Reviews

Diesel On Full Guard 2.5 – A Smartwatch with Bold Personality

December 7, 2019 By Roxana Bikfalvi Leave a Comment

Diesel On Full Guard 2.5 certainly isn’t a smartwatch for everyone. With its bold looks and a plethora of features, it’s aimed at the confident man who’s not afraid to make a statement.

Big and bulky, this wearable is made for those who like Diesel’s imposing style and want a wealth of tech features include Google Pay capability as well as fairly accurate fitness tracking functionality.

Background

Firstly, the 2.5 is the upgraded version of the Diesel On Full Guard. It retains most of its predecessor’s features but brings some noteworthy improvements – notably built-in GPS. You’ll also get Wi-Fi connectivity and will be able to make contactless payments via Google Pay.

Features

Released in 2018, the Diesel On Full Guard 2.5 won’t wow you with its responsiveness, but it works well and delivers all the smart functions you’d expect from a fashion smartwatch.

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 chipset, it feels a bit tired in terms of day-to-day performance, but can still handle most tasks with ease. It probably won’t blow you away with its speed, but it’s quite easy to use.

Like most smartwatches out there, it delivers notifications on your wrist. Running the Wear OS, it’s compatible with both Android and iPhones. Wireless connectivity includes Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC for contactless payments via Google Pay.

However, the watch doesn’t come in an LTE variant, so you’ll need to keep it close to your phone if you want to get notifications and the like.

Design

The On Full Guard 2.5 maintains the characteristic Diesel lines. So there’s nothing else quite like it on the market – good news if you’re looking for something different. With its traditional analogue face with hands and hour marks it looks nothing like a smartwatch.

It’s big and heavy, so it won’t suit those with smaller wrists wanting a more discreet device. But the circular display is enhanced by a thick bezel and three utilitarian buttons that are extremely easy to use. The three buttons make it easy to navigate through the menu and access the various apps, and you can customise the commands according to your needs.

A variety of colours and strap choices let you customise the looks. The basic version comes with a silicone strap that feels like a second skin on the wrist, but you can choose from leather, fabric, or metal straps at additional cost.

Fitness Tracking

Like most fashion smartwatches manufactured by Fossil, the Diesel On Full Guard 2.5 isn’t the most accurate fitness tracker. Your activity will be monitored by Google Fit, but the size of the timepiece might make it slightly uncomfortable to wear while training.

The watch is waterproof to 5 ATM and boasts a wealth of health features. The built-in GPS provides accurate tracking of your pace and distance, while the heart rate monitor helps you ensure effective burning of those nasty calories.

Don’t expect a wealth of multi-sports profiles or highly detailed reports, but it’s still a capable fitness tracker.

Main Advantages

Outstanding, original design
Large display and easy to navigate menu
Accurate heart rate monitoring
Contactless payments via Google Pay

Main Disadvantages

Unsatisfactory battery life
Rather slow compared to other smartwatches in its range

Competition

	Diesel On Full Guard 2.5	Diesel On Axial	Puma Smartwatch	Fossil Gen 5
Display	AMOLED	AMOLED	AMOLED	AMOLED
Resolution	400 x 400 pixels	328 x 328 pixels	328 x 328 pixels	–
Size	47 x 56 x 13 mm	44 x 44 x 12 mm	44 x 44 x 11 mm	44 x 44 x 12 mm
Weight	–	–	28 g	–
Band material	Silicone / Leather / Fabric / Metal	Leather / Fabric / Metal	Silicone	Silicone / Stainless steel
Water resistance	5 ATM	3 ATM	3 ATM	3 ATM
Connectivity	Bluetooth, Wi-Fi	Bluetooth	Bluetooth, Wi-Fi	Bluetooth
GPS	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Heart rate monitoring	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Smart notifications	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sleep tracking	No	No	No	No
NFC Payments	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Calorie count	Yes	No	No	No
Multi-sport profiles	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Battery life (Smart mode)	Up to 24 hours	Up to 24 hours	Up to 24 hours	Up to 24 hours

Summary

Diesel On Full Guard 2.5 is not the smartwatch for everyone, but it wasn’t built for everyone either. As long as you’re more concerned about the looks than the functions – and can put up with lacklustre battery life – this wearable will surely satisfy you.

