To learn more about the development process behind the new flagship line’s powerhouse battery, Samsung Newsroom sat down with developers who helped bring the battery to life – Hyeonsu Lee, Hongjung Son, Yusu Kim and Juhyang Lee – as well as Product Planner Jeongmin Moon.

Changing Charging for the Better

According to Product Planner Jeongmin Moon, the development team incorporated Wireless PowerShare technology into the Galaxy S10 line to offer users the freedom to go about their day without being tied down by cables and chargers.

“We wanted to solve the inconvenience of having to carry around multiple chargers and cables when you’re out and about, or having to interrupt your day to stop at places like cafes just to charge your phone,” said Moon. “So we came up with the idea to essentially make the Galaxy S10 a wireless charger in and of itself.”

Since the release of the Galaxy S6, the first Galaxy device to offer wireless charging, more and more smartphones and wearables have begun to feature the technology as well. This, Yusu Kim noted, is another reason why Samsung prioritized incorporating wireless battery-sharing technology into the Galaxy S10 line.

“Wireless PowerShare allows you to easily share your battery’s power anytime, anywhere,” said Kim. “And as more devices begin to support wireless charging, more people will be able to experience the convenience that the technology creates.”

The technology behind wireless battery sharing and wireless charging is quite similar. A wireless charger receives DC (direct current) charge and converts it to AC (alternating current) with the battery coil before transmitting it to the receiving smartphone. The phone will then convert the AC charge back to DC and save the energy in the battery. Each Galaxy S10 device features a circuit that enables this two-way conversion, which essentially allows the phones serve as wireless chargers as well.

As mentioned above, the list of Wireless PowerShare-compatible devices includes not only smartphones, but, in an industry first, wearables1 like Samsung’s Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds as well. As Juhyang Lee explained, the process of enabling the technology to work with such a wide range of devices was quite a difficult task.

“The sizes of these devices’ batteries are all different, so the most difficult part of the process was finding an optimal spot for the receiving coils that would result in maximum efficiency,” Lee explained. With the smartwatch, she recalled “the receiving coil was particularly small, so it took some time to find the most efficient approach. However, after months and months of extensive research, we produced a solution that meets our strict reliability standards.”

A Smarter Approach to Battery Management

Of course, in order to share its charge with another device, your Galaxy S10’s battery must possess enough power to efficiently operate your phone. (At least 30 percent, to be precise.) To offer users more freedom to utilize this useful function, the Galaxy S10 line features AI technology that optimizes battery usage based on how you use your phone.

When building this technology, the developers focused particularly on the battery consumption of infrequently used apps. As Hongjung Son explained, “Out of all the apps that users have on their phones, only a small number are used every day. And the ones that aren’t used consume battery power in the background.”

“To limit these apps’ background activities,” he continued, “we incorporated AI technology that organizes apps into different categories, such as ‘frequently used,’ ‘occasionally used,’ and ‘rarely used.’”

The team also enabled the new smartphones’ Adaptive Power Saving mode to activate automatically² based on users’ usage patterns. Hyeonsu Lee described how it works: “If, for example, a user usually uses their phone for 30 minutes on their way to work, Adaptive Power Saving mode will automatically activate if their commute happens to get extended.”

“And because this mode is AI-powered,” he added, “the more it’s used, the more accurate it becomes.”

A Powerful Vision

Each member of the product planning and development teams agrees that Samsung’s latest battery innovations will unlock unprecedented user experiences.

Moon concluded the interview by shedding some light on the company’s ultimate goals for its charging technology. “With Wireless PowerShare, we not only expect to resolve some of the inconvenient aspects of charging your devices,” said Moon. “We also expect people to communicate and engage with one another more.”

“Listening carefully to users’ feedback has enabled us to consistently improve our Galaxy smartphones,” added Kim, “and it will continue to do so. Going forward, we’ll continue to strive to develop battery technology that offers the very best in terms of users’ convenience and experience.”

