Recommend an Activity/Fitness Tracker
Discussion
I'm hoping people can provide suggestions for an affordable wearable activity tracker. It's a gift for somebody else, so doesn't need to have all the bells and whistles, as none of them will be used!
I've a Samsung Galaxy Fit, which is one of the most likely candidates, but I'm interested in others personal experiences with alternatives. Essentials are;
My reason for looking for alternatives is pretty much because it's a Samsung. I've had to turn auto-updates on the Samsung Health app off because Samsung keep breaking things with updates, such as; creating new sync problems, pairing problems, logging problems, analysis problems, report errors etc All topped off by Samsung Customer Support being an abhorrent and utterly inept bunch of idiots. The band also came apart at a well-disguised seam when the thing was less than 10 months old. I'll curse out loud and get on with things when it unexpectedly falls off my wrist and tumbles to the ground, thinking "....uuhhhh, it's Samsung...." but the recipient would likely turf it in the fire or bin out of disgust with such a simple hardware failure in such a short space of time.
So then, any ideas or personal experiences of possible alternatives?
I've a Samsung Galaxy Fit, which is one of the most likely candidates, but I'm interested in others personal experiences with alternatives. Essentials are;
- Auto tracking of exercise such as walking and cycling, without the wearer having to choose the activity or selecting 'Start'
- Reliable step-counter & logs
- Reliable heart-rate monitor & logs
- Decent battery life, with a simple recharge process
- A very easy-to-use and intuitive app (Android user)
- SpO2 would be nice, but not essential
My reason for looking for alternatives is pretty much because it's a Samsung. I've had to turn auto-updates on the Samsung Health app off because Samsung keep breaking things with updates, such as; creating new sync problems, pairing problems, logging problems, analysis problems, report errors etc All topped off by Samsung Customer Support being an abhorrent and utterly inept bunch of idiots. The band also came apart at a well-disguised seam when the thing was less than 10 months old. I'll curse out loud and get on with things when it unexpectedly falls off my wrist and tumbles to the ground, thinking "....uuhhhh, it's Samsung...." but the recipient would likely turf it in the fire or bin out of disgust with such a simple hardware failure in such a short space of time.
So then, any ideas or personal experiences of possible alternatives?
+1 for the Mi Band 5
But you do have to select the activity.
Cheap enough to buy-to-try: https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/xiaomi-mi-band-5-...
Mi Band 4 is just as good imho.
I think that it'll work with the Amazfit app too if you prefer. (looks like that's been renamed to Zepp)
But you do have to select the activity.
Cheap enough to buy-to-try: https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/xiaomi-mi-band-5-...
Mi Band 4 is just as good imho.
I think that it'll work with the Amazfit app too if you prefer. (looks like that's been renamed to Zepp)
Further question - does the app for the MiBand allow manual entry of SpO2 readings?
I've come across the Honor Band 5 too, and am considering it because the recipient uses a Huawei phone and the Huawei health app already for logging walks, so they're already used to the app side of things.
It also seems to be the only band with an SpO2 reading as standard, which is quite beneficial in this particular instance.
Only downside I can think of is when they next upgrade their phone they may not be able to get another Huawei phone, and to use the Honor band with a non Huawei phone you need to install Huawei Mobile Services on your phone. And who the hell even knows if that'll be possible in the future with the restrictions on Huawei.
I've come across the Honor Band 5 too, and am considering it because the recipient uses a Huawei phone and the Huawei health app already for logging walks, so they're already used to the app side of things.
It also seems to be the only band with an SpO2 reading as standard, which is quite beneficial in this particular instance.
Only downside I can think of is when they next upgrade their phone they may not be able to get another Huawei phone, and to use the Honor band with a non Huawei phone you need to install Huawei Mobile Services on your phone. And who the hell even knows if that'll be possible in the future with the restrictions on Huawei.
Corso Marche said:
Further question - does the app for the MiBand allow manual entry of SpO2 readings?
I've come across the Honor Band 5 too, and am considering it because the recipient uses a Huawei phone and the Huawei health app already for logging walks, so they're already used to the app side of things.
It also seems to be the only band with an SpO2 reading as standard, which is quite beneficial in this particular instance.
Only downside I can think of is when they next upgrade their phone they may not be able to get another Huawei phone, and to use the Honor band with a non Huawei phone you need to install Huawei Mobile Services on your phone. And who the hell even knows if that'll be possible in the future with the restrictions on Huawei.
Pretty sure that it doesn'tI've come across the Honor Band 5 too, and am considering it because the recipient uses a Huawei phone and the Huawei health app already for logging walks, so they're already used to the app side of things.
It also seems to be the only band with an SpO2 reading as standard, which is quite beneficial in this particular instance.
Only downside I can think of is when they next upgrade their phone they may not be able to get another Huawei phone, and to use the Honor band with a non Huawei phone you need to install Huawei Mobile Services on your phone. And who the hell even knows if that'll be possible in the future with the restrictions on Huawei.
The Honor band was my second choice. If you need SpO2 then I'd just go for that band. It's very well reviewed.
Yeah, I'm just placing an order online now for the Honor 5. This person already uses the Huawei Health app, so combine that with the SpO2 function and it's now a no-brainer.
Asian market variants of the MiBand 5 have an SpO2 sensor, but the international variants don't unfortunately. That's why I was wondering if the app allowed manual entry of SpO2 readings.
Asian market variants of the MiBand 5 have an SpO2 sensor, but the international variants don't unfortunately. That's why I was wondering if the app allowed manual entry of SpO2 readings.
Huawei Band 4 pro. Cheaper from AliExpress and can get (£30 ) China version (which you select Chinese or English as language). Aliexpress say 20-40 day delivery, but mine arrived in 10 days.
Has GPS as well as SpO2.
All trackers require you to select running/cycling, however the step counter automatically registers, so OK for walking and running, probably not for cycling.
NB. No idea why SpO2 is a selling point. In everyone who has no respiratory problem it will always be 98% or over.
Has GPS as well as SpO2.
All trackers require you to select running/cycling, however the step counter automatically registers, so OK for walking and running, probably not for cycling.
NB. No idea why SpO2 is a selling point. In everyone who has no respiratory problem it will always be 98% or over.
Because it's for somebody with pulmonary fibrosis? So SpO2 is of particular relevance.
The Samsung Galaxy Fit I have auto detects walking, running, cycling, and swimming (maybe more, but does those few for definite). So with the Galaxy Fit you don't do anything except just get on with things. But with the Samsung you're still stuck with glitchy unreliable software and services, which kinda negates the point of having hardware which is pretty good if the app and online services then have issues. Couple that with Samsung Customer Service which is the definition of ineptitude and I couldn't recommend a Samsung Wearable to somebody, or buy one as a gift for somebody only for the app to frequently fail to recognise the activity logged on the device.
The Samsung Galaxy Fit I have auto detects walking, running, cycling, and swimming (maybe more, but does those few for definite). So with the Galaxy Fit you don't do anything except just get on with things. But with the Samsung you're still stuck with glitchy unreliable software and services, which kinda negates the point of having hardware which is pretty good if the app and online services then have issues. Couple that with Samsung Customer Service which is the definition of ineptitude and I couldn't recommend a Samsung Wearable to somebody, or buy one as a gift for somebody only for the app to frequently fail to recognise the activity logged on the device.
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