SAMSUNGGear S2 Smartwatch - Dark Gray

I currently have this and the Apple Watch. I own an iPhone 6 Plus and a Galaxy Note 5.At this time, I currently prefer this watch over my Apple Watch.It has way more customization options.It presents data in a clear and concise manner. Any app I choose to receive notifications from, it does so in a very clean and easy to use interface.S-voice on phones and tablets seem to be sub-par compared to Google Now and Siri; but on this watch, it satisfactorily fulfills its functions as needed.Compared to my Apple Watch, it is very light. This makes it easy to wear all day. With my Apple Watch, I can't wait to take it off at the end of the day. This watch, I have to remember to take it off at the end of the day.I may buy the 'Classic' version of this watch with the cellular radio inside it, but I'm not sure how much that will be needed since this watch performs all of the functions I need without it. However, the 3G version of this watch appears to be bigger so I may not:DimensionBT 42.3 x 49.8 x 11.4 mmBT classic 39.9 x 43.6 x 11.4 mm3G 44.0 x 51.8 x 13.4 mm(information obtained from Samsung's official website for the Gear S2)The bezel is a great dual function feature. Not only does it allow fast and easy navigation through the watch's interface (Tizen OS), but it already has paid itself off by protecting my watch screen from damage since the bezel is a 'lip' around the watch's screen. My Apple Watch screen already has dings and scratches on it, but not on the S2 because the bezel helps protect the Gear S2's screen. This is a big plus for me since I always seem to like to take tight turns around corners while I'm walking and always seem to somehow bang my watch against the corners of walls, doors, etc.The only thing I can see that might turn people off from this watch is the band may 'feel' cheap. But rest assured it is not. It is very light and yet durable enough for the rigors of 'normal' daily life. I'm not an avid sports activity type of person, so I cannot vouch for it on that level. For me I do a lot of walking and hiking. There's not much 'contact' as someone who plays basketball, hockey or football or whatever. Although if I were that kind of person, I would be taking it off before I did any of those things anyway.Battery Life. It's been great so far. On light use (checking notifications as they actually come in), I get down to about 65-68% by the end of the day. If I'm playing around with it and demonstrating it to someone (family/friends) because they asked me to, I've seen it go down to about 50-53%. With my type of usage, I've yet to see it drop below 50%. So for me, I could probably get 2 days out of it. I doubt I could get 3 days though, even with how light my usage of the device is.I've heard that some people were able to pair up this watch with their iPhones (albeit at the expense of less functionality), but I have not tried it and really don't intend to. The universe might implode in on itself if people were to actually wear that combo in public on a large scale (this is a joke)!All in all, it is a great watch. Is it the best watch? In my honest opinion, I believe so. This is if you consider the Apple Watch to be the King of the Hill right now. I still think Android Wear has a long way to go; but this watch (with Tizen OS) proves that it can be very flexible in its use, many customization options for its appearances, and still be very useful and presentable all in one package.If your usage and/or beliefs in how a 'smart' watch should function mirrors my own, then you will love this watch too. But if you want a 'smart' watch that acts just like a phone with 3 billion apps that you can wear on your wrist, then maybe not so much.Samsung has demonstrated that it can be innovative on its own merit, and what they did here with the Tizen OS is a giant step in the right direction.Thank you.

This rating is for my initial impressions/experiences with the Gear S2. I have also briefly owned a Moto 360 2nd gen, and I have "tinkered" with the Apple Watch and a few other smart watches, so this will largely be a review in comparison to those other watches.Design is excellent - futuristic and yet classy and elegant. Smooth lines and well placed buttons, and the bezel, of course, not just a decoration like you find on other watches. I have the non-Classic model, and contrary to a few other reviews, I do not find the material of the straps to be cheap in any way. They are soft, yet durable, and very comfortable so far. Two sizes of straps are provided, and I opted to use one side Large, and the other side Small (I have small wrists, but flat, so this worked for me). I had a little trouble figuring out the system to remove the straps, but once you understand it it isn't that difficult (still requires a little bit of pressure, but I wouldn't want them to come off too easily, that defeats the purpose).Size is perfect for a man with smaller wrists. One reason I haven't purchased a smart watch to date was due to size... And manufacturers are all catching on to this fact by offering smaller versions for everyone. I couldn't imagine that it would be considered "too small" for any but the largest people (or people who are simply used to having massive devices strapped to their wrists). It is most comparable to the Moto 360 2nd gen 42 mm in size.It responds very well to wrist gestures. Also I love how the gestures not only turn the display on, but off as well. I did not have the same experience on the Moto 360 (granted, it turned out to be defective and gestures stopped working completely, so that may have been a factor).The display quality is typical Samsung - stunning and deep rich colors, true blacks, etc. And OLED is a great battery saver for a device like this. Anticipating a good battery life (havent had it long enough to provide an accurate assessment). Though the screen is small, Samsung works their magic and gives you as many pixels as possible within the 1.2 inch screen, to the point where I don't miss the larger screen of the Moto 360 2 at all.Tizen UI works great paired with the bezel design. I have used Android Wear (latest version), and tinkered with an Apple Watch a few times. Both OSs seemed ok at first, but could become awkward in a hurry, and I could actually get sort of lost...and switching from one app to another could be cumbersome. But not with the Tizen UI on the Gear S2. So far, everything is simple, quick, and straightforward, which is what I want in a smart watch... I want to be able to move from one thing to another quickly and without fuss. To me this is the best UI, hands down, for a smart-watch - it just makes sense.Apps and app selection. Definitely poor in that arena. Samsung is going it alone here, and may have trouble getting some of the major app developers to provide something useable just for Tizen - only time will tell. But for my needs there are definitely enough apps, and the ones they do have work within Tizen UI with the bezel, which is to me a big advantage over others. Plus, you have to remember - this is for a smart watch. not a tablet... Realistically, I can't see myself ever needing more than a dozen apps at the most. I barely use that many on my phone.My only real con, so far (aside from app selection), is with the bezel design that I love. The bezel itself is a little stiff in response when I turn it with a finger. A little too much resistance, and my finger slides without moving the bezel. I read where another reviewer had similar issues and mentioned wetting their fingertip to make it "stick" better. I do think this will go away with use, however. I have used the display model at a nearby retail store, and the bezel is quite responsive - not nearly as resistant. Or I will simply get used to the amount of pressure required to make it move. Either way, this is not a huge con, and one I can live with.TLDR version: Beautiful design, perfect size for smaller wrists, best UI for a smart watch. Limited app selection, and the bezel can be a little stiff