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Sony LinkBuds Fit: The best fitness earbuds for people who don’t like earbuds

1:00 pm | December 21, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Tags: ANC, Jabra Elite | Comments: Off

Sony LinkBuds Fit: Two minute review

The Sony LinkBuds Fit are the latest addition to Sony’s mid-range true wireless earbud lineup. Sony has a solid reputation for making some of the best high-end buds, while also catering to people on a budget with more affordable options. The LinkBuds range has already impressed in the past, with models like the original Sony LinkBuds, which have an open-ear design, and the Sony LinkBuds S with a closed design that are perfect for smaller ears.

The LinkBuds Fit take a slightly different approach. The name tends to suggest these buds are targeted at fitness lovers – and they are – but it also hints at their best feature, a fantastic fit. They stay put throughout rigorous workouts, but are also light and comfortable enough for all-day wear while you work.

They won’t beat the very best earbuds when it comes to sound quality or noise cancellation. Sony’s high-end models, like the WF-1000XM5, are considerably better on those fronts and Bose is still ahead of the competition when it comes to ANC, with the QuietComfort Ultra.

But although the LinkBuds Fit don’t have top-tier features, they make up for it with an option that we think is a reliable and versatile choice for most people. They’re perfect for movement, sports, and anyone who has struggled to find earbuds that fit securely without sacrificing comfort.

Becca holding one of the Sony Linkbuds Fit earbuds — (Image credit: Future)

Let’s start with the fit, which is genuinely excellent. I’ve reviewed many earbuds in this mid-range price bracket, including fitness-focused models, and these are among my favorites. They’re small, lightweight, and versatile, making them ideal for almost anything – whether you’re working at a desk all day or doing intense workouts at the gym.

The fit stands out for several reasons. Each earbud weighs just 4.9g, so light that you might forget you’re wearing them. While there are lighter options – like the budget Jlab Go Pop ANC at 4.1g per bud – few fitness-oriented earbuds with noise cancellation and robust features are this light. For comparison, the Jabra Elite 8 Active, some of my favorites, weigh 5g per bud, and the Sennheiser Momentum Sport buds come in at 6.4g per bud, which is a significant difference for such small devices.

The stability and comfort are enhanced by two key features. First, the silicone tips, which are standard with most true wireless earbuds. Although there are only three sizes included, I found the pre-installed tips surprisingly perfect for my ears, even though I usually size down. That said, the limited tip selection might not suit everyone. Second, the earbuds feature silicone fins that fit snugly into the cartilage of your ear. Initially, I wasn’t a fan of how the fins looked, but they’re very effective at holding the buds in place, which won me over.

These earbuds aren’t just comfortable; they’re incredibly stable. I tested them while running in the rain, perfecting calisthenics skills upside down on parallel bars, attending a yoga class, and working out at the gym. No matter the activity, they stayed firmly in place without ever feeling tight or uncomfortable.

Aesthetically, they have a minimal yet playful design, with an almost bubble-like appearance for both the buds and the charging case. Their small size and lightweight build make them look discreet in your ears, without protruding too much, like some competitors. The design seems aimed at a younger audience, which makes sense given they’re marketed as a collaboration with singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo.

The charging case is a bit chunkier and less streamlined than those of rival buds. While I personally love its unique, slightly marble-like finish (available on the white and green versions), it might not be as pocket-friendly. If you want other colors, the Sony LinkBuds Fit also come in black and violet.

A close up of the Sony linkbuds fit earbuds next to their case — (Image credit: Future)

The Sony LinkBuds Fit have two noise-cancelling modes: standard and ambient. The standard mode isn’t best-in-class. For example, I could hear myself typing at my desk and a baby crying in a cafe. However, it effectively blocked out low-frequency sounds like the hum of a heater or the rumble of a train. It seems particularly effective at dampening hums and rumbles rather than completely silencing all noise.

With that in mind, if you want near silence, the Sony LinkBuds Fit might not be the right choice. They’re designed to reduce noise rather than eliminate it completely, which I personally appreciate as it keeps me aware of alarms or emergencies. For those needing to hear their surroundings, the ambient mode also reduces noise while still allowing announcements and other key sounds to come through.

These settings can be adjusted in the Sony Connect app, which is packed with features. You’ll find expected options, like EQ settings (with an intuitive process to determine your favored presets), head-tracking sound, and multipoint pairing. There are also more unique features, such as a mode that makes your music sound more like background noise, adaptive sound control that adjusts based on what you’re doing, and a speak-to-chat feature that pauses music when you talk. If this all feels overwhelming, the good news is you don’t need to customize every feature to enjoy a great experience right out of the box.

Connectivity is robust, with Bluetooth 5.3 supporting AAC, SBC, LDAC, and LC3 codecs, catering to a wide range of preferences and devices.

You can also customize gesture controls via the app. Sony claims you can tap the area below your earlobe or between your ear and sideburn to activate gestures, but I couldn’t get this to work reliably. Instead, I had to tap the buds themselves, which occasionally required a firm tap to register.

Battery life is solid, offering 5.5 hours with noise-canceling on and eight hours without. This matched my testing, though it varies depending on the audio codec and extra features you’re using. With the case, you’ll get just over 20 hours in total. While decent by modern true wireless standards, it’s not exceptional. For example, the more affordable Sony WF-C510s deliver 11 hours of playback but lack noise-cancelling – so your choice depends on your priorities.

As expected for workout-focused earbuds, the LinkBuds Fit have an IPX4 rating, making them resistant to sweat. However, don’t take them in the shower or to the swimming pool.

The exterior of the sony linkbuds fit case — (Image credit: Future)

During testing, the Sony LinkBuds Fit delivered a sound that’s best described as powerful and punchy. While I wasn’t blown away by the detail or richness of the audio, the experience was undeniably enjoyable. The buds provide a bouncy, bass-heavy sound that’s perfect for powering through workouts.

If you’re a fan of boomy, high-energy tracks, these earbuds will hit the mark. I even boosted the bass in the EQ settings for extra impact. While this became fatiguing over time, tracks like Armani White’s Billie Eilish and Hanumankind’s Big Dawgs had an adrenaline-pumping intensity. Similarly, heavy rock like Queens of the Stone Age’s Sick, Sick, Sick sounded meaty and immensely satisfying.

Dramatic ballads like Lana Del Rey’s Ultraviolence also worked well, delivering an emotional punch. For work sessions, I found melodic tracks by Ólafur Arnalds especially enjoyable, often pairing them with the background music effect to improve focus.

However, these buds sacrifice some detail and subtlety in favor of their bass-forward profile. Sony’s DSEE tech, which upscales low quality sound, maybe worked some magic. But it felt like something was lacking a little when I listened to classical music, and expected the richness and expansiveness found in higher-end earbuds. At higher volumes, complex arrangements sounded a bit messy and restrained.

Which is all to say that the LinkBuds Fit excel at delivering a robust, energetic soundtrack for daily activities and workouts. However, if you’re looking to analyze every nuance of your favorite tracks, you’d be better served by a more refined option.

Sony LinkBuds Fit: Price and availability

The Sony LinkBuds Fit pictured in their charging case on a wooden surface. — (Image credit: Future)

Priced at £179 / $179 / AU$348
Released in October 2024

The Sony LinkBuds Fit cost £179 / $179 / AU$348. Although the buds are currently discounted on the Sony website in some regions. At the time of writing, the price in the UK has dropped from £179 to £149.

This price puts the buds in the mid-range category. Cheaper than Sony's WF-1000XM5 earbuds at $299.99 / £259 / AU$499 but more expensive than the Sony WF-C700N at $119 / £99 / AU$199.

Other competitors in this space are the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC at $179 / £179 / AU$299 and the JBL Live Beam 3 at $199.95 / £179.99 / AU$249. There are several at a similar price that are also considered workout-friendly buds too, like the Jabra Elite 8 Active at $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$329, and the Beats Fit Pro at $199 / £199 / AU$299.

What this means is that although you will find good buds that are cheaper and can pay more for better audio performance and features, the wealth of features, the comfy fit, the design and the fitness-friendly specs make the Sony LinkBuds Fit competitively priced and good value.

Sony LinkBuds Fit: Specifications

Sony LinkBuds Fit: Scorecard

The Sony linkbuds fit true wireless earbuds pictured out of their case — (Image credit: Future)

Sony LinkBuds Fit: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You’ve struggled to find buds that fit

Whether your ears are small or you get stressed when buds stick out and think you're going to lose one, give these a go. We can't make promises, but think some people will be pleasantly surprised.

You work out a lot

These buds did it all. They came running with me through fields and along the beach, to the gym, the yoga studio and swung around on some parallel bars. They’re super stable and not going anywhere.

You like a cute and considered design

They’re not premium-looking or particularly design-y, but the rounded shape, the marble case, the shiny surface and bubble-like vibe make them cute and Instagrammable.

Don't buy it if...

You want excellent ANC

I personally enjoyed what the noise-canceling here had to offer, but they’re not fantastic. No near-silent cocoon of sound to be found. Choose Bose or higher-end Sony buds instead.

You prioritize longevity

At 5.5 hours from the buds themselves, it's not like the battery life is bad, but you can find better if that’s a priority for you.

You value a seamless experience

I had to tweak the sound here a little and there's a lot to play around here in the app in terms of features. Is this a good thing? Yes But does it require a fair bit of setup? Also yes.

Also consider

Beats Fit Pro

A very similar proposition with enjoyable sound and decent ANC, as well as silicone ear fins. More expensive than the Sonys, but they've been around a while so you can find solid discounts.

Beats Fit Pro review

You'll find a better battery and more durable build from these Jabras – there's a Gen 2 version out now, too. They're also the only workout buds that come close to the Sonys in terms of comfort for me.

Jabra Elite 8 Active review

How I tested

I tested the Sony LinkBuds Fit every day for two weeks. This gave me the chance to trial them in a range of different environments and all sorts of situations.

I mostly used them to listen to music and podcasts on my iPhone 14 Pro with Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube music. I tested them when I was travelling on a train, working in a busy cafe and a quiet library and at home at my desk. I also took them to the gym when I was using the cardio machines and lifting weights, to the yoga studio, along the beach for several runs, and to an outdoor pull-up bar.

I’ve tested many headphones and earbuds over the past 12 years, with a focus on fitness devices. I’m interested in tech that prioritizes comfort and ease of use.

First reviewed: December 2024

Brompton Electric P Line Urban review: an addictive and enjoyable classic bike

4:00 pm | December 14, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Comments: Off

Brompton Electric P Line Urban - 4 Speed: One minute review

A pioneer in folding bikes, Brompton has set the standard since 1976. The bike's ingenious three-part fold design excels in various settings, from train carriages to city streets. Brompton's lettering system can be a bit confusing but in the electric range, there are only C and P line options.

