A natural skincare cleanser using a simple, yet powerful combination – honey and lemon. This dynamic duo brings together the antibacterial and moisturizing properties of honey with the brightening and exfoliating benefits of lemon. Together, they make a highly effective and all-natural skin cleanser.

Who Is It For?

The honey and lemon skin cleanser can be beneficial for various skin types. It’s particularly suitable for those dealing with oily skin, dull complexion, or mild acne due to its antimicrobial, brightening, and oil-control properties.

However, those with sensitive skin should exercise caution, as lemon can be quite acidic and potentially irritating. As always, when trying a new skincare regimen, a patch test is recommended before full application to ensure your skin responds favorably to the ingredients.

Benefits

Honey, a natural humectant, helps retain the skin’s moisture while offering antibacterial properties that can assist in combatting acne-causing bacteria. It also has anti-inflammatory benefits that can soothe irritated skin.

Lemon, on the other hand, is rich in vitamin C and citric acid, which can brighten the skin, reduce hyperpigmentation, and gently exfoliate to reveal a fresher and more radiant complexion.

Recipe

You’ll need:

• 1 tablespoon of raw honey (preferably organic)
• 1/2 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon of raw, organic honey
• 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice

Preparation

Mix the two ingredients together and gently massage onto your face in circular motions. Rinse off with warm water. This mixture is good for brightening and hydrating the skin.

1. In a small bowl, combine the honey and lemon juice.
2. Stir until the ingredients are well blended.

How to Apply

1. Before applying the cleanser, ensure your skin is clean and free of makeup.
2. Using your fingertips, gently apply the mixture to your face, avoiding the eye area.
3. Massage it into the skin in circular motions for about a minute. This helps increase blood circulation and allows the ingredients to penetrate more deeply.
4. Let it sit on your skin for 15-20 minutes.
5. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
6. Pat your face dry with a clean towel and follow up with your regular moisturizer.

This cleanser can be used once or twice a week. It’s important not to overuse the product as lemon can be drying if used too frequently.

Always apply sunscreen during the day as lemon can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.

Embrace the simplicity and potency of natural skincare with this honey and lemon skin cleanser, and let your skin enjoy the nourishing and revitalizing effects of these two amazing ingredients.

Budget fitness trackers are now as common and as affordable as your conventional watches yet it does so much more. These less expensive options are cut down smart watches that focus on purely on fitness and health alone. Here are some of the best and affordable smart bands to help you stay healthy.

What does cheap Fitness Tracker Smart Bands track?

So what do you look for in a budget fitness tracker? Everything! While they may cost a fraction of your premium smartwatches, they have almost all the features of their high end counterparts. Standard sensors include:

• Optical heart rate sensor
• SpO2 blood oxygen saturation sensor
• 3-Axis Accelerometer sensor
• Gyroscope sensor

Sensors that are hard to come by, typically reserved for smart watches are:

• Skin temperature
• Electrical heart sensor ECG
• Altimeter
• High-g accelerometer for fall and crash detection
• ambient light sensor

Beyond the sensors, what other features can you expect from the smart bands? With clever use the data collected using the sensors above, the fitness smart band can track the following:

• monitor irregular rate rhythm, atrial fibrilation
• alert you if resting heart rate is too high or too low
• monitor blood oxygen level and alert you if it is below optimum level
• monitor sleep quality and offer suggestions to resolve sleep related issues
• monitor stress levels and offer ways to manage this
• time your breathing and help you take deeper breaths
• let you know its time to get up and move to stay active

As for workouts, the fitness tracker got you covered with the ability to track as many as 120 different workouts including running, cycling and swimming. Plus, if you are serious about sports, some smart bands can also track VO2Max (maximum oxygen), recovery time, running ability index and training effects.

It s worth mentioning that while most affordable trackers do not come with onboard GPS, it uses connected GPS, piggy backing on the phone’s GPS so you can track the pace, distance and route taken as part of your outdoor workout.

The Affordable Fitness Tracker in 2023

We round up 8+1 of the best and affordable budget fitness tracker in 2023. They include fitness trackers from Xiaomi, Honor, Huawei, Fitbit, OnePlus, Amazfit and Redmi (a sub-brand of xiaomi). Here’s the list.

1. Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro

The Pro receives a bigger AMOLED touchscreen compared to the standard Smart Band 7 and this makes it stand out from the rest of the tall and narrow fitness trackers here. Its rectangular watch face is still narrower when compared to the Huawei Watch Fit 2 but big enough for touch. Our only complain is its uneven black border with its chin bezel being visibly bigger.

The Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro comes with over 110 different sport modes. Onboard sensors are capable of monitoring heart rate, blood oxygen level and the usual fitness parameters like steps, calories etc. It even comes with GPS tracker which for a band this price is practically unheard of. If you are a runner, you are in for a treat. With its runner’s hat on, the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro even comes preloaded with run programmes to help you train. Other useful features include waterproof case up to 5ATM, Alexa voice assistant built in and u

Search Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro on Amazon

• 1.64-inch rectangular AMOLED touchscreen with 2.5D curved glass, 5ATM water resistance, over 150 watch faces
• Blood oxygen and heart rate monitor, stress level, sleep monitor, menstrual cycle, deep breath exercise
• GPS for route tracking, on-wrist running courses
• Battery Life: up to 12 days typical use, 6 days heavy use.

2. Honor Band 7

The Honor Band 7 looks suspiciously like the Huawei Band 7, it even has the same 1.47-inch AMOLED touchscreen wrapped in 2.5D curved glass. Just like the Huawei Band 7, it covers 96 workout from swimming, to running to cycling and beyond. You also get round the clock heart rate and blood oxygen level tracking. The latter vibrates when oxygen level is low while the former alerts you when the resting heart rate is either too high or too low.

Besides the standard fitness tracking, it also tracks sleep, stress and menstrual cycle. Unfortunately, there is no onboard GPS so no route tracking. At the end of the day, the only thing different to the Huawei Band 7 is the case and its colour options, it has a more muted and fewer colour options (3 vs 4) and standard case colours (black, gold or silver). Viewed from the side, when comparing the two, Honor Band 7 and Huawei Band 7, the Honor has a more squared edge while the Huawei has a rolled or rounded edge.

Search Honor Band 7 on Amazon

• 1.47-inch AMOLED touchscreen and Always On Display, 5ATM water resistance
• All day blood oxygen tracker, heart rate monitor, professional sleep tracker, cycle tracker, stress and mindfulness app
• Battery Life: up to 2 weeks (14 days), 10 days with heavy use, fast charging supported

3. Huawei Band 7

With a 1.47-inch AMOLED touchscreen, this is slightly on the big side with a tall and rectangular display but no bigger than Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro or even Smart Band 7. Bigger touchscreen is always good for visibility and ease of navigation. Huawei made the most of the extra screen real estate by packing bigger widgets and more live stats. The TruSeen 4.0 optical biometric sensor monitors heart rate and bloody oxygen level. The sleep tracker now recommends ways to improve your sleep if it picks up any wacky sleep pattern.

With a compatible (Android) smartphone, you can read notifications and text messages and even send quick pre-programmed replies without reaching for the phone. And, just like the Honor Band 7, it relies on the GPS on your phone as there is no GPS onboard. But, even with all that, it still manages to keep its case slim at just under 10mm and light at 16 grams. Case and band colours include black, green, rose gold (pink) or red. It is worth noting that while still not available to buy, the Huawei Band 8 is already announced on their website.

Search Huawei Band 7 on Amazon

• 1.47-inch AMOLED touchscreen with over 4000 watch faces and Always On Display, 5ATM water resistance
• All day blood oxygen tracker, heart rate monitor, professional sleep tracker, cycle tracker, stress and mindfulness app
• Battery Life: up to 2 weeks (14 days), 10 days with heavy use, fast charging supported

4. Fitbit Inspire 3

In comparison to the other smart fitness tracker bands here, this Fitbit unit isn’t exactly cheap but it is the cheapest of Fitbit’s offerings, even cheaper if you get nab an offer. It is a no-nonsense compact tracker that doesn’t get in the way of your workouts or life in general. But the real reason for getting Fitbit is to access the impeccably designed app. Yes, you still get the oxygen saturation, heart rate, sleep and stress monitors but the data look so much better on screen when the information is presented in a well thought out app. Of course, there is a price to pay if you choose to go with Fitbit Premium membership, with added features.

Search Fitbit Inspire 3 on Amazon

• 5ATM
• Heart rate monitor check for irregular heart rhythm, SpO2 blood oxygen tracking, menstrual health tracking, sleep and stress monitors
• Battery life: up to 10 days

5. Amazfit Band 7

Offered at the same price as Huawei and Honor Band 7 above, Amazfit is taking on the big guys. With the company focused almost entirely on wearables ie. smart bands and smartwatch it is not about the miss out on the basic of fitness trackers, the smart band. It even called their fitness tracker the same name so you won’t miss it, the Band 7. That means Huawei, Honor, Xiaomi (below) and now Amazfit have their version of the Band 7. The smart band has a large 1.47-inch AMOLED display and can track 120 different sports modes with the ability to automatically recognise walking, running, elliptical and rowing machine workouts.

The Amazfit Band 7 goes one up on the other smart bands here with built-in Alexa voice service on their home. grown Zepp OS. All that tech is enclosed in a case with 5ATM water resistance so you can take it into the pool and it will track your swim. For colours, there are black, beige, blue, green, pink and orange to choose from although they are more pastel colours vs bright. Finally, for more health matrix, there is PeakBeats that shows you stats like maximum oxygen update, full recovery time, training load and training effect after every workout and PAI Health Assessment System for a quick overall score of your health.

