Samsung bracelets review. Periphery. Design, ergonomics, replaceable straps

The new fitness tracker Samsung Gear Fit2 does not quite fit into the category that the manufacturers gave this gadget - most likely, it is something between smart watch and a fitness bracelet. During development Samsung devices Gear Fit2 The South Korean giant took a little bit from the Samsung Gear Fit and Samsung Gear S2 to create something different in terms of presentation.

general information

The Gear Fit2 gets you an incredibly powerful device for just $179, making it a tempting deal for those looking for a tracker with cutting-edge capabilities. If you're not too keen on the idea of spending more than $200 on bands like the Microsoft Band 2 or Garmin Vivosmart HR+, then the Gear Fit2 is exactly what you need. In other words, this is a budget solution for flagship lovers.

However, budget is not the main parameter by which wearable gadgets are chosen, so let’s try to take a closer look at the Samsung Gear Fit2 smart bracelet and see if it is worthy of taking a place on the list of the best fitness trackers of 2016.

Specifications

Manufacturer: Samsung

CPU

Battery

Capacity, mAh: 200
Working time, hours: 3-4

Physical parameters

Dimensions, mm: no data
Weight, g: no data
Detachable strap: yes
Case/strap color: black, blue, pink

Additionally

Protection from water, shock: yes
Music player control: yes
Camera control: yes
NFC: yes
Price, $: 179

Appearance and screen

Samsung Gear Fit2 began to look several times better than its predecessor. Due to the sports strap, the gadget vaguely resembles a fitness bracelet, but still the product has become closer to the segment smart watch. The screen is exactly what makes this line of fitness bracelets from Samsung stand out from others, so it’s worth taking a closer look at it.

The first generation of Samsung Gear Fit featured an impressive screen Super AMOLED with a diagonal of 1.84 inches and a resolution of 432x128 pixels, but the display of the new product has become a little smaller - 1.5 inches, while the technology used and the curved shape have been preserved, and the resolution is now 432x216. Add in an impressive pixel density of 322 ppi - Samsung has always been good at displays, but this one is especially attractive. The screen itself is protected by shock-resistant Gorilla Glass 3, so you don’t have to worry about the gadget being damaged during training.

The strap is made of elastometer and can be replaced, if necessary, with another branded bracelet. By the way, Samsung made sure that the Gear Fit2 is suitable for people with any wrist size - models are available with a small strap (125-170mm) and a large one (155-210mm). The model with a larger strap weighs a couple of grams more, that's all the difference. There is only one button for fastening, and this solution is many times more convenient than in similar models from Fitbit and Jawbone.

The device is protected from water according to the IP68 standard - this means that they can withstand immersion to a depth of 1.5 m, but not more than 30 minutes. The Samsung Gear Fit2 is available in 3 colors in both sizes - you can get the blue, pink or black model.

Functions

The trend for automatic tracking was inherited from the first version of Gear Fit: Fit 2 automatically counts steps, sleep (by the way, the gadget separates the periods when you are sleeping or just dozed off) and calories burned. In addition, the device recognizes the type of activity you are doing – it will know if you are doing squats, cycling or doing yoga. All data is recorded in a 24-hour log, and you can find out at any time when and how much you exercised, walked or slept.

Depending on the type of activity, the number of calories expended will differ - for example, if the same Xiaomi Mi Band 2 counts the calories expended in a simple and very approximately way, Samsung Gear Fit2 will take into account the intensity of your workouts and calculate how much energy was spent during those or other activities (you can highlight the most effective of them).

Fit2 also allows you to track your caffeine and water consumption – the app manually records the number of drinks. This is useful if you are trying to limit your coffee intake or try to drink a certain amount of water per day.

The Fit2 smart bracelet does not do without heart rate tracking - by default, the heartbeat is checked once every 10 minutes, and when you start playing active sports, the device goes into continuous tracking mode. By the way, heart rate tracking can be disabled to increase the autonomy of the device.

There's no altimeter on board the Samsung Gear Fit2, but the band can easily tell when you're climbing stairs. Sensors include GPS, optical heart rate monitor, barometer, accelerometer and gyroscope.

Built-in GPS means you don't have to carry your smartphone with you while exercising outdoors. A map of your run or bike route will appear on the Fit2 screen.