However, if you’d like more performance, the Puma Smartwatch or even the newest Diesel On Axial will undoubtedly be a better choice.

Kate Spade Smartwatch For Women: A Stylish Hybrid Timepiece

December 4, 2019 By Roxana Bikfalvi Leave a Comment

Kate Spade’s newest smartwatch for women – the Scallop 2 – is on-trend, but should it be on your wrist too?

This Wear OS wearable blends fashion, design, and technology. It’s made for fashionistas, but it can easily satisfy any woman who want a stylish, elegant smartwatch on their wrist. Perhaps the greatest feature is the classic timepiece look that hides smart and tracking functionalities.

A wealth of styles, colours, and bands give you plenty of options to choose from. Want to know more? Read our review to find out all you need to know.

Background

The Scallop 2 is the upgraded version of the original Scallop smartwatch. A little bolder than its predecessor, it’s made to make a statement – elegant lines and eye-catching design elements will gain attention.

Those who want a more subtle look can still choose from more neutral bands and not-so-glitzy colours, but it’s hard to make this wearable pass unnoticed.

Like most fashion smartwatches, Scallop 2 joins the list of Fossil-made wearables that have impressive lines and tech features. It doesn’t perform as well as the Samsung Galaxy Watch or Garmin, but it definitely looks amazing on the wrist.

Features

Though it’s performance isn’t the best out there, the Scallop 2’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 2100 chipset provides enough power and speed to make the interface smooth and snappy.

RAM and storage space are in line with other similar wearables, and you can expect notifications on the wrist, contactless payments via Google Pay, built-in GPS, and Bluetooth connectivity for seamless music streaming.

If you do a lot of music streaming or use the GPS frequently, the battery won’t give you more than one day of use – but moderate users can expect up to two days of battery life.

Design

The Scallop 2’s design is in line with the original Scallop, but has smoother lines and a certain je-ne-sais-quoi. Besides the usual silicone straps, you can also choose from a metal bracelet or a delicate leather band.

The touchscreen also comes with improvements compared to the original model. The spade motif on the top of the display not only enhances the visual factor; it also has a functional role. Simply tap it to open the heart rate monitor – a clever move from Kate Spade.

A selection of new watch faces gives you plenty of customisation options and you can change themes and colours to match the shades of your outfit. This design feature comes as a breath of fresh air in the fashion smartwatch world and is a clear indicator that the brand really cares about the wearer’s overall look.

Like most Fossil-made watches, the Kate Spade Scallop 2 comes with customisable buttons, so you can access your favourite apps quickly and easily.

Fitness Tracking

The Scallop 2 doesn’t shine in terms of fitness tracking features when compared with a Garmin or Fitbit, but still has plenty to recommend it.

Whether you like walking or running, the built-in GPS will help you to track your pace and distance accurately. The heart rate monitor also comes as a useful feature during a cardio workout and to measure performance, and you can also wear the watch while swimming or showering.

You won’t be able to access ultra-detailed reports, but you’ll still have access to most training metrics via Google Fit.

Satisfying but not outstanding in terms of fitness tracking capabilities, this smartwatch is ideal for those who want to stay in shape but don’t define themselves as fitness junkies.

Main Advantages

Recognisable Kate Spade product with embossed logo on crown and display
Built-in heart rate sensor and GPS
Premium design
NFC payments via Google Pay
Swim-proof at 3 ATM

Main Disadvantages

It could be too big for ladies with slender wrists
Rather expensive compared to other Fossil watches

Competition

	Kate Spade Scallop 2	Diesel On Axial	Puma Smartwatch	Fossil Gen 5
Display	AMOLED	AMOLED	AMOLED	AMOLED
Resolution	–	328 x 328 pixels	328 x 328 pixels	–
Size	41 x 41 x 16 mm	44 x 44 x 12 mm	44 x 44 x 11 mm	44 x 44 x 12 mm
Weight	–	–	28 g	–
Band material	Silicone / Leather / Metal	Leather / Fabric / Metal	Silicone	Silicone / Stainless steel
Water resistance	3 ATM	3 ATM	3 ATM	3 ATM
Connectivity	Bluetooth	Bluetooth	Bluetooth, Wi-Fi	Bluetooth
GPS	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Heart rate monitoring	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Smart notifications	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sleep tracking	No	No	No	No
NFC Payments	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Calorie count	No	No	No	No
Multi-sport profiles	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Battery life (Smart mode)	Up to 48 hours	Up to 24 hours	Up to 24 hours	Up to 24 hours

Summary

In a market focused on male or unisex designs, this wearable is perfect for women who appreciate both looks and functionality.

