The Mi band 5 bracelet is not waterproof, it is water resistant. As before, water resistance is 5 ATM at a depth of up to 50 meters. You can swim in the sea, pool or shower. The only thing is that if you bought in salt water, you should rinse it thoroughly with plain water to avoid damage. It is also worth remembering that the screen reacts to contact with water and therefore, before swimming, lock the device.
Protection level Band 5
On different forums or reviews of the new Mi Smart Band 5 you can find different water resistance ratings: 50WR or 5ATM. These numbers, although outwardly different, mean one thing. The tracker's protection has been tested in laboratory conditions; it can withstand atmospheric pressure at a depth of 50 meters in calm water
The bracelet will not be damaged by surface swimming in a pool or fresh water from an open source. You should avoid scuba diving and jumping into water from a side or a tower. In this case, the pressure exerted increases significantly, and mechanical damage to the housing can be irreversible.
Sea water is an aggressive environment. If you are planning a vacation on snow-white beaches, think carefully about whether to take a smart watch on your trip. The Fifth Band can withstand a short swim in salt water. But it is worth remembering that such a liquid has a detrimental effect on the external contacts located on the back side. Pogo Pin magnetic charging is negatively affected. Rain and even downpours and showers do not affect the functioning of the tracker.
Activity tracker requirements for swimmers
- Maximum water resistance class (this means that the tracker can be submerged to a depth of more than 1 meter). There is only one maximum level in the world - ip69, which provides protection at a very great depth. Such fitness trackers are not yet made, so we have to limit ourselves to the ip68 class.
- Secure mount (no one wants to lose their tracker in the water, especially in deep water).
- The presence of the functionality necessary for swimming and special applications with which the device works.
Let's now look at trackers that were designed specifically for use in water or can be used in such an environment without breaking down. Since prices may vary, I will list average prices.
What can fitness bracelets measure in the pool?
- Number of laps. When swimming in a pool, most fitness bands do not record your actual distance because GPS tracking is not used. The bracelet will count how many times you have swam from one end of the pool to the other. Before starting the exercise, you must specify the length of the pool. Usually it is 25 or 50 meters. The tracker tries to determine whether you are swimming by analyzing repeated hand movements using a built-in accelerometer - a motion sensor. Having determined swimming, the watch tries to detect the moment of reversal by analyzing irregular movements of the hands.
Important: to correctly determine the turn, it must be completed by pushing off from the wall of the bracelet and adding a long dive after the turn.
- Speed. Overall rating showing speed in water.
- Distance.
- Number of strokes and calories burned.
- Swimming style. Most fitness bracelets are perfectly distinguished by four styles: breaststroke, crawl, butterfly, back.
- Swimming pace.
- SWOLF score. SWOLF is calculated by adding up the time and number of strokes required to completely swim the length of the pool.
- Heart rate measurement. There are not many fitness bracelets that measure heart rate while swimming, since not all optical sensors allow reading data under water. This feature is usually only found in expensive smartwatches, such as the Garmin Swim 2 or Polar Grit X.
Criteria for choosing electronics for swimmers
- The dust and moisture protection class (IP) is one of the most important criteria, since the performance of the entire device depends on this parameter. The protection class is determined in numerical terms; 3 options are suitable for swimmers - 7 (no diving, swimming for no more than 30 minutes), 8 (swimming without restrictions, without diving), 9 (swimming and diving without restrictions). Some manufacturers disclose this criterion by indicating the pressure that the device can withstand. It is expressed in atmospheres (or the number of meters to which one can be immersed in water). The following varieties are distinguished: up to 3 atmospheres (30 meters - cannot be used in the pool), up to 5 atmospheres (50 meters - suitable for swimming, no diving), up to 10 atmospheres (100 meters - shallow diving), 20 or more (without restrictions) .
- Application area. Some devices are designed for use only in confined spaces and fresh water, while others can be used in the open sea. Gadgets belonging to the second category are usually equipped with a GPS sensor, which allows you to plot a route and determine your location. Enabling this feature drains the battery quickly, so it is not recommended to use it unless necessary.
