CheckMag | Samsung's refusal to launch the Galaxy Fit 3 in the US is a lost opportunity

Nearly four years after the launch of the Galaxy Fit 2, Samsung announced the Galaxy Fit 3 as the latest iteration of its Galaxy Fit line of fitness trackers. The new fitness tracker comes with a revamped design that should be familiar to anyone who has kept an eye on the fitness tracker market in the last few years.

As exciting as the Galaxy Fit 3 is, Samsung has made the surprising decision to not sell it in major markets such as the United States and the United Kingdom, and a handful of European countries. No reason was provided for this decision, and while those in the UK and other markets in Europe have alternatives such as Xiaomi's Smart Band 8, Smart Band 8 Active, and Smart Band 8 Pro, as well as the Huawei Watch Fit 2, that’s not the case in the US, which is why excluding it is a lost opportunity.

For those in the US who want a fitness tracker, the best options are models from Amazfit, Google’s Fitbit, and Garmin. Of course, you can also buy a Xiaomi Smart Band 8 from a third-party vendor as Xiaomi does not officially sell its products in the US. With Samsung’s popularity, the Galaxy Fit 3 would have been a welcome addition. Not only is it cheaper than rival fitness trackers such as the Fitbit Charge 6 (curr. $139 on Amazon) and the Garmin Vívosmart 5 (curr. $150 on Amazon), but being officially available from Samsung and its official partners compared to fitness trackers from Xiaomi and Huawei would make it more appealing.

In addition, making the Galaxy Fit 3 available in the US would provide Samsung fans with a more affordable alternative to the high-end Galaxy Watch series. While Samsung may not want to cannibalize sales of the Galaxy Watch series by providing a cheaper alternative, on the other hand, those who purchase the Galaxy Fit 3 may be willing to upgrade to a Galaxy Watch in the future when they can afford it, provided they don’t lose their health data. Samsung could also drive sales of the new fitness tracker by bundling it with its new mid-range Galaxy A series smartphones such as the Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55.

It is not too late for Samsung to rescind its decision not to launch the Galaxy Fit 3 in the US as there is space for an affordable fitness tracker from a reputable brand. It costs less than its biggest rivals, the Fitbit Charge 6 and the Garmin Vivosmart 5, and even has a longer battery life.

While Samsung may choose not to officially launch the Galaxy Fit 3 in the US, a reseller has it listed on Amazon for a discounted price of $65.

Samsung, Fitbit, Garmin