The Apple Sport Band is a basic, albeit high-quality Apple Watch strap that’s ready for all activity, whether that be a stroll in the park or a run around the block. At $49 / £49, it’s not the cheapest Apple Watch band in the world, but its price is very much in-line with other official first-party accessories, like the Sport Loop, for instance.
This band is made of fluoroelastomer – ideal for sports due to its inherently sweat and waterproof nature. When I went on walks and did a home workout, I never found that the band was irritating on my skin or accrued any kind of damage.
On top of that, it’s super comfortable for everyday use. Even fastening the band on is quick and easy – just poke the aluminum pin through one of the strap’s holes and you’re good to go. That combination of comfort and convenience is a must-have for all of the best Apple Watch bands.
Something I would have liked to see, though, is a few more holes in the strap for fitness activity. That’s something that I loved about the Apple Nike Sport Band, for example, because it offers added breathability when you’re working up a sweat. Another aspect of the Nike Sport Band I appreciated was that it is composed of 30% recycled fluoroelastomer, but the Apple Sport Band doesn’t come with this sustainability pledge.
But enough moaning – I want to get back to the positives again. This band is available in a wide array of colorways – seven to be precise. I tested out the Plum variant, but this strap also comes in: Black; Denim; Lake Green; Light Blush; Starlight; and Stone Gray. All of these look fairly understated, making for a more discreet look, if that’s what you’re after.
In addition, this strap is compatible with three different case sizes: 40, 42 and 46mm. You can grab it either in small-to-medium (130-180mm) or medium-to-large (150-200mm).
Even if this band comes in at $49 / £49, you’re still getting value for money. Sure, you could opt for a third-party alternative – like the Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap – for less than $15 / £15, but this will be more prone to scuffs and won’t be so easy on the eye. Meanwhile, the Apple Sport Band has a satisfying material, reliable fastening method and classy looks. That makes it well worth the extra spend as far as I’m concerned.
All in all, I think the identically priced Apple Nike Sport Band beats this one out thanks to its more airy design and vibrant looks. But for anyone that likes a more reserved aesthetic, I’d say the Apple Sport Band is a great option for you. It has that real quality feel and it's super simple to slip on if you’re on-the-go. That alone earns it a recommendation in my book.
(Image credit: Future)
Apple Sport Band review: Price & specs
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Apple Sport Band?
Buy it if…
You want an understated look The Apple Sport Band comes in seven color options. None of these are dazzling and vibrant, but all of them play into a smooth, discreet look very nicely. When testing out the plum band, for example, I never felt that it stuck out like a sore thumb against my clothing.
You want to get fastened up quickly and easily Just poke the aluminum pin through one of the Apple Sport Band’s holes and bam! It will lock into place straight away. There’s no frustrating buckle or unorthodox contraption to wrestle with here, just pop and go. Simple, yet effective.
Don't buy it if…
You want a cheap replacement strap If you’re on the hunt for the ultimate bargain option, this ain’t it, I’m afraid. The Apple Sport Band will set you back $49 / £49 – by no means cheap for an Apple Watch accessory. Sure, that’s in line with the Nike Sport Loop, for example, but there are some really cheap third-party alternatives, like the CeMiKa Silicone Sport Straps if you’re looking for savings.
You want a super-classy band If you want a super swanky band, then you’re in luck – there are plenty of premium alternatives to be discovered on the Apple Store. Options like the Milanese Loop or Hermès En Mer, for instance, carry that air of high class that some of you may be craving – but these options will set you back by at least $100 / £100.
Apple Sport Band review: Also consider
Apple Nike Sport Band This one’s extremely similar – it even comes in at the same price. But if you want a bit more flair in your watch band’s design, the Apple Nike Sport Band is the perfect option. It has more vibrant, loud color options, eye-catching fluoroelastomer flakes throughout and breathable holes when you need to sweat it out. It’s been my go-to band since I started using the Apple Watch SE, so why not give it a try? Read our full Apple Nike Sport Band review.
The Apple Milanese Loop can be considered a mid-range Apple Watch band offering, coming in at $99 / £99 / AU$149. It’s neither as cheap and cheerful as the $49 / £49 / AU$69 Sport Bands, nor as unabashedly expensive as the premium $349 / £299 / AU$549 Link Bracelet bands. It can also be picked up in a newer Titanium edition for the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which retails for $199 / £199 / AU$299.
Its stainless steel mesh wraps smoothly around the wrist, free of any kinks or rigidity, feeling comfortable yet suitably premium. And for those who are sustainability conscious, it’s made of 65% recycled materials, while 100% of the energy used for manufacture is from renewable sources. Here we review the dark gray Slate color; but the Milanese Loop is available in a Gold and silvery Natural finish, too.
Putting it on and taking it off is a breeze. As is the case with all of the best Apple Watch bands, clicking it into place simply requires you to slide it into the connectors on either side of the Apple Watch, while to disconnect it, you simply press the release buttons on the Watch’s underside. Tightening and fastening the clasp is achieved via a magnetic clasp that affixes to the band itself, which feels delightfully innovative and typically Apple-esque. Unfortunately, it does have a slight tendency to snap to itself when you’re just trying to adjust the strap; this isn't a deal breaker, but it can make things more fiddly than they need to be.
We found during our Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap review that the lookalike band showed quite a bit of scuffing after just a few weeks of wear. Conversely, the Apple Milanese Loop looks as perfect now as the day I first clasped it round my wrist. While I didn’t risk wearing it during high-risk activities such as weightlifting, this band's superior build quality will shrug off damage like John Wick wearing a kevlar business suit.
Its mesh build also makes it far more breathable than many other Apple Watch bands. During my weekly bouldering session, the skin beneath my Milanese Loop strap didn’t become sweaty as it can with synthetic rubber straps, while flexing sufficiently to remain comfortable. I also found I rarely needed to take it off to shower; in contrast to Apple’s sports bands, which trapped water against my skin, the Milanese Loop allowed my skin to stay dry and protected, even when wearing it for days on end.
The weave of the Milanese Loop does periodically pick up fibers here and there. Unlike the Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap, it doesn’t tend to leave your garments looking like a shorn spring lamb, although it does occasionally require you to undo it to pluck out rogue threads. All in all, I didn’t find this happened often enough to be a bother, however.
All in all, the Apple Milanese Loop is a fantastic Apple Watch band. It looks great, it’s relatively sustainable, and it's more hard-wearing than cheaper rivals. Ultimately, whether you decide it’s the right strap for you will come down to cost. If you’re happy parting with $99 / £99 / AU$149 for an accessory for your smartwatch, it’s an easy recommend. If not, a cheaper lookalike such as the Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap might suit you better.
(Image credit: Future)
Apple Milanese Loop review: Price & specs
Released alongside the original Apple Watch back on September 9, 2014, the Milanese Loop is available now direct from Apple for $99 / £99 / AU$149. It arrives in Natural, Gold and Slate finishes. Alternatively, if you own a Titanium watch such as the Apple Watch Ultra 2 or Apple Watch 10, you can pick up the Titanium edition of the strap to match, which will be as hard-wearing as your wearable.
