Samsung Gear Sport (SM-R600) Review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxtNkDTtiF0

Samsung introduced the Gear Sport at IFA 2017 alongside the Gear Fit2 Pro and the IconX 2018 earbuds, a lineup aimed at users who exercise. We wore and tested the Gear Sport; this review covers what it is and who it suits. At the time of writing a new unit sold for around $230.

Samsung’s position on the smartwatch market grew as it added iOS support and widened compatibility across the Android ecosystem, building on the reception of the Gear S3 Frontier and Classic. The Gear Sport carries that work into a smaller, sport-focused device.

Design

The Gear Sport reads as a refined take on the Gear S2 rather than a new shape. Its rounded lines are lighter than the more angular Gear S3 Frontier and Classic, which makes it a fit for people who found those models too heavy-looking. The case is metallic, and the rotating bezel on the dial is made from the same material.

The horizontal dial holds a 1.2-inch Super AMOLED screen with strong brightness and saturation, protected by Gorilla Glass 3 for impact durability. It runs Tizen 3.0. As on earlier Gear models, turning the bezel clockwise scrolls through apps, which keeps navigation quick without smudging the display.

You can also move between screens with a physical button, and a second button brings up active RAM and running applications. The screen is touch-enabled for launching apps directly. There are many apps and watch faces available once the watch is paired with a phone, along with a large selection of themes.

Two services were weak points in our use. S Voice suffered from optimization problems and saw little practical use, and Samsung Pay may not be relevant to everyone. Offline Spotify, on the other hand, works well: with a Premium account you can store albums and playlists on the watch and listen while jogging. It requires Bluetooth headphones, the same as on the Gear S3 and Gear Fit2.

Performance and daily use

Unlike the Gear S3, the Gear Sport is not built for calls. It shows incoming calls and can start one, but you finish the call on your phone; the Gear S3 could handle calls directly. Notifications can be read and answered, and S Health data is available to view and track on the watch.

Fitness is where it is strongest. Its sensors track your workout and heart rate, and it can detect the exercise type after a session ends, sorting activities such as walking, jogging, cycling, rowing, and swimming. Water resistance to 50 meters makes it a genuine option for swimmers, and a Water Mode lets you use it underwater, controlled from the notification screen.

Always On Display is available but draws more power. Even so, battery life held up across our tests:

• Without GPS and with Always On Display active, the watch reached home around 6:30 PM at 75%, having shown all notifications through the day. Left uncharged overnight, it lasted into the following afternoon.
• With GPS active, Always On Display on, a 30-minute workout, and occasional music, it sat at 47%.
• With GPS and Always On Display both off, it ran for several days.

The Gear Sport ships with a wireless charging pad and recharges in about an hour, which keeps topping it up straightforward.

Verdict

The Gear Sport takes the groundwork of the Gear S3 and reshapes it for people who want a sportier, simpler watch. Its stainless steel build, comfortable layout, offline Spotify playback, and dependable battery make it a solid choice for fitness use rather than a phone-on-the-wrist replacement. Its iOS support is a notable strength: it works for users on both Android and iOS, not only on Samsung phones.