Today the smartwatch market is at its peak. Statistics show that demand has grown by a quarter over the past few years. The mobile device combines the basic functions of a smartphone, is more convenient to use and looks very stylish. The heroes of the review are the Samsung Gear S4 smart watch.
After the release of GearS3, the developer planned to revolutionize. The September technology exhibition was more or less expected and smooth. Manufacturers did not make technological breakthroughs. The sale of smart watches gives Samsung the second place in sales after Yabloko. However, the devices are famous for their high cost and pallor in comparison with their first competitors.
Samsung's new watch was supposed to be one of the most anticipated events of the coming year. The manufacturers decided to make a small surprise by presenting the model at a recent exhibition in Germany. The previous Gear S3 turned out to be quite interesting and was able to compete with its closest competitor, the giant in the field of smart technologies - Apple. But, the device lacked a sports component. The Samsung Gear S4 is not so much a stand-alone device as it is an add-on to the Gear S3, and Gear sport is designed to address the sporty flaw.
Who is smartwatches for?
The devices are mainly of interest to professional athletes and people with a healthy lifestyle. The main function of the fitness tracker is to display general indicators of the body. You can measure your heart rate, distance traveled and calories lost.
Versions
The Samsung Gear s4 smartwatch is expected to be presented in 2 variants:
- Classic - for a more conservative audience who prefers classic design of wristwatches
- Frointer - for lovers of sports style
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Audience expectations
The manufacturers themselves said that the new model is designed to combine all the best from smartphones and smartwatches. Time will show how feasible it is. Gadget lovers would like to see the following modifications in the new smartwatch:
- Compactness - the gadget looks a bit bulky, although its design is quite well thought out. I would like the model to be lighter and more harmonious.
- More accurate location determination. The previous model had problems and crashes with this. As for the functional part, the gadget was damp and not fully thought out
- The author's operating system did not allow many standard applications to work. It is assumed that the Gear S4 will run on the Android system, and the developers are diversifying the number of possible applications
- Other models did not have the "Always on" application, which is available on all modern smartphones running on the "Android" system, starting from version 4.3
- Decrease in initial cost. An important factor. Gear S3 became more accessible, which allowed it to compete with Yabloko in the fight for audience
- A functional expansion is expected from the gear sport. Such a solution could somehow justify the cost of the device in the smart IT market.
- The frame deserves special attention of 3 models. With its help, it was possible to navigate the menu. But, there was no navigation button, which negated the ease of management. To go back, you had to double-tap the display. Hope to see a built-in button in the new model.
- The main inconvenience when using the device is that they are always on. This can be traced to the example of the samsung galaxy and other developer models
- Another wait - a larger battery, and ergonomic work
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New strap
Samsung has patented a new touch strap technology, in theory equipped with a flexible screen. It sounds like an episode of a fantasy saga, but the Korean giant already has similar solutions.
Screen
As for the screen, it is rumored to be round and slightly curved around the edges. It can look very stylish and fresh, but the convenience and, most importantly, the benefits of the modification remain in question. The diagonal will remain the same 1.2 inches with a resolution of 360 * 360.
What can surprise the model
Gear Sport, presented in the German capital, boasts water resistance. Of course, this is not news to the smart device market. Many watches have protection against dust and water, but sport weights have dived deeper. In theory, they can be submerged to a depth of 50 meters. Products - analogues can boast of tolerance to rain and a small amount of water. They are not recommended to be immersed in depth.
Color scheme and design
In terms of looks and style, the device looks pretty good. Doesn't look strictly like an army. You can control a smart watch with several benzel buttons and using a touch screen, as in previous models. By default, the watch is designed in black and blue, but the straps can be changed at the discretion of the users.
Technological characteristics
- RAM capacity 4 GB
- RAM: 768 MB
- 2 - core processor
- The clock frequency is 1 GHz
- Supports bluetooth and wireless connection
As it became known this summer, the Koreans have decided to rename their new "smart watch" Samsung Gear S4 in the Samsung Galaxy Watch. It was assumed that this was due to a change of platform: instead of the proprietary OS Tizen, it was supposedly planned to use Wear OS based on Android. However, as it turned out, this is purely a matter of name.
According to South Korean media reports, the Galaxy Watch will run the most recent Tizen 4.0 out of the box. In general, it can be called fresh only with a certain stretch, since the fourth version of this OS was presented last year, and it is quite well known to developers.
