It’s impressive how many bases Samsung has covered in just two designs: the standard Gear S2 and the upscaled Gear S2 Classic. It should be noted that the stainless steel and plastic editions look like watches and feel well made – and if you’ve ever worn a previous Samsung smartwatch, you’ll know that is big news.
If we’d had a choice of which Gear S2 to review, we’d have plumped for the Classic. The ridged bezel, leather strap and smaller body combine for a premium feel, and it can be easily fitted with third party straps. It’s$50 more expensive, but feels lovely.
We also haven’t had a chance to test the Gear S2 with 3G and GPS – the obvious choice to compare to the Sof you want a smartwatch for everyday as well as running or training.
With two different designs and a bunch of different straps, there’s some choice of style in the Samsung Gear S2 line-up, though it can’t rival Apple or Motorola for personalisation options. While the Gear S2 Classic, with its leather strap, looks more in line with a Fossil watch, the plastic strapped Gear S2 has more in common with a Swatch. This is key for a couple of reasons. First, the Samsung Gear S2 doesn’t try too hard. With its pre-loaded watch faces it looks fun and off-the-wall. It’s not trying to be as classy as an Omega or as blingy as a Michael Kors. It has a confident style and it translates well.