¹ Using Wireless PowerShare, you can charge Samsung and Qi-certified phones, and wearables such as Galaxy S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S8 Active, S7, S7 edge, S7 Active, S6, S6 edge, S6 Active, S6 edge+, Note9, Note8, Note FE, Note5, and wearables such as Galaxy Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch (46/42mm), and Galaxy Buds. It may not work with certain accessories, covers, or other brand devices. Wireless PowerShare may also affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment.

² Users may specify whether or not they’d like Adaptive Power Saving mode to automatically activate in their Galaxy S10’s settings.

³ Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 3000mAh for Galaxy S10e, 3300mAh for Galaxy S10 and 4000mAh for Galaxy S10+. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.

New Ways to Watch Your Wellness

Samsung Health on the Gear S3 and Gear Sport has been transformed, helping users to be smarter about their wellness.

The update features 20 indoor workouts, allowing the smartwatch to track 39 different types of exercise. Eight workouts are listed as a default and users are able to customize the list to display their exercises of choice. The devices can also record a series of exercises in succession and these back-to-back workouts are available to view at a glance immediately after a workout.

Sleep quality is just as important as its duration, and keeping tabs on both is easy. The update simplifies the sleep notifications that users receive when they wake up in the morning, allowing users to tap on “View Detail” for a more detailed breakdown of their sleep time, three movement states and weekly record. Sleep Widget is also supported, providing a brief log of the previous night’s sleep and offers more comprehensive sleep data when tapped.

Intuitive Navigation

The Quick Panel, which is accessed by swiping down on the devices’ screens, displays eight settings, modes or icons at a time, and can be customized according to user preferences. Users can now choose from even more items to display on the Quick Panel, including BT (Bluetooth) Headset and Find My Phone, facilitating more efficient device interactions.

To prevent disturbances during important events or sleep, two new advanced modes have also been added to the Quick Panel selection. Theater Mode keeps the watch silent and its screen off, muting all alerts, alarms and system sounds, ensuring users give their full attention to their surroundings. Goodnight Mode mutes all alerts – except for alarms and system sounds – and turns off Watch always on and Wake-up gesture, helping you to drift off in peace. The two modes can be controlled at the Settings.

An Enhanced Communication Experience

The update enriches communication, with new features for messaging and calls.

Users are able to save draft messages written on their device and return to them later to finish and send. Support for Multimedia Message (MMS) has also been enhanced, with MMS images displayed in notifications. The update also supports automatic playback for animated images in a message or conversation. To help users craft responses, previous messages in the conversation are shown to provide context and reply options are displayed directly below, streamlining the process with no need to tap again to reply. With up to 1500+ emojis, across nine categories, users can make their messages all the more personal. The device will also display the nine most recently-used emojis, so that users can respond to messages using their favorite emojis within moments.

For the Gear S3 only, which is equipped with the call function, the update also supports in-call multitasking. This allows users to navigate away from the call screen, use other features and open other apps – all while staying on the call.

New Partnership Possibilities

Alongside established partnerships with fitness and lifestyle applications, such as Under Armour and Smart Caddie, new partnerships are coming to the Gear S3 and Gear Sport. After partnering with Strava, the social fitness network for athletes, the devices now provide a standalone experience, tracking a range of outdoor and indoor activities on the wearable and syncing directly with the Strava app. Support for the TIDAL app* is also offered, allowing users to access their favorite tracks and playlists, as well as explore new music, directly from their device. With the C25K – Couch to 5K app, users can also improve their stamina and track their progress using a proven program. This program was designed for inexperienced runners who are just beginning to include exercise in their routine – so you can train to run 5K in just 8 weeks.

(From left) Strava, TIDAL and C25K apps are available for the Gear S3 and Gear Sport with the new update.

The Gear S3 Value Pack update is now available for download via the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app .

*Availability of TIDAL service may vary by region.

