Review of fitness trackers with a heart rate monitor

A fitness tracker is an electronic device in the form of a stylish bracelet that tracks a person’s physical activity and displays all the information on a smartphone’s screen.

Modern gadgets also have a ton of other useful features: measuring your heart rate, monitoring your sleep patterns, and some even monitor the user's posture. A variety of models can confuse the buyer, so this article will reveal all the secrets of these devices and familiarize the reader with the latest fitness trackers with built-in or additional heart rate monitors.

Fitness tracker

Why do I need a fitness tracker

Fitness tracker has become a favorite device of all athletes, as well as people who carefully monitor and periodically adjust their lifestyle. This is a small device, almost not felt on the arm, but able to control all the physical activity of a person.

Fitness tracker as an indicator of an active lifestyle

The main functionality of a standard fitness tracker:

• Sleep phase control. Allows you to wake the user at a time when the body is as rested as possible.
• Heart rate monitor. It is not installed on all models, but it is very useful, as it displays the number of heartbeats in one minute.
• Pedometer. Everything is simple here - the device considers the steps taken by the user. Translation into meters or kilometers is possible. Parallel to the pedometer, a calorie burn counter is installed.
• Clock. A required attribute of all fitness trackers.

The latest models of this variety of gadgets display the level of oxygen in the blood. By installing a special program on your smartphone, you can use the fitness tracker to control the total number of calories that are in the food you eat.

The main differences from smart watches

But do not confuse the functionality of smart watches and even the latest fitness trackers. Fitness tracker belongs to the category of electronic devices that can only read and transmit certain information. The device does not have independent functionality, but on some recent models there is the ability to display calls and messages.

Fitness tracker and smart watch

Smart watches belong to a more advanced category of electronic devices, which can offer the user the following functions:

• Display calls and messages. A smart watch notifies the user with a beep or vibration.
• Full software and user-friendly touch screen.
• The ability to answer calls via a Bluetooth headset.
• A wide variety of watch displays, each user will be able to find their original taste.
• As well as in fitness trackers, the smart watch has a smart alarm clock with silent wake-up function through vibration.
• Ability to listen to your favorite music.

From numerous reviews on the Internet, it can be concluded that fitness trackers are more specialized devices that provide the user with specific information. Smart watches acquire more for the soul, as an additional device to the smartphone.

Main disadvantages

The main disadvantage of modern fitness trackers is that the price is too high. And the functionality of such devices has not changed so dramatically, the same heart rate monitor, step counter and calories, the time displayed on the display. Of course, there may be a more convenient ergonomic design, but this is not worth the prices that the manufacturer sets.

The next minus is lack of autonomy. A fitness tracker consumes a small amount of energy, but due to its small size, it is very difficult to install a battery with a high capacity in it.Therefore, with maximum functionality, the device can be used no more than a day.

Lastly, fitness trackers are very often inaccurate gadgets, especially from cheap manufacturers. For example, a device can perceive a simple wiggle of a foot in a sitting position as walking, and accordingly, a pedometer will constantly work. Therefore, with a minimum of activity, such bracelets are best off.

Xiaomi Mi Band 1S Pulse

The best combination of minimalism in design and the latest technology in electronic filling. A distinctive feature of this tracker is a heart rate monitor, sometimes working with a small error. The device has an affordable price (from 720 rubles) and advanced functionality. Brief technical specifications:

• The ability to pair with the main operating systems: Android 4.3, iOS 7.0, Windows Phone.
• Notifies the user of incoming calls and messages.
• There is no digital display; instead, a special three-stage LED indicator is provided.
• Equipped with an alarm clock and heart rate monitor.
• The device controls the user's sleep, but there is no smart alarm function.
• High degree of protection against dust and moisture - IP67.

The Xiaomi Mi Band 15 Pulse model differs from similar gadgets in the increased level of autonomy - the device is quite capable of functioning for up to one month, in standby mode. Also this bracelet counts steps and calories burned very accurately.

