Apple Watch vs Samsung Gear A 'Orbis': Release Date, Price, Specs & Features Roundup [Facts & Rumors]
What puts the Apple Watch apart from other smart watches out there? Not much really, as brands like Samsung can definitely give the company a run for its money.
However, if you're a loyal Apple user, here are some specs from the company's own Apple Watch compared to the Samsung Gear A, check it out:
APPLE WATCH
Release Date: April 24, 2015
Price (as Listed on the official site): $349 (Sport) - S12,000 (18-Karat Rose Gold Case)
Screen Size - 1.32 inches
Screen Resolution - 272 x 340
Pixel Density - 290 PPI
Touch Screen - Capacitive
Operating System - iOS
Storage - Internal Storage
Speakers - Mono
Built-in Microphone - Yes
Battery Life - Maximum 18 hours
Bluetooth - 4.0
Wi-Fi - 802.11 b, g, n (2.4 GHz)
SAMSUNG GEAR A (Orbis)
Release Date: Possibly September 2015
Price - TBA
Screen Size - 1.18 inches
Screen Resolution - 360 x 360
Pixel Density - 305 PPI
Touch Screen - capacitive
Charging - Wireless capable
Wearable Sensors - Accelerometer, gyroscope, heart-rate monitor
Bluetooth capable
Wi-Fi capable (2G)
More features
Apple Inc. announced that the Apple Watch is a "smarter way to look at fitness" with its activity app showing daily progress on physical activities and exercise, including real-time stats for popular workouts.
On the other hand, Samsung is all set with the usual accelerometer, gyroscope, and heart-rate monitor, the basic things that fitness-conscious citizens need.
Apple Watch has a touch screen feature, and although Samsung also has this capability, it has a unique control mechanism, and according to the Huffington Post, it is featured in the rotating bezel that allows users to move through the menus faster.
SamMobile also noted that the Orbis is capable of wireless charging, which is handy compared to other Gear models with charging clips and different makes for every model.
In addition, Wareable reported that Samsung is working on a biosignal ID for smartwatch payments, a patent by the Korean company uncovered in March. This feature is especially designed to authenticate the wearer's identity by allowing mobile payments straight from the watch and by taking a biosignal reading in case the watch owner is in need of paying something. The authentication process remains to be unclear, however, and there's still the question of weather or not this process will bypass for smaller transactions, however, a tie-in with LoopPay is to be expected.
Sales for Apple Watch has been strong, although there is one big problem --- as it turns out, the smartwatch is completely useless without a later model iPhone to sync it with.
Time even went so far as to report that the Apple Watch will "whine" if you leave its counterpart iPhone at home. There's a workaround to the problem, though, as 9to5mac cited an Apple insider who claimed that the company is working on an update that can notify Apple Watch users once the iPhone is left behind. While this could work like a charm if your iPhone or Apple Watch is missing, is it really worth buying a watch if you can't use it without your phone?