Review of the Samsung Gear Fit SM-R350 smartwatch. Samsung Galaxy Gear Fit smartwatch: another matter Samsung galaxy fit watch
Full review The Samsung Gear Fit 2 fitness bracelet and the instruction manual in Russian will help you learn and set up this sports watch in the right way.
Fit 2 has a nice display, decent design, monitor heart rate, as well as built-in GPS. In addition, it is possible to store music and play it directly from the device. With so many features, this fitness bracelet is more like a smartwatch.
The package includes the Fit 2, a charging cradle with a USB plug, and a user manual.
Design and comfort
The bracelet has an attractive and fashion design, offering a curved, responsive display with an oleophobic coating and a sporty-style rubber strap. The Super AMOLED screen size is 1.5 inches with a resolution of 432 × 216 pixels.
However, reviews regarding this form factor vary. On the one hand, this can make it difficult to absorb information, especially when displaying large text, such as in a message notification. Sports watches or fitness trackers that have a large square screen have a clear advantage in their ability to display information, as content from a wider display is more comfortable to read. But on the other hand, its curvature makes it easier to work with the gadget when you have to scroll through content with your finger.
Along with the fact that the bright colors of the Super AMOLED screen can be so intrusive that they even interfere with falling asleep, outdoors in direct sunlight the display does not look as expressive as we would like. Of course, monochrome or reflective displays are better suited for sports bracelets, but in this way the user loses the functionality of a fitness tracker.
As for the strap, it is very flexible, made of soft, comfortable elastomer material and is attached to the case using a proprietary connector. This means that it can be replaced with a bracelet of a different color or size, but only designed specifically for Fit 2.
Samsung ships the second-generation Gear Fit in two sizes:
- small S - for wrists 125-170 mm
- large L - for wrists with a circumference of 155-210 mm
On the “back” of the tracker there is an optical heart rate monitor. Next to the sensor are two point contacts for the wireless charging pad, which holds the Fit2 horizontally while charging. The tracker does not have ports for wired connections.
Two physical buttons on the side of the device are used to return home and move back to the previous screen. Each other button function depends on the active screen.
Interface
The Fit 2 has a series of horizontally scrolling screens, each with a specific function. You scroll through the screens with your finger, and an additional way to interact with the bracelet is the “back” and “home” buttons located on the side of the device.
You can also cover the screen with your palm to turn it off.
Informs about the time, and also provides data on the number of steps completed, steps and calories burned.
Swiping left brings up the notifications screen, while swiping right lets you scroll through widgets, which are discussed in more detail below.
- 24 hour log. Shows a linear progression of your activity over the past days: periods when you were inactive, active, asleep, or not using the fitness tracker on your wrist.
- Exercise. Allows you to start a sport or workout by setting the type of activity, time goal and other parameters. You can also view a history of previous active activities.
- Steps. Step counter and indicators of how close you are to your daily goal.
- Steps. The number of steps you have climbed/descended today is shown, with the ability to view historical data for the week.
- Heart rate. Shows your most recent heart rate and when it was recorded, as well as your highest and lowest heart rate for the day. You can view weekly data here.
- Water. Record the number of cups of water you drink per day.
- Caffeine. Note how many cups of coffee you have consumed today.
- Together. Set up challenges to tally your scores against your friends' scores and track your progress against them.
In addition to these screens, by pressing the side-bottom home button, you can bring up Music Player, Find My Phone, Timer, and Stopwatch. There's also the option to record how many cups of water or coffee you've drunk, start a timer, or use the Find My Phone feature.
Here you can see icons for network indicators, battery charge, screen brightness level and more by scrolling down on the Home screen.
Applications
You can use all the functionality of the tracker if you download the mobile application to your phone. Paired with a sports watch, it will help you keep track of all your workouts and will generate graphs and display statistics of your daily physical activity and other activities.
Samsung S Health app
S Health displays everything the Fit 2 collects, and also opens up even more options for inputting data through your phone, like your weight or food intake. It's quite convenient software, displays the information well, but keep in mind that if you've previously used a fitness tracker and already have a lot of data stored elsewhere, importing into S Health won't be possible. The program is freely available.
The separation of functions between S Health and another application called Gear can confuse the user. In this case, you can use the Gear to control the Fit 2's connection to your smartphone without having to resort to S Health.
