Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro review: Samsung's connected bracelet has learned to swim

We invite you to read our Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro review and find the key features and interesting points of this smart bracelet or fitness tracker.

It is a fitness tracker, an improved version of Fit2. The innovations introduced are few and perhaps this is why the brand has decided not to call the smartband Fit 3 but 2 Pro. However, read our Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro review and learn everything about this fitness band.

With the Gear Fit2 Pro, Samsung has proven to be an expert in sampling by keeping the slim and elegant form factor of other Jane's simple fitness bands. It has also pioneered its own "hooks" by offering its favorite fitness apps, such as Under Armor, and a standalone Spotify player. Oh, and it's waterproof at 50 meters. And dang if you do not have one of the brightest Super AMOLED touchscreens we've seen. There is also a native GPS, so you can go running, listen to songs and come back with your tracked training, all without needing your phone.

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Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro - Exit and price

The Gear Fit2 Pro is now available for sale. Samsung offers two colors: black, black and red and two sizes of the bracelet. The black model is more discreet, but athletes may prefer the two-tone version of the Gear Fit2 Pro, which features a geometric pattern. The Gear Fit2 Pro is designed for both men and women, and can also be used from an iPhone. The Gear Fit2 Pro is compatible with iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, SE, 5 on iOS 9.0 (or later) but also with Galaxy smartphone with Android 4.3 (and later) and other Android 4.4 smartphones (and later). For the moment the old model, the Gear Fit2, is still on sale and can now be easily found on Amazon. Discover more and the price here

Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro - Design and assembly

For this new bracelet, Samsung has not made any profound changes compared to the model presented last year. The Gear Fit2 Pro thus shows the same silhouette as its predecessor. Samsung has taken up the concept of a connected bracelet composed of a single piece in which the screen and the bracelet is uniform. The Pro version adopts a slightly less regular design with ribs or geometric shapes on the strap. The strap attack has also changed. The snap-on system seen on last year's model has been abandoned, which has been replaced by a silicone buckle through which the other end of the bracelet is passed. If the result can be less pleasant from an aesthetic point of view, this choice is more practical on a daily basis and during physical activities. The risk of detachment of the bracelet disappears. And if you do not like this new system and you have the first model, you can use the old bracelet on the Gear FIt2 Pro.

Even the bracelet itself has been slightly revised to better withstand aquatic activities, the Gear Fit2 Pro is now able to go underwater and resist activities like swimming. At the center of the Samsung smartband there is obviously a beautiful 1.5 "screen curved in the central module. There are two buttons on the right side to facilitate navigation. As on the Gear Sport, one allows you to go back (the one higher up) while the other allows access to the menu or return to the initial screen (key below). On the back of the Gear Fit 2 Pro, is an optical heart rate sensor, which detects the heart rate continuously. I will come back later on its effectiveness. The fitness tracker is very comfortable to wear. The wavy texture inside the silicone strap is comfortable. The weight (33 grams) and the small size make the Gear Fit2 Pro a perfect accessory for your sports activities. The black model that we have tested is discreet enough to be worn on a daily basis. Finally, the assembly and finishes are good as the brand has accustomed us.

Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro - Display

The Gear Fit2 Pro incorporates a 1.5-inch Super AMOLED curved display with a resolution of 216x432 pixels and 310 ppi. Samsung had the good idea to cover the display with a Gorilla Glass 3 panel to protect it from falls. Excellent contrasts as well as readability even under direct sunlight: the Fit2 Pro is suitable for outdoor activities. The vertical display makes the screen reading and responsiveness flawless even under water during the pool activity.

In the end I did not notice any difference in the screen compared to last year's model, but it's not a disappointment. The Gear Fit2 Pro definitely has the best display on smartband, with Samsung once again demonstrating its mastery in this area.

Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro - Special features

Ready for swimming As I said before, with this Pro model, Samsung has corrected one of the main defects of the first generation. Although the Gear Fit2 was IP68 certified, it could not be used for swimming. This is no longer a problem because the Gear Fit 2 Pro has a pressure resistance of 5 ATM. Now you can count the tanks with the Gear Fit2 Pro on your wrist.

Although I was a little worried at first during my swimming sessions, the Gear Fit2 Pro did not drink water and it worked properly. For the occasion Samsung has collaborated with the sports equipment manufacturer Speedo, specialized in swimming, to integrate an application able to follow the user's movements during the pool activity. On this point, however, I am a bit 'critical because sometimes the application "forget" to count some lengths (does not differ much, rest assured) giving a result a bit' distorted on the distance actually traveled. Same for the recognition of the type of swimming. It was almost impossible for the watch to detect the difference between the crawl or the butterfly style, sometimes even between the back crawl and the normal crawl. In addition to its aquatic capabilities, the Gear Fit2 Pro has an integrated GPS that allows you to use it during activities without a smartphone. The connected bracelet is also able to automatically detect when you start a sports session, but also the type of activity you are exercising. The GPS functionality worked perfectly during many of my sessions. There are no differences compared to the Gear Fit2. Samsung fulfills its mission perfectly.

Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro - Software

A configuration at Samsung ... The Apple Watch has been so successful thanks to its simple configuration. And on this point, Samsung still has much to learn from the California giant. The coupling and configuration of the Gear Fit2 Pro are still too difficult. Therefore, there has been no improvement since last year, and it is a pity.

The Samsung Gear application must first be installed to connect the bracelet to the smartphone via Bluetooth (4.2). So, you need to log in to your account (if you do not have one, you need to create it) and then download a new plugin. Finally, you will need to download the Samsung Health application (to which you will have to access) to use the data collected from the connected bracelet. In short, two applications for using the Gear Fit2 Pro. We've seen better configurations.

Tizen 3.0

Like the Gear Sport, the Gear Fit2 Pro also features the new 3.0 version of the Tizen operating system. However, the developments on this bracelet are not very visible. However, the fluidity of the Gear Fit2 Pro is still as good as ever, and I have not encountered any bugs during my test. The navigation is easy, the information flows correctly on the home screen, moving to the left you can reach the features (heartbeat, calories burned, current exercise, number of steps, number of ingested coffee ...). A total of eight widgets can be viewed on the home screen. Scrolling to the right, you can find notification information about the applications installed on your smartphone. Of course, it is also possible to change the watch face and customize it according to your own wishes.

Applications

We talk about applications because Samsung has made some changes. When you press the lower button, you enter the Gear Fit2 Pro menu. In addition to classic exercise and weather forecast applications, Samsung allows the Galaxy Apps store to download new apps to enhance the experience. For example, the manufacturer has added compatibility with Spotify's offline mode to allow you to listen to your favorite playlists during the activity. The application is not pre-installed by default, so you need to download it from the Galaxy Apps. If you are a Spotify customer you can download your favorite songs and run without a smartphone, simply with a bracelet and a Bluetooth headset. If you do not use Spotify, As for partnerships, the Gear Fit2 Pro also offers the application and services of Under Armor for free to its users for 1 year. Many training programs are available. Be careful though because some poorly executed movements can cause more harm than good. Finally, the Fitness Tracker also allows you to take advantage of services like MapMyRun, MyFitnessPal and Endomondo to track routes, calories and share your performances. Personally, I liked the Speedo ON application for swimming, despite some mistakes I explained above.

In everyday life

As with the Gear Fit2, Samsung Health is the only thing you will use to keep track of your sporting activities. The application is reminiscent of the application of Fitbit, with a concept of blocks that you can organize according to your wishes. On the home screen, you will find all the data collected in a moment and clicking on a block you can learn more. Samsung also offers the possibility of coaching with the voice during the sessions, but you will have to use the smartphone.

Overall, the app design is modern and easy to read. I prefer the Fitbit app, in my opinion, it is simpler and more intuitive.

Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro - Performance

Under the dial hides a dual-core processor that runs at 1GHz, supported by 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal memory. The Gear Fit2 Pro does not give up on GPS, gyroscope, barometer, accelerometer and heart rate monitoring, just like on Fit2. Also in this case, as my test has shown with other fitness trackers, it is important to be cautious about the information received from the heart rate monitor. These are often estimates. During the test, I also tried to use my smartphone and sometimes I had different values. The discrepancies are not huge, but it is always surprising to see that the information received remains estimates. The Fitbit High HR bracelet seemed better to me.

Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro - Battery

The Gear Fit2Pro integrates a 200 mAh battery, like its predecessor. To find out if it will be able to provide the same autonomy we will have to wait for the final test but we expect two days of autonomy under intensive use. Samsung has also maintained the same charging system that occurs through a small magnet.

As a result, I discovered that the Gear Fit2 Pro has the same autonomy as the Gear Fit2 with two days of intensive use, especially if you misuse the audio function. There is an energy saving mode that sporadically activates the sensors, turns the screen into black and white and completely disables the heart rate monitor, but in practice, I was unable to keep the battery running for more than 3 days in all cases.

Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro - pros and cons

+ PROS

Design Very good AMOLED screen Suitable for swimmers

- CONS

High price Difficult configuration Heart rate detected not always reliable

Overall opinion

Without introducing some kind of innovation, the Gear Fit2 Pro looks like an updated version of Fit2. Samsung has corrected the main defects of its predecessor enriching it with features dedicated to swimming lovers. With its display and autonomy, the Fit2 Pro has all it takes to seduce those looking for a slightly more luxurious fitness tracker. However, if you are not interested in swimming, the Gear Fit2 launched last year is more than enough and is, therefore, the most serious competitor of the Gear Fit2 Pro, especially because its price is much cheaper. Moreover, if you are looking for a better follow-up during your sports activities, I suggest you choose some alternatives, certainly more expensive, as we can find in Polar or Garmin.
Discover more and the price here