You can finally use your Samsung Gear watches with iPhone

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Samsung's Gear apps are now available on iOS.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Samsung confirmed last January that it was making its latest Gear smartwatches compatible with iPhone. Just over a year later, it has finally delivered on that promise.

Download Samsung’s new Gear app for iOS today to connect your Gear S2, Gear S3, or Gear Fit2 to your iPhone.

It’s unclear why it took Samsung so long to marry its Gear watches with iPhone (its troubles with the Note 7 probably delayed things somewhat), but the South Korean company has put a lot of effort into ensuring users get a good experience.

Some smartwatches — particularly those running Android Wear — are hobbled when connected to an iPhone; you can’t download new watch faces or third-party apps. But that’s not the case when you use a Gear smartwatch.

Samsung’s new Gear app for iOS lets you grab new apps and watch faces from the Galaxy Apps store, send music and images to your wearable, and take control of notifications. It also syncs your health data with S Health, and helps you locate your Gear watch should you lose it.

Of course, there are some limitations due to Apple’s strict rules for iOS apps, like you cannot setup Samsung Pay. However, Samsung has done a pretty good job of making its Gear watches as useful as they can be when paired with Apple’s platform.

There are two Gear apps available: Gear S lets you connect a Gear S2 or Gear S3, while Gear Fit lets you connect the Gear Fit2. Both are available to download from the App Store now.

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