Search Amazfit Band 7 on Amazon

• 1.47-inch AMOLED touchscreen, 5ATM
• Heart rate & Oxygen Level Sensor, Sleep Quality and Stress Monitor
• Battery Life: up to 18 days typical use, 12 days heavy use, 28 days battery saver

6. Xiaomi Smart Band 7

Just as popular as its predecessor, the Xiaomi Smart Band 6, this affordable fitness tracker even manages a 1.62-inch AMOLED Touch Screen for a bright display with vibrant colours but is tall and narrow. It supports over 110 different sports modes and ticks all the boxes when it comes to a wholesome fitness tracker. It supports all day SpO2 blood oxygen saturation tracking, sleep monitor, heart rate and VO2 max workout analysis. Plus, the case is 5ATM water resistant so it will go where you go. We have to say, the interface has matured and instead of a tall rectangular display, it has a pill shape. with the watch face, graphics and interface built around this. Talking about watch faces, there are over 100 different dynamic faces to choose including always on faces. As for colour options, these are your modern ivory, olive, orange, blue, black and link.

Search Xiaomi Smart Band 7 on Amazon

• 1.62-inch AMOLED touchscreen, 5ATM
• Heart rate & Oxygen Level monitor, sleep and stress monitors, menstrual cycle tracker, personal activity index
• Battery Life: up to 14 days typical use, 9 days heavy use

7. Redmi Smart Band 2

An alternative to Xiaomi’s Smart Band 7 above is the Redmi Smart Band 2. Redmi is a sub-brand of the same company. In fact, both Xiaomi and Redmi products are available online at the mi store (mi.com). The Smart Band 2 has a conventional 1.47-inch rectangular TFT touchscreen. Even though it misses out on bright AMOLED, the TFT panel is still capable of 450nits maximum brightness. It supports over 30 different workout modes and comes with your usual sensors for blood oxygen level, sleep tracker, menstrual cycle tracker, stress monitor and heart rate monitor. It is ultra light at only 14.9 grams and measure 9.99 mm slim. Notable features include 5ATM water resistance rating, access to over 100 different stylish band faces and. Lastly, the moulded TPU strap is available in 5 different colours.

Search Redmi Smart Band 2 on Amazon

• 1.47-inch TFT display, 5ATM water resistance
• All day heart rate, sleep, SpO2 oxygen level monitoring
• Battery Life: 14 days typical use, 6 days heavy use

8. OnePlus Smart Band

Droping down to the ultra budget segment is this fitness tracker from OnePlus. Yes, the flagship killer smartphone maker that we heard so much about. It is now into making headphones, tablets and wearables. No surprise that, it’s what every smartphone companies are doing. It supports 13 exercise modes only which is a far cry from the 90 to 120 you get with other bands here. Still, it is IP68 rated against water and dust penetration and is water resistant up to 5ATM. For sensors, you get the usual blood oxygen saturation and heart rate monitors on top of the basic steps and motions sensors (3-axis accelerometer and gyroscope). The OnePlus Band as it is know has a small 1.1-inch AMOLED touchscreen and is their first jab at wearable. Launched in 2021, it looks a bit dated now in terms of design. In some market, this is no longer offer, not even the OnePlus Watch. It might just be your last chance to grab the band on Amazon.

Search OnePlus Smart Band on Amazon

• 1.1-inch AMOLED touchscreen, 5ATM and IP68 case
• optical heart rate and blood oxygen sensors, sleep tracking
• Battery Life: 2 weeks (14 days)

BONUS: Huawei Watch Fit 2

At the top end of affordable fitness tracker is the Huawei Watch Fit 2. Huawei would rather you call it a watch than a Smart Band but you can’t fool anyone. It has all the hallmarks of a fitness tracker with an all-in-one fitness program that supports 97 workout modes, on-screen animated exercises and programs to warm up and cool down after a run. The screen is also bigger at 1.74-inch which makes viewing the stats and interacting with the watch easier. A feature worth mentioning is the workout route. With the connected GPS on your phone, you can export, import and share your workout routes so you never get lost. Plus, there are 7 different colours to choose from including two leather straps and two metallic bracelets.

Search Huawei Watch Fit 2 on Amazon

• 1.74-inch AMOLED FullView touchscreen, Always On Display (AOD), 5ATM water resistant
• SpO2 blood oxygen monitor, hear rate monitor, sleep and stress monitors, quick workout animations
• Battery Life: 10 days typical use, 7 days heavy use, quick charge 5 mins for a days worth

How to choose the right fitness tracker?

Now that you know what you are getting into, here is a list of selection criteria when choosing the best cheap fitness tracker to suit you.

1. Design: Budget fitness trackers are your run-of-the-mill silicone bands with screens not much wider than the band itself. However, there are those that stand out with metallic bezel, option to switch to straps other than silicone based ones and bigger displays. It is very much a personal choice like the style, colour and material that appeals to you.
2. Comfort: This is not something you can tell by just looking at it or even wearing them in store to try them out. It is only with long term use that you can decide if it is comfortable. What you can do is to feel the material, its finish and . Look for things like sweat re
3. Display Size: There is only so much you can do on a small screen let alone see. Unfortunately, cheap fitness trackers come with small displays. It’s not a bad thing as it means, the smart band does not get in the way of your workouts. But, for those who prefer to see stats, alerts and information on the screen, look for one with a bigger display. And, while you are at it, a bight one. AMOLED panels are brighter so you can see it outdoor under bright sunlight. Be warn that the bigger the display the bigger its impact is on its battery life.
4. Water Resistance: Nowadays, even the cheapest of fitness bands are water resistant. Look for the water resistance rating. 5ATM is common. The other feature to look out for is the IP or intrusion protection rating. IP67 or IP68 means better resistance to water and dust. E.g. products rated IP68 can withstand fresh water to a depth of 1.5meters for up to 30 minutes. On the other hand 5ATM certification means the product is water resistant up to 50 meters in depth for 10 minutes. This means they are suitable for a multitude of shallow water activities including swimming.
5. Battery Life: The battery may be small on a fitness tracker but they do last days and sometimes weeks (2 or more) on typical use. On heavy use, the battery life can be cut short, sometimes down to half. But, even so, it would still be days or up to a week. Gone are the days when you have to charge your tracker every couple of days. Of course, the size of the display and Always On Display (AOD) will have a direct impact on the battery life. Be sure to pick one that lasts at least up to a week (7 days) on a typical use.
6. Connectivity: Fitness trackers connect to the smartphone through Bluetooth. Smart watches on the other hand has option to connect via Bluetooth and/or WiFi. But the real connectivity you need to look into is its ability to connect to other fitness apps including native apps like Apple Health and Google Fit. This allows the app and tracker to synchronise its data and give you a wholistic picture of your health and fitness.
7. Compatibility: The smartphone world is split down the middle with Apple iOS on one side and Google Android on the other. Most trackers will support both operating systems, writing companion apps for each. Just to be sure, check the feedback on their companion apps in the respective App stores. Look for any signs that point to incompatibility or issues arising from the use of the app on the platform.
8. Companion App: The accompanying app needs to be easy to use and will connect seamlessly with the fitness tracker to sync and download fitness data wirelessly over Bluetooth or WiFi. The app will then analyse and display it the data graphically in a manner which is easy to understand. It also needs to be user friendly and easy to navigate. You need to be able to find what you need quickly and learn about the parameters easily.
9. Warranty and Support: Most gadgets these days are reliable but should you need support, help or warranty further down the road, you want to be sure of the response time, good customer service and a no-hassle warranty claim. Here is where looking up the reviews and brand’s trust rating will help. Take a balanced approach, look at both good and bad reviews. Also look for reviews on how easy it is to get help on defective units. Manufacturers that offer good customer support and long warranty period offer peace of mind.
10. Price: We already established that these are your budget fitness tracker smart bands. However, there are those which are super cheap, nay ultra cheap and at the other end of the low cost segment, those that are affordable but not necessarily cheap. Whatever the price, set a budget for yourself and decide how much leeway you have if you were to splash out for a higher model. Everyone wants to get the best value for their money and getting the best fitness tracker in this category is no different.

Finally, do your research. You can research all the aspects mentioned above online including its price and where best to buy it. Read reviews, like ones published here and check out feedbacks on retailers sites left by those who actually own the fitness tracker. Long period of use allow users to actually identify any issues or how useful the features are. Consider these when you narrow down your choices and pick your fitness tracker smart band.

The last few years have seen a surge in the use of wearable tech and a large part of popularising wearable tech is due to smartwatches and fitness bands. Thanks to its popularity, wearable tech amounted to over 115 billion USD in 2021 with big projections in the pipeline for the next five years. The world is gradually being connected to IoT on a larger scale where the internet drives its every step. Wearables are just a start and developments are gradually expanding to smart doors and transparent tv sets that act as glass walls when off and a smart tv when on.

While there is still a huge market for tradition, and watches from popular brands and manufacturers still have a large following, users have embraced new technology and smartwatches or fitness bands are in trend now. A large part of it has to do with the plethora of features and services that these devices bring to the users. Both smartwatches and fitness bands fall in the category of wearable tech but few cosmetic and functional differences between them make each of them more suitable for different users. If you are looking to follow the trend but cannot decide whether to go for a fitness band or a smartwatch you are in luck. Today we will look at what either of these devices has to offer and which one should you own.

Let us look at fitness trackers first.

