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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.

Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid watch review: Hot hybrid watch from Ferrari designer
5:19 pm | October 10, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Comments: Off

Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid: One minute review

The Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid is vying for a position as one of the best hybrid watches options out there, yet without actively doing so. In fact, it's more about style and sophistication, with the smart features there as an added bonus.

Known for working with Ferrari and Alfa Romeo for decades, the Pininfarina brand is synonymous with style. However, this instance is a simple licensing of the name by Globics, the company behind the watch, so while this might not have been designed by Pininfarina it certainly looks like it was. It follows the company's first foray into the hybrid watch world with the well-received Solaris: aside from looks, the two are very similar internally as well.

Outwardly, this is a premium analog watch – but thanks to that small AMOLED display, plethora of smart sensors and smartphone connectivity, it can do so much more. To be clear, this is a step towards a smartwatch with notification functionality, but isn't meant to replace a dedicated smartwatch like a Garmin or an Apple Watch. So it will keep you connected and cover some health tracking metrics, but it's not typically built for sports users.

Expect a long battery life with plenty of smartphone controls, like music and camera shutters able to be operated on-watch. It will track your sleep – whether you want to wear it at night will be another matter.

You can track sports, but with no GPS onboard, the utility is certainly limited. Yet with the tough design and waterproof build, this is a watch that can go beyond its formal looks and keep up with you as you sweat it out too. So is this the best hybrid watch for you – or do you need a more dedicated option like the Garmin Instinct Crossover?

Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid specs

Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid

(Image credit: Future)

Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid: Price and Availability

Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid

(Image credit: Future)
  • $379 / £379 / AU$732
  • Cheaper than premium smartwatches
  • Relatively affordable with the screen smarts

The Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid is available to buy now starting at $379 / £379 / AU$732.

That makes this a relatively expensive notifications-based watch, or a very affordable premium analog watch, depending on how you look at it. Since it straddles both of those classifications, the price isn't out of the realms of possibility: it's cheaper than the Instinct Crossover and a little more expensive than the Withings Scanwatch 2. You get a premium-looking and feeling analog watch without losing out on smartphone connectivity and all that goes with that.

There are other straps you can go for with multiple color options at the outset. Or change straps by buying more as after-market options to suit your needs.

  • Value score: 3.5/5

Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid: Design

Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid

(Image credit: Future)
  • Useful dial controls
  • Clear AMOLED display
  • Premium casing and crystal finishes

Right from the outset the Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid feels premium. It arrived in a big fancy box with calligraphy writing on the outside that immediately had me excited for what was inside. Sure enough, the watch itself stayed true to that with a reassuringly weighty feel and a high-end, genuine Italian leather strap.

I could tell it was decent quality from feel: this is made using 316L Stainless Steel for the case while the glass uses a sapphire crystal finish with an anti-smudging layer to keep fingerprints off. This leaves you feeling comfortable in the knowledge that this is going to be resistant to scratches and damage, to maintain that quality look for longer. The two-year warranty and 5ATM waterproofing along with that also helped set me at ease.

Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid

(Image credit: Future)

The outer case features three chunky buttons, the central of which is a crown dial that can be rotated to scroll through menus and pushed in to select. All that makes for a great look but also an easy-to-use feel as you work through the menus, or quick select sports tracking using just a few button presses.

The model tested features a black face and strap but you can also pick from Azure Horizon that has a blue finish on the face and strap, Midnight Rose which has rose gold accents on black, or Sand Dune with a light brown strap and white face. All feature the same 44mm case and premium leather strap finish.

On the rear is a heart rate monitor that's also kitted out to measure oxygen levels so you can get detailed SpO2 data. The watch also tracks movements to give you step counts and sleep tracking, although there is no GPS onboard - you'll need to be connected to the app to use the phone's GPS for accurate tracking.

  • Design score: 4/5

Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid: Features

  • Detailed HR tracking data
  • At-a-glance notifications
  • Remote control options

Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid

(Image credit: Future)

The main smart features of the Pininfarina are a suite of health tracking tools, remote camera / music controls and on-wrist notifications. The tracking comes from the combination of the movement and HR trackers combined with that AMOLED display located at the top of the watch face. That means you can twist and tap the crown dial a few times and have your heart rate measured live, or check your O2 levels on the small AMOLED screen as and when you need.

The screen is also used for onboard weather reports and WhatsApp notifications. There is the option to use the watch to control the phone's music to skip tracks or control volume, or to use the watch as a remote to take photos on the cameraphone from a distance.

Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid

(Image credit: Future)

You can use the watch to give you reminders if you're too sedentary and need to be told when to move, like most of the best fitness trackers. It'll also work as a compass, letting you find your way with its digital readout.

Thanks to haptic feedback, all those features can be interacted with clearly and (crucially) without the need for invasive audio or flashing screens, using vibration alerts to get your attention instead. Any of these can be disabled in-app, so you have as few or as many alerts as you want, removing distracting email notifications but enabling health-based alerts, for example.

While the watch doesn't have built-in GPS, it can piggyback off your phone so you can track a run or ride with accuracy using the data all pulled into the app, which can be sent to Strava or similar services. The battery life is decent, helped by that lack of GPS, so you can rely on a good few weeks of use at a minimum before you need to think about recharging.

  • Features score: 3.5/5

Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid: Performance

Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid

(Image credit: Future)
  • Decent battery life
  • Awkward display
  • Limited sports uses

The idea of a hybrid watch and the reality proved to be quite different. On the plus side, I barely thought about battery life as this went for a good two weeks before that even got close to being a sub-20% issue. And recharging only took a few hours so that did offer a peace of mind that some sports watches can't attest to. That said, many Garmins now manage to achieve similar results even with moderate GPS use.

As an analog watch, it's lovely to look at thanks to that chronograph face and it's easy to read at a glance. Add in the display and you have access to heart rate, weather information and more. However, the reality is that the display is hidden if the hands are pointing up and covering that screen. The designers have addressed this, as the hands move out of the way once you start scrolling the menu. However, if you have a WhatsApp notification and want to glance at it, you can't if the hands are in the way. So I found the reality was that one of the most sought-after features – at-a-glance notifications – was largely useless at certain times of day as I either couldn't fully read the message on the small screen behind a watch hand, or I missed it and there was no way to have it display again easily.

Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid

(Image credit: Future)

The app did offer a lot more data, but even that was limited to that day's data – or after some menu diving, you could get yesterday's. There are options to see more overarching trends so the data is all there, it's just not as easy as some apps are at letting you get to what you need easily.

The lack of GPS was also an issue for anyone using this for sport. I found that using it as a timer and heart rate monitor at the gym was fine – although even then heart rate wasn't displayed front-and-center at all times. Wearing it in the gym also felt like being overdressed and I was constantly concerned about catching and scratching it. Then if you want to go for a run or ride without your phone, it's just a timer and HR monitor. If I wanted to carry my phone then I'd have that to track me anyway, so this is very specifically for those who want to have their phone with them and to use this for wrist-based heart rate data as well.

  • Performance score: 2.5/5

Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid: Scorecard

Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want analog that's smart

The Pininfarina Sintesi Hybrid gives you that premium analog look and feel, with some smartphone connectivity.

You want better battery life

The battery life is long enough that you don't need to charge often, and can use regularly.

You need heart rate tracking

A great option to add heart rate data to your analog watch without too many other extras.

Don't buy it if...

You want GPS

The lack of GPS onboard means you always need a phone for sports tracking, so keep that in mind.

You need clarity

The display is small and often obscured by the watch hands, so don't go for it if you want a clear and large data readout.

You want a dedicated sports watch

This falls short on lots of the sports tracking features that other dedicated watches can offer.

Also consider

Apple Watch Ultra 2

A fully fledged high-performance premium smartwatch.

