First exercise with Gear S2 - Not so great

[supersoulfly]

I don't think you need the phone. Maybe to pair with once in a while to sync some info. I keep my phone with me, but that's to just use the gps on my phone. 3g model has that built in.

I'm pleased with the fitness aspects, but I'm not really the right person to ask. I don't do anything intensive and I don't have any real experience with other fitness trackers to make a comparison with.

 

[icecreamw]

I don't think you need the phone. Maybe to pair with once in a while to sync some info. I keep my phone with me, but that's to just use the gps on my phone. 3g model has that built in.

I'm pleased with the fitness aspects, but I'm not really the right person to ask. I don't do anything intensive and I don't have any real experience with other fitness trackers to make a comparison with.

Thanks for your input.

 

[icecreamw]

Heart Rate - This was pretty disappointing. While not recently in the past I have often run with my polar so I have a pretty good idea what my heart rate is for different levels on intensity. For the first 5-7 minutes of jogging the Gear was very low. It had me around 135-140 when I know it should have been closer to 155-160. I tightened up the band and within 2-3 minutes it was up to 175 when it at most would have been 163. One big thing I noticed is that it appears the Gear only measures heart rate while the screen is on. This was very obvious after I switched from running to walking. After walking for about 3 minutes I looked at my Gear and it said my heart rate was 173. This was right after my treadmill handlebars said it was 136. I kept the screen on which wasn't easy (see next section) and watched the heart rate drop.

so if you run for 2 hours and only turn the screen on once, it only uses 1 measure to find the average? Does it give an average?

 

[AlanRudy]

Unfortunately, I agree with OP. Played soccer with friends with my S2 for an hour two times this week, used S-health once and Nike Running the other time. My results: My friends 2 year old smartwatch records 1000 calories burned for him , SHealth only showed roughly 200 for me, and Nikerunning roughly 50 when I tried that. I understand two different people could burn different amounts of calories on the same exercise but it was clear my friends stats were much more accurate based on the intensity of the workout and there were other inaccuracies across the board in terms of distance/speed/etc. Also wish there was an accurate reading of non-running activities like pushups, weights, etc. Besides this, the S2 has really delivered everything I have wanted in a smart watch, especially with 3g version coming out; however, activity tracking has to be one of the top reasons for a lot of purchases, am I doing something wrong? Is there another exercise app that's accurate?

 

[icecreamw]

Unfortunately, I agree with OP. Played soccer with friends with my S2 for an hour two times this week, used S-health once and Nike Running the other time. My results: My friends 2 year old smartwatch records 1000 calories burned for him , SHealth only showed roughly 200 for me, and Nikerunning roughly 50 when I tried that. I understand two different people could burn different amounts of calories on the same exercise but it was clear my friends stats were much more accurate based on the intensity of the workout and there were other inaccuracies across the board in terms of distance/speed/etc. Also wish there was an accurate reading of non-running activities like pushups, weights, etc. Besides this, the S2 has really delivered everything I have wanted in a smart watch, especially with 3g version coming out; however, activity tracking has to be one of the top reasons for a lot of purchases, am I doing something wrong? Is there another exercise app that's accurate?

Most of the complaints that I've seen here and other places argue that it doesn't report enough calories. I wonder if competitors inflate the value in order to please the consumer. Not sure about this.

To be honest, I don't think any fitness tracker can truly give you an accurate reading. How might it know that you are doing push-ups if the watch doesn't really move at all during the exercise? Or a 135lb squat vs bodyweight (which would be the same motion to the watch)? I think that perhaps calories burned on an exercise bike or elliptical that knows your weight might be more accurate. Or a GPS watch (yes, GPS) that knows your weight is probably close to an actual value. I would not put any stock in any wrist-mounted fitness tracker on the market right now, as most don't have GPS, and as far as I know, their accountability of motion and caloric expenditure is very poor.

Also, if someone doesn't count their calories every day, or know how many they need, what real use is there in knowing how many calories are expended during periodic exercise? In my experience, as I count my calories every day and have dieted multiple times for athletic event preparation by counting calories, the best way to account for calories burned is to consistently count the food you consume (so log it), and maintain a regular exercise regimen. Weigh yourself every day, and once the scale stops moving, I add more exercise or subtract more food. I'm not a dietitian or physician, so consult with a medical professional before you start an exercise or diet program.

 

[AlanRudy]

I don't disagree with everything you said. I know run-keeper has options to add exercises like weight lifting so it'd probably be better if that was an option, even to input manually that we did it. I am somewhat happy that maybe <200 isn't too off since I'm a smaller build than he is. However, I do think my experience shows his 2 year old fitness tracker being more accurate. Again, it wasn't just calories burned that had me thinking it...as I mentioned, it was across the board with total distance run, fastest speed, etc.

