Tech-savvy individuals have their eyes on the latest devices showcased by notable manufacturers this week in Berlin. The IFA 2017 trade show is currently hosting the latest in consumer electronics and more. Most people look forward to the annual IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin), to catch a glimpse of what’s new in the tech world. As expected, big names like Samsung, Sony, and more have their newest gadgets on display for attendees to scrutinize. Fans expected the South Korean company to showcase its fourth-generation Gear lineup, but it seems that something else was presented instead.
Samsung wearables for IFA 2017
It has finally been confirmed that Samsung will not launch the Gear S4 just yet. In its place, the company has revealed the Gear Sport, Gear Fit2 Pro, and the Gear IconX 2018. Last week, most people speculated that the company would reveal their next-generation lineup during the IFA 2017 tech fair.
Gear Sport
At first glance, the Gear Sport does not look any different from the Gear S3. However, the new model sports a slimmer profile, along with thinner wristband that measures 20mm. The Sport is apparently protected by a military-grade construction that renders it water-resistant up to 164 feet at 5-ATM. This allows users to take their smartwatch with them into the pool.
The device is also reportedly compatible with devices that depend on Samsung’s IoT (Internet of Things) via Samsung Connect. An NFC chip is also onboard for payments and more, just like its predecessor.
Gear Fit2 Pro
We have another small upgrade to one of its wearables. Samsung’s Gear Fit2 Pro basically features most of its predecessor’s hardware like the 1.5-inch curved AMOLED screen, 4GB internal storage, 512MB of RAM, and so on.
Strangely enough, the new device no longer features an ambient light sensor. Just like the Gear Sport, the latest model is also safe for swimming. The ingress-protection has been apparently bumped up to a higher level like its round-faced sibling.
Gear IconX 2018
The new wireless earphones only come with a minimal improvement.
Samsung claims that the battery performance of the Gear IconX 2018 will be much better than before. According to their tests, the earphones will last up to five hours with normal usage and just an hour more on music playback only.
Samsung going crazy over fitness
Tech experts have noticed that Samsung has designed their new devices to be more fitness-centric. Their pool-ready Gear Fit2 Pro and Gear Sport both come with the Speedo On app, which tracks swimming stats like stroke type, laps, and others. It should be noted that the small upgrades are hardly considered groundbreaking this time around. The IFA 2017 trade show continues this week and more announcements could be in store in the following days.
