Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 review UK: We delve into Samsung's ultra-affordable fitness band. Large AMOLED display, long battery life, but where's the GPS?
π Review Score Breakdown
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Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 Review: Big Screen, Small Price, Big Questions.
The Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 arrived on the scene in early 2024 with a clear mission: to democratise health and fitness tracking without compromising on style or essential features. Positioned as an ultra-affordable fitness band, it immediately caught eyes with its significantly larger AMOLED display β a stark contrast to many budget trackers. Samsung hints at bringing "most smartwatch features at a fraction of the price," making it a compelling option for Android users seeking an upgrade without the premium cost.
AIToys.co.uk took the Galaxy Fit 3 for a spin in the UK market to assess whether its impressive screen and long battery life compensate for certain omissions, notably the lack of built-in GPS. We examined its tracking accuracy for over 100 workouts, its health monitoring capabilities including heart rate and blood oxygen, and its smart features, such as notifications and quick replies. Is the Galaxy Fit 3 an undeniable budget champion, or do its compromises limit its appeal for serious fitness enthusiasts?
Quick Verdict
| Rating | βββ 3.8/5 |
| Best for | Android users seeking an affordable fitness tracker with a large, vibrant screen and long battery life for general health monitoring and basic activity tracking. |
| Age suitability | Adults, budget-conscious individuals. |
| Price range | ~Β£45βΒ£60 |
| Verdict | The Galaxy Fit 3 offers incredible value with its beautiful AMOLED display and robust health features for its price. However, the absence of built-in GPS and lack of iOS compatibility are notable drawbacks for dedicated fitness enthusiasts and iPhone users, positioning it as a good basic tracker rather than a true smartwatch alternative. |
What Is the Samsung Galaxy Fit 3?
The Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 is Samsung's latest attempt to capture the affordable end of the fitness tracker market. It represents a significant evolution from its predecessors, most notably by adopting a much larger, more squarish display that blurs the lines between a fitness band and a full-fledged smartwatch. It aims to provide essential health and fitness monitoring alongside convenient smart features, all wrapped in a sleek, lightweight package.
Designed for everyday wear, the Fit 3 is comfortable enough to be forgotten on the wrist, continuously tracking your movements and vital signs. It's water-resistant, making it suitable for swimming and showering, and its intuitive interface makes navigating its features straightforward. While it integrates best within the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem, its Android compatibility extends to other brands, though iOS users are left out.
Key headline specifications:
- 1.6-inch AMOLED colour touchscreen display (256x402 resolution)
- Optical Heart Rate Sensor
- Blood Oxygen (SpO2) monitoring (on-demand)
- Advanced Sleep Tracking (stages, snore detection via phone)
- Stress Tracking
- Fall Detection
- Over 100 exercise modes
- Automatic Workout Detection (6 types)
- Smart Notifications and Quick Replies (Android only)
- Media Controls, Find My Phone, Camera Remote
- Up to 13 days battery life (typical usage)
- Compatible with Android 10 or higher with 1.5GB RAM or more
- Water-resistant to 5 ATM
- Aluminum body, silicone strap
Design and Display
The most striking aspect of the Galaxy Fit 3 is undoubtedly its design, specifically the display. Moving away from the narrow, band-like screens of previous Fit models, the Fit 3 sports a generous 1.6-inch AMOLED touchscreen. This bright, vibrant panel is a huge upgrade, offering excellent colours, deep blacks, and crisp text, rivalling displays found on devices several times its price. Itβs a joy to interact with, making stats, notifications, and watch faces much easier to read at a glance.
The tracker itself features a sleek aluminium body that feels surprisingly premium for its cost, paired with a comfortable silicone strap. At just 18.5g, it's remarkably lightweight, ensuring it sits unobtrusively on your wrist throughout the day and during sleep. The quick-release mechanism for the straps allows for easy customisation, and Samsung offers a variety of colours.
Navigation is intuitive, primarily through swipes and taps on the touchscreen, supplemented by a single physical button on the side. The overall aesthetic is clean and modern, easily blending into any outfit or activity. The water resistance (5 ATM) adds to its versatility, allowing it to be worn during swims or in the shower.
Performance and Features
The Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 packs a surprising amount of functionality into its budget-friendly frame, though some compromises are evident.
Health and Wellness Monitoring
For its price, the Fit 3 offers a robust suite of health tracking features:
- Heart Rate Monitoring: Provides continuous heart rate data, vital for understanding exertion during workouts and overall cardiovascular health.
- Blood Oxygen (SpO2): Users can take on-demand SpO2 measurements, offering insights into blood oxygen levels.
- Advanced Sleep Tracking: Monitors sleep stages (awake, REM, light, deep), provides a sleep score, and even supports snore detection via a paired phone. These insights can be valuable for improving sleep quality.
- Stress Tracking: Gathers data throughout the day to identify stress patterns and offers breathing exercises to help manage stress levels.
