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

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.

Gear 2 Neo (left) and Galaxy Gear (right). The new design is slimmed down a bit, but has similar aesthetics.

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.

The Gear 2 Neo has a bright 1.63-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 320x320 pixels.

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.

Detaching the strap from the Gear 2 Neo.

The Gear 2 Neo is a little lighter than the Gear 2.

Other wrist strap designs. Because who can have too many straps?

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.

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.

A look at the heart-rate sensor on the back.

Fitness-tracking functions will work even when away from your phone, giving the Gear 2 Neo a more standalone personality.

The heart rate monitor works without wearing any extra accessories, much like other recent bands and earphones seen at CES.

That's high.

Bold wristbands.

Will battery life be better this time? We hope so.

Would you get a Gear 2 without a camera? Or, rather, would you use a camera on your watch?

A close-up look at the one-button design.

If the price is right, maybe the Gear 2 Neo will be the more sensible choice.

A peek at the familiar-looking grid of features and apps.

More fitness features, but will they be well integrated and easy to use?

The Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo will be able to act as remotes for Samsung TVs with WatchOn, an intriguing feature.

The Gear 2 Neo sounds like a perfect feature set...on paper. Stay tuned for more from MWC, and read our First Take.