 

[Bunter221]

Interesting subject discussed about calories... any of the Runtastic apps I use my smart phone connected using the Bluetooth speaker for feedback whilst riding and it connects with My Fitness Pal to record calories burnt. It works well test it by riding 2km in 10 secs and see how many calories you burn, uses the gps in the phone and correlates the distance covered and the time taken.

 

[AlanRudy]

There really needs to be a feature of shealth to track activities like sprints, maybe even weight-lifiting, etc.

 

[whomoky]

Thanks for your post.

I am a Triathlete and trying to decide between the Vivoactive and S2, saw you had both and compared. Which one is better in your opinion?

Just trying to make a decision, like the S2 for better smart watch functions, but concerned about it being waterproof for swimming and know the Garmin name is so solid for activity tracking.

Just looking for some opinions between the two.

Thanks.

 

[wsrobert]

I'm also a triathlete. And run quite a bit. I've posted recently about my experience with the S2 3G (search my screen name). And it wasnt good. I took it back.

The biggest issue is the GPS tracking is off by 30-60% on every run I've done. No amount of adjusting settings, toggling individual radios on and off, etc helped. On top of the GPS being near useless, I encountered a fair amount of app crashes. Especially when trying to use the Nike running app (which is so basic and uncustomizable that its basically useless). Launch Milk Music, then Nike Running - Milk Music crashes. Go back to Milk Music. Get music playing again. Switch back over to Nike Running....and app crash.

Its made me really appreciate the quality of Garmin products for what they're meant to do. Of course they don't have an amazing UI like the S2. But they are rock solid for their purpose. I just don't think the Samsungs and Apples of the world are ready to compete in the activity tracking space for those of us who want to replace a garmin. Sure, day to day step counts and such is fine. But as far as using as a replacement for a Garmin or other activity focus device - its a non starter.

 

[whomoky]

Thanks wsrobert.

I guess I was really wanting to hear some positive feedback about the S2 as far as workout tracking, but you are right, nothing beats Garmin products and the Vivoactive is on some black friday sales for close to $150 this weekend. So i will go that direction and see what they build out over the next few months in the Garmin Connect IQ to make it more "smartwatch-ish".

Thanks again for your feedback on your experience!

 

[Arlene O]

I used it for running twice and both situations it did not showed my pace. It only showed distance, time and HR.

 

[vocalist]

I've used the Gear S2 Classic for three workouts so far - all using SHealth - so I'l share some thoughts. I did a 4 mile Thanksgiving walk and my watch showed 4.08 miles (I think I started it a little before reaching the timing chip as I was getting used to how it works) using GPS; hr was all over the place but I realized I didn't tighten it enough but it was super easy to read outside and I had my music connected via LG headphones directly to the watch. The night before I did a walk on the treadmill and I did one today and the mileage vs the treadmill is anywhere from .30-.40 miles off and yet, when I'm done all of the information in the app lines up which is weird. I wore a Polar FT60 with a chest strap and every time I looked at the Gear S2 it was either spot on or only 3-5 beats off. I think that's honestly pretty good. I was also wearing a Microsoft Band (original) and there were quite a few times when it would say 140bpm when the S2 and Polar were around 125. It would also drop out to 98 when the Polar and Gear S2 would be around 110-112. I have not tried Nike+ but am thinking about doing so tomorrow. Do you have to use it with GPS or can you just do a free workout like on the older iPods? There are quite a number of times where I'm on a treadmill at home or at the gym and GPS wouldn't make sense.

Today:
Treadmill 2.1 miles
218 calories

Polar: (no mileage - older model)
205 calories
Avg hr: 105
Max I'm guessing 125-130. I think there was a weird spike at the beginning I'm looking into as I know it wasn't 188

Gear S2:
1.73
Calories 132
Avg 105
Max 126
Steps: 4413

Microsoft Band
1.83 miles
Avg 110
Max 140 (One peak at the beginning, rest 129 or below)
Steps: 4572

Fitbit flex
Steps 4413
2.04 miles

Overall at the moment: Gear S2 = 5699 steps, 2.68 miles. Fitbit = 5737 steps and 2.57 miles. I like that these two devices are pretty close but I wish I knew why the overall distance vs the treadmill is so off on the S2. The fact that the Polar and Gear are so close for heart rate makes me pretty happy and the fact that I can play music over the watch is great, too. I'll try and add one or two more tests over the weekend if I have a chance.

 

[tulahoob]

This is my first time here, so be gentle with me

My Gear S2 arrived Wed morning. By Friday morning it was back in its box, awaiting Samsung to respond to concerns around the fitness tracking.

From what I can determine through my own comparisons there are issues with the HRM. The first major problem for me is that it doesn't constantly monitor heart rate, so therefore calorie burn info is woeful. In a normal day, tracking with my Fitbit Charge HR, I'll do around 10-11,000 steps, and burn around 2,500 calories. As a direct comparison from Tues with Fitbit, where I did 9,052 steps and burnt 2,409 calories, on Wed the Gear S2 recorded 9,101 steps, and 366 calories burnt.