Read our full Apple Watch Ultra 2 review

Garmin Instinct Crossover

A dedicated sports watch tool, like a smart Casio G-Shock.

Read our full Garmin Instinct Crossover review

Suunto Race S review: a worthy competitor to rival Garmin
2:22 pm | October 1, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Suunto Race S review: One-minute review

The Suunto Race S is a cracking smartwatch that is a credible alternative to any of the dedicated running watches that Garmin produces. With tracking capabilities like on-board GPS and heart rate monitoring, the smartwatch provides all that is needed for accurate measurements.

The AMOLED display looks great thanks to its high-definition resolution. Navigation using the touchscreen is easy and natural, although the device is a little bit let down by the underperforming crown button. Overall build quality is very good, though, with robust components that will stand the test of time. The watch itself is most definitely on the larger side so it won't suit everyone but if you have a wrist that can accommodate it, then it'll certainly look the part.

In addition to its features for athletes, the Race S also offers smartwatch functionality like notifications and music control. It has a long battery life, which can last around 10 days in smartwatch mode and up to 30-35 hours in training mode.

While the Suunto Race S offers a great set of features for athletes, it lacks some of the features found in other smartwatches. If you're more into performance tracking, then the Race S is up there with the best.

Suunto Race S review: Specifications

Suunto Race S review: Price and availability

Suunto Race S

(Image credit: Future)

The Suunto Race S 45mm model costs $349 / £325 / AU$599. There are an abundance of strap options, including Black, Powder Grey, and Powder Pink. For the test, I have the gorgeous orange strap, which has a graduated color from orange to purple. All strap options cost the same. 

The watch is available in the US, UK, and AUS. If you'd like the slightly larger 49mm model, then that goes by the name 'Suunto Race' and attracts a slightly higher price, especially if you opt for the titanium strap. It is not only larger but also has a longer battery life.

Suunto Race S review: Design

  • Great-looking watch
  • Abundant strap options
  • Solid build quality

The Suunto Race S is a great-looking watch, especially with the Powder Orange strap that I tested. With seven different strap colors available, there are no shortage of ways to customise the watch. We'll come back to the strap in a minute but let's focus first on the watch itself.

The first thing I was struck by was how chunky this watch is. The 45mm diameter provides a fantastic display size with enough real-estate to display all your vital metrics. Unfortunately, the thickness of the watch is nearly 12mm, which makes the whole thing sit very proudly indeed. The overall dimensions make it very similar to the Garmin Forerunner 265, which is similarly bulky. At this size, and with a weight of 60g, this is a watch for thick wrists that can accommodate it; otherwise, it'll just look plain odd.

The stainless steel case looks great with the simple color palette, causing the watch display to take centre stage. It houses an AMOLED display with a 466 x 466 pixel resolution. As a result, all of the on-screen graphics look super sharp with no sign of any pixelation. Unfortunately, Suunto has left a tiny gap between the glass and the case that catches dirt, and because it's so thin is difficult to remove.

The build quality of both the watch and the strap are second to none. I used it while performing various types of exercise, including contact sports, and never managed to damage it. In fact, I was never concerned about doing so, such was the quality of the components.

Suunto Race S

(Image credit: Future)

The three buttons are all located to the right-hand side of the watch and are small enough to not rub against your hand. The top button launches you into activity mode by taking you straight to a list of exercise types, while the bottom button takes you back to a menu.

Between the two standard buttons is a crown, which is very similar to what is now seen on other smartwatches, including the Apple Watch. A crown-style button is great to have but I don't think Suunto has nailed the engineering of it. I found it tricky to rotate predictably and, because it sits lower than the watch face, it's actually quite difficult to use with one finger. I actually ended up ditching it in favour of swiping.

As with all smartwatches, the sensor is on the back. It's a little prouder than I would have liked, but it does enable a range of tracking types as well as training functionality.

The strap not only looks great but is extremely comfortable. Most importantly, it wipes clean, an essential for athletes who sweat a lot. The catch is unique in its design but it provides the necessary security to keep the watch safely on your wrist.

All in, I've really enjoyed wearing the watch. It's comfortable, makes a statement, and functions incredibly well. At this price, the design competes with even the best that Garmin has produced. If they can improve the crown and the overall thickness, then this would be the running watch to beat.

  • Design score: 4/5

Suunto Race S review: features

Suunto Race S

(Image credit: Future)
  • Numerous features designed for runners
  • Extensive tracking capabilities
  • Lacks some key smartwatch features

Suunto Race S boasts a range of training features and support for all types of exercise including heart rate zones, power zones, and pace alerts. 

If you love to be prepared ahead of time, then you can plan your route before you even leave the house. It shows you where you're located and gives you updates on what you're about to encounter. In that regard, you'll always feel prepared. You'll have no worries about getting lost thanks to support for all types of sections.

Features include heart rate sensing, an altimeter, and a gyroscope. These accurately track your movements and provide feedback on how you're getting on. Whatever exercise you're doing, the watch can capture your data accurately every time. I had no problems with any GPS signal dropouts, even when sweaty or wet. In general, I was very impressed with the speed of readouts and the accuracy of them.

Sleep tracking monitors your sleep quality while also feeding back if your sleep patterns might be affecting your performance. Personally, I wasn't overly keen on using the watch as a sleep tracker, as it was just uncomfortably big to wear at nightime. 

Suunto Race S

(Image credit: Future)

The watch has a wide range of features, with a particular focus on athletes and those keen on staying fit. It also offers features that will appeal to those who just want it to integrate with their smartphone. For example, you can control music playback from the watch, helping you stay focused on your exercise.

Additionally, the watch receives notifications for calls and messages, so you don't have to keep checking your phone. For the price, I would have liked functionality to allow for replying to text messages but, then again, this is primarily a running watch. The watch is compatible with both Android and Apple phones, although I only tested it with an iPhone.

In conclusion, the Suunto Race S is a smartwatch that is focused primarily on athletes. All of the tracking abilities provide the necessary data for mid-exercise updates and post-exercise reports.

  • Features score: 4/5

Suunto Race S review: performance

Suunto Race S

(Image credit: Future)
  • Fast and responsive
  • Accurate GPS
  • Amazing battery life

The Suunto Race S is a strong all-round performer, especially for athletes like runners, swimmers, and cyclists. Getting the watch set up took no time at all, with charging to full taking no more than one hour. Downloading the Suunto app and pairing the watch was equally straight-forward. I was up and running, pardon the pun, in no time at all.

Then it was time to get exercising. The first thing I did was jump on my bicycle to test the GPS and tracking functionality. Once I was outside, the watch picked up GPS quickly and easily. I had initially tried to launch it while inside but it failed to connect, a common problem with all GPS enabled devices.

Once on my bike, the Suunto Race S coped admirably, tracking my route perfectly along with accurate distances and measurements. All of the data is displayed on the large 45mm display but there are also additional screens that provide further more in-depth information.

The Suunto app provides even more data for you to drill down into how you are performing. The app is really well designed with a good layout that is easily navigated. I especially love the maps of routes travelled and graphs providing health data. It also provides some reporting so you can improve on your performances each time.

I've already discussed the sketchy performance of the crown button in the design section but in general, interaction with the watch was very positive. The touchscreen responsiveness is good and I had little problem moving around the menus. The swipe gesture was able to handle moving up and down long lists without any fuss. The responsiveness was even fine while sweating or when I had just gotten out of the swimming pool.

The battery life delivers great performance too. Having worn the watch for a couple of months, I was able to test it for long periods with both light use and heavy use. Just using the device as a watch and a few other features, including checking messages, I was able to get about two or even three weeks out of the battery.

