Gear live vs Gear 2 Neo

[Yannick Ongena]

So I want to buy a smartwatch and basically I like the galaxy gear 2 and gear live reviews however I don't know which one...

The biggest worry I have with the gear 2 neo is that it doesn't run Androind wear.

I have a few questions that will make help up my mind:

My main purpose is to combine the smartwatch and my note 3 for on the move. Inside usage is less important so I won't use IR stuff and because I always have my phone with me (even when running 10k) I don't really care that the live cannot be used as a stand alone music player

1) Answering calls: I read stuff like "you can't answer calls on gear live" but I assume that only applies to the mic and speaker, right? If for example, I have a headphone plugged in and listening to Spotify while someone calls than I assume I can use the gear live to answer the call and start talking through the mic of my headphone?
Does that also work with bluetooth headphones? I don't really use bluetooth headphones but just want to know to be complete
On a side note... I would never want to talk to my watch to answer a call. Especially on trains and bus.

2) Any difference between the live and gear 2 neo when it comes to controlling music? I am a spotify user and one of the mean features for me will be to control my music from the watch.
Will any or both of the devices be able to display the track title/artist and allow me to go the next track, volume control?

3) GPS: I know none of them have GPS sensors but do any or both support GPS sharing with my phone? For example if I go for a walk/run, can I use an app on the watch to start my walk/run and afterwards see my walk/run plotted on a map on my phone? Or would I need to use an app like runekeeper on the phone for that and is the watch useless in this area?

4) HRM: Are they the same? I've read several reviews that the HRM is not accurate, especially if you are doing some sport.
If I have a bluetooth HRM that straps around the chest. Can this be integrated with the watch application?

5) Apps availability: I believe that android wear based watches will have more apps available in the near future because of the bigger market while the gear 2 neo will have limited apps. Is this true? What's the current status?
I would especially like some fitness apps.

Yesterday I was leaning towards the neo but today I am leaning towards the live and basically it all depends on the above questions. They should provide some info on how I am planning on using the watch. I don't intent on using it without the phone so I don't care about a standalone feature like music player.
Battery life is also not really an issue. I'm not the type of guy who finds it unpractical to charge a device every day. That said, if there are some wireless charging accessories that would be awesome but I guess that's a no

 

[methods]

The biggest worry I have with the gear 2 neo is that it doesn't run Android wear.

I think you answered your own question.
I'm not going answer your questions point by point but in my opinion Android Wear is the better ecosystem. You will receive faster software updates and larger app development. Keep in mind Wear is only a few months old and it already does most of functions you are seeking, if it doesn't it will soon. Google has already said major updates are planned before the end of the year.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[theduder]

So I want to buy a smartwatch and basically I like the galaxy gear 2 and gear live reviews however I don't know which one...

The biggest worry I have with the gear 2 neo is that it doesn't run Androind wear.

I have a few questions that will make help up my mind:

My main purpose is to combine the smartwatch and my note 3 for on the move. Inside usage is less important so I won't use IR stuff and because I always have my phone with me (even when running 10k) I don't really care that the live cannot be used as a stand alone music player

1) Answering calls: I read stuff like "you can't answer calls on gear live" but I assume that only applies to the mic and speaker, right? If for example, I have a headphone plugged in and listening to Spotify while someone calls than I assume I can use the gear live to answer the call and start talking through the mic of my headphone?
Does that also work with bluetooth headphones? I don't really use bluetooth headphones but just want to know to be complete
On a side note... I would never want to talk to my watch to answer a call. Especially on trains and bus.

2) Any difference between the live and gear 2 neo when it comes to controlling music? I am a spotify user and one of the mean features for me will be to control my music from the watch.
Will any or both of the devices be able to display the track title/artist and allow me to go the next track, volume control?

3) GPS: I know none of them have GPS sensors but do any or both support GPS sharing with my phone? For example if I go for a walk/run, can I use an app on the watch to start my walk/run and afterwards see my walk/run plotted on a map on my phone? Or would I need to use an app like runekeeper on the phone for that and is the watch useless in this area?

4) HRM: Are they the same? I've read several reviews that the HRM is not accurate, especially if you are doing some sport.
If I have a bluetooth HRM that straps around the chest. Can this be integrated with the watch application?

5) Apps availability: I believe that android wear based watches will have more apps available in the near future because of the bigger market while the gear 2 neo will have limited apps. Is this true? What's the current status?
I would especially like some fitness apps.

Yesterday I was leaning towards the neo but today I am leaning towards the live and basically it all depends on the above questions. They should provide some info on how I am planning on using the watch. I don't intent on using it without the phone so I don't care about a standalone feature like music player.
Battery life is also not really an issue. I'm not the type of guy who finds it unpractical to charge a device every day. That said, if there are some wireless charging accessories that would be awesome but I guess that's a no

1) You can answer calls, send calls to VM, or send a canned text. If you answer the call, prepare to put the phone to your ear, put it on speaker, or have your headset in your ear.