Fitness Bands: Features and Usability

Fitness bands, as the name suggest are more inclined to help users maintain their fitness through their functions. Initially, fitness bands started as smart bands with sensors that could track your vitals such as heart rate, pulse and pedometer to count the number of steps taken. Over time and development, their utility has expanded to cover more areas of fitness and activity tracking. The biggest cosmetic appeal fitness bands have is their sleek and light form factor. They are usually worn on the wrist and look like any other wristband. Their lightweight build allows them to be worn always and it keeps tracking all the physical activities that you do. Some of the latest bands have advanced features such as a sleep quality monitor that tracks the sleeping pattern of users along with the time spent in deep sleep and REM sleep.

Fitness Bands Source gearmoose

Fitness bands are laden with sensors that are mostly used to track various types of movement. These sensors can track your movement as well as the intensity of the movement. A built-in pedometer is used to track the number of steps you take while brisk walking and can also track if you are running or jogging. Even when you are doing cardio, it can track it and then calculate the number of calories you burn along with your pulse and heart rate. Fitness bands usually have a small vertical display that is just big enough to show numerical data related to your physical activities. In most cases, the display has low resolution unless you opt for a pricey fitness tracker like the Fitbit Charge 5, which has a built-in GPS and stress management mode.

Fitbit Charge 5 Source Fitbit

Where fitness bands have an upper hand over most smartwatches is their battery capacity. Most features that fitness bands have are also present in smart watches but thanks to a focussed approach towards utility and a much smaller display, it lasts much longer on a single charge than smartwatches. These bracelet lookalikes can store data offline for as long as 30 days (in some models) on a single charge. Usually, there is an Android or iOS app that you can connect to later and synchronize all the collected data at once to get a more comprehensive picture of your fitness and health.

Fitness bands are usually much cheaper than smartwatches due to their limited functionality. This is exactly what makes them an excellent choice for users looking for smart devices that could function as a makeshift watch, and track their health on a real-time basis. With a constant heart rate monitor, these bands can indicate when you should stop your cardio for a break and keep a count on the calories burnt so that you do not go over your target.

Since they have to endure a lot along with the user, they are built tough even with an overall light footprint. Most fitness bands are also waterproof and have a swimming mode that you can choose when they go out swimming. Latest fitness bands such as Amazfit Band 5 come with built-in Alexa while the Xiaomi Mi Band 6 has a SpO2 monitor and 30 different sports modes. You can also go through popular e-commerce listings of fitness bands at attractive prices from some upcoming brands like Zururu and MorePro. Similar to smartwatches, fitness bands come with attractive colour options and blend in seamlessly with almost any type of clothing you wear.

Enough about fitness bands let us look at what Smart Watches have to offer.

Smart Watch: Attributes and Functionality

Smartwatches are much more feature-rich in comparison to fitness bands. They can almost do everything that fitness bands can and much more in terms of functions and features. Smartwatches have a bigger form factor with a display measuring in the region of 1.5 inches on a high-resolution LCD or AMOLED panel. The display is much livelier and has more real estate than fitness bands. Besides displaying the time there are several watch faces that the respective watch manufacturer allows you to download from their library and apply similarly to a wallpaper. There is a lot to play with watch faces on smartwatches.

Besides the usual activity tracking functions, a smartwatch has features like SMS and call alert features. These devices can use the entire screen real estate to display messages from instant messaging platforms and regular SMS messages. Some devices allow you to just read the received messages while pricier models allow users to reply to them as well. Smartwatches can also alert you through vibration when you have an incoming call along with the caller ID and you can then choose between receiving, rejecting or silent the calls directly from the smartwatch. These features however require the smartwatch to be connected to your smartphone through Bluetooth and GPS.

Besides these features, there are more advanced features like stress management that beeps and alerts to go for a break at work when there is too much stress. It can also remind you to get out of your cabin if you have been sedentary for a long time and remind you to take water breaks at regular intervals. Many of these features can be enabled or disabled from the watch itself or from a brand-specific application that synchronizes with the smartwatch on a real-time basis and keeps a track of your health parameters.

Amazefit GTR 2e Source Amazon

Smartwatches are more detailed when it comes to the information captured and displayed. The Amazefit GTR 2e for example has 90 sports modes that it can detect and calculate your calorie count accordingly. The display on the Amazefit watch is round and is a tad smaller than regular smartwatches at 1.30-inches but it is a highly rated watch with access to numerous watch faces and voice control. The Apple Watch Series 7 is another hi-tech device that allows you to take live ECG anytime along with calling and text sending features. The watch notifies you in case of any irregularity it detects in heart rate and can even make automated calls to your preset numbers in an emergency.

Apple Watch Series 7 Source Amazon

A more subtle take on smartwatches is the devices from Garmin. Their range of Venue devices offers excellent value for money features with decent battery life and a song download feature (works with compatible apps) that allows you to listen to your favourite music through a connected headphone without getting the smartphone involved. These watches also support contactless payment offering ultimate safety from unwanted intrusions. A big drawback for smartwatches is their battery though some of the pricier models now are lasting more than 14 days on a single charge. The battery consumption is higher mainly because of a bigger display and constant connectivity to the internet.

Smartwatches go with everything thanks to their extensive collection of watch faces that allows them to assume a conventional look when you are at work and can be switched to a funky party look after office hours. Some of the latest watches allow users to receive calls and have a conversation from the watch itself. All this, however, comes at a price. While most fitness bands cost under $100, smartwatches are priced much steeper and can carry a price tag anywhere between $200 and $500, almost equalling a mid-range smartphone.

Conclusion

­ Fitness bands are best suited for health-conscious individuals and could be your best companion when working out. It can track almost every type of physical activity and relay important health stats to you. They are priced cheaper and offer good functionality. Smartwatches are best when it comes to fashion-conscious folks who take a more comprehensive approach towards everything ranging from health tracking to casual outings. Their price justifies their utility and thanks to advanced technology in them, they offer more in terms of an overview of current health and insights on how to improve it further.

We are not going to lie, this is an expensive watch. The flagship fitness smartwatch from Garmin with its super rugged stainless steel or titanium body and silicone strap may not impress any fashionista but underneath the hood, it has enough tech to track every sport there is, accurately.

The new Fenix 7 series, like the Fenix 6 is also available in three size, the small Fenix 7S, the medium Fenix 7 and the supersize and therefore longest lasting Fenix 7X. And like its predecessor, you get a choice of standard, solar powered or Sapphire Solar Edition. Plus the aforementioned choice between stainless steel or lighter titanium casing.

What’s new with the Fenix 7

Battery Life

The primary focus for this generation is battery life and better GPS. Smartwatch particularly sports smartwatches are plagued with low battery life especially when tracking outdoor with GPS enabled. Not so with Fenix 7. Thanks to solar charging and huge battery capacity, particularly that on the Fenix 7X, you can expect up to 122 hours of battery life. That’s a huge jump from around 60 hours.

With average use, you could get a whole months worth of battery life, just make sure you get the self charging solar model and use full GPS and multi-band GNSS modes moderately. Another way to prolong its battery life is to make sure you set it to the appropriate level of brightness.

GPS and Multi-band GNSS

As for GPS, the watch uses multi-band GNSS pushes GPS for better and more accurate tracking. When you are trekking, running, walking or riding, it will accurately map your route, calculate elevation and distance, quickly with its new route following tools.

Transflective Colour Touchscreen

Another useful feature is the colour touchscreen for easier control and access to tracking data. To avoid accidentally tapping on the screen during workout, the touch interface will automatically be disabled when you enable tracking for your workout.

The new transflective colour touchscreen is paired with physical buttons for maximum accessibility. The watch retains those chunky side buttons as per previous Fenix 6 so that is another improvement

The case sizes are 42mm, 47mm and 51mm as before, with three display sizes to match. These are the 1.2-inch (240 x 240 pixels), 1.3-inch (250 x 250 pixels) to the chart topping 1.4-inch (280 x 280 pixels) screen.

Push it Further

Choose the highest model and Garmin pulls out all the stops replacing the standard Gorilla Glass with Sapphire and adding solar charger. You end up with a fitness tracker that is both tough and self charging (Sapphire Solar Edition). Improvements to the combination of both hard Sapphire and solar charging sees Garmin increasing the solar charging yield up to 200%.

The Sapphire Solar Edition also offers choices of leather band or titanium band if you are willing to pay the extra. It will still include the swappable standard silicone straps with your purchase. It just means that you have spare interchangeable strap for different a different look and feel out of the box.

Track Everything

Fitness tracker is the name of the game, and Fenix 7 will track any sport you choose to take on. With plenty of performance parameters tracking and analysis, one might be overwhelmed with data, but bring data it will. With the widest range of activities including real time estimates of your stamina and visual race predictor, it is your best fitness pal.

Fitness aside, there is the health and wellness aspects that the Fenix watches are known for. Sleep and heart rate as well as VO2 Max and stamina plus historical data lets you understand your body even better.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, it comes down to how much you want to spend on a flagship fitness tracker. The price range is huge as with previous generations so set your budget and get the right Fenix 7 watch for you. Whichever model you pick, this do-it-all fitness and sports smartwatch has your back, be it for the occasional recreational use or for fitness fanatics.

Other Specifications of Interest

• Sensors: Optical Heart Rate Sensor, Pulse OX, Altimeter, Barometer, Compass
• Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth, ANT+ GPS
• Battery Life: 37-57 hours on non-solar models, 46-122 hours on solar models
• Water resistant: 10ATM
• Case Size 42-41mm
• Weight: 63-96 grams

Not only is the new 4th gen Samsung Galaxy Watch moved from home grown Tizen OS to Google Wear OS 3, it also received a boost in the health and fitness tracking department. Start with the body composition sensor, then track your fitness progress, heart rate, blood pressure and sleep with this latest wearable from Samsung.

