Why You Can Trust CNET Curved Samsung Gear Fit bends to your wrist and will (hands-on)
A gorgeous curved display makes this fitness band a beaut, and a persistent heart rate monitor clocks your vitals.
BARCELONA, Spain -- We had heard about the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo before Samsung's Unpacked 5 event, but the Gear Fit was a little something extra keep right on the edge of Samsung's sleeve.
With the Gear Fit, Samsung has delivered a very fitness-focused wearable that is super light and has a sexy style all its own. While very much being focused on those who want to get out and run like the wind, the Gear Fit still delivers all the notification benefits you'd expect when keeping it paired with your Samsung Galaxy phone.
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Where the Samsung Gear 2 is all about looking as much like a stylish watch as is technically possible, the Gear Fit runs with a thin and curved design that is so light it just blends into your wrist and stays out of your way. But that curved Super AMOLED 1.84-inch screen is an absolute stunner, its 432x128 resolution screen just popping with colour. The default wallpapers and layouts offer many styles to suit different tastes, plus when you sync your Gear Fit to your phone you can also crop any image to create your own wallpaper to go fully custom.
The Gear Fit sits comfortably against your wrist, with the curved design holding snug against your skin — which itself is important to maintain good contact for the constant heart rate monitoring feature. It doesn't feel strange or uncomfortable, and the curved screen also ensures the design feels well conformed to its function.
The Gear Fit itself is a small device that is fitted into a rubber strap. The strap can be easily detached and Samsung suggests new strap design options will be available. It's good for any fitness product to have swappable straps to ensure you can swap in something clean and fresh after it gets scummed up through extended sweaty use.
The settings are easily controlled with swipes and taps and the widescreen style gives you the ability to add extra information to the default view alongside the watch mode, like your step counter or your next calendar appointment.
Core features
The Samsung Gear Fit is a Bluetooth 4.0 LE device and is IP67 rated for excellent dust and water resistance. A heart rate sensor is on the underside which can be left active over extended periods. It also features general activity tracking for all your pedometric and gyroscopic needs.
The Gear 2 advantage will be the app integration that is hitting that device for this second-generation launch. Here on the Gear Fit you'll get your notifications for calls, e-mail, SMS, alarm and the S-Planner. Samsung also says the platform is open to third-party app notifications as well.
The Gear Fit includes personal fitness coaching options which integrate with the heart rate monitor to ensure you keep up the right pace to hit your targets.
For those who love a good spec, the Gear Fit is 23.4mm by 57.4mm by 11.95mm and weighs in at a tiny 27g.
Battery expectation is three to four days "typical usage" and five days of "low usage."
Outlook
Samsung has now created a family of wearables that already seem far more practical than last year's efforts, with different models to suit different tastes and interests. The lack of a camera doesn't seem a major loss here on the Gear Fit, but the extra app integration appearing on the Gear 2 may give some buyers pause here. The Gear Fit might be fitness focused, but the Gear 2 has a new Runkeeper app which would sway some people in that direction.
The Super AMOLED screen is gorgeous and the form factor feels fresh and well suited to the fitness focus. If the price is right, the Gear Fit could lay waste to many of the other wrist-bound fitness trackers out there this year.
The Samsung Gear Fit costs $199 with US carrier AT&T. Expect similar pricing from other outlets as well.
Updated March 20 at 10:19am PT with pricing information.