On the other hand, Fit 2 is capable of working autonomously, without a connected phone, but it is unlikely that anyone will wear a fitness bracelet without the ability to view statistics in the mobile application.
The Gear mobile application is a channel for connecting a smart bracelet to a phone and is available for almost any smartphone running Android 4.4 KitKat and higher. You can download it.
Here you can control which apps can send notifications to Fit 2, change quick replies to messages, switch and customize watch faces, change app layout, and install more apps when they become available.
With the Gear, you can use music files from your phone to play them on your device without using your smartphone.
If your Fit 2 gets lost, the software's Find My Gear feature will vibrate the tracker to help you find it. In addition, before the smart bracelet is detected, you can remotely block it from reconnecting from another device.
Functions
Fit2 is not just a gadget that counts steps and distance, shows time and heart rate, but also a multifunctional tool for monitoring health and communicating with other users of the same device.
Notifications
Fitness watch Samsung Gear Fit 2 (Gir Fit 2) provides the ability to receive notifications sent to your smartphone. However, responses will be limited due to small size device screen. Through the program on the phone, the user is given the opportunity to choose which software can send alerts to the smart bracelet. You can only reply with quick messages, which are also configured in the mobile application.
Alarm
Despite the fact that the device detects sleep phases, the bracelet does not have a smart alarm clock. And in order to use a regular alarm clock in your watch, you need to install it by first downloading it from the Gear Market.
According to user reviews, the tracker emits rather weak vibration signals to wake up the owner. Therefore, if you sleep soundly, you may not feel the slight vibration on your wrist.
Heart rate monitoring
The heart rate monitor requires several seconds of standing still to measure your heart rate. Fit2 automatically records and tracks your heart rate when you're at rest, but when you're active you need to stop for a moment to check your pulse.
The optical monitor also performs automatic tracking, focusing on your heart rate through measurements every 10 minutes.
When Auto HR control is turned on, Fit 2 will track your heart rate whenever it detects rest periods. The results are displayed in heart rate widgets on the tracker itself, and you can also view them in the S Health app.
For the tracker to track your sleep, you must make sure everything is set up correctly in the S Health app. If you are an iPhone owner, this may be difficult since the device is designed to work with the Android app.
Launch the program and go to the “Options” section, select “Manage Elements”, activate the “Sleep” item.
You also need to register your device to create a connection between your phone and Gear Fit2. In the mobile app, the device breaks sleep quality into three categories - restless, light and restless - and displays them on a graph with a corresponding timeline.
Active Activity Tracking
Samsung has packed various sensors into the Fit2, including a pedometer, GPS, and a heart rate monitor. Most of these sensors function automatically depending on the selected function or fitness panel. They also automatically detect when you exercise and what exactly you do. Fit2 clearly tracks walking, running and lap running. Additionally, it recognizes when the user has been stationary for too long and advises them to move a little (these notifications, as well as exercise detection, can be turned off if desired).
There are various activities that you can choose from and they include:
- walking
- hike
- Bike Lane
- orbitrek
- exercise bike
- elliptical trainer
- treadmill
- lunges
- twisting
- squats
- Pilates
- rowing
- other workouts
You can set goals based on pace, duration, distance, calories, or core workout. Whatever aspect you choose as your goal, the Samsung Gear Fit 2 fitness bracelet will show you your best result. Once you start an exercise, you'll get updated information with important metrics like pace, calories burned, time elapsed, and more. It also notifies you when you reach half of your goal and when you complete a given goal. If you are stationary for more than an hour, the tracker nudges you to take a walk.
During and after a tracked workout session, the user can access information such as:
- duration of training
- distance
- calories
- speed
- maximum heart rate
- % time in active intensity zone
Training with GPS
With built-in GPS, Fit2 can track your walks and runs and record the route you take. However, it will not track location when automatically detected physical exercise. You need to manually set up your runs through the Exercise panel. After entering your activity type and desired run time, Fit2 will track your movements as soon as you press Start.
The tracker will record your location and display the shape of the route you choose yourself (you can check it in the watch's exercise log). But it won't display a map to provide details and surroundings of your route until you sync it with your smartphone so it can download map information. Once this is done, the results will be detailed and accurate.
Your heart rate and speed graph, along with a map of your tracked GPS session, are shown on the display of the Fit 2 itself, provided location detection is turned on.