The model for this review is the P Line Urban 4 Speed. It's made of titanium and steel, which makes it noticeably lighter than the entirely steel alternative that's known as the C Line. The benefit of this reduced weight comes at a financial cost but it's well worth the extra money, especially for those who need something that's easy to move around.

The 4-speed version offers a limited gear range and would benefit from a couple of extra gears at the top end. You could upgrade to the 12 speed but then you'll end up with half a dozen gears that you never have any need for. If you value simplicity, then go with the 4-speed.

Brompton's renowned build quality shines through, especially in the heavily used folding mechanisms. High-quality components will ensure a lifetime of reliable performance, something that you'd expect at this price tag.

A 300Wh lithium-ion battery and 250-watt brushless motor power this road-legal (in the US and UK) e-bike, delivering ample performance when needed. Anyone who wants a foldable and portable e-bike that oozes class could do no better than the Brompton P Line Urban 4-speed.

Brompton Electric P Line Urban 4 Speed: Price and availability

$4,750 / £3,695 for Electric P Line Urban 4-speed
Get the UK 'Flame Lacquer' version for £3,805
Non-electric 4-speed options are also available

The Electric P Line Urban 4-speed is not Brompton's most expensive model but it's not far off. The lightweight foldable commuter bike costs $4,750 in the US and £3,695 in the UK (around AU$7,450).

The model I tested is only available in the UK and has the paint finish 'Flame Lacquer'. This attracts a higher price of £3,805. Whether it's worth an additional £100, only you can decide, but I can certainly say that it stands out from the crowd.

The bikes are packaged with everything required to construct the bike, including a detachable battery and charger to go with it. A range of accessories are also available, including a Quad Lock Mount for mounting a phone to the bike. This mount is essential for using app controls to change the bike's power level on the fly.

The high price tag of the Brompton electric bike pulls down its value rating. However, it’s important to acknowledge that Brompton is renowned for its top-tier craftsmanship and durability. This bike is a testament to that reputation.

Value score: 3.5/5

Brompton Electric P Line Urban 4 Speed: Design

Classic Brompton bike design
Quickly and easily foldable
Lightweight titanium and steel construction

The Brompton's iconic three-point fold has remained largely unchanged since its inception in the early 1980s. The P Line Urban e-bike looks very similar to almost all Brompton models released in the past 50 years.

As with all models, you get small wheels, an adjustable seat height, and a long handlebar stem. The seating position and handling take a little bit of getting used to but after a few weeks, I couldn't imagine riding anything else. The optional roller frame allowed me to wheel the bike around when folded, and it's perfect for moving through city streets or train stations. It also doubles up as a cargo carrier for transporting your laptop or lunch.

The P Line Electric Urban is Brompton's lightest electric bike to date, thanks to its titanium rear frame and lightweight components. I had no problems lifting the bike in and out of my car or even up flights of stairs. The ingenious foldable design provides a remarkably compact form factor, making it ideal for urban commuters. While the folding process might require a bit of practice, it quickly becomes second nature.

When folded, the Brompton P Line is impressively small, easily fitting into tight spaces. The front-mounted battery can remain on the bike when folded but it's best to remove it for better portability. The included battery bag offers some storage space but is not suitable for larger items.

The bike's 250W motor is powered by a 300Wh battery, which is located at the front of the bike. The design looks a little dated compared to most other manufacturers who aim to hide the battery in the frame. I'd like to see Brompton explore a more seamless integration of their battery or at least develop a smaller and more lightweight alternative. The battery can be easily removed for charging or to operate the bike manually.

After using the bike for a while, one thing I would have greatly benefited from was a small kickstand. I was regularly having to find walls to prop my bike up, which was a little annoying.

The P Line Urban e-bike remains a practical and stylish choice for urban commuters. Its compact size, lightweight design, and reliable electric assist make it a convenient option for those who need to navigate crowded cities.

Design Score: 4.5/5

Brompton Electric P Line Urban - 4 Speed: Performance

Enough power for most rides
Smooth gear changes throughout the range
It takes a few seconds for motor to kick in

The P Line urban electric bike is a commuter's dream in practice, and I loved riding through my local city streets, navigating around cars, people, and other obstacles. It's fast, responsive, and 100% able to get you where you want to go, with a whole lot of joy thrown in for good measure.

The gear shifters functioned flawlessly, being substantial and conveniently located for my thumbs, yet unobtrusive when holding the handlebars. The four speeds were enough for most flat or gentle inclines, but as soon as you needed to ramp up the speed, the gear range became distinctly lacking. It's fine at the lower end, but two or three extra gears at the top would have upped this bike to five-star territory. Lack of range at the top end makes it very difficult to push much beyond the 25 km/h that the motor is limited to.

As with all Brompton bikes, the P Line does provide a certain unique style of ride. What is oftentimes a very smooth and nimble experience can at times be overtaken by unpredictable handling: the instant responsiveness takes a little bit of getting used to, but once mastered, it enables riders to move around urban roads and streets very easily.

One of the downsides to the handling and the location of the controls being on the battery is the precarious process of changing power levels mid-ride. I rarely felt able to make adjustments out of fear of completely losing control of the bike. I therefore opted to stay on maximum pedal assist for all of my journeys.

Much of this is overcome by using the Brompton phone app mounted with the Quadlock mount and adaptor. Through the app, you can adjust the power level quickly and easily, but it does require people to mount their phones every time they go out on a ride. I prefer the ease that a handlebar-mounted control provides, but it must be acknowledged that it has to be purchased separately.

The seat was absolutely fine for shorter journeys, but towards the end of my 7-mile commute, I was beginning to have some comfort problems. The smaller wheels were also far from ideal on the more rugged terrain of the rural roads that I took the bike on. The tyres do their best to absorb road imperfections, but they're far from able to completely smooth the ride. One for cities only.

Performance score: 4.5/5

Brompton Electric P Line Urban - 4 Speed: Battery life

20-45 miles per full battery
Four-hour re-charge
Limited range on full pedal assist

The Brompton P Line Urban electric bike offers a claimed range of 20 to 45 miles, a figure that fluctuates based on the selected power assist mode. While this might suffice for shorter journeys, the reality is that most commuters will need a daily recharge.

During my testing, a daily 14-mile commute left little in the battery tank for the next day's journeys. Having such a small range left me with a certain amount of range anxiety, although the distance achievable was very predictable. Although most commuters won't travel longer distances, the inconvenience of daily charging and associated costs cannot be overlooked.

On the plus side, a full recharge takes only around three to four hours, a reasonable timeframe for a battery of this size. The battery itself is conveniently located at the front of the bike and can be effortlessly removed. Brompton has ensured the battery's longevity by incorporating a well-protected charging port concealed beneath a rubber flap.

While the range might be a limiting factor for some, the bike’s compact size, folding mechanism, and overall riding experience make it a compelling option for urban commuting and short trips.

Battery life score: 3.5/5

Brompton Electric P Line Urban - 4 Speed: Scorecard

Buy it if...

You want an electric bike with a classic design
Brompton has always excelled at top-quality British design. Recent years have seen them add electric options to their range, but they've maintained their classic style.

You want a commuting dream
No one likes turning up at the office, needing a shower, and changing clothes. This Brompton bike, with its electric boost, provides assistance to keep you fresh when you arrive at the office.

You want fewer choices
The P Line Urban provides a limited set of four speeds. Having a small set to choose from keeps the ride simple and enjoyable.

Don't buy it if...

You want a large gear range
4 gears is pretty good, but it really does lack the higher gear range, especially when travelling faster than 25 km/h.

You have a long commute
At maximum pedal assist, this bike provides around 20 miles of range. It will be enough for most people, but if you are travelling further then you'll need a bike with bigger range.

You want a substantial bike
As with all Brompton bikes, the P Line urban model has small wheels and a compact frame. This is perfect for urban settings, but not so good for uneven surfaces.

Also consider

Axon Pro Lite

One of the best folding e-bikes for most commuters. An e-bike that is really easy to fold up, has a good level of power on tap, and is of excellent overall quality.

Read our full Axon Pro Lite review

How I tested the Brompton Electric P Line Urban - 4 Speed

Despite this bike being tailored to urban environments, I was keen to put it through its paces on a variety of road types. My daily commute provides the perfect test ride. 7 miles of hills, rural roads, city streets, on-road, off-road, and everything in between.

Over a period of two months, I used this Brompton bike as my main mode of transport. As a result, I was able to fully appreciate the pros and cons of Brompton's 4-speed Urban bike. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed using the bike and rarely found a ride that I didn't love.

First reviewed: August 2024

H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport review: A triathlete’s dream

5:33 pm | December 13, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Fitness Headphones Gadgets Health & Fitness | Comments: Off

H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport: Two-minute review

There might not be a better set of headphones for triathletes than the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport. Their lightweight frame, flexible build, and host of features, particularly the Playlist+ feature that lets you record a playlist from a source directly to the headset, make it better than the best open earbuds or the best wireless earbuds for use in the water. There’s also a case to be made for considering these over the best running headphones if you’re looking for something specifically for races, marathons, or even a lengthy jog.

Being bone conduction headphones, the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport aren’t going to be the best sounding option out there,but they sound better than most bone conduction headphones I’ve used. And having completely uncovered ears is crucial if you need to hear your surroundings when on the trail or running alongside traffic.

That said, there’s still some room for growth, as I’ll go into in a bit, and the price is on the higher side for this form factor. But, triathletes, swimmers, and anyone that hates plugging up their ears during a workout (they work well in the gym as well) will get a lot out of the H2O Audio Tri 2 Multi-Sport.

H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport charging case and non-charging case — headset, charging case, regular case, and accessories (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

The Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport, at 3.2 grams, is very lightweight. It wraps around the back the head with a frame that can be twisted this way and that, not to mention has plenty of clearance in the back to fit all sorts of head shapes and sizes (and also handle plenty of abuse). It’s extremely stable and doesn’t move at all even with rapid head movements.

Its matte black rubberized covering offers an essentially waterproof IPX8 rating, which is one of the things that makes it so good for use in the water. Its charging port is a unique proprietary one, most likely to keep the headset fully waterproof.

H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport charging port on headphones — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

The downside of the thick covering comes when trying to manipulate the controls, of which there are three: volume down, power, and volume up. The headphones are somewhat slow to respond, especially when trying to use secondary functions, which are triggered by either a double press or a long press. On top of that, if the double press isn’t quick enough, it just registers as two successive single presses.

This is particularly frustrating when trying to switch from Bluetooth to on-board memory in the middle of a run, or when trying to use the Playlist+ feature. I ended up having a few moments of silence that I didn’t mean to record along with the beginning of another song when testing this feature because my presses weren’t always registering.