Here, two of the minds behind the Gear Sport’s design, Product Planner Sungjin Kim and UX Designer Hayeong Jeong, discuss Samsung’s efforts to design a sports watch that’s in a league of its own.

Q. Who was the Gear Sport designed for?

Kim: Our chief priority when designing the Gear Sport was to introduce a smartwatch that featured new, easy-to-use functions that allowed users to go ‘beyond fitness’.

Conventional sports watches tend to be huge and heavy, and designed mainly for those who are interested in pushing their bodies to the limit to reach peak condition. We’ve tailored the Gear Sport to those who want to work out and stay in shape, but aren’t necessarily interested in becoming a pro athlete.

The result is a smartwatch that’s sleek, comfortable and great for everyday wear, and packed with features that empower users to get the most out of a workout whenever they wish. We set out to design a device that struck a fine balance between stylish design and powerful, fitness-focused function, and we’ve been delighted to hear that the result of our efforts has gotten great feedback from users.

Q. What are some of the ways that the Gear Sport streamlines exercise?

Kim: The Gear Sport features built-in GPS and an advanced, continuous heart-rate sensor, and is one of the first Samsung wearables (along with the Gear Fit2 Pro) to boast 5 ATM (50-meter) water resistance.

This level of water resistance means that the smartwatch is built to not only stand up to rain and the odd splash, but also dips in the pool. In fact, the Gear Sport’s support for swim-tracking app Speedo On makes it the ideal companion for any swim.

The device is packed with powerful fitness-tracking software, including a built-in “pace-setter” feature that makes it excellent for managing runs, as well as automatic activity detection. And by seamlessly syncing with Samsung Health, and allowing users to easily log their calorie intake directly into their smartwatch, the Gear Sport also offers tools to help users keep better track of their eating habits and ultimately achieve their weight goals.

The smartwatch is also great for home training. Its Samsung Health integration allows you to easily access an expanded collection of fun fitness classes from third-party content providers that may be streamed to your Samsung TV using your Samsung smartphone’s Smart View function, while its continuous heart-rate tracking allows you to monitor your performance on your screen in real-time during your workout.

Q. The Gear Sport also introduces a new, square form to the Samsung smartwatch lineup. What inspired this adjustment?

Kim: We chose to equip the Gear Sport with a case that combines the Gear line’s signature bezel with a slightly square body not only because it created a unique way to differentiate the device from our other offerings, but also because it allowed us to incorporate a large, 300 mAh battery.

The contours of the case make the Gear Sport quite comfortable to wear, and add a nice, elegant touch to the device’s overall aesthetic.

Q. How have you enhanced the Gear Sport’s familiar, circular UX?

Jeong: Our wearables’ signature UX makes accessing their functions simple and intuitive. When we set about designing the Gear Sport, we prioritized finding useful ways to enhance the circular UX, and make best use of the versatile bezel.

For example, sending a completed text with the interface used to require a tap of the screen. Now, a slight twist of the bezel will automatically pull up a prompt to send your text. We’ve also optimized the bezel to make tasks like changing a watch face more seamless and convenient. So if you rotate the Gear Sport’s bezel quickly after pulling up the watch face selection screen, now, you’ll be able to instantly view more options.

Other adjustments include the new app shortcut widget, which displays your most recently accessed apps, and the streamlined Quick Panel, which may now be accessed from any screen, rather than solely via the watch face. The optimizations we’ve made are the results of incorporating user feedback, and make it easy for users to access key functions and find the information they need at a glance.

We’re constantly looking for new, innovative ways to optimize UX – not only for the Gear Sport, but for each of our wearable devices.

Q. The Gear Sport’s highly customizable design adds another fun layer of versatility. Is this something that was prioritized from an early stage?

Jeong: Absolutely. Our aim with the Gear Sport was to present a sports watch with a truly versatile design.

