Samsung's smartwatch sounds amazing and looks amazing—on paper. In the flesh, the Galaxy Gear is a seriously limited gadget that's tethered to a phone and/or tablet that no one owns yet. So much for innovation.
I donned the watch, which hits U.S. shelves in October (launching in 149 other countries Sept. 25) for $299, and played with its features for a few minutes in a crowded press room under less than optimal conditions. That said, I don't see myself ever owning a Galaxy Gear.
Style for miles
The 1.6-inch Super AMOLED screen is beautiful. I felt like Inspector Gadget when I glanced at my wrist. But the display and plastic strap are massive. Wearable tech continues to struggle to appeal to all types of people, because it has to be comfortable, stylish, and small. If you have tiny wrists, the Galaxy Gear is not for you.
The Gear might be a tad large for ladies, or men with slender wrists.
Several people commented on the fact that the Galaxy Gear looks like those iPod nano watchbands that were en vogue a few years back. It's a fair comparison. The Samsung watch's display is definitely more rectangular than the Nano watch, but the glossy black display just feels like wearing a mini-smartphone.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon