Our world is one that changes every second and advances in the forward direction without so much as a single breath puffed. Who would have thought that soon we would be able to make calls, pay for purchased items, and keep updated on our favorite social networking sites using- the watch on your wrist. The simple strap on your wrist, which for long has only served to tell the time of the day (sometimes even the month and the year, if its daring), has now become a part of the elaborate network that connects us and our digital activities. They even allow us to monitor our sleep patterns now and will soon be able to diagnosis sleep problems such as sleep apnea
Smartwatches have gained quite some traction in a recent couple of years and are gradually becoming a common sight on almost every other person’s wrist, a large cause of it being the feasibility and convenience that having an all-in-one gadget strapped to your wrist.
But with so many options now available in the market, it becomes a bit difficult to decide which one you should get for yourself. To help you out, here are the top 5 smartwatches currently or soon to be available in the market, that you should keep an eye out for:
1. FITBIT VERSA
Fitbits Newest Smartwatch the Versa
Positives
Fitbits newest entry to the Smartwatch wars is the VERSA. It has a sleek look and fits snuggly on the wrist. It is a simpler, and GPS free, as well as less expensive watch. It looks nicer then the IONIC. The Versa also has an industry leading four days of battery life on one charge which is a true thumb in the eye of Apple. This $200 smartwatch is surely going to appeal to a much larger audience then the IONIC as well. Phone call notifications are a good deal more fluid on the VERSA. It shows calendar notifications as well. The physical shape of the VERSA has pleasing rounded edges and a touchscreen display that slopes into its anodized aluminum casing. Some say it looks a lot like the Apple watch from afar. One of the top features of the VERSA is how light it is and just how flat it does lie against the wrist. It measures steps, stairs climbed, calories burned, sleep, distance traveled throughout the day, heart rate, resting heart rate and cardio score via approximation of VO2 max which is based on cardio exercise data as well as specific exercises. It has a extra feature called the Fibit Coach that provides some complimentary exercise guides but costs $7.99 more per month for the next level of workouts to be unlocked. Also the VERSA, as well as the IONIC, now let female wearers track their menstrual cycles.
Negatives
The Versa band seems to be a bit unnecessarily complicated however it does not detract from its utility. It is missing the GPS feature that the IONIC incorporates. The basic, $200 Versa does not have NFC in the US. That means you can not pay for things with it, the way you can with the IONIC. A special edition Versa is available but for an additional $30.
2 Fitbit IONIC
After the release of the much anticipated FitBit Blaze, FitBit has release another purely sports oriented smartwatch called IONIC.
Fitbit IONICPositivesIn a, to the point, straightforward interface for sports related activities. It is understandable that the IONIC offers accurate heart tracking through the PurePulse heart rate monitor, steps taken, calories burned and many other workout related stats. It is also has what all the new good smartwatches have that is it’s waterproof and equipped with GPS, unlike Blaze. Another great positive is that the strap can be removed from the device and replaced. It also has the ability to make payments and monitor your sleep patterns. It also has on board music through the Pandora music app, and also top on the positives list is that it has a 4 day battery life. All of this in an attractive package. An on device Fitness coach is the unexpected something extra as well as the 2nd party develeper apps that add to the product’s attractiveness.
NegativesIt is, although understandably so, quite a bit more expensive than the Fitbit Blaze. History has also seen the Fitbit software or interface struggles to keep up with the sear number of second party app other devices offer.
3. APPLE WATCH SERIES 3
Apple has always been a forerunner when it comes to many of the recently developing tech, including smartwatches. The latest addition to the list is the Apple Watch 3, and it has easily become our third to the top pick for the best smartwatch out there right now.
Apple Watch Series 3PositivesThe waterproof feature is a real plus, which makes it extra safe. It is one of the ore stylish watches currently in the market. Apple Pay works smoothly and allows you to make payments through your smartwatch. Fully compatible with the iPhone. Has the ability to function as a stand alone Cell phone
NegativesThe LTE Cellphone version has a limited battery capacity that only lasts around two hours, and it does not support the next generation LTE network like T-mobile’s which is already available. Akin to other Apple devices, it is extremely expensive, ranging in the 300s. Another downside is that it is only compatible with the iPhone and does not connect to Android or other devices.
4. SAMSUNG GEAR S3
What if you are not an iPhone user- which smartwatch should you get for your Samsung? The Samsung Gear S3 is undoubtedly the best smartwatch for Samsung users, with its stylish leather polished finish.
Samsung GearPositivesAvailable in two designs which are essentially the same- a fitness and a classic one. It’s rough and tough exterior makes it perfect for outdoor activities or even formal occasions. Has the Samsung Pay as opposed to Apple Pay and works just as efficiently. It also has GPS and is water resistant for ultra protection.
NegativesFor some, the Gear S3 might just be a bit too masculine and bulky. It is by no means a light watch after all. Despite a very intuitive interface, it has a lack of the diversity and amount of apps.
