Gear S2 vs Moto 360 Review

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The electronic wearables industry is becoming more and more famous, which is making the smartwatch market a major technological battlefield in the years to come. Two major competitors in this industry are Motorola and Samsung.

In this article, we will be shining the spotlight on the Moto 360 from Motorola and Samsung Gear S2. Both devices promise that they have a lot to offer, but really, which one is better? Let’s find out.

What Is The Gear S2?

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Almost three years after its official release, the Samsung Gear 2 is still a strong contender for smartwatch enthusiasts, especially now that Samsung has released a software update that fine-tuned the overall user experience.

The Gear 2 is definitely a wearable smartphone compared to its predecessors, and it feels comfortable to use. It carries one of the best interfaces to use for a smartwatch. The great thing about this is that it does not really require a Samsung phone to use the Gear 2. It is compatible with most Android phones, even with iPhones, too!

Technical Features:

1.2 inch 360 x 360 pixels
Super AMOLED screen
Gorilla Glass 3
Samsung’s Tizen Operating System
16 Hz Dual-Core Qualcomm MSM8 processor
4 GB internal storage
WiFi, Bluetooth
Heart rate monitor, accelerometer, barometer
250 mAh battery

Pros:

Smart circular design
The operating system is clean, smooth, and polished
For fitness buffs

Cons:

Limited high quality apps
Lacks customization

What Is The Moto 360?

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The Moto 360 is a smartwatch with an Android-powered operating system. Carrying a minimalist design, this product offers a lot of uses, especially for fitness and access to the Google ecosystem. It is easy to use and has a quick response, which makes it feel more than a smartwatch, but a smartphone that you mount on your wrists.

Technical Features:

3mm thick stainless steel body
1.56 inches screen with 320 x 290-pixel resolution
320 mAh Li-Ion battery
4 GB storage
Android Wear Operating System
Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Heart rate sensor and accelerometer

Pros:

Has a snappy user interface
Lightweight design that is well-received by fashion-conscious users
Sized for all wrists

Cons:

No wireless charging options
Battery life needs improvement

Gear S2 vs Moto 360: Face To Face Comparison

Criteria	Moto 360	Gear S2
Dimensions	1.65 x 1.65 x 0.45 in or 42 mm x 42 mm x 11.4 mm	1.96 in x 1.67 in x 0.45 in or 49.8 mm x 42.3 mm x 11.4 mm
Build	Stainless steel border and Gorilla Glass 3 front	Stainless steel border and Gorilla Glass 3 front
	IP Code 67 for dust and water resistance (Can be submerged for up to 1 meter for a 30-minute period)	IP Code 68 for dust and water resistance (Can be submerged for up to 1.5 meters for a 30-minute period)
Display Type	IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors	Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Display Size	61.9 percent screen to body ratio / 10.9 square centimeters, 1.37 inches	43.5 percent screen to body ratio / 9.2 square centimeters, 1.2 inches
Screen Resolution	360 x 325 pixels	360 x 360 pixels
Operating System	Android Wear	Tizen Platform
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8926 Snapdragon 400	Exynos 3250 Dual
CPU	Quad-Core 1.2 GHz Cortex A7	Dual-Core 1.0 GHz Cortex A7
Internal Memory	4 GB 512 MB RAM	4 GB 512 MB RAM
Sensors	Gyro, heart rate, accelerometer	Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer
Player	MP3	MP3, MP4, WAV, AAC player
Gallery	Photo viewer	Photo viewer
Voice	Voice command, Voice dialing	Voice command, Voice memo, and Voice dialing
Battery	Non-removable Li-Ion 320 mAh battery	Non-removable Li-Ion 250 mAh battery
Usage Longevity	Up to 36-hour stand-by usage	Up to 48-hour stand-by usage
Colors	Gold, Black Leather, Black Metal, Rose Gold/Blush Leather, Silver/Cognac Leather	Silver, Dark Gray

Detailed Features Comparison

Design

As smartwatches double as accessories, their design is a very important factor to consider, especially if you are particular with design. The Moto 360 delivers a great one. The watch is, in fact, available in three different sizes: 46 mm body with a 20 mm strap, 42 mm body with a 20 mm strap, and a 42 mm body with a 16 mm strap. This means that more people can access this watch – whether a person with larger wrists will you use it or someone with thinner ones.