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Apple Milanese Loop?
Buy it if…
You want a band that will always look its best Not only is Apple’s Milanese Loop gorgeously premium in its design, it’s hardy too. After two weeks of solid testing, it looks as good as it did out of the box – which is more than we can say for some of its cheaper rivals.
You’re interested in sustainability Given 65% of it is made from recycled sources, while 100% of the energy used to make it comes from renewables, this is a suitably green option for anyone wanting a strap that doesn’t deplete the earth’s resources.
Don’t buy it if…
You want an affordable Apple Watch band At $99 / £99 / AU$149, the Milanese Loop is hardly the most inexpensive Apple Watch band on the market. While not an unreasonable price to pay, given its quality, if you don’t want a quarter of the cost of your Apple Watch to be its band, you’d be wise to look elsewhere.
You don’t want a lint trap on your wrist It isn't quite as bad as options such as the Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap, but the Milanese Loop still likes to accumulate errant fibers. It won’t depilate your favourite cardigan, but you will occasionally need to pluck the odd filament out of its mesh.
Apple Milanese Loop review: also consider
Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap The Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap comes with a couple of compromises: it can be a bit stiff to slide in and out of your Apple Watch, and it scuffs more easily. On the flip side, however, it looks great, it’s breathable and, most importantly, it’s super affordable – it costs from as little as £8.99 to a max price of £15.99, making it an easy choice for someone who wants their Watch to look fancy but can’t quite stretch to the Milanese Loop’s asking price.
You might have heard of Apple's patent dispute with medical technology company Masimo, which resulted in a sales ban on Apple Watches with SpO2 sensors in the US. Well, the Cupertino-based tech giant was also involved in a legal battle with health tech company AliveCor, which could've led to an import ban of Apple Watch by the International Trade Commission (ITC), but that won't happen now since the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has ruled in Apple's favor.
The US Court of Appeals has upheld a decision by the US Patent and Trademark Office's Patent Trial and Appeal Board...
In my 10 years of using Apple Watch, the Amazfit Active 2 is the closest I've ever come to ditching my Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Subjectively, the styling of the Active 2 isn't normally what I'd lean to, but Amazfit has nailed a clearly classic stainless steel design that will delight fans looking for a more subtle, understated smartwatch.
For just $99, the Amazfit Active 2 far outstrips its price tag, punching well above its weight in terms of features, fitness tracking accuracy, and more. Its battery life is to be lauded and definitely holds up to Amazfit's claims.
It's not perfect: it doesn't quite sit flush on my wrist, and to get NFC you have to pay $30 extra for the premium model. However, the astonishing $99 price tag covers up all of the quirks to render this a pure five-star pick in my book.
It's miles ahead of the CMF Watch Pro 2, and easily on a par with some more expensive mainstream offerings.
Nitfy features including an on-board AI assistant add to the experience. The Strength Training feature could use a little refinement, but its intelligent rep counter and timer are handy in the gym.
Overall, there's very little not to like here, and even the $129 premium model (not tested here) strikes me as good value for money.
Amazfit Active 2: Specifications
Amazfit Active 2: Price and Availability
(Image credit: Future)
$99/£99/AU(tbc)
Two versions
Premium version is more expensive and includes premium strap, NFC
The Amazfit Active 2 is available now from the company's website, as well as Amazon and a range of third-party retailers.
The base model reviewed here costs $99/£99, with Australia pricing and availability to be confirmed. For that you get the Watch, a sport strap, and the charging puck (but no USB-C cable).
The premium version is $129/£129 and includes a more premium leather strap, as well as a free silicone sport band. Upgrading to the premium version also gets you more durable sapphire glass and NFC for contactless payments.
Given the overall quality and what you get for your money, I think it's a fantastic price and a real value-for-money pick.
I'll touch on this more in my review, but given the overall price and what you get extra, I'd also have no reservations recommending the more premium model. However, both are excellent value.
Value score: 5/5
Amazfit Active 2: Design
(Image credit: Future)
New round display
Classic look with premium stainless steel
Imperfect fit
When it comes to smartwatches, I'm definitely team squircle. However, Amazfit made a big change with the design of the Active 2 that is slowly growing on me.
Where the original was really a clone of the Apple Watch in many respects, the Amazfit Active 2 boasts a stunning round design with a stainless steel body.
This is absolutely a smartwatch designed to look like a classic watch, with a really premium feel and finish. It's much more refined and less bulky than the CMF Watch Pro 2 I tested recently, and it's also really comfortable.
You get two buttons used for power, triggering workouts, and activating the AI assistant, as well as various other tasks you can assign.
I honestly can't believe how premium the design feels for a $99 smartwatch, Amazfit has really smashed it with this one and there's very little not to like.
(Image credit: Future)
Of course, it's not perfect: the bezel between the stainless steel chassis and the edge of the display is a little large, but even this doesn't look out of place and actually lends to the overall aesthetic.
The display is a 1.32-inch AMOLED display identical (in size and shape) to the aforementioned CMF Watch Pro 2. However, this one puts out 2,000 nits of peak brightness rather than Nothing's 600 nits.
On the back you get your usual array of heart rate tracking paraphernalia and LED sensors. The Active 2 is extremely light; our model tested here weighs less than 30 grams. It's super comfortable, although I did find the fit to be slightly imperfect, as it doesn't quite sit flush to my wrist. However, this is a very minor issue and doesn't detract from the overall experience. The sport strap, while comfortable, is also a little finicky to apply at first. The premium version features a more elegant black leather strap that I'd wager is easier to put on, and you get the sports strap included for free anyway.
These are very small gripes though. I have to say that at this price point, the Active 2 is one of the most impressive-looking smartwatches on the market, and will delight prospective users looking for a more classic look and feel rather than the chunkier aesthetic of other cheap smartwatches.
It's also one of the most comfortable I've ever worn, and you'll forget you're wearing it after a few hours out of the box.
Compared to the slightly cheaper CMF Watch Pro 2, a top pick in our best cheap smartwatch guide, the Active 2 has several key design advantages despite only being 30 bucks more.
There's the aforementioned brightness gulf, and crucially the Active 2 also has 5 ATM water-resistance, meaning it can withstand up to 50 meters of pressure, and can be worn for showers or brief swims. It's not waterproof by any means, but it's a lot better than most other options in this cheap smartwatch bracket, and it's really nice to know you don't have to take it off for every shower, cold plunge, or hot tub session.
Other impressive features include anti-fingerprint coating glass on the standard version. If you opt for the premium model, you don't get this, but you do get sapphire glass, which is much harder to scratch.
Design score: 4.5/5
Amazfit Active 2: Features
(Image credit: Future)
Vast feature set
Unique strength training and HYROX Race modes
AI coach, 164 sport modes, extensive health tracking
I'm frankly astounded at how many features you get with the Amazfit Active 2 considering its price tag.