The main focus in Tizen 4.0 was on voice control and the Internet of Things. Probably, the Samsung Galaxy Watch will be preinstalled with the proprietary voice assistant Bixby. In general, you need to understand that the "smart watch" of the Korean giant is not just a mobile accessory, but a self-contained device that is part of the Samsung ecosystem.
However, the software platform is far from the only advantage of the Galaxy Watch. According to insiders, the new smart watch will receive the widest possible set of sensors to monitor the state of the body. Supposedly they will even be able to measure blood pressure.
Some even credited the gadget with the ability to diagnose heart disease and diabetes. However, even for the preliminary formulation of such diagnoses, a detailed study is required using much more accurate equipment. So, at best, we can only talk about a recommendation to be examined by a doctor.
Other features of the Samsung Galaxy Watch include a larger 470 mAh battery compared to the Gear S3, compact dimensions thanks to Panel Level Packaging technology and support for 4G LTE networks. True, the latter will only be available if the mobile operator is familiar with the technology.
Galaxy Watch release date
According to the first version, the presentation of the Galaxy Watch will take place on August 9 simultaneously with the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 smartphone, which has flagship. However, the accessory will not appear on sale until August 24, and in some countries, the time to market may be delayed for a longer period. Pre-order starts on August 16.
According to the second version, the company will not rush to announce the Samsung Galaxy Watch, which will take place no earlier than August 31 at the IFA 2018 international exhibition in Berlin. If anything, Koreans will be looking to get ahead of Apple's September launch of the Apple Watch Series 4.
In general, the market situation is now favorable for the new "smart watches" from Samsung. Over the past year, the number of offers of this kind of accessories on the market has significantly decreased, while the company, in any case, can count on the backbone of its constant audience. The target of the “question” is $ 349.
Model numbers
Not so long ago it became known that the new Galaxy Watch is being certified in Russia as "portable wearable minicomputers of the Samsung trademark." Moreover, as many as four models are indicated: SM-R800, SM-R805, SM-R810 and SM-R815. Thus, unlike in previous years, the Russian buyer will definitely have a choice.
Despite the fact that Samsung had to update its line of smartwatches to the Gear S4 back in the middle of this year, the manufacturer released the Samsung Gear Sport sports watch. So instead of a new watch, we got a slightly simplified sports version of the Gear S3.
Thus, users now have a good choice, among two watches: classic and sports, not to mention the cool new fitness band Gear Fit2 Pro cheaper. But what about the Samsung Gear S4? What will the watch look like, what functions will it get, and most importantly, when is it worth waiting for? The Galagram edition has collected all the available information about this gadget in this article.
Samsung Gear S4 release date
The last announcement of wearable gadgets from Samsung was at the end of August 2017. And in November, the new items officially went on sale in Russia and Ukraine. Given the trend, we will likely see the Gear S4 no earlier than at IFA 2018 at the end of August.
It is also possible that Samsung will unveil a flagship watch, as usual, in February 2018. We really hope that the presentation will take place at the beginning of 2018 and that fans will not have to wait another half a year until IFA 2018. After all, during such a time, users tired of waiting can look towards the Apple Watch or more affordable Xiaomi (Huami) watches.
Specifications
The Gear 4 will continue to feature a high-resolution circular touchscreen display. In 2017, Samsung announced its new Exynos 7 Dual 7270 processor, most likely it will be the heart of the new smartwatch. This chipset is powerful and does not consume a lot of power - it is the most for wearable electronics. In addition to all this, it is equipped with a 4G LTE modem, which you will not find in the Gear S3 Sport.
Among other characteristics of the Samsung Gear S4, you should expect protection from moisture and dust, physical keys on the case and, as usual, an excellent design and stylish appearance.
Gear S4 features
There are so many functions available in the Gear S3 that, according to statistics, the average user does not include about 70% of them in everyday life. Good news for geeks, the Gear S4 will have even more of these features.
Edge display
If it works on the Galaxy, why not do the trick with the Gear S4 as well? So we've seen phones with curved screens, but will such a display be used in watches? One of Samsung's patents suggests that such an outcome of events is very likely.
On the side of the screen, the Gear S4 will offer quick notifications with basic information such as date, time and weather. The display will also only rotate 90 degrees and is divided into upper and lower sections, although it is not clear from this patent why.
Charging via smartphone
It is possible that one of the main features of the Samsung Gear S4 will be the ability to charge directly from your smartphone. Almost all flagships and mid-range devices today have large batteries (hey iPhones). Such devices are able not only to hold a charge all day, but also to recharge external devices.
The same Xiaomi Mi Max 2 with a 5400 mAh battery can act as an external battery. In fact, the Samsung Gear S4 watch can be charged using a smartphone by simply plugging into the USB Type-C port.