The watch comes in two colors, black and blue, and features 13 preinstalled watch faces. The colors of those watch faces may be customized to create a wide array of unique designs, which may also be paired with 23 available straps, yielding a total of more than 3,600 distinct variations.

On top of that, there are tens of thousands more watch faces available to download in the Galaxy Apps store, and we also offer a Gear Watch Designer tool, which makes it easy for users to create and share high-quality watch faces of their own design.

Q. Were there any other fun features that you were able to incorporate into the Gear Sport’s design?

Kim: Because smartwatch users tend to be tech savvy, and IoT-interactions are becoming more ubiquitous in our lives, when designing the Gear Sport, we prioritized optimizing the device for inter-device connectivity.

This ultimately led us to develop cool functions that allow users to use the Gear Sport to streamline how they do things like manage PowerPoint presentations, navigate VR interfaces,* and pay for goods on the go.

*Using Samsung’s Gear VR headset

“The key to living a healthy life is to keep moving and stay active; and as such, we want to drive people to enjoy a dynamic and balanced life in a smart and seamless way. Now with the new Gear Sport, an aspirational timepiece of daily use, and the new Gear IconX, the cord-free earbuds to help fill their workout regime with music, these two devices are set to help people of varying fitness levels meet their fitness goals. These devices are stylish, durable and functional that complement your lifestyle all round, from work to play to fitness,” said Mr KM Liew, Head of IT & Mobile Business, Samsung Malaysia Electronics.

The New Gear Sport: A new versatile smartwatch to support an active and balanced lifestyle 

More than just a smartwatch, The Gear Sport is a personal fitness coach that helps users get the most out of everyday activities. It provides the ultimate all-round fitness experience, keeping track of daily movements and workouts systematically. The Gear Sport is water resistant with a 5 ATM[1] rating and advanced swim tracking capabilities to measure key swim metrics for better results. With its sleek, ergonomic form that can be worn in a variety of colourful and easily changeable standard 20mm straps, it is perfect for any occasion so users can effortlessly transition from the gym to a night out with friends.

The Gear Sport is also functional, allowing users to balance business and fitness needs anytime. Users can keep track of their work, such as replying emails, as well as their fitness goals simultaneously, all in one single device. Available in Blue and Black, the Gear Sport is equipped with Gear foundational functions that include a control of Samsung IoT-enabled devices through Samsung Connect and Samsung Pay capabilities.

The New Gear IconX: Comfortable fit, cord-free earbuds that provides complete freedom in your ears

The Gear IconX are cord-free earbuds that provide a secure and comfortable fit, making daily commute more enjoyable and helping active users get more from their workout. The updated design comes in Black and is even more ergonomic and lightweight, making it effectively secure, comfortable and stylish to use. For fitness enthusiasts, the Running Coach function with voice feedback is readily available to motivate users based on the pace set, just like a personal fitness coach.

Furthermore, an improved long-lasting battery ensures that users always have access to the features they need and music they love. Music can be enjoyed on and offline by transferring songs from a Samsung smartphone or PC, or accessing favourite tunes through Bluetooth connectivity. The Gear IconX is also the newest connection to Bixby. With a simple tap and hold of the earbud, users can control their music, playlist and smartphone through voice command – without even having it in your hand. The Gear IconX is available in 3 colours – black, gray and pink.

Gear Fit2 Pro: An advanced GPS fitness band with swim tracking capabilities

Completing Samsung’s wearables offering is the Gear Fit2 Pro, an upgraded GPS sports band with industry-leading swim tracking capabilities that makes an ideal companion for swimming laps or playing in the pool. Launched in September 2017 with the Galaxy Note8, the new Gear Fit2 Pro features advanced built-in GPS tracking to capture the users’ run or ride with accurate activity tracking, making every move count. Samsung’s Under Armour partnership provides users with access to the brand’s popular fitness apps that offer a connected experience via exclusive features including activity, nutrition and social functions. Available in Liquid Black and Diamond Red, its versatile design also makes it a stylish accessory.

