To choose to buy a
Do you want a wearable device designed to help you communicate and receive notifications or one that just keeps track of workouts and health?
Fitness bracelets focus on monitoring health and physical activity
, such as how many steps you have taken, the distance you have traveled, the calories you have burned and the frequency of your heart beat.
.
This type of wearable device focuses on your every single step, the meters traveled and the calories burned and encourages you to have a healthier lifestyle and to do a little more every day.
They are suitable for sports such as running, cycling and often even swimming, but are also good for monitoring normal daily activities.
All fitness bracelets are up to the task, with someone more precise than others.
In general, the greater the number of sensors, the higher the price and the shorter the
battery
life
.
The most common sensor is the pedometer, some models also offer GPS, heart rate monitor, pulse oximeter, compass, accelerometer, altimeter, etc.
Many models are also
water resistant
: if suitable for swimming there must be an indication of the resistance in atmospheres, for example ATM5.
Consider that the waterproofing declared by the manufacturer refers to the new and intact model, while the use over time and possible dents can decrease its waterproofing.
Also keep in mind that waterproof models are generally good for swimming or being used in the shower, while they are usually not recommended for diving, high-speed water sports, saunas and thermal baths.
The best devices connect to a simple
app
which can be essential to keeping you motivated.
Many fitness bracelets are not exactly designed for notifications and communication.
Someone syncs with your phone to show incoming messages, emails and social media notifications, even if the small screen makes it difficult to read messages and write replies.
Consider that to make the most of the device you need to wear it as much as possible, even at night, so try to try it before buying and choose a model that suits your style.
Prices range from 15 to 150 euros.
The best ones offer viewing messages, emails, call notifications, calendar appointments, social updates and routes directly on your wrist
.
Many allow you to dictate replies to messages or emails, while some allow you to make phone calls from your watch.
In general, the more advanced the functions, the higher the price, so we advise you to carefully evaluate your needs, so as not to lose essential features but also not to spend unnecessarily on features that you don't need.
can be quite short, especially when compared to the best fitness bracelets, and it should be remembered that if you think of recharging the device during the night you give up the function of tracking the quality of sleep.
Some smartwatches offer various monitoring activities, while others rely on training apps, the most expensive also have sensors to detect heart rate and oxygen saturation in the blood.
The presence of sensors also affects battery life.
"support"
phone
, for this reason we indicate the compatibility of the models with the two operating systems iOS and Android (for example, Apple Watches only work if combined with iPhones).
This is because, for reasons of physical size, smartwatches instead of integrating some features within themselves take advantage of those present in the "companion phone".
However, many functions remain active even when it is off or far away.
In order
not to carry the phone with you even when you go for a run without sacrificing the functionality of the smartwach
It is important to consider the internal memory of the device, usually 4 GB, which in addition to allowing you to download apps can also allow you to save music locally to listen to it;
the presence of wi-fi or a 4G virtual SIM, so the device can connect independently to the internet;
the provision of a GPS.
For
, the device must be equipped with NFC (near-field communication) and, even if not indispensable, with MST (magnetic secure transmission).
Many models are also
water resistant:
IP67 or IP68 certifications indicate that the device is resistant to immersion in water.
To have the certainty that it is suitable for swimming, however, there must be an indication of the resistance in atmospheres, for example ATM5.
Furthermore, reference is always made to fresh water.
Consider that the waterproofing declared by the manufacturer refers to the new and intact model, while the use over time and possible dents can decrease its waterproofing.
Also keep in mind that waterproof models are generally good for swimming or being used in the shower, while they are usually not recommended for diving, high-speed water sports, saunas and thermal baths
Do any devices offer the best of both categories?
Although there are models that clearly belong to one or the other category, there is also a tendency to overlap: an increasing number of fitness bracelets offer a more advanced notification system, and many smartwatches pay more and more attention to the integrated features to monitor physical activity.
For this we
subject all devices to the same tests
, to see if some device can give good performance in all fields, (although then we give more weight to some tests rather than others depending on whether a device is considered a fitness bracelet or a smartwach ).
To help you choose,
we have undergone several fitness bracelets and smartwatch tests
.
fitness bracelet or a smartwatch
you must first evaluate your needs.Do you want a wearable device designed to help you communicate and receive notifications or one that just keeps track of workouts and health?
With a smartwatch it is easy to view and respond to emails, messages, calls and notifications from social media
: in practice it is like having a mini-smartphone directly on the wrist.Fitness bracelets focus on monitoring health and physical activity
, such as how many steps you have taken, the distance you have traveled, the calories you have burned and the frequency of your heart beat.
