During the past 3 weeks I have been using a Samsung Galaxy S5 Sport from Sprint. The Samsung Galaxy S5 Sport is an exclusive Sprint Spark-enabled smart phone. The Sport brand is obviously focused for health conscious users. It has all of the standard benefits of the S5 along with Sprint Fit Live.
This phone design has a custom finish that feels more rugged, and has a textured feel very different than the standard Galaxy S5. Comments from current S5 owners told me that they wish their S5 had the same finish texture. The change in finish was made to make the phone easier to hold, and prevent it from slipping out of your hand. The Galaxy S5 Sport is also IP67 water and dust resistant2 so it can be as active as its user. The textured body also had three hard keys for easier navigation. I honestly liked this slight deviation in design. There was no need to look at the phone when handling it, as you could feel the home and backup button without looking at it.
With Sprint Spark technology the phone is designed to take advantage of advanced network capabilities in certain markets that deliver peak wireless speeds of up to 60Mbps.
The phones major difference is that it came with an complete health and fitness package, under the “Sprint Fit Live” a brand which included bundled fitness applications in a easy to access menu.
Key Features of Sprint Fit Live included the following:
- Track, monitor, and share workout activity with 12 months of free MapMyFitness MVP
- Spotify Premium 3 or 6 month subscription included.
- S Health, an integrated mobile health platform to access health info, map out workouts, and make healthier eating choices.
- A barometer, compass, flashlight and stopwatch from a single screen
- Heartbeat Monitor, Pedometer and Exercise Monitor and goal setting.
Most of the health and exercise information is integrated on the front screen or placed on the wall paper of the phone, so that I could just glance at the phone to get the updated info. The phone was running Android 4.4.2 KitKat when I reviewed it
The included MapMyFitness service uses GPS to track all fitness activities, and records work out details, including duration, distance, pace, speed, elevation, calories burned and route traveled on an interactive map. It was neat to review a days workout and check performance.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is a great mobile phone all on its own. Those that are health conscious, or wanting to take advantage of the customization Sprint has done with the “Sprint Fit Live” platform should give the Sport a look.
Sprint Fit Live also will be available on all new Sprint Android-powered smart phones in 2014 which will give you more shopping options.