On the bright side, the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport comes with 8GB of storage and a built-in MP3 player that allows about 2,000 songs to be loaded for use when you can’t or don’t want to bring your phone, such as in the water where Bluetooth connectivity doesn’t work well. This is all bolstered by the Playlist+ feature, which essentially live records whatever you play through the Bluetooth connection once engaged and turns it into an MP3 loaded onto the headphones.

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H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport app front page — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

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H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport app library organization — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

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H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport app Playlist+ feature — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

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H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport app library — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

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H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport app library settings — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Of course, if you run a whole playlist while doing this, it basically registers it as one song, so if you want to skip from song to song, you’ll have to start and stop for each song. Still, it’s a welcome way to add music to the onboard storage without buying MP3s.

Since using the buttons can be problematic, engaging the Playlist+ feature and getting exactly what I wanted was a bit of a chore as I ended with the beginning parts of the last song cut off while I was trying to stop the feature without initial success.

Doing that through the app where I could control by pressing on the app was much easier. In general, the app was easy to navigate. My only gripe with the app is that I have to switch from Bluetooth mode to memory mode to see what’s stored on the headphones and then back again to use the Playlist+ feature.

Before I dig into the overall sound quality of the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport, I want to talk about the vibrations of it and bone-conduction headphones in general. These types of headphones transmit sound by essentially vibrating the frequencies through the high cheek bones. The benefit of this is that it leaves your ear completely untouched so you can hear everything around you – even transparency mode on wireless earbuds aren’t as good. Check out our guide to how bone conduction headphones work for more details. The drawback is that at higher volumes, the vibrations can cause discomfort, sometimes even to the point of nausea. It’s the main reason that I typically don’t use bone-conduction headphones as my daily driver (I’m also only doing around three-mile runs, typically).

H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport over-the-ear — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

However, H2O Audio has somehow managed to greatly minimize this effect to the point where I only get a very slight discomfort at the highest settings, and even then it’s more annoying than anything else. Regarding the sound quality itself, it’s good but don’t expect hi-res audio. When using them during a run or even just around the house, they’re not going to have the detail and clarity of high quality earbuds. But, they do reproduce everything well enough.

There’s a decent amount of bass, though not a huge amount (it probably would create the discomfort issues I mentioned above). The midrange is nice and full, while the high-end is a little rolled off but doesn’t sound veiled. As is often the case with bone-conduction headphones, it’s good for the form factor and that’s good enough.

Interestingly enough, they sound better underwater when used with the provided earplugs. When I put the earplugs in before submerging, the audio gets boomy and somewhat indistinct, but as soon as I go under, everything sounds clear as day with tight bass and balanced mids and high end. It’s really quite something to experience.

While you can take calls with the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport, they’re not ideal for it as you’ll sound quiet and a bit far away. It’s not a huge deal breaker to me just because of the niche purpose of these headphones (and the fact that most earbuds are still just okay in this department).

Lastly, I want to mention the battery life as it offers nine hours of use (18 total if you spring for the charging case). Though something like the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 offers 12 hours on a single charge, that’s quite good compared to what many wireless earbuds offer and is enough for a marathon, not to mention you won’t have to deal with discomfort of sweaty earbuds.

H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport: Specifications

H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport: Price and availability

How much does it cost? $199.99 / £155.68 (about AU$310)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US and UK

The H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport’s price point of $199.99 / £155.68 is a bit pricey for a pair of bone-conduction headphones, but its price makes sense when you think about the fact that the original version of this tri-athlete-focused headset started at $149.99 (£128.00, AU$225.00) and the introduction of the Playlist+ feature added about $20/£20 to the price tag.

Bumping the price up thanks to some design upgrades makes sense as well, though I would have liked to see the Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport keep the same price point as the Playlist+ enabled version 1 it replaced. If you have a little extra money to spend, there’s also a charging case available for an extra $49.99 (about £40 / AU$80).

Spending around $200 on bone conduction headphones is not unheard of. For example, the Suunto Wing has a similar price point at $199 / £169 / AUS $319. Of course, it doesn’t have the Playlist+ feature and its sound quality is underwhelming. However, it does offer up to 30 hours of battery life with its charging case. You get up to 18 with the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport only if you pay extra for the charging case.

Price: 4 / 5

H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport: Scorecard

Should I buy the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport?

Buy it if...

You want headphones for use on land and in water

You can run with these, you can swim or dive with these, or you can do both. There aren’t a lot of headphones out there that fit this niche and do it well. This is one of them.View Deal

You want to be able to record your playlists onto your headphones

The unique Playlist+ feature H2O Audio included here lets you put your whole streaming playlist on the headphone’s storage so you can listen without your phone or a Bluetooth connection.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget

The price is appropriate for what’s on offer, but the H2O Audio Tri 2 Multi-Sport is not a budget offering. If you’re limited on funds, there are cheaper alternatives out there.View Deal

You want Hi-Res audio

These sound good for what they are, but if you’re a stickler for audio resolution and quality, you can find other options (as long as you don’t need to use them in the water).View Deal

Also consider

Suunto Wing

The Suunto Wing goes for a similar price as the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport. And while the audio quality is not on par, the extended battery life (with its case) makes it a better option for longer races, such as Ultra marathons.

Read our full Suunto Wing review View Deal

OpenRock Pro

Despite the less-than-stellar audio performance, the OpenRock Pro are affordable with a comfortable fit, not to mention have a very long battery life, making them a good option for those that want that open-ear design for long runs and don’t plan on swimming.

Read our full OpenRock Pro reviewView Deal

How I tested

Tested over a month
Listened to different kinds of media
Tested all the different features

I spent a month using the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport as my workout headphones. While using them, I listened to all sorts of genres from electronic and hip-hop to rock and acoustic music to get an idea of how they sound. I used them in various settings such as on a run and even under water. Check out our guide to how bone conduction headphones work for more details.

After testing, it’s clear that they serve their purpose well as they are, per the name, for triathletes, swimmers, and athletes in general who want to hear their surroundings while listening to music.

I’ve spent the last few years reviewing audio equipment and have spent even longer using my critical ear as a listener and musician to understand what does and doesn’t sound good.

First reviewed November 2024

Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2 review: multi-terrain marvels

4:00 pm | December 8, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Comments: Off

Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2: Two-minute review

I'm a keen hobbyist runner living in the countryside with a particular running shoe in mind; a trail-first shoe that can also fly on the roads, lightweight as possible yet grippy to handle technical terrain, also durable so I can clock up the kms, all for a double-digit price. Impossible demands, right? Well, no – after multiple shoes from various brands down the years, I might've just found my best running shoes of 2024: the Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2.

The Trailfly G270 V2s launched Q1 in 2023 and are, as the name suggests, a second-generation trail shoe by Inov-8 with minor tweaks to the wildly popular original. With three months and around 350km under my belt wearing these shoes, I can see why.

These shoes deliver in all areas for mixed terrain – at 270g, they are lightweight for a grippy shoe, though the very quickest road shoes are lighter. They are also durable – seriously, I've clocked up around 60 hours of running and they feel as good as new.

As for the fit, these shoes are noted as '5' on Inov-8's width scale, which is the widest possible from the running specialists. However, I have an average-width foot and the fit is perfect, meaning these shoes aren't for those with particularly wide feet.

In the UK I run in all kinds of terrain and weather, covering anything from technical hills, to boggy footpaths and dry roads; these shoes transition between such scenarios with ease.

Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2 trail running shoes worn, on grass — (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

The Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2's are the best running shoes with a double-digit price that I've ever used. That said, they won't be for everyone.

In my experience Inov-8 shoes generally take a little more wearing in than other brand shoes, such as Asics. In this particular case, the outer felt too snug along the side of my little toe, but they are fine now.

There are also two key design attributes to note that might put you off: these are zero drop shoes, meaning the heel is the same height as the front of your foot. Most shoes have some form of drop, typically around 5-8mm.

With zero drop you're more likely to strike the ground with the middle of your foot rather than the heel first, resulting in a lower impact running gait that is kinder to your joints. However, zero drop isn't ideal for all foot types, such as flat feet. Ultimately, it's best to do your research on what is best for your feet. In practice, zero drops works a different part of your calves in the early days, but as your legs adjust you soon won't notice a difference.

The other point is that the cushioning is firmer than most. If you are particularly heavy-footed, and prefer minimal impact as your feet hit the ground, the Trailfly G270 V2's possibly aren't for you. These are firm.

With that firmness comes a decent spring. As you accelerate you get decent encouragement, which is impressive for such a grippy trail shoe.

One other minor point is that the laces are on the slippier side, and so getting a tight knot can take a couple of efforts. Not a biggie, but if you're like me you might need to stop and re-tie.

That's all the bad stuff out of the way. I should re-emphasize that these are my favorite trail-focused shoes, for the money. They are available in three colors; all-black, lime green or a blue with orange – I opted for the latter. And they are regularly discounted – I got them on sale in the UK for around half their $170 / £149.99 list price, and I've since seen them even cheaper. That's fantastic value for such a well-made, high performing and durable shoe.

The bottom line is that the Trailfly G270 V2's are up there with the best running shoes especially for runners who spend more time on the trails, and I'll be keeping an eye on the sale prices to pick up a second pair soon.

Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2: Specifications

Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2: Scorecard

Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You cover all terrains but are primarily a trail runner

Designed to tackle all terrain, the G270 V2's offer superb grip, decent spring and are relatively lightweight, but dedicated road shoes will be even lighter.

You want a durable shoe

With graphene soles and superb design, these shoes can tackle technical terrain and will go the extra mile.

Don't buy it if...

You like a cushioned shoe

The G270 V2's cushioning is harder than most and will take a little getting used to if you typically run with a cushioned shoe.

You're a road runner

If you mainly run on roads, then there are lighter and quicker alternatives available, designed for speed over durability.

Also consider

Nike Ultrafly

Nike Ultrafly's are also primarily designed for the trails, even if they look like a road shoes. They probably have the edge for speed, but won't handle technical trails as well as the G270 V2s, and they are much, much pricier.

Read our full Nike Ultrafly review

Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2: how I tested

My primary running shoe for around 3 months
Typically distance covered around 30km's per week
Approximately 60 hours of running on technical trails, footpaths and roads, flat and hilly

I used the Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2 as my primary running shoe for around 3 months, during which time I was typically clocking up around 30kms per week.

I typically cover mixed terrain and run in all kinds of weather: trails, footpaths and roads; wet and dry; flat and hilly.

First reviewed: December 2024

Evie smart ring review: in the year of smart rings, this woman-first health tracker falls short

10:42 pm | December 5, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Tags: UK | Comments: Off

Evie Ring: One minute review

The Evie smart ring hit the market with a splash in late 2023, promising to address the otherwise underrepresented women’s health tracking market with features like period tracking and symptom journaling, a pulse oximeter that’s been approved by US regulators, and an open-ring design that accounts for fluctuations in women’s finger sizes throughout the day.

So how does it measure up against the best smart rings? It’s unfortunate for Evie that 2024 has been the year of smart rings, because the goal posts have moved significantly with the release of the Samsung Galaxy Ring and Oura Ring 4. When I saw the Evie smart ring in January at CES 2024, it was a plucky upstart ready to shake up the space; just under a year later, it feels outdated. Parent company Movano actually discontinued the product for several months this year to address concerns in early customer feedback, too, it’s been a rocky start for the Evie Ring.

Such is the fate of many woman-first ventures, and in that respect, I can’t blame Movano for the flaws of the Evie Ring compared to its competition. However, it’s just bad luck and timing that many of its major health-tracking competitors have brought features like ovulation tracking and blood temperature sensing up to speed, even if none of those competitors opt for a woman-first design as Evie does.

Still, the Evie Ring is relatively affordable, especially given that there’s no additional subscription fee, and if you want a device more for general health and wellness purposes rather than activity tracking, it’ll cover most bases.

It’s worth highlighting that I tested the device in the UK, where the ring has yet to be released, and I was therefore using a TestFlight version of the app on iOS; however, the experiences I’ve described below are consistent with those of other reviewers and users who’ve tried Evie in the US. And, while Evie also announced the addition of further data insights as of September 2024, I can’t see any users or reviewers online talking about these, nor did they appear in my TestFlight app. As of writing, the Evie Ring works with both iOS devices and the recently-added Android OS 12 and above support.

Evie Ring: Price and availability

$269, with UK pricing and release date TBC
Released in Spring 2024

The Evie smart ring is fairly affordable at $269, and is available in sizes 5 to 12 in gold, silver, and rose gold. Before purchasing, you can order a ring-sizing kit – I’d recommend using this at the different points of your cycle to ensure that you don’t end up with a slightly gappy ring. While a UK release date of September 2024 had been mooted, at the time of writing we don’t know when it will officially launch in the UK.

Unlike some of its competition, the Evie Ring is entirely subscription-free, making it an attractive offer for those who can’t quite justify the Oura Ring 4’s monthly $5.99 subscription and higher price tag (starting at $349 / £349). It comes with a ring box-style charger, which charges via USB-C. However, it’s a far more limited experience compared to its competition.

Value score: 4/5

Evie Ring: Design

Evie smart ring being worn on an index finger — (Image credit: Future)

Open design to allow for bloating
Kitted with three notched sensors
Up to one meter waterproofing

Arguably the standout feature in Evie's toolkit is its design – it’s an open band that can accommodate the micro-fluctuations in finger thickness that occur throughout a woman’s cycle (or even just throughout the day!). It’s a thoughtful inclusion that no other smart ring on the mass market has considered, and especially as I approach my period it’s a godsend.

This does come with a trade-off, in that the ring’s hardware has to be crammed into a smaller area. For my very slim fingers, it’s a little on the thick side, meaning that when I wear it on my index finger and I’m using my phone it can really dig in, and I’m quite aware at all times that I’m wearing it. However, that’s fairly standard across smart rings I’ve worn, and the open design massively improves comfort compared to those. I also find the gap means the ring gets caught in my hair a lot, which can be a little grating, but it’s dense enough that I haven’t noticed it catching and pulling on my clothes, at least.

Evie Smart Ring being held — (Image credit: Future)

My review unit was the gold colorway, which looks just gorgeous; most people didn’t even realize that it was a smart ring, and at least one person thought I’d been proposed to. However, its titanium PVD coating does scratch fairly easily; after just a week of wear, I noticed a small scratch on its surface. It’s a shame, as the ring is waterproof for up to one meter of submersion, meaning you can wear it while showering and doing the dishes, so it’s otherwise pretty hardy.

On the inside of the ring are three notches housing the sensors; a three-axis accelerometer, infrared as well as red and green LEDs used by the PPG sensors, and skin-temperature sensors. It also comes with a ring-box charging case which is a little more plasticky and cheap than I’d ideally like for an otherwise beautiful product.

Design score: 4/5

Evie Ring: Features

Two print screens of the Evie app in use on an iPhone — (Image credit: Future / Movano Health)

Blood oxygen and heart rate monitoring on-demand
Menstrual tracking is limited
Workout tracking very basic

The Evie Ring offers a fairly well-rounded feature set, offering vital metrics like heart rate and blood oxygen levels on-demand through its Spot Check feature, as well as constant heart rate monitoring throughout the day. While you sleep it also analyses time spent in different sleeping zones, and in addition to tracking your heart rate and blood oxygen levels it will measure your heart rate variation average, respiration rate average and skin temperature variation average; however, these are presented as static figures rather than graphs you can extrapolate from and explore.

In terms of activity tracking, the Evie Ring can track your steps and workouts. Auto-workout detection is planned for early next year, but for now you have to use the app to tell Evie that you’re about to work out for a set amount of time. However, you can’t specify what kind of workout you’re doing, meaning granular insights into how different forms of exercise affect your vitals aren’t possible. It logs your active minutes and estimated calories burned, informing its algorithms with your menstrual cycle data to give more accurate readings.

Otherwise, the standout feature is the app-based journal feature, which tracks your menstrual cycle and symptoms. In addition to noting your energy levels and mood on a scale of low to high, you can also note your general mood with one of 13 tags, albeit fairly arbitrary ones, as well as your menstrual flow level (from light to heavy), symptoms, vaginal discharge consistency, and any other stressors like alcohol, illness, injury, travel, or stress.

However, there’s lots that Evie doesn’t do, and a few areas where I feel it’s a little misleading; for instance, menstrual cycle tracking. While smart rings like the Samsung Galaxy Ring use skin temperature data to predict your cycles, Evie’s app seems to solely rely on your logging to predict your next period, much like many standardised menstrual tracking apps.

Most frustratingly, while the Evie can measure all of the data points mentioned above, it falls short in the analysis and presentation of the data across the board. Its biggest competitors offer all kinds of learnings off the back of the user’s health data; Evie doesn’t deliver helpful insights or analysis into trends. There’s also no way to log specific events at certain times of the day, and while the sleep stage graph is useful, there’s no suggestion on what it means or how to improve your sleep.

Plus, there’s no inclusion of features like an energy score, and for me this is a huge missed opportunity, given that menstrual symptoms can impact our sleep as well as our readiness for activity, and that some studies have shown hormone and iron levels can, too.

Features score: 3/5

Evie Ring: Performance

Evie smart ring — (Image credit: Future)

Battery performs as described, but it's short anyway
Lack of meaningful data analysis
Some metrics lack context

Performance is another mixed bag for the Evie Ring. On the one hand, it does broadly deliver on all the fronts promised by manufacturer Movano; however some of the specs and features aren’t quite on a par with its biggest competitors.

Once you’ve paired and set up your ring, you’ll choose three goals to work towards from five options: steps, workout sessions, mood & symptom tracking, sleep, and active minutes. I chose the latter three, as my main focus right now is general wellness and mental health as opposed to training and fitness.

On the home page of the app you’re greeted by an Apple Fitness-style ring, which is filled as you complete your daily goals. As someone who’s suffered the negative impacts of calorie counting I didn’t love that calories burned was a fixed category here, but broadly speaking I think Evie does very well at sensitively handling the journey towards wellness and celebrating wins. I particularly like the journaling element of the app, and I found it useful to go back and see if I’m regularly particularly anxious or low-energy in the days before my period.

Print screens of the sleep tracking and period tracking features in the Evie app — (Image credit: Future / Movano Health)

There’s a slight delay in data synchronization between the ring and the app, which can be mitigated somewhat by keeping the app open at all times; however, there were a few instances where it didn’t generate my sleep data at all until later in the day. Evie also can’t tell when I’m taking a nap, only logging sleep between 9pm and 10:30am, and there’s no option to force-track sleep, which left my sleep count completely skewed a few times. Similarly, a few times I had disturbed sleep where I awoke for an hour before falling back asleep, and Evie didn’t log the further sleep session.

The data that does register in the app also isn’t always the most useful; sure, I get my nightly temperature variation while I sleep, but it’s an average rather than an hour-by-hour report, and you only get it as part of your sleep metrics. There’s little-to-no analysis provided, whether that’s trends or suggested improvements, which again diminishes the actual impact the ring has on your health and wellness. Still, at least the data does seem to be mostly accurate; I tested the Evie Ring against my Apple Watch Series 5, and both my BPM and sleep stages broadly lined up, though the Evie Ring routinely struggled to identify deep-sleep stages, implying that I got an average of 10% deep sleep per night versus the 20% my Apple Watch registered.

Its battery life is shorter than much of its competition too; Movano advertises this as 4+ days, but generally mine lasted just shy of that unless I had a fairly inactive week. There’s also no integration with other health or menstrual tracking apps, which is a huge missed opportunity given the lack of actionable health insights generated by Evie.

Performance score: 3/5

Evie Ring: Scorecard

Evie Ring: Should I buy?

Movano Evie Ring — (Image credit: Movano)

Buy it if...

You’re on a budget

The Evie smart ring is one of the most affordable smart rings available while still offering a decent feature and sensor set - and there’s no subscription cost.

You’re looking to ease in to smart ring tracking

At its relatively low price point and with its simple features, the Evie Ring is a great option for first-timers, and especially if your focus is basic menstrual tracking.

You primarily want to log symptoms

Evie is a very menstrual cycle tracking-first device, and while there’s room for improvement in the analysis and presentation of this data, few health trackers offer this level of focus.

Don't buy it if...

You want fitness-first tracking

While Evie does offer fitness tracking features, this device is primarily geared towards wellness and menstrual tracking.

You want in-depth insights

Evie doesn’t offer the granular data analysis and learnings offered by its competition.

You want the most accurate readings

Sleep tracking data favored light and REM sleep, and certain metrics offer limited tracking.

Also consider

How I tested

I wore the Evie Ring for two months to assess its menstrual tracking features and carry out comprehensive testing. For instance, I drained the battery down completely multiple times and timed recharging, and slept with it on almost every night. In terms of exercise, I did cardio HIIT workouts at home and went on a few runs, and compared all available health metrics to an Apple Watch 5. I used all of the app features such as journaling and goal-setting.

Engwe P20 review: A cheaper Brompton alternative

4:00 pm | November 20, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Tags: US | Comments: Off

Engwe P20: One minute review

The P20 is Engwe’s most refined model so far. The company’s bikes are known for their large and brutalistic design style, so making a compact e-bike like this might seem like a deviation from its core values. In reality, this e-bike still looks remarkably Engwe-esque. It’s chunky and robust where it needs to be while still featuring a surprisingly lightweight build for carrying around.

