The best way to stay fit and healthy is by tracking moves and monitoring your body. Fitness trackers allow you to check your heart rate, sleeping pattern, temperature, and more. With so many excellent options, it may be hard to find the right pick. We have researched the best fitness trackers to help you choose!
Fitness trackers buying guide
Today's fitness bracelets are more intelligent, more accurate, and do more than just track your steps. However, it's important to note that not all of them are worth your money. So, if you're looking for your first gadget, we recommend finding one that fits your requirements. See our smart bracelet buying guide for your help.
What is the difference between a smartwatch and a smart fitness bracelet?
Smartwatches are accessories that link to the phone and enable users to manage phone functions straight from the watch. Smart activity trackers are similar to smartwatches but are more of a bracelet than a watch. A smart bracelet may also include a screen, fitness sensors, and link to a phone.
The two gadgets also vary in the following ways.
The area of use
A smartwatch resembles a regular watch. So smartwatches are appropriate for daily use. Some are even more stylish than ordinary timepieces, with interchangeable straps (stainless steel, leather, buckle-like, rubber, etc.).
Fitness trackers are designed to be worn during sports or leisure activities and often feature rubber straps. Fitness trackers are intended for certain situations but not for others. For example, you'd agree that a smartwatch, not a smart bracelet, should be worn to a business meeting.
Design
The smartwatch, as its name implies, resembles a regular watch. Its display is designed to show information, messages, icons and access to the equipment's functionalities. This makes it heavier than the Smart bracelet, which has no hardware connected.
A smart bracelet is thinner and lighter than a smartwatch and supports physical activities. It offers a practical type of support in a subtle form made of lightweight materials.
Functionality
Smartwatches function without being constantly linked to a smartphone. Instead, it can respond to mobile app alerts, make calls, and manage music streaming apps. So it offers additional features and a more refined technical experience.
On the other hand, the Smart bracelet provides more conventional features like time, alarm clock, and stopwatch, along with excellent assistance for athletic activities. In addition, it is constructed of lighter material to encourage physical activity and displays data regarding performance, speed, and even the user's pulse.
Working time
Its battery life is clearly lower because the smartwatch has greater autonomy, resources, and a more prominent display. So the refill rate is somewhat greater.
In terms of performance, the smart bracelet's battery is extremely robust. Modern versions may last up to 30 days without recharging.
Software
A smartwatch has a rich dial and numerous apps. It can display a lot of content, make phone calls, and transmit and receive data than a smart bracelet. The phone card can be inserted into many smartwatches. However, a smart bracelet is more durable than a smartwatch.
Why does understanding the use case for fitness watcht matter?
It is critical to know what physical activities will need to be monitored. The action determines the smart bracelet's characteristics. Sensor type, materials, IP rating, and more
Here are the key features to look for in a smart bracelet for activity monitoring.
Swimming
The majority of fitness bracelets on the market now are waterproof, which appeals to many individuals, particularly those who work or exercise near water.
Running including the trail running through the woods/mountains
Motion detection, often known as motion monitoring, is a fundamental smart bracelet feature. This function tracks steps, distance, trajectory, and calories. In addition, its built-in three-axis smart acceleration sensors and flash memory chip allow it to monitor the number of steps.
Cardio/HIIT workouts
An incorporated reflective photoelectric sensor may shine a beam of light (typically LED) on your skin to measure the reflected light to calculate your pulse.
Long hikes or cycling
Use motion-detection for workout monitoring, recording and guidance. The smart bracelet can track the wearer's activity times, calories, and other statistics in real-time. It will then evaluate the exercise data to determine the user's activity trend over time.
Mixed-use
The smart bracelet's Bluetooth module allows it to quickly sync and upload data to a phone, tablet, or PC. A smart bracelet can encourage healthy living by synchronizing data with an app on a phone or tablet.
