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Engwe P20 review: A cheaper Brompton alternative
4:00 pm | November 20, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Tags: | 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

Engwe P20

(Image credit: Future)
  • £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

Engwe P20

(Image credit: Future)
  • 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

Engwe P20

(Image credit: Future)
  • 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

Engwe P20_20

(Image credit: Future)
  • 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: , | 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

Ticwatch Atlas

(Image credit: Future)
  • 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

Ticwatch Atlas Review

(Image credit: Future)
  • 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.

TicWatch Atlas review

(Image credit: Future)
  • Features score: 4.5/5

TicWatch Atlas: Performance

Ticwatch Atlas

(Image credit: Future)
  • 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.

TicWatch Atlas review

(Image credit: Future)

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.

Vitafit smart scale

(Image credit: Future)

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?

Vitafit smart scale

(Image credit: Future)

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.

Read more about how we test.

  • First reviewed October 2024
PUSH review: The AI app of choice for strength-based athletes
11:03 am | October 24, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Fitness Apps Gadgets Health & Fitness | Comments: Off

Push Two minute review

After an entire year as my fitness companion, PUSH Workout & Gym Tracker has become an indispensable part of my training regime. PUSH is the brainchild of fitness influencer and YouTuber Joe Delaney, and is designed to do one thing extremely well. It’s an app made to help you build muscle as quickly as possible, using AI-powered workout routines, strict exercise tracking, and measured progressive overload.

The first thing you notice about PUSH is its sleek and well-built interface. Workout and fitness apps can often be a cacophony of bright colors, images, text, and numbers everywhere, but not so with PUSH. You can tell that real effort has gone into the user interface and the experience of using the app. The fonts, menus, and icons are all well-thought-out, spacious yet comprehensive. There are just a few colors set against the white background, a traffic-light system helps signal progress, PBs, and plateaus at just a glance.

When using PUSH for the first time, you’ll be asked to generate a workout plan. Plans are flexible, but range between three and six sessions a week. You also get to pick your preferred split (gym lingo for your sequence of training sessions), choosing between either "full-body" sessions or "push-pull-legs". The latter is more familiar to most gymgoers, but the former is the most optimal split, with muscles grouped together to minimize crossover fatigue.

You’ll also be asked about your sleep and stress levels, training experience, and muscles to focus, before finally the level of equipment available to you. You can even substitute certain exercises from your plan before you start, and over time the app will make recommendations if you generate new plans, so as increasing or decreasing your workout frequency. The plan generation software is really simple and easy to use, so you always feel like you get the right program for you.

Once you’ve got your program, it’s time to get started. You can view upcoming workouts and scroll between days to see what’s on the agenda, giving you a nice overview of how the week is panning out. You’ll probably be surprised to find a pretty diverse mix of exercises over the course of your week. You’ll often find yourself training legs, back, shoulders, chest, arms, core, and more on the same day or together in ways you might not expect, but it’s all part of the optimization process at the heart of PUSH. A bit unfamiliar at first, I’ve definitely felt the benefits of switching up my training routine and spreading the load more evenly across different muscle groups.

Push workout app on iPhone

(Image credit: Future / PUSH )

Workouts are broken down into phases, so you’ll start with a strength phase of high-weight, low-reps, with three or more minutes of rest. Then you move on to stabilized compounds like lateral pulldowns, before ending with a pump phase of lower weight, higher reps, and reduced rest. For each exercise, you’ll get very clearly marked target weights and reps, and you simply tick the box by tapping on it with your thumb to mark off a set and start your rep timer. You can manually adjust the entries if you fall short of your target reps, or you lift more weight than listed in the app.

Over time, the AI will track your progress, and it'll eventually suggest a new weight or an increased number of reps. This will become clearer over time as you use the app, but it’s highly motivating and gives you an amazing sense of progress. If you stall, it’ll recommend a "plateau breaker" exercise, or you can attempt the exercise again. You can also switch out exercises on the fly during workouts, too.