Instead of continuing to develop and use their own Tizen system, Samsung has taken the move to switch over to Wear OS, making the 4th generation wearable their first to go Google. This is a similar move that Fitbit is also taking with their future wearables. The result, these wearables will be able to access more apps developed for the platform instead of waiting for developers to write a version that works specifically with their proprietary systems.

But, instead of adopting the Wear OS whole sale, Samsung introduced their own custom skin, the One UI. Simply put, it makes the interface a lot sleeker and easier to use with big icons akin to those from their Tizen interface.

The Options

The Galaxy Watch4 is available in two variants, the standard or fitness and health focused variant and the more expensive, premium classic edition with rotating bezel.

Apart from the case colours and sizes, the two versions also get 4G/LTE and Bluetooth connectivity options. Here are the case sizes and colour options for each of the variant. If you ignore the connectivity options and colour choices, there are essentially four different modes based on case size and body design.

Samsung Galaxy Watch4

• Connectivity: 4G/LTE with eSIM or Bluetooth
• Colour Options: Black, Gold, Silver, Green
• Case sizes: 40mm, 44mm

Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic

• Connectivity: 4G/LTE with eSIM or Bluetooth
• Colour Options: Black or Silver
• Case sizes: 42mm, 46mm

Let’s take a look at each of these variants in turn

Search Galaxy Watch4 Classic on Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Watch4

Joining the Wear OS with double the memory at 16GB compared to previous generation Watch3 and Watch2 running Tizen is this years Watch4. This new entry level watch comes in two sizes, 40mm or 44mm dial. The case is made from aluminium and is available in four different colours with matching silicone strap. They are black, silver, gold or green.

Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic

The classic is a more upmarket watch and this is reflected in its price. The classic models are also bigger, available in 42mm or 46mm dial and come with a rotating bezel. The case is made from high-end stainless steel. The only let down is the silicon strap. It would benefit from leather strap or matching stainless steel bracelet. Leave the silicone strap to the standard Watch4.

Fitness Features

Common across all Galaxy Watch4 models are its suite of fitness functions. These include the ability to track different fitness activities (more than 90 exercise), steps, calories, etc. But above the standard staff is its ability to analyse body fat, water weight and bone density – a feat usually accomplished by smart weighing machines that measures body composition.

Using the onboard Samsung BioActive Sensor, the Watch4 is able to capture body composition in real time. This is then processed and displayed on the watch itself in a friendly green/red bar chart. Measurements include weight, skeletal muscle, fat mass, body fat, BMI, Body water and BMR.

Then there is the heart rate and blood pressure & ECG sensors. While most of the measurements are available on available on Samsung App, the Blood pressure & ECG monitor is only available on Samsung phone. Those with iOS device is definitely out of luck, as the Samsung App for iOS has limited functionality.

Using the app, you can also link up and share your workouts and progress with your friends and family. The app even supports live messages to keep each other motivated. Plus, the badge and point system work well to give recognition to those that work hard and have fun in the process.

Finally, there is the sleep tracker. The Watch4 tracks and analyses the different sleep stages to better understand your sleep. It also checks the blood oxygen level and snoring patterns, something

Battery Life

When it really comes down to it, any smartwatch users will have you know that being caught with a low battery mid-day is a pain in the proverbial. The Apple Watch 6 only manages up to 18 hours. Not a problem with the Galaxy Watch 4. With its efficient and powerful Exynos processor, the battery will lasts up to 40 hours. Still not weeks and weeks that we are all hoping for but enough as a device packed with this many fitness features. In reality, if you are using the watch constantly, you will get only over a day’s battery life, just like the Apple Watch.

Connectivity

As mentioned previously, both Watch4 and Watch4 Classic comes with 4G/LTE with eSIM or Bluetooth. There is a small price increase for going with the 4G/LTE model but such is a premium for continuous connectivity.

Final Thoughts

Initial feedback and user reaction has been a mixed bag. There are those who absolutely love the watch while other are more cold about it. The complaints are mainly regarding the accuracy of the sensors and data, although nothing that a software update couldn’t correct. Other users are more concerned about the app restriction required use of a Samsung smartphone to get the most of the watch. Nothing new there, just look at Apple or Huawei. Smartwatches work best with smartphones from the same company, that’s pretty much a given unless you go with a fitness only watch manufacturer like Fitbit or Garmin.

Specifications

Here is a quick table of comparison between the two models

And if you have to compare it to previous generation Galaxy Watch, the following are specifications for Galaxy Watch2 and Watch3

The Garmin Fenix 6 is the latest in the holy grail of Garmin Outdoor fitness watches. The Fenix series for Garmin has and, with this new iteration, continues to be the gold standard for their line of multisport fitness watches. This watch is excellent for those who love metrics, outdoor activities, triathletes, cyclists, runners, and military! This watch truly packs a punch for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers and is slowly becoming a must-have outdoor accessory for fitness lovers everywhere!

Fenix 6 Models

The Fenix 6 comes in multiple different options grouped by size, with the Fenix 6 being the middle option. The base or smallest model is the Fenix 6S and the biggest model is the Fenix 6X. Pro, Pro Solar and Sapphire variants aside, the Fenix 6 models by size is as listed below.

• Fenix 6S : small or base option with 42mm case
• Fenix 6 : middle option with 47mm case
• Fenix 6X : large option with 51mm case

and it comes in either the 6S, 6S Pro, and 6S Pro Solar. The key difference with the 6S line is that it is the smallest of the Fenix 6 models. The case comes in at 42mm and provides a slightly lower battery life. The watch also offers the ability to download music straight to the watch, Wi-Fi, and a mapping capability utilizing the watch’s GPS. The base price for the 6S is $549. The Fenix 6S variants are as follows:

• Fenix 6S
• Fenix 6S Pro
• Fenix 6S Pro Solar
• Fenix 6S Sapphire

The Fenix 6 then comes in with a slightly larger case at 47mm and offers greater battery life than the 6S. The Fenix 6 also comes in a Fenix 6 Pro and Pro Solar model as well. The major difference here between the first two models is only the size of the case and slightly greater battery life. The Fenix 6 also comes in at a base price of $549. The Fenix 6 variants are as follows:

• Fenix 6
• Fenix 6 Pro
• Fenix 6 Pro Solar
• Fenix 6 Sapphire

The top-of-the-line option is the Fenix 6X Pro. Unlike the first two options, there is no 6X option; it jumps straight to the Pro version. The 6X Pro comes in with a 51mm case, offers the best battery life out of all three models, and still provides the Wi-Fi, music, and mapping functions. The 6X Pro starts at a base price of $699. The Fenix 6X Pro variants are as follows:

• Fenix 6X Pro Standard
• Fenix 6X Pro Solar
• Fenix 6X Sapphire

Within each variant, you also get a choice of case materials, colours and bands or bracelets.

Now that we got all of that cleared, let’s look at the features.

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Features

The Fenix 6 Series of watches boast a robust array of over 20 preloaded sports activities, ready to start tracking your efforts as soon as you open the box! The watch tracks each activity with very high precision. Not only is the GPS accurate, but it is also strong, and with my experience using the watch over the last year, I have never once lost my GPS signal.

The watch also provides a highly accurate heart rate reading right from your wrist; this is especially useful for determining your perceived effort during exercise. Other valuable metrics like Vo2 Max, Pulse Ox2 blood oxygen levels, sleep, steps taken, respiration and overall stress throughout the day are incredibly accurate as well.

The watch provides a Body Battery used to help the wearer determine how much strain has been put on your body during your training load. This is a beneficial tool to allow the user to see the impact their training has on their body’s ability to recover. The higher your body battery rating, the more prepared your body is to train.

Arguably my favorite feature of the watch is the PacePro. If you are an avid runner or are training for your next race, this is the feature for you! The PacePro is a virtual pacer that allows the user to know if they are maintaining the pace they need to run the time they want based on the course.

The PacePro function will give you a race strategy based on your planned uphill effort and downhill splits. It will then tell you in real-time if you are maintaining the pace you need by buzzing on your wrist if you are not hitting your desired pace.

The PacePro function has been beneficial for me as it has allowed me to focus more on running than constantly looking down at my watch to make sure I am keeping the right pace.

Mapping/ Safety Features

While the mapping offered by the Fenix series of watches isn’t going to be good enough to help you find your way out of the most austere locations, it is leaps and bounds ahead of its rivals. One of the features that we love about the Fenix 6 mapping capabilities is that it allows users to switch to a map display while out on an activity. The maps have proven to be useful while hiking or out on a trail run. The map function displays major trails and roads, perfect for those just going out on training runs and hikes and not solely relying on the mapping to prevent them from getting lost.

Safety & Tracking

Another significant feature that my wife especially loves is the safety & tracking feature. The tracking feature allows the user to share a link with anyone they want, and they can follow along with your activity in real-time. I share my activity with my wife every bike ride that I go on, and she can follow along as she pleases while I ride. The Fenix 6 also allows you to input Emergency contacts. The watch will notify any designated emergency contacts if anything triggers the safety features on the watch. This feature, along with the mapping, is an excellent addition for anyone that loves to hunt or hike.