What to look for when buying a smart bracelet
Smart bracelets are available in a variety of styles, forms, and sizes. So, if you don't know how to go about it, determining the best one may be difficult. Fortunately, you'll find detailed advice on what to look for while purchasing smart bracelets in this area. So, let's have a look at them!
Sensors
The kinds of sensors that your smart bracelet should include are listed below.
3-axis accelerometer
An accelerometer sensor measures velocity and location inertially. It can detect inclination, tilt, and body orientation on three axes in most cases. Naturally, this is critical for any fitness tracker since this sensor will record most of the individual's steps.
Gyroscope
A gyroscope may be used for navigation and angular velocity measurement. For example, a '6 degree of freedom motion tracking system may be created by combining a three-axis gyroscope with a three-axis accelerometer. Most reputable fitness trackers use this combination to understand a person's 3D exercise movements better.
Altimeter
An altimeter is used in mountain ascending altitude measurement. An improved variant of the aneroid barometer, pressure altimeters are used to measure pressure. Because there is a perfect connection between the barometer and the altimeter, the altimeter displays the height. Unless a smart bracelet is mainly intended for mountain climbing, it may not have an altimeter.
Optical sensors (heart rate monitor)
The pulse is measured by shining light on the skin. The sensors may be used to determine the heart rate by monitoring how blood is pumped through the capillaries. Most makers of popular fitness trackers prefer them to galvanic skin response - they are the bit LEDs that sit flush with the skin and detect the pulse.
Actigraphy (sleep monitoring)
It's typically a bracelet-worn gadget that monitors movement while you sleep. The motions are then translated into periods of sleep and wakefulness via software. Actigraphy is a simple method for individuals with sleep disorders or general sleep disturbances to have their sleep patterns examined by a clinic without sleeping in the lab.
GPS
GPS is a common and widely used technology that uses signals from different satellites circling the Earth to precisely locate a place or area. It's been used in a variety of electrical devices, including fitness bracelets. Furthermore, the bracelet with the GPS positioning system should be referred to as a watch since the costs are usually greater.
Size
You should think about size in terms of the following:
Display
You should look for a gadget with a decent display that can be read even in direct sunlight. It's essential to have a large display to show vital information like step statistics in legible font size.
Wrist strap size
To select the appropriate smart bracelet for your wrist, you must first determine the size of your wrist. You'll be able to choose an excellent watch that looks beautiful and feels comfortable once you know your wrist size.
Water resistance
This is quickly becoming a requirement for all fitness wearables. Of course, swim-proofing isn't necessary unless you're a swimmer, but it's ideal to have a wearable that works in the shower or during a workout while it's raining.
Connectivity
New connection functions have been introduced to smart fitness bracelets. Built-in GPS, which allows you to monitor your path throughout your exercise without taking your phone with you, is one of the essential features. If this function is missing, you may have to link your watch to your phone each time manually.
Material
Silica gel is very elastic, soft to the touch, and cheap. As a result of its poor transparency and inability to be recycled, it is the most often utilized substance. TPE has mostly replaced silica gel.
TPU is oil, water, and mold resistant and recyclable. High-end goods typically utilize medical-grade TPU. The secondary material is 100% recoverable. TPU formability is inferior to TPE but cheaper.
TPE is pleasant, soft, and supple, much like skin. It bonds nicely to PC plastic. It is somewhat more recyclable than TPU, but it does not age well, is easily scratched, and has poor wear resistance.
Battery life
Battery life is another essential factor to consider. One week of battery life is a respectable number for basic smart fitness bracelets. Four to five days is a decent length of time for fitness watches. Two days of battery life is sufficient for fitness bracelets.
Charging time
You should be able to keep your smart bracelet's battery charged for about 60 to 90 minutes every day while wearing it during the day and at night to monitor your sleep if you charge it for around 60 to 90 minutes every day.
Conclusion
Fitness trackers are powerful devices that include technology to monitor various aspects, such as exercise, sleep, and stress. Before purchasing one, consider the following characteristics: size, sensors, water resistance, battery life, and GPS.