The crown of this smartwatch is located in the 3 o’clock spot, and the body now features stylish lugs on the bottom for holding on to the strap and towards the top of the watch. Users also have different strap options. It can even be made from metal with black, gold, and silver option.

On the other hand, the Gear S2 is also aesthetically pleasing. It has a round look, so it appears more like a watch instead of a smartphone slapped onto a wrist. Its appearance, though, looks more like a sports-oriented smartwatch if you compare it to the sleek and classic look of the Moto 360.

It has 2 buttons on its side, one at the 2 o’clock space and the other at the 4 o’clock spot. In terms of design, the straps can be bought with either black or white, with the body appearing like chrome or a polished black look.

Winner: Moto 360

Battery Life

In the case of battery capacity, it appears that the Moto 360 will be better. On paper, it carries a 320 mAh, which beats out the 250 mAh of the Gear S2. But if you check the actual battery lives as estimated by the manufacturers, the Samsung Gear S2 actually offers a longer battery life. This is most likely because of how the watch software processes the battery. It can also be because of how the S2 has a smaller display. It is estimated that the Moto 360 will last for about two days and that the Gear S2 will last between two to three days.

Winner: Tie

Display

The Moto 360 has a display that appears like a flat tire. The display is at 1.37 inches or 34.8 mm with a resolution of 360 x 325 pixels and a density of 263 ppi. On the other hand, the Gear S2 has a smaller display at 1.2 inches. However, the resolution is crisper at 302 ppi because of the better-balanced resolution at 360 x 360 pixels.

Winner: Tie – Depends on the person’s preference for a larger or smaller screen

Processor / RAM / Storage

The Moto 360 offers a great surprise with everything amazing that happens internally. In terms of processors, the Moto 360 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 process, which is a quad-core that runs at 1.2 GHz. The competitor is a little slower here – the Gear S2 has a dual-core Samsung Exynos 3250 processor, which runs at 1 GHz.

In terms of storage and memory, these two smartwatches are equal with each other, at 4 GB of storage and 512 MB RAM.

Winner: Moto 360

Fitness Tracking

Some people believe that the Samsung Gear S2 looks so much sportier compared to the Moto 360. This is mainly because it really is. The Gear S2 has the ability to access all the features of the Samsung S Health app. This will allow you to recognize walking and will start tracking movement immediately so that the users do not necessarily have to remember to signal to track. The same goes for biking and running.

The Gear S2 also features health tracking sensors like an ambient light monitor, accelerometer, barometer, gyroscope, and heart rate monitor.

Now, for the Moto 360, the software side is fairly similar to watches powered by Android Wear. This includes similar sensors to the Samsung watch, but they have changed in terms of the software inside.

Winner: Gear S2

Stand Out Features of the Gear S2

IP68 Rating – The Gear S2 is dust and water resistant, which means you can wear it even while you are in the shower and during torrential rain.
SOS Alert – Pressing the 5 o’clock button three times in an immediate succession will send an SOS alert to your chosen contact, which includes a statement of your GPS location.
Rotating Bezel – This innovation makes accessibility much easier and reduces the amount of unnecessary tapping and swiping. The user experience becomes smoother, as well.

Stand Out Features of the Moto 360

Google Wear OS – The Google ecosystem allows lots of different features to enjoy like Google Maps, NFC Payment, Google Fit fitness tracking, so it is like an extension of your smartphone than as a separate device.
Notification Handling – The Moto 360 allows you to receive the notifications from your smartphone once you pair it, and you can easily access them with a simple swipe on the watch face.
Battery Saver Mode – This extends the life of your smartwatch by turning off all functions except for time-telling.

Conclusion

Both the Motorola Moto 360 and the Samsung Gear S2 have proven to be amazing smartwatches with amazing offers and features. Going for either one of them will be okay, as they are both competitive options. To help you decide on the matter, here are some final thoughts.

Choose Gear S2 if: