2015 is certainly looking to be the year of wearables in the mobile computing industry. The technology for these devices and products are very outstanding. Health and fitness is the biggest industry that is being able to benefit from wearables. There are hundreds upon hundreds of health and fitness smart devices on the market. Here is a small look into some of the top fitness trackers and smart wearables to come out in 2015.
The UP3 by Jawbone is recognized as one of the most advanced fitness trackers that are coming on to the market. The biometric sensors that are embedded in the watch are so smart that it can tell if you are working out hard in the gym or if you are simply taking part in a friendly pickup game of basketball. The UP3 by Jawbone is BlueTooth compatible and is wireless so a person will not to plug in to be able to keep up with their fitness information. This device is water resistant up to 10 meters so swimming can be done as well.
All of the health and fitness information can be tracked such as beats per minutes, pedometer, resting heart rate, amongst others. The highly sophisticated bioempedence sensor helps with keeping your heart healthy by letting you know when your heart vitals are in dangerous territory. There is also a Smart Coach app that helps you to keep track of your exercises and also offers information on keeping your heart healthy. There are not really any negative things that you can say about the UP3 by Jawbone. The product can be found in most electronic retail stores and goes for about $179.99.
Garmin is well noted as being the first company to incorporate GPS technology into their products. With the Forerunner 920XT, the consumer will be getting another innovative Garmin product. The sensors here allow for the true ultra-athlete to have a fitness tracker that follows all of their training. When it comes to swimming, it can track your strokes and swimming distances. It can keep track of heartbeat and count the cadences on your bike to let you know your power exertion when pedaling.
The 920XT has the patented HRM-Run Monitor which tracks very precise data when it comes to running. There is also the free online community called Garmin Connect where you can save the data from your fitness wearable. The Forerunner 920XT is BlueTooth Smart compatible and one must have the Garmin Connect Mobile App in order to keep track of the workouts. The Garmin Forerunner 920XT can be found online and at various retail stores selling for about $449.99. May be too pricey for some but you are definitely getting your money’s worth with the Garmin name and technology.
There are some analysts out there that are saying that it is the Microsoft Band that is the top wearable on the market for 2015. The software and the technology that goes into this fitness wearable is called Microsoft Health. It keeps track of time but also has all of the health monitoring aspects such as heart rate, heartbeat, the calories burned during a workout, and sleep patterns. The Microsoft Health app is designed to work on iPhones as well as Android powered phones. There is also GPS run mapping sensors with the Microsoft Band so you can trace your routes when you check the information on the app.
Microsoft Band allows for email previews, timers and alerts, and it also has your own digital assistant called, Cortana. You can take incoming calls and texts directly from your wrist. There is also voice activated controls and a virtual keyboard. The Microsoft Band is BlueTooth compatible as well. Basically, you are getting an innovative Microsoft product on your wrist with the Microsoft Band. The major retailers and Microsoft’s website has the Microsoft Band for sale. It retails at $199.99 which means that you are going to get a very good product for an affordable price.
When it comes to the fitness wearables to come out in 2015, the HTC Grip looks the more simplier. The thing is that there is a lot of functionality that comes with it. The HTC Grip is iOS and Android compatible. Under Armour, the internationally known fitness wear company, are the people who are behind the fitness tracking app here and it is called Under Armour Record. The app is able to keep track of heart beat, heart rate, the steps you take during your workout, and also has sleep pattern recording and tracking.
GPS tracking with the HTC Grip allows for a person to be able to track the route that they took during their jogs and runs. The HTC Grip certainly keeps up with the current technologies and trends with the fitness and wearables market this year. Some of the other specifications with the HTC Grip are 16MB flash and 8MB SRAM drive, 5 hour battery life while being used with close to three days for non sport use, and it runs on a 32 bit chip. The HTC Grip has yet to be released on the market but early word is that the retail price for the device will be around $199. This device is more for the fitness buff in the family and would not be much of a fashion statement or regular timepiece.