The app presents progress over your last seven days, highlighting muscles that are likely growing or stalling, which can help you refocus your efforts as you exercise. Each exercise is accompanied by a helpful animated guide video, although beginners might find the lack of instructions a bit daunting.

There are a couple of quirks to using PUSH. I don’t love that there’s no volume control for the rest timer. It’s tied to the volume of your music (at least on iPhone), so the louder your music or podcast, the louder the beep at the end of your rest period. The AI also isn’t infallible; recently I plateaued at a 100kg bench press, and the AI suggested I try a plateau breaker of 1002.5 kg, instead of 102.5kg.

It feels unfair to mark the app down for only serving one purpose, however, prospective users should be aware that PUSH is only tailored towards building muscle mass in the gym. You won’t find any Pilates, mobility, cardio, or any other discipline here: this is purely strength-based. The only other possible drawback is the price: at $89.99 / £89.99 / AU$144.99 , the yearly subscription is a big commitment, and some people might find the monthly cost too much to stomach compared to the price of, say, Apple Fitness Plus or Fitbod.

Generally, however, the app has been a joy to use in the 12 months that I’ve been a customer and is well worth the financial investment. And there’s more to come, creator Delaney has teased changes coming to the app on his Instagram, so there’s never been a better time to get on board with what is undoubtedly one of the best fitness apps on the market.

Push: Price and availability

Push workout app tracker

(Image credit: Future)

The Push app is available globally on Apple’s App Store for iPhone and the Google Play Store for Android. There’s a brief free trial available, after which you’ll pay $89.99/£89.99/$AU$144.99 a year or $15.49/£14.99/AU$23.49 a month to use it.

Push: Specifications

Push app reps and weight screen

(Image credit: Future / PUSH)

Push: Scorecard

Push: Should I buy?

Push app daily workout viewer

(Image credit: Future)

Buy if it...

You want to build muscle in the gym

This is one of the purest fitness apps on the market for building muscle mass.

You want a structured workout tracker with progressive overload

PUSH excels at tracking your workout progress and keeping you focused during sessions.

Don't buy it if...

You want a free or cheap workout app

PUSH is more expensive than other options on the market.

You want a fitness app for anything other than muscle-building

PUSH does not include any other type of exercise or nutrition guidance.

Also consider

Fitbod

A pocket personal trainer with huge range of exercises that caters to all skill levels.

Read our full Fitbod review

Apple Fitness Plus

Slightly cheaper, Apple Fitness Plus features a more diverse array of content with a focus on guided video classes, with disciplines including Pilates, Kickboxing, Yoga, and more.

How I tested

I’ve paid to use PUSH for one year, and have used it six times a week every week for the last 12 months. I’ve generated multiple fresh plans to follow, and have used its features over the course of an entire year by performing a daily workout with the help of the app. All of my testing was done on an iPhone 15 Pro Max or iPhone 16 Pro Max.

First reviewed: OCtober 2024

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro review: The feature-rich smartwatch falls short of its premium price tag
7:23 pm | October 22, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: | Comments: Off

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro: one-minute review

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).

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro on wrist

(Image credit: Future)

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro review: specs

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro on table

(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

Close up of Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro buttons

(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

Close up of Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro face

(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

Rear of Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro

(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.

Close up of Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro strap

(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.

Huawei Watch D2 review: Blood pressure monitoring at its best
7:09 pm | October 21, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Huawei Watch D2 review: One-minute review

If we had a 'best for blood pressure' category in our best smartwatches buying guide then the Watch D2 would be instantly catapulted into this position. It supersedes the Watch D that was released in 2022, and is looking set to reignite a watch series that was otherwise going to be consigned into the depths of smartwatch history.

Blood pressure monitoring in a smartwatch is an incredible achievement, a reality made possible through an airbag strip located behind the main watch strap. At first, I thought the strip would get in the way and be too uncomfortable to wear on a daily basis, but I was wrong. It sits neatly as part of the strip and (if anything) provides an extra layer of comfort.

