Samsung Gear Fit review

The band with the bendy face

Samsung Gear Fit review
A curved face and a rather nice UI

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Samsung is entering a pretty crowded market here. There are a lot of competitors offering different features, designs and ideas of how wearable tech should behave. So how does the Gear Fit stand up against its rivals right now?

Jawbone Up24

Jawbone

Looks-wise, the Jawbone Up24 is almost the total opposite of the Gear Fit. It's very understated, but the activity tracker is accurate and sleep monitoring is more in depth than on Samsung's offering.

Yet the lack of display means it's lacking the smartwatch-isms that make the Fit about more than the fitness. It also won't draw as much attention when you're out and about (for better or worse).

But considering it's a bit cheaper at £129 ($150, about AU$163) and packs a battery that'll keep ticking for over a week, it may be a better option if you're looking for a fitness tracker that's less hassle.

Samsung Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo

Gears

Samsung's full-blown smartwatches are competition to the Gear Fit themselves, especially the Gear 2 Neo which comes in closer price-wise. Opting for the higher-end Gear 2 will gain you the addition of a built-in camera, while both are able to run apps and work as standalone music players to pair with a bluetooth headset.

Like the Fit, both devices also have a pedometer, built-in heart rate monitor, accelerometer and gyroscope. So in terms of fitness, you're getting everything on the Fit plus all the added smartwatch extras.

But where the Fit stands out from these two (apart from in price) is in design. With fewer features, the Fit can afford a sleeker look while the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo have a larger, square shape that some of you might find offputting.

Fitbit Force

Fitbit Force

The Fitbit Force has been in a bit of hot water since Fitbit recalled units, following thousands of complaints of skin irritation from the device. But with that (rather big) problem aside, the Force is an obvious rival to the Gear Fit that should be taken pretty seriously.

For one thing, the band also throws in some smartwatch features on top of the fitness, and while its display pales in comparison to Samsung's, it still packs all the necessary information. Plus, the Force is compatible with both iOS and Android.

Like the Fit, it requires a proprietary charger and there are some inaccuracies when measuring sleep, but this remains one of the best fitness trackers out there. Let's hope Fitbit sorts the whole irritation problem out pronto.

Hugh Langley

Hugh Langley is the ex-News Editor of TechRadar. He had written for many magazines and websites including Business Insider, The Telegraph, IGN, Gizmodo, Entrepreneur Magazine, WIRED (UK), TrustedReviews, Business Insider Australia, Business Insider India, Business Insider Singapore, Wareable, The Ambient and more.


Hugh is now a correspondent at Business Insider covering Google and Alphabet, and has the unfortunate distinction of accidentally linking the TechRadar homepage to a rival publication.