The smartwatch landscape has evolved significantly since the first Apple Watch and the Samsung Gear Sport debuted. Both devices aimed to bring smartphone functionality to your wrist, but they approached it differently. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to see which one holds up today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Apple Watch Sport (1st gen) edges out the Gear Sport due to its tighter iOS integration and access to a more mature app ecosystem. While the Gear Sport boasts a slightly better screen and fitness tracking, the Apple Watch's overall user experience and long-term software support give it the advantage.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | N/A | N/A |
| EDGE | No | No |
| GPRS | No | No |
| Technology | No cellular connectivity | No cellular connectivity |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2017, August. Released 2017, October | 2014, September. Released 2015, April |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, composite plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 44.6 x 42.9 x 11.6 mm (1.76 x 1.69 x 0.46 in) | 42 x 35.9 x 10.5 mm (1.65 x 1.41 x 0.41 in) |
| SIM | No | No |
| Weight | 67g (w/ strap); 50g (w/о strap) (1.76 oz) | 30 g body (2.47 oz) |
| | 50m water resistant
Compatible with standard 20mm straps
MIL-STD-810G compliant*
*does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions | IPX7 water resistant up to 1 meter and 30 minutes |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Ion-X strengthened glass |
| Resolution | 360 x 360 pixels (~424 ppi density) | 390 x 312 pixels (~302 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.2 inches | 1.65 inches |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Retina OLED, 450 nits (peak) |
| | Always-on display
Rotating bezel | 3D Touch display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A7 | 520 MHz Cortex-A7 |
| Chipset | Exynos 3250 Dual | Apple S1 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-400MP2 | PowerVR SGX543 |
| OS | Tizen OS 5.5 | watchOS 1.0, upgradable to watchOS 4.3.2 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 4GB 768MB RAM | 8GB 512MB RAM |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | No | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 4.0, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | No |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | No | No |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate |
| | Bixby natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay | Natural language commands and dictation |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | Wireless (Qi) | Wireless |
| Stand-by | Up to 48 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 300 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 250 mAh (0.94 Wh), non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue | Silver/White, Orange, Blue; Gray/Black; Rose Gold/Lavender, Stone; Gold/White, Blue, Yellow, Apricot, Royal Blue, Pink/Royal Blue/Gold&Red/Black Woven Nylon |
| Models | SM-R600 | A1554 |
| Price | About 200 EUR | About 250 EUR |
Samsung Gear Sport
- Vibrant Super AMOLED display
- Comprehensive fitness tracking features
- Wireless charging (Qi)
- Rotating bezel for navigation
- Slightly better battery life
- Slower performance
- Limited app ecosystem compared to Apple Watch
- Less polished user interface
- Camera quality is subpar
Apple Watch Sport 42mm (1st gen)
- Seamless iOS integration
- Mature app ecosystem
- Sleek design
- Responsive user experience (due to optimized software)
- Access to Apple Pay
- Shorter battery life
- LCD display not as vibrant as AMOLED
- No camera
- Limited functionality with Android devices
Display Comparison
The Gear Sport features a 1.43-inch Super AMOLED display, offering vibrant colors and excellent contrast, a clear advantage over the Apple Watch Sport's 1.5-inch LCD. While the Apple Watch's display is functional, the Gear Sport's is noticeably more visually appealing.
Camera Comparison
The Gear Sport includes a 2MP camera, which is adequate for quick snapshots but lacks detail. The Apple Watch Sport (1st gen) notably lacks a camera entirely, a design choice Apple has maintained in subsequent models.
Performance
The Apple Watch S1 chip, despite its lower clock speed, benefits from Apple's optimized software, resulting in a smoother and more responsive user experience. The Gear Sport's Exynos 3250, while dual-core, struggles to keep up with more demanding tasks and can feel sluggish at times.
Battery Life
The Gear Sport generally offers slightly better battery life, often lasting a full day with moderate use. The Apple Watch Sport (1st gen) typically requires daily charging, especially with heavy usage.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Samsung Gear Sport? Fitness enthusiasts who prioritize a vibrant display and comprehensive tracking features, and those deeply embedded in the Android ecosystem. Who should buy the Apple Watch Sport 42mm (1st gen)? Apple users seeking a seamless integration with their iPhones and access to a wide range of apps, even if it's an older model.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Samsung Gear Sport still worth buying?
It can be a good option for Android users prioritizing fitness tracking and a vibrant display, but be aware of its performance limitations.
❓ Can the Apple Watch Sport (1st gen) be used with an Android phone?
No, the Apple Watch is designed exclusively for use with iPhones.
❓ What is the difference between the Gear Sport and the Gear S3?
The Gear Sport is a smaller, more fitness-focused version of the Gear S3, with a focus on swimming and a rotating bezel for navigation.
❓ Does the Apple Watch Sport (1st gen) still receive software updates?
Apple has discontinued software updates for the original Apple Watch, so its functionality is limited compared to newer models.
