You can always just check the S Health app on your phone, so it isn’t the end of the world. The only minor annoyance was that the post-workout screen on the Gear Fit2 quickly disappears and I couldn’t find a way to bring it back up. Resting heart rate measurements taken throughout the day and overnight were also consistent with other trackers.
The manner in which the Fit2 conforms to my wrist certainly helped. The heart rate monitoring certainly performed more consistently for me than the Gear S3 I was testing at the same time. Related: Workout logs are the key to getting fitter – here’s why The heart rate monitoring was a little erratic, having jumped temporarily to a rather high 200BPM, but its average heart rate wasn’t far off what I saw from the TomTom Spark 3 and Wahoo Fitness Tickr X.
Taking the Gear Fit2 on my usual run, the distance measurement was on a par with the TomTom Spark 3. I found all of these were super-accurate, too. What makes the Fit2 great as a fitness wearable is its GPS for more accurate distance tracking, the optical heart rate sensor on the rear, and a barometer inside that can keep track of the stairs you climb. Samsung Gear Fit2 – Fitness and Activity Tracking While the Gear Fit2 pairs with your smartphone over Bluetooth, it also has Wi-Fi connectivity and your network details are automatically passed over from your smartphone. Unfortunately for iOS users, there’s still no support for iPhones.
#S GEAR 2 ANDROID#
Any Android device with more than 1.5GB of RAM and running Android 4.4 or newer will be able to pair the Gear Fit2. You don’t need to be using a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, which opens the door to far more fitness fans than the original Gear Fit.
#S GEAR 2 INSTALL#
You’ll also be prompted to install Samsung’s S Health app, which will manage the fitness-tracking side. Pairing the Gear Fit2 is straightforward: simply install the Samsung Gear app and various plugins for Android. In my opinion, every time you take a fitness tracker off there’s a chance you won’t put it back on – so the fact that you don’t have to here is very welcome. You won’t need to remove it to shower, either. Since the Gear Fit2 is IP68 rated, you’re safe to wear it in water to depths of 1.5 metres for 30 minutes. Related: What is IP68? IP ratings explained In addition, the curved display sits comfortably against your wrist, conforming nicely, which isn’t something that can be said of the similarly shaped Microsoft Band. It also doesn’t become too mucky or grubby after a workout. It’s otherwise decently supple and comfortable to wear throughout the day. During the fortnight of testing, I did find that the strap came loose overnight – but that seemed to be an isolated incident. The strap pops off with ease and uses a button fastening system that isn’t too dissimilar to what you see on some of Fitbit’s trackers – the recent Flex 2 for example. The black I was sent in for review was a little utilitarian, but nevertheless looks elegant enough as far as fitness trackers go. You also have a choice of either black, blue or magenta band finishes. Unlike the Gear S3, two size bands aren’t included so you’ll need to choose accordingly. The Gear Fit2 is available in either a large or small size, based on the size of your wrist. One takes you to the apps menu and the other navigates back. Similar to Samsung’s other Tizen-powered smartwatches – such as the Gear S2 and Gear S3 – the Gear Fit2 has two navigation buttons along its edge. The Fit2 feels great and super-responsive to your taps and swipes. It’s bright, too, and there’s an outdoor mode that literally dials up the brightness to 11 – although this is only for a maximum of five minutes.
It’s colourful and sharp, with a 216 x 432 resolution. There’s still a big vertical 1.5-inch curved super AMOLED screen, which is one of the best you’ll find on a fitness tracker. The design of the Gear Fit2 hasn’t changed much from the original Gear Fit. With GPS, a heart rate monitor and Samsung’s Tizen operating system running swiftly, the Samsung Gear Fit2 is a fantastic tracker for anyone wanting the best of both worlds. Like the Fitbit Blaze, it’s a more advanced fitness tracker that looks to deliver smarts beyond the simple notification mirroring available on basic wearables. It’s definitely the best fitness wearable Samsung has produced. Following two weeks of use, however, I’ve come away impressed.
Considering it’s taken months for the Samsung Gear Fit2 to finally cross the pond, it wasn’t with the highest of expectations that I first slapped it on my wrist.