The new Gear Sport and new Gear IconX will be available in Samsung Experience Stores from 1^st December 2017 onwards at a retail price of RM1,299 and RM799 respectively; while the Gear Fit2 Pro retails at RM799. With every purchase of Gear Sport from 1^st to 31^st December 2017, customers will receive two (2) complimentary Gear straps worth RM198 and a Limited Edition Watch Collector Box worth RM299, while stocks last.

For more information on the Gear Sport – http://www.samsung.com/my/wearables/gear-sport

For more information on the Gear IconX – http://www.samsung.com/my/wearables/gear-iconx-2017

For more information on the Gear Fit2 Pro – http://www.samsung.com/my/wearables/gear-fit2-pro

[1] Gear Sport have ISO 22810:2010 certification for 5 ATM rating of 50 meters (165 feet) under specific conditions. This means that both devices are resistance to rain or shower and may be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool. However, the Gear Sport should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing, or other activities involving high-velocity water or submersion below shallow depth. If the device or your hands are wet, they must be dried thoroughly prior to handling.

First in Malaysia to strap on the Gear Sport, participants accepted the Gear Up Challenge for an all-round fitness experience.

Julian Thean, Head of Product Marketing, IT and Mobile Business, Samsung Malaysia Electronics introducing the new Gear devices.

Samsung’s Product Trainer, Austin Ng, explaining the key features of the Gear Sport, Gear IconX and Gear Fit2 Pro.

Participants in a team workout during the High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) at Lot 10.

Youtuber Jinnyboy breaking a sweat at the Gear Up Challenge.

Participants battling and burning calories at the Galaxy Fitness Station.

Kuala Lumpur, 5 September 2017 – Samsung Electronics today used its presence at IFA 2017 in Berlin to showcase its latest consumer products and innovative technology that are helping make the impossible tomorrow’s ‘new normal’. During its press conference, held at Tempodrom in Berlin, Samsung highlighted its focus on the craftsmanship and connectivity of its products, along with partnerships that are enabling its technology to rapidly set new standards.

“Samsung’s innovation is inspired by consumers and designed to make an immediate difference,” said David Lowes, Chief Marketing Officer for Samsung Electronics Europe. “This innovation is based on craftsmanship, clever connectivity and championing the impossible. As technology increasingly plays a role in every part of our lives, we’re creating products and services that adapt to consumers and set the tone for what becomes their ‘new normal’.”

New Lifestyle Standards in Visual Display

Samsung continued to revolutionize the visual display industry at IFA 2017, with the release of a new 43-inch version of The Frame that was first unveiled earlier this year. Previously available in 55- and 65-inch sizes, the design-led TV experience is the ideal fit for the living room or other sized rooms in the home.

Samsung has partnered with leading galleries and museums such as the LUMAS, Saatchi Art, and Sedition to further enhance The Frame as an art-centric device within the home. Samsung also announced a new partnership with the Prado museum, as well as plans to acquire approximately 1,000 prominent art pieces that can be enjoyed in The Frame’s Art Store in near future. Users will be able to choose from an expanded selection of art, making the most of their TV even when it isn’t in operation.

In addition to the Art Store, the Samsung Collection of specially curated art pieces and the My Collection feature, which allows consumers to project their own personal images onto the screen, gives consumers even more options to visually customize their space, wherever they choose to place The Frame within the home.

Along with The Frame, Samsung presented plans to expand the QLED TV line-up to Europe, as it continues to grow its leadership within the premium TV market. The Q8F model, a flat version of the curved Q8C model, will be launched in Europe in 55 and 65-inch sizes. This model will be a part of the largest TV line up in Europe, which consists of 14 full QLED TVs, in curved and flat models, ranging from 49-inch to an ultra-large 88-inch.To further amplify its premium line of QLED TVs, Samsung has also entered into a partnership with Panasonic and 20^th Century Fox to proliferate HDR 10+ technology. In the months to come, Samsung will continue to expand partnerships to include Hollywood studios, content providers, and game developers.

