But there’s a catch to this, nonetheless. The price tag of a good chunk of these smartwatches is not only prohibitive but also inconsistently high. For instance, it wouldn’t make a lot of sense to splurge over $500 on a watch (however ‘smart’ or luxurious it may be) yet you can get almost the same service from a $120 watch. And this mostly happens with flagships and top-of-the-line timepieces. Which, of course, begs the question: Is it possible to land a decent, functional and well-built cheap smartwatch while on a shoestring budget?

Well, the following list says it all – in the order of preference and value-for-money versus relative price point. In short, let’s put it this way; with less than $100 at your disposal, these are your best bets of getting the most bang for your buck – quite literally.

Best Cheap Smartwatches for under $100 USD

1. Pebble ($80.99)

Having being lauded as one of the most deluxe-looking smartwatches from last year that won’t break the bank, it is pretty much obvious that the budget timepiece wouldn’t miss on this list.

And at $80.99, the price is not only ridiculously low but also surprisingly friendly putting into consideration that the watch packs almost similar features to $350 smart timepieces. But there’s an explanation for this. Unlike other smartwatch brand manufacturers, Pebble is a progeny of one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns. So it is possible that a good chunk of their initial operating costs was covered by donors. Not forgetting that there are widely considered to be the pioneers of smart wearables.

Pebble 2 Smartwatch

Just like the Original Pebble, newer models such as Pebble Time, Pebble 2 and Pebble Steel, both of which are priced within the vicinity of $100, are compatible with both iOS and Android devices. Although, since there are later models, online vendors are bound to take advantage of this to set you back by almost even $150. But even then, you can still bank on the fact that Original Pebble still goes for significantly less than $100.

Editors Pick: The Best OS for Swartwatches under $100

Android Wear 2.0 Review – Expectations and Revelations

Posted: April 5, 2017

Some say that though Android Wear 2.0 cannot replace the Apple Watch or FitBit, it still is good for fitness freaks. Others hail it as Google’s best update so far. Opinions are rife but one thing that emerges is that the Android Wear 2.0 is definitely the hottest topic of

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2. Garmin Vivosmart ($97.01)

Yes, it might look and feel like a fitness tracker, but the Garmin Vivosmart is one of the least-known budget smart timepieces under $100. It might not have that ‘conventional smartwatch’ design language, but the gizmo still shows time accurately as well as flashes out notifications from your smartphone thus saving you the hassle of having to pull out your phone after every 2 seconds in a business meeting when you’ve set it on a Do-Not-Disturb mode.

Garmin Vivosmart

And that’s not all. The $97 bill earns you access to a 0.7-ounce smart bangle with a lavish-looking curved OLED that comes in a wide range of colors. So if you’re the type that wishes to savor the experience of a modern smartwatch, but without all the chunkiness and buffoonery of sporting a mega size smartwatch, then the Vivosmart is your best pick.

Featurewise, however, there are chances that you will be deeply disappointed. The Vivosmart conspicuously lacks GPS connectivity – something that has lately become synonymous with modern-day smartwatches. But that is not an issue for you, then you should find the respectable 7-day-long battery life enticing, as well as the fact that it can seamlessly sync your Facebook, Whatsapp, and Twitter notifications easily.

3. Alcatel One-Touch Watch ($90)

Waterproofing, convenient USB charging and a round, gorgeous face are the hallmarks of the Alcatel One-touch Watch. And as if to defy the odds further, Alcatel added fitness tracking and top-shelf NFC functionality to sweeten the deal and convince new shoppers to jump on its bandwagon.

Alcatel One-Touch Watch

The OneTouch watch is also proven to last two-to-five days on a single charge – something which puts it way ahead of the competition in this price bracket. Since we mentioned fitness tracking, it’s worth noting that the $90 watch can track your heart rate with a decent degree of accuracy, in fact, even much better than the existing Android Wear crop of fitness bands.

As far as platform compatibility goes, the Alcatel works fine with both iPhones and Android devices.

4. The Samsung Gear Live ($99)

As usual, any tech review wouldn’t be complete without throwing around one or two products from the Korean giants. And although the Gear Live was competitively priced at $130 when it launched back in 2014, presently, it is possible for you to get it from a wide array of online and brick & mortar stores for just less than $100.

Samsung Gear Live | Slashgear.com

Feature-wise, there’s little we can do to deny that the Samsung Gear Live is quite a steal at that price point. I mean, it is not like it’s every day you will find a heart rate monitor backed up by GPS in a hundred dollar watch. The screen is also a stunner, so to speak. Boasting of a 320 X 320 resolution, the AMOLED technology screen easily trumps any competition at that price point – a typical Samsung trademark.

The only bummer here is that the Gear Live line is quickly fading out. Being a 2014 watch, it won’t take long before most shops run of its stock. You’ll have to be quick.

5. The LG G Watch ($88.99)

The G Watch is the predecessor to the current and relatively more expensive G Watch R and Watch Urbane – both of which will set you back more than $200. Therefore, being an older trim, it means that you can now get it an attractive budget price of just under $90. We won’t beat around the bush here, though. The functionality is pretty basic, and the rectangular screen is obviously not the prettiest out there. But, hey, for less than $90 you wouldn’t expect much, would you?

On the other side of the spectrum, the wallet-friendly price point means that you can spare a few dollars to splurge on a stainless steel bracelet strap or a leather-backed one to sprinkle a little bit of style to the otherwise mediocre watch.

6. Sony Smartwatch 2 ($100)

Sony rarely disappoints. Even with the release of their newest Sony Smartwatch 4 just around the corner, the second iteration is still as solid, relevant and functional as it was two years ago. The only difference now is that unlike back in 2014 when it was a spanking new flagship, you can get it on Amazon for barely $100. Thank the Smartwatch 3 for this, but at the same time remember that the proprietary OS that the SW2 runs is a bit dated, and thus you won’t be updating the apps anytime soon.

Fortunately, however, the watch can work seamlessly with any Android 4.0 watch or above. The straps are nicer now – compared to 2 years ago – and the price tag is a bit reasonable. There’s no reason you shouldn’t be sporting one already!

7. The Microsoft Band ($100)

There’s no disputing that the name Microsoft doesn’t really rhyme with health and fitness bands. But even then, most of us would be surprised to know that one of the few well-designed Microsoft bands is priced within the vicinity of $100. Strictly technically speaking, the Microsoft Band is an exceptional artillery to have on your forearm. Not only does it combine the novelty of heart-rate monitoring combined with GPS, but also adds a ClearBlack AMOLED screen to the mix. But that’s as far as features go.

When it comes to the design language and ergonomics, it is quite another story altogether. The angular main face leaves much to be desired while its chunky frame renders it highly unaesthetic. It is that type of fitness band or wearable that does very little to blend with your wardrobe. But then again, that’s just our own (probably biased) opinion. If it looks remotely attractive to you, then go ahead and try it on. Who knows, you could end up finding yourselves a perfect match for each other.

With the second iteration (Microsoft Band 2) already hot on the shelves, you can get the Microsoft band with less than $100 from various online vendors, including Amazon. In regards to compatibility, the watch works just fine with Android devices, iPhones, and Windows Phones.

8. The LG LGW110 ($94.99)

The LGW110 is the cheaper variant of the luxurious G Watch R and looks nothing like your classical, typical smartwatch. If anything, the LGWW110 looks more of an analog timepiece than a squarish, manly smartwatch. And featuring the world’s first full circle OLED display, it comes as a bit of a pleasant that you can now add it to your collection of watches for less than $100, a year or so after its release.

Like most LG smartwatches, the LGW11O runs on native Android Wear and, therefore, boasts of a ton of expandable options thanks to Google Play Store. So if you’re going to use it with an Android device, well, you have all the reasons to look forward to an above-par experience. However, if past reviews are anything to go by, iPhone users might want to sit out on this one – due to Android-iOS love/hate affair, the user experience is not very thrilling.

Also, if you’re always away from civilization for long periods of time, then, this is not your budget smartwatch either. 89% of users have found that it’s battery life rarely lasts beyond two days and, more annoyingly, is that it has to be reconnected to your smartphone before it can be used again.

That aside, the LG LGW110 is arguably the best-looking budget smartwatch under $100 and comes bundled with almost all features you might need in a premium smartwatch, from timely notifications to voice activation. Probably the best way to spend a loose $100.

9. The A29 ($70)

If you have less than a Benjamin to spend, and still need a device that offers state-of-the-art service, then this wacky Smartwatch band might be just what you’re looking for. Courtesy of Oukitel – a Chinese firm – the A29 packs a forage of cool, up-to-date specs including the latest Bluetooth 4.0 and an accurate sleep monitoring tracking ability. And the niceties don’t end there. In typical Chinese ingenuity, the A29 packs an SIM-card and you can actually use it as a phone to call your contacts. This is in addition to a heart-rate sensor and a matching 320mAH battery that can furnish you with over 150 hours on standby.

Further, the A29 can work with both iOS and Android devices according to the Manufacturer, makes it not just an uncommon flexibility but also an important edge over ‘conventional smartwatches’ in the same price group.

10. The UWatch ($50)

One of our cheapest watches in this list also hails from a Chinese company – Bluboo. It is also the only watch here with a capacitive home button. But unlike its counterpart, the A29, the UWatch runs Android Wear, therefore making it one of the cheapest Android Wear timepiece you can lay your hands on today. Aesthetically, the UWatch is reasonably attractive, especially with bezels kept refreshingly to a minimum. And if you have to fork just a mere $50 for a watch, then you will find the sleep monitor a very welcome surprise – although it is not fully developed.

The only downside to the UWatch stems from one of its strengths – trying to cram a multitude of features in a budget package that it ends up feeling and looking ‘cheapish’. Furthermore, most of the features are more gimmicky than you’ll find them useful. For instance, the pedometer barely works, and very few people will need an eCompass on their watches.

That said, for $50, this is best you can slap your wrist with, really.

.Conclusion

The post The Best Cheap Smartwatches for under $100 USD (Less than a Benjamin) appeared first on ChipIn.

A smartwatch potentially can give you feedback on your heart rate, distance traveled, and calories burned. More advanced models can do things like count swimming laps or provide data about the altitude you traveled while hiking. And because it’s a watch, obviously it’ll keep track of how much time you exercised and your pace.

When you’re just starting an exercise program, it’s easy to tell if you’re making progress through things like weight loss and improved muscle tone. But when you’re already in good shape, the visible benefits of exercise are a little tougher to spot. That’s where an investment in a smartwatch with sports activity tracking can help. The data it gives you can show subtle improvements in your workouts, showing the type of progress you’re making.

We’ve collected some of the best smartwatch options from two of the top manufacturers in this area of the market to help you make a smart investment. (After all, a smartwatch deserves a smart investment decision.) Our Garmin vs. TomTom smartwatch battle will also show you which models work well for people who focus on one sport, such as running or hiking, or for those who bounce from sport to sport. Both companies have many options in different price points, and we’ll help you find the best sports watch for the money.

For the most complete smartwatch options from these two manufacturers at the high end of the price curve, our picks are the Garmin Fenix 5 vs. TomTom Adventurer.

Garmin Fenix 5 vs. TomTom Adventurer

Release Dates

The TomTom Adventurer made its debut in October 2016, while the Garmin Fenix 5 was announced in early 2017. The Fenix 5 is the first of numerous high-end smartwatches to be released by a host of manufacturers in 2017, so Garmin received a jump on the competition.

