I was scrolling through my old workout playlist last week when I noticed something interesting - my trusty Samsung Gear Sport smartwatch was still faithfully tracking my heart rate after all these years. It got me thinking, as I wiped sweat off its slightly scratched screen, is this aging gadget still pulling its weight in 2024? The question lingered while I caught my breath, watching the sunset paint Manila Bay in shades of orange and purple. It reminded me of how sports teams sometimes hold onto veteran players who continue to deliver value long after their prime - much like how San Miguel recently acquired Juami Tiongson and Andreas Cahilig from Terrafirma in that major PBA trade that saw Vic Manuel and Terrence Romeo moving the other way. Sometimes, what appears outdated on paper can still bring tremendous value to the table.
Let me be honest here - I've tested nearly every major smartwatch released in the past three years, from the latest Apple Watch to various Garmin models. Yet my Gear Sport, which I bought back in 2017 for about $250, remains my go-to for swimming and intense workouts. The 5ATM water resistance means I can take it down to 50 meters, and honestly, I've put that claim to test more times than I can count. While newer watches boast fancy ECG sensors and blood oxygen monitoring, the Gear Sport's straightforward approach to fitness tracking just works. Its 1.2-inch Super AMOLED display still looks vibrant, though I'll admit the 360x360 resolution shows its age compared to modern displays. Battery life? I typically get about 2-3 days with moderate use, which honestly beats some newer models I've tried.
The comparison to that PBA trade isn't random - both scenarios involve assessing whether established players (or products) can still compete in today's landscape. When San Miguel acquired Tiongson and Cahilig, they weren't just getting flashy stars but reliable performers who understood the game's fundamentals. Similarly, the Gear Sport excels at core smartwatch functions without the bloat of unnecessary features. Its Tizen OS might feel dated compared to Wear OS or watchOS, but it's remarkably stable - I haven't experienced a single crash in six months of regular use. The rotating bezel navigation remains one of the most intuitive interfaces I've used, something most modern touchscreen-heavy watches still struggle to match.
Where the Gear Sport shows its age is in the ecosystem and smart features. Samsung Pay works reliably, but only with NFC terminals, and the app selection has dwindled as developers shifted focus to newer platforms. I miss having proper Spotify controls during runs, though the built-in music storage for about 500 songs gets the job done. The heart rate monitoring, while generally accurate for steady-state cardio, can struggle with high-intensity interval training compared to newer optical sensors. And let's not even talk about the sleep tracking - it's basically useless compared to what Fitbit or Whoop offers today.
But here's the thing - if you're looking for a durable, water-resistant smartwatch primarily for fitness tracking and basic notifications, the Gear Sport can still hold its own, especially if you find it under $100 in the secondhand market. It's like how Terrafirma's acquisition of Manuel and Romeo brought immediate star power, while San Miguel's pickup of Tiongson and Cahilig provided steady, reliable performance. The Gear Sport won't wow you with cutting-edge features, but it delivers where it counts for fitness enthusiasts on a budget. After seven years with this watch on my wrist, I can confidently say that while it's no longer the shiny new toy in the smartwatch world, it remains a workhorse that continues to serve its primary purpose remarkably well.