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The new Samsung Gear Sport is a premium looking smartwatch, durable and with an attractive design. It is compatible with iOS and Android devices. It is water resistant (50m) and it’s the first Spotify watch so you can sync music from Spotify and listen to it offline without carrying your phone with you. It has a decent battery life that can even last for even 3 days, depending on the usage.
Samsung has become a serious competitor on the smartwatch market. The Gear Sport series is an upgrade to their S3 smartwatch, with some improvements in both design and capabilities. The watch was launched in September 2017 and it is mostly suited for active people, but not exclusively.
This smartwatch is compatible with both Android and iOS smartphones and it comes in two available colors, blue or black.
Here are the main specifications:
The Samsung Gear Sport is compatible with any 20mm band/strap, which is good news, since it is versatile and allows you to choose a band to your liking. It also makes things easier when it comes to replacing the strap, since you're not tied down to a specific model.
As for the design of the new Sport Gear, this watch is slightly slimmer than the previous model, although it’s a bit heavier than its predecessors. The display is also a bit smaller (from 1.3 to 1.2 inches). The metal body gives it a premium look and you can personalize it even more depending on the strap you choose for it. It also looks like a durable piece of gear, ‘military-level durability’ to quote Samsung.
Thanks to the Super AMOLED, the display is bright enough on any kind of light, especially if you adjust the brightness level according to your needs. One unique thing we really like about this watch is the rotating bezel that lets you scroll through the menu, which is a Samsung feature that was also available in the last versions. What isn’t available anymore though is the loudspeaker that allowed you to make phone calls directly from the watch.
The most notable quality of the Samsung Gear Sport is that it is the first smartwatch with Spotify compatibility, which is a big thing, given that the Apple Watch for instance, doesn’t have that.
You can sync music offline from Spotify, put in some Bluetooth headphones and jog on your favorite tracks without dragging your smartphone with you.
One other improvement with the new Gear Sport is the fact that it’s water resistant, 5ATM (50 meters), which means you can use it to track your swimming laps. You can use their Speedo On app to plan your swimming workout. Overall though, you don’t have such a wide selection of apps to choose from.
The new Samsung Gear Sport still has the inbuilt GPS, although, we couldn’t notice any advancements when it comes to GPS signal. Just like with the previous versions, the new Samsung Gear Sport doesn’t have the best reception when it comes to GPS. However, that does depend on your location.
When it comes to battery life, the Samsung Gear Sport manages to beat other top competitors such as the Apple Watch, which can barely make it through an entire day. With the Gear Sport, you can squeeze about 2 days of battery life on a single charge, or even more, depending on the type of usage. It takes about 2 hours to fully charge the smartwatch.
As we’ve already mentioned in the beginning, Samsung Gear Sport is indeed tailored for fitness buffs. Once you do get a signal, the GPS is pretty accurate as is the heart rate monitor. It can also track your sleep, although, due to its size and weight, it’s not exactly comfortable to wear in bed. There is also an altimeter that helps you track your elevation. All your activities will be synced automatically to Samsung Health, which is an overall user-friendly app.
This smartwatch works with any iOS or Android smartphones, although it is better optimized for Samsung phones. For instance, only on Samsung smartphones you can reply to messages with canned replies. If you’re using the smartwatch with other brands, you can only reply to phone calls. On the other hand, you can reply to your WhatsApp messages directly, without being forced to first open the app.
The Gear Sport has S Voice support which eases up some tasks for you, such as setting a reminder, checking the weather, contacting someone, etc. It also has NFC so you can make mobile payments.
On Amazon, the Samsung Gear Sport goes for approx. $230. In Europe however, the watch is considerably more expensive.
Phone: 1-800-726-7864
Monday-Friday: 8 am-12 am EST
Saturday-Sunday: 9 am – 11 pm EST
Social media support: Facebook, Twitter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samsungsupport
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamsungSupport
Samsung has an impressive customer support. You can reach them each and every possible way: through phone, 24/7 live chat, email (reply time – 24 hours), or using their social media channels. Their website is also useful and full of helpful resources: interactive guides, a community, a repair & service section and more.
Our editorial staff evaluates products and services independently, but Best Review Guide may earn money when you click on links. Read our advertising disclosure.
By: Kelly | Last updated February 15, 2021 