I'd say the Active 2's feature-set is impressive for a smartwatch of any price tag, let alone one that costs less than $100. Starting with sport, exercise, and health, the Active 2 features nearly every feature you'd expect in a cheap smartwatch.
There's workout tracking for 164 sport modes, with a couple of unique advanced features. If you're training strength, there's smart recognition of 25 movements, automatic rep tracking, and a built-in exercise timer/workout plan generator you can follow. (I'll address the efficacy of this more in the performance section).
Runners will find a Track Run mode, smart trajectory correction, and even a virtual pacer. There's also Zepp Coach, an AI-powered workout companion that can generate customized training plans.
Health-wise, you'll find a daily Readiness score and insights and monitoring for heart rate, as well as blood oxygen, stress, temperature, heart rate, sleep heart rate variability, sleep stages and schedule, sleep scores, and more. There are reminders on board for high and low heart rates, low blood oxygen, and even high stress levels with prompts to perform breathing exercises.
Elsewhere, there's an onboard AI companion, Zepp Flow, that can pull up metrics with voice commands and change settings. Zepp Pay, powered by NFC, is only available on the more expensive premium model we didn't test, so if that's an important feature to you, it might be worth paying the extra.
You do get a separate wallet app for membership cards though, and other cool software features like To Do List. The Active 2 works with both Android and iPhone, and can be used to control your phone's music via Bluetooth, you'll also get call and SMS notifications as well as app notifications, and even Find My Phone.
Under the hood, you get GPS (Amazfit says there are five satellite positioning systems but hasn't shared any further info) and Bluetooth 5.2 BLE, as well as a microphone and speaker. It also, rather essentially for a watch, tells the time.
If I were being harsh, reserving NFC for the premium model is arguably a shame, but this is a technicality. Honestly, I can't believe how much smartwatch you get from the Active 2 for $99. You don't find features like ECG at this price point in the smartwatch market(even the doubly expensive Apple Watch SE doesn't offer it), but it's important to note that there are always going to be limitations in a $99 smartwatch.
Still, at this price, you'll struggle to find a more extensive set of features in a smartwatch, and the lack of NFC isn't enough to merit deducting any points when you can add it for $30.
Features score: 5/5
Amazfit Active 2: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
Exceptional battery life
Very accurate fitness and heart rate tracking
Snappy everyday use
Useful AI assistant
All of these features don't mean much if a smartwatch can't perform, but I'm happy to report that the Amazfit Active 2 has excelled in testing, handling everything I've thrown at it with ease.
Starting off with everyday use, the Active 2 is very snappy to use in day-to-day tasks. I've found scrolling menus, changing settings, reading messages, and more to all be very responsive and seamless.
Obviously, the Active 2 doesn't have the same polish as Apple's watchOS 11, and doesn't even run Wear OS, but it's still very impressive. It also features some very sharp-looking faces including the Vital face pictured here.
I conducted a series of tests to check the accuracy of the Active 2's exercise tracking and was really impressed. A gentle 34-minute run with the Active 2 on my left wrist and the best Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Ultra 2, on my right wrist, yielded exceptional parity.
The Active 2 nailed the GPS route map and the exact distance within two decimal places. Apple Watch gave my average heart rate as 135 bpm, while the Active 2 said 136.
Active calories for the Apple Watch and Active 2 were listed as 341 and 372 respectively, which is a bigger gap but still respectable. The jury is out on just how accurate any smartwatch calorie tracker is, so just being in the relative ballpark is enough for us here. For all we know, the Active 2 could well be the more accurate reading.
The Active 2 pinged 1km intervals at exactly the same time as the Ultra 2, and its heart rate monitor is actually more responsive, delivering more frequent reading updates than Apple's version, always within one or two bpm.
Comparing every metric gave a positive match, which I can only conclude indicates that this Active 2 can keep up with pretty much any smartwatch on the market when it comes to fitness tracking. It of course lacks the depth of the best Garmins, but so does pretty much every other smartwatch out there.
(Image credit: Future)
The Active 2 delivered similar competitive measurements versus the Ultra 2 during a strength workout test I did. It was here that I was first exposed to the Active 2's unique Strength Training features.
The watch features a built-in rep counter and system for logging weight, timing rest, and more. I can see that with plenty of practice, this could be a handy tool for strength training, because you can track your weightlifting on the fly and check your progress after the fact.
I found the automatic rep tracking worked most of the time, it's not perfect and obviously not as useful for exercises that don't involve moving your arms, but there's promise here. There's also a gym routine planner in the app, however, this is less intuitive. I was able to put together a test workout and follow the plan in the gym, but was left bamboozled by a number of strange quirks.
Each unit you add to the training is called an "interval", not to be confused with actual interval training. The app refers to reps (how many times you lift in a single set) as "times", and these are, somewhat confusingly, logged under the duration section of the exercise you want to add.
Likewise, sets (the number of times you do a certain number of reps) are referred to as "repeats" or "loop counts". The terminology is very confusing, and the first few times I tried to create a workout I really mangled it. The language is generic so that it can also be applied to other workout modes including intervals, running, and more, which is fine, but it's definitely clunky.
Furthermore, rest isn't added automatically between sets, but has to be put in manually. With practice I'm sure it's helpful but it is definitely not easy to do.
(Image credit: Future)
This was my only wrinkle in an otherwise flawless performance. The Strength Training feature is a very small part of the overall experience, so again it doesn't detract too much, and it's nice to have.
In my opinion, the coup de grace is battery life. Rated for up to 10 days of "typical usage," I started my battery life testing at around 9 am with 55%. 24 hours later I had used barely 15% battery.
53 hours later, my battery was 13%, using up less than 0.8% an hour, almost bang on the up to 5 days of heavy usage Amazfit promises. During that time I conducted three strength workouts, a run, and two full nights of sleep tracking, never taking the watch off or charging it.
As with any smartwatch, your mileage may vary and battery life can be influenced by a ton of factors including GPS usage and the always-on display. As it stands, though, the Active 2 is certainly good for its promised longevity.
The Active 2 also has an AI assistant party piece dubbed Zepp Flow. Powered by OpenAI, it's like Amazfit's own version of Siri, except it actually works and is useful. You can assign it one of the buttons for quick access, and use your voice to input simple commands.
You can adjust and tweak settings, call up health metrics using questions such as "How many steps have I walked today?", and even reply to messages on Android with the feature. Of all the prompts and questions I tried, Zepp Flow didn't put a foot wrong once, and it's incredible to see an AI-powered wrist assistant that's actually useful, especially on a $99 smartwatch.
Performance score: 4.5/5
Amazfit Active 2: Scorecard
Amazfit Active 2: Should I buy?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy it if...
You want the ultimate cheap smartwatch
You won't find a better smartwatch at this price, or one with this many features.
You're on a budget
This is much less expensive than cheap options from the likes of Garmin and Apple.
Don't buy it if...
You want elite fitness tracking
The Active 2 can't keep up with Garmin's industry-leading fitness tracking, and there are more capable pure fitness watches out there.
