Samsung is no stranger to big smartphone launches, and today, the company is breaking all records by launching the Galaxy S5 and its three new wearables, the Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit, in more than 125 countries simultaneously. All four devices should now be available for purchase at popular online retailers and local stores near you – the Galaxy S5's pricing will differ based on your region, but you can expect to be able to buy the Gear 2 for $299 and the Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit for $199 each. Color options for the Galaxy S5 include black, white, gold and blue, though some colors might not be available in particular regions immediately.
The Galaxy S5 sports a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display of 1080p resolution, a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16-megapixel camera with fast auto-focus, improved low-light photos and more, 16GB of storage and a microSD slot, Wi-Fi, HSPA+, LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, and NFC connectivity, and a 2,800 mAh battery. It runs on Android 4.4.2 KitKat with an improved version of Samsung’s custom UI, and comes with unique features like a fingerprint sensor, heart rate monitor, Ultra Power Saving Mode for extended battery life, Download Booster for fast downloads over Wi-Fi and LTE connections, and a faux leather back cover that’s designed to give users a firmer and more comfortable grip.
Consumers will also get almost $600 worth of free goodies with the Galaxy S5, including 6 month subscription to theWall Street Journal valued at $160, free Evernote Premium for 3 months ($15), LinkedIn Premium for 3 months ($75), and 50 GB Box cloud storage for 6 months ($60). Also included are subscriptions to health and fitness apps like RunKeeper and MapMyFitness, which should take advantage of the plethora of sensors inside the device to help you track your everyday activities, and a free copy of FIFA 14.
The Gear 2 improves on almost every aspect of the Galaxy Gear and sports quite a few new features. The watch is water-resistant thanks to IP67 certification, comes with an inbuilt heart rate sensor and pedometer, has interchangeable straps (black, brown and orange color options) and now allows music playback from the watch itself. It runs on Samsung’s Tizen OS instead of Android, and has a 1.63-inch 320×320 Super AMOLED display, 1GHz dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM, 2-megapixel camera with 720p video recording, 4GB of internal storage, and a 3,00 mAh battery that offers up to 3 days of battery life with moderate usage.
The Gear 2 Neo is similar to the Gear 2, but doesn’t have a camera and is made of plastic, which allows for the lower price tag. Meanwhile, the Gear Fit is a fitness tracker with a beautiful curved OLED display, inbuilt pedometer and heart rate sensor for functions such as counting steps, calories, and heart rate, and also comes with interchangeable straps like the Gear 2. Battery life is touted at 3-4 days with moderate usage, and like the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo, the Gear Fit will be compatible with more than 20 Samsung smartphones and tablets upon launch (though you'll need to update to the latest version of the Gear Manager app and download the Gear Fit Manager app on existing devices.)
So who's picking up Samsung's latest flagship and wearable(s)?