It’s a capable smartwatch that brings all you could wish from a last-generation Fossil smartwatch and shines from a visual standpoint.

Polar Fitness Watches – Polar Vantage V Titan

December 3, 2019 By Jacquelyn Ellis Leave a Comment

For the avid trainer, or the individual who loves to push limits and surpass expectations, the Polar Vantage V Titan could be your best companion. Sporting an exceptionally sleek and light form, it’s one of the best fitness watches out there. The Polar isn’t just spectacular because of its good looks – it has cool features and extended battery life, too.

When Polar watches were first launched, they faced a lot of criticism as they lagged behind the opposition with poor smartphone connectivity. So Polar went back to the drawing board and when the updated versions hit the market, they were much improved. The Finnish-made Vantage V Titan can now be compared to the output of Garmin or Suunto. Let’s find out more below.

Features

The Polar Vantage V Titan Fitness Watch (available on Amazon for $418.99) shows how much detail can be put into a smartwatch to ensure optimal performance. It features a responsive touch screen, improved optical heart rate sensors including an innovative extra sensor that identifies when the watch makes contact with the skin.

This fitness watch delivers comprehensive and precise data for heart tracking. This helps the individual trainer find the right heart rate monitoring for their sport. It also makes it easier for the watch to keep track of biometric data on the go, which can be updated to the Polar Flow to monitor progress.

Polar also worked on the connectivity of the Vantage V Titan to online communities like Strava or Training Peaks for workout planning. The Polar Vantage V use of a “Training Load Pro” feature can help athletes, and fitness enthusiasts check body strain.

The Running index helps to track those everyday jogs and early morning runs, keeping you informed of progress, while the smart calories monitor is as accurate as it can get.

The box contains a manual, charger, smartwatch and essential chest strap.

Design

The Vantage V Titan trumps the older models in its design, with its light weight and comfortable fit. It may be a bit bigger than some rivals, but it sports a slim, sleek body. The body and bezel are made of stainless steel, topped with gorilla glass for extra-durability and screen protection. There’s also a premium titanium model with a polymer back available as well.

The strap, which is soft on the hands, is flexible and sturdy, but is a bit fiddly to secure. The watch has five buttons around the side, which serve as physical control buttons and navigation is boosted by a good touch screen. However, customisation and personalisation is a bit basic compared with Garmin’s, for instance.

Fitness Tracking

The Vantage V Titan’s strength is in its tracking abilities, particularly when using the chest strap, but still is very good. Connectivity with iPhone or Android smartphones via Bluetooth is much better than previous models.

The watch now features smartphone notifications. You’ll be able to see who is calling your phone, as well as text messages and basic notifications, and you can cancel calls too.

Main advantages
– Great metrics for runners
– Supports a wide range of sports
– Comfortable fit
– Brushed steel watch with gorilla 3 glass
– Up to 40 hours of training with GPS
– Up to 30m waterproof
– Hydrophobic coating on the glass makes view in water much clearer

Main disadvantages
– Wrist Based HR gives inconsistent results
– Lacks customisation options
– Does not support music or payment
– Offers very basic notification support

Summary

Overall, the Vantage V Titan is an especially good fitness tracker for runners as it excels in calculating body metrics. The GPS is fast and efficient, with a return routing feature that helps runners track their way back when training in unfamiliar areas. It’s a great way to track progress, not only for running, but also swimming, biking, hiking, and long haul activities such as training for triathlons.

Best Android Watches for 2019

December 2, 2019 By Scott Anfield Leave a Comment

There’s certainly no shortage of Android smartwatches on the market at the moment. These wearables have really hit the mainstream and are proving popular with buyers. However, if you’re planning on purchasing one this year you’re going to need to know which one is the best for you.

Not everyone has the same needs when it comes to choosing a smartwatch. If you’re a serious athlete, you’ll have very different requirements to someone who simply wants to track their sleep and receive notifications. That’s why we’re taking a closer look at the best Android watches for 2019 so you can make a well-informed purchasing decision. There’s sure to be one that’s right for you.

