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The Samsung Gear Fit and Fitbit Force are two of the leading wristband fitness trackers out there. But which one is best for your needs? We compared these two trackers so you won’t have to.
1. Samsung Gear Fit vs. Fitbit Force: Price
Recall be damned. I'm sticking with my Fitbit Force…. mainly because it's stuck to my wrist. Just kidding. Love it!
— Kevin C. Tofel (@KevinCTofel) February 21, 2014
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Samsung has yet to release pricing details for any of its new wearables, including the Gear Fit. TechCrunch notes, “If the Fit was priced under $200, say, $179 or $149, Samsung could have a big hit on its hands.”
The Fitbit Force is available online for around $100. Do note, however, that the Force was recently recalled by the manufacturer, so it may be harder to find these devices for a while.
The Force is available now through retailers other than Fitbit.com. The Gear Fit will be released on April 11.
2. Samsung Gear Fit vs. Fitbit Force: Size and Design
A curved screen that actually makes sense: the one on Samsung's Gear Fit activity-tracking smart watch, with wrists being curved and all.
— Rob Pegoraro (@robpegoraro) February 24, 2014
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Fitness trackers designed to be worn around the wrist need to fit snugly, yet comfortably. If they don’t adhere to the contours of your arm, the device may not work properly. Therefore, you may want to try on both trackers to see which fits your body best.
The Gear Fit is Gear Fit is 23.4mm x 57.4mm x 11.95mm.
The Force actually comes in two sizes: small and large. The small’s length is adjustable between 140 to 176 mm, while the larger band goes from 161mm to 209 mm. Both models are 19.2 mm wide.
The Fitbit Force comes in two colors: black and slate (a blue-gray.)
The Samsung Gear Fit comes in three colors: black, orange and mocha grey.
3. Samsung Gear Fit vs. Fitbit Force: Features and Specs
Samsung's Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo, and Gear Fit pic.twitter.com/B2qIF8Ph1P
— The Verge (@verge) February 24, 2014
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The Samsung Gear Fit has a ton of features, but its most notable perk is the way it syncs with the Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone and the phone’s associated S Health app. If you were planning on buying a Samsung Galaxy phone, it makes a lot of sense to buy a wrist fitness tracker that plays in the same Samsung ecosystem.
The Gear Fit is resistant to both dust and water damage. The device monitors steps, sleep quality, and heart rate.
The Fitbit Force tracks your activity, food, sleep, water, body mass, and weight. The device is splash-proof, and operates at temperatures of -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C).
4.Samsung Gear Fit vs. Fitbit Force: Battery Life
The Gear Fit is the first thing from Samsung that made me say "wow" when I first saw it.
— Steve Kovach (@stevekovach) February 24, 2014
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In our rundown of the Gear Fit’s specs and features, we noted that the reported battery life for the Gear Fit is between 3 and 5 days, depending on usage.
In contrast, the Fitbit Force is advertised as having a 7 to 10 day battery life between charges.
5. Samsung Gear Fit vs. Fitbit Force: Conclusion
Fitbit Force is recalled after complaints of wrist irritation, burns http://t.co/olFrQJF1CR
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) February 21, 2014
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The Samsung Gear Fit does seem to have some nice features that put it ahead of the Fitbit Force. Of course, to get the most out of your Gear Fit, you should also have a Galaxy S5 smartphone. This makes the already-pricey Gear Fit an even more expensive fitness proposition.
While the Fitbit Force might have some buyers spooked because of the recent recall, it’s worth remembering that recall was voluntary, and under 2 percent of buyers had complained about skin irritation after wearing the device.
If you tend to work out in wet conditions or just really like the color orange, the Gear Fit is for you, as it offers slightly better dust and water resistance.
If you don’t have sensitive skin and want longer battery life, the Fitbit Force is your gadget of choice.
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