During the GPS-enabled workout itself, swipe the screens right or left to view duration, distance, heart rate, pace, speed, and calories burned.
Static exercises
There are a total of three types of exercises that can be performed under the close supervision of the tracker: lunges, crunches and squats. By following the recommended methodology for performing them, you can be sure that the device will accurately count the number of repetitions and record them directly into the tracker.
The ideal method of execution is displayed immediately before the start of classes on the bracelet display.
However, it is not entirely convenient to start and end each time by pressing a button on one or another exercise and move on to another. It would be much more practical if the user was given the opportunity to create his own training sets from these three proposed types.
In addition, the workouts mainly focus on the legs and abs, neglecting the arm muscles. Although you can download third-party software from the Samsung app store.
Peculiarities
The fitness bracelet has some features that allow the user to use it comfortably: these include battery life, moisture protection, the ability to play music without pairing with a smartphone, and others, which we will discuss in detail below.
Hardware
The Samsung Gear Fit 2 comes with a bunch of extras a proper fitness device needs, including GPS, Bluetooth, a heart rate monitor and 4GB of internal storage.
While the Gear Fit2 connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth, it also has a Wi-Fi connection, allowing your network data to be automatically transferred from your phone.
Compatibility
The Fit 2 has one drawback: it only works with Android smartphones (4.4 or higher).
Samsung notes that it can be used independently of a mobile phone, so if you have an iOS device and would really like to wear this particular fitness tracker, it can be done. But in this case, you will not receive smart notifications from your phone, and you will have to view your workout data directly on the bracelet display.
You don't have to use a Samsung smartphone to enjoy the benefits of the Fit 2, as the device can be paired with other phones that have Gear Manager and S Health installed. From other devices you can also view the information transferred to them through the S Health program installed from the Play Store.
The sports band is certified and IP68 water resistant, meaning you can submerge it up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes without worrying about water damage. However, this does not mean that it is seaworthy. It is also not recommended to wear the tracker while showering: water pressure varies depending on the type of shower head, and the device may not be able to handle high pressure.
Moisture protection is designed for intense sports with high sweating and accidental splashes when washing hands and rain.
Fit 2 without phone
You can use Fit 2 without a mobile device. However, some functions will not be available without connecting to a smartphone.
Obviously, notifications, music downloads, and fitness information syncing won't be able to happen when the tracker is in phone-free mode, but it can still do a lot. Fitness elements will be available, including heart rate monitoring, as well as many options and customizations, such as different watch faces and changing the order of apps in the Fit2 menu. The fitness band also works great, allowing you to set the display to always-on and manually set the time via the touchscreen.
Battery life
According to the company, the tracker is able to hold a sufficient charge of its 200 mAh battery for 3-4 days of use. Standby time is 5 days. Samsung estimates that running GPS during exercise drains the battery within 9 hours. But even turning off GPS while tracking your exercise will reduce battery life expectancy to about 2 days.
Keep in mind that the brighter the display, the faster the battery will drain. The display is not always on, you can choose a timeout of 15 seconds, 30 seconds or 1 minute.
Fortunately, the manufacturer has included a special power saving function for the gadget, which is very similar to the Ultra Power Saving mode for smartphones. When the power is insufficient, you will be prompted to turn it on, effectively disabling most functions (except exercise and time) and turning the interface into one workplace, completely in shades of gray.
The proprietary charger includes a magnetic stand in its design. It has a magnetic clamp, which should hold the tracker well in a vertical position. The charging cable connects to a standard USB port.
Full charge time is about 40 minutes.
How to extend battery life
Your device provides various options, which will help you save battery power.
- When you're not using your device, switch to standby mode by covering the screen with your palm.
- Turn on power saving mode.
- Turn off Bluetooth
- Deactivate the Wi-Fi feature when not in use.
- Reduce screen brightness.
- Deactivate the "always on" function.
- Configure notification settings in the Samsung Gear app on the connected smartphone.
In addition to GPS, one of the best features The Fit 2 has 4GB of internal storage that you can use to upload music to your band. Those who listen to music while working out can use the Spotify app on the Fit 2, but it requires the phone to be in range. On the other hand, users can transfer local music files to the device through the Gear Manager and listen to music that way - just connect a Bluetooth headset to the Gear and it will play music from the built-in music player.
