tripp: Not going to start another thread but just want to point out that the Samsung galaxy watches are also 20% off instore which knocks them down to 399 (42mm) and around 430 for 46mm. So $100 or so off

Thanks for that.  I ordered on on release day but then cancelled.  The Samsung site offers $60 off so thats the biggest discount I have seen so far.  Trying to resist temptation.

landcruiserguy:

 

tripp: Not going to start another thread but just want to point out that the Samsung galaxy watches are also 20% off instore which knocks them down to 399 (42mm) and around 430 for 46mm. So $100 or so off

 

Thanks for that.  I ordered on on release day but then cancelled.  The Samsung site offers $60 off so thats the biggest discount I have seen so far.  Trying to resist temptation.

 

I just got the 42mm, the hardware is good etc but trying to get use to gear/galaxy software again as I have been using wearOS and a fitbit for the last couple of months.

Do i like the galaxy watch?  Don't know yet.  I have notice that it only starts counting steps after you have walked a little and floor count is really out on it (fitbit was bang on each time).  The good thing about the galaxy watch is it can control music a lot better than the fitbit.

tripp:

 

landcruiserguy:

 

tripp: Not going to start another thread but just want to point out that the Samsung galaxy watches are also 20% off instore which knocks them down to 399 (42mm) and around 430 for 46mm. So $100 or so off

 

Thanks for that.  I ordered on on release day but then cancelled.  The Samsung site offers $60 off so thats the biggest discount I have seen so far.  Trying to resist temptation.

 

 

I just got the 42mm, the hardware is good etc but trying to get use to gear/galaxy software again as I have been using wearOS and a fitbit for the last couple of months.

 

Do i like the galaxy watch?  Don't know yet.  I have notice that it only starts counting steps after you have walked a little and floor count is really out on it (fitbit was bang on each time).  The good thing about the galaxy watch is it can control music a lot better than the fitbit.

 

 

 

 

 

I think the Galaxy Watch is great hardware coupled with bad software which isn't unusual for Samsung.  While I was waiting for mine to ship the bad reviews started to roll in which is the main reasons I cancelled.  There has just been another update and anything is fixable in software so I live in hope that it will be fixed.  Please let us know.

The main complaints were crappy heart rate sensor, erratic battery life and hear rate sensor is inaccurate or stops working until you reboot.  I could live with the first two but counting steps is one of the two main features of this watch.  Telling time being the other one.

tripp:

 

Do i like the galaxy watch?  Don't know yet.  I have notice that it only starts counting steps after you have walked a little and floor count is really out on it (fitbit was bang on each time). 

 

This is the same (I believe) for all Samsung watches - certainly the case with my S2. I think the counter kicks in at around 10 steps. I actually don't mind this, as I feel it is a closer indicator to meaningful movement, as opposed to recognising every step taken in a day. I haven't missed a day making it to 10,000 steps per day in over 17 months, and I feel I generally have had to work to get there.

It was only last weekend that I first found this 10-step threshold really frustrating, in that to get to my 10k for the day I was pacing in the little two-bedroom bach we'd rented, and I literally wasn't able to get the 10 paces needed before having to turn, and so none of the steps were being counted!

Ok so far the battery life seems ok.

Took it off the charge last night at 6pm, used it to track sleep (from 9pm - 4.30am) and it was at 92% currently at 85%

So that is 15% in 15.5 hours so 1% per hour on the galaxy watch 42mm

This is with wifi, notifications on (NFC off, always on display OFF).

I think I am happy with that, but will test what it's like on a run/gym later.

tripp: Not going to start another thread but just want to point out that the Samsung galaxy watches are also 20% off instore which knocks them down to 399 (42mm) and around 430 for 46mm. So $100 or so off

Are these watches not on their website at all? Sorry I don't know the samsung ecosystem all that well... I see these are the newest addition. How do they compare to gear sport or s3 frontier?  (Yeah I tried reading a couple of reviews but am still not 100% sure so want some "real" opinions :)

sidefx:

 

tripp: Not going to start another thread but just want to point out that the Samsung galaxy watches are also 20% off instore which knocks them down to 399 (42mm) and around 430 for 46mm. So $100 or so off

 

 

 

Are these watches not on their website at all? Sorry I don't know the samsung ecosystem all that well... I see these are the newest addition. How do they compare to gear sport or s3 frontier?  (Yeah I tried reading a couple of reviews but am still not 100% sure so want some "real" opinions :)

 

They disappeared off the Noles web site when the current "in store only" promotion hit.  I ran down to put one on layby until I get paid next week but apparently layby at Noel's doesn't mean you fix the price, just that they hold the product for you so there is no point in doing this.  I went back and read more reviews and the thing that really stops me buying this watch is that inaccurate step counting.  Some of the forum posts said that it was worse than the Gear Sport which is my other option (refurbed for $211 off Amazon).  I really want the latest and greatest but don't really want to buy something that doesn't work in the hope that a future software update will fix it.  You know what developers are like...

I think the thing is they tweaked the algorithms so not count false steps (you waving your hand around).  They did this by making the step counting only kick in after you have taken about a dozen steps so walking from you desk to the printer doesn't count.  This leads to the weird situation where the steps on your phone (which you only carry sometimes) are lower than the steps in your watch (which you always wear).

The main feature of the Galaxy Watch is it uses a smaller die size processor with the lower power drain and increased performance that come with that.  I think you only really get better battery life if you don't have the screen always on because the screen power drain hasn't reduced, just the idle power drain from the CPU.

The forum posts also talked about problems like the step counting just stopping and starting again after rebooting the watch.  This just sounds like old fashioned software bugs causing crashes to me.

@landcruiserguy - Thanks! Must admit I've been coveting a Fenix 5 (I guess I'm looking for more fitness tracking and less smartwatch) for quite a while and after reading that and various other things I think I'll skip the samsungs. Still looks like a sharp price though...

As a fitness watch I don't think you can beat the Fenix 5 series. You may be able to get a bargain on these as the 5 plus range was recently released. I would not call this a smart watch, more like a fitness watch with some smart watch functionality. As for the look of them, I think it looks great. I can switch out watch straps easily, and there are a heap of cheap straps available from Ali Express, including metallic straps. I only ever take it off when I shower. Battery life is 10 days to 2 weeks depending on how many workouts I do. 

Ok with a 30 minute treadmill run today as of right now i am at 75% so i am expecting it to last 2 or 3 days :)

I am happy with that

NightStalker:

 

Nokia range on sale this weekend @ Noel Leeming

 

Pretty good deal, Alternatively the pocofone f1 is on sale at Parallel imported for 589.

sidefx:

 

@landcruiserguy - Thanks! Must admit I've been coveting a Fenix 5 (I guess I'm looking for more fitness tracking and less smartwatch) for quite a while and after reading that and various other things I think I'll skip the samsungs. Still looks like a sharp price though...

 

I picked up the Fenix 5 Plus at Rebel Sport over Labour Weekend for 25% off, to give you an idea of possible discounts. I kinda wish I'd ponied up the extra for the sapphire glass, but Rebel don't stock it and NL "only" had 20% off so it would've worked out about $200 more. Also, the cheap sapphire model is black which I don't think looks as good or then it's even more money for the titanium model.

It's pretty great so far. I've had Forerunners so I like Garmin. The maps are quite small (obviously) and I haven't tried out the nav stuff yet but I will get a chance soon. My battery is a bit erratic, there are some ongoing online discussions. The screen is good but it's a different style to most smart watches, really excels in bright sun.

tl;dr: Get it, it's great!