You want full iPhone or Android integration
Eschewing watchOS or Wear OS will always lead to quirks, so if you want the most seamless experience with your iPhone or Android, buy an Apple Watch or Wear OS model respectively.
Amazfit Active 2: How we tested
I used the Amazfit Active 2 as my main smartwatch for an entire week. I tested it during running and strength workouts, as well as overnight for sleep tracking. Comparisons were conducted using the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and I tried and tested all of the Zepp app features and functionality using an iPhone 16 Pro.
Amazfit Active 2: Also consider
The Original CMF Watch Pro is a pretty stylish and capable watch. It's cheaper than the Active 2, and has better battery life and a larger display over the newer CMF Watch Pro 2.
In terms of features and performance, the Active 2 is actually closer to the Apple Watch SE 2 than it does a lot of cheap smartwatches. Apple's version is more polished and the perfect iPhone option, but is much more expensive.
I'll be frank (you can still be whatever your name is): a lot has changed in the world of Bluetooth audio since May 2019. That's when the Powerbeats Pro 2's forefathers burst onto the relatively new true wireless earbuds scene and promptly cornered its fledgling athletic sub-genre.
The thing is, the wealth of reliable earbuds any of us can pick up now for as little as $20 were inconceivable six years ago, so the Powerbeats Pro 2 arrive as an interesting (quite large, cumbersome even) proposition. If their storied heritage did not exist, we might actually question what Beats was doing releasing a set of earbuds with a large curling tail on one end that does not facilitate open-ear listening, but instead includes a more traditional driver housing and neck for creating a closed seal betwixt its ear-tip and your ear canal.
One might argue that in the past few years engineers have collected substantial data and used it to create concha-fit and droplet-shaped ergonomic driver housings, which means we no longer need arms for our earbuds – even for sports. We might even think it odd for Beats to be pitching such a design at athletes – because other bright sparks have invented open-ear true wireless earbuds in the past four years, and these let us easily hear traffic or our trainer's voice as we work out.
But the Powerbeats Pro 2 get a hall pass for most of this, owing to the love we still have for the then-groundbreaking inaugural Powerbeats Pro. I remember the huge video ad I saw every day at London's Waterloo Station, featuring Serena Williams serving both looks and tennis aces while wearing an ice-white, Wimbledon-friendly set of Powerbeats Pro. Those earbuds – which arrived before the inaugural AirPods Pro and actually, before the 'Pro' suffix became a mainstay of the audio vernacular – soon seemed as iconic as the superstars who wore them.
So we need to be asking not only how the Powerbeats Pro 2 stand up against the best noise-cancelling earbuds aimed at regular users, but also how they compare to the best open-ear headphones that, until recently, were the preserve of athletes. Okay, as a set of 'regular' wireless earbuds, the case you'll be toting around is quite big – not quite coffee coaster big, but close. However, if you're an Apple Music subscriber the head-tracked spatial audio works very well, and the noise cancellation is quite good; neither is as good as what you get with the AirPods Pro 2, but the spatial audio in particular isn't far off.
Slipping them on isn't as quick a job as it is with other earbuds, but once they're on, if security is your main issue with Apple-styled buds you'll be pleased – these Beats ain't going anywhere. Also, at 10 hours from the buds and a further 3.5 charges in the case (for a whopping 45-hour total) the battery life is impressive, although if you're using ANC or spatial audio it's eight hours and a maximum playtime total of 36 hours. For clarity, you'll only get 5.5 to seven hours from your AirPods Pro 2 before they need charging. Not bad, eh?
See the sensor? (Image credit: Future)
However, for a set of sports-focused earbuds that sit inside the ear, a good transparency mode is important, and despite Beats' assurance that this is the most natural-sounding transparency mode in any set of Beats earbuds (with the adaptive algorithm powered by the H2 chip updating over 200 times per second) I've heard many more effective transparency profiles – and simply turning ANC off isn't something I'd advise, since this listening profile adds to the already-slightly tinny issues through the top end, making the soundstage a little too forward and sweet overall.
Price-wise, they're also a little hot and heavy-handed. Despite arriving at the same price as their older siblings, times have changed. You can buy similar designs for considerably less now; you couldn't then.
But stop everything! We need to talk matters of the heart. Because make no mistake, you should feel ready to place your heart in Powerbeats Pro 2's hands here, either via the Health app or your compatible, linked fitness app. Beats told me heart-rate monitoring had been on the company's mood boards for inclusion since 2014, and the feature's debut here is the result of well over four years on the bench with engineers (and subsequently in the ears of over 1,000 real-world athletes for testing).
What I can tell you is that the heart-rate monitor is here now, beautifully implemented in certain third-party apps when linked with Apple's Health app. And because of the pulse readings, the super-secure fit and the excellent battery life, you may be prepared to forgive the few shortcomings I've talked about so far, plus a couple of sonic shortfalls I've yet to get into.
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Price & release date
Unveiled on February 13, 2025
Priced$249.99 / £249.99 / AU$399.95
How often can a product come in at the same $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$399.95price as its 2019 counterpart and still not be considered great value? Simply put, competition has brought prices right down. These days, $100 / £100 is top-end for inclusion in our best budget wireless earbuds guide, and anything above that goes into mid-range and flagship territory.
For a brief comparison in the world of 'regular' buds, Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds come in at $299 / £299 / AU$449 and Technics' outstanding EAH-AZ100 are also in the same ballpark, at $299 / £259 / AU$499. Apple's AirPods Pro 2 currently cost around $199 / £199 / AU$349. Sports-focused options often come in a fair way under these kinds of figures (the Shokz OpenFit Air arrived in summer 2024 with a $149 / £119 price-tag for example) although the Bose Ultra Open buck the affordable trend – they can now be yours for a similar $249 / £249 / AU$349.95, having arrived at $50 more than that.
All of this is food for thought, but don't forget that none of the options I've listed above can monitor your heart rate…
(Image credit: Future)
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Specifications
(Image credit: Future)
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Features
Heart-rate monitoring is useful – unless you use an Apple Watch
Spatial audio with head-tracking enhances commutes
Disappointing IPX4 splash-proof rating
Let's start with the ticker-taker. It's not a new concept as I've already mentioned – Beats wanted to include it back in 2014 – but it's been a long time in development. The tiny sensor at the helm in Powerbeats Pro 2 (which is derived from the Apple Watch, but is actually 1/16th of the size of the sensor in the Apple Watch Series 10) contains a photodiode, an optical lens, an accelerometer and an LED sensor, but Beats admits that this component "wasn't that minuscule at first". And while the ear is actually a great place to access your pulse, developing a sensor small, light and accurate enough to wear comfortably in a headshell was a "long, arduous process".
Well, it's here now – and if you're not using anything else, it's good. You need to be wearing both earbuds to get a reading, because when you do, that green LED light sensor in each earpiece pulses over 100 times per second, then measures the light reflected back to calculate how many times your heart is beating per minute.
