Samsung unveils Gear S2 smartwatch to rival Apple Watch

By Lorraine Caballero, Christian Post Contributor Wednesday, September 02, 2015

Samsung is seeking to topple Apple in the wearable device market by unveiling its latest smartwatch called the Gear S2.

On Tuesday, Samsung revealed its new round-faced Gear S2 smartwatch that is capable of making mobile payments. The 1.2-inch screen of the device can also be used to control compatible home appliances, according to the Business Insider.

Aside from that, consumers can also make phone calls and send text messages using the Gear S2. The device also has a longer battery life compared to the Apple Watch, which lasts for 18 hours. However, the number of apps available for Samsung's latest smartwatch is still unconfirmed, CBC reports.

The limited number of apps remains one of the major issues that Samsung smartwatches have yet to overcome. Although the company made smartwatches ahead of Apple, it still has not piqued the interest of consumers enough to compel a lot of them to buy its wearables.

Third-party developers have been busy making more apps for the Apple Watch and Android Wear watches. Since Samsung uses its own OS called Tizen, developers would have to put in extra effort to adapt apps for its watches, the report explains.

Samsung is positioning the Gear S2 as a competitor of the Apple Watch. The latter has pushed Apple to the top place in wearable devices after its launch in April, the report details.

Samsung launched its first smartwatch in 2013 and the latest model was released in November 2014. Unfortunately, the firm's smartwatches were not well received and Apple has remained the top seller of wearable devices.

Samsung said several apps specifically designed for the round-faced Gear S2 will be available soon. The South Korean tech giant also said it will provide a demonstration of the new apps on Thursday during the IFA event in Berlin.

The South Korean device maker will officially release the Gear S2 during the IFA trade fair in Berlin this month. The estimated price of Samsung's newest smartwatch has yet to be revealed.