Samsung also introduced the world’s largest QLED gaming monitor – the CHG90, which measures 49-inches, with a 178-degree ultra-wide viewing angle. The CHG90 offers a full and immersive view of gaming action, expanding the visual capabilities of a gaming monitor without sacrificing speed.

The Craftsmanship for Meaningful Innovation in Appliances

Samsung’s new home appliances introduced at IFA 2017 are designed with a single aim in mind: to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives with brilliant innovations they come to rely on.

For example, the need to design around real-life problems was displayed with the launch of Samsung’s new washing machine with QuickDrive technology. Samsung’s QuickDrive technology cuts washing time by half and energy use by 20 percent*, offering consumers the time-saving solution, without compromising washing performance. Its unique Q-Drum^TM consists of a large main drum and a plate in the back that rotates independently. Unlike conventional washers that move clothes repeatedly up and down over the course of the cycle, the QuickDrive moves clothes from top to bottom in the drum but with an added dimension. The plate in the back of the drum introduces a back and forth movement, making a dynamic action powered by double forces that quickly and gently remove dirt to deliver an intense and complete wash cycle.

Samsung introduced the innovative concept called AddWash^TM at IFA in 2015, which allows users to add clothes to a washing machine during an active cycle. QuickDrive takes innovation one step further by offering a new level of convenience and performance. This is the type of technology that Samsung says will eventually become the “new normal” – technology we soon will be unable to live without.

In line with the key theme of Craftsmanship, Samsung also revealed the POWERstick PRO^TM cordless vacuum cleaner. Providing the ultimate cleaning solution, the POWERstick PRO^TM guarantees powerful cleaning performance, easy maintenance and a long-lasting battery. It features an industry-leading 150 watts of suction power and 40-minutes of battery time—twice as long as traditional batteries—with a battery lifespan of five years. It also boasts Flex Handle that folds up to 50 degrees, letting users clean hard-to-reach spaces, such as the below furniture, with less effort.

Samsung will also expand the voice capability of its Family Hub refrigerator to countries in Europe on a phased basis this year, starting with British English, German, French, and Italian. Family Hub will also be integrated with Samsung Connect, letting users control a wide variety of IoT-ready smart appliances regardless of their operating system.

Cleverly Connected for Life on the Move

The new normal for wearable technology isn’t just an activity tracker that counts your steps – it’s about enhanced connectivity to deliver an entire wellness manager and make our lives healthier. At IFA 2017, Samsung unveiled three new wearable devices.

The versatile smartwatch, the Gear Sport, takes on board the functionality that users want from a fitness gadget today. It is packed with features for people who see no boundary between their life and their wellness. It includes built-in GPS, run-pacing features and nutrition tracking.

With a focus on connectivity, the ever-growing connected ecosystem also brings about the need for more control. The Gear Sport can control the Samsung IoT-enabled devices, act as a remote control for a PowerPoint presentation or Samsung Gear VR, and pay for goods via Samsung Pay (NFC Only).

Samsung also launched the Gear Fit2 Pro – an advanced GPS fitness band. It features a beautifully curved 1.5” Super AMOLED display and is able to track various activities – whether on land or in the pool. For the new swimming capabilities, Samsung partnered with swimming expert Speedo to create Speedo On, the first Speedo wearable app that accurately tracks pool exercises. Everything from measuring the number of strokes or lap times, to tracking which stroke the user is doing is all possible on the 5ATM certified** Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro with the Speedo app.