Accessing the feature might seem a little limited or even disappointing at first (there's no juicy 'Heart-rate' bubble in your iPhone Control Center when you click through, as I might have hoped), but this is because the Powerbeats Pro 2 are really meant to only start taking readings when you begin a workout, rather than constantly monitor your pulse throughout the day or whenever you choose to summon a reading. That said, you can dig into your iPhone's Health app, then either tap Browse at the bottom-right then Heart > Heart Rate to call up a live figure, or go to Summary at the bottom-left then Show All Health Data > Heart Rate, to see a graph of your live heart rate. But really, you're meant to be in training and with a third-party fitness app. The only currently supported one I use is Nike Run Club, but once you've linked the app and given the necessary permissions in Settings, it works a treat.
It's worth noting two things: if you wear an Apple Watch while using the Beats, the Watch readings are always prioritized, and secondly, the Powerbeats Pro 2 don't work with Apple Fitness Plus yet (which means no Strava support, i.e., the one I'd really like it to work with). At the time of writing, heart-rate monitoring through the Powerbeats Pro 2 is available in these iOS apps: Peloton, Slopes, Ladder, Open, Runna, YaoYao, and Nike Run Club, so plenty of activities are covered.
If you're on Android, it's different again (and arguably, better). Here, the feature will work with any fitness app that supports heart-rate monitoring; you just need to manually start each training session with a double tap and hold on either earbud.
On both iOS and Android you can turn the feature off in the settings if you don't want it taking readings.
Yes, I love the color so much, I did this… (Image credit: Future)
Now, on to Personalized Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos and dynamic head-tracking. This is Apple's 360-degree sound tech that adjusts the audio based on the shape of your ears, head, and – if you toggle it on – using your Apple device as a source so the audio has a fixed point of origin (and this moves between each ear as you move your head towards said source device). I really rate this in Powerbeats Pro 2, thanks to the solid fit and seal the design promotes, particularly when listening to more acoustic tracks. Want to hear how good it is? Try listening to Sam Fender's Arm's Length and holding your device at arm's length. Good, no?
The Powerbeats Pro 2 only support lossless audio with ultra-low latency on the Apple Vision Pro, so while high resolution is possible on these earbuds, it's an expensive route – and I do not own a Vision Pro headset (but leave a comment if you've tested it – I'd love to know whether there's a notable uptick in audio quality).
Call quality? It's good: the Powerbeats Pro 2 have a total of six microphones (three per earpiece) and callers throughout my testing said I sounded very clear and, on one occasion, "particularly empathetic". Beats says there's machine learning-based noise isolation tech at play, so callers will hear your voice at its best, aided by a voice accelerometer to detect when you're speaking and thus enhance clarity. What I can tell you is that if you take calls often on your earbuds, you'll be pleased here.
Other notable features include the option to customize what a press-and-hold of the physical 'b' button does on each earpiece (between Siri and noise control functions), automatic ear detection, Find My to locate a lost earbud in iOS (you can select which earbud you'd like to emit a beeping noise if it's around the house, or see where they are on a map) and Find My Beats on Android via the companion app. But there's no U1 chip in the charging case – and no inbuilt speaker as there is in the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4's charging nests, so the case itself is silent. There's also an ear tip fit test that's actually quite picky; I had to adjust to smaller ear tips to get the green light in both ears, even when I personally felt like I had the fit right.
As any AirPods owner will know, there's no multi-point connectivity in Apple earbuds – and that hasn't changed here. You can 'share' the audio you're hearing in your Powerbeats Pro 2 to other Beats or Apple earbuds in the vicinity using Apple's proprietary Share Audio option, but make no mistake, your Powerbeats Pro 2 can only be paired to one source device at a time. You also cannot tweak the EQ on a dedicated tab with the Powerbeats Pro 2 – although on iOS you can go into your iPhone's settings > Apps > Music > EQ to tweak things a little.
Finally (and I'm putting this under 'features' rather than 'design' since any sports-specific earbuds really ought to focus on durability) there's a somewhat disappointing IPX4 rating for the earpieces, and the case is neither water- nor sweat-resistant at all. What that means is that while wearing the buds for sweaty workouts should be fine (the Powerbeats Pro 2 will survive light rain, humid environments and splashes of water), they absolutely positively cannot be submerged in the drink, which seems at odds with their, er… athleticism. And it's not that it can't be done: the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro earpieces boast an IP57 rating, meaning they'll survive a 30-minute full submersion in water up to a depth of one meter.
Features score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Sound quality
Energetic and forward-sounding – almost to a fault
A little tinny in some profiles; beaten by the original Powerbeats Pro for bass weight
Turning off noise-canceling negatively affects the sound
This is not quite the glowing praise that long-term fans of Beats' Powerbeats Pro might have been hoping for. A 3.5-star rating for sound quality is not bad and make no mistake, the sound here is not without merit, but this is a huge and hotly-anticipated seventh-iteration Beats earbuds product and the heavily-leaked follow-up to the iconic Powerbeats Pro, nearly six years on. And I have to do my job: the sound isn't excellent – and not just because only the relatively lowly SBC and AAC codecs are supported (ie. no hi-res audio, unless you're using them with the Vision Pro).
Perhaps in part because the driver is smaller than in the original Powerbeats Pro (a 9.5mm dual-layer driver versus 12mm in the originals) the sound very different, and just a little more constricted. Deploying noise cancellation gives the Pro 2 the best chance to shine, and here, with dynamic head-tracked spatial audio also toggled on, there is separation and a healthy serving of detail in Tom Petty's textured vocal in Free Fallin', with guitar strings grazing each ear and a bridge as dynamically abrupt and agile as I remember. Nevertheless, cue up Gunna's One of Wun and the smouldering track is notably moodier, fuller and more resonant through the low end in both AirPods Pro 2 and my Technics EAH-AZ100. Listen with the Technics and I'm dropped into the mix; switch to the Beats and I'm just a little bit above it, wanting to get stuck into the bass a little more.
The lengthy acoustic guitar intro in Rod Stewart's Maggie May (known as 'Henry' and played by Martin Quittenton) has energy and pep – there's no faulting the Powerbeats Pro 2 for timing across the frequencies – but as the track continues, the forward-focused nature of the Powerbeats Pro 2 rather over-emphasises the keys and mandolin in the upper mids, even making Rod-the-Mod's voice sound a touch tinny. And sadly, things don't improve when you turn noise-canceling off, which appears to heat the soundstage up a notch, as if we're listening on cassette tape. Cue up the transparency mode and it helps quash the marginal sweetness, but during a run I simply didn't feel like enough ambient noise filtered in – and there's no way to tweak the levels of filtering in (or being nixed) here rather than 'Transparency', 'Off', or 'Noise cancellation'.
Sound quality score: 3.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Design
A triumph for security (and for on-ear volume tweaks)
Case is smaller, but still big by today's standards
They take a few seconds to fit – especially if you wear glasses
I've mentioned the slightly disappointing 'only splash-proof' IPX4 rating, so that's out of the way. I've also praised the up-to-45-hour stamina, which is a huge plus. Other than that, there's a lot to celebrate in the design department.