Folding the e-bike can be done in as little as 10 to 15 seconds thanks to a couple of easy-to-use clips and the unique magnetic adapter system. The latter stops the e-bike from unfolding and is far better than the clip design of Brompton bikes. Unfortunately, it’s not quite as easy to maneuver as a typical Brompton, but it’s not far off. If you want a foldable e-bike with a little more power than a Brompton, then the P20 is a fantastic option.

At £1,199, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything of such quality, and with the same attention to detail, elsewhere. It’s too early to tell whether the Engwe P20 will make it onto our list of the best e-bikes but it’s certainly a strong contender.

Engwe P20: Price and availability

£1,199 / €1,299
Not available in the US
Available from the manufacturer directly

The Engwe P20 is only available in UK and EU markets. The 250W motor and 15.5mph / 25kph speed limiter make it road-legal everywhere it’s sold. There won’t be a US version as this e-bike is specifically positioned for the UK market. Unlike many other Engwe e-bikes, there’s no option to upgrade the battery.

It’s available in black, white or a lovely mint green, which is the model I tested. The price is the same no matter which colour you go for. Engwe also offers a range of accessories at an additional cost, including a rack bag, bike pump, and lock.

Value score: 4/5

Engwe P20: Design

Reliable and well-engineered folding mechanism
Carbon drive belt
Upright riding position

Let's begin with the folding process for the P20, which is a five-step operation. This is achieved through a five-step process, although I tended to only perform two of these steps for most folds. The steps comprise adjusting the handlebar, folding the riser, folding the frame, lowering the saddle, and finally folding the pedals. Most of the time, steps two and three are sufficient, although you might also need to make the saddle adjustment if you need to fit the e-bike into tight spaces.

I prefer not to adjust the handlebars too much, because that involves messing around with a clamp mechanism that I don’t believe would stand the test of time if it was used regularly. I also don’t see a huge benefit in tucking them away any more than is already the case in their natural position.

The riser rotation mechanism is nice and robust while allowing for the rider to rotate the riser and handlebars down to the front wheel. Unfortunately, there’s no way of locking the riser into position when the bike is folded. The frame folds in half at the midpoint with a seriously sturdy and robust folding mechanism. Engwe is getting so much better at implementing intricate design features, and it really shows on the P20.

One of the standouts of the whole design is that the two halves of the e-bike connect together through magnets that are mounted to each wheel. It’s a really ingenious solution that eliminates the need for any moving parts, which could fail over time.

It’s almost impossible to review a foldable e-bike without comparing it to the folding mechanism of the Brompton. With both e-bikes in my possession, I decided to fold one after the other and there’s no clear winner. I think Engwe’s system is simpler to operate and I love the magnetic catch, but the Brompton is smaller and lighter and therefore easier to maneuver. I think it all comes down to what overall e-bike size you want, and what your budget is.

Moving on from folding, the P20 is single-speed, with a long-lasting carbon belt drive and disc brakes. There are no major performance issues with this setup, although you do lose a little efficiency with the carbon drive compared to a metal chain. The 20-inch puncture-proof tires are perfect for city cruising, but lack the bulk required for going up and down curbs or off-road. Don’t judge it too harshly, though, as this e-bike knows exactly what it is and what it isn’t designed to do.

Design Score: 4.5/5

Engwe P20: Performance

Cadence is too high
Top speed of 25kph / 15.5mph
No suspension

The first thing I noticed was how easy it was to get up to the top speed of 25kph / 15.5mph. This is due to the power of the motor, available torque, and the achievable cadence of the single-speed setup.

This is good news in the sense that it takes minimal effort while using minimal battery. The downside to this is that it’s very difficult to ride beyond 30kph / 18.5mph, because the cadence is just too high. The experience left me wanting a gear with lower cadence, or three or four extra speeds to cycle through. I think the Brompton 4-speed has it perfect, although greater resistance on the P20’s single speed would also be sufficient.

The issue was particularly noticeable when going downhill, but the e-bike really came into its own when I was nipping around flat city streets, on which the P20 is responsive, quick, and a joy to ride. If you’re looking for a simple, good-looking, foldable bike for cruising around a town or city, the P20 is one of the best options I’ve tried.

The motor is completely silent, so at times it feels like you’re riding a standard pushbike. You’re also not subject to any sudden jerky movements thanks to the torque sensor, which picks up the rotation of the pedals perfectly. The P20 responds quickly and efficiently, so it’s always ready to go when you are.

As there’s no suspension, and given the size of the tires, you’ll want to avoid off-roading or going up and down too many curbs. That being said, I did find that the e-bike was remarkably capable of cushioning almost every bump I threw at it.

The carbon belt is a winner, and I’m a big fan of these types of belts because they’re less susceptible to problems with grease or dirt. I’m sure we’ve all experienced those times of getting our clothes dirty from getting on or off a bike, and this is all avoided with the P20. The belt promises to deliver 330,000km of distance, although it’s worth noting that carbon belts are generally less efficient than standard chains.

I think most people will love the P20, although you might, at times, find yourself wanting an extra gear or two.

Performance score: 4/5

Engwe P20: Battery life

100km range
36V 9.6A battery
Five-hour charge per battery

The advertised range of 100km is only achievable in perfect conditions, at the lowest pedal assist, and with minimal rider weight. In reality, you’ll be looking at nearer 50km / 30 miles per charge. This is still more than enough for most daily commutes, especially considering that this e-bike is designed for shorter rides rather than for long journeys.

You’ll only be able to attach the single 36V 9.6A battery to this frame, so there’s no option to double the range. Engaging and disengaging the battery is very easy thanks to Engwe's attention to engineering an effective clip mechanism.

Removing the battery will let you charge it at home or at work during the day. It also reduces the chances of the battery being stolen, although there is an integrated anti-theft battery lock. Charging from empty to full takes in the region of five hours.

Battery life score: 3.5/5

Engwe P20: Scorecard

Buy it if...

You want a foldable e-bike

The Engwe P20 offers robust folding mechanisms and a lightweight frame that will make your daily commute an absolute breeze.

You need an affordable e-bike

At £1,199, it’s not the cheapest e-bike on the market, but it offers better build quality and parts than cheaper alternatives.

You love Engwe

Engwe is creating one of the broadest and best ranges of e-bikes out of any e-bike manufacturer out there. It’s producing fantastic e-bikes and the brand is here to stay.

Don't buy it if...

You want the lightest foldable e-bike

I would opt for a Brompton e-bike if you want something that is as portable as they come.

You go off-roading

With no suspension and small wheels, you’ll feel every bump you go over

Also consider

Brompton C Line Electric Explore

One of the best folding e-bikes for most commuters. An e-bike that is really easy to fold up, has a good level of power on tap, and is of excellent overall quality.

Read our full Brompton C Line Electric Explore review

How I tested the Engwe P20

I rode the Engwe P20 on and off over the course of a couple of months. I rode it around city streets, up and down main roads, as well as along my daily 7-mile commute which takes me through the countryside. I covered almost every type of terrain except off-roading.

First reviewed: November 2024

Ublives’ SoleFlux Relax massage boots have convinced me of the benefits of leg compression

4:56 pm | November 19, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Fitness Apps Gadgets Health & Fitness | Comments: Off

Ublives SoleFlux Relax: Two-minute review

Ublives Leg Compression unit — (Image credit: Future)

I went into my first leg compression experience with Ublives somewhat skeptical of the benefits, and early on in my testing, I wasn’t blown away. Sure, getting a robotic leg massage was kind of cool, and enjoyable, but I didn’t feel like I’d found the vital missing link in my recovery chain. That was until I played my first game of soccer in seven years. After just an hour spent out of breath, fighting for my life on a cold Scottish winter night, I’ve become convinced that leg compression of any kind can provide a massive boost to recovery and performance, and the Ublives SoleFlux Relax are a great starting point for anyone looking to get involved.

Following my first serious aerobic exercise in years, I’ve been mainlining Ublives’ boots multiple times a day, and the only residual soreness I had in my legs was in the places they don’t reach, leaving me thoroughly impressed with their usefulness.

The SoleFlux Relax aren't the cheapest or the most expensive pair of compression boots on the market. You’ll find cheaper options from the likes of Pulsio or more expensive options from Hyperice. In and around the Ublives are offerings from Therabody, who make some of the best massage guns for fitness and recovery.

The SoleFlux Relax, like all leg compression boots, are simple in concept. They’re enormous boots that cover your feet, lower leg, and most of your thigh. Inflatable chambers receive air through a compression device, exerting pressure on your aching limbs to provide the sensation of a massage.

Ublives leg compression — (Image credit: Future)

At first wear, they’re very comfortable to put on, with a single zip running the length of each boot ensuring that you can get in and out of them very easily. I’m six foot tall with long legs and pretty beefy thighs and found that I couldn’t quite get them all the way on for maximum comfort. It wasn’t a deal breaker, but I often used them with the feeling that I hadn’t quite got my leg all the way in.

There are two basic designs of leg compression, and Ublives has opted for a modular design with a small air compression control unit that attaches directly to each leg. This means that you can use each side independently, and are free to move around a bit more. This can be handy if you need targeted recovery for just one leg, or want a bit more flexibility. However, I found that this also led to asynchronous massages where one leg didn’t quite match the other, even when I selected the same program, pressure, and duration. Using the power units was very simple, there’s a button for on, a toggle for pressure, and buttons to control the program and time length.

There are three programs each available in three different durations. Circulation Mode sends pressure up your leg starting at your foot and is dubbed as a sports recovery mode. Sequence mode is targeted at those with muscle soreness and moves from foot to thigh in a slightly different pattern. Finally, there’s Whole Mode, a deep care setting for people who sit for long periods of time and don’t exercise much. Each is available as a 10, 20, or 30-minute program.

I was surprised by how intense the pressure was, even in the middle or lower settings. In fact, the pressure is so intense I’ve not psyched myself up enough to turn it up to five. Rest assured, at least, that even the very achiest and stiffest legs can benefit from Ublives.

While it’s impossible to say whether you will benefit in the same way from leg compression, I’ve found myself impressed by their usefulness. As noted, they were a vital part of my recent recovery from my soccer-induced leg pain. Beyond sports, I’ve found myself using them at some point of every day for a variety of reasons. I’ve used them after a long day sitting down at my desk, and I’ve found another great benefit too. The Ublives seem to help with Restless leg syndrome, with a good program before bed really helping to calm my muscles as I try to sleep.

While Ublives have been my first experience with leg compression, I was surprised by how light they were, and the build quality was reassuringly sturdy. The control units are powered by USB-C and take around 2 and a half hours to charge. From that, you should get 20 minutes of use per day for 10 days, or 200 minutes of use. I’ve broadly found that claim to hold up, running 30 minutes five or six times before needing to charge up again.