As mentioned, Fit2 automatically detects the workout type, but you can also manually select it and set a goal. Goals can be very varied - for example, target pace, duration, distance or calories burned, or you can not set a goal at all. If headphones are connected, then at certain intervals the gadget will inform you about the status of your workout. When manually starting a workout, Fit2 will give a 3-second countdown. It is worth noting that manually starting a workout is more reliable in every sense - during testing, Samsung Gear Fit2 recognized only 3 workouts out of 7.

User interface

Samsung Gear Fit2 turned out to be quite powerful - on board this bracelet you can find a dual-core processor with clock frequency 1 GHz, 512 MB internal and 4 GB permanent memory. Tizen continues to improve, so the interface is simple and convenient. By the way, vertical screen makes working with the gadget several times more comfortable.

Swipe down to go to context menu, where you can adjust the brightness, activate Do Not Disturb mode, and launch the music player. You can also find out the status here Bluetooth connections and get information about the battery charge level.

Swiping right takes you to the notification menu, you can select any of them to read, delete one or all at once. Swipe left to display shortcuts installed applications. To turn off the display, you can simply cover the screen. The Fit2's interface isn't purely touch-based - it also has two physical buttons: a top Back button and a bottom Home button.

Video

Results

Samsung Gear Fit2 is a powerful gadget that combines the advantages of fitness bracelets and smart watches. A fantastic set of functions in a flagship gadget for a fairly modest amount - you must agree, the device really looks very attractive.

The advantages were the presence of GPS, affordable price, excellent display and plenty of fitness opportunities. The weak battery life and not always accurate heart rate tracking are disappointing.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 review | Introduction

Despite the delay at the start, Samsung is back in the fitness tracker race and hopes to take the lead with a new electronic bracelet Samsung Gear Fit 2. At $179, the device is not only $70 cheaper than its direct competitor, but also offers larger set functions. It comes in the form of a form-fitting bracelet with a color display, a GPS module to track your runs, a heart rate sensor and integrated 4GB storage for storing music. If you add smartphone notifications and automatic tracking of your activity, you get a very impressive list. But if a manufacturer expects to succeed, some shortcomings must be corrected.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 review | Design and Construction

Just like the original Gear Fit, Samsung Gear Fit 2 is equipped with a curved display, and its curve has increased. Differences between Fit and Samsung Gear Fit 2 not as striking as between the first and second generations of Microsoft Band bracelets, but thanks to a more pronounced bend of the bracelet Samsung Gear Fit 2 became more comfortable to wear. In addition, the 1.5-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 432 x 216 pixels is now set deeper into the body of the device.

Thanks to the large display and rubber-like strap, it is unlikely that anyone will confuse Samsung Gear Fit 2 with the usual decoration, although it doesn't look as high-tech as the Fitbit Charge.

The bracelet turned out to be quite light - only 30 g. Compared with competitors, it is a little heavier Fitbit Charge HR(English) (22.7 g) and approximately 17 g lighter Garmin vivoactive HR(English) (47 g). Thanks to its thin profile (12 mm), the bracelet fits easily under a long shirt sleeve.

The band needs to fit snugly around your wrist for the heart rate sensor to take accurate readings, which is something we had difficulty with. Instead of using a traditional clasp, you pull one end of the strap through the loop and fasten it to the hole. But when tensioned, the strap tends to return to its original position, and in order to tighten and fix it to the desired length, you need to hold the end of the strap with a loop, and this is quite inconvenient.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 Available in two sizes and three colors (black, blue and pink). The body is splash and waterproof (like the Fitbit Blaze and Charge HR), while the vivoactive HR is waterproof to a depth of 50 meters.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 review | Display

Display in Samsung Gear Fit 2 prudently located in portrait orientation, not landscape. This, in our opinion, is one of the main disadvantages of the bracelet. Microsoft Band 2(English), in which you had to twist your wrist very hard to read the text on the screen. There are a few different watch faces available for the home screen, not as many options as in the Garmin vivoactive HR Connect IQ store, but it's still nice to be able to customize the screen Samsung Gear Fit 2 to your taste.

Unfortunately, the display image is difficult to read in bright conditions. sunlight. Even in Outdoor Mode (the “outdoor” mode remains active for only 5 minutes), I had to cover the screen with my hand to find out the time.