Garmin Fēnix 5 is the ultra Multisport GPS watch for athletes and adventurers.

Feature set

The Garmin Fenix 5 is the king of smartwatches, hands down when considering its feature set. You can track a multitude of indoor and outdoor sports activities with the Garmin Fenix 5. There’s individual tracking capabilities for cycling, swimming, running, rowing, hiking, and many others. The Fenix 5 has a gyroscope, compass, altimeter, GPS, and heart monitor included.

You can even add WiFi connectivity capability with the Fenix 5 for a slightly higher cost, which is rarely found in a smartwatch. (We called it the king earlier for good reason.)

Now the TomTom Adventurer is no slouch. Its features are aimed primarily at runners and hikers. But it can track several other activities, including lap swimming and indoor activities. Snowboarders and skiers will appreciate the altitude measurements, which determine when you’re riding the ski lift, resetting the watch to begin measuring the next run.

TomTom Adventurer GPS Outdoor Watch – Explore with your heart

The Adventurer is waterproof up to 130 feet of water depth, which is pretty impressive. But the Fenix 5 blows it out of the water (sorry for the bad pun) with a waterproof depth rating of 328 feet.

One interesting aspect of the Adventurer’s feature set is its new battery saving GPS feature, which takes a GPS sample once every two seconds (rather than every second), which allows it to run the GPS unit for a full 24 hours without the watch needing a charge. This is a really nice feature for hikers and runners.

Design

The TomTom Adventurer has a rectangular face with rounded corners. The watch face measures 0.98 inches vertically and 0.87 inches horizontally. The glass on the watch face has a bit of protection from bumps because of the raised edge surrounding the watch face.

The Fenix 5 has an oversized round design, which isn’t common in the smartwatch segment. The Fenix 5 is available in a 47 mm watch face diameter size, which is about 1.85 inches. (Garmin also offers the Fenix 5S in a 42 mm watch face and the 5X in a 51 mm watch face.) And there are nearly a dozen color and watchband combinations, including a metal band design.

We really like the option of selecting a scratch resistant sapphire face on the Fenix 5. When you’re exercising, scratches and bumps are to be expected. Having extra protection in the watch face materials is always appreciated. The LED backlit screen in the Fenix 5 is easy to read in all types of ambient lighting.

Cost

The Fenix 5 is one of the most expensive smartwatches on the market. It starts at nearly $700, and models with even more features are available at higher price points. Not everyone is going to be able to afford this very impressive model. If you like the idea of the Fenix 5 but want to save a bit of money, consider going backward to the previous model, the Garmin Fenix 3, which is available at a discount.

Meanwhile, the Adventurer is at the top of the cost curve for TomTom brand smartwatches, but it has a price point in the mid-$300s for a kit with Bluetooth headphones and 3GB of music storage. You may even be able to find the Adventurer with a lower price point if you want the watch alone, so this model is far less expensive than the top end of the Garmin family of models.

Final verdict

There’s just not much on the market that can stand up to the impressive Garmin Fenix 5. It is close to the perfect smartwatch for tracking sports activity, as it can provide data on a huge number of different activities, all in a sharp looking unit. But the price point is simply overwhelming at $700 and up. You would have to be a serious athlete who spends several hours per week working out to justify this price.

Best High-End Smartwatch Winner: Garmin Fenix 5

So if you’re primarily a hiker/runner, we’d recommend the TomTom Adventurer, which has plenty of great features at a much more acceptable price point. But for the person who participates in a multitude of activities and sports – and who has the budget for it – the Garmin Fenix 5 is the king of the market.

In the middle of the smartwatch cost curve for these two companies, our favorite options are the Garmin Forerunner 35 vs. TomTom Runner 3 Cardio.

Garmin Forerunner 35 vs. TomTom Runner 3 Cardio

Release Dates

Both the TomTom Runner 3 Cardio and the Garmin Forerunner 35 appeared on the market in September 2016.

Feature set

One of the biggest additions to the Runner 3 Cardio from previous versions of TomTom’s mid-range smartwatches is the inclusion of trail navigation. This addition adds to an already strong set of features for runners and hikers in the Runner 3. It also offers tracking of other sports (such as swimming, treadmill running, cycling, and indoor activities), as well as a heart rate sensor and built-in GPS. It’s waterproof up to 130 feet.

The Forerunner 35 is rated for a water depth of 164 feet, but, strangely, it does not track lap swimming. Beyond that, this Garmin model does offer good sports tracking features for hiking, running (indoor and outdoor), indoor activities, and cycling. It contains a heart rate monitor and GPS tracking. It’s primarily designed as a Garmin running watch, though.

Design

Normally, we’re all about functionality over looks when it comes to smartwatches. We can put up with a poor looking unit if it has great sports tracking features. But we have to make an exception for the Forerunner 35. This design is so ugly that it has to play a role in our recommendation, even though the unit has pretty nice smartwatch features.

It’s a blocky rectangular face with rounded corners that just looks bad. The narrow edges of the Forerunner 35 don’t provide much protection to the face. And the square display doesn’t go to the edges, measuring 0.93 inches on all sides. It also has only a 128×128 resolution on the screen.

TomTom’s Spark 3 has a rectangular face with rounded corners. The edge around the watch face is raised, which gives the glass a bit of protection. The watch face measures 0.98 inches vertically and 0.87 inches horizontally.

Cost

You’ll spend right around $200 for the Forerunner 35. It’s a slightly cheaper smartwatch than the Garmin Forerunner 230 and Garmin Forerunner 630. Meanwhile, the Runner 3 Cardio is available in a few different iterations. It ranges from about $150 to $250. The more expensive versions include heart rate monitoring, Bluetooth headphones, and music storage.

Final verdict

These two smartwatches have a lot of similarities, including price point and feature set. So in this case, it comes down to looks, and there it’s no contest: We’ll give the edge to the Tomtom Runner 3 Cardio + Music.

TomTom Spark 3 Waterproof Cardio+Music

If you’re looking to find a smartwatch from these two companies that’ll give you basic features for a basic price, our top picks in the budget priced category are the Garmin Forerunner 25 vs. TomTom Runner.

Garmin Forerunner 25 vs. TomTom Runner

Release Dates

The TomTom Runner is an older model that still remains popular in today’s market. In terms of its performance against newer models, the Runner is starting to show its age a bit, as it was released in mid-2013. The Garmin Forerunner 25 had a mid-2015 release date.

Feature set

The feature set of the TomTom Runner is pretty basic and is aimed at runners. You can use it outdoors or on a treadmill. The built-in GPS is slow in pulling in the initial signal, which is one area where this unit shows its age.

Garmin’s Forerunner 25 offers a built-in GPS, and it works with running both indoors and outdoors. It’s also primarily a running smartwatch, with limited features for cyclists.

Both the Runner and Forerunner 25 have a waterproof capability up to 164 feet, which are excellent performance levels at this price point. But neither model has the ability to track swimming.

Design

You’ll find two square display sizes with the Forerunner 25, either 0.73 inches on all sides or 0.91 inches on all sides. It’s blocky with an eight-sided part surrounding the square screen. The thick plastic edge will provide good protection for the screen. We’re not huge fans of the look of this unit, but it is better looking than the Forerunner 35.

The TomTom Runner carries a nearly square, oversized display screen that measures 0.85 horizontally by 1 inch vertically. The display doesn’t go to the edges of the screen. The thick edges around the screen are raised to provide some protection to the screen glass. Even though this model is three-plus years old, its design still looks pretty good.

Cost

Because both models are older, you may be able to find some bargains on them if you shop around. On average, the Runner will set you back a little over $100, while the Forerunner 25 costs around $125.

Final Verdict

Both the TomTom Runner and the Garmin Forerunner 25 are very basic smartwatches designed primarily for runners. Even though the Runner was TomTom’s first entry into the smartwatch market more than three years ago, its design still looks pretty good. But the Runner’s slow GPS performance is a significant source of frustration for users, leading us to award this battle to the newer Garmin Forerunner 25.

These smartwatches make use of companion software and apps. They’re designed to help you make the most of the data the smartwatches gather.

GARMIN

The Garmin Connect Mobile app has some basic features, such as tips for improving your health and reminders to stand up and move around during the day. It can give you a snapshot of your activity during the day … which can help you decide whether you need to get on the treadmill for 20 minutes before going to bed.

If you work out or compete with a Forerunner® running watch, Edge® cycling computer or fēnix® outdoor watch, all of the Garmin Connect data you rely on is right in the app.

And for someone looking to ramp up their workouts, this app is great for taking the data the smartwatch collects and turning it into usable information. The Garmin app also has the ability to help you connect with other users for motivation and for competing in weekly challenges.

TOMTOM

The TomTom Sports app has a number of graphical components, making it easy to track the data the TomTom sports watch collects. You’ll be able to view your results from a variety of sports activities, including running, biking, treadmill usage, and others.

Track your progress at a glance. See key fitness information and activity history at-a-glance, on the TomTom Sports App dashboard

The Sports app has a body composition tracking screen, allowing you to track measurements such as weight loss or BMI over time. And the software will keep a history of your exercises, such as tracking all of your runs and your best distances and time splits. The app can allow you to share your exercise data through your social media accounts with one tap on the screen.

Garmin vs. TomTom Smartwatch Questions and Answers

In the Garmin vs. TomTom smartwatch comparison, the two companies’ offerings are relatively similar in terms of feature set … at least until you reach the high end of the market. The Garmin Fenix 5 is simply unmatched in the market in its feature set and design. But it’s very expensive. So unless you’re a workout warrior who likes to track a variety of sports nearly every day, it’s tough to justify its cost. Someone who works out primarily on the weekends probably will be satisfied with the TomTom Adventurer.

If you’re looking to save a bit of money over the models at the top of the market, it’s tough to recommend the smartwatches at the low end of the market, though, unless you’re exclusively a runner. However, both companies have nice offerings in the mid-range price point, and both the Garmin Forerunner 35 and the Runner 3 offer a good value for the person needing to track workouts. Either way, it’s tough to go wrong with the Garmin vs. TomTom smartwatch comparison, as both companies have really nice sports watches!

The post Garmin Vs. TomTom Smart Watch – Battle of the Best Running Watch Contenders appeared first on ChipIn.

The all new Fitbit Charge 2 Line-Up

The past three years has seen the wearable industry undergo a whirlwind of technological amendments and reformations, and the main point for the manufacturers has been to try and encompass as many features and functions as possible in their tiny doodads. Apple has recently fashioned an upgrade of its activity tracking smartwatch, the Apple watch, after little over one year of its being in the market; Microsoft followed suit with their Microsoft Band; and the biggest performers on that front, Fitbit and Jawbone have entertained us with series of their own.

The Jawbone UP3 comes in a variety of colours

Fitbit has more than six fitness trackers to its name to date while Jawbone boasts a total of five generations of the famous Up series. The Fitbit Surge and the Jawbone Up 4 are the companies’ latest and most refined versions of their works, but counter-intuitively, they have not been the most welcome in the voracious market of activity trackers; their respective predecessors, the Fitbit Charge 2 and Jawbone Up 3 actually are (if volume of sales is anything to go by).
So, what sets the Charge 2 and Up3 apart from the precursors and successors in their respective product strings?