Tracking exercise with GPS enabled had an expected effect on battery life. When I used it for daily cycling commutes, playing football, and running, I found that the battery would last around five to seven days. The battery life was so impressive that each time I actually had to think about where I had left the charger because it had been so long.

  • Performance score: 4/5

Should I buy the Suunto Race S?

Buy it if...

You want an affordable running watch
The watch had a good range of features and great build quality, and it's not as expensive as many of the Garmin alternatives.

You want a high resolution screen
The 466 x 466px AMOLED display looks fantastic, with all text and graphics as sharp as you need. It's also bright enough to use in the midday sun.

You want unbelievable battery life
With light use, this watch will last around two to three weeks. Even with heavy use, you'll still get several days' life out of it.

Don't buy it if...

You want a slender-looking watch
The Suunto Race S may be the smaller version but it's at 45mm diameter and nearly 12mm deep, you'll need a wrist that's thick enough to warrant it.

Suunto Race S 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.

Garmin Fenix 7
Garmin's other premiere outdoors and fitness watch, the Fenix 7 was the top ultra-marathon watch around until the Enduro 2 tore its crown off its head. Still worth a look if you can find it at discount. Read our full Garmin Fenix 7 review

Suunto Race S review: how I tested

I've been proudly wearing the Suunto Race S for two months and have tried to put it through as many types of exercise as I can, including running, playing football, swimming, and table tennis. It's incredible how many different types of activities it supports, so I thought it only right to try as many as I could! 

To test it's waterproof rating, I took it while swimming and managed to get it down around 3 m. It's nowhere near the advertised 50 m but I figured my test would be sufficient for most users.

I also paired it with the Suunto app to get a fuller picture of what the watch is capable of. The pairing process was simple and straightforward, and I loved the app.

TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition review: Pricey, but almost perfect
1:07 pm | September 11, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Comments: Off

TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition: Two-minute review

The TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition is a premium golf watch that also doubles as a superb smartwatch for daily use. It offers a seriously impressive package as a gold watch and smartwatch combo with many top-line golf features, a great design, display, and build quality, and excellently intuitive use.

Yes, it's pricey, but it absolutely earns its place among the best golf watches by offering a top-tier, premium option made by a brand that has some serious pedigree in the history of wristwatch making and the market more widely.

The Calibre E4 Golf Edition channels the TAG Heuer quality pedigree in its design and build and this is evident as soon as you open the box. It's a chic and sleek titanium watch with a matte black finish that oozes quality. The 'Golf Edition' engraved bezel is a beaut, and the two buttons and dial (or 'crown' as TAG Heuer calls it, reminiscent of the Apple Watch's digital crown) are easy to use and engage with while wearing a golf glove. All buttons are satisfying to use, and the dial is a joy on the golf course too.

The display is crisp and clear and has very punchy colors and contrasts. I use a screen protector personally, but the Sapphire crystal screen gives me great confidence if it were to get knocked or bashed.

When it comes to the golf features specifically, the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition excels and is superb. There are more than 40,000 courses preloaded onto the TAG Heuer golf ecosystem, and my experience of getting any amendments or changes made via speaking to TAG has also been very good. Each course's hole is displayed cleanly, crisply, and clearly on the AMOLED display and makes for clear navigation, though some of the colors could be more distinct as the shades used for areas of trees and bunkers can look very similar at a glance. You can use the crown to navigate your way along each and every hole, and 10-yard lines help you to gauge distance quickly and between course locations or hazards.

Then there are the specialist features. The first is the watch's shot-tracking feature which is excellent and automatic and tracks all your shots from drives to putts. The watch and excellent companion TAG Golf app on your phone will be able to build your rounds as you go and allow you to review them afterward in 3D (on your phone, not on the watch). This is a brilliant feature, and as well as relying on the automatic tracking, you can also manually input them - as well as delete any duffers you don't want skewing the data too! This can help you build an invaluable bank of data to rely on when thinking about club choice and golf course management and strategy - especially at those courses or course 

Alongside this, the watch will also measure the distance you've hit shots which builds toward offering an accurate 'virtual caddie' base of information, which you can refer to to get a club suggestion at any yardage when going for the pin or any other location on the hole. Over time, this optimizes and provides distance averages that are reliable and accurate, and the investment you put into it over a period of time really pays off. I've consistently found the whole process with each round of 18 or 9 holes to be extremely satisfying too, from measuring shot data to making changes to my bag when incorporating new clubs, all the way to reviewing shots and scores afterward in the on-course pictures.

The whole experience of having a Calibre E4 Golf Edition for premium golf watch use is also apparently from the presentation and physical extras you get. The box is incredibly sleek, and you also get a sleeve of Tag Heuer-emblazoned Pro V1s inside as well as a replacement ball marker – one of which comes attached to your watch already, magnetized to the clasp.

TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition on a wooden table with its box behind it

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

The TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition also makes a claim to be a premium contender for best smartwatch and best fitness tracker with its broader feature set, too. Running Google's WearOS 3, the watch is a joy to use and navigate for everyday tasks such as message and app notifications, media controls, and checking the weather and my calendar. 

However, I've particularly enjoyed the fitness tracking functionalities measuring steps, and calories, and promoting the WHO's Heart Points to help visualise getting up and about. I've mainly used this only for going for long dog walks and hikes but it'll have you covered for other workouts from running to cycling to swimming.

Battery life is robust all round too. In my months of testing and using the watch I've never been in trouble, always making it to my charger at the end of a day with juice in the tank. For example, with a round of 18 with the full shot tracking on and using it as a smartwatch from dawn till dusk, the Calibre E4 Golf Edition will easily last a full day. Using it as a smartwatch only, I've got two full days of usage out of it. The bespoke charging dock also juices up the watch incredibly quickly which can rapidly get you out of a pinch and is a welcome feature.

As far as downsides go, there are, in 2024, a few of the very latest and very greatest golf features not on the Calibre E4 Golf Edition. For example, more recent entries into the golf watch space, like the Garmin Approach S70, offer excellent and specific features such as green contour mapping to assist putting, and 'plays like' tech that will take into account weather conditions to give you even more precise yardages for shots which might give those watches an advantage on the features front if you're looking for every bell and whistle. 

The value-for-money proposition of the Calibre E4 Golf Edition has also perhaps taken a slight hit in 2024 due to the aforementioned competitors.

If you want a premium watch that offers the best of both golfwatch and smartwatch worlds, then the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition is still hard to beat as a premium golf watch option.

TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition: Specifications

TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition on a wooden table with its box behind it

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition: Scorecard

TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition: Should I buy?

Buy if it...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition

I have been using the 45mm variant of the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition as my golf watch for eight months now, using it most weeks on the course. It's also been my day-to-day smartwatch for the past six months or so, replacing a Samsung Galaxy Watch 3.

I have committed months to using the Calibre E4 Golf Edition using it for multiple rounds and tracking 100s of shots. I have used it on a few courses and also adapted it, and the app on my Samsung Galaxy S22, to changes in my bag. 

When I first got the TAG Heuer I was able to do some basic side-by-side testing with my previous golf watch, the Garmin Approach S40.

First reviewed July 2024

Apple Watch Series 10 review – this makes me want to ditch the Ultra
8:00 am | September 10, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: | Comments: Off

Hands-on Apple Watch Series 10 review: Two-minute preview

Apple Watch Series 10 family.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Going into Apple’s September 9, 2024, “It’s Glowtime.” event, I wouldn’t have blamed you for potentially dismissing the rumored Apple Watch Series 10. I heard it would get a larger display, a new health feature, and a thinner build. On paper, that doesn’t do much, but I’ll admit I underestimated it.

Maybe, I should have checked the calendar as today (Sept. 9) marks the tenth anniversary of the Apple Watch, and while the Series 10 casts a familiar look, it’s all in the details.