5. APPLE WATCH SERIES 1
While the second version of Apple’s attempt at smartwatches ranks first on our list, the Series 1 Apple Watch is still a force to be reckoned with.
Apple Watch Series 1PositivesIt is cheaper than Series 2 but possesses many of the same features. The size of the dial is decent- not too small neither oversized. An easy to use interface that is quite straightforward.
NegativesThe battery life can be improved. The Series 2 is a great improvement when it comes to down to the looks of the watch. Despite being quite straightforward, it takes a bit of time to get used to it.
6. LG WATCH STYLE OR SPORT
Android Wear is set to release a line of beautiful and efficient smartwatches by the name of LG Watch Style or LG Watch Sport by this spring season.
LG smartwatch sport and stylePositivesThe optional LTE function allows several stand alone features to be showcased in the watch including the ability to make calls. Contains GPS to track your workouts and Android Pay to facilitate payment for purchases through your smartwatch. The LG Watch Style is arguably one of the best looking smartwatches out there.
NegativesCompared to the LG Watch Style, the Sport version can prove to be quite heavy and bulky on the wrist. In case that you opt for LTE, the price of the watch shoots quite high, ranging amongst the 500s. The battery life can prove to be rather disappointing for all its high tech features.
Utilizing a HR Monitor with an OLED based screen, Fitbit will gauge how well you rest. Will the subsequent information help you get more out of your sleep?
Alta 2 with HR
In case you’re falling asleep while attempting to peruse this blog entry, it may not be a direct result of my written work. You might not have had enough rest—either the general span or the correct blend of light, deep, and REM (fast eye development) rest. Loads of fitness-wellness trackers measure the length of sleep and times of fretful rest, utilizing accelerometers to keep track of motion. Presently Fitbit says it can separate rest by stage utilizing the optical heart rate screening in some of its fitness-wellness products to gauge slight vacillations. The ability, called Sleep Stages, makes a big appearance in Fitbit’s thin new Alta HR band (accessible in April, beginning at $150) and through a software product download refresh for its present Blaze and Charge 2 trackers.
“Fitbit was an approach to truly address an expansive market desire,” to paraphrase the organization’s executive head of research. A business visionary and previous teacher at University College Dublin, Heneghan joined Fitbit two years prior with the objective of bringing a portion of the capacities of a Sleep lab to a commercial gadget that individuals could wear constantly, not only during being wired up for study.
The Alta HR is an unpretentious move up from the first Alta (presented in 2016) which includes persistent heart-rate recording—the most-asked for ability, as indicated by Fitbit. The optical sensor lays flush on the underside of the band, not at all like the obvious structure under the bigger Charge 2, which once in a while would make a slight imprint into my wrist. I got the chance to wear the new Alta HR for only a couple of minutes, however it felt far less likely to do that.
The new band comes in 10 styles running from plain black to 22-karat rose gold. Four hues are accessible in the floppy, sectioned elastomer groups. I found the calfskin straps, in three different hues for $60 additional, more agreeable. The top Alta HR product costs $250 and is mounted in a stainless-steel wristband. (Straps are exchangeable, so you can simply get new ones.)
Lazy Body (Inactivity) Tracker
With the Alta HR, Fitbit is increasing the utility of heart-rate tracking to incorporate modern sleep monitoring. Fitbit isn’t the primary organization to guarantee the capacity to recognize sleep stages. Intel’s currently dead Basis product utilized an optical heart-rate tracker in its Basis Peak product in 2014 to accomplish something comparable. Jawbone started recognizing sleep ranges in 2015 with skin sensors in its Up3 band that measure components including heart rate, breath rate, and body temperature.
One of my contacts who happens to be a teacher of sleep studies at the University of Oxford (who isn’t associated with Fitbit), hasn’t been inspired with any of these endeavors. “In short I haven’t seen a wearable that precisely measures the various sleep phases of rest”.
Fitbit Charge 2 Is The Best Rated Tracker
Notwithstanding what preceded, Fitbit’s entrance into sleep stage monitoring could bigly affect bringing issues coming to light. Fitbit is the Kleenex of wellness trackers, the prevailing brand with more than 20% of the pie among every single wearable gadget, as indicated by IDC. It’s presenting sleep stage monitoring not only to new but existing products as well, including its greatest offering, and current market favorite, the Charge 2. It is at the top of more than a few analysts’ listings of best fitness-wellness trackers.
Charge 2 is virtually water proof
Fitbit is likewise bringing another element, called Sleep Insights, to every one of the seven of its gadgets that track the span of sleep. Bits of knowledge are basic tips and these are the Insights, it originates from the information individuals’ gadgets gather, to help them show signs of improved rest. A description, given by Fitbit:
There is by all accounts a solid relationship between your rest and your runs. The last 10 weeknight logs demonstrate that you had 20 mins more serene rest on days you ran versus days you didn’t run.
With Stages and Insights, Fitbit is putting forth the defense that wellness depends not simply on being dynamic, but rather on unwinding as well. “We’re starting to comprehend that rest is as imperative to wellbeing as eating regimen and working out,” say the sleep researchers. “These sleep monitoring innovations are assuming a part in inspiring individuals to comprehend that.”
