Samsung's new Gear IconX wireless earphones could fix the first-gen model's biggest problem

Samsung's first foray into the wireless earphone space wasn't exactly a grand slam. The first-gen Gear IconX had a lot of features that remain unique to this day, such as a built-in music player for phone-free listening as well as an integrated fitness tracker and heart rate monitor. However, the biggest drawback of the wearable was its poor battery life, which, quite understandably, was a deal breaker for most consumers. 

Well, it looks like Samsung isn't ready to give up just yet, as the tech giant just unveiled version 2.0 of its wireless earphones at IFA. Before we dive into the new features, let's tackle the battery life question. Sammie promises a battery life of up to five hours if you stream through your phone and up to six hours of standalone music playing. This certainly sounds promising, but we'll see if real-life use is up to par with these claims. 

Moving on, the new Gear IconX (2018) will be compatible with Bixby. This will allow users to control their Samsung phone with their voice without the need to hold it. Apart from that, users will also be able to benefit from a built-in music player with 4GB of internal storage, as well as tracking for running routines and a standalone Running Coach that can provide in-ear audio exercise status updates without the need for a phone.

The new earbuds will be available in Black, Gray, and Pink, but there's no information on their price or actual release date. Judging from their official name, we're guessing that we'll have to wait until next year before they hit the shelves.