Said design (including the case, which can now charge wirelessly) is quite big by today's standards, but the Powerbeats Pro 2 are only as big as some of the best open-fit earbuds – the kind with the arm that slinks around your ear. In fact, you'd be forgiven for thinking this is an open-fit pair of earbuds given their size, but they're not – and for me, it's one of their biggest strengths.
In 2025, it's a very unusual proposition. Each earpiece also has a physical volume rocker on the bar above the 'b'-branded driver housing and because nothing works as consistently and reliably as physical buttons (maybe you're wearing gloves 'cause you're skiing; maybe your phone's in your kit bag) it's an excellent decision. It also means you're not fiddling with multiple presses of a main multi-function button to switch volume, which, as anyone used to this knows, can often mean unintended track skips or Siri piping up.
And the praise keeps coming! The colorways are excellent (see the 'electric orange' and 'hyper purple' colorways as well as your more standard black and 'quick sand' gray) and despite squeezing in that heart-rate monitor, Beats has made the Powerbeats Pro 2 light, very comfortable and unmovable. I tried to dislodge them during aerial hoop and silks training, spinning upside-down at speeds I've no business attempting these days, and they never even moved. Added to the extra pair of ear tips in the box, to equal five rather than four (the ear tip fit test won't let you off lightly either), they're honestly some of the most well-fitting earbuds I've ever tested.
The only downside to all this security? Fitting them requires a little bit of work and if you're someone who tends to leave the house in a rush, you might find yourself reaching for earbuds you can throw in and go. Unlike open-ear options, you do need to make sure the Powerbeats Pro 2's headshell is properly in your ear, then snake the arm around your ear, then twist everything back towards your crown, to lock it in. I often found myself accidentally pressing playback buttons while doing this or dropping one if I didn't sit calmly to perform these tasks, especially since I wear glasses to look at my screen (and the arms of your glasses sit in the same spot as the arms of the Powerbeats Pro 2, behind the ear). The thing is, if security is your main issue, it's worth it. Ultimately, the design here is still a hit with me.
Design score: 4.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Value
Excellent battery life
Heart-rate monitor is a current USP
Sonically they can be beaten for the money
At $249 / £249, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are not cheap for a sports-focused set of earbuds – and indeed against Apple's AirPods lineup, considering Apple now makes its new AirPods 4 for just $129. But the Powerbeats Pro 2 do contain a ticker-taking sensor no other AirPods can currently boast, and stamina levels that far exceed anything most earbuds can boast.
For me, the design is one of this proposition's biggest strengths; to others, the case may be a little big for the class of 2025. They aren't winning any awards sonically either – but the audio performance is a step up on most of the cheaper, sub-$100 wireless buds on the market when you deploy noise cancellation and dynamic head-tracked spatial audio. As always, it's a matter of priorities.
Honestly, I never thought I'd recommend a product that can't boast top-tier sound. But these earbuds go on for hour after hour, take your heart-rate and feel super-secure in your ears, so here we are…
Value score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review:
(Image credit: Future)
Buy them if...
You need buds for gymnastics, athletics, dancing or training Niche? Maybe. But these earbuds offer the most secure fit I've ever tested in a true wireless design.
You want to track your heart rate (without a watch) The heart-rate monitor is currently an Apple- and Beats earbuds first, and it works very well.
You're willing to pay for better stamina A 45-hour maximum playtime is up there with the best battery life we've ever seen – and it leaves AirPods for dust
Don't buy them if...
Sound quality is king The sound here is a shade under excellent across the frequencies, feeling a little light in terms of bass weight, and a little heavy-handed through the treble
You want an in-app tweakable EQ tab No dice here, friend…
You want to keep your ear canals uncovered Given their larger, sports-focused design and ear 'hook', you'd be forgiven for assuming this is an open-ear design in 2025. But make no mistake, these are in-ear earbuds.
(Image credit: Future)
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Also consider
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Prefer device-agnostic head-tracked spatial audio plus some of the best ANC in the business? These September 2023-issue earbuds from Bose are a great shout – and the in-ear security is nearly as good as the Powerbeats Pro 2. You'll have to forego multi-point connectivity, super-stamina (it's only 6 hours here) and a heart-rate monitor, but you'll get more detail from the sound quality. Read more in our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review
Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 The ANC-off and transparency profiles are much more enjoyable here – as is the sound quality generally. You also get a similar battery life and the option of Matt Berry on voice prompts (his "Waiting to pair!" is a delight). The overall aesthetic isn't as striking though, and they aren't as secure in your ears – also you can forget about having your pulse read… Read our full Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 review
(Image credit: Future)
How I tested the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
Tested for two weeks; listened against the AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, Cambridge Audio Melomania M100, Technics EAH_AZ100, JBL Live Beam 3, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra
Used at work, at home, during aerial training and on a beach in Florida
Listened to Tidal, Apple Music and Spotify on an iPhone 12 Pro, a Sony Xperia 1 V and a MacBook Pro
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 became my musical travel companions for two full weeks – after a thorough 48-hour run-in period. They accompanied me while running errands (fast walking; on the London Underground network), at home and throughout a surfing vacation in Florida – although they never joined me in the water (they're not waterproof, you see).
To better test the fit and security of the Powerbeats Pro 2, I wore them during a particularly upside-down aerial silks training session, a lyra (aerial hoop) class and a pole class, and they didn't budge once.
To test the audio quality across the frequencies, I consulted TechRadar's reference playlists (spanning everything from electro-pop to blues) on Apple Music, Qobuz and Tidal, but also to podcasts and albums on Spotify, and YouTube tutorials (mostly about how to bleed car brake pads, in case you were interested) on my MacBook Pro.
I’ve been testing audio products for just over six years now. As a dancer, aerialist and musical theater performer in a previous life, sound quality, the overall user experience and security have always been non-negotiable markers for me – and having heard how effective (and stress-relieving) ANC can be when the anti-phase tech is done well, I have grown to love it.
The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro, the brand's new flagship wearable, promises a longer battery life among other enhanced features over its previous incarnation, the TicWatch Pro 5.
The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro is a well-engineered device with a robust feel, yet it’s light and relatively slender for a fitness-focused watch. The screen glass is dense and feels tough enough to withstand the rigors of more extreme activities, while the display is clear and renders the UI very well. It’s responsive to gestures, but unfortunately, contact still registers through various materials, so accidental swipes when brushed against clothes and the like are possible.
Aesthetically, the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro is no standout, but it’s discreet enough to be worn on any occasion. The included straps are durable, but as someone who prefers nylon over rubber, I didn’t find them to be the most comfortable, and the loop failed to keep the excess slack in place consistently.
Running Google’s Wear OS, the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro is a fast performer, for the most part, thanks to the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chip. I did experience the occasional stutter and instances where apps and various functions didn’t work as intended, but nothing that drastically derailed the overall experience.
