Staying Connected with Samsung Galaxy Gear {Review} #NextBigThing

Disclosure:  I received a media trip and products in exchange for sharing my honest opinion.

Okay so I have never been a watch person, I don’t even like bracelets, but I am in love with my new Galaxy Gear wearable.  What is a wearable?  Well according to Wikipedia, a wearable is “a miniature electronic devices that are worn by the bearer under, with or on top of clothing.”  Galaxy Gear may look like a watch but there is so much more to it.

Some Features:

• Read emails and text messages
• Answer/Decline/Make phone calls
• Pedometer
• Take pictures (only 1.9 mp but decent enough pictures)
• Find my phone
• Auto lock/unlock
• Check the weather
• New apps constantly added
• S-voice (Use simple voice commands to place calls, compose messages, activate key features like the alarm and camera, schedule an event, check the weather, and more!)
• Only compatible with certain Samsung phones
• Available in different colors

So as a mom, what value do I see in Galaxy Gear?  With three kids I don’t usually have a free hand and I especially don’t have my cell phone handy at most times.  I actually have a house phone (okay its a voice-over-IP line) because I need to have multiple cordless phones throughout my house handy since I can never find my phone!  Anyways, having the Galaxy Gear on has really made life easier for me and more efficient as well.  I am no longer searching for my phone if I am out to answer the phone or check for an email or text.  My Galaxy Gear will ring and I can answer or decline calls with the swipe of a button and yes I have even made a phone right from my wearable as well, it is quiet so you need to be in a quiet room to really have a conversation but it does work.  Reading emails and texts from it has been amazing because before I would try to juggle my phone in my hand if I am waiting for someone to respond and now I can keep my phone in my purse and just wait for my wearable to alert me.  At home I am actually getting more housework done as well as I am not tied to checking my laptop or phone constantly, which I always get sidetracked then, but rather I can just check my wrist now and keep on going on whatever I am working on!

You can change the color and watch style (digital or analog):

Here are some notifications I get:

And here is a text message my phone sent me, so nice to not have to search for my phone!

Yes there are now other similar wearables out there, but one main difference I noticed is the camera on the Galaxy Gear.  While it does only take 1.9 MP pictures, it at least has a camera!  I actually found the pictures to be decent and it is so nice to quickly snap a picture of something and have it automatically sent to my phone.  Can you say Secret Agent Cher?  Love it!  This is especially great when you want to remember something later (take a picture of a sign or note) or you just want to be discreet taking pictures.

Here is the view from my camera:

Here is a picture I took with Galaxy Gear that was sent to my phone:

Galaxy Gear is definitely a conversation piece I have found as well, some love it and some don’t see the value.  For me though I don’t think I could go without a wearable going forward.  I love everything about it and while it is a new technology, they are constantly adding updates to it for improvements so more to love!  Syncing it is as easy as turning the bluetooth on your phone, and yes the flaw is that Galaxy Gear only works with certain Samsung devices (check compatibility for Galaxy Gear here.)   I use it with my Samsung Note 3, which has also become something I cannot live without!  I don’t usually jump on new fads and I am not sure if wearables are hear to stay or just a fad, but it really is cool to have!

Worried about the size?  It is super lightweight and not bulky at all.  For someone like me not used to a wearing a watch, it only took me a few days to get used to it.

BUY IT:  Samsung Galaxy Gear can be purchased for a suggested retail price of $299.99 (and of course make sure you check compatibility with your device)