I can only assume this is due to the misfiring HRM. On Wed eve it completely stopped between 18.30-24.00!

Whilst the Fitbit isn't super accurate compared to my Suunto Ambit running watch, it's close enough to be within a metres of distance, or heartbeats.

Anyhow, a fitness tracker isn't necessarily supposed to be super accurate, just a good guide to help calories in, calories out monitoring?

The battery on the Gear S2 lost 60% in it's 1st 24 hours.

I noticed this small disclaimer in the Samsung User Manual: 'The Gear can automatically measure and track your heart rate. Your Gear will measure your heart rate at regular intervals. This feature may not function properly while you are moving'.

My view is that doesn't make it 'fit for purpose'.

The auto Sleep Tracking' doesn't seem to function, and Samsung can't give me straight answer.

The watch is well built, and a great design, but seems to have many flaws around S-Health.

Any other views/experiences?

thanks

 

[vocalist]

In all honesty, I share some of the same concerns. You can change the HR monitor to "less frequent", "frequent" or off and then it obviously stays on the entire time you're working out. Right now, I've done 3.98 miles and yup, only show 339 calories burned which really sucks. I think the S2 checks your heart rate throughout the day, once per hour on "less frequent" but doesn't do an all day burn. I don't know why they focus so much on health if that's not part of it... Even though it's generally quite low, the Microsoft Band even gives an all day burn...

As far as I know, I don't think the Gear S2 has sleep tracking. I think it will still check your HR at intervals overnight but everything I've seen leans towards it not tracking sleep. I think the Gear Fit does. There are a lot of things I really like about the watch but some of the fitness aspects are why I bought it; I didn't want to wear 2-3 monitors at the same time. I guess I'll ask what you think about the Charge HR - if that's what you have - and how you like the heart rate, etc. I've been a Fitbit wearer for years so I still use my flex to compete with friends. I think you made some good observations!

Cheers!

 

[tulahoob]

Thanks Vocalist, good to hear your experience.

The S6 Edge+ has sleep tracking with S-Health and according to Samsung it should do it, but they haven't given me a definitive answer on how to do it.

The device is great, but agree, if the activity/fitness tracking is sub-standard it's not really offering much support in that area.

I'm hoping they can come up with some answers, and soon, otherwise it's back for a refund, and I'm a bit miffed about that.

 

[edubb256]

. As a direct comparison from Tues with Fitbit, where I did 9,052 steps and burnt 2,409 calories, on Wed the Gear S2 recorded 9,101 steps, and 366 calories burnt.

I can only assume this is due to the misfiring HRM. On Wed eve it completely stopped between 18.30-24.00!
...

The auto Sleep Tracking' doesn't seem to function, and Samsung can't give me straight answer.

On the calorie count, you are comparing apples to oranges. The Fitbit shows calories from basal metabolism, activities, and steps. The Gear S2 shows calories for activities and steps. It's a different design choice. I personally prefer to not see basal metabolism included, so I can focus on the direct result of activities I do, but some may prefer to have basal metabolism calories included also.

You are incorrect about the HRM impacting calorie calculation. Heart rate is not used to calculate calories, so it has nothing to do with it. I don't know of any of these trackers use HR to calculate calories. I know my Fitbit did not.

Gear S2 does not have sleep tracking, period. I agree with you that Samsung's information and support on the device (and their products in general) is lacking, but they have never said the Gear S2 has sleep tracking. Not sure why you waiting on a definitive answer. I did read someone saying they heard Samsung is considering adding it, but I wouldn't count on that.

 

[ChangeOfHeart]

There is an app 'sleep as android' that you download which works with s health. From the demonstration video you lay the phone next to you when you sleep and it judges the sleep via the accelerometer. If you toss and turn a lot it senses that. I believe it also listens for snoring as well.

 

[vocalist]

I'm about to try Nike+ on the treadmill to see if it works better than S Health. This morning I turned on S Health for walking and walked around my house for about 6 minutes. It picked up .25 miles and had my "speed" at 2.8 - 3.0 which I thought was actually pretty good. I really wish you could pair a chest strap with it... but I'm going to go try Nike + on my treadmill and see how that fairs. For some reason I don't think S Health picks up distance very well on the treadmill... kind of like the Microsoft Band.

I'm glad there is some discussion on this though I also wish the available fitness apps were something I'd like to use. That part leaves a lot to be desired :'(

 

[Ittlebit]

Sleep as Android is no longer available for the watch as it was pulled from the Gear store due to excessive battery drain. I hope they find a fix for it as its a great app. I use it at night with my Pebble.

Note 4 with Gear S2 3G