Herbie Murray
The Fitbit Ionic and the Samsung Gear S3 are both smartwatches with fitness tracking capabilities. They both have GPS tracking, heart rate monitoring, and step counting. The Fitbit Ionic has a longer battery life, while the Samsung Gear S3 has an always-on watch mode. The Fitbit Ionic has improved sleep tracking capabilities, allowing users to view deep, light, REM, and awake times in their sleep data. It also has a Relative SpO2 sensor, which can detect blood oxygen levels and potentially improve sleep tracking. On the other hand, the Samsung Gear S3 has been noted to have issues with its continuous heart rate monitor, which may impact its sleep tracking accuracy.
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What You'll Learn
The Samsung Gear S3 automatically recognises walks
The Samsung Gear S3 is a great choice for those looking for a smartwatch with automatic recognition of walks. The watch can automatically recognise walks, including one-mile walks to and from the train station, and distinguish them from standard steps throughout the day. This feature is also available on the Fitbit Ionic, which is a good option for those seeking a device to track their sleep.
The Samsung Gear S3 has a built-in GPS, which allows it to track your walks and other outdoor activities, such as runs, hikes, and indoor workouts. The watch will record the distance and time of your walks, providing useful data for those interested in monitoring their daily steps or tracking their outdoor exercises.
While the Samsung Gear S3 offers automatic walk recognition and GPS tracking, it is important to note that some users have reported issues with the location map function. Some have shared that the map shows a generic icon instead of their actual walking route, which may be a drawback for those seeking detailed mapping information.
In comparison, the Fitbit Ionic is marketed as an excellent activity tracker, matching the GPS tracking of the Samsung Gear S3 but in a more compact and comfortable form factor. The Ionic also offers improved sleep tracking features, allowing you to view data on deep, light, REM, and awake times during your sleep. This can be beneficial for those seeking insights into their sleep patterns and looking to improve their sleep hygiene.
Both the Samsung Gear S3 and the Fitbit Ionic have their strengths. The Samsung Gear S3 stands out for its automatic walk recognition and built-in GPS, while the Fitbit Ionic excels in sleep tracking and offers a more compact design. Ultimately, the choice between the two devices depends on individual preferences and the specific features that align with your needs.
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The Fitbit Ionic has a weak vibration
The Fitbit Ionic is a great activity tracker, but it has a few drawbacks as a smartwatch. One of these drawbacks is its weak vibration, which has resulted in users sleeping through their alarms. The vibration is so weak that it fails to wake up users, even those who are not deep sleepers.
The weak vibration of the Fitbit Ionic can be attributed to its short duration and lack of adjustability. The vibration only lasts for a very short time, with some users describing it as a series of three short bursts. Additionally, the vibration intensity cannot be adjusted to suit individual preferences, making it ineffective for those who need a stronger stimulus to wake up.
While there are settings to toggle between "normal" and "strong" vibration, the difference between the two options is minimal and does not significantly improve the vibration strength. This issue has been a source of frustration for many users, who have expressed their disappointment in online forums and requested that Fitbit address this problem in future updates.
Despite the weak vibration, the Fitbit Ionic has some advantages over other sleep trackers. It offers improved sleep tracking capabilities, providing insights into deep, light, REM, and awake times. The long battery life of the Ionic also contributes to better sleep tracking, as it can be worn for multiple nights without needing to be charged.
To conclude, while the Fitbit Ionic has a weak vibration that may cause users to sleep through their alarms, it still offers valuable insights into sleep patterns and duration. However, for individuals who rely on their smartwatch to wake them up, the weak vibration could be a significant drawback that may outweigh the benefits of its sleep tracking features.
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The Ionic has good battery life
The Ionic's battery life is even more impressive when you consider its other features. It has an altimeter, which tracks your elevation data during exercise, and a Relative SpO2 sensor, which can detect blood oxygen levels. It also has GPS tracking, and while this does drain the battery, you still get 10 hours of constant GPS tracking. The Ionic is a fully-fledged smartwatch with impressive fitness tracking capabilities, and its battery life is one of its standout features.
