Top critical review
1.0 out of 5 starsAbysmal integration, excessive tracking and inconsistent readings
Reviewed in Canada on June 4, 2023
The heart rate sensor sometimes gives odd values ( yes, I wear it tight enough, 1-2 fingers above the fibular condyle as explained- tryed also lower snd other hand) compared to a medical Nonin pulsoximeter .
You are forced into Google tracking and fingerprinting and selling of information ( that was an unexpected surprise). Where you pay to get your health data feeding back into the upsales.
Apple has no interest of syncing their data, so you have to buy the single mediocre a averaging / day syncing app that gives no real scheduled information if you use any iOS .
The The heart rate sensor sometimes gives odd values ( yes, I wear it tight enough, 1-2 fingers above the fibular condyle as explained- tryed also lower snd other hand) compared to a medical Nonin pulsoximeter ( standard medical and military medics precision one)
The bracelet has Nickel in the connecting pins = so tough luck if you are among 15% with Nickel triggered reaction.
After 6 months you're invited to pay more than the device to read it's sensor data.
Bluetooth doesn't recognize any of NordTrack or Peloton exercise machines. Or electric bike (Bosch or other) pace.
The band is starting to decompose ( they gladly offer new " fashion" band)s , in the planned obsolescence economy.
I genuinely needed the tracking functionality to be consistent and be able to use the data I generate in other scenarios or integrations. Even the weight is not synchronizing with the various weight scales if measured if it's not their own flavour Fitbit expensive one.
I will just let it slowly die ( the band will give up first).
And the data is surprisingly inconsistent compared to 15 years old Polar chest strap. ( that's inconvenient- that's why I bought it "on special ".
And plain misleading if compared to medical grade one ( Nonin) , but that's for short readings. not an always "on".
Meaning we're grossly overcharged for limited timed functionality.
The genius forced sale is the use the trick of needing to establish your "baseline " for a month, at which point you can't return it.
Any "health " oriented watch needs 5 to 14 days ( Apple watch is 5 days, and continuously readjust , based on your and environmental variables .
It's the era of form and colourful hand bands ( premium for who buys into a " being unique " among other ten of thousands, that buy into form over function, instead of improving existing functionality, precision and functionality.
It's looking definitely like a desperate "me too " acquisition of Fitbit to compete in the "health" space, and lock monopolistically customers in an ecosystem. Great if you are a shareholder.
I'm not disappointed, it's just the new reality of swindle and bait-switch economy of misleading partial claims , valid in a specific set of circumstances.
Shame on me.
If more people will realize this and change boat, it will be another discarded project like many other Google services. Or upsale to the Google watch.