The player works quite well and provides a convenient way to stream audio while playing sports without having to rely on your smartphone. Audio prompts about how long or how far the physical activity has progressed are also transmitted through the headphones, which is very convenient and useful for the user.
Gear Fit 2 specifications
| Weight | 28 g, 30 g |
| Band size | Large: 108 mm x 95 mm (4.25 x 3.74 inches), for wrists with a circumference of 155-210 mm Small: 84mm x 95mm (3.3 x 3.74 inches), fits 125-170mm wrists |
| Screen | Super AMOLED 1.5-inch display with 432 x 216 pixels resolution |
| CPU | Dual-core, 1 GHz Exynos 3250 |
| Battery | Li-ion 200 mAh. Charging time 40 min |
| Battery life | Up to 4 days |
| Bluetooth | v4.2, USB 2.0, NFC, Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n |
| GPS | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes |
| Sensors | accelerometer gyroscope heart rate monitor barometer |
| Smart alarm clock | No |
| Player | Yes |
| Audio formats | MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, M4A, AMR, AWB, OGG, OGA, 3GA |
| Protection | IP68, not suitable for swimming |
| Color | Black, blue, pink |
| OS | Tizen |
| Memory | RAM - 512 MB For storing music - 4 GB The Samsung Gear Fit2 SM-R360 fitness bracelet comes in dark gray, blue and pink and costs $179. For a mid-range sports watch from a major brand, the price is quite reasonable, although e.g. , Fitbit Alta as an alternative to Samsung Fit 2 is more attractive with its price of $130. Although the tracker is equipped with features such as GPS and a music player, and has more low price than some competitors, the lack of iPhone support and short battery life limit its appeal. Assuming Samsung can iron out some issues, the Gear Fit 2 could be one of the best fitness trackers out there, although it does need a lot of work. |
The Samsung Gear Fit has a curved display, which makes the device stand out, positioned between a smartwatch and a fitness bracelet. Let's look at how the clock works every day.
Samsung Gear Fit - Reviews
AMOLED display Samsung Gear Fit
Unlike regular bracelets, the Gear Fit fitness bracelet has a touch screen high resolution, which unfortunately does not display the time all the time. It can be turned on by pressing a button or gesture. Readability at sunlight It's quite good, and there are brightness settings.
Miraculous transformations
On the watch you can find out the weather, time or number of steps. As for the display format, there is a choice between horizontal and vertical positions, as well as placement for the left and right hand.
Works unnoticed
In Gear Fit Manager, the user defines applications that will appear as notifications on the Gear Fit screen; a vibration alert will inform you of new events and emails. For those who value privacy: the display remains dark upon request and only starts up after activation.
Applications
The Samsung Gear Fit offers many of the same features as the Gear 2, but it's not a lightweight smartwatch. The Gear Fit doesn't have storage for music or photos, or similar apps. But the watch will allow us to quickly find out who is calling, and if something happens, we can easily reject the call.
March into the water!
Rain, shower and even swimming: the Gear Fit bracelet endured it all without any damage. Thanks to the IP67 certificate, it can withstand immersion to a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes.
Samsung Gear Fit smartwatch as a cycling computer
While cycling, watch using GPS receiver The phone displays the distance traveled and the speed of movement. The heart rate monitor did not always behave well: the heart rate shows 56, despite full loads. Therefore, the journalists considered this test to be failed.
Today it’s like this, tomorrow it’s different
Good idea– have a good time using the Gear Fit manager on your phone, you can easily and quickly change the background image or the way the time is displayed. You can download the next templates for free to your phone.
Pedometer
The motion sensor calculates steps independently of the phone, which is no different than when riding a bicycle. While running, you can monitor your heart rate all the time, and later check the distance covered and the number of calories burned.
With excellent wearing comfort and a small, thin display, the Samsung Gear Fit watch combines the benefits of a fitness band and a smartwatch.
Gear Fit Specifications
- operating system: Tizen
- Image diagonal: 4.67 cm (1.84 inches)
- Resolution: 432 x 128 pixels, 250 ppi density
- Display type: Super AMOLED curved touchscreen, 16.7 million colors
- Battery capacity: 210 mAh
- Operating time: depending on use - from 2 to 5 days
- Communication: microUSB - adapter
- Waterproof: IP67 certified
- Processor: ARM Cortex-M4, 180 MHz
- Communication: Bluetooth
- Weight and thickness: 27 g and 12.5 mm
- Price: about 8,000 thousand rubles
- Useful additions
- Permanent connection
The Samsung Gear Fit smartwatch “understands” only Samsung smartphones running Android starting from version 4.3, for example, Galaxy S4, S5 or Note 3.