While the Ionic's battery life is a huge advantage, it does have some drawbacks. Some reviewers have noted that the Ionic is heavier than other smartwatches, which can make it uncomfortable to wear, especially during exercise. The design has also been described as unattractive, and the software has been called buggy. However, despite these flaws, the Ionic's battery life makes it a strong competitor in the smartwatch market.
The Ionic's long battery life means you can track your sleep for multiple days without needing to charge your device. This is a significant advantage over other smartwatches, which often require daily charging. If you're looking for a sleep-tracking device that offers convenience and freedom from constant charging, the Ionic is a great option thanks to its impressive battery life.
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The Ionic lacks an always-on watch mode
The Fitbit Ionic is an excellent activity tracker, but it does have some drawbacks as a smartwatch. One of its limitations is that it lacks an always-on watch mode. This means that the display will turn off when not in use, and you will need to twist or lift your wrist to wake it up. While this is a common feature on many smartwatches, including the Apple Watch, it can be inconvenient if the motion activation is unreliable.
To address this issue, Fitbit has released updates to improve the motion activation of the Ionic. With these updates, the watch face can be reliably activated with a twist or lift of the wrist. Additionally, you can enable an always-on display during exercise by toggling it on in the settings. This feature is useful if you want to view your exercise data in real time without having to activate the display manually.
The lack of an always-on watch mode may be a minor inconvenience for some users, but it is worth noting that this feature can impact battery life. By not having the display constantly on, the Ionic can conserve power and offer a longer battery life. Fitbit claims that the Ionic can last up to four to five days on a single charge, which is impressive compared to other smartwatches.
While the Ionic may not have an always-on watch mode by default, the updates and customizable settings offered by Fitbit provide solutions to this issue. For those who prioritize battery life, the lack of an always-on display may even be considered a benefit. Ultimately, the decision to choose a watch with an always-on display or one with longer battery life depends on individual preferences and usage needs.
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The Ionic has a Relative SpO2 sensor
The Fitbit Ionic is a smartwatch with a focus on health and fitness. It has an SpO2 sensor, which can detect blood oxygen levels. This has the potential to improve sleep tracking by detecting conditions such as sleep apnoea. This feature was included in the press release for the Fitbit Ionic in 2017, but it was not accessible to regular users until 2020.
The SpO2 sensor, or Relative SpO2 sensor, stands for "peripheral capillary oxygen saturation". It gives an estimate of blood oxygenation levels. This can be monitored through the Fitbit app, where a graph will show the variation in blood oxygen saturation. If you have large variations in the graph, this could be an indicator of a health issue such as sleep apnoea or breathing issues.
The Ionic's SpO2 sensor is a great feature for those who want to monitor their blood oxygen levels. This could be especially useful for people with sleep apnoea, as they can monitor their oxygen intake at night and forward that information to their doctor for review.
In addition to the SpO2 sensor, the Fitbit Ionic has other features that make it a good choice for those who want to track their sleep. It has good battery life, with more than 4 days of use from a single charge (although you'll only get 10 hours of GPS tracking). This is impressive compared to other smartwatches on the market. The Ionic also has improved sleep tracking capabilities, allowing you to see deep, light, REM, and awake times in your sleep data.
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Frequently asked questions
The Fitbit Ionic is the better device for tracking sleep. It has recently improved its sleep tracking features, allowing you to see deep, light, REM, and awake times in your sleep data. The Samsung Gear S3 does not have an always-on watch mode, which the Fitbit Ionic does. However, the vibration of the Ionic is weak, resulting in alarms never waking people up.
The Samsung Gear S3 has a continuous heart rate monitor and is able to automatically recognise walks and distinguish them from standard steps. The watch band is also removable and can be replaced by any standard watch band.
The Fitbit Ionic has a longer battery life than the Samsung Gear S3, with Fitbit reporting more than 4 days of use from a single charge. The Ionic also has an altimeter, which allows it to track elevation data during exercise, and a Relative SpO2 sensor, which can detect blood oxygen levels.