By default, the band's display turns off after a few seconds (it turns on automatically when you raise your wrist), but there is an option in the settings menu to always have the screen on.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 review | Possibilities

Bracelet Samsung Gear Fit 2 designed for people with a fairly active lifestyle and can track many parameters. It can automatically detect when you start running, walking or cycling and record this data.

Unlike other fitness trackers priced under $200 Samsung Gear Fit 2 has a built-in GPS module that allows you to save the route of a walk or trip, as well as measure distance and speed without using a smartphone. This feature will especially appeal to those who like to track their achievements.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 also knows how to show smartphone notifications, but the response options are limited, because this is not a smart watch. You can manually choose which apps send notifications and limit the number of notifications on your screen.

Unfortunately the bracelet Samsung Gear Fit 2 compatible only with smartphones Android based 4.4 or higher. This is certainly better than the original Fit, which only worked with certain Samsung smartphones, but I would like to see iPhone support.

Samsung hopes that Samsung Gear Fit 2 will encourage people to use the S Health app, and vice versa. This includes the ability to search for other S Health users from your contacts list and challenge them to see who can take the most steps or walk the longest distance. The competition feature is available in many fitness apps. You can also post your achievements on Facebook directly from your device, just don't do it too often, as you can quickly lose friends.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 review | Music

In addition to GPS one of best features bracelet Samsung Gear Fit 2 is the presence of a built-in storage capacity of 4 GB, which you can use to download music. If you like to listen to music while jogging, then you no longer have to take your smartphone or iPod with you. Surprisingly this function present only in some models of fitness trackers and GPS watches, among which the TomTom Spark Cardio + Music stands out.

Moreover, if Samsung Gear Fit 2 connected to your smartphone, you can stream music from Spotify, Pandora and Milk Music. By the way, the latter has a rather attractive interface showing album images.

We have uploaded music to Samsung Gear Fit 2 using the Samsung Gear app. The songs started quickly, but neither the bracelet screen nor the smartphone screen displayed the elapsed time of the song.

WITH Samsung Gear Fit 2 You can manage songs in Pandora, although only the play, pause and next track buttons are available.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 review | Working with the device

While jogging Samsung Gear Fit 2 started recording the workout even before the GPS signal was detected. In the case of other fitness trackers, you had to wait until they caught a signal, after which they began recording data. WITH Samsung Gear Fit 2 you can also wait for the connection to be established (the tiny location icon blinks at first, then stays on), or start running and get some distance inaccuracy. Although the bracelet picks up the signal quite quickly, in our case, about 300 meters after the start of the run.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 And Garmin Forerunner 235(English) showed an average heart rate of 160 beats per minute. However, the maximum, according to data Samsung Gear Fit 2, was 183 bpm, while the Garmin gave 194 bpm. According to the latest indicator Samsung Gear Fit 2 turned out to be more accurate. After analyzing the data, we identified a too sharp and high jump in the Garmin indicators, despite the fact that all other values were much lower and more stable.

Bracelet screen Samsung Gear Fit 2 it is difficult to read on the street, and when his hands are sweaty his sensitivity to touch drops noticeably. You can press the physical back button to pause the exercise, but you need to press the on-screen Finish button to end tracking.

Listening to music on Bluetooth headphones directly from the bracelet is very convenient. The sound is clear, with only occasional minor stutters. Unlike the TomTom Spark Cardio fitness tracker, Samsung Gear Fit 2 allows you to switch playlists without stopping the exercise.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 also offer the function voice accompaniment: The bracelet can sound the distance traveled, speed and heart rate at set intervals. The robotic female voice sounds quite monotonous, so phrases like “It’s almost the finish line! Don’t give up!” don't sound as inspiring.

The speech accompaniment has several "glitches", at least this concerns the tested sample. After each kilometer, instead of saying the distance traveled and then the time and speed, the bracelet says "Distance: 1 minute. Time: 9 minutes." The same goes for average speed, the bracelet says: “Speed: 3 minutes, 48 seconds.”

We contacted Samsung to report the issue and a company representative said the issue has been fixed in new version firmware.

When the author rode a bicycle for two hours, the bracelet correctly detected that the user was moving on two wheels. The travel time was not perfectly accurate, but close enough.