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Garmin Connect

If the watch were not enough of a powerhouse, Garmin Connect packs the final blow to truly make this the cream of the crop of fitness wearables. Garmin Connect comes in two forms, an online browser and a mobile app for both Apple and Android. Garmin Connect is the one-stop-shop for users to analyze all the watch’s metrics.

From the My Day screen, users will see any summary of activity conducted for that day, a current snapshot of their Training Status, their Heart Rate data for the day, Their Stress Data, all Intensity Minutes collected for the work, the current step count for the day, the number of floors climbed, amount of sleep from the night prior, and their calorie count.

It will also display summaries for the previous day as well as the last seven days. The interface is straightforward to use, and when you click on a given field, it provides further analysis into that metric spread out for the lifetime of the watch.

The Garmin Connect app lets users program their PacePro times, upload maps, change the watch face, and download music straight to the watch. There are also different cycling training programs and multiple running programs to help users train for a 5K, 10K, or Half Marathon.

Our favorite feature provided through Garmin Connect is the community. Garmin creates a network of like-minded fitness enthusiasts who can train together or even compete in specific challenges. Challenges include run challenges, step challenges, calorie burn, or even swimming and cycling challenges. Garmin will also create new challenges monthly for users to try and conquer!

Reasons to Buy this Watch

This watch is for anyone who wants to train outdoors. This watch is the top of the line for outdoor tracking and training for endurance sports. If you are into running, cycling, swimming, or triathlon, this watch is a must-have! The build is solid and sturdy, and it can and will take a beating! The accuracy of tracking is hard to beat, and the ease of use for the Garmin Connect app makes tracking progress a breeze. The watch also has a fantastic battery life that usually lasts around seven days based on how often you use its numerous features. The solar model gets up to 14 days of battery life while indoors or up to 16 days when solar charging.

Reasons Not to Buy

There is no getting around the price point. While this watch is, in our opinion, one of the best on the market, it is pretty expensive. For some, the watch is just not in your budget. If you are looking for more of a smartwatch, this is also not the watch for you. While it does offer simple notifications, it will not allow you to respond to phone calls or text messages. If you are looking for more integration with the phone, this fitness focused smartwatch may not be for you.

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Conclusion

In the end, this is a fantastic watch that we fully recommend to anyone that is currently looking to invest in a quality fitness watch. If you are an outdoor adventure seeker, in the military, or an endurance athlete, there is no better investment than the Fenix 6 series of watches.

Take the great value and feature packed Amazfit GTS 2 and GTR 2 fitness smart and make them last even longer. That’s what the GTS 2e and GTR 2e are about. These watches will last up to 24 days and 45 days respectively with basic use.

Compare that to their equivalent counterparts, the GTS 2 last up to 20 days while the GTR 2 lasts up to 38 days with basic use. For standard use, the GTS 2e manages 14 days compared to GTS 2’s 7 days while the GTR 2e manages 24 days compared to GTR 2’s 10 days. That’s up to twice the battery life.

From the outlook, everything about the watches looks more or less the same so what gives. Let’s take a look at how the cheaper GTS 2e and GTR 2e compares to the original GTS 2 ad GTR 2. You can find out more about its more expensive siblings in our review Amazfit GTS 2 and GTR 2 Fitness Smartwatches.

Amazfit GTS 2e vs GTS 2

Apart from the battery life see table below, we list the differences between the GTS 2e and the more expensive GTS 2.

For colours, the GTS 2e has more exciting colour choices, these are available with black, green or purple straps with black, silver and gold case respectively. On the other hand, the GTS 2 has a more common and muted colours, gold, grey or black straps with gold, silver and black case respectively.

The front of the GTS 2e case is covered with 2.5D curved tempered glass with vacuum coating for anti-fingerprint. Now the GTS 2 uses a more advanced 3D curved surface on the tempered glass, with again a more advanced ODLC coating for scratch and wear resistance.

Turn the case over and you will notice that the GTS 2e has a matte bottom case while the GTS 2 has a high-gloss mirror bottom while both are still made from plastic.

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Perhaps the biggest difference between the two smartwatches is in the connectivity department. The GTS 2e lacks WiFi option and only relies on Bluetooth 5.0 BLE for data connection. This is probably where the GTS 2e saves the most in battery compared to GTS 2 with its 2.4GHz WiFi. Given that the watch does not support third party apps, there is no real need for WiFi connectivity.

But what it loses, it gains in the form of an extra temperature sensor. Both watches have a big list of health and movement sensors, which we will see in the next section. With the GTS 2e however, there is an extra contact based temperature sensor to measure the body temperature.

The GTS 2e also lacks onboard speaker. It comes with a microphone to support offline intelligent voice assistant but does not support taking incoming calls from a connected phone or music playback. This also means the watch does not support independent music playback.

Finally, the weight. While both watches weigh about the same without strap, the Amazfit GTS 2e is just a smidge heavier at 25 grams as opposed to 24.7 grams on the GTS 2.

What about the similarities

Now that we know where Amazfit were able to squeeze those extra days, nearly double the battery life with the GTS 2e, let’s look at what are the similarities between this and the GTS 2.

From the outlook, both watches look nearly identical apart from the colour options. Both cases have the same dimensions except for the GTS 2e which is again a smidge thicker 9.8mm vs 9.7mm. But that is really negligible. Under the glass is a 1.65-inch AMOLED display with 348 x 442 resolution and 341 PPI so no lack of sharpness and detail there.

The body of the watch is also 5ATm rated which means it can withstand being submerged underwater for up to 50 meters. Then there is the same 246mAh battery and magnetic charging stand. The latter takes 2 hours to charge with differing battery life as mentioned before.

What is foremost of everyone’s main are the sensors. Again, both watches share the same set of BioTracker 2 PPG blood-oxygen and biological data sensor. Both watches also share the same movement sensors, including acceleration, gyroscope, geomagnetic, ambient light and air pressure with the GTS 2e having an extra temperature sensor.

While we are on the subject of sensors, and this will appeal to runners is the onboard GPS + GLONASS support on both watches. These watches also come with an onboard microphone, with the GTS 2e, this is for offline voice assistant. All those sensors will feed data to the same Zepp App available for Android and iOS.

Amazfit GTR 2e

As for the Amazfit GTR 2e with a round dial, the cheaper cousin of the GTR 2 has an even more impressive battery life. On typical use, this can last up to more than 3 weeks (24 days). On basic use, you can expect up to 45 days. That’s a month and a half. See table below.

With up to 85% more battery life, what does the cheaper yet longer lasting per charge Amazfit GTR 2e lose out on. The quick answer is again, different colour options, only aluminum alloy case option available, different front glass design, different anti-fingerprint coating, different on the glass and the absence of WiFi (relying only on Bluetooth 5.0 BLE) and speaker. The latter means no support for taking calls and music playback. And just like the GTS 2e, the GTR 2e gained a temperature sensor and works with Zepp App with the same set of health and movement sensors as well as GPS + GLONASS for positioning.

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Final Thoughts

To sum it up, there is no real lost in the watches’ ability as a fitness smartwatch. In fact, it gained a temperature sensor. And, while it does not have Wi-Fi and onboard speaker, you will get notifications from connecting your phone via Bluetooth. If your priority from the watch is fitness tracking and long battery life, save yourself some money and pick up the GTS 2e or GTR 2e.

The GTS 2 and GTR 2 affordable fitness smartwatches from Amazfit are not only fashionable, they have all the fitness tracking features you will ever need with long battery life to boot so you do not have to worry about charging it everyday. It even comes with a water resistant case and choice of case and strap.

The two Fashion series smartwatches from Amazfit, the GTS 2 with a Square case and GTR 2 with a Round case, are some of the most affordable fitness smartwatches out there. These are available in the following sizes:

• Amazfit GTS 2: square case in midnight black, urban gray or desert gold
• Amazfit GTR 2: round case in obsidian black with classic stainless steel or sports black case

Note the letter S for Square and R for Round case in the two series. They can easily be overlooked.

Amazfit GTS 2 – Apple Watch-like square case smartwatch

If you like a rectangular watch face and case, similar to that of the Apple Watch then the Amazfit GTS 2 is for you. The second generation watch supports Amazon Alexa and like the new Apple Watch 6, it measures blood oxygen saturation levels, and monitors sleep quality. Also like the Apple Watch, it features 3D curved bezel-less display design with edge-to-edge glass and slim side profile.

The Fitness Smartwatch with Style

The case is made from aluminium alloy in brushed midnight black, urban gray or desert gold finish. The glass over the display is also coated with oDLC (diamond-like carbon) for better resistant to scratches and wear. Underneath that glass is a 1.65-inch AMOLED HD display with sharp 341ppi pixel density. Choose one of the watch faces to personalise the watch, including custom modular complications and matching always own clock face.

Where it differs is the protruding anchor points for the straps. While Apple prefers a slot fitting for its straps, the Amazfit GTS 2 has a more conventional strap anchor. The Amazfit also has a single crown or button protected by the case, see image below. The Apple Watch has a crown and a button.

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What are its onboard sensors

Now for the tracking features. The Amazfit GTS 2 comes with the latest Biotracker 2 PPG high-precision optical sensor. With the Amazfit GTS 2 you can get SpO2 measurement quickly to check on your blood oxygen saturation level. It also comes with an all-day heart rate monitor that checks your heart rate and provides warning when your resting heart rate is abnormally high. Then there is the PAI Health Assessment System that combines all your health data to give you a score called the PAI value to have an overall view of your health and fitness state. Next, the Sleep Quality Monitor to help you optimise your sleep, tracking your light sleep, deep sleep and REM times. It also offers information on sleep breathing conditions and offer suggestions. And finally, the stress monitor showing your level of stress from relaxed, normal, medium or high so you can react accordingly.