Blood pressure readings appeared reliable and accurate, although the watch did struggle relatively regularly to get a reading at all. It required a certain level of accurate positioning on the wrist. I appreciate it's a medical piece of equipment, but I'd like to see increased predictability in the Watch D3.

As good as the Watch D2 is for blood pressure monitoring, it is equally let down by its lack of advanced smartwatch features. At a cost of £350 (around $400 / AU$700), I'm disappointed not to see the ability to make contactless payments, listen to music through Spotify or Amazon Music, or even listen to audio messages on WhatsApp.

I know a lot of the cost can be attributed to the advanced blood pressure capabilities, but I think that has limited this watch to a rather niche group of people and their needs. Wide market appeal might therefore be lacking.

The watch is certified by both the EU's Medical Device Regulation body and China's National Medical Products Administration. This opens up an almost global market, but the distinct lack of release in the US might further hamper appeal.

Having worn this watch for a number of weeks, I'm left with an overall positive feeling. It looks great, performs well, and provides an adequate extension to my smartphone. There's still room for improvement, which I'm sure will come in future releases but for now the D2 represents an important step in smartwatch development.

Huawei Watch D2 review: Specifications

Huawei Watch D2 review: Price and availability

Huawei Watch D2

(Image credit: Future)
  • £349.99 in the UK
  • Not available in the US / AU
  • Also available in China

The Huawei Watch D2 is available in the UK at a price of £349.99. Blood pressure monitoring is certified by the EU's Medical Device Regulation body. The device is also available in China but that's as far as Huawei's market's stretch.

Huawei continues to be banned in the US, which seriously limits the company's markets. Otherwise, the watch isn't cheap and is missing a few key smartwatch features at this price point, although the revolutionary blood pressure monitor makes up for it.

  • Value score: 4/5

Huawei Watch D2 review: Design

  • Good-looking design
  • 1.82 inch AMOLED
  • Thick watch

Upon taking the Watch D2 out of the box my first impressions of the design were pretty positive. The 1.82-inch AMOLED display takes centre stage, providing a substantially sized screen for showcasing watch faces, health data, and notifications.

The colour display has a resolution of 480 × 408 pixels with a PPI of 347. Text and graphics look absolutely fantastic with a high level of clarity, definition, and vibrancy. There were no signs of pixelation or definition problems.

The display is encased by a black or gold case, which frames the watch nicely. Considering how impressive the display is, it would benefit from a much thinner bezel, especially at the top and bottom of the display. The watch itself is sized at 48 × 38 mm. The aluminium alloy case continues back to the rear of the watch where a black plastic panel takes over. The thickness is 13.3 mm, although this is at the thinnest location and excludes the sensor area.

This is one of my biggest gripes with the watch design: like its predecessor, it's just far too thick. The sooner Huawei is able to recess that sensor further into the watch the more comfortably it will sit on the wrist.

Huawei Watch D2

(Image credit: Future)

To the side of the watch is a rotating crown and a function/ECG button. These perform well and enhance the overall operation of the watch. I did find myself using the touchscreen more than the buttons but they're there if you want them.

The watch is built with premium materials, giving significant strength to the quality and level of durability. I had no concerns that I was going to damage the watch or that any individual parts weren't going to stand the test of time.

There are two watch strap options, including 'Black Fluoroelastomer' and 'White Composite Leather'. I was testing the former. The material looks great and, more importantly, feels nice on the wrist. The locking mechanism provides a quick and easy way to take the watch on and off.

The blood pressure monitor airbag strip is directly connected to the watch strap itself. I couldn't initially see how this was going to be comfortable but, in reality, it provided an extra level of cushioning.

The watch ships with a wireless USB-A charger, which is better than most that I have tested. The watch magnetically connects to the charger and doesn't require the watch to be in any particular orientation.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Huawei Watch D2 review: Features

Huawei Watch D2

(Image credit: Future)
  • Blood pressure monitoring
  • Extensive tracking capabilities
  • Lacks advanced key smartwatch features

The single biggest standout feature of the Huawei Watch D2 is the Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM). ABPM is delivered through a 26.5 mm ultra-narrow mechanical airbag that is attached to the inside of the watch strap. It inflates quickly and easily, providing everything required to take this vital health metric. The idea behind the feature is to provide blood pressure monitoring at will without a large cuff. So, whether you're working, exercising, relaxing, or sleeping, it's now easier than ever to perform ABPM tests.