Daily activity can be supplemented with updated Under Armour and Spotify partnerships. Both devices provide access to Under Armour’s fitness apps including Under Armour Record, MyFitnessPal®, MapMyRun® and Endomondo for activity, nutrition, sleep and fitness tracking functions – these apps provide users with a holistic picture of their health and fitness. The Gear IconX (2018) cord-free earbuds complete the line-up of wearable devices launched by Samsung at IFA 2017.

Leading the Standardization of IoT Technologies; Convergence with HARMAN

Samsung has been leading the standardization of global IoT technologies as a diamond member of the Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF). Samsung is the first in the industry to receive the OCF certification for its smart TVs, Family Hub refrigerators and air conditioners, and intends to expand the certification to all of its home appliances throughout the year.

The OCF certification will allow for open compatibility between the different products of member companies. In addition to Samsung, more than 390 companies have joined the OCF, with 20 billion IoT products to be synchronized with the OCF standard in three years.

Samsung’s ongoing partnership with HARMAN is also fortifying its big picture for the new normal. Following six months of partnership, Samsung is now the global leader in connected car technology, with more than 50 million cars on the road worldwide powered by HARMAN and Samsung technology.

The partnership is focused on creating audio and visual experiences that just a short while ago, would have been considered impossible. For example, Samsung’s new HDR LED screen for cinemas, measuring more than 10 meters or 34 feet across, delivers unrivalled picture quality and is brought to life by the audio technology of HARMAN Professional Solutions, together with Samsung AudioLab. The powerful combination of Samsung and HARMAN aims to reinvent both mobility and entertainment, taking the new and making it normal.

*Tested on WW8800M compared with Samsung WW8500K. Saves 50% time on Cotton (40℃, half load) and eCotton cycle with washing performance within ±2%. Saves 20% energy on Cotton (40℃, half load) and Super Speed cycle (40℃, 5kg load), based on Intertek data.

**Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro have ISO 22810:2010 certification for 5 ATM rating of 50 meters (165 feet) under specific conditions. This means that both devices are safe to wear while walking in the rain or showering, and may be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or ocean. However, the Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing, or other activities involving high-velocity water or submersion below shallow depth.

The new Gear devices assist with a range of activities – from robust fitness tracking to nutrition and sleep monitoring, as well as motivational coaching as a lifestyle companion. By introducing new smart capabilities and easy-to-use features, and by partnering with leading names in tech and fitness, Samsung is helping consumers go beyond fitness and accomplish big things.

“At Samsung, we celebrate the everyday athlete – whether you’re going for a light jog, or training for your next triathlon. We have a long history of embracing choice and innovation, and our wearables are designed to help consumers of varying fitness levels meet their goals and aspirations. We want to help remove the stigma that fit can only mean one thing and that fitness trackers are complex and for only the most intense of workouts,” said DJ Koh, President of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “Our new Samsung Gear wearables help consumers ‘go beyond fitness’ and enjoy an active, balanced and fulfilled life in a smart and seamless way.”

As part of this updated line-up, Samsung created new capabilities for Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro:

• Industry-Leading Water Resistance and Swim Tracking: An ideal companion for any swim – from laps to playing in the pool – these devices are 5 ATM[1] certified for water resistance. Now with Speedo’s latest swimming training app, Speedo On[2], the Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro also allow you to easily track key swim metrics including lap count, lap time, stroke type and more.
• Top-of-the-line Heart Rate Monitoring: With improved accuracy, the devices offer advanced real-time heart rate monitoring. They help you continuously monitor your heart activity – whether it’s enjoying a stress-free nap or an invigorating cycling class.
• Premium Partnerships: Daily activity can be supplemented with updated Under Armour² and Spotify² Both devices provide access to Under Armour’s fitness apps including Under Amour Record, MyFitnessPal®, MapMyRun® and Endomondo[3] for activity, nutrition, sleep and fitness tracking functions – these apps provide users with a holistic picture of their health and fitness. Spotify’s Offline mode lets you listen to your favorite music online, offline or even without your smartphone so you can enjoy your favorite tunes regardless of location.
• Auto Activity Detection: Automatic activity detection built into the devices are in tune with your body and can recognize the following categories of activities: Walking, Running, Cycling and performing Dynamic Activities that could include dancing to basketball.
• Personalized Motivation: You can customize your own wellness plan with tailored goals and alerts.