Ublives SoleFlux Relax: Price and availability

Ublives Leg Compression bag — (Image credit: Future)

The Ublives SoleFlux Relax are available exclusively from Ublives.com. They retail at $599, with the price the same wherever you buy them from, so watch out for exchange rates. The AirFit Hyperbag is an optional extra that costs $120. Ublives advertises a 90-day money-back guarantee for users who want to try the product.

TechRadar readers can score them at the reduced price of $479 by using the code Techradar20 at Ublives.com.

Ublives SoleFlux Relax: Specifications

Ublives control unit — (Image credit: Future)

Ublives SoleFlux Relax: Scorecard

Ublives SoleFlux Relax: Should I buy?

Ublives Leg Compression Review — (Image credit: Future)

Buy if it...

You want excellent leg compression

Ublives deliver great pressure and a range of excellent programs

You want a split-leg design

With two separate boots and control units, these are perfect if you want a separate-leg design.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget

There are considerably cheaper options out there

You want a single-unit design

Other units can be found with a single control unit that manages both legs

Also consider

How I tested

I’ve used the Ublives SoleFlux Relax multiple times a day for a few weeks, including before and after workouts, in the evening at bedtime, and following long days sat down at the office. I used all three of the programs available for each of the three durations available. I also ran the batteries to zero and recharged them multiple times to test battery life and recharge time.

First reviewed: November 2024

Ticwatch Atlas review: A formidable Android smartwatch for the great outdoors

3:00 pm | November 16, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: Garmin Forerunner, Samsung Galaxy Watch | Comments: Off

TicWatch Atlas: One minute review

The TicWatch Atlas is a brilliant rugged Android smartwatch and a fantastic alternative to mainstream options like the Google Pixel Watch or the Samsung Galaxy Range. It boasts an impressive chassis made of stainless steel, aluminum, and fiberglass that feels really premium and sturdy, and it’s competitively priced around other Android smartwatches while offering the rugged durability you’d expect from an Apple Watch Ultra or Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra.

The dual display means you can switch between a healthy-looking AMOLED display or an essentials-only low-power option that’s good for 45 days of battery life. The TicWatch Atlas comes absolutely packed with fitness and health-tracking tools and features, including more than 100 exercises. It also features heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, blood oxygen monitoring, and more.

The Snapdragon W5+ chip ensures performance all-round is snappy with no hang-ups, and there’s a wealth of health data at your fingertips. The screen isn’t as vibrant as an Apple Watch display, and blood oxygen readings weren’t always spot on, but overall fitness tracking for calories and heart rate kept up with more expensive Apple Watch alternatives, and the GPS showed pretty solid accuracy.

The TicWatch Atlas currently runs Wear OS 4 with no sign of Wear OS 5 coming any time soon, but for those who can do without the latest software, it’s an extremely enticing option in this price bracket and one of the best Android smartwatches this year.

TicWatch Atlas: Specifications

TicWatch Atlas: Price and Availability

Ticwatch Atlas Review — (Image credit: Future)

$349/£329/AU$519
Two colors

The TicWatch Atlas is available now from Mobvoi.com and Amazon in a multitude of territories. There’s only one size and two colors, retailing at $349 / £329 / AU$519. We’ve seen it officially discounted through Mobvoi’s website and Amazon in the UK to just £264.99. In Wear OS terms, that’s around the same price as the list price of the Galaxy Watch 7, but cheaper than the similarly-sized Pixel Watch 3. It’s also, confusingly, the same price as Ticwatch’s other smartwatch offerings, the Pro 5 Enduro and the regular Pro 5.

Value score: 4/5

TicWatch Atlas: Design and screen

Premium design
Very rugged and durable
Dual display is enticing

Out of the box, the Ticwatch Atlas really dazzles as a rugged and well-designed smartwatch. The circular chassis measures 52.2mm in height by 47.8mm in width, and the whole package is just 12.05mm thick. The watch housing itself is a mixture of stainless steel, 7000-series aluminum, and nylon with fiberglass. That means you aren’t getting the premium titanium finish of an Apple Watch Ultra or the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, but the whole package exudes premium build quality and a rugged durability that really gives you confidence in the watch day-to-day. The TicWatch Atlas is Mobvoi’s adventure-going watch for the great outdoors and the company has really nailed it with this fantastic design.

Garmin fans will find themselves at home here thanks to a raised, chunky bezel that houses a circular AMOLED display, and to one side are a side button and a crown for scrolling. The latter is smooth and precise to operate, and the former takes you to Wear OS 4’s recent apps with a satisfying click, or Google Wallet with a double click.

The fluororubber band shipped as standard is also really excellent – the rubber is soft and grippy, and the metal clasp feels safe and secure to use.

The TicWatch Atlas boasts a dual-display configuration, with an always-on AMOLED and the Ultra-low-power display. Starting with the AMOLED, this tech definitely lags behind options like the Apple Watch Series 10, which looks altogether more vibrant. Upping the brightness to full really improved the experience, but at the default setting I thought it looked ever-so-slightly washed out. However, the text and metrics all look very clear, and the default Wear OS faces show good color performance. Raise-to-wake was a tad sluggish for my liking, but I’m really nitpicking what’s otherwise a very enjoyable experience.

Ticwatch atlas display — (Image credit: Future)

There’s also the Ultra-low-power display, which gives you a slew of essential metrics (date, time, steps, heart rate, battery) in a crisp two-tone format. You can pick the color, and the low-power display also has dynamic color changes that reflect your heart rate, so you can gauge what HR zone you’re running in with the quickest of glances. The real selling point of this Ultra-low-power display, however, is the battery life, with TicWatch promising up to 45 days of use in Essential Mode using this feature.

Overall, the TicWatch Atlas is really comfortable on the wrist, with no noticeable wrist fatigue. At 47.2 grams it’s not a heavy beast, but you’ll definitely notice its presence. As noted, it’s circular and quite a bit wider than your average Apple Watch, which I’d say disqualifies it for use in strength training. That’s because the design, coupled with the protruding crown, lends itself to accidental button presses, a fatal flaw that also hamstrings the Apple Watch.

Worth mentioning design-wise are the Atlas’ durability ratings. It’s 5ATM waterproof-rated for open-water swims, and certified to MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability. Essentially, the TicWatch Atlas can handle almost everything you throw at it, rain or shine.

Design score: 4/5

TicWatch Atlas: Features

Packed with fitness-tracking features
Heart rate monitoring and Afib alerts
Wear OS 4

TicWatch Atlas arrives sporting Wear OS 4 and a host of impressive features. A lot of these will be familiar to anyone who’s used any of the best Android smartwatches on the market. There are workout tracking modes for over 100 different exercises, including all the usual suspects. You’ll also get 24/7 heart-rate monitoring, recovery time readouts, VO2 Max measurements, calories, blood oxygen, and more.

Overnight there’s sleep tracking which triggers automatically, and health features like irregular heartbeat sensing and atrial fibrillation detection, which are constantly monitored in the background.

Safety features include emergency SOS and Fall Detection, the effectiveness of which I can attest to because I accidentally triggered it during a gym workout when I flopped a bit too dramatically onto a bench while doing barbell bench presses.

Navigation is provided by GPS tracking, which can also give you retrospective routes for your outdoor workouts and is impressively accurate, even when not tethered to a phone. There’s also a compass and barometer, the latter of which will be of particular note to climbers and hikers, who can use it to gauge height and atmospheric conditions that could indicate changes in the weather.

Another standout feature that I wasn’t able to test was Heat Map. With GPS and network connectivity, you can track your heat map for ball games including American football, Aussie rules, basketball, rugby, soccer, and tennis, as well as Frisbee, with your activity displayed as a satellite image of your exploits that you can customize and share with friends.

There’s also TicMotion, proactive tracking for outdoor workouts that can detect walking, running, or cycling without the need for user input, providing heart rate, calories, and VO2 max info automatically. I’ve already mentioned the dynamic screen, which changes color to match your heart rate in Ultra-low-power mode, another epic feature for fitness enthusiasts.

You also get the usual slew of Wear OS features from Google, including G-Suite integration for Maps, Calendar, and Gmail, apps from the Play Store, messaging, Google Wallet, and more. 32GB of onboard storage ensures you can load music and playlists onto your device, so you can run without your smartphone if you’d prefer

Overall, the TicWatch Atlas is packed with features for a $329 smartwatch. The feature-set generally lends itself to the adventuring fitness enthusiast, there is a lot going on when it comes to fitness tracking, health, performance, and more. I’d be inclined to compare the Atlas more to some of the best Garmin watches on the market, rather than something like a Google Pixel Watch 3. As with TicWatch’s Pro 5 offering, LTE is the only glaring omission. Mobvoi has also confirmed to us that there isn’t currently any information about Wear OS 5 support, the rollout of which to old Pixel models was confirmed recently, so this doesn’t put it at a huge disadvantage versus other Android rivals.

Features score: 4.5/5

TicWatch Atlas: Performance

Snappy processor
Accurate metrics
Phenomenal battery life

In my three weeks using the Atlas TicWatch I’ve been really impressed by the overall performance. My daily driver is usually an Apple Watch Series 10, or latterly, the Ultra 2. Personally, I find that the animations of Wear OS 4 leave a bit to be desired, with the lack of bounce and responsiveness versus watchOS 11 making for a more clunky experience; however, the TicWatch’s Snapdragon W5+ chip is more than enough to handle Wear OS. The user experience overall is snappy and responsive, with no processor hang-ups. The Atlas can process a lot of workout data including heart rate metrics, steps and calories, and cadence, and it’s definitely a solid piece of kit.

Accuracy-wise, it leaves little to be desired. In side-by-side tests with my $699 Apple Watch Ultra 2, the TicWatch broadly kept up with heart rate measurements including changes to my pulse. In a 1km test walk, the TicWatch slightly over-egged the distance, giving me 1km when I’d only walked 956m, with a slightly ambitious GPS route that artificially inflated the distance. However, that’s not a massive margin of error, and the Atlas clocked my average heart rate at 89bpm compared to the Apple Watch’s 90, and calories burned at 58 vs Apple Watch’s 60. For almost everyone that’s a perfectly acceptable margin of error, and an impressive set of results. In fact, I was surprised that workout summaries and metrics generally felt more comprehensive than with the Apple Watch and iOS, with step count, VO2 max, average speed, and workout zones served up in addition to Apple’s data offering.

The only suspect reading I’ve found on the Atlas is blood oxygen, with a couple of erratic readings suggesting that my level was changing quite rapidly to as low as 92% percent and as high as 100%. It seems to have evened out over time, but I’ve wondered if the TicWatch has been giving me readings even when it wasn’t quite able to. On other occasions, however, it matched the Apple Watch in more controlled conditions. Given that this measurement relies heavily on you being at rest and having your watch fitted properly, this could be an error, and it’s one I’m keeping an eye on with continued testing.