In a nutshell, they are both fairly more comprehensive, more accurate and more efficient than their little siblings. Secondly, they are less expensive, less complicated and more specific with their functionalities than their successors. If we were talking about their similarities, then that’s how a superficial delineation would look like.

Enough with the primer now and straight to what brings us here: Jawbone Up 3 vs. Fitbit Charge 2; who merits the bragging rights?

Below is an abreast comparison of the two fitness trackers on every facet that matters. Enjoy.

I’ve always been hypercritical of gizmo companies and how much they tend to focus on features and functionality, completely forgetting to employ any creativity in the device housing, but I must admit that external appeal is by and large a matter of individual conscience. Some of us prefer the less conspicuous trim and sleek fitness trackers that can fit and remain unobtrusive under the tightest of sleeves while most others would go for the smartwatch-size wristbands with touchscreen displays and more sophisticated dials. If you’re for any of the tastes, you have these two to choose from.

The Jawbone Up 3, just like the rest of its siblings, is super-slender and has no display screen (Jawbone’s biggest letdown) and only one control button, to highlight its simplicity. It, however, sports a very friendly fit, which, together with the new hook and eye closure mechanism, make it comfy enough for a day and night long wear.

Fitbit Charge 2, on the other hand, is wider and thicker, and generally takes the shape and size of the outmoded sports watches. It has a plastic strap which is fastened to the arm via a buckle and, similar to the Up 3, has a single control button on the side. Its display screen, a feature Fitbit never forget to include in their devices, is fairly tiny and can only display one notification or stat at a time, but nonetheless, stands as a plus in comparison with the Jawbone Up 3 which exclusively has to be connected to a mobile device to display the stats.

Both the Fitbit Charge 2 and the Jawbone Up 3 are water-resistant, not waterproof; they can withstand splashes, shower, and rain but are not suitable for swimming and bathing. That said, Fitbit, in their manuals contradictorily seem to advise against wearing their trackers into the shower or rain to avoid damage. Well, if that is anything to go by, then the Charge 2 is the last thing I would recommend you fork out more than £20 for. Luckily, though, I’ve done tests of my own, and if I have to say, there have been no signs of water damage in my device for the 8 months I have been showering with it.

Counting steps, estimating the amount of calories burnt, measuring distance traveled and a number of active hours is what most fitness trackers do; the Charge 2 and Up 3 are no exception. Save for a slight difference in the number of steps made per time period, whereby the Fitbit records more than the Jawbone, both can be deemed reliable for step counting. On calories burnt, the slight difference is maintained, and this is basically because the measure is calculated from the steps you make and the general amount of activity recorded in your device.

Track your activity on the Go with the Fitbit Charge 2

Even with the display disadvantage, the Up 3 still has the edge over the Charge 2 with an additional sports detection skill and the ability to sense extensive idleness and nudge the wearer with a slight buzz.
Unlike the Microsoft Band or the Fitbit Surge, both the Charge and the Up 3 have no built-in GPS, which makes them an unlikely pick for serious runners.

Protruding from beneath the strap of the Jawbone Up 3 are three heart rate monitoring sensors which record data in both active and resting periods of the wearer. The resting heart rate has been shown to be a crucial indicator of better cardiovascular fitness, and this partially justifies the company’s description of this product as the „most advanced fitness tracker known to man”. Compared to other reliable heart rate tracking devices, however, the Up 3 offers slightly lower readings per minute, which could add up to provide misleading stats for a longer period, say, a whole day.

The Jawbone UP3 will constantly monitor your heart rate and keep you up to date

The Fitbit Charge, on the other, utilizes the company’s new technology, PurePulse, to offer 24/7 heart rate monitoring. The constant monitoring may come in handy for individuals who get involved in several activities of varying intensities in a day, and also results in a more accurate figure of the number of calories burnt, according to the manufacturer. Regarding accuracy, tests have shown the device to be perfect during light workouts but unreliable as a heart monitoring tool, and misses a step or two during intense gym sessions and outdoor runs.

Both the Fitbit Charge 2 and the Jawbone Up 3 offer heart rate monitoring – a feature barely common in fitness trackers – but neither of them does it accurately. Nonetheless, both of them offer the keynote resting heart rate tracking and thus deserve some credit for the effort.

Sleep tracking is another feature included in both the Charge 2 and the Up 3. Unfortunately, neither of them can outdo the Withings Activite as a sleep tracker, but if your sleep cycles and the amount of time you spend in bed are all you wish to monitor, the two offer perfection. Perhaps the main difference between them is the fact that Jawbone does the tracking automatically (detects sleep) while the Fitbit has to be reminded and set prior to getting to bed.

The Jawbone Up 3, in addition to that, has the ability to tell between deep sleep, REM and light sleep, and, through the UP app, analyses your statistics and recommends positive amendments to your sleep schedule and general lifestyle. During light sleep, the band, through its smart alarm feature, produces a little buzz on your wrist after a window of 30minutes (default) to get you up and active again.
For those reasons, Jawbone Up 3 emerges as the hands-down winner, and sure enough, only a handful of devices out there can match or even surpass the gadget’s sleep tracking prowess.

As I mentioned earlier, one thing that will always count as a downside for Jawbone fitness trackers against other mainstream brands on the market is the lack of a display. Most individuals, especially athletes, who have to engage in intense outdoor exercise, prefer receiving their stats in real time, and direct from the fitness tracker, not a separate gadget. The Jawbone Up 3 wouldn’t offer this. You need an Android or iOS device, installed with Jawbone’s UP app, to receive the stats, have them interpreted and displayed.

Fitbit have invested a lot of money to considerably improve their Health App

If you’re fine up to here, the rest is excellence; the app works like a dream and displays the stats in the friendliest of interfaces. Furthermore, through the Smart Coach feature, it studies your performance, in terms of keeping active and sleeping, and advises you on what to do and what to avoid to lead a healthier lifestyle. This means that the more you use the fitness tracker, the better it learns your activity and sleep cycles.

I’ve also never experienced connection or syncing troubles for the last 8 months I have been using the App. As long as your phone is within range and your Bluetooth connection is on, syncing will take place automatically and the stats will come flying straight to your home screen.

For the Fitbit, it may not be having a better app, but the presence of a display screen is enough to consider it a favorite in this contest (ok, that’s all up to you). The display may not be that big, but still, you can bank on it to give you real-time stats in a way that I personally find convenient. Also, it brings you call alerts and social media notifications, and can really save you the hassle of having to bring your phone with you during outdoor workouts and gym sessions.

The Jawbone UP app is one of the best health apps available

The app comes in handy when you want to make changes in, say, alarm settings, or would like a better view of your long-term progress in the gym. My time with the Charge 2, though short-lived (basically because I couldn’t get on with that design; I’m for sleek and classy) was hardly subject to app snags. I’ve however come across a number of users who have had issues with the app taking ”too long” to detect and pair with the tracker. But that was some time back – four to five months ago. Fitbit must have already taken notice of this and solved it in the latest versions of their iOS, Android, and Windows Phone compatible app. Lastly, the app includes the MobileRun feature which lets you track your runs, pace, distance, time and splits in real time.

A Fitbit Charge 2 goes at around $150 in the US and £110 in the UK, similar to Jawbone’s starting price of $130. The prices may seem too high for a fitness tracker (especially one that has no GPS connection) but if you can make maximum use of either device, its utility can justly validate the insane price tag.

.Verdict

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Best Waterproof Activity Trackers

But does this really need to happen when you can spend a few extra pounds and get yourself a device that you won’t have to alter your exercise schedule to protect? Of course no. I’m going to leave this article here so that when you decide to purchase a waterproof fitness tracker any time in 2017, you can have these ten to choose from.

1. TomTom Spark 3 Cardio + Music GPS Watch

The TomTom Spark 3 Cardio + Music is the ultimate go-to if you’re the type who gets motivated by music as you go about your daily workout. And, yes, you can get into the pool and still listen to music because the waterproof fitness tracker doesn’t need a phone to play. For this reason, you’re going to need to fork out at least £205 to obtain a unit from Amazon.

TomTom Spark 3 Waterproof Cardio+Music

Save for the dull architecture and a strenuous procedure of adding music, the Spark 3 Cardio is a hands down top notch device and has been fashioned to suit the requirements of all sorts of athletes: swimmers, runners, cyclers and… well, sleepers.

It counts steps, estimates distance and offers sleep monitoring. Additionally, it has an accurate heart rate sensor, the smart alarm feature, and built-in music storage, and displays stored and real-time stats on a large screen, in one of the most vivid and easy-to-grasp manners.

As relatively large as it may look, the TomTom Spark3 Cardio is actually one of the lightest gadgets you can have strapped to your wrist. It weighs less than 1.7 ounces and hardly causes irritation even when worn for a long time.

2. Garmin Vivoactive HR

For less than $50, there are a few waterproof fitness trackers you can find that can outperform the Garmin Vivofit. Accuracy in counting steps and measuring distance covered, time spent in slumber land and calories burnt, as well as the use of a coin-cell battery, which can last for over a year before draining, stand as its main upsides, and a flawed design as its core weakness. It cannot count stairs climbed either, tell you about your REM cycles or automatically detect that you’ve drifted off and activated sleep mode, not to mention serve as a heart rate monitor; it’s not that comprehensive, in a nutshell, but guarantees perfection in the little it does.

Garmin Vivofit Fitness Band

What interested me most in the Vivofit is how it takes you through your goals. Its default goal is 7,500 steps per day, but you can adjust that to something more challenging like 10,000 steps, which is the baseline for most fitness trackers. Once you meet your target, the band increases your goal, depending on how long you took to meet the current one. Same for sleep; it uses your past performances to set you new goals.
To view your stats, the Vivofit syncs with your PC through a USB ANT+ stick.

3. Garmin Vivoactive HR

The Vivosmart HR is yet another product from the tech giant, Garmin, which does not only count the number of steps you make, measure the distance you cover and calculate the amount of calories you burn, but also make you do them. It reminds you to get up and do something whenever you are too idle by buzzing gently on your arm.

Rated at 5ATM, the Garmin Vivosmart is safe for use to a depth of 50 meters and is thus suitable for use in pro swimming and diving. It comes with a designated swimming app, keeping your lane workouts in the pool on track.

Compared to its less defined sister, the Garmin Vivofit, the Vivoactive HR has more to offer and is clearly worth the $199.99 it goes for on Amazon. It has a longer battery life, has a better waterproofness rating, has the silent alarm feature and keeps reminding you about your goals. The bodywork is also undeniably better, although it can still not measure up against the Jawbone fitness trackers in sleekness and slimness. The design seems to be Garmin’s hugest setback in its ratings.

4. Misfit Flash Link

The Misfit Flash Link, with its $19.99 price tag, would fit better in a list of the cheapest waterproof fitness trackers of 2017, but thanks to its fair tradeoff, merits a slot in the ”BEST waterproof activity trackers”. Unlike most of its rivals in this list, the Flash Link is not worn around the wrist but rather designed to be clipped on a garment like a bra, belt etc. or just placed in the pocket. Since it rarely comes into direct contact with the skin, the fitness tracker lacks heart rate and body temperature monitors. It nonetheless offers step counting, distance estimation and the rest of the activity tracker basics with first rate accuracy and dexterity.