Is The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 The Best Android Smartwatch?

Firstly, of all the Android smartwatches on the market, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is arguably the best. Optimized for use with Samsung smartphones, it runs equally well on all other Android devices too and boasts all the fitness features you could possibly want. Lightweight and compact, it offers an impressively long battery life and ensures a great all-round wearables experience.

The touch display is vivid and sharp while also being fun to use and simple to navigate. This device uses the Tizen operating system and, while there isn’t an enormous range of apps to choose from, you’ll find all of the most popular ones like Strava and Spotify.

When it comes to activity tracking, the Active 2 won’t disappoint. It has inbuilt GPS as well as automatic workout tracking, sleep tracking, caffeine, food and water consumption tracking and an improved Running Coach feature.

If you’re only really wearing a smartwatch to receive notifications, the Active 2 still delivers thanks to its outstanding support for the Android notification system. Furthermore, you can reply using the inbuilt keyboard, with a quick response or by using your voice.

Pros:

Well-designed and compact
Long 3-day battery life
Water resistance to 5 ATM
Automated fitness tracking
Inbuilt NFC and GPS

Cons:

The support for third party apps is limited
The Tizen operating system takes some time to understand

The Mobvoi TicWatch E2 – Best Value Watch For The Money

If you’re looking for an Android smartwatch which won’t break the bank, but which can compete with the major contenders, the Mobvoi Ticwatch E2 is a great choice. With its large 1.4”display and stylish good looks, this device offers a long battery life, excellent touch response, an inbuilt heartrate monitor, automated workout detection and waterproofing, consequently it’s a serious player in the Android wearables field. This device runs on the Wear OS which offers notification support as well as Google Assistant. In addition, the TicMotion layer automatically detects your workouts, even monitoring your swimming performance and providing stroke analysis.

Pros:

Robust construction
Waterproofed
Automated workout detection
Outstanding notification support
Inbuilt GPS

Cons:

Bulky design

Skagen Falster 2 – A Super-Stylish Watch Design

If you want a smartwatch that looks just like a regular watch but with great functionality built in, the Skagen Falster 2 is the one for you. Its simply design is paired with a high-quality strap while the 3-button layout and rotating crown makes scrolling through the Wear OS a breeze with no need for a touch screen. The body is made from stainless steel while there’s a choice of straps in silicone, metal or leather in a choice of colours. It’s also water-resistant and comes with inbuilt NFC, heartrate monitor and GPS.

Pros:

Classic, attractive design
Easy to use digital crown
Inbuilt heartrate tracker, NFC and GPS
Water-resistant

Cons:

Short battery life

The Garmin Forerunner 245 Music – A Great Watch For Runners

If you’re a serious athlete who needs excellent fitness tracking, the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music is certainly what you need. It might not be the top performing smartwatch on the market, but it can certainly track your swims, bike rides and runs with great accuracy and it’ll even receive phone notifications.

The battery life is impressive while the screen can easily be seen even in direct sunlight so it’s great for outdoor wear. As an added bonus, it offers music storage as well as the ability to stream from Deezer or Spotify, and its sleep tracking, heartrate monitoring, VO2 max estimation, recovery advisor and advanced workout capture certainly make this a popular choice among athletes.

Pros:

Inbuilt workout guidance and tracking
Long battery life
Easy to read transflective display
Comfortable to wear
Music streaming functionality

Cons:

Limited smartwatch features

The Fitbit Versa 2 – Top Watch For Casual Athletes

Fitbit is no longer only about fitness tracking. For example, The Versa 2 comes with a host of smartwatch functions including useful apps and a long battery life to ensure great value for money combined with excellent functionality. The design is modern and sleek while the speedy processor ensures smooth performance. Furthermore, Android users are able to dictate their replies to notifications through the inbuilt microphone and the Alexa inbuilt support gives you quick answers to your queries. The Fitbit syncs seamlessly with Android phones while the Fitbit social network makes it easy to get active thanks to weekly challenges and pre-made adventures.

Pros:

Attractive design
Long battery life
Good smartwatch features
Choice of colours
Inbuilt Alexa support

Cons:

Limited choice of apps

Which Smartwatch Is For Me In 2019?

