Samsung Gear Sport: Can It Track Sleep?

The Samsung Gear Sport is a fitness tracker that offers a range of health tracking features, including sleep tracking. The device automatically records sleep using motion data, and users can access this information through the Samsung Health app. In addition to sleep tracking, the Gear Sport also tracks steps, heart rate, daily activity, and floors climbed. The device also offers advanced sleep tracking with REM measurements, which can be accessed by going into the Samsung Health app and enabling the setting. While the Gear Sport provides insights into sleep patterns, some users have reported inconsistencies in sleep tracking data when compared to other devices.

Samsung Gear Sport's sleep tracking accuracy

The Samsung Gear Sport does track sleep, and it does so by monitoring the time you fall asleep and wake up, and comparing it to the time you set for yourself. It also tracks your sleep patterns, including your sleep time, sleep score, sleep stages, blood oxygen levels, and snoring data.

To ensure accurate sleep tracking, the watch should be positioned the width of two fingers above your ulna, the pointy bone on your wrist. A snug fit will improve blood oxygen and heart rate monitoring throughout the night and tracking accuracy. However, it is important to note that no fitness tracker is 100% accurate, so sleep data should not be used for self-diagnosis.

The Samsung Gear Sport also has a sleep coaching program that can guide you towards a better night's sleep. This feature requires you to wear the watch for at least seven days and nights before it can be used. The program includes questions about your sleep to help determine the best way to coach you.

While the Samsung Gear Sport provides insights into your sleep patterns, some users have reported inconsistencies in sleep tracking. For example, in a comparison between the Fitbit and the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active, a user noted that the Fitbit recorded an average of about an hour and a half of deep sleep per night, while the Galaxy Watch Active recorded zero percent deep sleep. Additionally, the user experienced gaps in sleep tracking, with the watch indicating that they were neither sleeping nor awake for about an hour.

Another user reported erratic heart rate tracking, with the watch displaying a resting heart rate of 120+ BPM when their normal resting heart rate was around 58 BPM. Disabling the auto-stress tracking feature seemed to resolve this issue.

In conclusion, while the Samsung Gear Sport offers sleep tracking features, there have been mixed reviews regarding its accuracy. Users have reported inconsistencies in sleep stage tracking and heart rate monitoring, which can impact the overall reliability of the data. However, it is important to note that individual experiences may vary, and the accuracy of sleep tracking can be influenced by various factors, including watch placement and settings configuration.

Comparison with Fitbit's sleep tracking

The Samsung Gear Sport watch offers sleep tracking, which is also a feature of Fitbit devices. The Samsung Galaxy Watch, for example, has advanced sleep tracking with REM measurements included, and the ability to measure stress levels. However, some users have reported issues with erratic heart rate tracking and poor sleep tracking performance, with the watch sometimes failing to record sleep for a couple of hours in the middle of the night.

In comparison, Fitbit devices with heart rate tracking offer sleep tracking, sleep stages, sleep scores, and smart wake features. Fitbit devices can also provide a monthly personalized analysis of 10 key metrics to help users improve their sleep habits and quality. Fitbit's sleep tracking automatically detects your sleep when you wear your device to bed, and you can check your sleep stats for other days by choosing the desired week, month, or year using the tabs in the app. Fitbit devices that don't track heart rate can also track sleep patterns, and users can set their device to track sleep in normal or sensitive mode.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch requires users to dive into the settings and configure the watch to their preferences to get the most out of it. Similarly, Fitbit devices with heart rate tracking require users to wear their device during sleep to collect snore and noise data, and their sleep must be at least 3 hours long to receive a Snore & Noise Report.

Both the Samsung Galaxy Watch and Fitbit devices offer advanced sleep tracking features, but user reviews suggest that the Fitbit may provide a more accurate and reliable sleep tracking experience, with some users reporting issues with the Samsung watch's sleep tracking functionality.

REM tracking

The Samsung Gear Sport is capable of tracking sleep. The sleep tracking function is also available on the Gear Fit2 Pro. The Samsung Health app, which is available on the Galaxy Watch, allows users to track their sleep. By default, the app shows light, deep, and active sleep zones. However, users can also track their REM sleep by going into the app, scrolling down to heart rate, tapping on the three-dot menu icon, accessing settings, and choosing the "Always" option. REM sleep tracking uses heart rate variability (HRV) to help define this period of sleep.

REM sleep is an important part of the sleep cycle and is associated with memory consolidation and emotional regulation. During this stage, the eyes scurry rapidly behind closed eyelids, and brain waves are similar to those during wakefulness. The body also becomes temporarily paralysed, likely to prevent people from acting out their dreams.

Tracking REM sleep can provide insights into an individual's sleep quality and overall health. Adequate REM sleep is essential for cognitive and emotional well-being. It is during this stage that the brain processes and consolidates information from the day, converting it into long-term memory. A lack of REM sleep can impair problem-solving and memory retention.

While the Samsung Gear Sport does offer sleep tracking, some users have reported issues with its accuracy. For example, one user noted that their watch recorded zero percent deep sleep, while their Fitbit recorded an average of an hour and a half of deep sleep per night. Another user mentioned that their watch created two separate sleep records for the night, indicating that they were not in bed for a portion of the night, even though they were.

It is important to note that sleep tracking technology, in general, has limitations and may not always provide a complete picture of an individual's sleep. Factors such as sleep environment, sleep position, and individual variations in sleep patterns can affect the accuracy of sleep tracking data.

Battery life

The Samsung Gear Sport smartwatch has been reported to have a battery life of up to 5 days with the right settings. However, some users have experienced fast battery drain after a Tizen update or a water incident. One user reported that their Gear Sport battery only lasted 12 hours after such incidents, with no difference in battery life whether the watch was in normal mode or "power save mode".

To improve the battery life of the Samsung Gear Sport, some users have recommended turning off the watch before going to bed and turning it back on in the morning. This can save a significant amount of battery life, especially if sleep tracking is not used. Additionally, choosing a black or gray watch face can help extend battery life, as the watch's AMOLED display saves power by turning off pixels in these areas.

Other users have reported that the always-on watch face feature can significantly reduce battery life, resulting in only half of the advertised battery life. Therefore, it is recommended to turn off this feature if it is not necessary for your usage.

It is worth noting that individual results may vary depending on usage patterns and other factors. Some users have reported charging their Samsung smartwatches once every two days, while others have stated that their watches need charging twice a day.

Stress tracking

The Samsung Gear Sport does offer sleep tracking. However, the accuracy of the sleep tracking has been called into question by some users. The Samsung Health app has built-in trackers for steps, diet, and other important health factors. Sleep tracking is one of these important health factors. The sleep tracking feature automatically records your sleep using motion data.

In addition to sleep tracking, the Samsung Gear Sport also offers stress tracking. This feature is available on models with a heart rate sensor. The watch can monitor your stress level and even suggest breathing exercises to help you relax. The stress tracking feature uses heart rate variability (HRV) to help define your stress levels.

To access stress tracking on your Samsung Gear Sport, you can follow these steps:

• Open the Samsung Health app on your watch.
• Scroll or twist down to find the "Heart Rate" section.
• Tap on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
• Select the "Gear" icon to access the settings.
• Choose the "Always" option to enable continuous heart rate monitoring.
• Your heart rate will now be measured throughout the day, and you can view a chart showing how it changes.

It's important to note that some users have reported issues with erratic heart rate tracking. In some cases, turning off the auto-stress tracking feature has helped resolve this problem. However, you shouldn't have to avoid using certain features to make the watch work properly.

Frequently asked questions