The Mobvoi Health Android app is great for tracking your workouts and physical data, with a clear layout, stable performance, and plentiful features and functionality. As you would expect, there’s a miscellany of health and fitness apps available on the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro right out of the box. Some of these work better than others: the measurements for steps and distance covered appear quite accurate, while those for activity, blood oxygen and anaerobic exercise seem to miss the mark.
All the performance and functionality of the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro comes at a cost. While there are certainly more expensive fitness wearables out there, there are also cheaper models, including the Fitbit Inspire 3 and the Apple Watch SE 2, that offer the same levels of performance and functionality (or close to them).
(Image credit: Future)
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro review: specs
(Image credit: Future)
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro review: price & availability
$349 / £329 / about AU$504
Available in Slate or Obsidian colorways
Costs more than some Apple Watch models
The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro costs $349 / £329 / about AU$504 and is available in two color schemes: Slate, which is a pale shade of green, and Obsidian.
The Enduro is priced the same as its predecessor, the TicWatch Pro 5, which is still available to buy. However, it has a few more enhancements, including a battery with a longer life and fast charging, a new ultra-low-power display, and new biometric measurement tools.
It’s cheaper than some dedicated fitness wearables, such as the Garmin Forerunner 265, but considerably more than other popular smartwatches, such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro and the Apple Watch SE. These both offer similar fitness credentials to the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro, although they lack ECG features and blood oxygen sensors.
If you’re only buying a wearable for health and fitness purposes, the Fitbit Luxe is our pick as the best fitness tracker around, or the Fitbit Inspire 3 if you’re after the best cheap fitness tracker.
Value score: 2/5
(Image credit: Future)
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro review: design
Solid build
Anonymous looks
Sleek interface
In line with other Mobvoi TicWatch models, the Pro 5 Enduro sports a round face with a thick chassis that’s not too bulky. As someone with small wrists, it didn’t feel oversized, although it isn’t as sleek as some wearables on the market, such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 or the Apple Watch.
As for the build quality, the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro feels very well put together, with a sturdy yet lightweight construction, and a rugged strap that feels secure and durable. However, I found it too thick to be breathable, generating quite a lot of sweat during physical activity, which makes for an uncomfortable sensation. This is an issue I usually have with most rubberized straps; I much prefer nylon.
Mobvoi does sell replacement straps, and there are plenty of compatible third-party ones out there. The TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro utilizes pins common on many standard watches to secure each end in place, with sliding bolts that allow you to install new straps without needing any tools.
The loop has a nodule that’s supposed to fit into the empty strap holes to secure it in place, but this didn’t work for me: at least once or twice a day, the strap would escape the loop, which is especially inconvenient during exercise.
What’s more impressive on the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro is the switches. The swivel on the crown is smooth and offers good haptic feedback, which is noticeable without being intrusive. Presses are also pleasingly tactile and the same goes for the side button above. This can be customized to perform various actions and functions, such as setting it as a shortcut for opening apps of your choosing. All these factors combine to make it easy to operate the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro.
The interface itself is sleek and minimal. Menus are easy to navigate, for the most part, and the UI is laid out clearly. There are also a generous amount of watch faces to choose from, with varying degrees of information displayed that can be customized further in the Mobvoi Health app. The included TimeShow app offers even more face designs, but requires a paid subscription.
There is a variety of display settings that can only be controlled when the main watch face appears, such as when you tilt the watch towards you. The AMOLED display is clear and bright, making it easy to view in all but the sunniest of conditions. The default ultra-low-power display, however, is hard to see no matter what the ambient lighting is like, regardless of what backlight setting you choose.
Design score: 3.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro review: Features
Accurate GPS
Plenty of fitness functions
Good customization options
Setting up the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro was simple enough, requiring the Mobvoi Health app to get going. You’ll also need to create an account (or sign in with your Google account) to save your workouts and other health data.
At time of writing, the app had a poor rating among users on the Play Store, scoring a meager 1.9 from 3,000 reviews, but during my time with it, I struggled to find much to criticize. It has a clear layout and a good set of customization options, with plenty of health data available for you to dig into. I didn’t experience any performance issues with it either. My only real complaint is that you can’t adjust the same number of settings as you can on the watch itself.
Once set up, the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro recommends apps to install, including those that are already present on your phone. Even though I checked the boxes for this during my setup, they failed to install as the Wi-Fi took a while to establish a connection. Thankfully, the Play Store app on the watch has the same list, enabling you to install your phone apps whenever you wish.
There are numerous Mobvoi apps related to fitness, which can seem overwhelming at first. The main one is TicHealth, which tracks metrics such as your steps and calories burned, as well as your heart rate, sleep and blood oxygen. Many of these require an initial measurement to get set up, which can be done via the new one-tap measurement app and takes only 90 seconds to complete its assessment.
Another key app is TicExercise, which can track your workouts. It offers a myriad of activities to track, from walking and yoga to Tai Chi and Motocross, and includes individual exercises in addition to overall routines.
As a fully-fledged Wear OS watch, the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro can run popular third-party apps downloaded from the Google Play Store, including Strava, Spotify, Audible, Microsoft Outlook, and WhatsApp, as well as Google’s own suite of apps, including Maps, Docs, and Keep. Although the selection is a far cry from what’s available on mobile devices, it’s still enough to make having a Wear OS smartwatch useful.
Features score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro review: performance
Lots of data available
Inconsistent measurements
Average battery life
Although many of the aforementioned TicWatch apps are effective for giving a general overview of your stats, they’re far from perfect. While the heart rate monitor seemed reasonably accurate, I found the sleep and blood oxygen measurements inconsistent. The latter was particularly dubious, ranging from 100% to 91% after taking numerous readings (bearing in mind that below 94% indicates insufficient oxygen supply). Naturally, Mobvoi does issue a disclaimer that the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro cannot be used for medical purposes.
It also gives some tips for improving your blood oxygen that verge on the eccentric, including recommendations to eat liver and fungus for their plentiful iron stores, as well as informing you that oxygen cylinders are used to increase oxygen saturation.
As for sleep tracking, there were times when it seemed to get the hours spot on, and know how many quality hours of sleep I got. However, there were also times when it grossly underestimated the amount of sleep, such as when it said I only got 3 hours and 15 minutes. Admittedly, this was a fitful night, but I certainly got more hours than this.
Activity monitoring was also inaccurate in its assessments, telling me on more than one occasion that I had been active for three hours from 9am to 12pm, despite the fact I was sitting at my desk the whole time. It also gave me a prompt to get more steps in to meet my daily target, straight after going for a 10-minute dog walk. And it failed to notice my three-minute run to catch a train, not even registering my elevated heart rate. Admittedly, this could be explained by how loose I had the strap at that moment – a consequence of the discomfort it caused me.