Ten generations in, it’s clear Apple’s sticking with this rounded square design, and they’re working on perfecting it – or, as my colleague Lance Ulanoff put it, Apple’s well-polishing the Apple.

To sum it up, the Series 10 does indeed resemble the Series 9, but it’s way thinner – Apple shaved off a whole 1-millimeter, which is a lot for something on your wrist – and packed in a way larger display. In fact, the 46-millimeter display is even bigger than the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and while that sounds like a behemoth, it’s not. The smartwatch didn’t feel massive at all on my wrist and looked rather elegant, especially in the Jet Black aluminum finish, which brings me so much joy as someone who waited for hours to get an iPhone 7 Plus in that same shade.

Apple Watch Series 10 vs Apple Watch Series 9

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

The screen here is the star, though, and it’s not just bigger for sheer numbers' sake. In Calculator, you can more easily hit buttons, and when viewing photos, you can pick out more details. Better yet, when reading text in an email or a news article, the screen's large enough to fit an additional line of text.

That’s super functional, but the display is also more visible, so you can make out what is on the display for off-axis viewing, even at extreme angles. Think of this as the second half of what Apple was aiming to do with the Series 7 that curved down the edges.

To accomplish the Apple Watch Series 10 has a “Wide Angle OLED” display with an LTPO-3 panel underneath. In practice, it’s a wicked bright (up to 2,000 nits) screen that offers crisp, vibrant details and can get down to a super low 1Hz refresh rate. Watch and timepiece: fans will appreciate just how good the ticking secondhands look on various watch faces.

You’d likely expect this from an Apple Watch, but the screen on the Series 10, seemingly a pretty simple upgrade, steals the show here and makes a much bigger impact or impression after you see it in real life. The 44-millimeter to 46-millimeter doesn’t sound massive, but it makes me want to ditch my Apple Watch Ultra. Of course, if you don't want the larger Apple Watch, you still get the thinner build and more expansive display with the smaller, 42-millimeter Series 10.

Apple Watch Series 10

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Second, while Apple is still promising the same 18 hours of battery life, they offer an enhancement in the charging realm. I’d call this battery adjacent, as it can let you stretch the life of the Series 10 with a simple charge. It still ships with the fast-charging USB-C Apple Watch puck that’s been in the box since the Series 7, but thanks to a new coil on the Series 10 it can hit 80% in just 30 minutes. That should make a big impact, and you can still get 8-hours of use in just 8 minutes.

That alone might sway you to wear the Apple Watch Series 10 overnight for sleep tracking, but Apple’s also adding a new health feature. Sleep Apnea detection will arrive on Series 10 the Ultra 2, and Series 9 once the FDA clears it. Essentially, it’s using the accelerometer and a custom algorithm to detect if you potentially have it, and if it detects it, you’ll get an alert in the Apple Health app. It doesn’t need to measure blood oxygen or employ other sessions, and Apple’s only rolling out this feature after extensive testing to root its process in science.

Apple Watch Series 10, rear

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

These three stand out as the most impressive feats Apple pulled off for the Series 10, which debuted on the tenth anniversary of the Apple Watch. Inside, it’s powered by the S10 SIP, which performs similarly to the S9 (in the Series 9 and Ultra 2). Still, because the Series 10 is thinner, Apple had to engineer the inside, so it’s much flatter than the previous one.

Apple also redesigned the speaker, which is now larger and shaved off 1-millimeter of the Digital Crown on the inside. The red circle on the Digital Crown, which noted LTE connectivity, is gone, and the rear panel of the Apple Watch is now metal, matching the rest, which makes it seem like the Series 10 is one hull.

I had my skepticism going in, but I cannot wait to spend more time with the Apple Watch Series 10 and put it through its paces. Though, as I write this after a long, lengthy day at Apple Park, my mind keeps returning to the screen. It’s much more expansive, but it’s not overly large and doesn’t have an extensive bezel around the screen like the Ultra. It’s minimalist, classy, and still feels like an Apple Watch at its core. 

If you're already sold, the Apple Watch Series 10 is up for order now, starting at $399 / £TBC / AU$649 and will begin shipping on September 20, 2024.

@techradar

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Withings ScanWatch 2 review: Probably the best-looking hybrid smartwatch
6:13 pm | September 5, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: | Comments: Off

Withings Scanwatch 2: One minute review

Want a smartwatch that doesn’t look like a smartwatch? You may want to check out the Withings ScanWatch 2, the best-looking hybrid watch we've reviewed yet.

It’s as close to looking like an analog watch as you’re likely to get, but with the smarts and tracking of a fitness tracker under the hood. In fact, if it wasn’t for the small display on the watch face, you’d never know.

That makes the ScanWatch 2 a truly gorgeous piece of kit, with a nice, shiny casing and no buttons outside of the crown. The duality of an analog watch design with a more modern set of ambitions does show itself, though: the display is too small for most fitness tracker basics like notifications, while there’s no option to install third-party apps a la watchOS or Wear OS. 

This makes the "smart" nature of Withings' best smartwatch a little redundant: it's a pure fitness tracker combined with an analog watch. Still, if that’s not a dealbreaker for you, there are few better-looking timepieces around.

Withings Scanwatch 2: Price and release date

  • Priced at $349 in the US 
  • £319 in the UK  
  • ‎AU$599 in Australia

The ScanWatch 2 debuted in September of 2023, and you can find it at plenty of retailers. The price of entry is fairly high, however, at $349 / £319 / ‎AU$599.00. 

This price point makes it comparable in price to an Apple Watch Series 9, despite offering less in terms of functionality. You're paying for the premium look and feel, rather than advanced functions and smart capabilities. 

  • Value score: 3.5/5

Withings Scanwatch 2: Specifications

Withings Scanwatch 2: Design

Withings ScanWatch 2 smartwatch

(Image credit: Future / Lloyd Coombes)
  • Beautiful analog design
  • Small digital display
  • Available in Black, Rose Gold, Blue or White

As I’ve alluded to, the reason you may want to pick up a ScanWatch 2, as opposed to something of a similar price, is that distinctive design, which comes in Black or White, as well as a Rose Gold option with a blue strap. It also comes in 38mm and 42mm sizes. All models are 5ATM water resistance rated.

Looking at it on the wrist, it’d be easy to assume it’s an analog watch, and in many ways it is. Hybrid smartwatches, analog watches with discreet smart elements, are gaining traction (alongside other discreet trackers like the best smart rings) because they often look much cooler than most other smartwatches.

However, look a smidge closer, though, and you’ll see a small display at the top of the watch face. This OLED panel is nice and easy to read in all conditions, but naturally comes a bit unstuck if one of the hands happens to be over it when you check. That said, there’s little chance of being sat there looking at it for hours when functionality is a little more stripped back. In fact, for the most part it’ll be showing you how many steps you’ve walked that day.

It also feels shallower than other smartwatches, perhaps because of its analog-like disguise, but it felt much flatter on the wrist than my Apple Watch Ultra.

Straps can be switched out with an elegant sliding pin, while it charges in a sort of mini-cradle that looks like the devices used to remove links from watch straps. It includes a USB-A to USB-C cable, but it’s pretty short. Overall? Looks fantastic, and wonderfully comfortable to wear. 

  • Design score: 5/5

Withings Scanwatch 2: Performance

Withings ScanWatch 2 smartwatch

(Image credit: Future / Lloyd Coombes)
  • Around one month of battery life
  • No GPS
  • Closer to a fitness tracker than a smartwatch

While it is a ‘smartwatch’ in terms of its size, the ScanWatch 2 is less of a smartwatch in terms of functionality and closer to a fitness tracker instead.

It can track your steps, activity, heart rate, and all of those standard fitness tracker features, but you shouldn’t expect to install additional apps or use your watch to pay for your shopping.

