It turns out Samsung's"next big thing" isn't quite as big as expected. According to a report from PCMag's sister publication, Geek.com, about one in three customers are returning their Galaxy Gear smartwatch.
A document leaked to the tech blog shows carrier/device rollout dates for the time piece, as well as a concerning note that the Gear's "overall return rate" has topped 30 percent.
Samsung debuted its smartwatch in early September, alongside the updated Galaxy Note 3 smartphone and Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet — the first two handsets to earn Gear compatibility. The companion watch syncs with a user's main mobile device to make phone calls, take photos, listen to music, look at photos, and much more on its 1.63-inch Super AMOLED 320-by-320 display.
In partnership with Best Buy, the Samsung Galaxy Gear hit shelves earlier this month, with a $299 price tag and five color options. But it turns out the futuristic watch isn't making much of a splash among consumers.
Samsung did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment. According to Geek, the company has tasked employees on site at Best Buy Samsung Experience stores around the country with gauging customers' impressions of the watch, and finding out why they are so quick to return it.
Meanwhile, Samsung said today that the Samsung Galaxy S 4, Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S III will be updated with Galaxy Gear support "in the coming weeks," while the Galaxy S 4 Active, Galaxy S 4 mini and Galaxy Mega will get the update in the coming months.
With features like Contacts, Logs, Apps, Settings, Pedometer, Music, and Gallery, the Gear runs an 800MHz processor and Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.
Two new Gear-specific commercials recently found Samsung paying homage to the spies and space travelers of yesteryear, showcasing the wrist-mounted communicator through the years, dating back to Dick Tracy's 1940s 2-Way Wrist Radio.
For more, see PCMag's review of the Samsung Galaxy Gear and the slideshow above. Also check out PCMag Live from today in the video below, which discusses the Galaxy Gear returns.