What about its fitness functions

As for fitness modes, use one of the 90 built-in sports modes to track your workout. Like the Apple Watch, it will also automatically recognise your working using Smart Recognition. The latter is restricted to only 6 sports modes; outdoor running, treadmill, walking, outdoor cycling, pool swimming and elliptical. Once you have completed your workout, you can pull up the analytical report on the mobile app. Use this to plan and improve your next workout.

What it is great at

Other useful features include 5 ATM waterproof case (up to 50 meters), onboard 3GB music storage and playback without a phone by connecting a pair of Bluetooth headphones or directly from the watch speaker and the ability to access key information quickly with a swipe to the right for shortcut cards or left for quick access to apps. Also when paired with a phone, you can answer calls directly on the watch. Now, depending on your personal preference, the screen can be rotated to 180 degrees, which means you can either have the crown on the right or left side of the watch. You can also set the alert duration and intensity for better haptic feedback.

Another feature that makes it a better choice over the Apple Watch 6 is its battery life. With typical use, the watch will last up to 7 days with its 246 mAh battery. That same battery can be pushed up to 20 days with basic usage.

What we felt could be better

Now for what it doesn’t do or wish it would do better. You won’t get a lot in way of apps and none that you can install like those on the Apple Watch. You will just have to make do with what is already onboard. These are enough for you to manage your events, messages, calls via Bluetooth, track your fitness, set alarms, stopwatch and timer as well as fitness goals. It will also give you the weather and remind you to stand up and move.

The screen is also not as bright as we would like it to be. Using it indoor is fine but when outside, you really have to work to see what is on the display. The watch is also lightweight which is good but easy to misconstrued for poor quality. Don’t get us wrong, the build quality is great, solid feel all around and the strap is comfortable to wear all day. You sometimes forget it is there thanks to its lightweight body. We also experience lag in changing between screens and apps, not so slow that you can’t use it but slow enough to be noticeable.

What about its companion app

As for the companion app, Zepp is the name. It is basically an optimised health data management point like Apple Health, Samsung Health and Huawei Health. The app is available for both Android and iOS devices. Having its own health dashboard lets you have access to everything that Amazfit GTS 2 tracks around the clock, 24/7 which includes exercise data and analysis, physical conditions (blood oxygen and hear rate), sleep quality and that PAI score.

Amazfit GTR 2: Where conventional round dial meets fitness smarts

Next, we have the Amazfit GTR 2, fitness smartwatch with a round dial as oppose to square on the Amazfit GTS 2. Its predecessor may have a more dressy look, available in two sizes, Amazfit GTR 42mm and Amazfit GTR 47mm in a range of colours and design to choose from, the new second generation falls back to a more subdued design. Available in sports edition with black silicone strap and black aluminium alloy case or black leather and stainless steel case, the GTR 2’s primarily targets the men.

The fitness smartwatch with a traditional look and style

Doing away with the chucky bezel, the Amazfit GTR 2 applies a 3D curved bezel-less design to give it that full dial look. The glass edge gradually transitions to its stainless steel body. Like the GTS 2 that glass is also coated with ODLC for resistant against scratches and standard wear. This gives it a conventional and more traditional round dial look. Underneath that glass is a big 1.39 inch AMOLED display with a sharp 326 ppi pixel density. Choose from over 50 watch faces to suit your style with over 40 matching always-on watch face designs. Together with the case, the watch is waterproof to 5ATM and weights 31.5 grams (sports) or 39 grams (classic). The former makes the watch swim proof with water resistance up to 50 meters. There are two buttons, these are parked at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock positions for easy access.

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Even better battery life, up to double compared to GTS 2

With a bigger round case, the watch is able to house an even bigger battery at 471 mAh capacity almost double the capacity when compared to the battery in the GTS 2. This allows it to last up to 14 days on typical use, double that of the standard 7 days with the GTS 2 and up to 38 days on basic use (GTS 2 managed 20 days only). On a heavy use you can expect 6.5 days while GTS 2 only managed 3.5 days

Now for the sensors

The GTS 2 has the same set apps and BioTracker 2 PPG biological data sensor suite with support for blood oxygen. The 24-hour heart rate monitor keeps your body activities in check, with heart rate zones and warnings when your resting heart rate is abnormally high. As for the blood oxygen sensor, this measures your SpO2 level when you trigger it using the OxygenBeats app. For a snapshot of your health and fitness state, use the PAI Health Assessment System. This offers a single overall score as a PAI or Personal Activity Intelligence number that combines your heart rate, activity duration, and other health data into an intuitive score. Other sensors include the Sleep Quality Monitor and Stress Level Monitor.

What is it like for sports and workout

As a fitness smartwatch, it is not short of workout modes, supporting some 90 different workouts out of the box with 6 smart recognition modes. The latter means it will automatically recognise and track the 6 different workout modes (outdoor running, treadmill, walking, outdoor cycling, pool swimming and elliptical).

What else does it do

The onboard 3GB storage lets you carry your favourite tracks with you so you can listen to them on your Bluetooth headphones during your workout and leave your phone safely at home. Use the watch to control the music playback, changing tracks and volume level. When pair with a phone via Bluetooth, the onboard microphone and speaker also lets you take incoming calls without reaching for your phone. Even without the phone or Internet connection, the watch supports some basic voice commands using Offline Voice Assistant such as turn on sports modes or open the heart rate monitor. Other customisable features include screen rotation, alert duration and intensity, and quick access to functions and apps with left and right swipes.

What is great and what could be better

The onboard GPS works great for running and outdoor trekking. Mostly, the sensors are quite accurate, including round-the-clock heart rate and sleep. While the watch dial is big, the case is slim and light, which is great to wear all day and much better for wearing to sleep at night as you can hardly notice that it is there. Having the option to load the watch with my favourite tunes means I have my playlist with me. Accepting calls on the watch is a breeze. And that battery life is super amazing, even with its bright AMOLED display. Apple Watch is nowhere near this.

What we wish it could do better. There is only one watch size, 47mm and no smaller case options like 40 or 42mm like in the first generation and only available in obsidian black. Again, more colour and design options with the first generation GTR. Great for those who like big watch faces and large dials, not so much for people with smaller wrists. It also does not support contactless payment so no NFC google or Apple Pay and while the companion Zepp app is fine, there are. Finally, apps are limited to those built-in shown below.

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a condition that occurs when your blood moves through your arteries at a higher pressure than the normal. There are many different things which can cause high blood pressure.

This includes smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, increased salt intake, high alcohol consumption, stress, old age, genetic factor, chronic kidney. In essence, anything that causes the contraction or the narrowing of your arteries is a contributing factor to high blood pressure.

It is possible to have high blood pressure for years without any symptoms which also means that damage to your blood vessels and heart continues undetected. When one has uncontrolled high blood pressure, we are at risk of serious health problems especially heart attack and stroke. Thus, it is very important to have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis.

Monitoring your blood pressure

While it used to be that blood pressure was something that could only be monitored with a visit to the doctor, these days with modern electronic blood pressure monitors, it is very easy to take your own blood pressure measurements at home.

Below is a table to interpret your blood pressure cut-off points according to the ACC/AHA Updated Guidelines.

High blood pressure gradually develops over the years and nearly affects everyone. Some people experience symptoms such as headaches, nosebleeds, or shortness of breath with high blood pressure. Usually, these symptoms only occur when your blood pressure has reached a dangerously high level over a period of time.

Quick guide to understanding your blood pressure reading

Blood pressure is recorded with two numbers the systolic pressure (higher number) is the force at which your heart pumps blood around your body. Then there is the diastolic pressure (lower number) denoting the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels.

Both readings are measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). A blood pressure reading between 120 / 80 mmHg and 140 / 90 mmHg could mean you’re at risk of developing high blood pressure if you don’t take steps to keep your blood pressure under control. Anything less than 120 / 80 mmHg is normal or healthy. See previous table.

High blood pressure monitors

High blood pressure monitors are now available to suit a range of budgets and while it may not be necessary for everyone to own one, it is often useful to have one in your home if you suffer from or have a family history of high blood pressure.

Typically measuring your blood pressure at home on a consistent and constant basis, allows you to track your own blood pressure readings. Most digital monitors come with a memory function that allows you to store up to 100 readings, which can help provide an insight in to long term monitoring.

When you monitor your blood pressure at home, it also allows you to see the effects of a new medication, getting more exercise, cutting back on alcohol, or improving your diet can have on your blood pressure·

Digital blood pressure monitor helps you and your healthcare provider to determine if your treatments are working or if it should be changed.

Top 8 Best Blood Pressure Monitors for Home Use

Omron is the most trusted and highly recommended brand when it comes to blood pressure monitor. It is clinically-accurate and stores readings in its onboard memory. They have the widest range from affordable to outright expensive. But more and more manufacturers are joining the market with their own offering. We include units from sinocare, CAZON and

1. OMRON M7 Intelli IT Blood Pressure Monitor with Bluetooth and Intelli Wrap Cuff – Best for Connectivity

• Type: Upper Arm
• Cuff Size: 22-42cm
• Users Supported: 2 users 200 readings (2×100)

Top on our list is the OMRON M7 Blood Pressure Monitor, a modern BP machine with Bluetooth connectivity. Download and install the companion Omron connect app on your mobile, pair with the BP monitor and it will automatically transfer your BP readings to your device. From there, you can track the measurements, history graphs and averages including sharing the readings with you physician.