You can set timers and use it as a stopwatch, but anything beyond that you might want to go for a full-fat smartwatch.

Thankfully, as a health and fitness tracker it’s solid, although it lacks an internal GPS: you’ll need to connect to your phone. Sleep tracking is supported, and it also has a ECG (medical-grade!) for undertaking one of those wherever you are.

Workout modes are relatively basic but track fairly well so long as you’re connected to your phone’s GPS, but perhaps the ace up its sleeve is the temperature sensor.

This runs continuously, albeit at the cost of the 30-day battery life, but can showcase temperature variations that could be an indication of an oncoming illness. It’s primarily focused on just highlighting increases or decreases, though, so don’t expect to get an exact number for your temperature.

Of all the smartwatches I’ve tested, I feel like the ScanWatch 2 has the simplest pairing procedure. It’s not that it does anything different from its rivals, but it just worked almost instantly. It also offers a slick checklist of things you can tick off as it shows you, meaning you get a sort of tutorial when you first put it on.

Once that’s done, the app is split between Home, Measure, and Achieve. Home gives you some “missions” to check off, like setting a bedtime routine, or reading an article. It also tracks your daily activity to help you hit thirty minutes.

Measure shows your data, letting you drill down into activity and rhythms for any data you’ve collected, while Achieve lets you set Health Goals and work towards them. The app can write directly to Apple Health, and works alongside Strava and MyFitnessPal.

This is all backed up by a subscription service called Withings+ which offers a Health Improvement score that helps you improve your score week-on-week up to 100, while also giving you daily guidance and meal plans. It also unlocks additional data so you can interpret it more easily, but I didn’t see anything that felt super necessary.

  • Performance score: 4/5

Scorecard

Withings ScanWatch 2: Should I buy?

Withings ScanWatch 2 smartwatch

(Image credit: Future / Lloyd Coombes)

Buy it if...

You want a smartwatch that doesn’t look like one

The ScanWatch 2 is slick to look at, and will go with just about any outfit at any time.

You want to track plenty of metrics

The temperature sensor here is a big boon, especially given many rivals have been slow to adopt it.

You’re new to fitness tracking

Even without buying the watch, the app is fantastic in its ease of use and variety of options.

Don't buy it if...

You want more smart features

The Scanwatch 2 can tell you you have a notification, but you won’t be able to read it on your wrist.

You’re a Nike Run Club user

While it can tap into Strava, Nike Run Club users are left in the dust with no integration.

Also consider

Garmin Instinct Crossover

A hybrid watch with physical hands, but in a G-Shock style instead of a classic watch. 

Read our full review

First reviewed: July 2024

Google Pixel Watch 3 review – a big redesign with a deeper focus on health
8:10 pm | August 13, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: | Comments: Off

Google Pixel Watch 3: One minute review

The Google Pixel Watch has always been a sleek, modern – maybe even beautiful – smartwatch. It's stuck out from an incredibly crowded market with a build that looks like a polished pebble, simple controls, and a comfortable feel on the wrist. 

However, it’s only be available in one size for two generations, and has always been far from a full-on Fitbit replacement. That changes with the third-generation Pixel Watch, and after strapping both the 41mm and 45mm Pixel Watch 3 to my wrist, I can say that it’s a pretty big leap. 

That’s right: the Pixel Watch now comes in two sizes: there's still the 41mm model which was the only option with the Pixel Watch 1 and 2, and a much larger 45mm model, which has been dubbed the Pixel Watch 3 XL.

I’ve spent some hands-on time with both the 41mm and the 45mm watches, so I’m sharing my first impressions and briefly discussing the trove of new health and fitness features that are headed to your wrist.

Google Pixel Watch 3: Specifications

Google Pixel Watch 3: Price and Availability

Google Pixel Watch 3 side dial and button

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

With two sizes of the Pixel Watch 3, pricing is a bit more complex than in years past. Like the previous Pixel Watch 2, the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi is priced at $349 / £349 / AU$579, while you’ll pay more at $449 / £449 / AU$749 for cellular connectivity. The 45mm Pixel Watch 3 will start at $399 / £399 / AU$669, and jump to $499 / £499 / AU$839 for the advanced connectivity.

Both sizes come in Matte Black or Polished Silver; the 41mm is also available in Champagne Gold, and the 45mm in Matte Hazel. Whichever size and model you go for you’ll also get six months of Fitbit Premium for free. All variants of the Pixel Watch 3 are up for preorder now, with a shipping and on-sale date September 10.

Watch our Google Pixel Watch 3 hands-on review on TikTok: 

@techradar

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A modern, sleek build now in two sizes

Google Pixel Watch 3, 41mm and 45mm

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

Like the Galaxy Watch 7 and the Apple Watch Series 9, Google is now letting you choose between two sizes. There’s a smaller 41mm Pixel Watch and a larger 45mm Pixel Watch, both with the same circular design and a dial on the right edge. It’s the classic Pixel Watch design, including the band mechanism on the box, which makes removing and replacing watch bands harder than it needs to be.

The Actua Display now stretches closer to the very edge, even on the smaller 41mm, so it can show you more. It’s also brighter, which makes reading text on a screen much easier – the same goes for hitting touch buttons like numbers on the calculator or buttons on a widget, for example to select a workout type to track. Both displays are LTPO AMOLED, which allows the display to refresh at a rate anywhere between 1Hz and 60Hz.

I think I still prefer the 41mm size, but Google didn’t just make a larger watch for the sake of it. The 45mm Pixel Watch 3 might have more super users or those who want to do more from their wrist, and it will be interesting to see how developers optimize for the extra screen real estate. 

Google Pixel Watch 3, 41mm and 45mm

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

Regardless of size, the Pixel Watch 3 is built from 100% recycled aluminum, and colors vary slightly based on size. The 41mm Pixel Watch 3 comes in Matte Black, Polished Silver, or Champagne Gold, while the 45mm will be available in Matte Hazel, Matte Black, or Polished Silver. 

The Pixel Watch 3 is powered by Qualcomm SW5100, which has a Cortex co-processor and 2GB of RAM. That’s a lot of jargon, but the main takeaway is that while the watch doesn't use Google's powerful Tensor processor, either size felt pretty snappy in my quick demo. You also get a clean version of WearOS 5 out of the box. 

In terms of health and fitness features, there is still a sensor stack on the back that looks sleek and powers all the expected features: daily activity and workout tracking, sleep tracking, Blood Oxygen or Sp02 tracking, heart rate, and the ability to take an electrocardiogram among others.

A few features are made possible through the integration with Fitbit. It seems that Google wants to compete with the run-tracking chops of a Garmin or a Galaxy Watch, so now (specifically for this workout type), you can create several routines with custom metrics you want to hit such as heart rate, pace, distances, and intervals. As you go through the workout, it will alert you if you’re ahead or behind on a metric. That’s pretty cool. After your run, your workout data goes through an AI to give specifics, including your vertical oscillation, cadence, and stride length. You can view this on your wrist or in the companion app on your Android phone.

Fitbit Premium members will also be able to compete against past workouts and the metrics you set, just like a Galaxy Watch. The watch will also consider this data when recommending your daily activities. All Pixel Watch buyers have this option for at least the first six months, and you can cancel the subscription before the free trial ends if you find yourself not using Premium features like this. 

Not just for Premium members, your Daily Readiness Score – delivered each day – will be more accurate as it takes more into account beyond just workouts and activity goals. It will now use sleep, heart rate (active and resting), and variability in all this to paint a better picture. Along with this score, you’ll get a daily recommended cardio load, which can help you decide what workouts to embark on or when to take it easier.

