Hi, in this review we will be looking at the Withings Pulse O2 Fitness Tracker. We will be looking at the features of this product. We will also discuss the way these features can benefit you in obtaining you lifelong fitness goals. In this review you will also discover what the shortcomings of this unit may be based on what current users have to say.
Overview
The Withings Pulse O2 is one of growing number of fitness and activity wristbands available today. The Fitness Tracker market is booming right now and why not? These devices work like a personal trainer, motivating and guiding you to achieve new levels of overall well-being. By allowing you to gather information about your nutrition, activity and rest, you can uncover the hidden links between these things and bit by bit, help form new behaviours to reach your ultimate lifestyle goals.
Ok, so what are some of the great things about the Withings Pulse according users and how does it compare to some of its prime competitors? First off, is its unique and elegant watch-like interface, which fastens securely with a rubber strap, or via a clip on belt loop. The only other activity tracker on the market that beats it for looks is the Misfit Shine, but the Pulse has the better wristband. It also has a long battery-life, recharging is necessary only every two weeks.
Another plus is the large range of activities it can track. In this it runs neck and neck with the Polar Loop. They also like that it offers heart rate monitoring and a sophisticated method of gauging your sleep patterns, just like the Fitbit Charge. It also features Bluetooth connectivity and a ton of app interactivity and is outdone here only by the Jawbone UP24. Where the Pulse separates itself from the pack is that it can also measure your blood oxygen levels and works as an altitude tracker – perfect for mountain climbers.
Are There any Drawbacks to Owning this Unit?
What are some of the drawbacks of this fitness wristband, according to people who’ve used it? First the screen is barely visible under the glare of the sun, which is a bit of a disappointment, since the Pulse provides one of the best interfaces about for an activity tracker. The unit is also very small when un-detached from its wristband and is prone to getting lost, if not securely fastened to clothing, if used like this.
While the range of information that can be drawn from the tracker is vast, the app that it comes with is known to have some software issues, but Withings have been improving their app substantially. Bluetooth sometimes has syncing problems right out of the box, but which can be remedied by a manual connection to your smartphone. After that, integration between the device and the mobile app is excellent. Probably the biggest downer is the fact that it isn’t waterproof at all. So, don’t forget to take it off before you shower.
What are Some More of the Features of the Pulse O2?
- Activity tracking: steps, elevation, distance, running and calories burned
- Wear it your way: clip and wristband included
- Vital signs reading: instant heart rate and blood oxygen level
- Sleep monitoring: sleep cycle analysis, wake-ups, total duration
- Real-time coaching: in the free Health Mate app (iOS/Android)
How Do these Features Benefit You?
No matter your fitness level, the Withings Pulse can help improve it. During the day it will monitor your steps, total distance walked, how high you’ve climbed and the calories burned. When asleep it will assess your sleep patterns and can also track heart rate and blood oxygen levels, on demand.
Track your workouts, instantly. It can even replay the information about how you performed right there on your wrist, with just a click of a button. No need to constantly view a smartphone to see how you’re progressing with your fitness goals.
The unit will perform a sleep pattern analysis on demand. It’s associated app can tell you how well you’re resting and provide insight about how to improve the quality of your night-time rest, by recording light vs deep sleep cycles and any sleep interruptions.
The Pulse can monitor your heart rate with a press of a finger. Information about your heart rate is essential in understanding your current level of fitness, so that you can strive to improve it in a safe manner.
Unique to the Pulse, is the ability to track you blood oxygenation level. The device provides a fast analysis here and allows you to minimise the factors which can result in hypoxia. Perfect for hikers, mountaineers, or even asthmatics.
The Pulse is your constant fitness companion, guiding you towards better overall health, with daily reports and advice to support you reaching your goals. When you reach a milestone you receive a Withings badge as a reward, which can be a great motivational tool. You can even challenge family and friends to a little friendly competition, or start a leaderboard for example. It’s been shown that sharing activities and goals with others can help you get fitter, faster.
You can also log your meals directly into the world’s largest food, nutrition and calorie database. This allows you to track the number of calories burned against the information on that database, so you can maintain an accurate count of your daily food intake.
The Pulse supports both iOS and Android smartphones. It syncs automatically via a Bluetooth connection to a single app, giving you total insight into the factors which are determining your current fitness level. To further assist in tailoring your use of the unit, the Pulse also integrates with over one hundred third-party apps, like MyFitness Pal and Lose It!.
The Withings Pulse fitness wristband, with its ability to tracking hourly activity, heart rate, blood oxygenation (SpO2), sleep patterns, and daily travel (distance and altimeter), pumps an incredible amount of information into your life, giving the tools you need to ultimately achieve your lifelong lifestyle and fitness goals.
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