A healthy lifestyle in the 21st century has already become a kind of trend, and everyone thinks about their health. Naturally, manufacturers of smart wearable devices could not ignore such a fashion, and over the past year, a lot of fitness trackers have appeared, which, in theory, should make it easier to do sports, since, thanks to special sensors, they monitor the heart rate, steps taken and calories spent on it.
It would seem that it is enough just to go to an electronics store and choose the tracker you like in terms of color and shape, but this is not entirely true. You need to find a smart device specifically for your needs. It is for these purposes that today's article was written.
Fitness trackers. Criterias of choice
Well, in order to choose the best device in this newfangled segment, you need to find out the main criteria that you should pay attention to:
- Price.
- Manufacturer.
- Materials and quality of performance.
- Features and hardware platform.
- Size and shape.
- Functionality and additional features.
So, the selection criteria are certain, and now let's take a look at the best fitness trackers in different price categories.
Trackers under $ 50
This segment is dominated by little-known Chinese manufacturers.
Pivotal Living Life Tracker 1
Characteristics:
- Cost - $ 12.
- Compatible - Android and IOS.
- Functionality - counting steps taken and calories spent on it, heart rate monitor, moisture protection.
Overall, Pivotal Living Life Tracker 1 has established itself as an inexpensive but high quality device.
Misfit flash
Characteristics:
- The cost is $ 49.
- Compatibility - Android, Windows Phone and
- Functionality - the device, in addition to moisture protection, can offer heart rate measurement, counting the distance traveled and calories.
The main feature of this tracker is that it does not have a dial, and you can receive notifications using three multi-colored LEDs.
Trackers under $ 100
When buying, you can come across the names of world brands and famous Chinese giants.
Sony SmartBand SWR10
Characteristics:
- The cost is $ 77.
- Compatibility - Android.
- Functionality - according to Soniv standards, the device is protected from dust and moisture, and can also measure heart rate, distance traveled and calories burned.
But, unfortunately, such an interesting device will only work with smartphones based on Android 4.4 and higher.
Xiaomi mi band 2
Characteristics:
- The cost is $ 60.
- Compatible - Android and IOS.
- Functionality - the tracker is protected from getting into the water and with it, you can swim and even dive. In addition, the wearable bracelet is able to count the steps taken, calories burned and measure the pulse.
The main feature of the new wearable bracelet from the Chinese electronics giant Xiaomi is that it has a small dial on which, with a wave of your hand, you can see the time, the data you need about your health and even notifications on social networks.
It is important to know: the first generation of Xiaomi mi band has not yet lost its relevance, although it is a slightly stripped-down device in comparison with the new product.
Trackers from $ 100 to $ 150
Well, this is the territory of famous brands.
LG Lifeband Touch
Characteristics:
- The cost is $ 140.
- Compatible - Android and IOS.
- Functionality - in addition to standard functions, a smart bracelet is also capable of measuring the pace of your movement and notifying you on a small screen about various events.
What makes LG Lifeband Touch different from its competitors? - you ask. This bracelet is good in that it has increased autonomy and without recharging it can work for 3 days.
Samsung Gear Fit
Characteristics:
- The cost is $ 150.
- Compatibility - Android only.
- Functionality - the gadget is protected from water and dust and can work for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter. It is also good because, in addition to basic functions, the tracker is able to select the optimal sleep phase for you and notify you about calls.
In essence, the Samsung Gear Fit is a compact smartwatch with the ability to monitor your health. Also, the gadget has an unusual appearance, namely a curved Amoled display (by the way, thanks to it, the device can work for 3-4 days without recharging).
Trackers from 150 to 200 $
Well, this is the territory of devices that are specifically designed for professional athletes.
Sony SmartBand Talk SWR30
Characteristics:
- The cost is $ 170.
- Compatibility - Android only.
- Functionality - waterproof and the ability to work at a depth of one and a half meters, counting the number of steps, calories, heart rate monitor.
Also, this model of the sports bracelet has a smart alarm function that will wake you up in the optimal phase of sleep. It also provides the ability to display incoming calls and messages that come to the phone.
Trackers from 200 $
In this category, all gadgets are made of premium materials and are distinguished by a considerable price.
Withings activite
Characteristics:
- The cost is $ 450.
- Compatible - Android and IOS.
- Functionality - first of all, the gadget promises phenomenal autonomy (8 months of continuous use), since it runs on a tablet battery and the user will not need to recharge the tracker every 2 days. Also, this device has all the necessary capabilities for a device of this class (measuring heart rate, steps, and so on), and its main feature lies in the materials used.
When you first take this fitness tracker in your hands, to suspect that it is he is simply unrealistic, since its appearance the gadget completely resembles a good Swiss watch. In confirmation of this, the case of the device is made of high-quality metal, has a leather strap, and the dial is covered with a sapphire crystal.
But, in fact, the manufacturer of this product has managed to combine premium design with a touch of modernity. Of course, in fact, the case and strap are made of premium materials, but the dial is a screen that displays the steps taken, calories burned, notifications and much more.
