Samsung's Rose Gold and Platinum Gear S2 to Cost $450

Last year, Samsung ended 2015 with the release of the Gear S2, hitting shelves in the Fall. Well received by critics and customers alike, ourselves included, it seems Samsung has made the smartwatch that everyone wanted them to make. Not only does it feature a fully-circular display and a refreshing new software experience, but it’s also available for devices other than Samsung’s own Galaxy devices. During CES 2016, Samsung used the show to announce new versions of the Gear S2 Classic, which is the model that looks most like a traditional watch. Samsung introduced the Gear S2 Classic in Platinum, with a black leather strap, and a Rose Gold option with a white leather strap. Now, they’re getting priced in the US.

Earlier this week, Samsung announced that the global roll out of these new Gear S2 options would be starting, and true to their word they’ve appeared on Amazon for pre-order. These are official Amazon.com listings, rather than those from third-party sellers, and neither of them are cheap. Both priced at $449.99, it’s clear Samsung is looking for a little extra from customers looking for a more elegant smartwatch. The Platinum version is Titanium-plated, and features a 20mm watch strap fitting, as does the Rose Gold option which is 18K Rose Gold plated. Priced similar to the top-tier Huawei Watch models, whether or not these options from Samsung are worth the extra is down to you. We reviewed the Gear S2 here, for those that are curious, and the big difference is that the Huawei Watch runs Android Wear for a tighter integration with Android, whereas Samsung’s own Tizen OS is in place on the Gear S2.

These prices are Amazon’s prices, so there’s a chance that Samsung will run some sort of special offer to celebrate the launch, but we doubt this $450 mark is likely to change much. The pre-order pages from Amazon list a shipping of date of “1 to 2 months”, which is a little vague, but we’re sure stock should be arriving pretty soon, as Samsung will want these models available should people start eyeing up the upcoming Galaxy S7 that’s launching shortly.