Gear Sport: A new versatile smartwatch to support an active and balanced lifestyle 

Gear Sport is stylish, yet practical with a minimalistic, circular bezel, Super AMOLED 1.2-inch display and improved user interface that makes it easy to view information, even when on-the-go. With Gear Sport, users can work to achieve health and wellness goals, and receive nutrition management alerts and activity recommendations even when they are offline.

Designed with military-level durability, it can handle a wide-range of environments. With its sleek, ergonomic form that can be worn in a variety of colorful and easily changeable standard 20mm straps, it is perfect for any occasion so you can effortlessly transition from the gym to a night out with friends. Gear Sport will be available in Blue and Black and also includes Gear foundational functions:

• Control of Samsung IoT-enabled devices through Samsung Connect
• Act as a remote control, whether for a PowerPoint presentation or Samsung Gear VR headset
• Pay for goods with a flick of the wrist via Samsung Pay (NFC Only)[4]

Gear Fit2 Pro: An advanced GPS fitness band

In addition to the new swim and heart rate monitoring capabilities, the new Gear Fit2 Pro features advanced built-in GPS tracking to capture your run or ride with accurate activity tracking. Gear Fit2 Pro’s Super AMOLED curved 1.5-inch display and a high-resolution color touchscreen make real-time updates and notifications easier to read. The all-new secure, ergonomic band is light weight and comfortable to use for all activities. Available in Black and Red, its versatile design also makes it a stylish accessory.

Gear IconX: Comfortable fit, cord-free earbuds

IconX cord-free earbuds let you effortlessly listen to your favorite music – making your daily commute more enjoyable and helping you get more from your workout. Music can be enjoyed on and offline by transferring songs from a Samsung smartphone[5] or PC, or accessing your favorite tunes through Bluetooth connectivity. The earbuds are also your newest connection to Bixby.[6] With a simple tap and hold of the earbud you can use your voice to control your music or your phone – without even having it in your hand.

The updated design comes in Black and is even more ergonomic and lightweight so they are effectively secure, comfortable and stylish to use. For the fitness enthusiast, the Gear IconX automatically tracks your running routines, and also features the standalone Running Coach function which can be activated by simply tapping the earbud to provide in-ear audio[7] exercise status updates – in real-time and without your phone. With a fast-charging and improved battery life of up to five hours of music streaming or seven hours of standalone music playback, and up to 4GB of internal storage, you can enjoy a seamless and fully standalone music listening experience.

The Gear Fit2 Pro will be available in Malaysia end of September onwards, while both the Gear Sport and Gear IconX will reach local shores in November. Get a first look at Samsung’s new Gear wearables in the official trailer available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onVzSjdVh3A.

For more product information, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com or news.samsung.com/galaxy.

[1]Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro have ISO 22810:2010 certification for 5 ATM rating of 50 meters (165 feet) under specific conditions. This means that both devices are safe to wear while walking in the rain or showering, and may be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or ocean. However, the Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing, or other activities involving high-velocity water or submersion below shallow depth.

[2]Availability of apps may vary by country and region.

[3]Under Armour’s MapMyRun, Endomondo and Under Armour Record for Gear devices are not supported in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Under Armour’s MyFitness Pal for Gear devices is not supported in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

[4]NFC support only. Service availability may vary by country.

[5]The Gear IconX is compatible with devices running Android 4.4 and above.

[6]Limited to Samsung devices with Bixby voice capabilities including Galaxy Note8, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+

[7]The Gear IconX voice guide supports nine languages including U.S. English, Chinese Mandarin, Spanish, German, French, Korean, Italian, Russian and Japanese.