First Impressions: Samsung Gear Fit — A Rather Good Sportsband

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Does the world really need another sportsband? Samsung seems to think so.

Along with the Galaxy S5 announcement Samsung unveiled something unexpected, a third wearable product, a sportsband with the world’s first curved, Super AMOLED display and as far as sportsbands go, this first attempt from Samsung is mighty impressive. Beyond the vivid, clear display and the standard array of sensors to track your activity and steps, Samsung has also managed to squeeze an heart rate sensor which uses infrared light to read your pulse through your skin.

Where other sportsband require a compatible heart rate monitor, the inclusion of a heart rate sensor in the Gear Fit is a welcome one for those who are just starting out with fitness because they don’t need to invest in a separate and often expensive heart rate monitor but if you’re a more serious fitness buff, the Gear Fit supports ANT+ heart rate monitors for more accurate real-time tracking as well. This means it’s compatible with heart rate sensors from Polar, Garmin, Suunto and the lot.

In terms of design, the Gear Fit stands out from the crowd of fitness trackers available in the market today. It looks discreet and stylish without being plain or boring and if you get bored with the band, the strap is interchangeable. You can also create your own wallpaper for a custom look. It’s a cool device to have on your wrist and while you’re not running or swimming — the Gear Fit is IP67 rated for water and dust resistance — the device can alert you on incoming calls, emails, SMS, alarm and calendar notifications as well.

Yes it doesn’t have a camera and you can’t take calls using the watch but those are the two features that we use the least on our Galaxy Gear and it’s something that we won’t miss. At the end of the day, there’s a lot to like about the Gear Fit and it’s a rather good first effort from Samsung. We like it much more than the Gear 2 or the Gear 2 Neo and in a sea of me-too sportsband, the Gear Fit is a fresh new alternative that’s worth a look when it’s released this April.

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