Google Pixel Watch 2 and Google Pixel watch 3

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

I’m eager to try Fitbit’s Morning Brief, which reminds me of the Oura Ring or Samsung Health. Essentially, you’ll get a notification with your most important activity metrics on your wrist. It just groups everything in one place, flags issues – maybe too little sleep or a change in heart rate – and tosses in topical information like the weather or an important meeting.

Of course, beyond health and activity from Fitbit, Google is also putting more work into its first-party applications. There will be a new interface with Nest devices, specifically letting you view a feed from your doorbell when it’s rung or if activity is detected on a connected camera.

Last but not least, there is always the question of battery life. With the 41mm or 45mm Pixel Watch 3, Google promises 24 hours of battery life with the always-on display enabled or up to 36 hours in extreme battery saver, which shuts off always-on but keeps other features like health tracking active. We’ll need to put this to the test and see how long it lasts, as well as a new bedtime detection mode that automatically shuts the always-on feature off. 

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Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review – probably Samsung’s best watch yet
4:00 pm | July 10, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Comments: Off

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is shaping up to be Samsung’s best smartwatch ever from a technical standpoint, based on our early hands-on and analysis. It takes Samsung’s usual design and flips it on its head, adding an endurance-watch twist – even more so than the adventure-focused Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro did when it debuted a couple of years ago.

Everything about the design has been changed to give this watch a more rugged feel. The strap is thicker, more durable and harder-wearing. The watch’s outer casing is now scratch-proof titanium, and the round watch face has been mounted on a squircle-style shape which Samsung is calling a “cushion”. The usual two buttons are here, but squeezed between the new protective casing surrounding the buttons is another orange button, which Samsung is calling a ‘Quick button’ – presumably because ‘Action button’ was already taken by the Apple Watch Ultra. 

All right, there’s no getting around it: Samsung has been copying Apple’s homework, and the comparisons between the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and the Apple Watch Ultra are unavoidable. Even the naming conventions are the same, for crying out loud, and they do look very similar. They both have similar features, with more accurate GPS, emergency sirens, new Night modes with red illumination, and battery life that’s slightly too short to last you a weekend in the wilderness. 

However, during our tests we found that the Watch Ultra was easy and ergonomic to use, it was comfortable on the wrist, and it has an impressive list of features, even discounting the smorgasbord of options you get as a Wear OS user. Looked at side-by-side with Apple’s now two-year-old Ultra concept, it looks very derivative. However, considered in isolation, it looks like the best smartwatch Samsung has produced yet. 

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra specs

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)

Ultra-valuable: price and availability

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra will be available to buy on 24 July, and is available to pre-order now starting at $649 / £599 / AU$1,299. 

That makes it the most expensive Galaxy Watch yet – however, it’s cheaper than the Apple Watch Ultra, while filling a similar niche for Samsung users, and it’s cheaper than some of the best Garmin watches that fill the same niche. The Garmin Epix Pro, for example, falls firmly into Samsung and Apple’s “outdoor-orientated watch with a lovely screen” territory, and is more expensive than Samsung’s offering.

Samsung’s butter-smooth AMOLED screen and refresh rate are better than the Epix Pro’s, and for less money. If you can put up with recharging the watch a few times a week, and want access to Wear OS’s library of third-party apps, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is a very reasonable purchase at this price. 

Breaking the mold: design

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra shares its round-screen design with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7. In fact, it’s the exact same screen as the 44mm version: a 480 x 480 full-color AMOLED with a Sapphire Crystal always-on display, with the option to switch it to a new infrared style Night mode. Whereas with the Apple Watch Ultra Apple attempted to transform the screen and make it bigger than ever, Samsung leaves a lot of real estate on the watch by declining to make that screen any larger than the biggest Watch 7 size, although I suppose sharing parts helps keep the costs down. 

The casing is made from scratch-proof titanium, while its thick silicone bands, redesigned especially for the Watch Ultra, are partially made from recycled plastics. That casing is fully dive-proof at IP68 10ATM ratings, and designed for extreme low and high temperatures to a “military grade” standard. 

While we certainly couldn’t take it up Everest or throw it in a fireplace during our testing process, I can confirm that it does feel satisfyingly weighty, and more “premium” than a regular aluminum Galaxy Watch, without being cumbersome, weighing in at 60g. Its battery caps out at 100 hours in low-power mode, according to my chat with Samsung’s VP of MX James Kitto, and lasts for “a couple of days” with moderate usage. 

Samsung’s usual two buttons let you cycle through options in the same way as they always have, and are used in conjunction with the powerful AMOLED touchscreen. However, we also have the Quick button now, which can be programmed to automatically start workouts, move onto other segments, or skip to the next workout profile with the new Multisports tile, for disciplines like triathlon. During my initial tests it all flowed very well and felt intuitive, and regular Samsung users will feel right at home despite the very different design. 

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)

Samsung’s usual two buttons let you cycle through options in the same way as they always have, and are used in conjunction with the powerful AMOLED touchscreen. 

However, we also have the Quick button now, which can be programmed to automatically start workouts, move onto other segments, or skip to the next workout profile with the new Multisports tile, for disciplines like triathlon. During my initial tests it all flowed very well and felt intuitive, and regular Samsung users will feel right at home despite the very different design. 

Well equipped for the wilderness: features

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)

There’s lots of new stuff to talk about here. The emergency siren (which I elected not to test in Samsung’s private testing room, in case I was tackled by a security guard) is apparently ear-splitting, designed to let you signal for help if you get into difficulties in the great outdoors. The aforementioned programmable Quick button can be programmed to kick off a workout straight away, and hikes, runs, swims and rides make use of that new precision dual-frequency GPS for added accuracy. 

Those GPS workouts make use of older features, such as the TrackBack functionality first introduced on the 5 Pro. This allows you to retrace your steps on a GPS-driven route, following directions until you return to the point at which you deviated from your intended course. Very useful. Dive mode, just like on the Apple Watch Ultra, comes with a water lock and a functionality to eject any water in the system, accompanied by a series of very conspicuous beeps (I did test this feature, clearly). 

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)

Other features that are holdovers from previous years include health monitoring (with a new, upgraded Samsung BioActive sensor array) for heart rate, blood oxygen, heart rate variability, skin temperature, electrocardiogram heart health scans and body composition analysis using BIA, which estimates your ratio of fat to muscle to bone. I tried this and found the measurements within spitting distance of my last smart-scale measurement: a test I’ve tried before with Samsung watches. 

All this is powered by One UI Watch 6, Samsung’s Wear OS 5 skin, and the Samsung Health app. The latter is where much of the real magic happens in terms of health, with the app aggregating the information your smartwatch collects and processing it to offer you increased personalization and actionable insights into your health and fitness. Third-party apps on Wear OS also means that you can add lots of features and functionality to your watch that Samsung doesn’t offer as standard. Of course, I didn’t have time to test any of this during my brief hardware hands-on, so expect a more thorough breakdown as and when I update this review. 

Early verdict: enough bang for your buck?

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)

While it’s cheaper than the Apple Watch Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is still the most expensive Galaxy Watch by a long way, so the build quality and additional features need to reflect that. And the good news is that this does seem to be, in terms of specs, the best Galaxy Watch we’ve seen yet – although for this price I expected an upgraded screen rather than a recycled one from this year’s mainline Galaxy Watch.

Still, building a titanium tank of a watch doesn’t come cheap, and there’s plenty to dig into here when I get the chance to head out for some runs and hikes to properly put the watch through its paces. The bump in features, rugged aesthetics, boost in GPS and enhanced safety tools all sound great. 

My only concern, as it always is with smartwatches, is that damned battery life. I need a powerful watch that’s able to record multiple GPS workouts over several days on a single charge, and if the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra struggles with that, then it may suffer the same pitfalls as its Apple namesake. 

