Samsung is taking the wearable market by storm with a number of new devices, one of which it calls the Gear Circle.
The Gear Circle is unlike any other wearable device on the market. It's essentially a pair of headphones that users wear around their neck like a necklace or collar.
"When paired with a smartphone, users can easily receive calls, listen to music, and make voice commands in style through a Bluetooth connection," Samsung said in a statement. "It features a magnetic lock which clasps around the user's neck when not in use, as well as a vibrate function to signal incoming calls and notifications."
The Gear Circle certainly is interesting. While it may not be the most stylish product Samsung has ever released, some users could actually find great benefit from it. The magnetic clasp, for example, provides a way to safely and easily store the headphones as a necklace when the user doesn't need to listen to anything. Usually headphones would be wrapped around a phone or stuffed in a pocket, leading to the headphones turning into a tangled mess.
The vibrating feature is also a very interesting addition. It seems as though the device is also somewhat of a notification device, alerting users when they are receiving a phone call or message.
The sides of the headphones serve as touch controls for music, allowing the users to easily change the track or volume of the music that they're listening to. Because of this feature there is only one physical button on the device, which actually gives the Gear Circle a clean look.
The device includes a 180-mAh battery which Samsung claims can last up to 300 hours on standby or 11 hours of continuous talk time. It charges via microUSB and supports both Bluetooth 3.0 and Wi-Fi.
The Gear Circle was released alongside Samsung's new smart watch, the Galaxy Gear S. This is by far Samsung's most stylish offering to the smart watch world and includes enhanced multisensors, built-in GPS, and S Health features. It will be interesting to see exactly how the Gear Circle and the Gear S work together to deliver notifications to the user.
Pricing of the device has not yet been announced, but it will likely be upwards of $80. The Gear Circle will be released sometime in October, with blue and white versions available.
Samsung's efforts in the wearable market come before any news from Apple related to wearable products. Apple has been expected to enter the market for a while now, and it is currently expected that the tech company will release a smart watch at an event on Sept. 9.
