Now that we can finally go out to do sports in a controlled way (always complying with the rules and schedules, of course), it is likely that you have considered the purchase of a sports bracelet that measures your activity. The easy answer, of course, is “the Xiaomi Mi Band 4″, but what other alternatives are there? What should you consider when looking for one? We are going to give you some advice and put you on the trail of some models.
Activity bracelet, smartwatch or sports watch?
The first thing to keep in mind is that an activity bracelet is not the same as a smartwatch or a sports watch. Often these concepts are confused (there are already times that even manufacturers overlap their characteristics), but, as a rule, this would be the definition for each of these gadgets:
- Activity tracker: this is a device in a wristband format (rather narrow and comfortable to always wear), which monitors your daily activity, can also record your sports practice and synchronize with your phone to receive notifications. On many occasions it also controls your sleep. Xiaomi’s famous Mi Band is a clear example of this type of device.
- Smartwatch or smart watch: enjoy the design of a watch in use , but with a screen where we can see very diverse information (beyond the hour). It has its own operating system, greater power, offers applications with (relative) autonomy and synchronizes with your phone and monitors your daily activity as well as sports practice, generally with more options than those found in an activity bracelet. Apple Watch is an example of a smartwatch. As a general rule, smart watches are more expensive than activity wristbands.
- Sports watch: It also has the design of a conventional watch but they usually wear straps prepared to resist friction and sweat. On its screen, data from your sports practice is basically consulted, being able to monitor many different types of exercises (although there are dedicated ones, for running or cycling, for example) with a large amount of data and parameters. They do not always have a color screen and many times its essence is mixed with that of a smartwacth, making the line of difference between one type of product or another very blurred. The Polar M430, for example, or the Garmin Forerunner 30 are cases of sports watches.
Having this differentiation, of course, today our goal is to focus on the first and study a little better what you should ask for at least an activity bracelet if you are thinking of getting one.
Activity bracelets: what to watch out for?
When looking for an activity bracelet, there are several factors to take into account, ranging from the technical characteristics of the device itself to more aesthetic qualities, such as the nature of its strap, which may also be important, depending on the use that you are going to give him. We could therefore divide our buying guide into two clear points of consideration:
· Design and comfort of use
As we indicated a few lines above, an activity bracelet is a rather light, light device and that you should be able to wear even while you sleep (if you are interested in measuring your rest, of course). In this sense, it is important that you look closely at the design of the bracelet, the materials in which it is manufactured and, very importantly, the thickness of the core or area where the screen is concentrated and its handling – under these lines, that of the Mi Band 4. This is always the thickest part of the bracelet and is not always photographed properly by the manufacturers -in profile, which is where its height “sings” the most. Without a doubt, it will determine quite how comfortable you feel with it.
That the bracelet allows the exchange of the straps is interesting: it allows you to use a silicone one for sports and then a more “elegant” one to wear on a daily basis, for example, in addition to being more hygienic and beneficial for your skin If you do not always have the same material in continuous contact day after day where sweat and bacteria accumulate in the end – if so, at least we recommend that you remove it from time to time and clean it.
Equally the weight of the bracelet itself is important. You will always wear it (or it is the intention) so the lighter it is, the less you will notice it. The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 weighs 22 grams, being a “medium” number (there are lighter ones, but the vast majority are around 23-25 grams).
· Technical characteristics
If we get fully into the technical qualities of the bracelet, there are several aspects to consider to find the bracelet that best suits you.
- The screen
It is inevitable to talk about the benefits of an activity bracelet and not take into account its screen. In it we will consult notifications, the time, the weather and, most importantly, information about our physical activity in real time. The vast majority of activity wristband displays display the information vertically . This may be more or less comfortable (it forces you to turn your wrist towards you to read it comfortably) but it is the prevailing trend in this type of gadgets.
The vast majority of them are also in color (although there are also monitors with the panel in black and white), their brightness being especially important. Keep in mind that you will often consult the screen of your bracelet outdoors, so it is important that the screen has a good brightness for visibility on the street , good sharpness and good contrast.
The subject of tactile sensitivity is purely personal: there are those who prefer to handle everything at the touch of the screen (we believe it is the most comfortable, as long as it has a good response) and there are those who like more the control by physical button and that the screen therefore does not offer this type of support. A matter of taste.
- Your autonomy
Another key aspect of an activity bracelet is its autonomy (and another of the big differences compared to smart watches, which usually need to be recharged almost every night). The desirable thing is that it lasts about 7 days , although this will be highly conditioned by factors such as the brightness you have on your screen or if for example you have constant detection of the heart rhythm. Still, it is usually an acceptable average for a team that we seek to wear most of the time. In this sense, it is inevitable not to mention the Xiaomi Mi Band 4, which achieves 2 (real) weeks of use without charging.
The charger deserves special mention here , although it is something that unfortunately we cannot decide. Many activity bracelets are charged through some type of proprietary connector or holder, which means that we have to carry it with us yes or yes when we want to charge it. At least it will always be more comfortable than with the Mi Band 4 -we had to mention it again-, which forces you to remove the core from the bracelet every time you go to charge it.
- What does it measure?
And we are going with the important thing: the information that the bracelet will provide us. The vast majority of them offer very similar controllers, so the main difference between them will be more in other aspects such as the previously mentioned autonomy, the design or the way it has to provide us with the information (after all, the interface in which we see the data on both the bracelet and the mobile app makes much of the overall experience.) It may also be the case that a specific bracelet offers a specific meter that interests us.
In addition to receiving notifications from our phone (receiving calls or messages) and notifying us about local time and time, generally all current activity bracelets are capable of measuring the following aspects :
- Dream
- Heart rate
- Steps
- Distance traveled
- Calories consumed
Some can also measure the oxygen level in the blood or the stress to which we are subjected, but these are more specific characteristics. Also some are able to warn you if you spend a lot of time inactive (sitting or lying down without it being during sleep), something more important than it seems in these times of sedentary lifestyle that we live.
As for sports activity, they generally all differentiate between several different sports, which helps to make a more accurate measurement. Depending on the model, it will offer more or less variety.
The best activity bracelets
Explained all the aspects to take into account when buying an activity monitor, all that remains is for you to decide what your needs are and which one best suits you. To give you some ideas, we leave you here a selection of the best in various categories.
Best quality / price: Xiaomi Mi Band 4
Here there is no discussion possible. The Mi Band 4 is the current queen of activity bracelets, as it perfectly combines quality and price . For an official cost of 34.99 euros (which is often reduced with various types of offers), it offers monitoring of sleep, heart rate (both on time and throughout the day if we configure it), the steps we take, the distance traveled or the calories consumed. It is comfortable to wear on the wrist and has various sports to record.
- The best : unbeatable price / quality ratio | wide offer of interchangeable bracelets | autonomy of more than 20 days
- The worst: its screen in the water responds regularly | does not have GPS
The cheapest: Samsung Galaxy Fit e
If what you are looking for is spending the least money possible, officially, the cheapest you have at your fingertips with good conditions is the Samsung Galaxy Fit e. It is very simple, light on the wrist and although it has a small, monochrome screen, it fulfills its basic functions.
- The best : it is the cheapest | it only weighs 15 grams
- The worst: it monitors very few sports | small, monochrome display
The most complete: Garmin Vivosmart 4
The Garmin Vivosmart 4 is undoubtedly the most complete at the measurement level. In addition to offering support for a good number of different sports activities, it offers additional measurements such as blood oxygen saturation levels or stress.
- The best : very complete with measurements that others do not have | very wide screen
- The worst: it is not cheap | monochrome display