The S Health app shows graphs of speed, heart rate and time. However, there are also disadvantages. For example, the program showed a graph of time intervals (distance divided into kilometers) but did not display the actual time or speed for each kilometer. Sadly. Likewise, the app showed your heart rate and speed on a chart. However, this data is only shown on the screen Samsung Gear Fit 2, but not in the S Health app, where we could overlay speed over heart rate.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 review | Samsung S Health app

Samsung's S Health app is quite functional, but lacks visual appeal. Basic metrics - sleep, distance, etc. are presented in the form of tiles and show the history for the current day. Selecting any of the tiles reveals additional information for a specific parameter.

You can choose which tiles will be present on the screen and in what order.

Between the tiles appear cards with catchy titles, such as "How to protect yourself from insect bites forever" and "A way to survive the day without sleeping." Clicking on these cards will take you to The Greatest website.

One nice thing about S Health is that you can link it to a bunch of other apps and import a variety of data, ranging from steps taken, blood sugar levels, weight to water consumption. Applications from partners are sorted by type (food, fitness, recreation, health, general and others), but given the number of them, there is clearly a search button missing.

To our surprise, the MapMyFitness and MyFitnessPal applications were not among the compatible ones - this is a serious omission on the part of the developers. On the other hand, a Samsung representative told us that the company is looking for additional features for cooperation.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 review | Samsung Gear app

Through the Gear app, in theory, you can download additional watch faces for Samsung Gear Fit 2, but at the time of writing they were not available. The selection is much more limited than in the app store for Garmin vivoactive HR GPS watches.

The Samsung Gear app also lets you set which apps can send notifications to the band Samsung Gear Fit 2, and also determine the order of the various screens. There is also a Find My Gear function to search for a bracelet.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 review | Battery life

Samsung says that the bracelet Samsung Gear Fit 2 is able to last for three to four days in normal operation, but to us this seems to be an overestimate. The author put the fully charged bracelet on his wrist on Friday night. On Saturday, he went for a 45-minute run (using GPS) and then biked for about 2 hours without using GPS. He took off the bracelet on Saturday night before going to bed. By Sunday afternoon there was 8% battery remaining. After recharging (a small wireless docking station is provided), the bracelet lasted about two more days under the same operating conditions.

Garmin vivoactive HR, for comparison, worked in similar conditions for a week. In terms of autonomy Samsung Gear Fit 2 can be compared with the Microsoft Band 2, which also lasted only a couple of days without recharging.

Samsung Gear Fit 2 review | Conclusion

Bracelet Samsung Gear Fit 2 At $179, it's undoubtedly an attractive solution. The compact and beautiful body is complemented by a colorful display, heart rate monitor, GPS module and integrated storage with a capacity of 4 GB. The fitness tracker automatically tracks your activities and shows notifications from your smartphone. That's more than other fitness trackers can offer, which cost an average of $50 more.

Why then don't we give Samsung Gear Fit 2 higher rating? Firstly, Samsung Gear Fit 2 Works only with devices running Android OS. Secondly, the colorful display is difficult to read outdoors. Third, its battery life is shorter than that of the Garmin vivoactive HR. To all other Samsung app S Health is not compatible with some popular fitness apps.

But considering that Samsung can fix some shortcomings, Samsung Gear Fit 2 could be one of the best fitness trackers.

Advantages

Inexpensive for its functionality
GPS, Bluetooth, heart rate sensor
Built-in 4GB storage for music
Automatic activity tracking

Flaws

Works only with Android smartphones
The display is difficult to see in sunlight
Low battery life

Conclusion:

Samsung Gear Fit 2 Equipped with a GPS module, heart rate sensor and built-in music storage, it has few competitors. But it may be difficult to read the screen outdoors. In addition, it lacks iPhone support and battery life.

Decide to do something more.

Endomondo. Join the global community of fitness enthusiasts, quit...

Decide to do something more.

Water workouts are even more effective when you have the Gear Fit2 Pro fitness bracelet on your hand - a personal trainer with water protection up to 50 meters (5ATM). Set swimming records in the pool or just take a shower at home, with Gear Fit2 Pro anything is possible! A specially designed partnership...

Decide to do something more.

Four helpers of your motivation.

UA RECORD. Statistics of your activity, sleep and training in one application. Keep your finger on the pulse of your health!

MapMyRun. Build running routes and record the trajectory of your movements, keep the history of your runs, races and just pleasant walks.

MyFitnessPal. Set and achieve goals for calorie consumption and burning in a special food diary.