Metrics and results are delivered via the Mobvoi Health app, available on the Google Play Store. It’s certainly comprehensive and colorful, but the app’s design and interface aren’t enthralling. Still, it’s practical and easy to navigate.

The aforementioned TicMotion workout detection is impressive, as is the automatic sleep tracking, however, the Atlas’ party piece is definitely its battery life. The TicWatch Atlas is rated for 90 hours of use as a regular smartwatch, or an eye-watering 45 days using the ultra-low-power display. In three weeks of use, I’ve only had to charge it twice, and it easily clears three days of constant use on a single charge, including one workout a day. Charging speed is also impressive, and the standard included cable is good for 2 days of usage from just 30 minutes of charging. Otherwise, a full charge in my experience takes about 90 minutes, and TicWatch’s interface shows the battery charging in real-time to two decimal places for a reassuring sense of progress.

Performance score: 4.5/5

TicWatch Atlas review: Scorecard

TicWatch Atlas: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want a rugged Wear OS fitness tracker

The TicWatch Atlas excels at fitness and health tracking and has a brilliant, rugged durability.

You want a stylish alternative to mainstream Android smartwatches

The TicWatch Atlas’ design stands out against Pixel Watch and Galaxy alternatives.

Don't buy it if...

You own an iPhone

The TicWatch Atlas is an Android-only smartwatch.

You want Wear OS 5

The TicWatch Atlas doesn’t currently support the latest Android wearable software.

TicWatch Atlas: How we tested

I used the TicWatch Atlas for almost three weeks as my main smartwatch. It was connected to a Samsung S21 Ultra, on which I tested the Mobvoi Health app and connectivity. I used the watch to track my sleeping, as well as multiple strength and running workouts. I also conducted controlled testing to directly compare metrics to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the Series 10, including a 1km test walk to measure the accuracy of heart rate and calorie tracking.

TicWatch Atlas: Also consider

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

One of the best Wear OS 5 watches on the market right now, packed with fitness tracking and health features, solid battery life, and more.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review

Garmin Forerunner 265

With its brilliant OLED screen, comprehensive fitness tracking, and great battery life, the Garmin Forerunner 265 is a great alternative for runners, although slightly more expensive.

Read our full Garmin Forerunner 265 review

First reviewed: November 2024

Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale review: A $20 health hero

3:32 pm | October 28, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Comments: Off

Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale: One minute review

The Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale is an incredibly cheap bathroom scale that has become essential to my fitness routine. It’s well-built and features a minimalist design that will look at home in almost any bathroom setting.

Connection to an Android smartphone or iPhone is provided via Bluetooth, and the results are delivered to a comprehensive companion app that lets you track your metrics, in addition to trends over time in all your key measurements.

It provides all the markers of body composition you’d expect including BMI, weight, body fat, and more. Accuracy-wise, it delivers surprisingly on-point results in comparison to a premium body composition machine when it comes to the core metrics, but some more niche measurements yielded more erratic results.

With a very high max weight of 180kg / 400lb and features for measuring children and babies, this is a great cheap smart scale for the whole family, lacking a few premium features of more expensive rivals, but one that certainly belongs on our best smart scales list.

Vitafit smart scale — (Image credit: Future)

Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale: Price and availability

Available now
$20 / £39.99 / AU$25.99

The Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale is available exclusively through Amazon in the UK, US, and Australia, as well as plenty of other territories.

In the UK, it’s priced at £35.99, whereas in the US and AU, it’s significantly cheaper at $20 / AU$25.99 respectively. You can usually find it on Amazon discounted in the UK, especially around big sales events, where it’s routinely reduced by up to 50%.

The unit reviewed here was bought during one of these sales for £19.99.

Value score: 5/5

Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale: Design

Vitafit smart scale logo

(Image credit: Future)

Sleek design
Well-built

The Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale is a 28cm-square of sleek, tempered glass raised up on a plastic base. It houses four electrodes, one in each corner, connected to sensors housed in the base of the device. The LED display, which shows your initial weight and the status screen while measurements are carried out, measures 3.4 inches x 1.6 inches. A foot in each corner features an anti-slip pad to stop the scale from moving around on the floor.

As with most smart scales, there’s not much to write home about here, but the design that is on show really impresses. For a $20-ish smart scale, the glass feels strong and premium, as do the electrodes. The overall aesthetic won’t look out of place in any bathroom, and there’s also a silver option if the black isn’t up your street.

Underneath hides the battery compartment, which houses three AAA batteries for power (included). Overall, the design is really clean and minimalistic, and the scale is very well put together and exudes strong build quality.

Design score: 5/5

Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale: Features

Vitafit LED screen showing 11.75 kilograms — (Image credit: Future)

High max weight
Rich choice of metrics
Very strong companion app

For a scale so cheap, the Vitafit houses an impressive array of features. Present (but not tested) include a baby mode you can use to keep track of your baby’s weight and a child mode for 2-18-year-olds. The former gives you weight measurements for a baby held in your arms, and the latter measures only weight and BMI in children.

The Vitafit works with its accompanying Vitafit app for iPhone and Android. Once connected, you simply open the app and step on the scales. The app provides almost instant measurements for weight, as well as a quick-glance view of how that has changed since your last measurement.

The Body Composition screen of the app lists weight, body fat, body fat-free, bone mass, muscle mass, protein, and body water metrics, as well as a differential if you’ve inputted a target weight. The second screen on the app’s measurement page shows your BMI (body mass index), visceral and subcutaneous fat, skeletal muscle, BMR (basal metabolic rate), and metabolic age (a number indicating the theoretical "age" of your body).

There’s also a screen where you can input key measurements, such as your height.

The other noteworthy feature is the trends screen, which can give you day, week, and month views of your measurement trends for six key metrics including weight, BMI, and body fat. This helps gauge your progress over time to make sure you’re trending in the right direction if you’re trying to lose weight or build muscle as part of your fitness routine.

The Vitafit app also synchronizes with Google Fit, Fitbit, and Apple Health, so you can see your measurements in your native fitness app of choice. We tested the Vitafit using an iPhone, and the synchronization with the Apple Health app was seamless, automatically populating the Body Measurements section with all the relevant info. The Vitafit app works with iOS 9 and beyond, or Android 4.3 and later, so any of the latest smartphones will be compatible.

The Vitafit supports multiple users, who can be added to the app by a user selection screen, and Vitafit says you can add an unlimited number of users, making it perfect for couples or larger families.

There’s also a zero-current mode, making this scale suitable for pregnant women and babies. Zero-current mode provides a weight and BMI reading, but none of the other metrics.

The Vitafit’s weight limit is registered as 400 pounds / 180kg, which is a lot higher than our current best smart scale pick, the Xiaomi Mi Body Composition Scale 2, making the Vitafit suitable for those on the heavier side. The Vitafit does lack Wi-Fi connectivity, so you’ll need your smartphone handy when you use it. It also lacks some features of more premium options like heart rate monitoring.

Features score: 4.5/5

Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale: Performance

Vitafit app with metrics alongside the smart scale — (Image credit: Future)

Very quick results
Strong accuracy in key measurements
Some wayward readings

In terms of setup and ease of use, the Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale performs admirably. Connecting it to my smartphone was a doddle, and once paired, the relay time between scale and iPhone was surprisingly snappy. Your weight readout will appear on your iPhone in less than a second, and the other metrics in maybe five seconds, so there’s no standing around waiting for the machine to calibrate or gather its data.

The only true test of a smart scale’s performance is its accuracy, however. To that end, we tested the Vitafit smart scale in a direct comparison against the Tanita MC-780MA P body composition machine, housed in my local gym.

I ran a test on the Vitafit, then the Tanita within about five minutes, before returning home and re-running the test on the Vitafit again. Each result is compared against the Tanita in the difference column.

As you can see from the below table, the Vitafit provides some results that came incredibly close to the £6,500/$8,500 medical grade Tanita. In both tests, the Vitafit came within 150 grams of the Tanita for body weight. Bone Mass in kg was also incredibly similar, as were skeletal muscle mass and BMI.

A couple of results showed a bit more variance, notably Body Fat as a percentage and Fat Free Mass (FFM) expressed as kilograms. Muscle mass on the Tanita was given as a weight, but as a percentage on the Vitafit, converted, the latter was less than 1.5 kg out.

There were a couple of big misses, including body water – off by more than 5% in each reading, and BMR (basal metabolic rate). It’s worth noting, however, that there are multiple ways to calculate the latter that can yield different results, so it’s possible this may reflect a difference in methodology rather than a discrepancy in the measurement.

Visceral Fat and Metabolic age were also pretty wild, the former – a measure of belly fat within the abdominal cavity – was probably the most alarming given that the Tanita gave us a healthy reading, while the Vitafit gave us an excessive score.

Overall, given the price of the Vitafit and its competition, I’d say this is an impressive set of results. Most importantly, crucial markers of health and well-being like weight, body fat, and BMI all appear to be super-accurate when using the Vitafit. Undoubtedly it’s not perfect, but I’d say that for the price this is unparalleled performance.

It’s worth taking some of Vitafit’s more specialized measurements with a pinch of salt, but it's more than a match when it comes to the main metrics you’d expect, making it an ideal companion for weight loss or overall monitoring of your health and wellbeing.

What’s more, the small variance between the two Vitafit scores shows more generally it’s giving out consistent results with each use and can still be massively effective as a tool for weight loss and health tracking, provided you allow for the margin of error.

Performance score: 3.5/5

Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale: Scorecard

Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want the cheapest smart scale

The Vitafit is unbelievably good value considering its price and feature set.

You want a companion for weight loss tracking

The Vitafit is excellent for tracking your weight loss goals and overall trends in body composition.

You want a scale the whole family can use

With multiple users and features for babies and children, this is an ideal scale for the whole family.

Don't buy it if...

You want the most accurate measurements

In some fringe metrics, the Vitafit delivers wayward results.

You want premium features

The Vitafit lacks some premium smart scale features like Wi-Fi and heart rate readings.

Also consider

How I tested

I have used the Vitafit smart scale for four months, regularly weighing myself using the app on my iPhone. I’ve tested every corner of the app and its features, and conducted rigorous testing for accuracy, comparing results in a controlled environment versus the Tanita MC-780MA body composition analyzer, a professional-grade body composition machine worth £6,500.

RingConn Gen 2 smart ring review: the best cheap smart ring gets an upgrade

12:00 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Comments: Off

RingConn Gen 2: Two minute review

Smart rings have been picking up steam in the wearables space since the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Ring, which helped to put this burgeoning tech trend on the map. However, hone in on the price – or the ongoing subscription fees – and it’s easy to be put off. That’s where a more affordable option such as the RingConn Gen 2 smart ring comes in.

