Fitness assistant: TOP 5 bracelets for monitoring physical activity

Samsung's hipster bracelet balances the fine line between fashion accessory and smart gadget. And the scales in this case are leaning towards the first point.

The smart component of the wearable gadget is revealed in tandem with a smartphone running on Android version 4.4 and higher. Unfortunately, the bracelet is not compatible with "apple" mobile devices. The main task of a fitness tracker is to collect information about the number of steps taken, which is given to it with high accuracy. Other parameters of the model's activity cannot be measured, which is why the level of its functionality is assessed as minimal.

In addition to the functions of a pedometer , the device can duplicate notifications from a smartphone. However this is done not with the help of the usual vibration signal, but by flashing the notification indicator on the front panel of the module. Due to the glossy surface of the panel, it is not always possible to see the indicator light.

The “hardware” of the bracelet is protected according to the IP67 standard, which means that there is no fear of dust and moisture penetrating inside the case. The gadget can not be removed from the hand while taking a shower and washing hands, but swimming in a bracelet is still not recommended. Of the connectors on the "body" of the device, there are only two contact points for charging — with a battery capacity of 17 mAh, the battery life of the device reaches 10 days.

Samsung Charm is strong by far from advanced functionality — it takes its toll with a stylish appearance. The bracelet can be used as an adornment of a woman's wrist if it is dressed in a white or pink dress, or as a men's accessory in a black colour of the module and an interchangeable strap.

The first versions of the sports bracelet from the "daughter" of Huawei under the name Honor were successfully sold in the open spaces of the Celestial Empire. And the third generation of the fitness tracker entered the world market with a confident gait and walked along it in the right direction, drawing attention to its person from users who are not indifferent to sports gadgets.

The device is made in the usual form factor for its class — a module elongated in a vertical plane with a small OLED display and a removable rubber strap. A single touch key is used to control the information displayed on the screen, and the display automatically turns on when you raise your hand. As usual, the screen is used to display heart rate readings, steps taken, sleep time and notifications from the associated smartphone(incoming calls or received messages).

According to the manufacturer, the bracelet determines the phases of sleep with high accuracy and, thanks to the “smart” alarm clock function, unobtrusively wakes the user up with a vibration signal at the most suitable moment for this. The graphical visualization of sleep quality is detailed in the smartphone application, as are the accompanying values of the user's physical activity parameters.

In the mode of active use of the heart rate monitor, Huawei Honor Band 3 is able to last about 10 days on a single battery charge, and if there is no particular need to measure the heart rate, the battery life of the gadget increases to one month. In addition, the wearable gadget has outstanding water resistance characteristics — the bracelet can be left on the wrist when diving to a depth of up to 50 m. In the absence of serious disadvantages, Huawei Honor Band 3 is suitable for anyone who wants to monitor their health and monitor activity indicators.

The joint brainchild of Xiaomi and Huami stands out among the crowd of peers with an unusual design in the form of a similarity of a ceramic donut. Due to the appearance, it seems that we are not presented with a sports bracelet, but with an elegant piece of jewelry that complements the image of a secular lady with its presence.

Why ladies? The thing is that the model in milky white colour harmoniously looks only on a sophisticated female wrist. However, men should not grieve, because there is a unisex version of the fitness tracker, dressed in black uniforms. The “donut” is inserted into a detachable strap or can act as a pendant around the neck – the corresponding wearing mode will need to be activated in the associated Amazfit app.

According to the functional part, the bracelet practically does not differ from its progenitor — Xiaomi Mi Band of the first generation. The sensors on its board allow you to measure the number of steps taken, the number of exercises done, monitor sleep and even try to wake up its owner at a predetermined time. However, a weak vibration is not always felt, which is why the risk of oversleeping longer than expected or missing an important notification from a smartphone is quite high.

The one-piece body of the fitness tracker has no protruding parts or connectors, as a result of which the body of the wearable device is protected from dust and moisture on all fronts (compliance with IP68 protection class). Charging the gadget is carried out wirelessly, and it will need to be done less than once a week. And this is with a modest capacity of the built-in battery — only 15 mAh. The only disappointment is the fact of poor localization of the application interface for controlling the work of the tracker. But this is manifested in almost all Xiaomi products and is solved in a lot of different ways.

Popular bracelet Fitbit Charge HR has evolved into a second version that is more like the smartwatch family than the fitness tracker squad.

Watch-like model makes a large OLED display with a diagonal of 1.5 "It serves to display the current values of time and date, heart rate, steps taken and distance traveled, minutes of activity and other similar parameters. In addition, the screen can be used as a stopwatch. Results Physical activity measurements are collected together in the Fitbit app and presented in the form of graphs and detailed statistics for easier visualization.

The accuracy of the measurements made deserves special praise — the pedometer and heart rate monitor of the model carefully fulfill their obligations to calculate the parameters of physical activity. The heart rate sensor only protrudes slightly from the body of the bracelet and may dig into the hand slightly. The module with electronic “hardware” is attached to the straps by means of a proprietary mechanism, so they will have to be chosen purely from the range of branded accessories. The straps are available in sizes S, L and XL for different wrist sizes.

Despite the sports orientation of the wearable gadget, for some reason, full protection against water was not implemented in its design — the bracelet is not afraid only of splashes, and it is highly not recommended to take it with you to the shower. Also, the battery life of a fitness tracker does not beat records — when the tanks are fully refueled, the energy reserves in the battery are depleted in about 5 days. Finally, one could note the high cost of the model, but it is leveled by the advanced functionality of the bracelet, which puts it in the light of one of the best solutions on the modern fitness tracker market.

Wearable gadgets under the Garmin brand occupy a leading position among the "classmates" in terms of functionality. To prove this, let's break down the analysis of the advanced fitness tracker Garmin Vivosmart 3.

A distinctive feature of the tracker is a display recessed into the body with an auto-brightness sensor(its level is automatically selected depending on the intensity of ambient light). Because of this, the strap of the model is non-removable. However, you should not be upset about this, because even in black the device looks like a stylish accessory.

The bracelet automatically recognizes the type of activity (running, swimming, cycling) and determines the intensity of the training, importing all data about it into the Garmin Connect app. But that's not all — the gadget is able to determine the level of stress based on periodic monitoring of the heart rate and the "sporting age" of a person. In the latter case, an indicator of aerobic activity is activated, which shows how well the body receives and metabolizes oxygen.

If the stress level is too high, Garmin Vivosmart 3 will advise you to perform special breathing exercises, and if you are inactive for an hour, the bracelet will persistently remind you to move by giving a vibration signal. In addition to sports functions, the wearable gadget can be used for everyday tasks — viewing incoming notifications, controlling music, etc.

The bracelet works on a single battery charge for less than 5 days. But with the abundance of features that are available in its arsenal, such a battery life looks absolutely adequate. And the bracelet deserves even more respect when it comes to its security — the body of the fitness tracker can withstand diving under water to a depth of 50 m. With such data, it is not a sin to spend money on buying a wearable gadget.