Endomondo. Join a global community of fitness enthusiasts, challenge yourself and achieve your goals with a personalized workout plan.

When fitness is a lifestyle.

Whether you're playing tennis, basketball, or dancing, the Gear Fit2 Pro automatically recognizes your activity. And throughout the day, it will measure your heart rate, determining your pulse zones and thereby helping you choose the optimal workout mode.

Design matters.

Available in black and red, the Gear Fit2 Pro has a sleek design that can be paired with both sportswear and casual wear. A convenient clasp on the strap will securely fix the fitness assistant on your wrist.

Apps and watch faces.

With over 3,000 apps and watch faces in the Galaxy App Store, customize the Gear Fit2 Pro to suit your needs.

Characteristics:

Navigation system: GPS, GLONASS.
Operating system: Tizen.
Screen type: Curved Super AMOLED.
Screen size: 1.5" (38.6mm).
Screen resolution: 216 x 432.
Screen color depth: 16 million
RAM capacity (GB): 0.5 GB.
Built-in memory (GB): 4.0 GB.
Available memory (GB): 2.0 GB.
Sensors: heart rate sensor, accelerometer, barometer, gyroscope.
Dimensions (H x W): 51.3 x 25.0 mm.
Maximum use time: up to 5 days.
Normal use: 3-4 days.
Operating time with GPS: up to 9 hours.

The new Samsung Gear Fit2 doesn't fit into any wearable category. In fact, it is something between a fitness tracker and a smartwatch. In short, when designing the device, the South Koreans borrowed components from both the first Fit and the Gear S2 smartwatch.

Be that as it may, for $179 you get a very powerful gadget, which makes it a tempting offer for those who want an accurate and high-quality tracker, but do not want to spend more than two hundred bucks on it. That is, for those who want to get their hands on a Garmin Vivosmart HR+ or, but regret money on such expensive devices.

When you think about it, the Gear Fit2 doesn't bring anything new to the concept of fitness tracking. However, this does not prevent it from being a cost-effective purchase, since for $179 you can get the best of the worlds of trackers and smartwatches. But enough flattering words. Let's take a better look at whether the new gadget deserves them.

Gear Fit2: looks and comfort

The device looks much nicer and more aggressive than its predecessor. The tracker has a new textured strap that makes the design even sportier. The device again received a decent-sized screen, which has a slightly curved position. Without such a solution, wearing a fitness tracker on your arm would be completely inconvenient. By the way, it is its display that makes the new product stand out from many competitors.

The screen of the first Gear Fit had a 1.84-inch diagonal and a resolution of 432 x 128 pixels. The second generation of the tracker is pleasing that the display diagonal has decreased to 1.5 inches, which makes using the device more convenient, especially if you don’t have the thickest wrists. At the same time, the screen manufacturing technology remained the same - this is the familiar Super AMOLED, and the resolution even increased - up to 432 x 216 pixels. It turns out that the pixel density has reached 322 PPI - a value that smartphones have not even reached in years, but in decades. Of course, the LCD panel remains touch-sensitive. The picture quality is beyond praise, the image is clearly visible even on a cloudless afternoon.

The screen of the gadget is covered with protective glass Gorilla Glass 3. In this regard, you should not expect scratches and cracks to appear on it. Of course, a short test does not fully test the protective properties. But the tracker survived a hit against a wall and a throw into a tray located at the airport near the frame of a metal detector - not a single scratch on front panel there are none left.

The strap is made of polyester. In general, the device is IP68 certified. This suggests that you can dive with the tracker to a depth of up to 1.5 meters for a good half hour. You won't be able to go diving, but taking a shower or even splashing in the pool is formally allowed.

Buyers are offered Samsung Gear Fit2 trackers in two sizes. The small one is designed for wrists measuring 125-170mm, and the large one should fit people with wrists measuring 155-210mm. In a word, you can choose a fitness tracker for your loved one, whereas previously you might have encountered the fact that the Gear Fit did not sit tightly on your hand, which caused some discomfort. The prong button located on the strap should also be noted. With its help, the tracker is easily fastened, and a minimal amount of time is wasted. In this regard, the South Korean product looks much better than all Fitbit trackers.

You might think that different sizes devices also imply the use of a different display. But in reality this is not so - the screens different versions gadgets are exactly the same. The only differences are in weight - the large version of Gear Fit2 is a couple of grams heavier than the smaller one.