Other useful features include pre-formed Intelli Wrap 360 Cuff that goes over your upper arm. Intelligent because it will know to signal you if the cuff is put on incorrectly for a more accurate reading. Apart from readings, it will detect irregular heartbeat and come with onboard memory enough to store up to 200 readings or 100 for each user.

2. OMRON X7 Smart with Bluetooth and Intelli Wrap Cuff – Best for AFib Detection & Dual screen

• Type: Upper Arm
• Cuff Size: 22-42cm
• Users Supported: 2 users 200 readings (2×100)

Another smart and connected home blood pressure monitor from OMRON is the OMRON X7. This newer machine shown below also comes with Bluetooth and App connectivity. The screen is bigger with enough room to show dual readings, the last reading taken and the current reading so you can quickly compare between the two.

Other features that it shares with the M7 includes Omron Intelli Wrap cuff, uploading of results to connected mobile device, 2 x 100 user readings, plus Atrial Fibrilation detection, a condition that may lead to embolism and stroke. When operating in AFib mode, it takes three measurements and calculates the average.

Omron is the most trusted and highly recommended brand when it comes to blood pressure monitor. It is clinically-accurate and stores readings in memory for up to 200 readings and unlimited using a connected unit with the Omron connect free app.

ALSO: OMROM X4 Smart, just like the X7 minus the AFib detection triple measurement and dual screen. Also comes with smaller memory capacity at 2 x 60 readings.

3. Lovia Blood Pressure Monitor Upper Arm – Best for Back-lit & Large Display

• Type: Upper Arm
• Cuff Size: 22-40cm
• Users Supported: 2 users 240 memory (2 x 120)

This budget Blood Pressure Monitor is an automatic upper arm BP machine with big back-lit digital display, large cuff size and plenty of memory for two users. The digital display measures 3.2-inch diagonally and shows blood pressure, pulse rate, the selected user as well as the time and date clearly. The unit is powered by 4 AAA batteries but can also be powered by USB adapter.

What it does not have is the traffic light system that tells you at a glance if your BP is normal, high or too high. If you have used one of these before, you are likely to know your normal range, otherwise look at the table above or consult your doctor. However, it will pick up irregular heart rate and show this on the screen. With a simple one button operation, it takes just half a minute to get a reading, be sure to select the correct user (A or B) and place the cuff and arm position according to the diagram. Lastly, use the memory function to check back on previously stored data to see if there are any significant changes over time.

4. Sinocare Blood Pressure Monitor – Best for Voice Function & Tri-Colour Display

• Type: Upper Arm
• Cuff Size: 24-34cm
• Users Supported: 2 x 90 (180) readings in memory
• Back light: Tri-colour changes to result (blue, orange, pink)

This Sinocare BP Monitor can help you track your health easily with enough memory to track up to 2 users. It can store up to 90 readings with date & time stamps for each user for a total of 180 readings in memory so you can check back and how you did previously. Apart from taking blood pressure and heart rate reading, it also has the ability to trace irregular heartbeat.

As for the display, it now comes equipped with a 3-Color LCD display with back light. The colour changes according to reading. Blue for normal, orange for higher than normal and pink for too high. On top of that, it also comes with voice function which can be enabled or disable. It offers instruction and readings at the end for user convenience.

5. A&D Medical Connected Blood Pressure Monitor – Best for AFib Detection and Connectivity

• Type: Upper Arm
• Cuff Size: 22-32cm (medium). Optional large 32-45cm cuff also available
• Users Supported: Unlimited via A&D Connect App

Get your hands on a clinically validated and accurate arm blood pressure monitor that has an easy-to-read screen with large start button and 5 years warranty included. The screen may be on the small side but the digits on the display is sufficiently big. It also has a wireless Bluetooth feature that transfers and save measurements on to your mobile devices so you can access your data anywhere. You don’t have to keep a diary or logbook. It can also be sent directly to your physician to monitor your blood pressure. To start your digital log, download and install the free A&D Connect App, pair with the unit and sync away.

What makes this an ideal go to BP machine is the ability to detect irregular heart beat. Also known as Atrial Fibrillation, it can pick up 15% less or 15% more than the average rhythm while it measures the systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The company obtained clinical validation for both blood pressure and atrial fibrillation screening technology, making it a suitable device for home use.

6. Sanitas SBM 03 Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor – Best for Compact Size & Portability

• Type: Wrist Type
• Cuff Size: NA
• Users Supported: 1

Sanitas has a range of wrist based blood pressure monitor. The SBM03 is the affordable option. Other units from Sanitas such as the SBC15, SBC22, SBC41 or even the SBC53 with Bluetooth connectivity are equally popular. This fully automatic blood pressure and pulse monitor takes its readings straight from the wrist and displays this on a moderate sized display. For larger display, choose SBC41.

What we like about the Sanitas, apart from the face that it is much smaller and is an all-in-one unit, no arm cuffs, tubes or cluncky base unit is the fact that it comes with a coloured scale to instantly show you where your readings lie. This be it in the green zone for normal, yellow for high and amber and red for really high. Most people will choose an upper arm PB machine over the wrist type but if you need a compact and portable unit for travel, you cannot go wrong with a wrist type. It also comes with onboard memory function which aids in keeping track of the time and activity for when one is prone to have a problem. Overall, an affordalbe and compact unit with a hard carry case for safe storage.

7. CAZON Blood Pressure Monitor Upper Arm

• Type: Upper Arm
• Cuff Size: 22-32cm (medium)
• Users Supported: 2 user mode, 99 per user, 198 total memory

This upper arm blood pressure monitor boast an accuracy of ±3 mmHg / ±0.4 kPa (blood pressure) and ±5%( pulse rate). The CAZON comes with a medium size cuff measuring 22 to 32 cm and can support up to 2 users each with 99 memory slots for a 198 readings. Large LCD display offers quick reading, simple soft touch buttons makes it easy to use and traffic light system based on WHO colour scheme shows the state of your blood pressure. Green for optimal or normal, yellow for slightly high and red for moderate or severely high. The display also shows the time at which the reading is taken. However, it does not come with backlit which can be a bummer especially when trying to read the measurements in dimly lit room.

8. OMRON X3 Comfort Blood Pressure Monitor – Best for Pre-Formed Cuff

• Type: Upper Arm
• Cuff Size: 22-42cm (large)
• Users Supported: 2 users, 60 per users, 120 total readings in memory

The new entry level blood pressure monitor is not as cheap as the CAZON and LOVIA above. Still, this and the M3 below are probably the best-selling OMRON models out there, thanks to its more affordable prices compared to the X4 or X7. It comes with the signature Intelli Wrap Cuff that measures 22-42cm enough to cover a wide range of users. The pre-formed upper arm cuff helps with placement so you can get a more accurate measurement.

The OMRON X3 Comfort is relatively small but comes with everything you need from a blood pressure monitor. It will take your blood pressure, your pulse and even detect irregular heartbeat. If your blood pressure is higher than normal, to avoid risk of hypertension. Lastly, the unit can support up to 2 users, storing up to 60 blood pressure readings per user.

Also: OMROM M3 Blood Pressure Monitor

The previous generation OMRON M3 is still in the market. The unit has all the functions of the new OMRON X3 but does not come with the Intelli Wrap cuff. It does have a bar graph indicator on the display to quickly show the state of your blood pressure. Otherwise, apart from the buttons, colour of the case and some cosmetic differences between the two, these are virtually the same base unit with OMRON’s Intellisense technology. The supplied easy cuff measures 22-42cm.

Final Thoughts

There are some important considerations for when you use a high blood pressure monitor at home. Here is a quick list that you can use as a guide:

Rest: Before taking your blood pressure measurement, make sure that you are rested for at least 5 to 10 minutes. Also, avoid drinking caffeine, exercising, or smoking at least 30 minutes before as these can affect your readings.

Keep a good posture: Make sure to sit with your back straight and lean against the back of the chair for support. Be sure that you have read your blood pressure monitor manual for further instructions.

Check regularly: It is important to take your blood pressure at the same time every day for more accurate results.

Keep track of your record: It is recommended to check your blood pressure at least twice daily – once first thing in the morning and once right before bed. Bring your records with you to your next appointment.

If you follow these simple steps, you’ll be able to understand more about your blood pressure and how your heart works. Also, always remember that even if your results are in a normal range when at home monitoring, it is important not to stop your medication. Be sure to always consult your doctor before making any changes to your medication.

Monitor your blood pressure along with your pulse rate with these automatic, easy-to-use one-button function BP machines with either the upper arm cuff or wrist band. Most BP machines have an advance hypertension indicator color codes which are green (normal), orange (prehypertension) and red (hypertension).

They can also detect irregular heart rate, a precursor to Atrial Fibrillation or arrhythmia based on the average of three past 3 measurements. As these are battery operated, come with its own carry case and are small enough to pack in the bag, these are portable and compact therefore can go anywhere with you.

Want the convenience of tracking and monitoring your blood pressure on your phone in a user-friendly app? You need a smart blood pressure monitor. These BP machines can pair and send measurements to its companion app on your smartphone via Bluetooth or to the cloud via WiFi.