The Watch D2 lets users run a 24-hour auto-monitoring plan. This is helpful for noticing trends across a whole day, including when you're sleeping. Do be prepared to be woken up through the night though unless you have a special skill of sleeping through the air-bag inflation.

Huawei Watch D2

(Image credit: Future)

Another relevant feature is the ECG analysis. Huawei have improved their technology from the Watch D, now providing more accurate and responsive results. If you're interested in this level of detail, then you can get the data required to help you identify the potential presence of common heart conditions.

Additionally, Huawei have included a sleep mode that includes heart rate, SpO2, respiratory rate, and abnormal breathing tracking. As you wake in the morning, you can see detailed results through the Huawei Health App. It also includes white noise, natural soundscapes, and relaxing music to help you get to sleep.

The Watch D2 also includes a range of smartwatch features, including notifications, making and receiving calls, and listening to offline music. Unfortunately there are quite significant limitations, including the inability to make contactless payments, listen to WhatsApp audio messages, or listen to music through Spotify or other music providers. It's all got to be done through your phone.

  • Features score: 4.5/5

Huawei Watch D2 review: Performance

Huawei Watch D2

(Image credit: Future)
  • Accurate blood pressure monitoring
  • Good exercise tracking
  • Responsive display

ABPM is a rare commodity in a smartwatch, so I was keen to test the accuracy and reliability of the feature. Having set the watch up and got the watch and my arm in position, I proceeded to set the watch off on its monitoring. With the air-bag inflating, I was keen to see what the results would be.

I ran the same tests numerous times and gained very similar results, which showed a pleasing level of consistency. I'm aware of what my normal blood pressure levels are and the watch delivered results within that spectrum.

I did have some problems with reliability and at times, I couldn't get the watch to take the measurement at all. This will have mostly been down to my incorrect positioning of the watch but despite that, I would like to have seen more consistent monitoring capabilities.

Other health tracking metrics are measured with ease, as they don't require quite the same level of mechanics or precision on positioning. Its sleep tracking accurately detected all my wakings as well as times that I was in deep or light sleep.

I then took the watch out and about while I walked, ran, played football, and cycled. The D2 picked up GPS without any problems at all and accurately detected where I was located. All of this was displayed on maps and I experienced no problems with the watch getting this wrong. Metrics were all recorded and tracked without problem and the Huawei Health app proved a faithful companion for digging deeper into those.

Battery life is advertised as six days with normal usage. I experienced a range of different lengths with a greater range when I was only doing exercise tracking and basic smartwatch features as well as a shortened range when using it more intensely.

  • Performance score: 4.5/5

Should I buy the Huawei Watch D2?

Buy it if...

You want regular blood pressure monitoring
Being able to perform ABPM at will is one of the best features of the Watch D2. It's fast, effective, and a big leap in smartwatch technology.

You want a top-quality display

The 1.82-inch AMOLED display looks fantastic thanks to the 480 × 408 pixels resolution with 347 PPI.

You want great battery life

The Watch D2 has an impressive battery life especially considering what monitoring and tracking it is performing. Battery life does reduce significantly if regular ABPM is performed.

Don't buy it if...

You want advanced smartwatch features

There is a distinct lack of contactless payments and the ability to listen to music on streaming services.

Huawei Watch D2 review: Also consider

Apple Watch Series 9
The Apple Watch Series 9 is the best smartwatch for most iPhone users. It offers a Double-Tap gesture, all-day battery life, and excellent health features. Read our full Apple Watch Series 9 review.

Suunto Race S
One of the best watches for runners or athletes in general. Fantastic tracking features and a long battery life provide users with everything required to get exercising. Read our full Suunto Race S review

Huawei Watch D2: How I tested

I've enjoyed wearing the Huawei Watch D2 for several weeks and have tested as many of its features as I possibly could. I focused on blood pressure monitoring, ECG analysis, and exercise tracking. I tracked walking, running, football, and cycling to give a good spread of activities.