Despite the TicExercise app having a wide variety of exercises available for tracking, in practice, they didn’t offer the tailor-made experience I was hoping for. When using the weightlifting option for one of my workouts, the only data it offered was duration, calories burnt, and heart rate. It also broke down my workout time into warm-up, fat-burning, cardio, anaerobic and danger zone phases.
I found this breakdown quite inaccurate, since it said I spent most of the time in warm-up, a minimal amount in cardio, and none in the anaerobic state – essentially the opposite of how my actual workout went. I’m not an athlete by any stretch, but I certainly exerted my muscles during the workout, far beyond what the watch impertinently thought was a “warm-up”, and I certainly did more anaerobic than aerobic work.
(Image credit: Future)
For my outdoor run, it seemed much more accurate with its account of my pace, max speed, and time spent in a cardio-intensive state – although strangely it did seem to think that for five of my 18 minutes spent running, I was in an anaerobic state. It also split my times per kilometer covered, and offered average and maximum readings of my heart rate, pace, cadence, and stride length. It provided a very detailed route map too, showing exactly where I had been, along with a reading of the elevation gain, so the GPS certainly functions well, and I found it established a signal fairly quickly too. Clearly, TicExercise is at its best when assessing aerobic rather than anaerobic activity.
In terms of general use, the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro is responsive, with swipes being smooth, fast, and easy to perform. Functions and apps are quick to run too, and overall the Wear OS integrates nicely with Android devices, receiving push notifications and messages promptly – even when there’s no Wear OS app equivalent (Slack was a case in point here). There’s a good degree of cross-platform functionality as well, including the ability to easily control media playback from your smartphone on the watch.
There are a few minor usability issues, such as the watch failing to wake up when I brought my arm up, particularly when lying down at night, and coming on when I didn't want it to. Gestures occasionally failed to register, and some apps failed to open on the first tap. Notification and media playback symbols can also obscure the battery level indicator on some watch face designs. Overall, though, my experience with the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro wasn’t ruined by these niggles and minor bugs.
Third-party apps perform well on the whole. However, Spotify – an app many are likely to use during their workouts – did give me a few issues, ranging from playback and UI failures to Bluetooth headphones disconnecting unbidden. Whether the blame lies with the Spotify app or the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro is hard to determine, but it’s an issue worth mentioning.
Mobvoi claims that the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro battery lasts up to 90 hours, 10 hours more than the Pro 5. During my tests, however, I was getting substantially less than this. Over the course of 12 hours, I went from full to 70% with minimal use. The upshot is that I was getting closer to three days of use out of the TicWatch rather than four. On the positive side, charging is quick, thanks to its fast charging capability.
You can turn on essential mode to extend the battery life to up to 45 days, but you can’t access any of the other features beyond what’s shown on the ultra-low-power display. Since you can’t access the settings or control the watch from your phone in this mode, to return to normal you have to restart by holding the side button, which takes longer than it should. It feels as if the mode switching could’ve been implemented better than this.
Performance score: 3/5
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro: Scorecard
Should I buy the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro?
Buy it if...
You do aerobic exercise The TicWatch is at its most accurate when counting steps and tracking distance, with useful pace and route tracking functionality, thanks to the excellent GPS.
You have an Android phone As a Wear OS device, the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro integrates superbly with Androids. Some of your favorite apps are also available from the Play Store.
Don't buy it if...
You do anaerobic activity While runs can be tracked comprehensively, resistance training tracking isn’t at the same level.
You’re on a budget With an asking price of $349 / £329 / about AU$504, it's more expensive than most Fitbit and even some Apple Watch models, and these may be better options depending on what you want from a smartwatch.
You have an iPhone The TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro doesn’t work with Apple’s smartphones, so you’ll need to go for a Fitbit, Apple Watch or other compatible wearable if you want cross-device support.
Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro review: also consider
Apple Watch SE Apple still reigns supreme in the smartwatch space, and for good reason. Although it’s not strictly billed as a fitness watch, there are plenty of apps for the Apple Watch SE, both first and third-party, that can add that capability. And at $249, it’s cheaper than the TicWatch. You will, of course, need an iPhone to get going with it, though, and beware: there’s no ECG or blood oxygen sensor.Read our full Apple Watch SE review
Fitbit Luxe Fitbit was one of the first to kickstart the fitness wearables trend, and it’s still going strong with various models. In our Fitbit Luxe review, we said it’s one of the company’s best models. Note, however, that there have been a number of controversial changes to Fitbit services of late, including the axing of much-loved features, casting doubts over its longevity.
How I tested the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro
Tested for one week
All features and first-party apps used
Regularly active
I tested the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro for a week, wearing it every day and some nights. During that time I went about my normal routine, which included working at a desk, walking and exercising. I did a mixture of resistance training and cardio work, both indoors on a treadmill and out in the wild.
I also used as many of the available functions and apps the watch had to offer as possible, including all the preinstalled health and fitness apps, as well as other third-party apps.
I partake in physical activities, such as walking and resistance training, between two to three times a week, with some cardio thrown in when I can. I also commute to work, which can vary from taking public transport – including 10-minute walks either side – or walking the whole two miles each way to the office and back.
Following the FDA authorization of the new Hearing Aid mode for the AirPods Pro 2 last week, today Apple has another wearable in a similar situation. The sleep apnea detection for the Apple Watch is now FDA certified.
This will work with the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2. The Apple Watch Series 10 will be released on September 20. The feature will be part of watchOS 11, which is expected to go out today.
Once you enable it, it needs ten nights of sleep tracking data over a 30-day period to determine whether you may have sleep apnea. It also offers insights into sleep...
According to a new report out of Korea, LG is seeking compensation from Apple for the Cupertino company's canceling of its order for microLED panels for the Apple Watch Ultra. The microLED Apple Watch Ultra was rumored for a couple of years before it was reported, back in March, that Apple dropped its order for microLED panels.
That order was apparently made from Osram, but now it looks like LG was also involved, and the Korean company isn't letting this slide - it wants Apple to pay for the "suspension" of the Apple Watch microLED project.
LG was preparing to carry out the "microLED...
Hairline cracks on iPhones and Apple Watches have been reclassified as accidental damage, meaning they are no longer covered under the standard warranty. This is due to a change in Apple’s warranty policy from earlier this week.
This didn’t use to be the case, hairline cracks (ones that appear with no visible point of impact) were a free repair. They still are for iPads and Macs, but Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers have been notified that iPhones and Watches are no longer covered.
AppleCare+ does have accidental damage protection, so that $380 screen replacement (for...
A lot of people will consider any non-round smartwatch inspired by the Apple Watch, regardless of how close the design actually is aside from the rectangular-ish shape. And even if something is inspired by something else, it's still pretty easy to distinguish between the inspiration and the "inspired by".
Huawei, however, is in a different realm with the upcoming Watch Fit 3, if the renders of the device that leaked today turn out to be accurate. It would be very hard for most people to tell this one apart from an Apple Watch from afar - and even up close, we'd wager.
Huawei Watch Fit 3...