It uses Bluetooth 4.0 and syncs with Android 4.3 and iOS 6.1.3, but unfortunately, has an app that is only compatible with iOS devices only.

For runners and workout buffs, the tracker has a set of LED lights that detect and light when you’re in ”activity mode”, and also measure the intensity of your drills. For swimmers, it can track how long your sessions last and tell you about the intensity of your workouts.
Cheaper than its predecessor, the Misfit Flash, the Flash Link sports a built-in replaceable coin cell battery which can last for a maximum of six months, eliminating the everyday-charging stress.

5. TomTom Runner 3 GPS Watch

The TomTom Runner 3 GPS Watch doubles as a smartwatch and an activity tracker and belongs to TomTom’s new line of GPS watches that is giving the market’s best a run for their money.

It goes at around $120 on Amazon and can be used by both runners and swimmers to track pace, distance and time both during training and on the field of play. It lacks a built-in heart rate monitor (there’s a chest strap sold separately), but with a set of ergonomic buttons, a sizeable LCD display, and an above average design, the watch offers nothing less than what you’re paying for.

TomTom Runner 3 Waterproof GPS Watch

Besides the basic activity tracker functions of step-counting and estimation of distance covered, the tracker also helps swimmers know the intensity of their swimming (low, average or high)and the number of strokes they make throughout their swimming sessions. That’s something most of the activity trackers can seamlessly accomplish, though, and if we had to pick one outstanding feature about the TomTom Multi-Sport GPS Watch, it would be its large LCD display and awesome controls.

6. Basis Peak

While most fitness trackers will adhere to a command that you directly have to feed it with, the Basis Peak will detect runs, bicycle rides and sleep automatically and record proceeds without you having to remind it. With a few advanced functionalities, it doubles as a smartwatch, and its ability to monitor heart rate and skin temperature make it the most sophisticated activity tracker on this list.

Basis Peak Waterproof Activity Watch

With a touchscreen display, it has no buttons at all, and this could make it pretty much difficult to handle immediately after a sweaty workout or swimming session. Another downside is that it cannot measure distance – which is an issue for runners – basically due to the absence of the GPS tracking feature. That said, I find the Basis Peak one overpriced fitness tracker (goes at $149.70 on Amazon) and can be easily substituted by Runtastic Orbit which comes at around $20 cheaper. I don’t know how much you hate taking out your phone to read social media notifications and text messages, though, because the Runtastic Orbit won’t give you that.

7. The Garmin Forerunner 920XT

Just like the Basis Peak, the Forerunner 920XT – which is the immediate precursor for the Forerunner 910XT – includes automated syncing and text messaging, making it half smartwatch, half fitness tracker. For swimmers, it records the amount of time you spend in the pool, the number of strokes you make, and the intensity of your session. As an activity tracker, it tells the number of steps you make, the distance you’ve traveled and the number of stairs and flights of stairs you’ve climbed, and uses this to calculate the amount of calories you burn over a specific period of time. For either (swimming or working out), you can set time and distance goals, and the wristband will alert you once you reach them with a slight vibration.

As a heart rate monitor, the Garmin Forerunner 920XT has been shown to perform best when placed near the chest, especially during swimming where discreet detection of the pulse is difficult. For that reason, Garmin has an exclusive accessory, the HRM-Swim chest band, to firmly hold your 5 ATM-rated devices to your chest as you cruise through the pool.

At Amazon, the sophisticated fitness tracker is available for $496.99, which makes it the most expensive we have on this list.

8. The Polar V800

Here’s another waterproof activity tracker you should not think about if you’re on a tight budget. The gadget goes at a whopping $349 and is one of the few fitness trackers a pro athlete can completely bank on for accuracy and efficiency. With this, there is no need for a chest band, as it can independently monitor heart rate from your arm even under water, thanks to a built-in dual-mode transmitter. It has an integrated GPS tracker which allows you to accurately measure distance traveled, for runners and bikers, and track previously used routes.

Polar V800 Waterproof Activity Watch

It is rated at 3 ATM, meaning it can remain water resistant to a depth of 30 meters. It perfectly counts the strokes you make in water and gives you a breakdown of the session’s activity and lets you compare the day’s stats with those of a previous session. You can also set goals if you wish, set time limits, and leave the rest to the device. It will tell you by how many steps, strokes or meters you missed the goal by – if you did – or automatically increase the target in case you surpass the current one.

9. Finis Swimsense Performance Monitor

And now to the cheapest…
The Finis Swimsense has been particularly developed for swimming (you can just move on to the next entry if you’re looking for an all-round activity tracker). It has built-in accelerometers and magnetometers to capture every single detail of your swim workout; it tracks strokes rates, stroke counts, distances and calories burnt to help you analyze your performances in the pool as well as your daily progress, all by just pressing the swim button on the left side of the screen.

You can view your stats instantly on the display or choose to sync the data to websites such as the popular SportTrack, TrainingPeaks, and Runkeeper. On these sites, you can easily compare your stats for different periods, evaluate your progress and share with your trainers and friends.

The Swimsense is rated at 3 ATM (30 meters) and can be obtained for $34.95 at Amazon. So, if you know you’re not going to use your fitness tracker anywhere outside the swimming pool, then the Finis Swimsense is the best option you have. No other activity tracker of its class can come for 34 dollars, and very few are so specialized for swimming.

10. Exmetrics Swimming Tracker

Xmetrics swimming tracker is a one of kind swimming activity tracker that you clip on to a goggle band and strap it to the skull to track your aquatic life. It’s not yet really a mainstream product, but that has nothing to do with underperformance or any kind of inferiority. In fact, the waterproof activity tracker has been shown to match the accuracy of some of the most reliable products on the market. It actually edges over them with a fairly more ergonomic design, which is quite a respite to individuals who find this kind of gizmos irritating.

The “state of the art” technology utilized in this device combines biometric data sensors and refined algorithms to breed unmatched precision. This data-driven analysis facilitates maximum utilization of every second you spend in the pool, in the long run, and consequently improves performance.

Data gathered by the Xmetric Swimming Tracker can be shared with friends and fellow swimmers on Twitter and other social media platforms.

Update: January 2017

Garmin have just announced their new Flagship Waterproof GPS Running and Activity Watch – The Garmin Fenix 5.

Garmin Fenix 5 introduced at CES 2017 in Las Vegas

The Fenix 3 was one of the best reviewed Fitness Watches and we expect the Fenix 5 Watch will be the must-have item for any serious runner.

Stay tuned for further updates!

The post The Best Waterproof Activity Trackers 2017 appeared first on ChipIn.

The watch only weighs 49 grams, which means that it won’t slow any athlete down during their activities, but will still attract the curious looks of other people if the user chooses one of the brightly colored, interchangeable silicone straps. The bezel is made of fiber-reinforced polymer, while the display, which is transflective memory-in-pixel and sunlight visible, is sadly not protected by any special material, like sapphire, as you’d find in other smartwatches designed for the outdoors and intense activities, the lens being made of glass. The watch itself has a definite sporty look to it, and it may not blend all that well with certain outfits, but then again, this watch is designed for physical activities, not showing off.

Despite not being extremely good-looking, the watch excels at everything it promises to do, and that’s being perhaps one of the most impressive sports smartwatches on the market. This is because the watch is packed with so many features that it’s hard to think of something missing from a device that is supposed to be tracking your activity.

For the regular features expected from a modern smartwatch, the Garmin Forerunner 935 is an okay choice, as it has a calendar, weather app, Find My Phone and Find My Watch functionality, connectivity via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to iOS, Android and even Windows Phone via the Garmin Connect app, and is highly customizable due to its downloadable watch faces, widgets and apps. Additionally, users can create their own watch faces via the Face It application.

However, if you do pick this device up, it’ll most likely be for its sports and leisure activities applications. In order to truly shine in these aspects, the watch contains every practical sensor you can think of: GPS, GLONASS, heart rate sensors, compass, barometric altimeter, gyroscope, accelerometer and even a thermometer. The battery life is fairly good for a watch that’s supposed to be mostly used while training or engaging in physical activity, as with GPS on, it should last up to 24 hours, while on power saving mode, it should last up to 60 hours.

Garmin Forerunner 935 is available in Black and Yellow from Q2 2017

The activity tracking features, in general, are aplenty, as the watch is able to accurately track your steps, your sleep patterns, calories burned, distance traveled, intensity minutes and even floors climbed, and has TrueUp and Move IQ functionality, which are Garmin-specific features.

In order to be the ultimate training device, the Garmin Forerunner 935 also has training-specific features. That being said, users will be able to get data for their lap times, finish times, speed and distance based on GPS, audio prompts, advanced workouts and a lot more customization options in order to allow athletes to create their perfect training sessions.

One thing that the team behind the Forerunner 935 has nailed is the fact that whether you’re a swimmer, runner or even a golfer, there are specific features for every sport that allow users to track and store their stats, and in many cases improve their abilities, because the watch provides a weekly “opinion” regarding their data, telling them whether they are training in the right zone, if they made any progress recently, and whether they’re going too easy or too hard on themselves during activity.

For professional runners who would like to know every single detail about their runs, the Garmin Forerunner 935 does a fairly good job by itself. However, in order to get additional details, a separate purchase of Garmin’s new “Running Dynamics Pod”, a small device users clip to their waistbands, is necessary. Therefore, with a Running Dynamics Pod, the user will be able to check out their vertical oscillation and ratio, their stride length, the time their feet touched the ground during the run, and a thorough analysis of their pace and heart rate.

Preinstalled on the Forerunner 935, the TrainingPeaks app will also be a nice addition to the many features available. The app allows users to download and view various workouts, as well as upload their data from the workout online for evaluation.

While it may not be the most versatile watch when it comes to daily activities, the Garmin Forerunner 935 is the ultimate smartwatch for just about any sport or physical activity you can think of, providing accurate data that allows athletes to improve their skills. The Garmin Forerunner 935 is available starting at $499, while the Running Dynamics Pod will be available in the second quarter of 2017.

The post Garmin Forerunner 935: A Smartwatch to Run For appeared first on ChipIn.

Top 10 Most Intuitive GPS Trackers For Kids in 2017. Keep your kid safe.
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It gets hectic when you have to work, run errands and watch after the kids as well. Well, not to worry anymore, with child GPS trackers, you can always know where your child has been and in some instances, know where they are going. Some trackers use Bluetooth to connect over short distances, say in a supermarket while others are long range and can cover more ground. What’s even better is, with GPS tracking, you can pinpoint the exact position where your child is.

1. FiLIP 2

Now, this is what you go for if you are looking for more than a GPS tracker for your child. The FiLIP 2 is a GPS tracker for kids, cell phone, and a wrist watch. Three functions in one tracker with a modern design. Moreover, it is light and water resistant. This feature is good news for almost all parents as; children are playful and coming into contact with water, dirty or clean are nearly a norm for them. In addition to being light, this device was modified earlier in 2015 to ensure it is comfortable on a small wrist.

The FiLIP is a wearable phone and locator for kids, designed with parents in mind

The FiLIP 2 has a kid-friendly band that can be adjusted with spacers. This band can be worn open or closed; the purpose of the spacers on the band is to give room as your child grows so that you do not have to budget for another GPS tracker as your child gets older. With this in mind, the company went ahead and made it more durable. The FiLIP 2 is the first child GPS tracker of its kind to have a two-way text messaging feature. You can send texts or alerts like, dinner is ready, to your kid without having to look for them.