Xiaomi Mi Band 15 Pulse - evidence-free quality

The strap material is high-quality and environmentally friendly silicone. The strap in combination with the tracker itself, whose weight is only 5.5 g, is almost not felt on the hand. It will not interfere with the user during running, swimming or other sports.

Polar loop 2

A stylish and convenient tracker, with an interesting warning system made by means of LEDs that light up in a certain sequence. At the same time, LED lights add up to the word on the matrix display: incoming call, message, or simply display the current time.

Original Polar Loop 2 Fitness Tracker

From the technical characteristics should be highlighted:

• The ability to pair with operating systems such as Android 4.3, iOS 8, Windows XP, OS X 10.6.
• Degree of protection against dust and moisture - WR20.
• LED display.
• The heart rate monitor is present, unfortunately, only as an optional accessory. It must be purchased and installed as a separate electronic element.
• The bracelet notifies the user not only about incoming calls and messages, but also about requests on social networks.
• A sufficiently reliable and capacious battery guarantees a week of operation in low functionality mode.

It should separately stay on the strap. As in the Xiaomi Mi Band 1S Pulse model, this bracelet provides environmentally friendly silicone straps of increased strength, presented in three colors. The main innovation is the ability to adjust the length of the bracelet, and the clasp is quite reliable and durable.

For such a model, the price is quite high - 11590 rubles. For such an amount, it is quite possible to purchase a good smart watch with a lot of functions.

Sony SmartBand 2

Sony produces not only high-quality, but also stylish things with a long service life. A lot can be said about this fitness tracker:

• Very strict design without any extra details.
• The presence of the necessary functionality and sensors: notifications, smart alarm clock, altimeter, accelerometer and heart rate monitor that controls the human body during periods of prolonged activity.
• Degree of protection against moisture - IP68.

The Sony SmartBand 2 model is equipped with a convenient and intuitive LED indicator that displays all the information the user needs. The manufacturer took care of a pleasant and calm vibration, which is useful when working with a smart alarm clock.

Minimalism and quality expressed in Sony SmartBand 2

Ergonomic design contributes to a more comfortable wearing gadget. The case has no corners, all sides of the bracelets are rounded.Unfortunately, in such a neat fitness tracker it was not possible to install a capacious battery, so it only functions for a few days, then recharging is required.

Apple Watch Series

Today, almost all advertising banners are dedicated to Apple products. Of course, the cost of such gadgets is quite high, but the manufacturer offers in return a long, uninterrupted operation of the device, without any violations and breakdowns.

Apple Watch Series - true quality

The Apple Watch Series belongs to the first generation of smart watches with gps, which many users use as fitness trackers. This gadget included all the variety of functions and sensors: pedometer, smart alarm clock, accelerometer and gyroscope, as well as an accurate heart rate monitor.

The necessary information is displayed on the OLED screen with a resolution of 272 × 340, a diagonal of 1.33 ″ and touch control. The degree of moisture protection is IPX7, which allows you to use the gadget during swimming. But you should know that the device works less accurately on water.

The Apple Watch Series sensors have a high level of customization, so they accurately display data such as the number of steps or kilometers traveled, ascents to heights, and calories burned during the day. The original gadget control system is installed - Siri, now it’s enough to say a command next to the speaker, and the rest of the Apple Watch Series will do it on their own.

Samsung Gear Fit2

Samsung has been competing with Apple for a long time and is very fruitful. The second generation of the fitness tracker Samsung Gear Fit 2 has earned worldwide recognition of all users who respect an active lifestyle.

The personal feature of Samsung devices is the AMOLED display, which is also installed on this model. Only this screen has a beautiful curved shape and high-definition touch control.

Samsung Gear Fit 2

In addition to the standard accelerometer, the Samsung Gear Fit 2 also has a gyroscope and a barometer. The gadget not only reads the distance traveled on foot, but also the path on a bicycle and even on a simulator for rowing.

Light weight (only 30 grams) and stylish design make the gadget as convenient as possible - the tracker is almost not felt on the hand. And for inveterate music lovers, as much as 2 GB of their own memory is provided, which will help diversify the workout. The price of the model starts at 10,400 rubles.