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review: Similar looks with a performance boost
4:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: | Comments: Off

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 is officially official, and while you might do a double take thinking its sleek, circular design is actually 2023’s Galaxy Watch 6, make no mistake – this is the tech brand’s latest and greatest for the masses. 

Launching alongside the Galaxy Watch Ultra, which offers a more durable design and endurance features, and the Galaxy Ring, which almost aims to be an agnostic device, the Galaxy Watch 7 is more of an iterative revision, at least going on first impressions. 

I’ve spent a bit of time with the Galaxy Watch 7 – both the small 40mm and large 44mm models – and while it’s packaged in a familiar build, Samsung’s squarely focusing on improving the experience here. For performance, it has a new processor under the hood that speeds up the navigation and makes the Galaxy Watch feel more responsive – and, you guessed it, also helps power Galaxy AI features. It has an entirely new sensor stack – dubbed the BioActive Sensor – on the back to boost health and wellness capabilities. 

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 pricing and availability

Maybe, most importantly, Samsung isn't raising the starting price this year. Like the Galaxy Watch 6, the Galaxy Watch 7 starts at $299.99 / £289 / AU$549 for the 40mm and $329.99/ £319 / AU$599 for the 44mm with Bluetooth; those jump to $349.99/ £329 /AU$649 and $379.99 / £369 / AU$699 for LTE connectivity. 

If you’re already sold, Samsung is currently taking preorders for the Galaxy Watch 7 in both sizes. Shipments will begin on July 10, 2024, the same day as general availability. The Galaxy Watch 7 in 40mm comes in Green and Cream, while the 44mm in Green and Silver. 

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Specifications

A familiar build with new smarts

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

(Image credit: Future)

Distinguishing the Galaxy Watch 7 from its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch 6, isn’t easy. That’s not to say it isn’t a fine-looking smartwatch – the Galaxy Watch 7 still takes the albeit expected form of a circular smartwatch with basically an all-screen front and smooth stainless steel sides. You still get two buttons on the right-hand side, but you might notice that there’s only one Galaxy Watch 7 model – there’s no Classic model this year, so while you can pick between a 40mm or 44mm display, it’s just the Galaxy Watch 7. 

Sure, you could opt for the more durable and a bit boxier Galaxy Watch Ultra, but something is missing on this year’s ‘standard’ model. The iconic moveable bezel that lets you easily navigate the interface is no longer an option with the Galaxy Watch 7. You’ll need to opt for last year’s Galaxy Watch 6 to get this great control, and it’s disappointing that Samsung didn’t bring this aspect into the present.

One saving grace is the attaching and detaching band mechanism that Samsung ushered in with the Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic. It’s as easy as pushing in on a tab and pulling the band out to swap them. There are a few new band designs, some of which look very similar to Apple’s lineup, but Samsung has added a bit of personalization with two pops of color sewn in near the top of the watch bands for the Galaxy Watch 7 – it’s a simple touch that adds a bit of personality. 

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

(Image credit: Future)

Under the hood, Samsung has made some more changes. A new Exynos processor is the first 3-nanometer chip in a smartwatch from the technology giant. It's promised to be three times faster for CPU tasks than the processor in the Galaxy Watch 6. While I haven’t properly tested the Galaxy Watch 7 yet or even run it through a workout, it felt ultra-responsive when swiping through tiles, opening apps, typing, doing general navigation, and demoing some new gestures.

The new chip also makes the latter possible – Double Pinch Gestures premiere with the Galaxy Watch 7, and like Double Tap on the Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2, they’re genuinely useful. You can pinch your finger and thumb together to trigger an action, pause playback, or even pick up a call. It’ll likely be especially handy when you don’t have a free hand. 

That enhanced processor is also bringing some Galaxy AI features over, like smarter suggested replies, as the AI will analyze the messages above it for something that makes a bit more sense. Rather than just sending a generic yes or no, it might actually say what you’re accepting or declining.

A whole new sensor for more intelligent wellness features

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 40mm, Energy Score

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

On the health and wellness side, Samsung is again casting a wide net with the Galaxy Watch 7, and to a degree, alongside the Galaxy Watch Ultra, it really cements its place as the Samsung smartwatch for most folks. It’ll do some productivity here, and can still flex with a laundry list of fitness capabilities. 

For starters, one thing I’m eager to spend more time with is a completely redesigned BioActive Sensor on the back. Samsung says it’s more accurate than the Galaxy Watch 6’s sensor, and more powerful for providing deeper metrics; that latter is likely paired in tandem with how the brand analyzes data and presents it within Samsung Health. 

On day one, it will let you track AGEs, or advanced glycation end products, which indicate overall metabolic health. Additionally, the Galaxy Watch 7 offers a sleep apnea feature, which is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and which can detect signs of it after a testing period, alongside an AI-powered sleep-tracking experience that should be more accurate. 

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, BioActive Sensor

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Of course, like the Galaxy Watch 6, the Watch 7 can track heart rate, take an electrocardiogram, and detect irregular heart rate moments. You can also track a bevy of workouts right from your wrist; some will even be automatically tracked. Runners, hikers, and walkers will benefit from dual-band GPS on the Watch 7 as it can provide a more accurate map or history of your activity. 

You’re also getting two new health features: Energy Score and Wellness tips, which are about contextualizing and making all the data your Galaxy Watch collects more digestible. Energy Score is similar to Fitbit and Oura, maybe even rings on the Apple Watch, in that it takes your sleep and activity data to give you a number from 0 to 100 that sizes up how you’re doing. It takes sleep duration, heart rate, sleep heart rate variability, and activity into account, and adds some recommendations on improving or keeping that score up. If you opt into Wellness Tips, it will take the recommendation a step further and provide more actionable ones.

Energy Score and Wellness Tips are two features that I’m really eager to unpack further, and are great additions to Samsung’s wellness portfolio. They also make the Galaxy Watch 7 a smarter wearable, because they can provide context around all the data it’s collecting.

Early verdict

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 40mm

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

So no, we didn’t get a full redesign or radical changes with the Galaxy Watch 7 – it’s an upgrade mostly in terms of functionality year over year. Still, the new processor will keep WearOS with a Samsung skin running very smoothly, and powers some neat features in the productivity and wellness space. I hope that also extends to better battery life, but we’ll need to test the watch properly to see how that and the new activity features stack up.

OnePlus Watch 2 review: Finally, a Wear OS watch with staying power
7:34 pm | May 13, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

OnePlus Watch 2: One minute review

After a less-than-stellar introduction to the world of smartwatches with the original OnePlus Watch in 2021, OnePlus is back with its second effort, and it’s a different beast entirely. Rather than relying on its own software, OnePlus’ latest wearable uses Google’s Wear OS platform to deliver a comprehensive set of features that will satisfy even the most demanding user.

Anyone who’s familiar with Wear OS will know that poor battery life is its biggest hurdle, and OnePlus manages to leap right over it with an ingenious solution. This watch has two processors and two operating systems working in tandem, one handles all the basic functions like telling the time and counting steps, while the other tackles the more complex stuff. Depending on your usage, you really can achieve 100 hours on a single charge.

The OnePlus Watch 2 offers a tasteful design, but its large dimensions mean that it’s less suited to those with petite wrists. It feels quality throughout, but I can’t help but wish for a functional rotating crown. This one can be rotated, but it doesn’t do anything. It’s just a circular button.

When it comes to features and performance, I have no complaints whatsoever. Fitness tracking data seems accurate, it pairs easily and remains connected to your phone, and the Wear OS ecosystem means you can install a wide variety of applications to achieve all sorts of tasks. I managed three days on a charge with the always-on display enabled, too.