It comes in four kid-approved colors so your child can choose from a variety of colors. However, you can only store and contact five numbers with this device. Then again, why would a child need more than five numbers for? The FiLIP 2 goes for $149.99 plus a monthly $10 fee for phone service.

2. The Tinitell Watch

When buying a GPS tracker for your child, it is important to enquire if the tracker allows communication. The reason for this is, sometimes your child may be out of range or wander off to a very crowded place where you can see them but cannot get to them. Also, they can be in school, or you can be at work, and since some schools do not allow cell phones, this is the easiest way to check on your kid during the day. The Tinitell Watch was made with communication in mind. Nonetheless, it still performs as a tracker and obviously, as a watch.

Tinitell GPS Watch comes in various colours

This device has a module that enables parents to GPS track their child’s location in real-time. Most kids may not be quite familiar with using technological gadgets; well unless they play games or do something a child would consider fun. With this notion in mind, the Tinitell manufacturers enabled voice commands on the device to make using it easy. It would be a big mistake to trust a kid with a touchscreen device when they are not familiar with how it works or are very playful. With Tinitell, all your child has to do is issue voice commands such as, call mom, the device then springs into action.

Easily give permission who can view and interact with your loved one

The device has one button on the front that turns it on and off and two other buttons to adjust the audio levels/volume. The Tinitell GPS watch for kids has arguably the best battery life a GPS tracker can have; it lasts for 60 minutes while talking and seven days on standby. It is also water and dust resistant, this eliminates the worry of your child ruining it while playing or by spilling drinks on it. This smart watch/GPS tracker goes for $150; it has gained a reputation for the simplest GPS child tracker on the market.

3. My Buddy Tag

My Buddy Tag is the ultimate pocket-friendly child GPS tracker for your kid. It is safe to have a backup safety plan concerning your finances and buying such a tracker can help with that. The reason most parents do not go for GPS trackers is because they are expensive, and it is not very wise to entrust a child with an expensive technological gadget. Besides spoiling it, there is also the risk of someone stealing it from your child. This device provides the real-time location of your child’s whereabouts as one of its features.

My Buddy Tag is the only device on the market that sends alerts to you in case your child accidentally drowns. The device sends a signal if it is submerged in water for five consecutive seconds. It may turn out that your child is just playing with water, and it is his hand only that is submerged, but it would not hurt to have this tracker just for this feature. There are multiple cases of kids accidentally drowning but with My Buddy Tag you do not have to worry about that as a parent, or you can, at least, get there on time.

My Buddy Tag has two different wristbands, a terry cloth or Velcro wristband for regular use and a disposable silicone wristband for field trips. Moreover, if you have several children, you can track them simultaneously and identify each tag by name. It also has a place where you can write contact information. However, this device only covers a range of 80-120 feet while outdoors and 40 feet while indoors. My Buddy Tag goes for $38.

4. SAFE Kids Paxie Band

Kids will always love fancy looking things. The SAFE Kids Paxie Band is colorful and elegant looking. No child will see this tracker and not want it. Some will be oblivious of its functions but it doesn’t matter, it looks good, and every child will want to have it as theirs. The company changes the tracker’s design to suit the ever changing children fashion industry. What would be better than a device that your child loves and it can help you locate where they are in real time and looks good on their wrist?

The SAFE Kids Paxie Band GPS tracker for kids has excellent GPS connectivity, which not only helps a parent track their child, but also set boundaries of where the kids should be. The good thing about this tracker is you can know when your child goes beyond the areas you have designated. This device has a feature that helps you input boundaries of where your child should not go past. Moreover, it also records ambient temperature using sensors installed in the wristband. This feature can help you prevent your child from getting a heat stroke.

The SAFE Kids Paxie Band also has inbuilt sensors on the wristband that monitor your child’s heart rate. It also has activity tracking sensors that help you keep track of how active your child has been. This device goes for $ 175 plus monthly fees.

5. PocketFinder

It would be safe to assume that children do not understand the meaning of delicate until later on in their lives. Children often break valuable things out of their unquenchable inquisitive nature or just for the sake of breaking stuff. However, you have no reason to worry about your child breaking the PocketFinder tracker. In fact, you do not have to worry about anyone spoiling this bad boy. The PocketFinder can withstand going through the washer and the dryer. How you ask, well, it is made from the same plastic material that makes riot shields.

If you have a wild child, this is the device for you. You can set your child’s speed limit using this device. It is equipped with an accelerometer that will alert you the instance your child goes past a pre-set speed limit. On one hand, this tracking device can help you know when your child is running from something or someone. On the other hand, in the event of a kidnapping, you would know first. The PocketFinder uses tap alert, a feature that helps the child send SOS messages to the numbers connected to it. It works by tapping it three times on a hard surface.

Your child does not even need to wear this device on their wrist; it can also function properly from a backpack or the child’s pocket, pinpointing your child’s location via GPS. Considering the kind of damage this device can withstand, you do not need to worry about having spent your money on an expensive tracking device only for it to be broken by your child. The PocketFinder goes for $130 and a monthly fee of $10.

6. The hereO

The irony that comes with the hereO is that it is very colorful yet has an insipid aura around it. At a glance, this device looks like a simple watch with a digital clock interface. However, its GPS tracking system can run for up to 72 hours. You know what they say; simplicity is the best form of complexity. The hereO kids GPS tracker comes in several kid-friendly styles. Its design makes it look like a simple kid’s accessory, but its features prove that it is more than just that. It is hard to think it is a tracking device so predators won’t pay much attention to it in case something bad happens.

The tracker activates a tamper alert in case anybody removes the watch from the child’s hand; the alert pings the last known GPS info making tracking easier. Even if it is the child who removes it, the signal still goes through. It is a little disappointing to know that this GPS tracker for kids does not support calls, but it makes up for that by sending location data to pre-programmed family members. This is made possible by its panic alert feature that comes in handy in case of an emergency.

The hereO goes for $149. Moreover, it comes with a charging dock and three months of free service before a monthly fee of $4.95 every month for maintenance.

7. Caref GPS Phone Watch

This tracking device is among many other tracking devices made by Precise Innovation for kids. The Caref GPS Phone Watch has a sleeker look that would go best with children aged above seven years. Its display is easy to read, and the tracker itself is easy to use. It has a call option that allows kids to call their parents directly from the watch. Most GPS enabled child trackers only send alerts to the parent in the event of an emergency or when the parent needs to know where their child is, well, apart from the Caref GPS Phone Watch.

It has an additional feature that sends your child’s GPS location in real-time every ten minutes through the mobile app. With this tracker, parents can set geofence boundaries, and it will automatically send alerts to them the instance their child leaves them. In the case of trouble, the watch has an SOS button that immediately calls for help while relaying the child’s GPS location at the same time. Moreover, if the first number that is pre-programmed into the device does not go through, it systematically calls the other numbers until contact is established

This feature means you do not have to worry if your phone battery dies as anybody on the list can be reached in case of an emergency. The device calls all the numbers until the end of the list. The Caref GPS Phone Watch goes for $67.

8. Trax

Just like some of the tracking devices discussed above, Trax is not worn on the wrist; rather it is a portable box-shaped device that can be carried in your child’s pocket or backpack. It snaps into a clip that can be attached to your child’s belt as well. Most parents would prefer this device for kids who have a tendency of taking the wristband type of trackers off. Moreover, the fact that it is not visible to other people makes it a precious commodity for a child to have.

Trax provides geofencing, just like some devices discussed above as well as speed alerts, location updates, and scheduling. While most GPS trackers for kids provide you with the location of your child, Trax does that and a little more. It provides your child’s location within your vision field through your phone’s built-in camera. Besides, it also provides the distance between you and your child so you can decide the best route to take to get there fastest. This augmented reality feature makes it stand out from most child GPS trackers.

However, unlike most GPS enabled child tracking devices, Trax does not support calls or texts. Additionally, its price is hefty too with one device going for $249. While most trackers offer two or three months of free use, Trax offers two years. After that, there is a monthly charge of $5.

9. Lineable

Lineable is arguably the cheapest tracking device on the market. For just $ 5, you can have this Bluetooth-powered location device.

Lineable lasts for approximately one year and requires no charging. This child tracking device is ideal for instances when you have your child close to you, but you are in a crowded place, say the park, playground or the mall. Lineable has a kid-friendly design that helps it disguise its real function. Most child abduction cases happen in parks and playgrounds; it is wise to have a location device that can tell you where your child is despite being able to see them because a person may distract you, but you can still get to your child before the confusion created by the busy park or mall makes you lose sight of your child.

Lineable makes the world a parent for every kid through a feature called Crowdsource GPS. It uses this as its working system to help people with the Lineable Application track any Lineable device within their range. This feature comes in handy for those instances where you lose your phone, or its battery dies. The Lineable App makes the world a safer place for kids through this feature that allows active engagement of the public. Additionally, this device is waterproof and is coated with silicon, which makes it durable and comfortable for your kid to wear. It also has a long battery life that acts as a massive selling point.

However, you can guess that it has a somewhat limited tracking range because it uses Bluetooth and only uses GPS when you cannot access Bluetooth or need to access Crowdsource GPS; it tracks your child within 65-98 feet, depending on the environment.

10. Amber Alert GPS Locater

This tracking device for kids is the closest thing to a mobile phone a child will have. Most trackers do have the voice call option, but very few have embedded sim cards. Just like the name suggests, this device is currently among the best GPS trackers for kids. Normally, a kid has no idea who the strangers they meet are. A person may be a thief but to a child, he or she is just another stranger, and as long as you can get on with the child properly, you can distract him or her to your real agenda.

Now imagine a tracker that can notify you if your child is close to a registered sex offender. I am not kidding you; the Amber Alert GPS Locator is the only device on the market that sends notifications to parents or guardians when your child is within 500 feet of a registered sex offender, how amazing. I mean, with all these cases of child defilement I know I will not be surprised if parents decided to ask the government to provide their children with these trackers. However, you do not need to wait for the government to get this tracking device; you can get it for only $129.

Did I mention you can make calls using this device? Well, in addition to the price you pay to acquire the device, you can pay $ 15 per month to get 150 texts alerts or $ 18 per month for 300 texts. In addition to texting and calling, the Amber Alert GPS Locator supports alerting via voice and e-mail as well.

A short Relevant Q & A Session

. Conclusion

The post Top 10 Most Intuitive GPS Trackers For Kids 2017 appeared first on ChipIn.

You see, during my stay there, I always wondered why almost all athletes on the track – even the legendary Usain Bolt – had wrist watches, yet there was a mega display in the stadium that showed each athlete’s running times to split-seconds accuracy. I simply didn’t get the concept of personalized data gathering and tracking. Well, fast forward and a few years down the line, these watches are available almost anywhere in the world.

Further advancements have overseen the transition of normal watches into fitness watches while retaining the time and date features. You can wear it with your suit to work, and it still looks fashionable and elegant, but it does more than tell the time. Sports watch manufacturers are making watches that cater to all types of sporting activities. Water resistant watches for swimmers have additional features such as measuring oxygen levels whereas hikers, bikers, and long distance runners prefer the ones with high tech navigation features.

