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The Samsung Gear Fit 2 is the latest fitness tracker to hit the market, and with all the flash that surrounded the announcement event, there are still some reasons to be sour on the device. We’ve taken a look at the specs and seen the Gear Fit 2 hands-on, now we’ll explain the reasons we both love and hate what the Gear Fit 2 has to offer.
Huge display makes swiping and running easy (LOVE)
The Gear Fit 2 features a 1.5-inch Super AMOLED curved display, and one that really pops. The display shows enough information to keep you rolling, and is extremely responsive when trying to swipe quickly through your options. Plus, the display looks great even when viewing in direct sunlight, so you won’t have to worry about adjusting anything while doing your outdoor workouts.
Does our wrist really need a huge screen on it? (HATE)
Easily navigating is great, but many smartwatches and fitness bands do that without a gigantic screen plastered to your wrist. If you want to standout, that’ll work just fine, but this loud arm charm doesn’t exactly blend in and won’t be for everyone.
Wireless charging is super easy (LOVE)
Wireless charging is pretty much a necessity nowadays, with more and more manufacturers including Qi-wireless charging in various devices. Samsung hits the mark here with the Gear Fit 2 and its charging cradle that you can just drop it in and go.
Where’s the Qi? (HATE)
While it’s easy to charge the Gear Fit 2 with the charging cradle that Samsung provides, you would think they would move onto something less proprietary. It’s smart for Samsung to include the charger with them, but this isn’t really useful for folks who need to charge on the go, as they would need the entire cradle, versus just setting the Gear Fit 2 on a wireless charging pad.
Dedicated GPS will track you without your phone (LOVE)
The addition of a GPS sensor is huge for the fitness tracker race, and this allows for those health nuts to leave their phones at home, while keeping track of all the necessary feats while out.
What happened to apps? (HATE)
The only actual app that is built-in or available for the Gear Fit 2 is the built-in Spotify app. You can access and respond to various notifications, but it seems that Samsung stopped just short of turning the Gear Fit 2 into a full-functioned smartwatch, and that begs the question; Why?
Start your workout without touching a single button or screen (LOVE)
When you look at the ability for the Gear Fit 2 to automatically start tracking your workout with needing to press a button, that’s something truly awesome and unique. The tracking will even stop once the Gear Fit has recognized that the workout has ended, all without touching a thing.
Hardware buttons could be much better (HATE)
While convenient, the buttons on the side of the Gear Fit 2 aren’t exactly tactile enough. Of course, we haven’t been able to take the Gear Fit 2 for a run yet, but not being able to tap the screen to see your time can be foreseen as a bit of a pain. The buttons stick out far enough to feel, but there’s little deviation between going back to the last page or going to the home page altogether.
Amazingly comfortable to wear (LOVE)
Although other wearables on the market may be a bit lighter, the Gear Fit 2 is still light and comfortable. Provided you have the correct size, the wrist band is actually quite soft and doesn’t cause much irritation. With the curved display, and the easily adjustable band, the Gear Fit 2 may just be the most comfortable wearable to enter the market.
Easily store your favorite music locally (LOVE)
Another great reason to leave your phone at home is the 4GB of storage that the Gear Fit 2 now has. You’ll need to go the old fashioned route of downloading and loading music, but hey, this functionality is a big bonus. Load up your favorite songs, get a pair of Bluetooth headphones, and head out the door.
Spotify integration requires your phone (HATE)
Samsung was sure to make plenty of mentions regarding its built-in Spotify streaming app. However, what’s the purpose of a Spotify app, if you end up leaving your phone behind. There’s no way to transfer files from Spotify to the Gear Fit 2 itself, making your device a necessity if you don’t download your own music. This essentially turns the Gear Fit 2 into a glorified remote for Spotify, even though its more convenient than taking your phone out.
Software is simple and easy to use (LOVE)
Now running Tizen OS, the Gear Fit 2’s interface is a beauty to interact with and allows for more than you would expect out of a fitness tracker. You can easily customize the watch face, as well as remove various pages that may not be pertinent to your workout. This allows for a truly unique experience and gives users a personalized fitness tracker that can’t really be matched elsewhere.
Works with almost every Android Phone (LOVE)
Unlike its predecessor, Samsung allows you to use the Gear Fit 2 with non-Samsung devices. Provided that you aren’t using an iPhone, are using Android 4.4 or above and your device has at least 1.5GB of RAM, you’ll be set.
The price is pretty tough to beat (LOVE)
The Gear Fit 2 is nestled nicely in between other smartwatches and fitness trackers on the market at “only” $179. However, with the GPS features, Tizen OS and built-in functionalities that allow you to leave your phone at home, the Gear fit 2 seems to be essentially the clear-cut winner. Add in the fact that it’s compatible with most non-Samsung Android devices, and I don’t know what else you could ask for.
The Gear Fit 2 may not look as flashy as other fitness trackers on the market, and some of the features may be overkill, but it’s arguably already one of the best fitness trackers of 2016.
Final Tally
7 things to love:
- Large display makes navigating easy
- Wireless charging
- Dedicated GPS
- 4GB of internal storage
- Easy to use software
- Compatibility with most Android devices
- Competitive pricing
4 things to hate:
- Huge screen on your wrist could be considered overkill
- Proprietary connection via charging cradle
- No “apps”
- Spotify integration is too basic
Let us know what you think about the Gear Fit 2 and whether it’s a contender to take over your fitness tracking needs in the comments below.
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