Better late than never. More than 33% of Americans don’t get enough rest, as per U.S. government reports, and the subsequent tiredness trims $411 billion worth of efficiency off the U.S. economy productivity annually, as indicated by research by the Rand Corporation. (It’s not simply America: Japan loses $138 billion because of drowsiness.) The rundown of conceivable illnesses brought on by poor rest is long and disturbing, including hypertension, diabetes, despondency, obesity, and cancer. We are robing time from sleep as well as from our very life span.
Alta HR version 2
The Root of Sleep
Can Fitbit’s new innovation truly judge sleep stages precisely and give enough knowledge to help clients get more solid? Sleep science specialists from the University of Arizona, Johns Hopkins University, and Stanford University helped in the design to insure the efficacy of Sleep Stages, and Heneghan has a decent reputation in the field. In any case, they won’t present the results of their examination until the SLEEP 2017 gathering in Boston in June. “Indeed, even where organizations attempt to get the edge on their rivals by releasing studies they have backed, the vast majority of these reviews don’t get distributed in any professional journal since they are not of sufficient scientific quality, and are rejected.
The refreshed Fitbit application for Android, iOS, and Windows—which Fitbit says will be released in the spring—wasn’t available for me in time for this review. With neither released data nor word of mouth, I could inquire as to whether a fitness-wellness trackers optical heart-rate recorder, with assistance from its accelerometer, would be sufficient to recognize sleep stages precisely and was told that on a fundamental level it would.
The customary approach to quantify rest stages would include an excursion to a sleep lab and wiring the patient up to various fun gadgets, most assuredly an electroencephalogram (EEG). Alertness and the diverse phases of sleep, and phasing between them all, have unmistakable brainwave patterns that the EEG can gauge. For example, the move from light to profoundly deep restful sleep is called N3 and is set apart by the presence of high-voltage, low-cycle delta brainwaves. More up to date data demonstrates that cardiovascular changes give comparative clues. Profound deep and restful sleep is additionally set apart by slow heart rate and blood pressure, for example. A 2013 paper by scientists in Austria, Brazil, and the Czech Republic pulls together reviews in the field to demonstrate these parallels between brainwaves and cardiovascular signs.
It’s conceivable that rest can be analyzed utilizing heart rate fluctuation, says the experts. Rest includes interaction of control by the body’s sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic sensory systems. What’s more, the part for each shifts with sleep-stage. This interchange additionally influences heart-rate fluctuation. “It bodes well from those points of view,” the experts say. “The main clear concern is, you need to demonstrate it on a factual basis.”
Fitbit’s Heneghan says that the organization has done that. Fitbit did two years of innovative work on Sleep Stages. It recorded individuals resting and in sleep for many multitudes of evenings equipped with both Fitbit’s heart-rate sensor and clinical sleep lab gadgets like EEGs and gear that measure blood oxygen levels, muscle movement, and heart rate. Fitbit utilized machine learning innovation to recognize designs in heart-rate inconstancy (HRV) from the sensor that compare to changes in sleep-stage as measured by the full suite of sleep lab gadgets.
Sleep-Stages depends on the inconstancy of heart rate: how consistent it is after some time period. Outlined for somebody with a normal resting heart rate of 60 bpm. In profoundly deep restful sleep, you’re possibly going to see (+ or -) 4 beats-per-minute variety over a couple of minutes, so it’s more or less steady. At the point when an individual is in la-la land or REM rest, you’re going to see a great deal more variation, more like (+ or -) 10 or 15 bpm.
Charge 2 is Software up-gradable with new Sleep Insights
There is some proof in the writing this might be done with the experimental method. Be that as it may, it’s not an established technique, and it’s not a substitute for measuring in a clinical lab. Anyway Fitbit doesn’t say that Sleep Stages matches what a lab can do.
Periods of Nodding Off
Rest is about more than amount. An individual doesn’t require only seven or eight hours of sleep, however the correct blend of types of sleep. Profoundly deep and restful Sleep called stage N3, advances the immune system and muscle development, for example; and ought to make up 10-25 percent of bed time. REM sleeping helps recollections or memories frame and ought to be associated with 20-25 of bed time.
With gadgets that bolster Sleep Stages, the refreshed Fitbit app will demonstrate a breakdown of the distinctive types of sleeping: how they are presented throughout the night, the aggregate sum of each of them, and how those sums contrast with midpoints among individuals of a similar age and sexual orientation.
Fitbit indicates it will present this information in a handy way by making it specifically for each user in a custom Sleep Insights data package. Things such as:
You are sleeping an average of 6 hours this weekday and it is quite a bit less than your weekend sleep duration of 8 hours and 5 minutes. That difference could be a signal that you are not getting enough sleep during the week.
Charge 2 with Accessories
All in all it’s got to be very helpful to entice people to think more and be more concerned about their sleep habits because it is such an important part of maintaining a healthy life style.