Nothing happens without this program - it is officially only available in the Samsung app store. Search Google Gear Fit Manager APK and install the application on Android smartphones from other manufacturers. However, fitness data analysis is only possible on Samsung phones.
Waterproof Fitness Band for Swimming
Are you going to the pool? - take Gear Fit2 Pro with you. This is an ideal fitness tracker with 5ATM water resistance, which is suitable for shallow swimming in fresh water.
Accurate swimming tracking
You can use Gear Fit2 Pro to measure your swimming performance by counting laps and arm strokes. By checking your SWOLF score and heart rate data, you can evaluate your overall swimming performance and intensity. Also, thanks to Samsung Health, you can check the results and detailed information about your activities.
Partnership with Speedo
The Gear Fit2 Pro is the first wearable to feature Speedo On. Speedo On for Gear Fit2 Pro syncs your swim data with the mobile version of Speedo On. You will be able to get a more in-depth analysis, personal training plan and other functions.
Advanced fitness tracking
The Gear Fit2 Pro's fitness tracking capabilities have been improved over its predecessor. New and improved features like continuous heart rate tracking, automatic detection and activity analytics help you get more accurate and informative data about your activities.
Continuous heart rate measurement
Gear Fit2 Pro monitors your heart rate all day long and provides intuitive feedback, telling you how long and when you reached your peak, intense, and moderate periods of heart activity. Another new feature: Gear Fit2 Pro can calculate calories burned while exercising on the elliptical or exercise bike.
Improved automatic activity recognition
The Gear Fit2 Pro's automatic activity recognition feature works even better during dynamic exercise. Regardless of what you like: tennis, football, dancing, squash, etc. etc., Gear Fit2 Pro will measure your heart rate.
Find the right pace with activity analytics
Whether you're running, biking, or just doing recreational walking, your route involves... various conditions workout. Going up a hill requires much more effort than going down it. After your workout, Gear Fit2 Pro will show you graphs and a map of your workout area with detailed analysis and show you how effectively you performed on each section of your route. This data will help you find the right pace and set goals.
Universal design
While working on the Gear Fit2 Pro, the designers did their best. The strap, with its elegant contours and curved shape, looks stylish and ensures comfortable use. The sophisticated design of Gear Fit2 Pro can be combined with a business suit, sportswear or casual wear. But that's not all! Now Gear Fit2 Pro users can choose a model with a strap that will fit as closely as possible. For the male part of the audience it is offered standard length strap L, and for the fair half of humanity shorter straps in size S are intended.
Updated clasp design for maximum security and comfort
During an intense workout, any fitness bracelet can easily slip off your hand. Luckily, the Gear Fit2 Pro has a secure, durable clasp that lets you focus on your movements. In addition, the curved part with inside The bracelet has a wide contact area with the skin for improved heart rate sensor performance, which will provide you with a more accurate picture of your condition.
Informative dials
The Gear Fit2 Pro offers a variety of watch face interfaces. New options perfectly visualize information and give freedom in the field of personalization. In addition to the default interfaces, the fitness bracelet comes pre-installed with 4 additional watch faces and a choice of 5 colors. Choose the interface that best reflects your mood at the moment.
Basic smart features
The benefits of the Gear Fit2 Pro go beyond just ease of exercise. They also include basic smart features such as checking messages and listening to music without using a smartphone.
Nothing will distract you from your workout
The Gear Fit2 Pro fitness band is equipped with essential smart features so users can quickly reject calls or reply to messages. Now the bracelet has a “Do not disturb” function, so you can devote all your time to sports without being distracted by extraneous factors. You will receive notifications by at will, and all fitness alerts will be indicated by a recognizable vibration. Continue your workout without looking at your wrist.
Standalone music player
Listen to your favorite tracks during your workout with the built-in music app. When using the Spotify app, you can download music in advance and listen to it anywhere, even without an Internet connection.
Third party app support
When you open Galaxy Apps on your smartphone, you'll find popular fitness apps, including third-party apps like Lifesum, Under Armor, Pear, etc. You can also download a variety of watch faces.