On sale you can find trackers with different body colors. Some people will like the black option, while other consumers will choose from pink and blue colors.

Gear Fit2: Activity and Heart Rate Tracking

The South Koreans tried to ensure that their fitness tracker automatically started tracking steps, sleep and counting calories burned. The device also learned to independently understand that you started doing squats or decided to ride a bike. What's more, it even recognizes yoga classes and rowing machine use!

The Gear Fit2's software recognizes the differences between sleep and napping. All recorded data is written by the gadget into a 24-hour log, which you can then review. In fact, the tracker takes control of your entire life. This helps a lot if you are planning to get in shape. Interestingly, the above-mentioned log even records the times when the fitness tracker was not used. So you won’t confuse your moments of peace with the time when the gadget was lying somewhere on the table.

In short, the South Koreans have created an excellent service that allows you to find out how many calories you burned and how you did it.

Not on device special application, telling about your dream. However, the gadget can track sleep - the corresponding data can be found in the S Health program, downloaded to the smartphone and with which the tracker is synchronized. The device switches to sleep tracking automatically - the user does not need to select any mode beforehand. It’s impossible to make any complaints about the new product in this regard. What can I say, if she identified the light sleep that washed over me before writing the review...

You can also track your water and caffeine consumption with Gear Fit2. But the relevant data will have to be entered manually. Nothing unusual, similar applications exist on smartphones.

The gadget itself recognizes the heart rate. Data is measured every 10 minutes. Monitoring becomes continuous only during moments of your activity. For example, this is how cardiac activity is measured during a bicycle ride. But in rowing mode, heart rate monitoring does not occur at all. It appears that splashes are interfering with the sensor's operation. The user can also manually disable the sensor; this can be done in the settings. This way you can achieve longer duration battery life. In the end, you can measure your heart rate by pressing the corresponding button, exactly when you need it.

Unfortunately, the accuracy of counting the number of heartbeats has been questioned. During strenuous training, the difference from measurements using Polar H7 (worn on a belt around the chest) reached 20 beats per minute. There was approximately the same difference in comparison with the Garmin Fenix 3 HR.

If the heart rate measurement occurs in calm conditions, not during your run, then the difference with the results shown by the two above-mentioned devices was not so great. Usually it ranged from two to ten beats per minute.

There is no need to be afraid of all this. The fact is that the measurement accuracy of many wearable gadgets suffers from the same problem. The optical sensors, with the help of which the pulse is measured, are to be blamed for this. They are imperfect, and therefore, for example, are not suitable for use in medical devices where accuracy of readings is important. And they are used in consumer devices because nothing better can be invented yet.

Gear Fit2: fitness training

The new product does not have an altimeter, but it is still able to understand when you are climbing up the stairs. Other sensors packed inside this tracker include an accelerometer, barometer, gyroscope, heart rate monitor, and GPS.

The presence of a navigation module allows you to completely abandon synchronization with a smartphone during outdoor training. At the end of the lesson, you will be able to see the route of your jogging or cycling trip - it is displayed directly on the device screen.

As mentioned above, Gear Fit2 automatically detects the type of workout you are currently doing. But manual selection is also possible; this is especially true in the case of doing something exotic. You can also select a training goal. For example, options include duration, calories burned, distance, and target pace. But no one forbids not setting a goal at all, doing it for your own pleasure until you get bored. The tracker regularly notifies you of status updates - corresponding a voice message you will hear in headphones, if, of course, they are connected.

Tests have shown that automatically changing training types works well. Without headphones connected, a noticeable vibration notifies you when you reach your goal.

If the type of workout is selected manually, the gadget will provide a three-second countdown before the start of the lesson. As for the GPS module, it also functions without any glitches. It is thanks to him that Samsung Gear Fit2 is very accurate in calculating the distance traveled.

However, the tracker does not cope very well with spontaneous runs. Out of seven short runs, the device recognizes three or four in time. However, such gadgets are not created to track sprint races. After all, the only way to stay in shape is through long runs. And Gear Fit2 copes with them without problems. I also planned to go kayaking with the tracker. But the weather was bad, and I didn’t want to risk the device I got for testing.

Perhaps the fitness functionality of the new tracker can safely be called rich. For newbies who have never used a wearable device before, it will definitely inspire awe. Therefore, Samsung Gear Fit2 can be a good gift for New Year, which will definitely spur the recipient to bring his physical form to ideal condition.