I paired the watch with the Huawei Health app to get the complete health tracking experience offered by Huawei.

Xiaomi Smart Band 9 review: the cheapest fitness tracker you should consider buying
6:41 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Fitness Trackers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Tags: | Comments: Off

Xiaomi Smart Band 9: One-minute review

Not many tech brands are as prolific in making cheap fitness trackers as Chinese giant Xiaomi; the brand cut its teeth on making inexpensive alternatives to top-end smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches, and it’s the same with gadgets like the new Xiaomi Smart Band 9.

The second of its budget fitness gadgets released in the West in 2024 after the Smart Band 8 Pro, the Smart Band 9 doesn’t compete with the giants of the wearable world in terms of specs or features. The Xiaomi won’t go head-to-head with your Apple Watches, Garmins, or Fitbits in terms of health monitoring.

Instead, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 offers a useful core of features at an impressively low price. It’s the cheapest fitness tracker that I could find sold online from a brand I’d ever heard of, and it dramatically undercuts some big-name rivals such as Fitbit.

These core features include sleep tracking, step counting, heart rate monitoring, and calorie counting; turn on certain sports modes and you get a lot more. The results are reasonably accurate too, although it’s not pinpoint precision, and there is no GPS offered.

You can also use the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 as a smartwatch-lite, with notification handling, music control, and weather reports. A few rough edges in this area reflect the price: notifications could be buggy, initial pairing was tricky, and raise-to-wake didn’t always work as intended. But my annoyance would wear off when I remembered the price, and most of the time it worked fine.

As affordable fitness trackers go, this is one of the best on the market right now, but it’d be best enjoyed by people who haven’t tested others. It’s a great entry-level option for people who are new to the health monitoring game and want to test out a gadget to do so, without breaking the bank.

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 on a man's wrist in front of a green park.

(Image credit: Future)

Xiaomi Smart Band 9: Specifications

Xiaomi Smart Band 9: Price and availability

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 on a man's wrist in front of a green park.

(Image credit: Future)
  • On sale now
  • Goes for $60 / £34.99 / AU$79.99
  • Undercuts most rivals but not the post-discount Band 8 Pro

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 was released in late September 2024 alongside a few other gadgets from the company, which included a redesigned Xiaomi Watch 2 and the Xiaomi Buds 5.

You can pick up the tracker for $60 / £34.99 / AU$79.99, so this falls decidedly into the catchment area for our list of the best cheap fitness trackers. The cost represents a slight price hike of $10 in the US, though in the UK and US, it hasn’t changed in price.

At that price the Smart Band 9 easily undercuts our best-in-class Fitbit Inspire 3 as well as other rivals like the Huawei Band 9, Samsung Galaxy Fit 3, Honor Band 9, and Amazfit Bip 3 Pro. If you’re looking for an affordable wearable from a respected tech company, this is one of the cheapest you’ll find before you venture onto the dark side of Amazon.

The only thing it doesn’t undercut is its predecessor, the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro. That launched earlier in 2024 for $99 / £60 / AU$95 but only six months on from its release, I’ve found it from multiple retailers at half its launch price. This chunky fitness tracker is the Band 9’s biggest rival, and I’ll look more at this competitor right at the bottom of this review.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Xiaomi Smart Band 9: Design

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 on a man's wrist in front of a green park.

(Image credit: Future)
  • By-the-numbers fitness tracker
  • Bright 1.62-inch AMOLED screen
  • Band is TPU but other options on sale

Experienced fitness tracker customers will find no surprises in the Xiaomi Smart Band 9.

The screen is a 1.62-inch AMOLED panel with a 192 x 490 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and 1200 nits max brightness. This latter is a big upgrade over past models and it makes it easier to see the screen in direct sunlight. Automatic brightness has also seen an upgrade and I never found any issues with its performance, which is the best testament to its efficacy.