The Vivosmart by Garmin is designed to give a person the notifications they really need during an active day. With a simple tap of the watch and screen, a person will be able to see text notifications, the amount of steps that they have taken, calories burned, and time elapse and current time. The great thing with the Vivosmart as far as its competition goes is that it has a battery life of up to seven days before it needs to be recharged. There are daily goals that can be attained through the Vivosmart and if you reach those goals the Vivosmart will let you know. Then there is the Garmin Connect app that is used with the Vivosmart.
Here you will be able to keep track of your training and fitness goals and progress. The Vivosmart has a touchscreen and also has the smart notifications to warn you when you are working enough and even when you are training too hard. All of the heart monitoring and sleep monitoring sensors and technology are here as well. As with most wearables in 2015, the Vivosmart has BlueTooth accessibility. For affordability with the Garmin wearables, the Vivosmart is by far the lowest in price. It is available for purchase on the Garmin website and other electronic retailers. It is currently selling for about $169.
The Tom Tom Runner is pretty much self explanatory. This is a device that is for the runner at heart and no one else. It is very slim and compact which allows for comfort when jogging or running. The Tom Tom Runner comes with QuickGPSFix Technology which allows for a person to be able to keep track of where they are so they do not get lost. Tom Tom MySports is the app that goes with the Tom Tom Runner and it has all of the industry wide fitness and running tracking.
The device is waterproof up to 50 meters. The only negative thing that can be said about the Tom Tom Runner is that it has a low battery life. The battery is up to 8 hours when used and about 10 other than that. The Tom Tom Runner will also track indoor running. The good thing about the Tom Tom Runner is that for $129 it is affordable. Again, the Tom Tom Watch is for the runner at hand and it would be them that would get the most benefit out of this product.
HUAWEI has certainly become a big time mobile device company over the past couple of years. It should be no surprise that the company has stepped into the wearables scene. The TalkBand B1 is certainly a nice product for the company to promote. Some of the logistics that come with this smart device is that it is waterproof and that it can stay in 1 meter depth water up to 30 mintues, BlueTooth capability that allows you to keep track of phone calls while training, fitness and health monitoring, burned calories, sleep monitoring, and a compatible app for your phone.
The TalkBand B1 is compatible with all of the major smartphones and operating systems that are out there on the market. It is embedded with G-Sensors to keep track of all information. The HUAWEI TalkBand B1 is available online through many retailers and sells for around $129.99.
Sony delves its hand into the fitness wearables market for 2015 with the SmartBand Talk SWR30. One thing that this device has over the others on the list is that it allows for hands free talking. When someone calls you don’t even have to look for your smartphone. When you get text messages, you can see them and reply to them straight from your wrist. Then there is the basic health and fitness monitoring such as how long and far you have walked and it can also tell when you are resting and when you are asleep.
The interchangable wrist strap also makes a fashion statement and item with the SmartBand Talk SWR30. This device also has the popular E-Ink that Sony has been using these days for their newer products. The Sony SmartBand Talk SWR30 is BlueTooth capable and is compatible with Android smartphones and also has a micro USB port. The device looks simple on the outside but it certainly has more functionality than one would think. The SmartBand Talk SWR30 is also modestly priced at $99.99 and can found online and through the Sony store and their retail outlets.
The Razer Nabu X takes a different approach when it comes to smart fitness wearables. It does not have an interactive screen and only has the sensors embedded in it. When someone calls you on your smartphone, the Razer Nabu X vibrates to let you know just that. The companion app that comes with this device allows you to keep track of steps, distance traveled, calories burnt, goals, and the amount of hours that you have slept. The Razer Nabu X also has technology that allows for a person to be able to communicate with another user within a reasonable distance.
Here you can interact and also share and compare training results and information. The apps for the Nabu X allow for gaming and web chatting as well. The Nabu X works with BlueTooth Low Energy and has a battery life of up to seven days. The great thing about this device is the price. For $49.99 you can get the Nabu X from their official website at www.razerone.com. Again, this is for the fitness folks out there but with the web chatting and gaming, the Nabu X is liable to garner some consumers from that market as well. Certainly a good buy here.