Modern Smart Blood Pressure Monitors: What to look for

While it can still store the measurements locally, it goes one step further by allowing you to upload and synchronise the BP and heart rate readings onto a connected smartphone or straight to the cloud. Some of these BP machines go even further with triple measurements, Atrial Fibrillation detection and Valvular Heart Diseases (VHD) detection. Here are the features to look for in your smart blood pressure monitor:

• Easy to read large display on main unit for home use
• Ultra compact all-in-one portable design for travel use
• Quick diagnosis with traffic light system indicator for normal, high or too high BP
• Intelligent upper arm cuff with error detection for better reading
• Connects and synchronises the data with connected smartphone or cloud
• Uses Bluetooth and/or WiFi technology to upload data
• Friendly and easy to use free companion app for iOS or Android
• Captures live reading and charts this on a graph to show historical data on app
• Supports more than one user with unlimited data storage on app or cloud
• Onboard memory stores readings for when a device is not available
• Long battery life up to one year even with frequent use

Advanced Features

Going beyond just blood pressure and heart rate, more advanced blood pressure monitors come with sensors to detect frequent cardiovascular diseases. These BP machines have the following features on top of those mentioned above:

• Triple measurements for average and more accurate reading
• Atrial Fibrillation detection with Electro Cardiogram (ECG)
• Valvular Heart Diseases (VHD) with digital stethoscope

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) and Valvular Heart Diseases (VHD) are two major heart diseases, left undiagnosed can lead to hypertension and stroke. AFib is the most common form of arrhythmia that can result in heart failure, fatigue, shortness of breath and stroke. While VHD relates to defect of heart valves requiring surgical intervention to stop heart failure.

Top 8+1 Best Smart & Connected Blood Pressure Monitors

1. Omron M7 Blood Pressure Monitor with Bluetooth
2. Omron X7 Smart Home Blood Pressure Monitor with AFib Detection and Bluetooth
3. Braun ExactFit 5 Connect Smart Blood Pressure Monitor with Bluetooth and 2 Cuff Sizes
4. Omron EVOLV Smart Home Blood Pressure Monitor with Bluetooth
5. Withings BPM Connect Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
6. Omron X4 Smart Home Blood Pressure Monitor with Bluetooth 
7. Withings BPM Core with ECG and Digital Stethoscope, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
8. QardioArm Smart Blood Pressure Monitor with Bluetooth

BONUS: Braun iCheck 7 Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor with Bluetooth

1. Omron M7 Intelli IT Blood Pressure Monitor – Best for Reliability

• Cuff Size: 22-42cm
• Users Supported: 2 users 200 readings (2×100)

Top on our list is the OMRON M7 Blood Pressure Monitor, a modern BP machine with Bluetooth connectivity. Download and install the companion Omron connect app on your mobile, pair with the BP monitor and it will automatically transfer your BP readings to your device. From there, you can track the measurements, history graphs and averages including sharing the readings with your physician. While it does not show in the image above, there is a tube between the upper arm cuff and main unit.

Other useful features include pre-formed Intelli Wrap 360 Cuff that goes over your upper arm. Intelligent because it will know to signal you if the cuff is put on incorrectly for a more accurate reading. Apart from readings, it will detect irregular heartbeat and come with onboard memory enough to store up to 200 readings or 100 for each user.

2. OMRON X7 Smart with Bluetooth and Intelli Wrap Cuff – Best for AFib detection & Dual screen

• Cuff Size: 22-42cm
• Users Supported: 2 users 200 readings (2×100)

Another smart and connected home blood pressure monitor from OMRON, this time from the X series, the OMRON X7. This newer machine shown below also comes with Bluetooth and App connectivity. The screen is bigger with enough room to show dual readings, the last reading taken and the current reading so you can quickly compare between the two.

Other features that it shares with the M7 includes Omron Intelli Wrap cuff, uploading of results to connected mobile device, 2 x 100 user readings. But what makes this different from the M7 is the Atrial Fibrillation detection feature. AFib is a condition that may lead to embolism and stroke. When operating in AFib mode, it takes three measurements and calculates the average for better accuracy. In case you are wondering, there is a tube between the cuff and main unit.

3. Braun ExactFit 5 Connect Smart Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor – Best for His and Hers Cuffs

• Cuff Size: S/M (22-32cm) L/XL (32-42cm)
• Users supported: 2 x 60 (120 readings)

Braun ExacFit 5 comes with two cuffs instead of one, a small to medium cuff measuring 22 to 32 cm and a large to extra large cuff measuring 32 to 42 cm. For most household, this would be ‘his’ and ‘her’s. One for each user supported on the device. Just remember to set User A or User B before taking your reading. The main unit has a retro feel to it but modern just the same with Bluetooth and app connectivity. It can even pick up irregular heartbeat.

Grab the Braun Healthy Heart app for iOS or Android and start synchronising your BP data. Access charts, calendar view and averages in a colourful interface and easy-to-understand charts. The app also lets you input sleep, exercises, nutrition, stress and medication records for a full lifestyle summary and how this impacts your blood pressure. Last but not least, you can export the data and share this via email with your doctor.

Summary: 2 Cuff Sizes, Bluetooth Connectivity, Retro Design with near upright display

4. Omron EVOLV Smart Home Blood Pressure Monitor – Best for Ultra Compact & Ease of Use, All-in-One Design

• Cuff Size: 22-42cm
• Users Supported: 1

Now for something more 21st century. This sleek looking Omron EVOLV blood pressure monitor comes in a compact black curved chassis with easy-to-read white OLED display and integrated Intelli Wrap upper arm cuff. Even the Withings BPMs do not look as sleek and as user friendly as this. Its all-in-one design means no trailing tubes and clunky display unit, just one button operation.

Clinically validated, it is even suitable for use by pregnant women. Apart from the readings being displayed right there on the unit itself, use the OMRON connect app to download and track your health metrics via Bluetooth. This allows you to monitor your progress over time with access to historical data. Should you not have your smartphone handy, it will still store the last 100 readings using the onboard memory. Best of all it weighs only 240 grams.

Summary: All in one, wireless blood pressure machine with Bluetooth pairing capabilities; smartphone compatible

5. Withings BPM Connect – Best for Compact Design

A much improved blood pressure monitor from Withings, the Withings BPM Connect comes with an electric arm blood pressure monitor built into the strap. The unit can be rolled up into a compact size for ease of storage during travels. It also has a really cool colour coded LED display built into the body of the unit to show blood pressure and heart rate readings without needing a phone.

In order to make the most of this connected BPM, use WiFi and Bluetooth to synchronise the reading to the Health Mate app. The app also works with Apple Health. Withings offer unlimited data storage for all your historical data in the cloud. From there you can share the data via email with your health care provider. As for battery life, it lasts up to 6 months on a full charge so you never have to worry about charging it for a while.

Summary: Wi-Fi Smart Blood Pressure Monitor: Medically Accurate, FSA/HSA Eligible, Connects Easily to app for iOS & Android

6. Omron X4 Smart Home Blood Pressure Monitor with Bluetooth

• Cuff Size: 22-42cm
• Users Supported: 2 users 120 readings (2×60)

A smaller version of the OMRON X7 Smart above, the X4 Smart comes with a standard screen showing the current reading only. It may not have AFib detection or triple measurement but stands shoulder to shoulder with most standard BP machines on our list here. It comes with enough memory capacity for up to 120 readings for two users, that’s 2 x 60 readings. Other features that it shares with the X7 Smart include Intelli Wrap Cuff, automatic data updates to paired smartphone and works with Alexa.

7. Withings BPM Core with ECG and Digital Stethoscope – MOST COMPLETE

A higher model than the BPM Connect above, the BPM Core from Withings come with two additional features, Atrial Fibrilation detection via Electrocardiogram ECG and Valvular Heart Diseases VHD risk detection via digital stethoscope apart from the standard blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) and hard rate monitor. Other features that it shares with BPM Connect includes on device result with colour coded LED display, unlimited data storage on the free Health Mate app, automatic Bluetooth and WiFi synchronisation and support up to 8 devices (users). Even though the device is more compact in its cylindrical body and has more sensors, it still manages up to 6 months batter life on a full charge.

Summary: Electric Arm Blood Pressure Monitor with ECG and Digital Stethoscope, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

8. QardioArm Smart Blood Pressure Monitor

• Cuff Size: 22-37cm

A brick-like blood monitor with soft strap that goes over your upper arm, the QardioArm Smart Blood Pressure Monitor does not come with a display so it relies on the free Qardio App. Download and install the app, pair via Bluetooth and start taking your BP and pulse readings. The same data can also be shared with Apple Health, Apple Watch Samsung Health and Google Fit.

The BP machine takes triple measurements and presents an average, detects irregular heart beat and presents the readings in charts and graphs. Also from the app are help with relaxation, result interpretation, reminders, friends and family notifications data sharing with doctors. The one thing we like about QardioArm is that it can be paired with up to 8 different devices, so everyone in the family can use this and the batteries (4xAAA) last for up to one year even with frequent use.

Summary: Wireless, Medically Accurate, Easy to Use, Compact Digital Upper Arm Cuff. Free App for iOS, Android, Kindle, Apple Watch.

BONUS: Braun iCheck 7 Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor

Last but not least, the Braun iCheck 7 Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor. While all the BP machines we have seen so far are based on upper arm cuffs, this compact all-in-one unit takes blood pressure from the wrist. So, no wires or tubes, just strap it on the wrist and align for reading. It is fast and easy to use with readings displayed directly on the unit.

To take a reading, strap the device on using its fabric cuff and raise your arm so that it is around the same height as your heart or chest. Follow the on-screen display, move your arm until the ball indicator sits in the ring for the correct position.

Once in position, stay still momentarily and it will start taking the reading and displays it on the colour coded screen. Use the Braun Healthy Heart app to sync and collate your data via Bluetooth as well as access trend charts and averages.