Below are a few of the best sports watches for men.

1. Mio Alpha 2

Gone are the days when athletes used to use bulky chest straps to measure their heart rate. It proved uncomfortable to wear the chest-strap and still run, swim or train effectively. However, watches like the Mio Alpha 2 have tackled this problem. The Mio Alpha 2 reads your blood flow volume through an electro-optical cell and LED technology at the back of the watch to detect your heart rate. Its display shows your heart rate continuously and in real time for proper assessment of your training.

Additionally, it has Bluetooth capabilities that let you connect to selected apps such as Stava and MapMyRun for a thorough report on your workout. This watch the perfect for everyday exercise, those morning and evening jogs will never be the same again. The watch goes for $199.99 and can be pre-ordered via the manufacturer’s website mioglobal.com.

2. Suunto Ambit3

The Mio Alpha is ideal and only works for runners. Now imagine a watch that can encompass skiers, hikers, runners and mountain climbers. That is a broad range of detail to cover but the Suunto Ambit3 does it with ease. This watch gives you your heart rate, altitude, weather conditions, speed and navigation all at your wrist. The Suunto Gambit has an enhanced battery life, advanced heart rate tracking, vertical speed, waypoint GPS an online planning and analysis tool and a barometric altimeter.

Suunto Ambit3 GPS Sports Watch

The barometric altimeter is what helps you navigate through the hills, mountains and the backcountry providing current heading and elevation, amazing isn’t it? Also, a change in barometric pressure is detected by your watch and then it warns you of incoming stern temperature or weather changes aiding your choice to move on or return to your camp or home.

I mean, this watch will keep a sports diary for you for years. Most sports watches for men have are built to cater for particular sports or perform countable functions, but the Suunto outdoes the norm. The watch goes for $500 and can be bought online at Suunto.com, the official company website. It is also ideal for mountain biking especially because of its waypoint GPS that enables cyclists to navigate through rocky terrain to find paths where there are limited.

There are also more than a thousand apps you can download to your watch such as the Suunto Ambit2 to customize for any athletic pursuit you desire such as incline, maximum speed, calories used and unbelievably, beers burned. These are things you will only find in men’s sports watches.

3. Garmin Swim

What can you talk about concerning sports watches for men, women, and children without mentioning Garmin? This company makes half of the best sports watches there are. It has a vast array of fitness trackers each specially designed for a different type of sports with the best for swimming being the Garmin Swim. If you have not tried this watch by now, you are late for the revolution my friend. Nonetheless, you can get it now for $149.99 at your local; fitness store or on Amazon and the Garmin website.

Specially designed for swimmers, the Garmin Swim can accurately calculate your stroke count, pool length, and pace. Moreover, the watch is also ideal for drill logs and timed sets. It has a slim body that enables it to cut through the water with less resistance thereby not altering your swimming efficiency. The watch provides all statistics needed by a swimmer I any level from novice to professional and it is very easy to read and use.

Men’s sports watches for swimming have gone through a major transformation with the earlier ones not being able to solve completely the water resistance issue. However, the Garmin Swim is as waterproof as they come making it the ideal men’s sports watch for swimming.

4. Magellan

At $250, the Magellan is among the best sports watches for men in the market for the triathlon, running, swimming and biking. Imagine a watch that can seamlessly transition from a wrist watch to a bike handlebar. What’s even better, for triathletes, the Magellan can track multiple sports training as one exercise using its GPS-enabled Switch Up. As a mountain biker, ascents and descents make up almost 60 percent of the training, the same applies to runners. The Magellan sports watch delivers accurate elevation data with its state of the art barometric altimeter.

Its high-resolution display shows distance covered, time and pace making it easy to set goals and calculate your improvement. This watch happens to be the first one that I have encountered that can change its display concerning varying light conditions. Its screen changes color for easy readability. Now you do not have to worry about readability whether you are running very early in the morning when it is dark or when you are in an ultra-bright situation, whatever the case, the Magellan has got your back.

Men have strict adherence to time used during workouts; this is because proper timing is what enables the desired result from an exercise. So what would be better for men’s sports watches than one that allows you to set your desired distance and exercise time and provide updates on whether you’re hitting your goal or not? The Magellan does this with the help of an additional feature called the activity pacer. Now you don’t need to focus on the time you use to work out but can dictate your exercise concerning your desired goal.

5. Adizero

If you are looking for a simple running watch specially designed for running only, then the Adidas Adizero is the watch for you. The easy to use running trainer has an interval timer, a 100 lap memory; get this, a chronograph and two alarms. This men’s sports watch is similar to the running watches of old that only tracked the time spent from start to finish except it has a larger memory. The price is also very low with a piece going for $95; did I mention it is very easy to use too? You can get one at your local fitness store or on the Adidas website adidas.com.

6. The Vertech 2

Trail running is a sport most people avoid because it seems like you are just running in circles with no adventure to it. It also seems like a less efficient form of running to some runners, but it is exquisite exercise, made even better by Avocets’ Vertech 2. The watch is also ideal for skiers and hikers, especially hikers. The Vertech 2 is among the few men’s sports watches with a thermometer. Alongside it, a barometric trend display warns you for incoming severe weather.

This altimeter watch also has split memory and a stopwatch which makes it valuable to not only runners but alpinists, cyclists, and skiers altogether. Now most watches measure a skiers’ descent at feet per hour, the Vertech 2 is more comprehensive measuring your descent at feet per minute. Moreover, it can store up to 199 runs in ski mode; this means it will be a while before you reset the watch. The downside to this sports watch is it cannot connect to your smart device to save the data. However, that should not be an issue because of its storage capacity, if you do not have time to record the first say 20 runs you made, you can still access them and record them when you get the time.

The watch is available at Avocets website, Avoet.com for $160 and other fitness shops around the world.

7. Nixon Supertide

This watch comes as good news to every surfer in the world. Google will probably be disappointed to learn that there is a watch with details of over 230 beaches all across the world. You do not even need to look it up online, as long as it is on the watch, you know all there is to know. This watch provides data for sunrise, sunset and tides for all these beaches on its high-resolution digital display. Again, what would you need the internet for? If you are looking for a break on the beach and enjoy surfing, this is the watch for you.

The Nixon Supertide also provides real-time data on the motion of the waves by synching you to them. This feature enables you to not only know when the wave is coming by a glimpse of the watch but prepare you for it so you can know when to catch the best ride. Pretty amazing; the watch comes in green, red, white blue or black. It is available for $200 at surf shops or on Nixon.com. Thank me later surfers.

8. Tom Tom Spark

For a watch from a company that is not among the top athletic watches manufacturers, the Tom Tom Spark has undoubtedly surprised many. This watch is arguably the best GPS-enabled sports watch for men. Yes, it does cover the usual speed, pace but it is also among the few that have a built-in optical heart rate monitor. If you are one of those runners who love running with music in their ears, then this is the ideal watch for you. The Tom Tom Spark has built-in storage for listening to mp3s via the pair of wireless headphones that come with it. Additionally, it plugs into nearly every running app there is making it the ideal watch to have for your running exercise.

As noted earlier, it is quite impossible to talk about sports watches for men without mentioning Garmin. Even Casio, the company that is known to be among the first companies to make not only sports but other watches as well would support this claim. However, the company still faces competition for men’s sports watches from the likes of Nike, Adidas, and Fitbit. Garmin running watches are among the best in the market with their Forerunner series of watches for runners leading the way. Below are some of the best Garmin running watches.

9. Garmin Forerunner 15

As mentioned above, it is very hard running with a phone-based app. This is the reason why Garmin created the Garmin Forerunner 15 specially designed for runners making the transition from those apps to a decent watch. This is the cheapest of the Garmin running watches series of Forerunner watches going for $119.99. If your running range is around five kilometers or less, this is the perfect watch for you. However, even for a beginner, it is not just a simple watch; it has activity trackers and processes more information than an activity tracker.

That is not all, for a beginners’ running watch, the Forerunner 15 is quite the accessory. The watch covers calories, distance, time, splits, pace and heart rate. Even better, unlike other watches that have sensors to determine your pulse at your wrist, the Forerunner 15 has a strap accessory. So if you were actually more comfortable running with the chest straps recording your heart rate, you could have that and more in one watch. Garmin also added GPS distance as part of the watches features because, despite being the simplest of the Forerunner series, the watch needed to be up to date with recent technological advancements. The Forerunner 15 is available on Amazon, garmin.com and fitness shops worldwide.

10. Garmin Forerunner 220

After familiarizing yourself with recreational running, you may want to take the next step and run your first marathon or double the distance to 10km and more. Ideally, most people would rather repeat the routine they are used to but then again, how do you get better by doing the same thing and not challenging yourself past what you think is your best performance? This watch is designed for those who are starting to get serious about running; it is the next step after the Forerunner 15.

Some Garmin running watches have the ability to access Garmin Connect and with this one you have full access to Garmin Connect training tools. These are professional guidelines for effective running such as off the shelf half and full marathon training plans to help take your running to the next level. Of course, you still get to see distance covered, heart rate tracking with a chest strap and monitor your pace through the watches’ high-resolution color display. What if you can control your training plans? Well, you can customize training schedules, interval sessions, and single workouts and sync them wirelessly to your phone.

Additionally, the Forerunner 220 has live tracking, auto sharing with Strava, wireless data synching and automated social sharing. Live tracking shows your runs on a web-based map in real time so if you are a casual runner you can know where you have been. If you wish to run indoors supposedly on a treadmill, the watch can cover that too thanks to its inbuilt accelerometer. The Garmin Forerunner 220 goes for $199.99 and is available on Amazon, garmin.com and fitness shops worldwide.

11. Garmin Forerunner 630

This watch gives me the chills; it is among the best in Garmin’s Forerunner watches series. It has color display, auto pause, auto lap, virtual pacer and heart rate-based calories computation. You will fall in love with this Garmin running watch after finding out that it has race predictor, running dynamics and a recovery advisor. That equates to having your trainer on your wrist constantly notifying you of when to pick pace or drop it. You can also customize its screen to your preference and use its advanced running dynamics to shift from a novice to a pro.

People used to run with their smartphones, but this embedding of Smartphone technology to a watch has seen Garmin produce the best running watches.

Alongside the other Forerunner running watches from Garmin, the Forerunner 630 is water resistant, has a longer battery and amazing GPS accuracy. What’s better, it is a hands-free device, so you do not need to worry about a cracked or shattered Smartphone screen.

You may be one of those runners who prefer running with a crowd, literally as opposed to running alone. Well, if you cannot get people to run with you, you can access Garmin Connect through your Forerunner. Here, you can join online challenges, compete, connect and compare your progress to that of friends, family or fellow runners. Additionally, you get to earn virtual badges, which serve as motivation to you. The watch goes for $399.99 and can be found on Amazon, garmin.com, and other fitness shops.

Regular watches have taken the spotlight for many years, yet they only show the time and for some, the date. However, athletic watches have redefined this status by integrating essential features into the simple idea of a watch. One of the most unusual things about athletic watches is they have different designs that suit your preference. By this I mean, you can have a watch that looks like a simple plain watch but in the real sense, it does more than just tell the time. From advanced GPS features to ultimate water resistance, athletic watches have it all.

