14 DAY TRIAL // Samsung thinks wearables are a big deal. A new report coming to us via Asian media proves exactly this point, by revealing it is already working on a next-gen Gear 2.
But before we tell you a little bit more on the topic, let’s take a quick tour back on memory lane. The original Samsung smartwatch Galaxy Gear was launched in Berlin, Germany on September 4, 2014 at the IFA event.
Then, after six short months, Samsung surprised everyone by lunching the successors of the Galaxy Gear, the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo.
And if we’re to believe the word on the street, Sammy is planning to strike back soon, real soon. Actually, according to this recent piece of information provided by the Korean Herald, Samsung’s Gear 3 (a made-up name, we don’t actually know whether Samsung will be calling the smartwatch like that) will be unveiled at the same event the Galaxy Note 4 will make its debut, which is scheduled for September.
More than that, it turns out the Gear 3 will be sold in a bundle package with the upcoming Galaxy Note 4. So it appears Samsung is not moving an inch away from its decision of keeping smartwatch compatibility restricted to its own products.
There is also a rumored Gear Solo smartwatch, a device said to be arriving with an embedded SIM, thus allowing users to place phone calls from their wrists.
The Korean report claims Samsung is not interested in rolling out the standalone smartwatch on a big scale, but planning to test the market with a limited batch of the SIM-embedded smartwatch this July.
This new information comes to contradict earlier reports that claimed Samsung’s Google Glass competitor might be taking the stage with the Galaxy Note 4 instead in September.
Nevertheless, considering that the smartwatch market has more potential than the wearable smart glasses, Samsung might be right to be pushing things more aggressively in this field.
Analyst Nam Dae-jong working for Hana Daetoo Securities explains Samsung’s move from his point of view.
“Samsung is trying to shorten the release cycle since other rivals, including Apple and LG Electronics, are expected to roll out their own smartwatches.”
According to most market research numbers provided by Strategy Analytics, Samsung managed to sell a total of 500,000 smartwatches in the first three months of the year (Q1), which translates into 71% of the global smartwatch market. And the Korean tech giant surely wants to continue the trend.