A watch is one of the few items on the list of accepted male jewelry. Besides telling the time and date it can be a defining detail, revealing a lot about a man’s character.
I have, for a long time wanted to get a new watch. Not that I need one, I have a Tag-Heuer as my everyday timepiece. I also have a Casio PAG-240 that is great for hiking, kayaking, and anywhere else that makes it nice to have a watch that can take a beating. What I wanted was a classic looking watch with a leather band that was easy to change, so that I could match it with my belt and shoes. For more than a year I have been looking, but not finding the perfect watch within my budget.
Smartwatches
With my love for technology and staying connected I have followed the smartwatch segment since the first models hit the market. In general, I think that most of these watches have been too big – looking like an arm wrist computer, or too sporty – making it look like an oversized step counter. A little over a year ago I bought a fitness tracker. One of my key requirements was a heart rate monitor, this made the selection rather narrow. I ended up with a Fitbit Charge HR, which I have been very satisfied with.
[bctt tweet=”A watch can be a defining detail, revealing a lot about a man’s character.”]
The search for a fitness tracker led me to read a lot of specs and reviews on smartwatches. Both the Motorola Moto 360, Pebble Time and Samsung Gear made it to my mental shortlist but fell through in lack of functionality and/or clumsy design. Then Samsung released the Gear S2 Classic. The difference between the Gear S2 and the Gear S2 Classic is that the Classic actually looks like a classic men’s watch. It’s not too big and has a round bezel. Besides it comes with a leather strap and not only has Samsung made this easy to change without the need for tools – but they also provide this in two colors. In addition to the standard black, you can also get it in brown and beige.
I knew that a smart watch would have to be a compromise. It will never have the same exclusive look as a “real” watch. The upside is that it gives you the possibility of checking email and other messages without constantly fiddling with your phone. Another great feature with a smartwatch Is the ability to change the watch face. If you are traveling to another time zone, it is great to have the watch display two time zones at a glance, not having to push four buttons before you know if it is safe to call home. After some hesitation I bought the Gear S2 Classic, figuring that I could return it if I did not like it. If I chose to keep it would be for a cost of around 5% of what I had in mind spending for a regular watch.
Below is a hands-on video for Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic
Thanks to Android Authority, www.androidauthority.com for the video.
[bctt tweet=”With a smart watch I can match the color of the watch face with my attire for the day.”]
Gear S2 – Two weeks later
I have now used the watch for two weeks and are starting to like it more and more. Using the bezel for navigating the menus is even possible with gloves. This way you can flip between messages without having to take your gloves off. Using the bezel also means that you will not get the glass all smudgy if you have greasy fingers.
It is true that the selection of dedicated apps is not yet that good, but I’m surprised how well it interacts with the standard applications on my phone. I can read, delete, file and respond to email. I have not yet tried to use the keyboard on the watch to reply on email, and I don’t think I will, but the option is there. I also like the fact that I get a subtle vibration on my wrist, letting me know that I got an email or a message even if my phone is not within reach.
Bonus: With a smart watch I can match the color of the watch face with my attire for the day.
For an overview of the best smartwatches, go to http://www.wareable.com/smartwatches/the-best-smartwatches-in-the-world