This begs the question, why would any active man settle for an ordinary watch when you can have better? For some, you will get to know the number of calories you burn even when walking or sleeping. Well, sleeping may not be the intended function of an athletic watch, but it sure does come in handy as an added feature. All watches discussed above pass for athletic watches as does the hundreds of others out there in the market. Soon, athletic watches will redefine sports by having a voice command feature that will serve as an aid to you while training.

Their availability is a non-issue as companies compete to avail their products even in the most remote of areas as they either set up shop there or offer delivery services. Prices for athletic watches have also gone down with regard to the many watches bombarding the market. As more companies come up with new watches with new features, it is evident athletic watches will soon take over the old stereotype of watches.

Imagine you are mountain climbing and reach a point where there is no network coverage for your mobile device or fitness tracker. While you are there, something happens and you cannot go back to your camp or car. This unprecedented event is the main reason most athletic watches are coming with GPS enabled features. Locating you will be easy for others, and this makes mountain climbing among other sports that will see you move further from civilization fun.

The best sports watches for men and women as well have to be GPS enabled. This technology does not only help you or others to track your location but gives you data on the places you have run through as well. GPS is also what enables most watches to detect your pace and provide detailed observations concerning your running style. There are a few sports watches for men that have GPS, and fewer have a full mapping feature.

. Conclusion

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The Misfit Vapor Smartwatch will run the all new Android Wear 2.0

However, design alone will not win too many consumers over to the Misfit brand, especially when there are certain companies that make smartwatches similar in looks to luxury watches, albeit for ridiculous prices. Luckily, the device will also feature a huge variety of apps at launch, with the estimated number surpassing hundreds. That being said, whether the user has an Android device or an iPhone, they will be able to use apps such as Foursquare, Lifesum, Runtastic, Runkeeper, Uber and more, in addition to just about every Google app available on phones.

The Misfit Vapor comes with built-in GPS and Heart Rate Monitor.

One final feature that will ensure the success of the Misfit Vapor is the fact that users are able to use the built-in Google Assistant in order to receive answers to questions or create reminders and alarms even with their hands full. Given that Google Assistant has been a hit on phones so far, it’s only natural that smartwatches with the assistant built in are going to be winners with users.

The Misfit Vapor is a true jack-of-all-trades: it doesn’t have any killer features or top-of-the-line specifications, but it offers a lot of value for such a low price. For those interested, the Misfit Vapor will be released in the second half of 2017 for the starting price of $199, and will be available in black and gold. If you want to keep up with the latest news on the Misfit Vapor, you can sign up for the official newsletter on their website, or you can stay tuned.

The post Misfit Vapor Smartwatch: Premium Quality at a Low Price appeared first on ChipIn.

All those features come at a steep price, however, with both the Classic and Frontier versions of the S3 retailing for $349.99.

The good news is that budget-minded consumers can rejoice in knowing that there are competitor devices on the market that can offer an uncompromised experience, providing many of those same features, but for a lower price.

Before we look at those other devices, let’s start by looking at what the S3 offers.

both the Classic and the Frontier models are identical, differing only in exterior styling

From a feature standpoint, both the Classic and the Frontier models are identical, differing only in exterior styling. The Classic has a more traditional look with a prominent silver bezel and crowns. The Frontier, on the other hand, has a more rugged look, appearing more hardened and thicker thanks to the use of darker colored metals used in lieu of the silver from the Classic.

An LTE-enabled version of the Frontier is available through some carriers, offered at the same price point as the non-LTE versions.

The first thing most people will notice about the Gear S3 is the build quality. The watch is made with premium materials, and as per the IP68 certification is both water and dust resistant. Even the included silicone strap feels premium and can still be swapped out with any 22mm standard strap.

The 360×360 Super AMOLED screen is both bright and sharp, and the 1.3-inch screen is large enough that function is not sacrificed in lieu of form. The screen is protected with Gorilla Glass SR+, which provides a hardened, and more scratch resistant display and the casing itself if made of stainless steel.

The 1.3-inch screen is large enough that function is not sacrificed in lieu of form.

Make no mistake, the S3 is a big watch in terms of size, coming in at 46mm, but oddly enough if you’re accustomed to wearing a watch, which thanks to the advent of the smartphone, many of us aren’t anymore, this is neither too large or too heavy, weighing just 63g, or 2.2oz.

One area where Samsung has really impressed with the Gear S3 is on battery life. The 380mah battery means you can get two, or even three full days of moderate to heavy usage out of the watch before needing to charge it in the included dock. The charging process itself is simple; just drop the watch into the included dock and magnets will ensure that the watch is lined up and charges wirelessly.

Under the hood, Samsung packed a lot into the Gear S3. The device is powered by an Exynos 7270, coupled with 768mb of RAM and 4GB of storage. Samsung managed to fit an array of sensors into the watch, including a heart rate monitor, NFC, MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission, which in conjunction with NFC let’s you use the S3 to make purchases), GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, altimeter, barometer, gyroscope, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, as well as both a microphone and speaker.

When it’s time to recharge, the wireless charger lets you power up without slowing down.

The microphone and speaker work great, allowing a user to utilize voice controls to accomplish tasks, or even make and receive calls when connected to a phone. Using Samsung’s S Voice is a breeze to accomplish quick tasks, such as calling or texting a contact, setting a reminder, checking the weather, reading messages, or generally performing any number of tasks that would normally require stopping what you are doing and getting your phone out.

The watch runs on Samsung’s Tizen operating system, which has matured into an efficient and simple to use operating system. While this means a smaller catalog of applications over Android Wear, Tizen is more than up to the task. Navigating menus is a breeze, thanks to the rotating bezel that Samsung first introduced in the previous generation of Gear wearables.

The watch runs on Samsung’s Tizen operating system which is simple and efficient to use

The recent announcement and release of Android Wear 2.0 may leave some speculating over whether a Tizen-based device is a good option, considering some of the new features of Android Wear 2.0. The truth of the matter, however, is that Tizen is very efficient, and has all of the features a mobile user needs. Similarly, Android Wear doesn’t have any feature that a Tizen user would be enviable of, perhaps save for a larger app catalog. To put it another way, Android Wear 2.0 was more about leveling the playing field with Tizen, as opposed to surpassing it.

So how exactly does Samsung’s current flagship stack up against some of the competition? Let’s look at some great alternatives from LG, Asus, and Huawei.

3 Alternatives to the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier

1. LG Watch Style vs Samsung Gear S3 – The bare-bones competitor

In terms of design, the Watch Style is a smaller, and a less pronounced device

LG announced two new smartwatches last month, effectively starting of a new generation of smartwatches set to run on Google’s Android Wear 2.0. The two versions of the LG Watch available include the smaller sized Style, and the larger, more feature-packed, and expensive, Watch Sport.

In terms of design, the Watch Style is a smaller, less pronounced device, which may work well for those looking for a smaller, and lighter package. Admittedly, the included 18mm watch band provided from MODE may seem a little too narrow for most.

The device is enclosed in an attractive stainless steel casing, and the 1.2-inch 360×360 screen is protected with Gorilla Glass 3. A single crown emerges from the side of the device, which can be used for navigation and selection in lieu of the touchscreen by either rotating the crown or pressing it inwards.

Unfortunately, the backside of the Watch Style lacks that same attractiveness, with just a plastic cover gracing the underside. The Watch Style also has an IP67 rating for both dust and water, which is thankfully becoming commonplace with newer devices.

The Snapdragon Wear 2100 from Qualcomm powers the Watch Style and LG outfitted the Style with 512mb of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. While this is more than ample to power the device efficiently, the Watch Style comes up short with respect to connectivity and sensor options.

Snapdragon Wear 2100 from Qualcomm powers the Watch Style

The Watch Style lacks NFC, GPS, and Heart-rate measuring functionality. The only sensors present in the device are an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, and gyroscope. The Watch Style also lacks a speaker but includes a microphone, which translates into being able to record, but not playback an audio message.

Moving on to the battery, the Watch Style has a smaller 240mAh battery, which despite claims to last an entire day, could leave heavy power users needing to charge up before the end of the workday.

2. Asus Zenwatch 3 – Premium build with a great mix of features

Asus has opted for a circular design that has a certain air of sophistication to it

The Zenwatch 3 from Asus was announced earlier this year. Gone is the rectangular display and massive bezel that the previous generations were known for, and instead Asus has opted for a circular design that has a certain air of sophistication to it.

The watch itself is gorgeous, and between the three user-customizable crown buttons, rose gold trim and the premium leather band, the Zenwatch 3 could easily be mistaken for a luxury-branded analog watch. Even better, at just 9.5mm thin, the watch should have no problem fitting nicely under a shirt cuff – something that most other wearables such as the S3 still struggle with.

Unfortunately, that premium strap could be a little thin for some, and proprietary straps are never well received.

Turning to the internals, the Zenwatch 3 has 1.39-inch AMOLED display that pushes out an impressive 400 x 400 resolution at 287-pixels per inch density, that works well under a variety of lighting conditions. The Zenwatch 3 uses the Snapdragon Wear 2100 from Qualcomm, which like the LG Watch Style offers efficient operation without the need for a massive battery.

Asus still however managed to provide a respectable 341mAh battery into the Zenwatch 3, which can provide nearly two full days of use for most users. The included charging dock can impressively provide a 60% charge within 15 minutes, something that Asus touts as Hypercharge.

The Zenwatch 3 comes with 4GB of storage, and 512mb of RAM. Unfortunately, connectivity options seem to end at Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, however, as the watch lacks a GPS sensor, heart-rate monitor or NFC radios. Asus die however add a microphone and speaker to the Zenwatch 3, allowing both voice control and calls to be taken from the device when connected to a paired phone.

Asus gave the Zenwatch an IP67 rating for water resistance, which should be more than ample for most users that need to be around water, but keep in mind that the included strap is made of leather and may not handle water as nicely as the watch itself.

3. Huawei Watch 2 – A new Premium offering

In terms of first impressions, the Watch 2 fits the bill as a wearable that is sturdy enough to take to the gym, or to wear to the office

Huawei announced the second generation Watch 2 smartwatch recently during MWC 2017. Huawei unveiled two devices in the Watch 2 line: The rugged looking Watch 2, and the thinner, more elegant Watch 2 Classic. Both versions of the device come equally equipped with a full array of sensors and features, and both run Google’s new Android Wear 2.0 operating system.

In terms of first impressions, the Watch 2 fits the bill as a wearable that is sturdy enough to take to the gym or to wear to the office. The included silicone strap and ceramic bezel look neither too flashy nor too delicate, which is a breath of fresh air for those that want a smartwatch that can be used as a daily driver, without worrying about scratches. To the side of the watch are two configurable crowns, which while a great addition, lack any rotating ability seen on many other devices with larger crowns.

The bezel, while contributing to overall ruggedness of the device, may seem a little larger to many, especially as it cannot rotate. By way of comparison, the S3 Frontier has a bezel that is nearly as defined, but it doubles up as a navigational aid.

As an aside, if the raised sport-like bezel is not your thing, Huawei’s other smartwatch, the Watch 2 Classic may be more to your liking. The Classic sports a stainless-steel bezel that is smaller and less defined.

The 20mm strap that is included is of a standard size that allows near limitless possibilities for replacement, depending on your taste.