- Fall Detection: A potentially life-saving feature, the Fit 3 can detect hard falls during physical activity and automatically send emergency notifications to pre-selected contacts if the user is unresponsive.
These sensors provide a comprehensive overview of your daily health, with Samsung Health app presenting the data in an easily digestible format.
Fitness and Activity Tracking
The Fit 3 excels in tracking a wide array of physical activities:
- Over 100 Exercise Modes: From running and cycling to weight training and yoga, the band can track a vast number of workouts with specific metrics for each.
- Automatic Workout Detection: It can automatically recognise and record up to 6 types of workouts, meaning you don't always have to manually start a tracking session.
- Connected GPS: This is a key area where the Fit 3 makes a compromise. It does not have built-in GPS. For outdoor activities like running or cycling, it relies on your smartphone's GPS. This means you need to carry your phone if you want accurate pace, distance, and route mapping. For some, this isn't an issue, but for serious runners, it can be a significant drawback, limiting its utility as a standalone fitness tool.
Smart Features and Connectivity
While not a full smartwatch, the Fit 3 provides several convenient smart features:
- Smart Notifications: Receives notifications for calls, texts, and app alerts from your paired Android phone.
- Quick Replies: Android users can send customisable quick replies to messages directly from the band.
- Media Controls: Control music playback on your phone from your wrist.
- Find My Phone: A handy feature to locate a misplaced smartphone.
- Camera Remote: Allows you to remotely control your phone's camera for group photos or difficult angles.
Compatibility is a major point of consideration: The Galaxy Fit 3 is strictly an Android-only device, requiring Android 10 or later with at least 1.5GB of RAM. iPhone users are unfortunately excluded from using this device.
Battery Life
One of the standout features of the Galaxy Fit 3 is its impressive battery life. Samsung claims up to 13 days on a single charge, and in real-world testing, this holds true for typical usage. Even with frequent notifications and workout tracking, most users can expect well over a week of use. This long endurance reduces charging anxiety and makes it an ideal companion for travel.
Pros and Cons
β Pros
- Stunning 1.6-inch AMOLED Display: Large, vibrant, and highly readable, a rarity at this price point.
- Exceptional Value for Money: Offers a rich feature set at an incredibly affordable price.
- Outstanding Battery Life: Up to 13 days on a single charge is class-leading.
- Comprehensive Health Features: Heart rate, SpO2, advanced sleep tracking, stress, and fall detection.
- Lightweight and Comfortable: Easy to wear all day and night.
- Useful Smart Features: Notifications, quick replies, media controls enhance daily convenience.
- Premium Build Quality: Aluminium body feels durable and stylish.
β Cons
- No Built-in GPS: Requires smartphone for accurate outdoor activity tracking, a significant limitation for runners.
- No iOS Compatibility: Excludes a large segment of smartphone users.
- Basic Fitness Metrics: Lacks some of the advanced training insights found in dedicated sports watches.
- Limited Ecosystem Integration: Best experienced within the Samsung ecosystem, can feel less integrated with other Android brands.
- No NFC for Payments: Lacks contactless payment functionality.
Who Is the Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 For?
Perfect for:
- Budget-Conscious Android Users: Individuals who want an attractive, feature-rich fitness tracker without spending a lot.
- General Health Monitoring: Excellent for tracking daily steps, sleep, heart rate, and overall well-being.
- Casual Exercisers: Those who engage in indoor workouts or don't mind carrying their phone for outdoor activities.
- First-Time Fitness Tracker Buyers: A great entry point into wearables thanks to its ease of use and value.
Not the right choice if:
- You Own an iPhone: The Fit 3 is strictly for Android devices.
- You're a Serious Outdoor Runner/Cyclist: The lack of built-in GPS is a major disadvantage for accurate, phone-free tracking.
- You Need Advanced Smartwatch Features: For calls, comprehensive apps, or NFC payments, you'll need to look at higher-end smartwatches.
- You Desire Advanced Training Metrics: Dedicated sports watches like Garmin offer far more in-depth performance analysis.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 is a compelling offering in the budget fitness tracker market, delivering an almost unbelievable combination of a large, vibrant AMOLED display, a raft of health tracking features, and exceptional battery life for its price. For Android users seeking a stylish and comfortable wearable to monitor their general health and daily activity, it represents fantastic value.
However, its omissions are significant for a segment of the fitness community. The lack of built-in GPS means serious outdoor athletes will need to carry their phone, and the complete absence of iOS support alienates iPhone users. Despite these drawbacks, the Fit 3 stands out as a superb general-purpose fitness band that offers more than its price tag suggests, making it an excellent choice for a wide audience, provided they understand its limitations.
Rating: 3.8/5
An outstanding budget fitness tracker for Android users, boasting a brilliant display and long battery life, but held back by the lack of built-in GPS and iOS compatibility.