SEOUL—Samsung Electronics Co., which raced ahead of Apple Inc. last year to become the world's biggest maker of smartphones, unveiled a highly anticipated watch-phone called the Galaxy Gear at a trade show in Berlin on Wednesday, opening a new front in the battle over "wearable" devices.
Samsung is attempting to shake off long-running criticism leveled by Apple proponents that the South Korea company has been a follower rather than an innovator in the competitive market for high-end devices. The release of the Galaxy Gear, which is slated to go on sale as early as this month with a price tag.