Samsung Gear Fit Reviewed for Performance and Quality
The Samsung Gear Fit is a smartwatch designed to help get you moving toward a healthier lifestyle, and some see it also as a way to graduate from the first steps of training to crossing that finish line.
With Gear Fit proprietary OS, Tizen, a speed of 160 MHz, Samsung created one of the first sports watch hybrids. It is compatible with Galaxy devices with Android™ version 4.3, WVGA, 800X480 or better screen resolution, and 1+GB memory.
Samsung Gear Fit tries to give you the best of both worlds when paired with the Samsung Fitness and health apps. People consider it as a great motivational tool because it can be programmed to set goals and track progress. It offers a built-in heart rate monitor and even communication like mail and phone call notifications. With your Galaxy device, you will need to use your phone to respond.
Keep reading our in-depth Samsung Gear Fit review to find out if it is worth the investment.
Samsung created the first merger of fitness activity trackers and smartphone features with the Samsung Gear Fit. The Samsung Gear Fit was designed to track daily activity like steps, sleep, calorie counting, and run data as well as offer limited access to your smartphone. While you cannot reply, the Samsung Gear Fit allows for access to your compatible smartphone so that you can receive correspondence notifications for mail, messages, and phone calls. The Samsung Gear Fit is touted as beautifully designed and comfortable with a slim curved body and face so much so that some feel it is a nice casual wear watch. The display is clear and long and easy to read with adjustable lower light viewing settings.
The long, curved face of the Samsung Gear Fit makes it somewhat awkward to read incoming notifications. The only apps actually on the watch are available through a Samsung proprietary OS and offer little functionality. Secondary apps must be synched through the phone's interface. There is no onboard GPS, so the Gear Fit relies on that of the paired smart phone. The built-in heart rate monitor and pedometer are reportedly unreliable. Heart rate monitoring occurring during the activity is not available for later analysis as it is not recorded. Users cannot pause running activity on the watch. The Samsung Gear Fit was expensive at initial launch.
Activity
Though, while on the move, one can receive alerts for email, messages, and phone calls but must use their paired phone to respond. To some this is a blessing, allowing you to focus on where you are in your journey at the moment. All in all, Samsung Gear Fit is a solid piece of gear that you can own
Basic Features
The Gear Fit can be beneficial to runners and cyclists as well by helping set basic training parameters and measuring pace, time, and distance each time you are on the move. Loaded with motivational features that let you track your runs and keep track of your progress and the ability to stay in touch with what's happening in your life, the Gear Fit is one of the first entries on the market to blend the two worlds.
Advanced Features
As a safety feature, a send help message can be sent to a person you designate complete with location should you find yourself needing assistance.
Accuracy
Citing issues specifically with sweat or water, many found it to be off by more than generally accepted. The pedometer has received more mixed reviews with more split on its accuracy. It seems either to be right on or way off. This lack of reliability has created a lack of confidence from consumers who expect to receive a top-notch product, especially for the steeper asking price.
Connectivity
Still, some users have tried troubleshooting to no avail and are displeased with the watch. Again, this is an area where feedback is mixed.
Apps
The watch can display up to three icons on the screen at a time and can sync up data about 3 hours (or more if preferred) post activity.
Comfort
Style
Overall, many feel that this watch looks good on the move as well as out and about. It may not be elegant but it is handsome, and most seem to appreciate this.
Durability
There was some concern over the sturdiness of the charging cradle and some users claim the watch itself stopped functioning after a short time, but overall, most wearers found the Gear Fit to be durable.
Face
And The Gear Fit does not allow for auto brightness so one will need to manually adjust the screen for sunny conditions but note that this change lasts a short time before resetting to traditional brightness mode.
Band
Sizes Available
Ease of Use
Power Source
Samsung advises being aware of screen brightness and other ways in which battery is used more and faster as in turning on/off frequently but still some experience issues — the battery charges via USB powered charger cradle. The rear of the watch face is where the charging cable will connect to the small proprietary charging dock.
Users say it is easy enough to clip in but feel a certain amount of delicacy is required.
Price
Accessories
Key Features
Many find the one size band to be comfortable and stylish and with interchangeable bands colors available, most can find one that suits their tastes.
The Gear Fit was created to track daily activity like walking, sleeping, and even running and cycling.
With an on-board heart rate monitor, the watch can help keep you in check as you pursue a healthier lifestyle.
Using only GPS available to paired smartphones, the running and cycling features are less than impressive to some.
Allowing limited access to your compatible smartphone, one can view correspondence and receive alerts but not reply.
The initial asking price for the first installment of Gear Fit is high, but as its time on the market continues, it does drop.
Accuracy of the heart rate monitor and pedometer has come into question.
Bottom Line
It seems Samsung may have tried to bundle too much together too soon and this innovation has had its price but what can be learned and applied to future releases of the Samsung Gear Fit may be well worth this first foray into new territory. With a hefty price tag and less than stellar performance noted by a large number of wearers, it seems that waiting until Samsung has worked out its kinks might be the optimal way to go.