Improved Compatibility
Gear Fit2 Pro has improved cross-platform compatibility. Bluetooth-equipped smartphones running on Android platform 4.4 and higher, with a minimum of 1.5 GB of RAM, as well as iPhone 5 (or later models) based on iOS 9.0 and higher are compatible with the Gear Fit2 Pro and can be synchronized with it through special software available on the corresponding resources for purchasing applications .
There are already dozens of models of fitness trackers and smartwatches, but among them there are those that try to combine the advantages of both camps. One of these devices is Gear Fit from Samsung.
A fitness bracelet that has a beautiful curved screen, a pedometer, a heart rate sensor, and several other applications that should make this two hundred dollar device worth the money.
Did it work out for you? Samsung? Let's find out.
Features and display
“Wow” - that's exactly what I thought when I first saw it Samsung Gear Fit. First of all, I was struck by the screen: a 1.84-inch curved Super AMOLED display that curves around the wrist and looks amazing.
The panel is very bright and rich, which puts this device head and shoulders above competitors with flat and dull displays. However, in the bright sun it is almost impossible to see what is happening there.
The “outdoor brightness” mode tries to help us with this and helps, but after five minutes it is automatically reset, and after that we have to find it again in the jungle of the menu.
A light sensor that would automatically adjust the brightness to the environment would be very useful here, but Samsung decided that it could do without it.
Concerning appearance: Fit is an oblong plastic module that is inserted into various rubber bracelets (6 different colors).
These bracelets (including the module) are comfortable to wear on your hand and they do not limit your movements at all, which cannot be said about some other similar devices. However, it should be noted that the Fit looks too sporty, and if you are looking for a more sophisticated device, you should look for another watch.
The Fit has one physical button that you can use to select and switch between apps. At the bottom there is a heart rate sensor and a charging port. Inside you can find Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy, accelerometer and gyroscopes. But something is missing. Namely, GPS, which could be very useful in measuring the distance you have traveled.
The charging dock is quite small and uses a special connector. This is not only inconvenient due to another extra wire, but also because this docking station is very easy to lose.
Same as new Galaxy S5 from Samsung, the Fit is IP67 certified, which means it's waterproof to a depth of up to a meter for half an hour.
Features and Software
I won’t pull the cat by the tail and tell you the whole truth right away: from the point of view of equipment, the Fit is wonderful, but the same cannot be said about the software.
The reason for this is the fact that this device does not work on any Android, nor on Tizen OS. Instead, Fit uses its own hacked OS, which basically doesn't support third-party apps. It's discouraging, but Samsung expects us to be satisfied with the set of standard apps that come with the watch. He hopes in vain.
You can attach widgets like a pedometer, weather, or a calendar with a clock to your home screen. If you are not afraid of small letters, then you can fit three widgets on one screen at a time.
And if you want to increase them, the application will help you with this Gear Fit Manager for your Samsung phone. In it you can configure each menu and also change other device settings. By the way, control in the mobile application is much more convenient, so I would recommend using it.
From the point of view of a fitness bracelet
The idea of measuring heart rate in itself is quite interesting, but when used with the Gear Fit it is practically useless.
Firstly, because it is not particularly accurate, because the sensor is very sensitive to sweat, position on the hand, as well as movements.
And secondly, actually measuring your pulse is not so convenient, because this only happens when you tell your watch that you are going to exercise. And even then, you will need more than one attempt to get a more or less accurate result.
You can use running mode as your own trainer. This mode, during training, will measure your heart rate and the duration of the activity, and based on this data, it will tell you to slow down or, on the contrary, speed up.
You also have access to a walking mode, in which the pedometer will measure the distance traveled and the number of steps. However, this mode is located in a completely different corner of the menu, which makes navigation very difficult.
All this would be bearable if the pedometer at least worked correctly. Instead, it's not only inaccurate, but it also doesn't want to sync readings with the app. mobile phones S Health.
Unfortunately, the Fit couldn't get beyond tracking your steps and heart rate. Moreover, the tracking is extremely poor.
Doesn't have a sleep tracker either. special meaning. To determine whether you're sleeping or not, the Fit uses an internal accelerometer and... that's it. The data obtained is very narrow and you won’t be able to highlight anything interesting from it, because the watch simply remembers what time you go to bed (you specify the time yourself) and what time you wake up. Do you know what two objects can do the same thing? Pen and paper.