To sum up, if you’re looking for the perfect smartwatch for you in 2019, any of the models on this list could be a great choice. Whether you’re looking for excellent fitness tracking functionality, plenty of modern style or great all-round capabilities, one of these devices is sure to be perfect for you.

Lastly, if you’re an Android smartphone user, you’re going to benefit from choosing an Android smartwatch to pair with it. With these models from the top manufacturers and brands in the industry, you’re certainly assured excellent fitness tracking, notification support and plenty of other fantastic features that help you to get more done.

Best Sports Watches for Women: 4 Stylish Choices

November 28, 2019 By Roxana Bikfalvi Leave a Comment

Woman performing stretches next to water front

In a smartwatch market mainly geared towards men, some brands have recognised that a sports watch for women has to have more than a stylish band.

The biggest players in the industry have now started to equip their wearables with feminine health features including menstrual cycle and fertility metrics.

Those features, alongside other sports profiles, are a few of the essentials in a good woman’s sports watch – though the looks matter too. So if you’re looking for a sports watch that performs in the gym and goes well with your little black dress, have a look at the four picks below.

1. Garmin Vivoactive 4S

A stylish yet highly performing sports watch for women

The Garmin Vivoactive 4S is a slimmer, more feminine version of the Vivoactive 4. It’s smartwatch built with women in mind and that impresses with sleek lines and rose gold accents.

Specific feminine health features include menstrual cycle tracking via the Garmin Connect app. You can log in physical and emotional symptoms, set period reminders, and even access training and nutrition advice for each phase of your cycle.

Made for daily wear, it comes with interchangeable bands and is designed to be worn 24/7. It’s water-resistant to 5 ATM and has an always-on, sunlight-readable display.

Over 20 preloaded sports profiles let you track a variety of outdoor and indoor workouts, including running or walking, cycling, golf, and pool swimming, to name just a few. Furthermore, animated workouts on your wrist make it easier to start training if athletic performance has never been your greatest strength.

An array of additional features, such as respiration tracking and body battery energy monitoring, add further value for money. The watch also delivers smart notifications on your wrist and incorporates features such as Garmin Pay and a music player. It’s undoubtedly one of the best sports watches for women you can find.

Main Advantages

Customisable watch faces
Interchangeable bands
Over 20 preloaded sports profiles
Long battery life
Feminine health features

Main Disadvantages

The software may sometimes hang

2. Fitbit Charge 3

A fashionable choice for slender wrists

Straddling the line between the slimmer Inspire and performance Ionic, the Fitbit Charge 3 is an excellent sports watch for women. It doesn’t have built-in GPS but it can pair with your phone’s GPS to provide accurate outdoor workout tracking.

A 24/7 heart rate and sleep monitoring sensor determines your overall fitness levels. Breathing tips help reduce stress, while a wealth of preloaded workouts allow you to track athletic performance regardless of the sport you practice.

The female health tracking feature is similar to Garmin’s; you can use it to monitor your menstrual cycle as well as ovulation and fertility windows, while the Fitbit App dashboard lets you set goals, find inspiration, and even connect with your friends.

Charge 3 sports a sensitive touch-screen display and easy-to-read high-resolution screen. Smartphone notifications and wireless payments are other highlights.

Designed to fit all wrists, it comes in two size options with swappable bands and up to seven days of battery life – all at a very attractive price.

Main Advantages

Dedicated female health features
Slim, feminine design
Excellent fitness tracking capabilities
Automatic exercise recognition

Main Disadvantages

No built-in GPS
It is not fully compatible with iOS

3. Apple Watch Series 4

The trendiest sports watch on the market

The Apple Watch is not the most attractive sports watch out there, but it’s definitely one of the best. If you’re an Apple enthusiast, you’ll fall head over heels for this wearable.

What it lacks in the looks department, the Apple Watch Series 4 makes up for in terms of functionality. It comes in two sizes and with or without LTE. The 40mm variant is undeniably the best choice for women as it looks sleeker on the wrist.

As it has improved health and fitness tracking features compared to the Series 3, and a more affordable price point compared to the new Series 5, the Apple Watch Series 4 is a winner.

Enhanced heart rate monitoring with alerts and comprehensive reports are a great addition for those concerned about their health, but you won’t get any feminine health tracking features.

All in all, the Apple Watch Series 4 is an excellent all-rounder – a trendy wearable to add to your smart device arsenal.

