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Samsung Gear 2 Neo watch: Look ma, no camera (pictures)

What does the Gear 2 Neo do differently from the Gear 2? It doesn't have a camera. Take a look at the new design for yourself.

Luke Westaway
Luke Westaway is a senior editor at CNET and writer/ presenter of Adventures in Tech, a thrilling gadget show produced in our London office. Luke's focus is on keeping you in the loop with a mix of video, features, expert opinion and analysis.
Luke Westaway
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The Samsung Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo, both announced at Mobile World Congress, are Samsung's two newest smartwatches, successors to last fall's Galaxy Gear. The Gear 2 Neo is very similar to the Gear 2, but it is slightly lighter and missing a camera. Hopefully that means it'll be a bit cheaper when it goes on sale. Here it is next to the original Gear.
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Gear 2 Neo (left) and Galaxy Gear (right). The new design is slimmed down a bit, but has similar aesthetics.
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Whereas the Gear 2 offers a 2-megapixel snapper, similar to the original Gear (pictured), the Gear 2 Neo leaves you without any means of capturing stills. Taking photos using the current Galaxy Gear isn't exactly the most graceful affair, so this might not be such a terrible omission.
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The Gear 2 Neo has a bright 1.63-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 320x320 pixels.
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To distinguish it from the Gear 2, the Gear 2 Neo comes with a choice of alternatively coloured straps. The Gear has a brown option, while the Gear 2 Neo comes in gray. Both models are also available in black and orange.
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Detaching the strap from the Gear 2 Neo.
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The Gear 2 Neo is a little lighter than the Gear 2.
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Other wrist strap designs. Because who can have too many straps?
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Like the Gear 2, the Gear 2 Neo runs on Samsung's Tizen operating system as opposed to Android. But, the UI still has a similar look from a distance.
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Like the Gear 2, the Gear 2 Neo has some health-monitoring tricks up its sleeve. A heart-rate sensor is on board, as is a pedometer. The idea is that you'll use the Gear 2 Neo to keep track of your fitness. In this regard, Samsung is taking on existing fitness tech, like Nike's FuelBand.
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A look at the heart-rate sensor on the back.
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Fitness-tracking functions will work even when away from your phone, giving the Gear 2 Neo a more standalone personality.
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The heart rate monitor works without wearing any extra accessories, much like other recent bands and earphones seen at CES.
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That's high.
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Bold wristbands.
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Will battery life be better this time? We hope so.
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Would you get a Gear 2 without a camera? Or, rather, would you use a camera on your watch?
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A close-up look at the one-button design.
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If the price is right, maybe the Gear 2 Neo will be the more sensible choice.
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A peek at the familiar-looking grid of features and apps.
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More fitness features, but will they be well integrated and easy to use?
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The Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo will be able to act as remotes for Samsung TVs with WatchOn, an intriguing feature.
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The Gear 2 Neo sounds like a perfect feature set...on paper. Stay tuned for more from MWC, and read our First Take.

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