Your iPhone will work with Samsung's Gear S2 watch -- eventually

If you're an iPhone user, you're going to be getting one more smartwatch option.

Samsung said Tuesday that its Gear S2 watch would work with devices running on Apple's iOS software, namely iPhones and iPads. The surprising news, which the company confirmed at its press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, elicited oohs and ahhs from the packed crowd.

The company said only that it would occur later this year but didn't offer any details beyond that. Samsung had previously kept its smartwatches locked to its own phones.

But the news gives iPhone fans looking for another smart accessory option beyond the Apple Watch. While it arrived with a lot of hype, not everyone is in love with its boxy design and might prefer the more traditionally round shape of the Gear S2.

The Gear S2 also features a dial around the display similar to a diver's watch as a way to move between menus and apps, an alternative to the physical crown that the Apple Watch employs.