Main Advantages

Large, crisp display
High and low heart rate detection
Fall detection with SOS trigger
Extremely responsive
Electrocardiogram feature

Main Disadvantages

Short battery life
Limited style choices
Quite expensive

4. Suunto 3 Fitness

A solid fitness watch built for the sports enthusiasts

Casual fitness fans who want a sporty, more masculine-looking watch might like the Suunto 3 Fitness, which has something of the allure of Garmin’s Forerunner 935.

Capable of improving your general fitness, this watch is more than a fitness tracker. You’ll get the usual cycling, running, and walking, but the Suunto 3 Fitness focuses on helping you improve performance based on your personal metrics.

Its best features are the heart-rate powered adaptive training and recovery advice that show you the stress your body is under in real-time. These features help you get the most out of your workout and are often more useful than preloaded sports profile.

In terms of style, it’s sleeker than other Suunto watches. It looks great on most wrists and pairs well with gym and casual attire. There’s no doubt that it’s a great smartwatch if you’re looking for an affordable, goal-oriented device.

Main Advantages

Slim and lightweight profile
Adaptive training plans
Good battery life
Smart notifications on the wrist

Main Disadvantages

No GPS
Sync features may fail sometimes

How Do We Test Smartwatches?

Here at Superwatches, we strive to deliver accurate reviews of the devices we recommend, so we can help you make informed buying decisions. That’s why we test each watch before reviewing it by wearing and using its functions both inside and outside of the gym. Besides training and fitness tracking capabilities, we also test the overall functionality and smart features in day-to-day life.

Summary

The smartwatch and fitness trackers market might be geared towards men, but there is also a wealth of capable sports watches for women you can choose from. Whether you want to focus on style, fitness tracking features, or trends, I hope the four choices above inspired you.

So, what do you say? Did you find the right sports watch in the list above? Tell me in a comment below; I’d love to hear from you.

Before you go, share this article with your friends to help them find the right sports watch.

Best Fitness Trackers To Buy On Black Friday

November 27, 2019 By Superwatches Leave a Comment

With all the Black Friday deals rolling out, it can get overwhelming fast. After all, there are innumerable options and some enticing discounts attached. However, the goal is not to find the most discounted item; instead the focus should remain on getting the most bang for your buck.

When it comes to fitness trackers, not all provide the same utility and what is best for you, might not be so for others. Therefore, we’ve compiled a list of the best fitness trackers according to some commonly sought out categories:

Best All-rounder: Fitbit Versa 2

Features

24/7 Heart Rate Tracking Monitors Sleep Displays smartphone notifications Customize with appsIn-built Music controls with Spotify6 Day Battery Life

Water Resistant and Swimming Tracker Bluetooth GPS Personalized RemindersLightweight design FitPay

Having more of a smartwatch look, the Fitbit Versa 2 provides some well-stacked features as a fitness tracker. It can track your heart rate while jogging, swimming, weightlifting, or even as you go about your day. Attending to calls, texts and emails is also an added bonus within a fitness tracker allowing you to extend its use to your life while reducing distractions as you workout.

There are some limitations, however. While there is built-in Spotify functionality for the music lovers, it is limited in comparison to other trackers on the market. The band is not a full-function GPS smartwatch, however. Its GPS function is only available when connected with your phone through Bluetooth.

All in all, as an overall multi-purpose smartwatch, the Fitbit Versa 2 is a definite contender for its functionality, design and price.

Pros

Smartwatch design in a sleek and compact construction
Amoled display
Long battery life
Alexa functionality available
Water resistant
Tracks various physical activities and sleep
Comes with Always-On mode

Cons

Does not come with in-built GPS
Heart rate is not tracked through an ECG
Limited Spotify functionality

Best Budget Tracker: Amazfit BIP Smartwatch

Features

30-day battery life with quick chargeOptical Heart Rate Monitoring4-Activity modes and Sleep Tracking Built-in GPSReceive alerts from texts, calls and emailsModern smartwatch design

IP68 Water resistance

Among the budget fitness trackers available on the market, the Amazfit BIP smartwatch stands out due to its sheer superiority above the rest. While most fitness trackers boast 2-4 days of battery life, BIP delivers up to 30 days of battery life in a single 2.5 hour charge. This alone provide utility for avid users who are in need of some simple tracking.