Why choose a fitness bracelet?
Fitness bracelets have one main goal: your health.
This type of wearable device focuses on your every single step, the meters traveled and the calories burned and encourages you to have a healthier lifestyle and to do a little more every day.
They are suitable for sports such as running, cycling and often even swimming, but are also good for monitoring normal daily activities.
All fitness bracelets are up to the task, with someone more precise than others.
Some fitness bracelets are inexpensive and with few features, while others are more supplied
.In general, the greater the number of sensors, the higher the price and the shorter the
battery
life
.
The most common sensor is the pedometer, some models also offer GPS, heart rate monitor, pulse oximeter, compass, accelerometer, altimeter, etc.
Many models are also
water resistant
: if suitable for swimming there must be an indication of the resistance in atmospheres, for example ATM5.
Consider that the waterproofing declared by the manufacturer refers to the new and intact model, while the use over time and possible dents can decrease its waterproofing.
Also keep in mind that waterproof models are generally good for swimming or being used in the shower, while they are usually not recommended for diving, high-speed water sports, saunas and thermal baths.
The best devices connect to a simple
app
which can be essential to keeping you motivated.
Many fitness bracelets are not exactly designed for notifications and communication.
Someone syncs with your phone to show incoming messages, emails and social media notifications, even if the small screen makes it difficult to read messages and write replies.
A fitness bracelet must be comfortable to use and wear
, no matter what activity you are carrying out or how much you are sweating: this is why our tests include a group of users who wear the devices for a few weeks and test their comfort during different activities .Consider that to make the most of the device you need to wear it as much as possible, even at night, so try to try it before buying and choose a model that suits your style.
Prices range from 15 to 150 euros.
Why choose a smartwatch?
Smartwatches allow you to have phone functions at your fingertips.The best ones offer viewing messages, emails, call notifications, calendar appointments, social updates and routes directly on your wrist
.
Many allow you to dictate replies to messages or emails, while some allow you to make phone calls from your watch.
In general, the more advanced the functions, the higher the price, so we advise you to carefully evaluate your needs, so as not to lose essential features but also not to spend unnecessarily on features that you don't need.
Battery
lifecan be quite short, especially when compared to the best fitness bracelets, and it should be remembered that if you think of recharging the device during the night you give up the function of tracking the quality of sleep.
Some smartwatches offer various monitoring activities, while others rely on training apps, the most expensive also have sensors to detect heart rate and oxygen saturation in the blood.
The presence of sensors also affects battery life.
Compatibility
: to use the full range of features of a smartwatch you need a"support"
phone
, for this reason we indicate the compatibility of the models with the two operating systems iOS and Android (for example, Apple Watches only work if combined with iPhones).
This is because, for reasons of physical size, smartwatches instead of integrating some features within themselves take advantage of those present in the "companion phone".
However, many functions remain active even when it is off or far away.
In order
not to carry the phone with you even when you go for a run without sacrificing the functionality of the smartwach
It is important to consider the internal memory of the device, usually 4 GB, which in addition to allowing you to download apps can also allow you to save music locally to listen to it;
the presence of wi-fi or a 4G virtual SIM, so the device can connect independently to the internet;
the provision of a GPS.
For
contactless payments
, the device must be equipped with NFC (near-field communication) and, even if not indispensable, with MST (magnetic secure transmission).Many models are also
water resistant:
IP67 or IP68 certifications indicate that the device is resistant to immersion in water.
To have the certainty that it is suitable for swimming, however, there must be an indication of the resistance in atmospheres, for example ATM5.
Furthermore, reference is always made to fresh water.
Consider that the waterproofing declared by the manufacturer refers to the new and intact model, while the use over time and possible dents can decrease its waterproofing.
Also keep in mind that waterproof models are generally good for swimming or being used in the shower, while they are usually not recommended for diving, high-speed water sports, saunas and thermal baths
Smartwatch prices range from just under € 100 to over € 1000
depending on functions and materials, as well as marketing strategies: models with aluminum cases and bracelets for example are more expensive than plastic ones, but there are also luxury products in gold or semi-precious materials.Do any devices offer the best of both categories?
Although there are models that clearly belong to one or the other category, there is also a tendency to overlap: an increasing number of fitness bracelets offer a more advanced notification system, and many smartwatches pay more and more attention to the integrated features to monitor physical activity.
For this we
subject all devices to the same tests
, to see if some device can give good performance in all fields, (although then we give more weight to some tests rather than others depending on whether a device is considered a fitness bracelet or a smartwach ).
To help you choose,
we have undergone several fitness bracelets and smartwatch tests
.
