Samsung (News - Alert) may have been first to market with its Galaxy Gear smartwatch, which was responsible for boosting wearable tech Yahoo search queries, but Sony’s own SmartWatch 2 has been in development for about as long. Time will tell which of the two will make the biggest splash but, for now, let’s just enjoy the fact that there are now two Android (News - Alert)-powered watches on the market.

Indeed, the SmartWatch 2 is now available in the U.S. and, just as the Galaxy Gear accompanied the Galaxy Note 3 to market, Sony’s first wearable device was launched alongside two new Android phones: the Xperia Z Ultra and Xperia Z1.

Although the SmartWatch 2 is, as the name suggests, the second in the SmartWatch line, it differs from the original in ways that make it a wholly different offering. Most notably, the SmartWatch 2 features an overhauled UI that offers smoother performance over the first, along with longer battery life and an improved, 1.6-inch trans-reflective display that is designed to hold up well against bright sunlight.

Image via pcmag.com

As compared to the Galaxy Gear, the SmartWatch 2 boasts broader compatibility, as it is able to sync with any Android phone running version 4.0 or greater, while the Galaxy Gear is limited to select Samsung devices. The SmartWatch 2 also boasts water resistance, which should make it more robust than Samsung’s offering.

At launch, the SmartWatch 2 boasts over 80 Android apps optimized for wrist use, in addition to the 200 apps that were made for the original SmartWatch.

"Sony SmartWatch 2 seamlessly expands the user experience for today's active smartphone culture," said Ravi Nookala, president of Sony Mobile Communications, in a statement. "The average smartphone user reaches for their device more than 100 times per day to check text messages, read emails and social network notifications, and of course, to check the time. SmartWatch 2 makes these core tasks easier, and does much more with apps available, for everything from productivity to fitness and games."

As for the Xperia Z1 and Z Ultra, both boast high-end specs, such as 1080p displays and quad-core Qualcomm (News - Alert) processors. However, the Xperia Z1 offers a superior 20.7-megapixel camera and smaller five-inch display as opposed to the Z Ultra’s eight-megapixel sensor and 6.4-inch display.