Samsung Gear Fit Smartwatch Review

In this smartwatch, Samsung has ditched Android over Tizen OS. It looks more like a trendy fitness band on the wrist, with its 1.84 inch Super AMOLED Curved display, which incidentally, is available in vibrant colours. The text on the watch is readable even in direct sunlight, when using “Outdoor Brightness” mode, but it doesn’t have an ambient light sensor thus there’s no auto-brightness setting.

The display background can be changed when the device is synced with Samsung’s smartphone or tablet. The fitness-band sports Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy connectivity, an accelerometer and gyroscope. It is also IP67-certified like the new Samsung Galaxy S5, meaning the device is waterproof in up to a meter of water level for up to 30 minutes.

The hybrid fitness band has heartbeat rate, pedometer sensors on the down-facing side and comes with an interchangeable wristband that allows colour swapping. One physical home button is placed on the device that can also be used as a shortcut to certain apps by double-press (requires customization). The charging port is placed on the downside, which uses a small dock with micro-USB port to connect the charger to it. The dock is quite small and one more accessory to take around, which is easy to lose.

Comparing Fit with its successor sibling Galaxy Gear, this one boasts a slew of features and looks smart. Other devices like Fitbit Flex and Jawbone UP also offer similar or better features at a lower cost, but the only and major difference is they don’t have a display. Gear Fit is alone capable of showing results without pairing it with a Galaxy device while others require a smartphone’s display.

The watch delivers two days battery backup on one full charge and can do better, depending on usage. Though, it’s not great performance, it’s decent.

Bottomline: If you have a Galaxy device or are planning to buy one, then you can consider Gear Fit. It offers several features with an effective interface, but its performance for serious runners isn’t very effective.

Price: Rs. 15,450.00

Key Specs: Super AMOLED 1.82 inch Screen, Tizen OS, Pedometer, Heart rate monitor, call alert, notification

Pros: Lightweight and attractive design, Super AMOLED screen, software interface

Cons: Cheap plastic strap, awkward charging dock, inaccurate pedometer, limited fitness features