- Strap fastening, clasp. Since the fitness tracker for swimmers is exposed to water pressure and is located on the arm used for swinging, there is a possibility of losing the device. In order to avoid such a nuisance, when purchasing, it is necessary to choose only those models that are securely fixed. As a rule, products from well-known brands do not have this problem, but some popular Chinese models still suffer from this drawback.
- Ease of wearing - for thin hands it is better to choose models with a narrow strap, for wide hands - any will do.
- Screen size - all displayed information should be readable, alphanumeric combinations should be contrasting, easy to view underwater.
- Functional. As previously mentioned, there are a large number of types of gadgets for swimmers, some of them only track the athlete’s activity, others can perform additional functions (ECG, NFC - contactless payment, GPS, having your own SIM card and the ability to make calls from the device (or from using a phone or tablet).
- Price. This criterion is determined individually - there are a large number of options that differ from each other in price. At the same time, it is not necessary that a cheap tracker will be significantly worse than an expensive one - the difference can only be in the number of functions and the manufacturer (as a rule, Chinese products cost an order of magnitude cheaper than products from the best manufacturers of wearable electronics).
- The presence of scratch-resistant glass is an additional advantage when purchasing, and is important for athletes who wear the gadget for a long time without removing it, in which case it is advisable to choose a device with a tempered glass screen.
Moisture protection of the bracelet
When a manufacturer claims that a device is waterproof, it means that the design includes certain elements to ensure a seal. But not all gadgets can withstand immersion to a depth of more than 10 meters.
The protection class is indicated by abbreviations: WR (Water Resistant), IP (Ingress Protection), ATM (atmospheric pressure measurement). The devices of the first and last row will only withstand exposure to an aquatic environment, and dirt and dust can disrupt the performance of external and internal parts and mechanisms.
Device housings with IP67 protection are usually made resistant to mechanical damage to protect them from environmental influences.
The history of the gadget
The smart bracelet appeared only in the 21st century, when humanity received a real surprise from the Jawbone company, whose inventors introduced Jawbone UP - a bracelet with calorie counter and statistics functions. In addition, the electronic device was equipped with vibration sound. Manufacturers stated that this bracelet can be worn anywhere and everywhere, and, importantly, it will not suffer from exposure to moisture.
Until this moment, people only dreamed of creating a compact device that would allow them to monitor the condition of the body. Earlier inventions, such as an ECG monitor or a cycling computer, were quite cumbersome and performed only one specific task.
However, before the users of the world's first multifunctional fitness bracelet had time to rejoice, they were disappointed. The device quickly broke down: the battery on which it worked turned out to be low-power, and the water resistance that advertising campaigns shouted about was fictitious; the device was actually afraid of water.
And even though the first pancake turned out to be lumpy, companies involved in the development and production of electronic devices adopted the Jawbone idea and after some time mobile devices from the Nike and Xiaomi brands appeared on the market. The Jawbone company also improved its invention, and it became popular among the population.
Today, a fitness bracelet is a multifunctional electronic assistant that has many different functions, including GPS and NFC, which have allowed it to become almost indispensable for people with an active lifestyle.
The best-selling models on the Russian market are Chinese-made. This is Xiaomi Mi Band. The device is quite multifunctional, easy to use and has a long service life. Domestic manufacturers are still losing to foreign competitors in this segment.
Swimming mode
This mode has received a significant update in Mi Band 5, and the system for calculating the main parameters has also been revised. The bracelet still cannot automatically determine what physical activity the owner is currently engaged in. The corresponding block is set manually. But the fitness analyzer has learned to independently recognize the style in which a person swims. Six options are available:
- basic;
- breaststroke;
- backstroke;
- butterfly;
- free;
- mixed.
While training in the pool, the tracker determines several indicators: swim time, total distance, calories burned, number of strokes and average rowing pace.
Data is available upon completion of sporting events in the Mi Fit application. Moreover, the analysis will be carried out for each swimming style used, and general statistics will also be presented.