If you don't look at the tracker, its screen turns off. This was done, of course, to save energy. Unfortunately, during runs the device did not work properly - it often did not turn on the display when I turned my hand with my wrist up. Ultimately, I realized that it was easier to press one of the buttons on the side rather than rely on automation. It is possible that this is a problem with the test sample. And I note that in normal walking mode, all sensors work properly - the screen begins to display a picture exactly at the moment when you raise your hand.

Even during moments of active training, it is quite difficult to scroll through the screen and navigate different points menu. In short, the user interface is only perfect when you are stationary. Fortunately, you can view your workout statistics with the click of a button, which doesn't cause any problems. The catch is that this action requires, albeit minimal, time. Sometimes I got the impression that I would spend exactly the same time viewing the result in S Health on my smartphone, fortunately it would not be difficult to take it out of my pocket.

If we talk about the performance of the navigation module, then everything here is also very ambiguous. From the start of the training to the recognition of GPS satellites, approximately 20 seconds pass. These are the seconds that will not appear in the aforementioned 24-hour log. Fenix 3 is much more efficient in this regard - it finds satellites in 3-4 seconds, relying not only on GPS, but also on GLONASS. I note that the Samsung Gear Fit2 does not always take such a long time to search for satellites - sometimes the time is reduced to five seconds.

Gear Fit2: features

Under the body of the device are hidden 512 MB of RAM and 4 GB of permanent memory. As operating system here is Tizen - a proprietary Samsung development. The characteristics of the gadget also include a dual-core processor with a frequency of 1 GHz. In fact, Gear Fit2 can even be used as an MP3 player - there is definitely enough space for several music albums.

Vertical interface makes it easier to access different applications. But some will find it inconvenient - such people may switch to horizontal orientation in the settings. You can also adjust the brightness here. But it’s much easier to do this by swiping down, right on the main screen. In the same way, turn on Do Not Disturb mode and open the music player. Along the way, the operating system will tell you whether Bluetooth is currently active and how much charge is left in the battery.

Swiping right takes the user to the notifications screen, where they can be read or deleted. Swiping left brings up more app shortcuts. Interestingly, they can display some additional information if you click on them.

Fortunately, the Gear Fit2 interface doesn't just assume touch control. There are two buttons on the right side of the device - the top one allows you to move back, and the bottom one switches to the main (home) screen. The Home key can also open a list of applications, which is viewed by traditional scrolling up and down. All programs are sorted alphabetically. It's a pity that Samsung doesn't allow the last couple of running applications to move to the very top of the list - that would be very convenient.

To listen to music, you can download it to the built-in memory. But you can get by with the Spotify application - in this case, the music will be streamed from your smartphone. You can listen to music using a Bluetooth headset. The player supports random and repeat playback, and it also understands playlists. In general, the music player is not very far behind similar applications designed for smartphones in terms of functionality.

Gear Fit2: Notifications and Apps

Notifications include text messages, calls, email, calendar events and more. Double-clicking on a notification immediately enlarges its font. Double-clicking again reduces the font. Like Microsoft Band 2, the South Korean new product allows you to send a pre-composed quick reply or emoticon.

The function of quickly sending a reply is only available when interacting with the native Samsung messenger and official app Facebook. If you try to do the same with the SMS messenger or the Instagram application, then nothing will work - you will only open the corresponding notification on your smartphone. It will not be possible to transmit a voice message using the Gear Fit2, since the device does not have a microphone.

The official companion app for Gear Fit2 includes a 24-hour log and many other features. At the same time, it actively interacts with S Health if the utility is installed on samsung smartphone. If the device you are using is made by another company, then it’s okay - in any case, you will get access to information on sleep, steps and your other activities.

And yet there is a certain division. Some information can only be found in S Health. In fact, even owners of South Korean smartphones will call this solution inconvenient, because they will have to regularly switch from one application to another.

As for other utilities, their number cannot yet be called very large. Before writing the review, there was not a single watch face or application in the online store. At the time of writing these lines, the store has been replenished with a hundred dials and eight programs. Not much. But let's hope third-party developers become more active when the fitness tracker starts selling worldwide.

