Samsung’s first entry into the nascent smart watch category offers many of the conveniences of a smartphone. You can use the Galaxy Gear to make and receive calls, send text messages, download apps and even capture photos and videos.
But there are a couple of catches to note up-front. Since it is designed as a “companion device”, it has to be paired with a smartphone to function properly. This is not a major drawback, as other smart watches work the same way.
The second, more notable catch is that – for now – the Galaxy Gear is only compatible with the new Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition. A software upgrade in October will extend the Galaxy Gear’s compatibility to the Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy Note II.
Other smart watches such as the Sony SmartWatch, Pebble and WIMM One are not tied to specific devices, and can therefore be used with any Android smartphone or tablet. This certainly limits the Galaxy Gear’s appeal, but it also allows for tighter integration between the smart watch and phone.
It is not a watch for everyone as it costs more than Shs1m.