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Verdict
While the Samsung Gear Sport manages to do the basics just fine like getting the step count data to tracking that odd run well, to all manner of notifications; there are so many tiny bits throughout the device that really spoil the experience.
From lower battery life in comparison to previous Gear smartwatches to the somewhat awkward rotating bezel and the non-existant voice assistant, it's hard to see what Samsung has brought here.
For the most part, the Gear Sport is a dumb tracker which only pushes you to do better depending on how you did last day. What fitness bands need right now is to get smart and become better at understanding all the data so as to present users with appropriate ways of keeping themselves fit.
Who's it for?
The Gear Sport is essentially a fitness tracker that also has the advantage of having some smartwatch capabilities and hence is designed for those who are a bit more active and want to keep an eye on their fitness. The additional swim tracking system with its sheer range of workouts it can guide you through is amazing.
If you're thinking about buying this watch we'd suggest you have a Samsung phone to go alongside as other models and operating systems won't pack the full range of features.
You are getting a vibrant OLED screen, easy-to-see notifications and a smartwatch that's easier to use than ever. That’s a lot to go on and the Gear Sport does all of those things that entice most smartwatch fans.
Should you buy it?
While the Samsung Gear Sport is the best smartwatch Samsung has to offer, it’s not much different from the Gear S3.
Agreed that the Sport is sleek, has more functionalities than all other Gear watches and is backed by an advanced OS. If only it had the same three to four-day battery backup as the Gear S3, it would have been a no-brainer to buy the Gear Sport.
But that battery life is a real issue, and the Gear S3 isn’t that much larger on the wrist and is still a bit cheaper to buy.
If you want the latest Samsung has to offer regardless of price, and design along with a little compromise on battery life, then the Gear Sport is the way to go, but if you don't want to make that compromise, the Gear S3 will do just fine.
