Gadget of the Week: Galaxy is a triple fit-for-purpose gadget

What is this?

The main problem with the new Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 is actually the opposite of a problem. It has such a long battery life that you forget that it will eventually need to be charged and it will suddenly run out of power while you are on vacation or on a business trip.

This means that most of the time it will last if you just keep going.

The Fit 3 is designed with a touch of elegance and plenty of practicality. with an elegant, modern design. It’s as light as a feather on the wrist and has a bright and vibrant 4cm AMOLED display that laughs in the face of direct sunlight. The touchscreen is responsive, but not snappy enough to make your smartphone jealous.

Equipped with an extensive menu of health and fitness tracking features, this little gadget is a personal trainer, sleep coach and stress therapist all in one. It tracks your heart rate, monitors your sleep, monitors your stress levels and measures your blood oxygen (SpO2). And if you’re one of those weird people who decides to row mid-run, the Galaxy Fit 3 automatically detects your workout and appears to encourage you.

Of course, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The app ecosystem is lean compared to other fitness trackers and smartwatches. It won’t talk to you or pay for your coffee because it doesn’t support voice assistants or NFC. Heart rate and SpO2 readings sometimes appear abnormal. However, it offers basic smartwatch functions such as controlling music playback and locating your phone.

Sleep tracking, on the other hand, goes a bit too far, dividing the human race into eight sleep species, each with its own animal. It’s fun at first, but it’s not conducive to sleep training in adults.

Superhero-level battery life offers up to 13 days on a single charge, but heavy use and constant manipulation of the touchscreen can cut that time in half.

Bluetooth integration with Android is seamless. It has a rugged design and is IP68 rated, which means it is dustproof and waterproof to a maximum depth of 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes.

One hundred watch face options – along with the ability to customize a personal photo for the watch face – complement the device perfectly. As an affordable fitness tracker, it cannot be faulted.

How much is it?

The Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 is sold in South Africa for R1,229.

Why does this matter?

The Galaxy Fit 3 offers a great value proposition with extensive features and functionality at a relatively affordable price, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

What are the biggest negatives?

• Relatively limited app ecosystem compared to other fitness trackers and smartwatches.
• It’s missing some of the advanced features found in more premium devices.
• Occasional inaccuracies in heart rate and SpO2 measurements.

What are the biggest positives?

• Excellent value for money
• Up to 13 days of work on a single charge.
• A wide range of health and fitness monitoring features, including heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, stress monitoring and SpO2 measurement.

* Arthur Goldstuck is the founder of World Wide Worx and editor-in-chief of Gadget.co.za. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @art2gee.