I’ve previously had issues with Xiaomi bands (and other fitness trackers) struggling to pick up touch, especially if my hands were wet, but that wasn’t the case for the 9th-gen model. I found the screen wonderfully convenient.

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 on a man's wrist in front of a green park.

(Image credit: Future)

Some may find the lack of any physical buttons a little confusing, but it’s easy to get used to a solely gesture-based navigation system.

The band’s body measures 46.53 x 21.63 x 10.95 mm and weighs 15.8g, and it’s made of aluminum, unlike some past models. This makes it feel nice and sturdy, and its 5ATM water resistance ensures it won’t get damaged from submersion in water. It’s also one of the smaller fitness trackers I’ve tested, which will be good news for people who don’t like bulky wearables.

A few different color options for the Smart Band 9 are going on sale depending on the region – black, silver, light blue, rose and gray options are all available with straps that match.

The band Xiaomi sent me had its default TPU strap which you can see in the images, as well as a magnetic loop one. The former was a little fiddly to use when I was putting the watch on, but I found the latter would slowly slip during use, leaving me with a slightly looser band. As a result, I ended up using the default band most – Xiaomi launched the Smart Band 9 with a few different straps you can buy online, but I only tested these two.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Xiaomi Smart Band 9: Performance

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 on a man's wrist in front of a green park.

(Image credit: Future)
  • 21-day battery life
  • No GPS but heart rate and other trackers
  • 155 fitness modes, varying in usefulness

According to Xiaomi, the battery life of the Smart Band 9 is 21 days – in my experience that’s almost accurate, as I reached 20, but with an above-average amount of workout tracking during that time in order to test the watch (including an 8-hour long run at one point, which barely dented the battery bar).

That’s a competitive battery life, with most rivals tapping out at two weeks or 14 days, so if you get battery anxiety this is the fitness tracker to get.

Looking at the fitness performance, as you can imagine for the price you’re not getting the most robust or razor-accurate tracking of all time, but I didn’t find it was ever way out.

GPS tracking is done using connected GPS to your smartphone, so you can’t ditch your mobile when going for a run or walk, and accuracy won’t necessarily be quite as high as with a GPS watch. However, it’s not wildly inaccurate either – after an entire marathon I was only several hundred meters off my companions’ more accurate devices.

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 on a man's wrist in front of a green park.

(Image credit: Future)

That theme of ‘in the right ballpark’ is reflected in the watch’s other tracking elements too. Heart rate, step count, and moving minutes all felt reasonably correct when compared to other devices. That wasn’t as true for sleep tracking, which sometimes errantly thought I was asleep when I was reading in bed. However its breakdown of sleep stages was useful, and it’s not something you can expect in all budget fitness trackers.

There are 155 fitness tracking modes by my count, which range in usefulness. Some, like running, indoor rowing, and swimming, provide useful information specific to the activity, but most purely measure time, calories burned, and heart rate. I won’t knock that though as I found the first and last useful during gym sessions to space my sets out.

Digging deep into the menus you can find some pretty odd workout modes like auto racing, chess, and mass gymnastics, but again these all just measure heart rate and time.

I’d recommend the watch most of all for runners, not only because it provides you with pretty in-depth information about your activity, but because of various ‘running courses’ which are basically interval training sessions. The watch will advise you when to run and at what speeds, which can be useful for people trying to build up their cardio.

Xiaomi also charts a ‘Vitality score’ which is a weekly points system to chart whether you’re doing enough exercise per week. It only seems to monitor logged activities though, so if you walk for 20,000 steps but haven't set it up as an activity to measure, that’s nil points for you!

  • Performance score: 3.5/5

Xiaomi Smart Band 9: Features

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 on a man's wrist in front of a green park.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Mi Fitness app used on phone
  • Music playback, notification handling and more
  • Some bugs with app and watch

You use the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 9 alongside the company’s smartphone app, called Mi Fitness. Pairing the band and the phone was pretty fiddly, a fact I thought could be down to my own ineptitude until I realized that our Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro reviewer had the same issues with that device, which you can read about here.

