Samsung Galaxy Gear : Review

Samsung Galaxy Gear is the most well-known smartwatch at this moment which lets you take calls, send texts, control your phone's media playback and do a few other extra things without taking your handset out of your pocket. The Galaxy Gear smartwatch from Samsung is the company's first attempt to enter a market which the industry has adopted as the next opportunity for growth and Samsung is one of the first major companies to venture into the relatively unknown territory with its Galaxy Gear which was launched alongside Galaxy Note 3. Does this device justify the price-tag, that you might consider purchasing it along with your new Galaxy Note 3 or other Samsung devices? We tried to find it out.

What's so new about this product?

Although high-tech GPS watches, health monitors and connected glasses have been around, but there isn't anything in the market that is quite like this device when compared to other smartwatches. It runs a full-color display, has a built-in camera, and supports approximately 50+ third party applications out of the box.

How to connect and recharge Galaxy Gear?

Through NFC you can pair Gear with your Galaxy device but in order to do this you'll need the charging case. The box includes a wall charger and charging dock. The dock has the USB port and connects to the internal battery using surface mounted contacts.

Is this device comfortable on your hand and easily operational in

real life?

The Gear is certainly an attractive device, a clever mix of metal and rubber that gives it a really solid feel. The clasp is strong and when it sits on your wrist it doesn't feel cheap or uncomfortable. Operation is surprisingly very easy, only one button on the outside, which is the power/function key. A tap on the screen to turn the device on, but a long press or double tap will also make the Gear perform other tasks.

What all can you do with Galaxy Gear?

Once this wearable device connects with your Samsung smartphone you can control your phone, make calls and answer them, see new messages and more. Galaxy Gear's main use is to notify you of happenings on your phone. With text messages, you'll be able to receive and reply using S Voice but with emails and Twitter notifications, there's no preview. You'll only be told that you need to check your phone and deal with it there. A swipe downwards activates the camera and by a single tap on the screen you can click a picture. You can access other apps and features just by left or right swipe like contacts and phone dialler, image gallery, multimedia, pedometer, stopwatch etc. Through speaker/mic which is built into the clasp on the strap, you can make or receive calls, the voice quality is also pretty decent, but not that audible in the middle of the road or in your moving car with windows down.

So is it worth buying?

No doubt that the Galaxy Gear is a solid effort from Samsung, and it isn't bad for a first-generation Samsung product. One big problem was the price as you had to spend Rs 23,000. But recently they slashes the price and now selling for reasonable Rs 15,290.