Amazfit provides 4 physical activity modes to choose from–namely outdoor running, treadmill, cycling and walking. It will track your steps, calories and distance while also tracking your heart rate. While you cannot reply or use third-party apps, the basic functionality still allows you to receive alerts from your phone.

Pros

Great Price
Long Battery Life
Always On Screen
Durable Construction
Basic Smartphone Functionality Available
In-Built GPS

Cons

No Mic or Speaker
Music Integration Not Available
Limited Activity Options

Best Activity Tracker: Fitbit Charge 3

Features

Sleek, Non-Intrusive Design Heart Rate Monitoring Fitness and Sleep Tracking 7-Day Battery Life Smartphone Notification Alerts ActivatedWater Resistant for Tracking Swim Session

Simple, Straight Forward UI DesignFitPay Available as an Add OnProvides Reminders to MoveTracks Up To 15 Different Activities

Fitbit designed the Charge Series as their traditional take on a fitness tracker. While it does provide some smartphone integration functionalities, the tracker stands out with the range of activities it can monitor. From running to swimming to yoga, you’ll most likely be covered by the modes available; however, there is the standard heart rate monitoring in case you like to stick with the basics.

GPS is available through bluetooth connectivity, but it does not have the feature built-in like many others do. The construction is lightweight and durable while the interface is seamless. Therefore if you’re looking for a tracker to monitor your every move, this might be the one for you.

Pros

Water Resistant (Up to 50M)
Automatic Exercise Recognition and 15 Mode Options
Sleep Tracking and Guided Breathing Based on Heart Rate
Provides Reminders to Move
Discreet, Yet Fashionable Layout
Long Lasting Battery Life

Cons

No Built-In GPS
Heart Rate Calculator Can Be More Accurate

Best For Tracking Calories Burned: Garmin Vivofit 3

Features

Automatic Activity Detection with MoveIQ1 Year Battery Life LCD with Backlit DisplayCalculates steps, calories, distances, intensity and sleep qualityProvides Reminders to MoveWaterproof

Garmin Vivofit 3 exemplifies the less is more mantra. As compared to the current line-up, it has no altimeter, GPS or heart rate tracking, however its use lies in the absence of those features. You can connect a separate heart rate monitor to calculate your intensity and calories burned which provides a far more accurate calculation than typical wrist trackers.

You’ll benefit from the analytics within the Garmin app while the tracker itself possesses a straightforward overview. This band is preferred for individuals with an intermediate fitness level who need accurate data, but are able to perform their own analytics.

Pros

Made for Comfort
Tracks basic activities and metrics required
No-frill UI Design
Waterproof
Long Battery Life

Cons

Design looks cheap
LCD provides a dim display
Slow to register live-activity
Battery will need to be replaced after a year

Best GPS: Samsung Gear Sport

Features

Physical and Nutrition Goal TrackingHeart Rate MonitorWater Resistant Receive Notifications From Your Phone Through Bluetooth Pairing Samsung Pay EnabledSpotify Compatible

Touch and Audio Controls Available Quick View InterfaceDurable BuildIn-Built GPS

Samsung Gear Sport provides many of the features available in other trackers, but it does come with a built-in GPS and bluetooth system. This allows users to drop off their phones at home and go for a run without any distractions. That said, it does considerably drain the battery so you might want to conserve the battery when you’re not using the GPS. Additionally, it might not be suitable for hikers given the limited power.

While it does not provide much in terms of activity categorization, its waterproof functionality provides a decent incentive for runners and swimmers. Additionally, users can also utilize their Spotify Premium to help them listen to music on the go. Overall, if you need a decent integrated GPS tracker, Samsung Gear Sport has you covered.

Pros

Clean UI Design
Embedded Bluetooth and GPS functions
Water Resistant
Sleep Monitoring Available
Great for Swimmers and Runners
Comes With Widgets For Easy Customization

Cons

No Speaker
Battery Drains Quickly From GPS Use
Limited Activity Tracking

Conclusion

Look past the hype this Black Friday and choose the tech which delivers what you need. Remember to keep your fitness level, activities and goals in mind when making the decision. For example, if you want to track your blood pressure, any ordinary heart rate tracker will not suffice and you should explore your options. This will ultimately help you snag the right tracker for your lifestyle.