As it stands, I think it’s one of the most compelling Wear OS options available today, and certainly one of the best smartwatches outside of Apple. It’s reasonably priced, well-designed, feature-packed and lasts for a long time. What more could you need?

OnePlus Watch 2: Specifications

OnePlus Watch 2: Price and Availability

OnePlus Watch 2 worn on man's wrist

(Image credit: Luke Baker)
  • £299 in the UK
  • $299.99 in the US
  • AU$459 in Australia

The OnePlus Watch 2 is available to purchase now globally with an MSRP of $299.99 / £299 / AU$459. It originally launched in Black Steel and Radiant Steel, but a Nordic Blue variant was introduced more recently in Europe, too. The specs and features are the same across all variants, it’s only the colour of the chassis and strap that changes.

The OnePlus Watch 2 is very reasonably priced compared to its Wear OS rivals. The Pixel Watch 2, TicWatch Pro 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro are all slightly more expensive at full retail, but frequent discounts mean that they can be found at similar prices.

  •  Value score: 4/5 

OnePlus Watch 2: Design and screen

OnePlus Watch 2 worn on man's wrist

(Image credit: Luke Baker)
  • 1.43-inch AMOLED display
  • Steel chassis with sapphire crystal face
  • Black Steel, Radiant Steel and Nordic Blue options

The OnePlus Watch 2 immediately gives the impression of quality, it's dense, heavy and shiny, as you’d expect a high-end watch to be. However, the downsides to this design are immediately apparent, too: it’s a big, thick watch, and it’s only available in a single 46mm case size. This means it’s not going to be for everyone. I’m a big guy, and even on my wrists it felt a little large and heavy; I can certainly imagine it looking ridiculous on those with slim wrists.

The OnePlus Watch 2 is mostly circular, but it has a flat edge on the right-hand side. The buttons are offset at an angle, which means they’re never accidentally pressed by the back of your hand when you lean on a table. It’s a thoughtful touch.

OnePlus says the design is inspired by classic stopwatches, but it equally reminds me of the camera surround on the OnePlus 12, it’s a nice bit of design synergy if you happen to own both. On the whole, though, I think it’s lacking in personality. There’s nothing wrong with the design, it just doesn’t do much to stand out, either.

The uppermost button is circular and sticks out from the main body, like a watch crown. However, while it can be rotated, rotating it doesn’t do anything, it’s just a normal button. I found this a bit disappointing, most of the Watch 2’s competitors have functional crowns, and even the budget-oriented Huawei Watch Fit 3 manages to include one.

The display has an ample 466 x 466 resolution and it’s bright enough that I never had trouble seeing it in direct sunlight. The bezels are fairly chunky, but a selection of predominantly dark watch faces do a great job of disguising this. The screen is coated with sapphire crystal and has a hardness rating of 8+ Mohs, which essentially means that it’s highly scratch-resistant. After wearing it for a few weeks, the glass is still spotless (despite taking a few knocks).

The watch also has a MIL-STD 810H rating for durability, and it's completely waterproof up to 5ATM. So, no matter how adventurous your lifestyle may be, the OnePlus Watch 2 should be up to the task.

  • Design score: 3.5/5

OnePlus Watch 2: Features

OnePlus Watch 2 worn on man's wrist

(Image credit: Luke Baker)
  • 32GB of onboard storage
  • Great flexibility with Wear OS apps
  • Over 100 built-in exercise modes

Since the Watch 2 runs Wear OS, it integrates seamlessly with all of Google’s services like Google Calendar, Google Fit, Google Wallet, Maps and more. As someone who relies on Google for most of my digital life, it’s blissful not having to manually link any of these services.

The other big advantage of Wear OS is that it has an app store. As an example, I like to track my rides using Strava. Most watches will require a (sometimes complex) linking process to share data with Strava, but on the OnePlus Watch 2 you just tap the Play Store, install Strava, and you’re ready to track. 

It’s not just fitness stuff that you’ll find here either. You can find all manner of functionalities on Wear OS: I love having the ability to control my smart lights from my watch using Google Home or IFTTT, for example. That’s the kind of function that proprietary operating systems struggle with, but Wear OS handles like a breeze.

The downside to this system is usually the battery drain. Wear OS is a notoriously demanding smartwatch platform, and Wear OS watches with multi-day battery life are few and far between. Brands have tried various techniques to get around this, the TicWatch Pro 5’s dual-layer low-power display is a great example, but none are quite as seamless as the OnePlus Watch 2’s approach.

This watch is essentially two watches in one, and that’s probably why it’s so chunky. It has a Snapdragon W5 to run Wear OS and all the smart bits, while a low-power BES2700BP chip and RTOS system runs all the basics, like telling the time and capturing health data. The watch switches between the two systems depending on what you ask it to do, so you get all the features, without the usual battery woes. It’s a brilliant workaround.

You get 32GB of storage built in, ample space for offline Spotify listening if you want to leave the phone at home. Meanwhile, the default fitness tracking application can track over 100 different types of exercise. Of course, if your favorite is missing, you can always install a different app instead.

The watch uses the OHealth Android app to pair with your smartphone, but there’s no equivalent for iOS, so iPhone users need not apply. In the app, you can check out your fitness metrics, customize your watch face and settings, and start tracking a workout. It’s a little barebones, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. It keeps everything simple, and if you want to do something more advanced, you can do that on the watch itself.

  • Features score: 4/5

OnePlus Watch 2: Performance

OnePlus Watch 2 screen

(Image credit: Luke Baker)
  • Up to 100 hours of battery life
  • Heart rate, sleep, stress and SpO2 monitoring
  • Multi-band GPS tracking

The big thing that sets this watch apart is its battery life. I like to use my smartwatches with everything enabled, and the always-on display active, essentially the worst-case scenario for battery life. Even still, I was able to manage around three days per charge when I wasn’t using GPS, and around two days when I was.

If you’re fine with raise-to-wake, and maybe disable some of your more frequent notifications, then you’ll be able to achieve much longer. Kick it into power-saving mode and you can go 12 days between charges, and you’ll still get notifications and track your steps and heart rate, too. Of course, the more advanced features are disabled in this mode.

When it’s time to charge, it's done with a magnetic puck that attaches to the watch with some pogo pins. It’s a nice, compact unit with a removable USB-C cable, I found it much nicer to travel with than a lengthy proprietary cable. Wireless charging support would have been even nicer, though.

The connection between my phone and the OnePlus Watch 2 was rock-solid throughout my testing. Notifications came through reliably and quickly, and if I left the phone somewhere and came back to it, the two devices would reconnect without any hiccups.

It’s hard to gauge the accuracy of the watch’s many fitness sensors, but the readings I got were in line with most of my other wearables. The step count was continually a little higher than my phone’s built-in pedometer, but much of that can be attributed to leaving my phone at my desk as I get up and run errands. Heart rate readings matched those that I’m used to seeing from my TicWatch Pro 5, too.

The watch can track your sleep habits, too. The metrics include everything from sleep stage breakdowns to heart rate changes and even breathing patterns. I hate sleeping in a watch, especially one as chunky as this, but I was on a couple of overnight flights during my testing and managed to capture some data. I did, in fact, not get much sleep, as the watch kindly reminded me.

  • Performance score: 4.5/5

OnePlus Watch 2: Scorecard

OnePlus Watch 2: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

OnePlus Watch 2: How we tested

Our reviewer wore the OnePlus Watch 2 as his primary smartwatch for over two weeks, and it accompanied him on some international travels and during regular workouts. It was paired to a Vivo X100 Pro for the majority of the testing period but was also tried with the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra.

The tracking results were compared to historical results from the Huawei Watch Fit 3 and TicWatch Pro 5, as well as the built-in step counter on the smartphone to assess accuracy.

OnePlus Watch 2: Also consider

First reviewed: May 2024

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