2) I haven't used it with Spotify but yes you see the content titles, you can control the playback, track selection, etc... Not sure about volume.

3) The GPS from the phone is used but the watch is updated by way of the phone app. Google Maps Micro is used for navigation. You can use a plethora of free apps for things like Golf GPS, cycling, running, etc... In Google Wear on the phone, you can tie apps to generic tasks like "start a run", "start a bike ride", "start a workout".

4) The HR monitor is not great. Certainly not intended for exercise level tracking. Third party HR monitors would sync with the phone and their info would feed any compatible apps. If that app has a Wear app, this would likely be shared with the phone by way of phone app.

5) App support is growing fast. There seems to be a disproportionately large number of fitness apps.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[ZacharyClark88]

So, I just wanted to throw this out there. I have the Note 4 with the Gear 2 Neo and I love it, I have had an Android Wear Watch as well ( Moto 360, LG G Watch). Now I will agree in saying that you will by far have more application options with the Android Wear devices, but, I do not see samsung being very far behind. Right now if you look around the Interweb for any length of time you will see that the Samsung line of Smartwatches are actually the Number one rated out there, they are better quality and have their own OS. So, if you want better quality and can wait on some features then go with the Gear 2. You wont be dissapointed!!

 

[wisenfeld]

Right on the money there. Just received the 360 and doesn't come close to the galaxy gear 2, will be returning the 360

Posted via Android Central App

 

[godzillinois]

I just bought a Neo and was going to start a thread about Tizen vs Android Wear.

I like my Neo but I'm wondering how Android wear works - from what I've read everything on Android wear is voice based? You can't launch apps by touch or see a list of apps? I saw a Moto 365 in a store and no matter what I did to the screen it brought me to Google now, and I couldn't find any physical buttons.

Can someone clarify exactly how Android Wear works? Anyone with experience with both able to list pros and cons?

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[mr_nobody]

I just bought a Neo and was going to start a thread about Tizen vs Android Wear.

I like my Neo but I'm wondering how Android wear works - from what I've read everything on Android wear is voice based? You can't launch apps by touch or see a list of apps? I saw a Moto 365 in a store and no matter what I did to the screen it brought me to Google now, and I couldn't find any physical buttons.

Can someone clarify exactly how Android Wear works? Anyone with experience with both able to list pros and cons?

Posted via the Android Central App

No, right from the start there was a (3rd party) app launcher. Now there is an app launcher built in also.

 

[Penguwin]

I just bought a Neo and was going to start a thread about Tizen vs Android Wear.

I like my Neo but I'm wondering how Android wear works - from what I've read everything on Android wear is voice based? You can't launch apps by touch or see a list of apps? I saw a Moto 365 in a store and no matter what I did to the screen it brought me to Google now, and I couldn't find any physical buttons.

Can someone clarify exactly how Android Wear works? Anyone with experience with both able to list pros and cons?

Posted via the Android Central App

Rather than typing out paragraphs of tutorial here, I'll refer you to some YouTube videos below. These should give you a good idea on how to operate / use Android Wear.

You can then compare that to the Tizen system on your Gear 2 Neo.

https://youtu.be/v-kH7g3Kiuk

https://youtu.be/kV1yZmrNAig

I've had a few Android Wear watches and the original Gear & Gear 2 myself and can tell you besides the basic controls / UI being different, the biggest difference you'll find is in the available apps for the watches. I don't have to tell you the issue with the Tizen watch apps store (as you have, no doubt, already seen it), there aren't many apps in there. With Android Wear, however, there are literally thousands.

 

[FitzAusTex]

I bought Gear Fit, and although I want to like it, I don't have a Samsung Galaxy phone, so it is limited in what it can do. I then bought a "certified" Live from best buy for $150 last month, and am mostly liking it. Battery was abysmal until the last Android Wear update a couple of weeks ago. Now I generally end the day at 50%. Apps like Wear Messenger, Agenda Wear and Mini Dialer, and absolutely Wear Mini Launcher have made the Live fairly satisfactory so far. I have recently developed the need for reading glasses for really close up viewing, and Google's triple tap to magnify accessibility option on the Live is a godsend.

Back to the Tizen OS...for whatever reason, Tizen is visually preferable to Android Wear to me. I think it looks great, and is really intuitive. The Gear Fit isn't Tizen, but has the same visual language as the Gear 2. But Tizen (I'm pretty sure) is highly dependent on a Galaxy phone (I have a Nexus), so you are pretty tied to Samsung for things like email and messages.

So since I'm probably not buying a Galaxy phone anytime soon (if ever), the choice of Android Wear was the way to go.

I also have a Kickstarter Pebble Time Steel coming soon, so it will be interesting to see how I like Pebble compared to Android Wear. (although I think I won't be able to read the pebble without glasses - no triple tap to magnify - and will probably end up having to sell the Pebble).