The OnePlus Band health tracker

The timing of OnePlus Band’s launch was well-judged — simply 10 days into January. It’s that point of the 12 months when resolutions, particularly fitness-related ones, blossom. It had been over three months since Xiaomi launched Mi Good Band 5, which, like OnePlus Band, falls underneath the ₹2500-₹3000 value vary. There have been no main releases in between. And, OnePlus, particularly in India, are extremely regarded for his or her smartphones.

The band was OnePlus’ first wearable machine. And, going by their lofty requirements, it was a barely disappointing début.

OnePlus discuss lots about their merchandise’ aesthetics. Most of them, are, certainly elegant. The ribbed black and gray strap (additionally accessible in orange-grey and Navy blue colors) and the rounded rectangular show had been pleasing at first sight.

As with most health bands, there aren’t any bodily buttons for navigation. You possibly can faucet and swipe on the 1.1-inch AMOLED show. The show additionally comes alive while you twist the wrist in the direction of your face. You possibly can activate/off the display screen by overlaying and uncovering the display screen along with your palm — this, nevertheless, didn’t work on a regular basis. I additionally wished for extra consumer interfaces with numbers of energy burnt, steps coated, etcetera.

In any other case, there may be not a lot to complain concerning the machine per se. It gives to trace 13 totally different actions, together with cricket and badminton (clearly aimed on the Indian market). Other than steps and distance, it additionally measures your coronary heart charge, sleep and SpO2 (oxygen saturation stage). There may be additionally a characteristic for deep-breathing prompts. In contrast to most different health trackers in its value vary, the machine makes use of purple and inexperienced flashing LED lights for measurements.

My downside was with the accuracy of the measurements and the OnePlus Well being app, which wants refinement.

I examined the band on two of the 13 exercises it gives to trace: outside run and free coaching. With out the GPS sign from the cellphone, a 10-kilometre run comprised 10,000-plus steps and was accomplished in simply over an hour. Based on the app, I burnt about 560 kilocalories through the train. With the GPS, the identical distance had over 12,000 steps, took 10 extra minutes and helped me burn 670 kilocalories. Within the free coaching mode, the machine stopped monitoring at random intervals.

The sleep tracker is tougher to evaluate, however the quantity of sleep is sort of right. You get a breakdown of your sleeping sample as nicely — the length of deep sleep, gentle sleep and being awake. It’s robust to check this. I seen, nevertheless, the tracker lacking no less than a few instances I wakened in the course of the night time to get a glass of water. Sleep interruptions confirmed zero.

Nonetheless forward

The band requires the OnePlus Well being app, suitable with solely Android telephones with Android 6.0 Marshmallow and up, to operate. Minimalism has been a trademark of OnePlus design. However the interface seems to be unfinished — like a constructing that has not been painted. My primary grouse with the app, shared by customers on Google Play and OnePlus discussion board, is you can not sync it with Google Match and different well being apps, like HealthifyMe.

The battery, if you happen to swap on all of the options, lasts for about 9 to 10 days. In contrast to the Mi Band 5, which comes with a magnetic charger, it’s essential take away the tracker from its strap and repair it to the charger. As OnePlus Band got here after the Mi Band 5, one anticipated it to have extra options. The Mi band, as an example, had unique options for ladies like a interval tracker, which had been lacking in OnePlus Band. One hopes the second iteration of the Band is a much-improved one.