Not only is pairing a pain, but some parts of the Mi Fitness app weren’t in English, as you can see from the images attached to this review. Otherwise, it’s a useful place to collect all your fitness data, including more than you can find on the watch itself.

You can also use it to change watch faces, and Xiaomi’s done a great job at creating some good-looking faces that collate all your data into one screen. I was taken with the one you can see me using in the review images – it’s easy to quickly scan for information.

Using your phone, you can set up some non-fitness features of the phone which are pretty useful. You can control music playback from your wrist (well, skip and pause tracks as well as change the volume, but you can’t hunt through Spotify for the perfect running track). You can turn on an alert on your phone if you’ve lost it, activate Do Not Disturb from your wrist, and check the weather.

Image 1 of 3

Xiaomi Mi Fitness user interface

Mi Fitness' health and wearables pages. (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 3

Xiaomi Mi Fitness user interface

Mi Fitness' sleep, heart rate and workout pages. (Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 3

Xiaomi Mi Fitness user interface

Mi Fitness' running records. (Image credit: Future)

A feature that should be useful is notification alerts, so your wrist will buzz if your phone gets a notification. It’s handy if you get an important email or text but the band wasn’t always fantastic at handling them. Sometimes it’d repeatedly give me alerts for persistent notifications (ie notifications about the weather, or WhatsApp telling me it was checking for new messages) or send me individual notifications for new texts in busy group messages, instead of bundling them together as some other fitness trackers do.

My most annoying incident with notifications was at 6 am one morning. The fitness tracker had apparently decided I was awake, and so was able to take incoming alerts – I wasn’t, but its constant buzzing with new notifications changed that soon enough! Perhaps this is more an issue with the sleep tracking than the notification system, but it fits in here.

Another issue I found is that the watch’s raise-to-wake (which turns on the display when you turn it to face you) only worked about half the time. I often had to tap the display to see the time.

These gripes may sound annoying, but I’ve been testing cheap fitness trackers for years, and overall the experience of using the Smart Band 9 was a lot smoother than I’m used to – it’s just not perfect.

  • Performance score: 3.5/5

Xiaomi Smart Band 9: Scorecard

Xiaomi Smart Band 9: Should I buy?

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 on a man's wrist in front of a green park.

(Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

You don’t have a fitness tracker
If you’re a workout tech aficionado, the Smart Band 9 will seem barebones, but it’s designed to help people get their foot in the door with the idea of measuring your health this way.

You want to save money, but not cheap out
One of the cheapest reliable fitness trackers around, the Smart Band 9 should be the first port of call for people who want to save money on their tech.

You’re a technophobe
Finickity pairing aside, a fitness tracker like the Band 9 is a lot easier for technophobes to handle than a fancy smartwatch, and is lighter to wear too.

Don't buy it if...

You want to ditch your phone
The lack of built-in GPS in the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 means you can’t measure your workouts unless you bring your phone with you.

You want dedicated sports tracking
Some trackers will offer you in-depth tracking for specific exercises but for most in its roster, the Xiaomi tracker only measures your calories and heart rate, which might not cut it for everyone.

Also consider

Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro

This same-company rival offers a bigger screen and GPS tracking, however its battery life isn't as long. At RRP it's pricier but most places sell it for cheaper now.

Read our full review

Fitbit Inspire 3

Fitbit's most affordable fitness tracker gives you lots of the company's top-notch tech. It's affordable, but not Smart Band 9 affordable.

Read our full review

Theragun Pro massage gun review: still the king
11:00 am | October 18, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Comments: Off

Theragun Pro: One-minute review

We’ve seen multiple versions of the Theragun Pro, and every time the upgrades have been incremental but very welcome.

This is the crown jewel in Theragun’s lineup, after all, and it’s powerful and practical; however, it might be too pricey for some. Still, if you can afford the cost of entry, there are few better options when it comes to the best massage guns on the market.

