 16, or 32 GB of storage. There's no word yet what company is supplying the processor, although in this case it is most likely coming from Samsung.
The device will include a bevy of sensors and radios, such as an accelerometer, GPS and Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy. It will have speakers located in the strap, and, surprisingly, it will include a 4-megapixel camera that can record 720p HD video. Although the Galaxy Gear won't be of much use for watching movies, it might be handy to have a camera strapped to your wrist.
The Galaxy Gear smartwatch will be based on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, but there's no word on how the operating system will work or how it will interact with the device's features.
One disappointing bit of news to come from the specs is the battery life: the Gear will last just 10 hours per charge. What the specs don't tell is if that means 10 hours no matter how it is used, or 10 hours with the screen on. There's a big difference between the two.
Samsung will reveal the Galaxy Gear smartwatch and Galaxy Note III at a press conference being held in Berlin on Sept. 4. information will be there to deliver the news firsthand.
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