FitBit is starting to become a big name in the fitness wearables market so what better way to complete this top ten list with one of their smart devices. This is the FitBit Charge HR. The sensors allow for heart rate monitoring and activity monitoring. The heart rate tracking with the Charge HR is done through a highly sophisticated sensor which gives you real time data. The Charge HR is BlueTooth 4.0 capable and can work with iOS and Android smartphones.
The companion app for the Charge HR keeps track of calories burned, pace and status of workouts, and goal attaining features. Again, this is one of those simple but functional smart wearables that is solely intended for the workout and fitness buff and enthusiast in the family. It has a nice price as well at $149 and can be found at various retailers and on the FitBit website. Certainly a good price and good technology features are found here with the FitBit Charge HR.
Here is the original FitBit Charge and it has all of the fitness tracking capabilities as the Charge HR. This device has the sleep tracking and step tracking ability and also has the companion app to help you keep track of your workouts and runs. The biggest knock against the Charge is that it is not highly sophisticated.
It does have the Caller ID feature but some people say that the notifications feature is limited. With the simple touch of a button the user can flip through calories burned, heart rate, and other vitals. The FitBit Charge HR certainly outshines its sister product but for just $129 and some places even cheaper, the Charge is certainly a good buy and for basic functions when it comes to smart wearables, it is well worth the price.
Acer was able to jump into the fitness wearables market in late 2014 with the Acer Liquid Leap. It had sluggish sales and was noted for having limited fitness tracking. Acer now has come out with the Acer Liquid Leap Plus. This product measures up with the reinvention. Again, this product comes with all of the BlueTooth capabilities, sensors, companion apps, and fitness tracking that is shown in the competition in this market.
The Acer Liquid Leap Plus has a very strong battery life and the screen for it is very clear. The watch is a rubbery type and fits very well on a person’s wrist. The Plus still has that simplistic look of the regular Liquid Leap but it has the functionality that people want in a fitness wearable these days. For $79, the Acer Liquid Leap Plus would certainly be a nice acquisition.
The Polar M400 is a fitness tracker that has been gaining a worldwide reputation. It is certainly one high tech GPS and activity tracker. The Polar M400 is for the runner and that is it. When it comes to tracking your running vitals though it is top of the line. The device can do all of the normal things such as heart beat and rate tracking, time elapse, and miles run. The GPS feature is one that will help a person in case they are lost or want to retrace the route they have taken during their run.
As far as battery life goes, the Polar M400 has 8 hours in the GPS mode and a little bit longer otherwise. It has a Smart Coach app which reviews and gives an analysis of your progress and runs. There is also Personal Records support which alerts you when you have surpassed a goal or a certain distance. It has the standard micro USB port for charging and linking up with your computer or smartphone. The Polar M400 also comes in various colors. The Polar M400 retails for about $229 and can be found through various online and store retail outlets. The price is certainly consumerate with the technology here so it certainly is a good buy.
Here is another one of those simplistic but functional smart wearables for 2015 and it is the Mio Fuse. It is BlueTooth accessible and it has a companion app called the Mio Go, which allows for the industry norm of keeping track of heart beat, miles run, steps taken, and other vital information. It can all be tracked through the Mio Go app which stands up to the other apps of its kind out there. There is also the Mio Link which allows for USB connection to a computer. The app though has to be used with a smartphone and the Mio Fuse is iOS and Android compatible.
The charger for the Mio Fuse is really innovative. What the Mio Link does through the USB port is attach through a magnet. The Optical HR sensor is highly sophisticated and gives very precise information. The tracking mode is 24/7. It also has the goals attained feature and will alert you on the small screen on the watch. Dick’s Sporting Goods is one major U.S. retailer that carries the Mio Fuse but it can be found at various retailers. The price for the Mio Fuse is about $149.