From a smartwatch point of view
As you already understood, the fitness tracker from Fit came out so-so. But how does this device play the role of a smart watch?
Fit can notify you about new calls, messages and incoming emails, but it does it very poorly. It's the screen's fault. If you look at it horizontally, you have to bend your neck and hand at a very awkward angle.
Plus, most apps don't even display the contents of the message or call, but simply show a teaser that lets you preview the notification on your phone.
There is also a timer, media player and stopwatch. This is where the functions end, and we remain dissatisfied. After all, the functions themselves are very few, they work terribly, and applications from third parties are simply not supported.
Power and operating time
There is also a small problem with the screen itself. It's nice to look at, but the content itself is not.And all because, as I said before, looking at the Fit in horizontal mode is very inconvenient. This problem can be solved if you switch the screen to vertical mode. However, this greatly affects the length of the text.
At least connecting the watch to the phone was quite easy. The connection to my Galaxy S5 has never been lost, and the hand-raising screen unlock feature, although it works crookedly, is interesting enough to play with for an hour or two (?!).
In terms of battery life, Samsung promises us three to four days of battery life. And after a week with the Fit, I have to agree: this watch lasts long enough.
During my use, I charged the device only twice, and both times it lasted four full days. And although I understand that if I were more athletic, the battery would drain faster, the standard runtime figure is good for an average person like me.
Rivals
The $200 Gear Fit is unique, combining both a smartwatch and a fitness tracker in one.
But the fact that this device does both of those things very poorly means I can't recommend it for purchase, no matter what kind of watch you want.
Other devices in its league can easily outperform the Gear Fit. The main such gadget is Adidas miCoach Smart Run($400). This fitness tracker is from Adidas successfully combines several useful functions. And although it costs twice as much, it works great, which cannot be said about the Samsung Fit.
Results
pros
- Comfortable bracelet
- Gorgeous AMOLED screen
- Long working time
- Inability to install applications
- Sensors are inaccurate
- A narrow screen is not always easy to read
- Small and inconvenient charging station
However, somewhere along the way, the Korean tycoon forgot that features and functions are not everything, and for them to work, you need good software that can use the equipment to its fullest.
Some of the features are interesting and even somewhat convenient (alerts and clock), but the pedometer and heart rate counter are very inaccurate, and the sleep tracker is virtually useless.
I would love to love the Gear fit and wear it every day. But Samsung forgot that a good device needs good applications. Perhaps the company will add support for third-party apps, and then we will finally get a device that works great. But until then, Gear fit simply isn't worth the money.
The Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro is so advanced that it outperforms many smartwatches in terms of functionality. How does the bracelet behave in real use?
Why Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro and not Samsung Gear Fit 3?
The Samsung Gear Fit 2 line appeared on the market about a year ago. This is very good devices in their class, in which it was difficult to find serious flaws. A year later we haven't seen the Gear Fit 3, but rather just an updated version of the Gear Fit 2 Pro, suggesting the changes are minor. This is true, but they are very significant. The first significant change: the fitness bracelet has become truly waterproof, without any stars or marks. Gear Fit 2 Pro not only meets the IP68 standard, but moreover can withstand water pressure of up to 5 atmospheres. This means that with the bracelet we can safely swim and even dive to a depth of 50 meters. This is also possible in salt water! The program has the ability to track swimming-related workouts. Change number two is making better use of third party apps, the most important of which for me is working with Spotify.
With the Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro, you can not only listen to music, but also download playlists to your bracelet and play them while working out on your Bluetooth headset. It works on the same principle as the app on your smartphone. This perfect solution, which really allows you not to take your smartphone with you to workouts. If you want, you can also upload MP3 files to the bracelet, but this is less convenient. Unfortunately, the built-in memory is limited to 4 GB. The operating system and the most useful applications take up about 2 GB, so there is really little space for your own data. Other features remain unchanged from Gear Fit 2 This means that the bracelet can still do many useful things. Every day, the device connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth so that incoming notifications can be checked on the wrist. You can configure in advance which applications can send notifications to the bracelet. Notifications are displayed as an application icon, under which the beginning of the content is visible. In most cases, you can open in detail, and then select one of the main actions: send “OK” in response to a message, delete unwanted email or reply to SMS with one of the predefined templates. If you set an alarm, the bracelet can also vibrate to wake you up if you decide to sleep in it. In this case, in the morning you will receive a report from your dream. Overall, the band works great as a "smartphone enhancer" because one glance is enough to decide whether an incoming notification is important or not. Sports functions
The most important thing, however, remains the sports functions of the bracelet.
Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro is equipped with GPS and optical sensor heart rate. GPS consumes a lot of battery, so it is better to turn it off every day. During training, the GPS signal is received instantly. In turn, the heart rate sensor can be set to measure your heart rate from time to time throughout the day, even when inactive. This gives us an idea of the results without using too much battery. As for workouts, we can activate them ourselves (up to 16 types), or rely on the bracelet, which, 10 minutes after the start of activity, will recognize the workout and switch to the appropriate mode. And it really works! The bracelet confidently detects running and cycling. Automatic workout detection is limited to only five sports: walking/running, cycling, elliptical, stationary bike, and dynamic training. During training, the bracelet can measure your heart rate continuously. On a daily basis, Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro also takes care of your physical activity. If you sit for too long, it's time to stretch your bones. The application will even offer options on how to stretch them. In turn, if you start such a physical activity without reminders, the bracelet will congratulate you. These notifications can be annoying at times, but they can be turned off. The most important
The most important element is a touch, curved, Super AMOLED screen. Looks beautiful like best screens on Samsung smartphones, only in a smaller size. The resolution is a modest 216x432 pixels, but with a 1.5-inch diagonal this gives a pixel density of 310 ppi, making everything very clear. The deep black AMOLED color pairs beautifully with the black strap. Control is carried out using gestures. To the left of the main screen is the notification panel and to the right are widgets, mainly fitness apps, such as a pedometer or the number of floors climbed. At the top is the settings panel, which opens with a classic top-down gesture. On the side of the case there are two buttons: back and home button, which simultaneously opens the list of applications. In general, management should not cause any inconvenience to anyone. My only complaint is about the screen brightness control, which is manual. Fitness bracelets of this class should automatically adjust the brightness level depending on lighting conditions. Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro has interchangeable straps
Available a large number of straps that differ in external texture, fastening method, color and size. There are also bracelets from third-party manufacturers, and among them you can even find... metal bracelets. There should be something for everyone. For this purpose, the bracelet is offered in two body colors: red-black and completely black. Which smartphones will work with the Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro?
The bracelet is compatible with Android 4.4 or later, the smartphone must have at least 1.5 GB of RAM. Also compatible with iPhone 5 or later. The Gear Fit 2 Pro connects to your smartphone via Samsung Gear, where you can find information about your band's status and settings. From mobile application you can customize the watch face, or, for example, the order of applications in the menu, which is much more convenient than doing this on the small screen of the bracelet. In turn, all fitness functions are synchronized with Samsung Health by default, which can be installed not only on Samsung smartphones. The application collects data on workouts, activity (steps, calories, floors walked), sleep duration, or heart rate. All statistics can be viewed and compared, and the application rewards us with badges for achieving goals.
You can install applications directly into the fitness bracelet
Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro runs Tizena and allows you to install apps from Samsung Galaxy Apps. There you can find several dozen options for watches (free and paid) and applications. Additional apps are available that add new features (such as alarms or stopwatches), Samsung sports apps (such as tracking unusual sports such as tennis, golf, badminton), and third-party apps.
These are the most interesting applications. There are also very popular applications such as Endomondo, Spotify, Speedo On, MyFitnessPal, three applications from Under Armor. There are also some lesser known ones such as Fit Evolution Pro PEAR Personal Coach, Lifesum or StayFit+. An interesting application is a third-party application for... GoPro cameras. Third-party sports apps are simpler versions of these same smartphone apps, but they do get the job done, which is to transfer workout information to specific accounts. Battery life
The battery must be charged frequently. The bracelet is placed on a special charging base with a magnetic fastener. In charging mode, the bracelet can work as a table clock. One charge will last for a full 2 days, if you don't have a workout at that time, turn off the GPS, and it will measure your heart rate from time to time. If you exercise, you will have to charge the bracelet after each workout.Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro price
The price, unfortunately, is high.Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro costs 13,000 rubles. This is 2000 more than its predecessor. The price is high and I'm not sure if the bracelet is worth the price. For a similar price, you can find much better sports watches. On the other hand, simple fitness groups tend to be much cheaper.