So, I've got a free Gear Fit2 with my Note 7 preorder. After trying it a little bit, I've decided I don't like it much and now I wonder who might want it (maybe my wife will). And now some photos and pros and contras.
Device feels very sleek, I could totally wear it if software were more usable. There is even some security, you can set a pin code that you need to enter after you take it off.
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Display is large enough for analog clock and date
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S Health app is not too bad overall (I like its approach to tracking exercise, for one) and syncs quickly but it does a poor job with sleep tracking which is a deal breaker to me. Doesn't estimate how much energy you spend during the day. S Health is not the only app that interacts with Gear, for some things you need to use Samsung Gear app, installing apps to the device is done with Galaxy Apps. There might be more of them. Not sure whether it's good or bad to have several apps for not so many features but probably good. There's some additional integration with my Note 7 (battery status and connection info on notification screen), but nothing too special.
HR monitor looks similar to fitbit and even better as it's almost completely flat. Though the whole device is significantly bigger.
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| Gear on the left, fitbit on the right |
Unlike fitbit, HR monitoring is not continuous, it takes measuring only every 10 minutes or so. Hence, it can measure average or maximum/minimum but can't measure how much time you spend in a particular heart rate zone. Such data is not too useful for calorie counting as well.
"Smart" features, notifications, custom apps, color AMOLED display, dedicated GPS and standalone WiFi connection are very cool but I don't know any good use for all that. Installing Spotify on it sounds like a good idea but Spotify is not available in the region I'm currently in and Galaxy Apps doesn't do it like Play Store (uses location instead of billing address) so while I totally can install and update Spotify app on my phone, I can't do it with Gear.
Wrist band is just shitty, it's too easy to unclick it and loose the device. It also straps in counter-intuitive direction (from bottom to top), I wonder if you can switch its halves.
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| Counter-intuitive strap |
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| Huawei straps in the other direction as you can see |
Good news is, at least you can replace the band completely and it's popular enough for many of them to be available on the market.
As I said, it was good to try it for change but it's probably not the device I'll use and I don't know who might want it. If i don't find anyone maybe I'll just sell it on ebay while it's still almost new.