Related devices
As you can see, there are many fitness trackers on the market today. If you look from one side, then this is a blessing, since everyone can choose a device to their liking, but on the other side it turns out that choosing the same device is difficult, since, even knowing that you need to decide on a model, complicated.
Therefore, smartwatches that provide similar functionality with a fitness tracker, but also have several additional features, enter the battle for the buyer. So, for example, with the help of a smartwatch, you can reply to a message, read the news, or find something on the Internet without taking a smartphone out of your pocket. Besides, choosing a smartwatch is easy enough.
Comparing fitness trackers and smartwatches
On the part of fitness trackers, the following are involved in the fight: Misfit Shine Tracker, Xiaomi Mi Band, Runtastic Orbit, Garmin Vivofit, Fitbit Charge, Polar Loop, Nike + Fuelband SE Fitness Tracker, Garmin Vivofit, Microsoft Band, Samsung Gear Fit. Well, on the smart watch side: Apple Watch, Watch Edition, Sony SmartWatch 2, Samsung Gear 2, Adidas miCoach Smart Run, Nike Sport Watch GPS, Motorola Moto 360.
If you look at fitness trackers (the cost of the most expensive device does not exceed $ 150), it turns out that they all have similar functionality: calculating distance, calories burned, measuring heart rate, moisture protection and receiving notifications (they cannot be read or answered).
At the same time, a lot of interesting devices are presented on the smartwatch market (the cost of the most expensive device does not exceed $ 600). First of all, it should be emphasized that every smart watch has its own unique design, and in terms of the set of capabilities they are somewhat comparable to bracelets for sports, but they have more advanced functionality: free access to the Internet, connecting headphones for listening to music, the ability to take pictures, watch images and videos, answer calls.
So, if you need a simple device that helps you keep track of your health, then your choice falls on smart bracelets. But if you want to buy a stylish accessory, then look towards smart watches.
How to choose the best one for yourself if there are so many of them?
- Platform. There is little choice here: Android Wear or IOS.
- Price. In this segment, you can roam, as there are budget models and quite expensive devices (they have the same functionality, but the difference lies in the materials used in the manufacture).
- Form factor and iron. Most often, trackers are a capsule or square with a screen, which is inserted into a rubber wristband. As for the hardware, you can ignore this indicator, since the simplest bracelet will work without brakes and jams, since the main feature of the hardware platform on these devices is that it is well optimized for any hardware.
- Battery. As practice shows, small batteries are installed in bracelets, but they all live without recharging for no more than 2-3 days.
- Functionality. This is another contiguous feature between all smart bracelets, as they are all waterproof and can measure your heart rate. The only thing that the manufacturer can provide for any software chips. For example, showing the time with a wave of the hand, and so on.
Fitness tracker reviews
As a professional fitness trainer, I always need to monitor my health and the fitness tracker has become a faithful assistant in this, namely the Xiaomi mi band 2. Since the purchase, I have not been disappointed in it at all, and the indicators are always accurate.
Anastasia.
I got interested in smart bracelets, as I got myself a friend. On his advice, I opted for the Sony SmartBand SWR10, since this is a proven brand and the gadget itself looks quite nice and can pass for an ordinary wristwatch. As a result, they became my kind companion for me while doing sports.
Oleg.
I bought myself a smart bracelet called Xiaomi mi band, because I wanted to buy myself a cute, but at the same time smart and, most importantly, a practical accessory and planned to use it as an alarm clock, since I deducted that it determines the time when the user needs to relax and so that I have a wrist notification alert. I want to say that the device copes with its basic functions perfectly and there is not the slightest criticism of its operation, and with the help of removable straps of different colors, the bracelet fits any style of clothing.
Katya.
I had a choice between buying a smart watch or a smart bracelet, since plus or minus their functionality was similar. As a result, I opted for the Samsung Gear Fit and have no regrets at all. Since I have a smartphone from Samsung, I had no problems connecting the device. Well, with the function of counting steps and calories, as well as displaying notifications, it copes perfectly well.
Glory.
I had to buy an inexpensive device that would help me during my weight loss, and I stopped my choice on the most affordable smart bracelet - Pivotal Living Life Tracker 1 and with all its basic functions: calorie counting and the like, it completely copes.
Eugene.
I decided to buy myself a Nike + Fuelband SE Fitness Tracker, as I was very interested in this product and its capabilities. There are no complaints about his work, and he copes with the task of measuring the pulse.
Igor.
Since I have a smartphone on Windows Phone, I had only one choice among fitness trackers - Microsoft Band and the purchase did not disappoint me at all, but this device copes perfectly with all the functions I need and there is no doubt that this is one of the most beautiful products in the wearable data segment.
Anya.
So, as you can see, the choice of a suitable smart fitness accessory is far from easy, since it is necessary to determine first of all the scenario for using this gadget, and secondly, take into account your other needs and perhaps your choice should fall on smart watches that have a similar one, but still more advanced functionality compared to fitness trackers.
Also, the choice of the very device is complicated by the variety of goods offered to you, and when choosing it, you need to rest on the four whales of buying smart accessories: price, appearance, autonomy and functionality.