At $299 (around £250 / AU$485) it isn't "cheap" in real terms, but next to the competition the RingConn Gen 2 is an appealing option – especially when you consider it delivers solid health metric tracking in a sleek and stylish package.

It tracks your sleep, heart rate, activity, and stress, to determine your overall wellness score – plus it can gamify keeping healthy further with badges awarded for good habits. You’ll find it falls down somewhat when it comes to fitness tracking, because it doesn’t start this tracking automatically, so you can forget to log your workouts. In addition, it only tracks running, cycling, and walking right now. So if you’re someone looking for tech to help you achieve your sporting goals, this ring is unlikely to be for you.

The band itself – which comes in sizes 6 to 14, in black, gold or silver – looks just like any other regular ring, and it’s durable with a top-class IP68 dust-proof and waterproof rating plus a design that even after a few weeks of regular use didn't appear to become scratched.

The RingConn Gen 2 also offers a supremely long battery life, remaining charged for up to 12 days. With the charging case you can get an additional 150 days out of it before you need to search out a plug socket again.

This long battery life helps ensure the RingConn Gen 2 won’t run out of power overnight for several nights in a row, which is of importance for its new sleep apnea monitoring feature. It isn't yet FDA-approved, but it does apparently boast a 90.7% accuracy rating, and can help to either warn you of potential health issues or provide some peace of mind – although it isn't a replacement for a medical professional.

Overall, then, the RingConn Gen 2 is a solid option for people who want to try a smart ring but don’t want to over-commit, and while it's a little pricier than its predecessor, the upgrades go some way to justify its higher price.

RingConn Gen 2 in its charging case — (Image credit: Future)

RingConn Gen 2: Specs

RingConn Gen 2: Price and Availability

The RingConn Gen 2 is available for purchase online through the company's website for $299 or around £250 / AU$485. RingConn does ship to the UK and Australia, although the price online is only given in dollars.

One major cost advantage of the RingConn Gen 2 and its predecessor – beyond their already relatively budget-friendly price – is that RingConn doesn’t charge you a monthly fee to access its full set of features. On the flipside the RingConn’s tracking isn’t quite as in depth as you’ll find from pricier options on our list of the best smart rings.

It’s a slight disappointment that the Gen 2 model is pricier than its $279 predecessor, although given how frequently the previous model was on sale, we expect this new RingConn smart ring will be discounted regularly, too. In particular, keep an eye out for sales events such as Black Friday to see if you can pick it up for a lower price.

RingConn Gen 2: Design

Thin yet durable design
Comes in three colors
Supports sizes from 6 to 14

The RingConn Gen 2 doesn't reinvent the wheel, so to speak, when it comes to smart ring design. It's a classic band shape that's available in sizes from 6 to 14. Based on your size, it weighs between 2g and 3g, and has a width of 6.8mm, and a thickness of 2mm. In essence, you won't be able to tell the difference between this ring and any other band unless someone catches it glowing when the sensors are monitoring your health metrics.

It's available in three colors; I’m a fan of the matte black finish, but jewelry traditionalists might prefer the silver or gold options. Whichever band you choose, the RingConn Gen 2 arrives with an IP68 dust-proof and waterproof rating, so it can survive being worn to the beach, or when you’re washing the dishes.

RingConn Gen 2 on a colorful mat. Red and Green lights are flashing. — (Image credit: Future)

I can’t speak for the durability of the other bands, but even following several weeks of constant use, my matte black RingConn Gen 2 is showing no visible signs of wear and tear – the band is scuff-free and about as pristine as the day I received it in the mail.

Just a few point to note for those of you who haven’t used a smart ring before. Before buying a RingConn smart ring, I’d recommend requesting a free sizing kit – you do this when you order your ring by selecting the “Don’t know my size” option. I'd request the kit even if you regularly wear a ring or have a smart ring from a different brand, since the RingConn sizes might not be an exact match to what you’re wearing because of the bumps on the inside edge from the placement of sensors.

Wear the dummy rings constantly for a couple of days; your ring size fluctuates through the day, so the "perfect fit" at the time you happen test could end up being too big or too small overall. The ideal size will fit snuggly: it shouldn’t slide off, but neither should it be a struggle to remove. This will mean the ring sits in the correct position throughout the day, rather than moving out of its proper orientation – something that can lead to inaccurate readings. Place your order once you’re certain of the size you need.

In addition, if like me you're not a regular ring wearer, you’ll need to get into the habit of not losing your band when you take it off. I recommend putting the ring in its case if you do take it off, or leaving it in a specific spot each time.

Design score: 4/5

RingConn Gen 2: Features

New sleep apnea tracking
Monitors health vitals, sleep, stress and activity
Limited fitness tracking

Using the smart ring and accompanying RingConn app, you can monitor five key stats: Sleep, Activity, Stress, Heart Rate and SpO2 levels. Using these metrics, the RingConn app provides you with an overall Wellness Balance score, and tips on how to improve your rating. I’ve taken it easy these past few days, so right now for me it’s recommending I try some moderate or high-intensity workouts to relieve some stress and up my activity rating.

Beyond a simple score for each metric you can click into the Sleep, Stress, Vital Signs and Activity sub-menus to view more in-depth stats such as a graph of your sleep cycle, your heart rate throughout the day, and a record of the calories the ring estimates you’ve burned.

If stats alone aren’t enough to keep you motivated, the app awards badges for achieving optimal health targets for a little added gamification.

RingConn Gen 2 app pages showing Hamish' sleep and health stats — (Image credit: Future)

In addition to the main stats, there’s also a fifth menu for the RingConn Gen 2’s brand new Sleep Apnea tracking, which is reportedly 90.7% reliable according to RingConn’s studies (although it's yet to be FDA approved). After initiating a comprehensive assessment over three nights of sleep, the app will either end regular monitoring if you don’t appear to have an issue, or will recommend that you speak to a medical professional if it believes you might have sleep apnea.

While the RingConn Gen 2 isn't suitable for in-depth monitoring or treatment of the condition, the sleep apnea feature can help to put your mind at ease if you’re concerned about your sleep health (although a doctor is the best person to speak to if you’re worried about sleep apnea).

However, it's with fitness tracking that the RingConn Gen 2 falls down. It doesn't have the capability to automatically detect when you start exercising; you have to manually start tracking from within the app – with it currently only supporting running, cycling and walking. As such, I often didn't remember to activate fitness tracking, meaning much of my activity went unrecorded.

Features score: 3.5/5

RingConn Gen 2: Performance

12-day battery life
In-depth sleep stats
Fitness tracking is easy to forget to activate

Throughout the day, the RingConn Gen 2 automatically collects your health metrics – at five- or thirty-minute intervals based on your preferences – and stores them on the device until it can sync with the RingConn app. Note, however, that you can manually request a scan using the RingConn app.

I did find it had some occasional syncing issues during testing, although on these occasions I was simply left waiting for a few more seconds for the app to update with the latest info. Overall, it was a seamless experience.

The app itself is fairly intuitive, and while there is a fair amount going on, the homescreen struck the right balance between busy and informative. Conversely, the sub-menus that deliver more in-depth analysis of your stats were a little more cluttered, although the ability to edit those busier menus and rearrange the blocks meant I was able to move the stats I cared most about to the top to help simplify my health data monitoring.

When it comes to accuracy, the RingConn Gen 2 appears to do a great job, with its results matching up closely with the scores achieved through my Fitbit.

The internal components of the RingConn Smart Ring Gen 2 on a grey background — (Image credit: RingConn)

The smart ring’s fitness tracking it isn't too bad, but as mentioned, it's held back by limited sports options and the fact it doesn’t activate automatically. If you do switch it on for your walk, run, or bike ride, the app will deliver an in-depth breakdown in the activity menu that shows how far you travelled (complete with a map of your route), the number of calories you burned, and a graph of your heart rate, color-coded to different heart rate zones such as Warm-Up, Fat Burning, and Aerobic. In terms of the latter, it will even break down precisely how long you spent in each zone as you'll see with other fitness trackers.

The one area that the RingConn Gen 2 is truly superb is battery life, with its 12-day offering trumping even top-end rivals such as the Samsung Galaxy Ring with its seven-day battery life. During tests, the RingConn Gen 2 delivered on its promise, and when it did eventually start to run low, the ring’s charging case – which can store an additional 150 days worth of charge – was able to top it up fairly speedily.

Now, I simply charge the ring whenever I take a shower, to keep it hovering steadily around the upper end of its battery life. In the app I can see the percentage and estimated usage time it has remaining by tapping on the ring icon in the top-right corner.

Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the RingConn Gen 2

Buy it if...

You want an affordable option
At only $299, and with no monthly fees, the RingConn Gen 2 smart ring is a solid, affordable yet still well-specced alternative to the best smart rings out there.

You need a long battery life
Offering a 12-day battery life and a charging case that can extend it to 150 days before you need to rely on a power outlet, this smart ring can definitely go the distance.

You’re not sure about smart rings
With its relatively easy set-up process and low(ish) cost, the RingConn Gen 2 is an excellent choice for people who want to try the smart ring experience without over-committing.

Don’t buy it if…

You want a fitness tracker
Smart rings are useful for health monitoring, but this ring isn’t the best for fitness tracking due to limited workout options and because it won’t turn on automatically.

You want something high-end
While there’s a lot to be said for an affordable option, high-end models from rivals such as Oura and Samsung do offer a more seamless and in-depth experience (albeit at a higher cost).

You value function over fashion
Smart rings are ideal for people who want to wear a regular watch but don’t want to lose out on health tracking. If you’d rather get something more feature-rich, a smartwatch or fitness tracker would be a better bet.

Also Consider

Samsung Galaxy Ring
With excellent software, and no monthly payments, the Galaxy Ring is our current pick for the best smart ring available. It's pricier, but its added benefits could be enough to sway you.
Read our Samsung Galaxy Ring review

Oura Gen 4
Oura is almost synonymous with smart rings, and its latest gen 4 model has just entered the scene. While it's pricier (especially when you factor in the subscription), those interested in buying a smart ring should at least give this one some attention.
Read our Oura Ring 4 review

Fitbit Luxe
If you aren’t dead-set on getting a smart ring, then the Fitbit Luxe is our pick for the best fitness tracker in general thanks to its excellent monitoring abilities and stylish design
Read our Fitbit Luxe review

How I tested the RingConn Gen 2

To test the RingConn Gen 2 I wore it pretty much all day, every day for a few weeks. It tracked me while I worked from home, when I did workouts, when I went out for walks, and while I slept. This meant I was able to see how well the ring performed in my regular daily routine as a health monitoring tool.

For a few days of testing the RingConn Gen 2, I wore my trusty Fitbit tracker alongside to compare the results of both devices and gauge accuracy. The results weren’t always an exact match, but for the stats that both devices were monitoring, they did align fairly closely.