While it lacks some of the massage-adjacent features of the smaller Sense, it’s a dream to use for just, well, self-massage. It’s got a sizeable battery, and a spare included (that’s a combined five hours between them which means none of those frustrating moments where you get back from a run and need to plug it in for a while), while also packing a rotating arm which you won’t find on the company’s other offerings (at least not anymore).

There’s an OLED screen, as has become standard, with guided massage routines, and the hefty 60lbs / 27kg force rating means it can hit as hard as you need it to.

In fact, other than the price, my only real complaint is that it’s a rather sizeable massage gun, which likely rules it out for travel.

Theragun Pro: Specifications

Theragun Pro: Price and availability

Theragun Sense review

(Image credit: Future)
  • Available now
  • Priced at $599 / £499/AUD$799

The latest version of the Theragun Pro is expensive, at $599, but it’s regularly discounted closer to $500/£499/AUD$799. Just be sure you’re picking up the latest version if you want that quieter motor.


Sadly, they’re named the same, but you can tell if you’ve got the older version because it has a black inner ring on the colored circle on the body.

  • Value score: 5/5

Theragun Pro: Design

Theragun Pro

(Image credit: Future)
  • One color option
  • Adapter included
  • Multiple attachments

The Theragun Pro looks how you’d expect a modern Theragun model to look, with that distinctive circle and a comfortable handle.

There’s only one colorway, with the black body surrounding a metallic blue trim, but it looks good, and I prefer it to the white version of the Sense. As mentioned above, though, it’s chunky – I’ve got large hands so I was fine, but my partner found it a little trickier to get her hands around it when administering a back massage.

Thankfully, it’s not uncomfortable, just a little unwieldy. It’s nice and easy to switch between attachments (more on those shortly), while there’s an OLED display that offers the option to jump right into a guided massage routine or just get started quickly – ideal for a post-gym blast.

  • Design score: 5/5

Theragun Pro: Performance

Theragun Sense review

(Image credit: Future)
  • Powerful motor
  • Power adapter included
  • Six attachments

With 60lbs / 27kg of force, the Theragun hits as hard as you can take, and I particularly appreciated the QX150 motor, paired with the extendable arm, for hitting those hard-to-reach spots while still offering consistent output.

There are six attachments in the box, as has become Theragun’s standard, meaning you can expect Standard Ball, Dampener, Thumb, Wedge, SuperSoft, and Micropoint options. They come in their own case, too, while the unit itself has a case. Speaking of accessories, I’m really pleased the power adapter, missing from the Theragun Sense, is included here.

I’ve been using the guided massage functionality to work over multiple muscle groups after the gym or a 5K run, and I’ve found that it’s reduced a lot of the tightness in my hamstrings and calves, helping me feel like I can get out again sooner.

There are four routines included, with an OLED screen making it easy to switch between them; Sleep (for bedtime routines), Warm-up and Recovery (which are obvious), and one for a quick blast of massage via Theragun Break.

The motor is quieter than the previous generation, which makes it more conducive to using later at night, while the customizable speed range means you can go as fast or as slow as you want - or can handle.

  • Performance score: 5/5

Theragun Pro: Scorecard

Theragun Pro: Should I buy it?

Theragun Pro Review

(Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

You’re looking to recover more quickly

I’ve seen a definite uptick in my recovery times, meaning I’m able to exercise more regularly.



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You want a lot of power

The Theragun Pro is one of the more powerful options available, meaning it may work better than softer touch models.


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Don't buy it if...

You want something more portable

Theragun offers drastically smaller options, like the Mini, for regular travelers.


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You’re just getting started

Not sure self-massage is for you? It might be worth considering a cheaper option before dropping so much cash on the Theragun Pro.



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Also consider

Theragun Sense

This smaller Theragun model is much easier to travel with, and has features like breathing exercises, too.

Read our full review

Bob & Brad D6 Pro

Another large massage gun, this powerful option is ideal for experienced self-massages and offers plenty of guidance if you’re OK reading the manual.

Read our full review

How I tested

I tested the Theragun Pro multiple times a week, after a weightlifting session at the gym or a run, as well as using it before bed to wind down.

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