In terms of connectivity, Huawei Watch 2 supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and NFC

As with the other smartwatches mentioned, the Watch 2 is both water and dust resistant, carrying an IP68 rating which translates into the device surviving up to 30 minutes in 1.5m of water.

Huawei packed a 1.2 inch AMOLED screen into the Watch 2, with a resolution of 390 x 390 that provides a very dense 326 pixels per inch. While this does make the screen crisp and bright, the fact remains that the Watch 2 has a smaller screen than most watches, and especially among the wearables that pack as much as Huawei did into this sleek package. As with most other smartwatches, Gorilla Glass 3 is protecting the small screen from any form of scratching.

Huawei also opted for the Snapdragon Wear 2100 to power the Watch 2, pairing the processor with 4GB of internal storage and 768MB of RAM. In terms of connectivity, Huawei Watch 2 supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and NFC. The smartwatch also includes heart-rate monitoring, and unlike most other smartwatches, the Watch 2 includes an LTE radio.

Battery life on the Huawei Watch 2 is estimated to be around two days between charges with moderate use, which is more than adequate to get people through a busy day or two. Charging the phone is done with the included charging dock, which connects easily to juice up the 420mAh battery.

The post 3 Smartwatch Alternatives to the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier appeared first on ChipIn.

However popular the Apple Watch may be, it certainly is expensive, and the features it presents may not be worth it for everyone, and it’s a downright poor purchase for someone who doesn’t own an iPhone, as Apple’s smartwatch cannot connect to devices out of Apple’s ecosystem. If you were mesmerized by the Apple Watch but then came to realize it’s too pricey, here are some great alternatives that put the Apple Watch to shame.

7 Smart Alternatives to the Apple Watch

If you’d like to stick to the standard, conformist looks offered by popular companies, the Samsung Gear S3 may be the perfect smartwatch for you. Unlike its smartphone division, which is going through a rough time currently, Samsung’s smartwatches have been big hits with the community due to their modern design that blends in with most outfits.

The Samsung Gear S3 is no exception from this rule, as the smartwatch combines modern design with an intuitive user interface in order to be one of the best emulators and competitors of the Apple Watch while offering premium features and quality at premium prices. That being said, one of the biggest advantages of the Gear S3 over the Apple Watch is the fact that it supports both Android and iOS devices, meaning that users who are unhappy with their Apple Watches can always jump ship to a Gear S3.

One of the biggest advantages of the Gear S3 over the Apple Watch is the fact that it supports both Android and iOS devices

Samsung’s experience with crafting high-end devices definitely shows as the Samsung Gear S3 is objectively the best rival to the Apple Watch, bringing the Apple vs Samsung debate to another market.

Having a 3-day battery life and an impressive Super AMOLED screen, the Samsung Gear S3 fits most users daily needs by being a versatile and overall smart choice for both people experienced with smartwatches and newcomers to the market.

Once spearheading the dawn of smartwatches, the Pebble brand seems to have been forgotten about by tech enthusiasts due to the apparition of bigger players such as Apple and Samsung on the market. This is quite sad, as the Pebble 2, the latest iteration of the Pebble watch, is quite the offer. The biggest factor at play in the failure of the brand is the fact that its company went under recently, and was purchased by Fitbit.

The Pebble 2 is a fantastic budget buy for newcomers to the market who just want to try out a smartwatch in order to see what the fuss is about, as it comes with a clever e-paper screen that ensures a battery life of about a week, putting its competitors in their places. New users of the Pebble 2 will also be delighted to find out that Pebble has its own, extremely active app store which has thousands of already available apps, from small games to pass the time to Reddit clients.

Pebble has its own, extremely active app store which has thousands of already available apps

If you’re planning to buy a smartwatch as a fashionable accessory, then the Pebble’s cheap-looking design may not a nice surprise. While its e-paper display prolongs battery life by a whole lot, it doesn’t look pretty, and nor does its rectangular shape. Another possible turn-off is the device’s monochromatic display, which is unique in a market that keeps enhancing its displays with brighter and better colors.

It’s worth noting that despite the Pebble 2 being a great and cheap way to get into smartwatches, because the company ceased activity recently, devices are no longer under warranty, and users will no longer receive support. Due to the Pebble always relying a lot on third-party apps, and due to certain independent vendors such as Gadgetbridge or Rebble that offer app and firmware downloads, Pebble users should be able to use their devices without any problems even past the 2018 possible shutdown date for the Pebble servers. The problem of spare parts being scarce still remains, but it’s up to third-party manufacturers to solve it.

For all it’s worth, the Pebble 2 is one of the best entry-level smartwatches on the market, being available for both iOS (8 and above) and Android (4.3 and above) devices. The best part is that you can find it pretty cheap at both official retailers and online.

The design of the watch retains the premium look of luxury watches, giving it the look of an expensive bracelet or jewelry item

The design of the watch retains the premium look of luxury watches, giving it the look of an expensive bracelet or jewelry item than a watch. The screen is designed to be completely round, as this design seems to be the winner with most users. Additionally, the AMOLED screen also features an ambient light sensor, meaning that the screen brightness will automatically adjust depending on the brightness of your surroundings.

ASUS ZenWatch 3 still runs on Android Wear 1.5, but should receive an update to the famed Android Wear 2.0 soon

However, what’s extremely interesting is the fact that even with such a high-end chipset, the performance of the ZenWatch 3 is fairly inconsistent: sometimes apps are extremely snappy, while sometimes they seem to lag behind slightly. At the moment, the ASUS ZenWatch 3 still runs on Android Wear 1.5 but should receive an update to the famed Android Wear 2.0 soon. This means that the watch will connect to iOS and Android devices alike, increasing its versatility.

That being said, if you don’t mind waiting for a bit until the watch receives the latest version of Android Wear, the ASUS ZenWatch 3 has a great, expensive look to it, while also packing impressive specs.

The beauty of the TAG Heuer does not lie in its branding, but in its masterfully-crafted design.

The name is quite impressive, and the product itself is nothing less. Perhaps one of the most impressive smartwatches to come out in 2017, the TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45 is as much a smartwatch as it is a luxury watch, a true fashion statement. The beauty of the TAG Heuer does not lie in its branding, but in its masterfully crafted design.

First of all, this watch is only for those who are willing to spend a lot of money on a watch, for whatever reason, as the TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45 starts at $1650. While many may be shocked by the astronomical price, you need to take into account the fact that the watch doubles as a luxury watch, being made by a luxury manufacturer known for its skillful watchmaking, which is now being translated to the smartwatch market.

The “Modular” in the name is represented both in the software, as users can design their own dials or choose from a variety of different flavors, and in the hardware, due to the many straps and accessories available that can be quickly swapped for a change of style. Of course, the additional accessories will cost you extra.

This luxury watch is made by a luxury manufacturer known for its skillful watchmaking, which is now being translated to the smartwatch market.

If you felt like sitting down after seeing the price of the previous item on this list, then chances are you’ll be delighted with the Misfit Vapor and its affordable price of just $200. Of course, the quality offered by the Vapor exceeds what you’d expect to get for that price, but, as expected, it has its shortcomings.

The Misfit Vapor has one of the most beautiful minimalist designs currently offered by a smartwatch, giving up on the tired and over-encumbering futuristic details other manufacturers seem to have fallen for. If that wasn’t enough, the watch is waterproof up to 50 meters. Additionally, a pretty cool thing about the Misfit Vapor is the fact that it is controlled by swiping across the edge of the device, making users feel as if they were part of a sci-fi show from the eighties.

It’s also worth mentioning that the Misfit name is not lost on this device: the smartwatch has detailed workout and heart rate tracking, so you can kiss your fitness trackers goodbye if you opt for the Vapor. However, one huge disadvantage is the fact that the Vapor’s 400mAH battery will only last users 2 days, which is weird for a smartwatch that wants to double as a fitness tracker.

The Misfit Vapor has one of the most beautiful minimalist designs currently offered by a smartwatch which is free of any over-encumbering futuristic details

While the original Huawei Watch has been an absolute winner in terms of design, accurately emulating the premium quality of designer watches, it still left a lot to be desired in terms of functionality. This is why Huawei opted for two separate models when developing the second iteration: the Huawei Watch 2 brings great specifications and features, while its sister model, the Huawei Watch 2 Classic, retains the brilliant, fashionable design of its predecessor in lieu of certain features.

Both the Watch 2 and the Watch 2 Classic models feature the same base design, with a 1.2-inch AMOLED capacitive screen running at 390×390 resolution and being protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. Speaking about protection, the Watch 2 has an IP68 protection rating, slightly better than its predecessor. Both watches have an always-on display, but a battery-saving mode is available, which only keeps time, shutting down all other smartwatch features.

The two watches are similar in specifications, both of them having a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 chipset, a 1.1 GHz Quad-Core CPU, 4 GB of RAM, a 420 mAh battery that should last most users around 2 days, an accelerometer, compass, gyrometer, barometer and even a heart rate sensor. Both models run on Android Wear 2.0, meaning that they are compatible with both Android and iOS devices. NFC and GPS are also new additions that were missing from the first model.

The Watch 2 Classic is obviously targeted towards the professionals who want a slick watch on their wrist that looks subtle enough to blend in with their outfits, while also providing them with the information they need over the day. In this respect, the Watch 2 Classic slightly modifies the colorful look of the Watch 2, having a leather band instead of the rubber sports band of its sister model. The Classic is also made of stainless steel and comes in titanium gray, unlike its counterpart, which has a ceramic, bright orange design, with black and gray also available.

The Watch 2 Classic slightly modifies the colorful look of the Watch 2, having a leather band instead of the rubber sport band of its sister model

Whereas someone might choose the Watch 2 Classic for its design, people who want more functionality from their devices will probably go for the Watch 2 due to its added features. Over its fashionable counterpart, the most important change is the fact that the Watch 2 supports Nano-SIM or e-SIM cards, which can then be used for 4G LTE connectivity.

It’s worth mentioning that the black model of the Watch 2 supports both LTE and Bluetooth connectivity, while the orange one only supports LTE and the gray model only supports Bluetooth.

The Huawei Watch 2 and the Huawei Watch 2 Classic are going to be released in April 2017, and they will set you back quite a bit, as the Watch 2 will start at €329, with its LTE variant being a bit more pricey, namely €379 and the Watch 2 Classic will start at €399.

Last but not least, we have an outdoor watch that comes in 3 different models and offers a lot of great features tailored for the adventurous types. All three models feature long battery life, activity tracking, heart rate tracking and various other sensors. Additionally, all models feature waterproof design for up to 100 meters, meaning that swimmers won’t have to take it off their wrist.

The Fenix 5 is the base model, being a jack-of-all-trades. In the meanwhile, the Fenix 5S is the smaller model, tailored for the feminine types, with a special edition available which features a sapphire lens that is scratch-resistant and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Fenix 5X is the star of this show, being the most expensive and most complex model: it’s bigger and features better protection due to its stainless steel bezel and reinforced housing, along with a great LED backlight that ensures great visibility whether it’s day or night.

If you’re an adventurous person who wants a lot of convenient features at their disposal, any model will prove worth it in the long run.

The Fenix 5 and Fenix 5S start at $599, while the Fenix 5X starts at $699, meaning that you’ll have to shell out quite a bit of money to get your hands on them. However, if you’re an adventurous person who wants a lot of convenient features at their disposal, any model will prove worth it in the long run.

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