Atlas Wearables Atlas Wristband
Atlas Wearables is a start up that was founded in the United States in Austin, Texas. Their first foray into the the smart and fitness wearables industry is the Atlas Wristband. The Atlas Wristband prides itself in being able to tell what kind of workout you are doing. It can tell if you are jogging, biking, or even in the gym and doing those heavy bench presses. The great thing is that it is able to keep track of steps, miles, and reps. The Atlas Wristband has 3D sensor ability and is waterproof up to 50 meters. There is the Atlas Wristband app that keeps track of all of your fitness output and workouts.
It has BlueTooth Smart Technology and will work with both iOS and Android smartphones. This device also has various modes such as Freestyle, Coach, and Time. Freestyle allows you to do your workouts and then get the information from the app. The Coach mode will give you alerts through the wristband to tell you when you have attained set goals and when your muscles are starting to tire out. It has a 32 bit processor, 3 Axis accelerometer and Gyroscope along with a optical heart rate sensor. The Atlas Wristband made its debut at CES 2015 back in January in Las Vegas and is due to come on to the market sometime during the course of 2015. Pre-orders can be made on the Atlas Wearables website.
Yep, FitBit is back on this fitness wearables list and this time it is the FitBit Surge. It likes to tout itself as a fitness supervision smart device. This device here is really more closely related to the Apple Watch than any of the other smart fitness wearables here on this list. It’s price is certainly an inclination of that as it retails for about $249. Again, you are going to get the industry standard GPS location and health monitors. There is also the sleep tracking and the companion app that allows for you to keep track of your workouts. The device also has various size wristbands as well. The FitBit Surge has the tap and touch screen and reviews have been saying that even with sweaty, worked out hands it was still able to work.
The optical sensor will work 24/7 and give you real time data through the companion app. Waterproof testing has shown that it works up to 50 meters and can be used in the shower with no problem. The FitBit Surge is just like its company partners in the fitness wearables line as far as being iOS and Android compatible. This watch is for the high end FitBit user and consumer but they will still be getting the money’s worth with this product.
The luxuriousness of the Swiss watchmaker Swatch has come over to the fitness wearables market and will see their new product hit the market beginning in May of this year. This touchscreen watch is one that is geared for the active person in mind. They are actually gearing this watch for beach volleyball players.
It was at the FIVB World Beach Volleyball Tour early this year that it was announced that Swatch would be entering the wearables market. This watch is able to measure the force a person hits on a serve and a spike on a 0-100 scale. This watch is a fitness tracker and that is it. Again, this device is engineered for beach volleyball players and that is who it is made for. There has not been any word on the price of the device but with the Swatch name one would need to figure that in their estimation.
Wiko and Nevo have come together to bring a new touch to the fitness and activity tracking wearables market. While the watch looks like a simple timepiece, it is embedded with sensors and has a companion app that allows you to track your progress. It has been dubbed the Wiko Watch. The Wiko Watch is compatible with iOS 7 and higher and with Android 4.3 and higher.
There are also phone notifications with the Wiko Watch and that is done with a vibration and tap of the wrist that alerts you to check your smartphone. This is a French made device so that could factor into the price. Wiko is known for their low cost mobile phones so that should mean that the Wiko Watch should not be that expensive. This watch has just been unveiled to the consumer public and no set release date has been set. It should certainly garner some sales due to its low price but at the same time having some fitness functionality.
The fitness tracking and wearables market for 2015 is certainly one that looks to leap jumps and bounds. All of these devices are very similar in technology and functions but in the end they have different characteristics and most importantly they all have different manufacturers. One thing for certain is that the technology that is seen in these devices lends one to think that the future is certainly bright for smart wearables all across the world. If you are a fitness buff and love walk and train or even play beach volleyball, these smart wearables and fitness devices are certainly a good place to start looking for a hassle free training partner. 2015 is certainly looking to be a big year for fitness wearables.