In 2017, an analysis of the wearable electronics market showed a significant increase in sales. In particular, sales rose 25% on average. World manufacturers are releasing new devices with enviable regularity, and the South Korean brand Samsung is no exception. The main line is called Gear S. After the release of the third version of the device, it became clear that the company seriously approached the creation and was able to present a really high-quality product that would be interesting for both buyers of smart electronics and those who just want to have a good watch, and smart functions will only nice addition. News about the new watch Samsung Galaxy Gear S4 began to appear immediately after the start of sales of the S3, but there were no significant details about the device. Considering that in August 2018 IFA 2018 will be held, the main details about the product are likely to emerge at this time. As a rule, this platform becomes a place where new devices are shown for the first time and talk about their features.
Important! It should be emphasized right away that while there was no official presentation of the Samsung Galaxy Gear S4 watch, all information about them is just speculation and guesswork.
Most likely, the device, as before, will remain with a round display. The water and dust resistance, as well as the display coating, will clearly remain the same. The device will probably use a new processor from Samsung - Exynos 7 Dual. This is a new development. The chipset turned out to be powerful and low in power consumption, it is obvious that it will be very logical to use it in the new Samsung Gear C4 watch, because it will hardly be possible to put a very capacious battery in them.
A sports model was released between the S3 and S4, which did not receive LTE modem... The function, which is not in demand in Russia, appealed to foreign users, so it will remain. It is possible that the novelty will, as before, be released in several modifications for different regions and user tasks.
Another interesting solution might be the ability to charge the watch from a smartphone. It is known that the modern Type-C connector, which all top devices are equipped with, works in two directions, that is, it is more than realistic to charge the watch from a smartphone. And due to the large battery capacity in modern smartphones, this will not greatly affect the autonomy of the latter.
An interesting feature that may appear in the Samsung Gear S4 smartwatch is the EDGE display. The company is actively using this development in its top-end smartphones. Public information about the company's patents suggests that they have the opportunity to use it in watches. Most likely, the scheme of work will be similar to the phone - notifications and quick access to applications. Most likely, it will also remain swivel bezel for controls and buttons. The company has spent a lot of effort to bring this way of working with watches to a decent level, and it would be extremely illogical to abandon it now.
In smartphones S8 and S8 +, Samsung has implemented Bixby voice assistant which is sort of Apple's Siri answer. Given the fact that Siri has been running on the Apple Watch for a long time, Koreans likely won't want to lag behind their direct competitor. In addition, the previous version of the S Voice voice control is not the most thoughtful and working solution, although it has been actively improved.
Sales start and price
Given the fact that the official announcement of the Samsung Gear 4 will be in August 2018, the expected release date for the device is autumn of the same year... If we recall earlier experience, then after the presentation at the end of summer, the device appears on store shelves in November. Most likely, this will happen this time as well, the opportunity to buy a model by pre-order will appear a month earlier. This will allow the company to supply the required number of devices to all those who have expressed a desire to purchase them faster than others.
The expected price of the model is $ 390-400... It is quite obvious that the watch will be more powerful in comparison with the previous versions, which means that it will receive a higher price tag.
More and more leaks about the Gear S4 are appearing on the Internet, which indicates that it will soon enter the market. According to rumors, the new generation of wearable electronics from Samsung will not receive a redesign - the new product will resemble current models with minor modifications.
The appearance of the upcoming gadget has remained almost the same. This is the "fault" of the proprietary operating system Tizen, the interface of which is optimized for the floor round display of smart watches. It is unlikely that Samsung has remade the shell of its platform and created a device in a new form factor - at least, leaks and patents suggest otherwise. Above the display, a rotating bezel has been preserved, which is an integral element of interaction with Tizen. The Gear S4's OLED display is rumored to be limitless, similar to that of the Galaxy S9.
While the main characteristics of the watch have remained the same (protection from water and dust according to the IP68 standard remains, the heart rate sensor has not gone anywhere either), the filling has undergone a change: Samsung has installed an updated processor in the new generation of smart watches. Thanks to him, the autonomy and performance of the gadget have increased significantly. According to some rumors, battery life has increased not only due to the more energy efficient chipset, but also due to additional flexible batteries in the strap. However, the reliability of these leaks is rather doubtful.
Samsung is unlikely to introduce new software that will run exclusively on the Gear S4. Most likely, the South Korean company will modify the existing proprietary utilities. Smartwatches are still paired with iOS and Android, but their functionality differs depending on the connected device.