Gear Fit2: Battery and Compatibility

According to the manufacturer, the battery installed inside, with a capacity of 200 mAh, should provide up to three to four days of operation on a single charge. The company should not be trusted. During testing, the device had to be charged every two days. This is when setting the brightness to 60% and regularly accepting notifications. It seems that if synchronization is disabled, the battery life will increase to two and a half or even three days, but in this case the functionality of the device will be slightly reduced.

I note that not all notifications came to my tracker. I specifically forbade sending messages Instagram applications, Twitter and Facebook, as they are big spenders work time. Various experiments could be conducted to try to achieve Samsung's stated performance. But then the Gear Fit2 review would be delayed indefinitely.

Charging the device takes about an hour. Included with the tracker you will find a proprietary USB cradle, which is used to transfer energy to the device.

In terms of compatibility, the Gear Fit2 is much more pleasing than the well-known Gear S. But the new product still lags behind other fitness trackers in this regard. It will only communicate with smartphones running Android 4.4 or a newer version of the operating system. Many Android Wear smartwatches don't suffer from such severe selectivity.

Summarizing

Samsung Gear Fit2 combines the benefits of a smartwatch and a fitness tracker. The new product turned out to be comfortable to wear. What should please the buyer most is the music storage and GPS tracking functions. The measurement accuracy of the device is quite high, unless you remember about active training. It should also be noted that the tracker was created only for owners of smartphones based on one of the latest Android versions. In a word, the gadget should appeal to beginners unfamiliar with the world of wearable electronics. This is a great fitness tracker, but not for those who prefer hardcore workouts.

Advantages:

Not very high price;
Availability of GPS;
Bright and clear display;
Ability to store and listen to music.

Flaws:

Low battery life;
Certain compatibility restrictions;
Insufficient accuracy of the heart rate sensor;
Limitations regarding text replies.

Wide functionality, stylish design, GPS, ability to play music from the bracelet, low power consumption

Minuses

The screen is difficult to read in bright sunlight

Review

Smart bracelet Samsung Gear Fit 2 SM-R360 is one of my best and most useful purchases recently! Before this, I used a smartphone half-heartedly, but running with a smartphone in my hand is not very convenient, and the real indicators were very different from reality. Therefore, after carefully studying the characteristics, it was decided to acquire this useful gadget. First of all, I would like to note the successful design of the bracelet - it is very stylish, laconic, perfect for both men and women and will look appropriate with both sportswear and formal wear. The ergonomics of the bracelet are also excellent - it sits very comfortably on the hand, holds firmly and reliably. The edging of the screen is made of metal, and the strap is made of silicone and is very pleasant to the touch. By the way, the strap of the bracelet is removable and, if desired, it can be changed to another branded strap from Samsung. Control is carried out both using the sensor and using two mechanical keys on the right. Branded distinctive feature bracelet - curved screen Super AMOLED. The colors on the screen are bright, rich and contrasting. The downside is that the display is almost unreadable under bright sun. On the plus side, the screen has very low power consumption. The bracelet has a large number of built-in activities, so you can track your workouts very accurately - running, walking, cycling, exercise bike, yoga, Pilates, exercises, and almost everything is there! Many exercises have visual animations with correct execution. The bracelet also has a heart rate monitor, and it measures the heart rate not only at rest, but even while moving. This device boasts wide versatility - you can use it to read email, work with notifications, calendar, track any type of activity for the day, enter the amount of water and coffee you drink per day, thereby monitoring your water balance, and much more. I was especially pleased with the fact that the charge of the bracelet lasts for 3 days, which is simply a wonderful indicator. The case is protected from dust and moisture, you can wash your hands or walk in the rain with it without fear, but the manufacturer definitely does not recommend swimming with it. Another definite plus is that with the bracelet you can practice without a smartphone, which is very convenient. You can load your favorite music into the storage and connect it to the bracelet wireless headphones and the training process will become even more enjoyable. I was especially pleased with the presence of built-in GPS, because this is the function that other fitness trackers lack. The advantage of this function is that with this bracelet you can go for a run without a smartphone and the entire trajectory will be saved and linked to a map. Perhaps, for complete happiness, the only thing missing here is complete waterproofness and compatibility with IOS. To summarize, the Samsung Gear Fit 2 SM-R360 smart bracelet is an ideal symbiosis of a traditional fitness tracker and a full-fledged smartwatch. This is an indispensable assistant for those who care about their health and value broad functionality and stylish design.