Choosing between a smartwatch and a smartphone can be tricky, especially when considering older models like the Samsung Gear Sport and Galaxy S5 Neo. Both devices offer unique functionalities, but cater to different needs. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which one is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy S5 Neo wins overall due to its superior processing power, larger display, and smartphone capabilities. The Gear Sport excels as a dedicated fitness tracker and smartwatch, offering convenient wireless charging and a compact design, but it's significantly limited compared to the S5 Neo.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | N/A | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | - | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - G903F |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - G903F |
| EDGE | No | - |
| GPRS | No | - |
| Speed | - | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | No cellular connectivity | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 20, 29 - G903W |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2017, August. Released 2017, October | 2015, August. Released 2015, August |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 44.6 x 42.9 x 11.6 mm (1.76 x 1.69 x 0.46 in) | 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm (5.59 x 2.85 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | No | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 67g (w/ strap); 50g (w/о strap) (1.76 oz) | 145 g (5.11 oz) |
| | 50m water resistant
Compatible with standard 20mm straps
MIL-STD-810G compliant*
*does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 360 x 360 pixels (~424 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~432 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.2 inches | 5.1 inches, 71.7 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| | Always-on display
Rotating bezel | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A7 | Octa-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Exynos 3250 Dual | Exynos 7580 Octa (28 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-400MP2 | Mali-T720MP2 |
| OS | Tizen OS 5.5 | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 4GB 768MB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/1.9, 31mm (standard), AF |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | 5 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide) |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | No | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | No | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rate |
| | Bixby natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay | ANT+
S-Voice |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | Wireless (Qi) | - |
| Music play | - | Up to 73 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 48 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | - | Up to 15 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 300 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 2800 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue | Black, Gray, Gold |
| Models | SM-R600 | SM-G903F, SM-G903W, SM-G903M, SM-S903VL |
| Price | About 200 EUR | About 300 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.03 W/kg (head) 1.27 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.46 W/kg (head) 0.58 W/kg (body) |
Samsung Gear Sport
- Compact and lightweight design
- Wireless charging (Qi)
- Fitness tracking features
- Notifications on wrist
- Limited functionality compared to a smartphone
- Slow processor
- Small screen
- No camera
Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo
- Larger display
- Powerful Octa-core processor
- High-quality camera
- Full smartphone functionality
- Expandable storage (microSD)
- Older model
- Design may feel dated
- Battery life could be better compared to newer phones
Display Comparison
The Galaxy S5 Neo boasts a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display, offering a significantly larger and more immersive viewing experience compared to the Gear Sport's 1.2-inch circular AMOLED screen. While the Gear Sport's screen is sharp for its size, it's primarily designed for glanceable notifications and fitness data.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy S5 Neo features a 16MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera, allowing for high-quality photos and video recording. The Gear Sport lacks a dedicated camera, relying on the paired smartphone for capturing images.
Performance
The Galaxy S5 Neo's Exynos 7580 Octa-core processor provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Gear Sport's Dual-core Exynos 3250. The S5 Neo handles multitasking and demanding apps with ease, while the Gear Sport can feel sluggish at times.
Battery Life
The Galaxy S5 Neo typically offers a longer battery life than the Gear Sport, lasting a full day with moderate use. The Gear Sport's battery life is generally around 2-3 days, depending on usage.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Gear Sport is ideal for fitness enthusiasts who prioritize a compact smartwatch with basic notification features and wireless charging. The Galaxy S5 Neo is a better choice for users needing a full-fledged smartphone with a larger screen, more processing power, and broader functionality.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Gear Sport still worth buying in 2024?
The Gear Sport is only worth considering if you specifically need a very basic fitness tracker and smartwatch and are on a tight budget. Newer smartwatches offer significantly better features and performance.
❓ Can the Galaxy S5 Neo be upgraded?
The Galaxy S5 Neo is an older device and no longer receives software updates. Upgrading is not possible.