Changes
The design of the Mi Band is canonical and unchanged: after the appearance of the screen, Xiaomi engineers develop the initial ideas without changing the general concept. It is not surprising that the fifth version is almost exactly the same as the Mi Band 4 in appearance. Small differences in dimensions are invisible to the eye.
The straps are completely indistinguishable from the “four”. But there is no compatibility: the basic bracelet of the fourth version fits “A”, but is loose. Plastic or metal capsule holders are not interchangeable.
Charging is funny. You don't have to remove the capsule
The charger from Mi Band 5 does not stay on Mi Band 4: the new product has a magnetic dock. The Mi Band 5 capsule, in turn, does not fit into the “four” charger. But the tracker is automatically attracted to the contacts from a distance of 5 centimeters, it has become easier to carry the charger, and it will break or get dirty less often. If we look at it in detail, there are still much more differences between generations. The dimensions of the tracker capsule have become noticeably larger, and in the version with NFC they will increase slightly.
Versions of Mi Band 5, their problems and differences
The version is written under the bracelet. At the moment there are at least 3 versions of the tracker:
- Chinese without NFC,
- Chinese with NFC, microphone and improved heart rate monitor,
- international without NFC.
IMPORTANT: version XMSH10HM (touch button - circle) without NFC, code XMSH11HM (inverted U) indicates the presence of a contactless payment module and a microphone for working with a voice assistant.
The application is almost the same. But for connoisseurs, the updates will catch the eye. The NFC option does not accept regional payment systems (Google Pay and ANY others). This modification has no practical significance in Russia. It makes sense to buy the international version without NFC only if reading English is an insurmountable problem.
Tips and tricks for choosing smart bracelets
- If the screen is analog, the arrows and stripes should be bright and reflect the incident light. The size of the numbers should be sufficient to be read at a glance.
- The strap should be long so that, if necessary, it can be fastened over clothing (wetsuit).
- According to buyers, special attention should be paid to the presence of water resistance - if you plan to dive even to a shallow depth.
- Before you go to the store, you need to evaluate the functionality that you expect to get from the purchase - if some functions are not important, you can save money on them.
- OS compatibility: Android, iOS, Windows. If you have a smartphone, this criterion is also important, since technological gadgets can not only send notifications about an incoming call to the fitness tracker, but also generate a workout report, track sleep phases, etc.
- Before making a final decision, it is recommended to try on the watch, evaluate the convenience of its location on your hand, as well as the absence of unpleasant sensations when moving.
- Evaluate the appearance of the product - there are often cases when a person purchases a device that does not suit him in design, but meets the requirements for functionality. After some time, the device is simply put into a “long box”, since wearing it does not evoke positive emotions. To avoid such a situation, it is recommended to buy only the smart bracelet that you like in appearance.
- Before going to the store, evaluate the range of products you are purchasing. It would be a good idea to read customer reviews and read relevant forums in order to understand what you expect from your purchase.
Application and Russian language for Chinese bracelet
As before, the Mi Band connects to the ever-present Mi Fit companion app to work with Xiaomi fitness accessories. The set of its functions is still the same; we will mention minor modifications a little later.
The connection works regardless of the combination of region of use, application, selected language packs and bracelet version. But the settings and system are either in English or Chinese. There are no modified firmwares and Mi Fit yet. But the Ali tracker displays alerts and track tags in Cyrillic.
Unlike earlier bracelets (Mi Band 3 connected Russian immediately after purchase), a similar language scheme operates regardless of the region of use at the moment. The international version offers other translation options; over time, unification is possible - then the “Chinese” bracelet will receive support for regional languages. Don’t forget that the craftsmen taught the “Chinese” Mi Band 4 with NFC to work with Maestro after the official announcement of the analogue in the EU countries and Russia.
The screen has become a little larger and more convenient
The diagonal of the Mi Band 5 color AMOLED panel has increased from 0.95 to 1.1 inches compared to its predecessor. At the same time, the image quality has formally decreased: the display displays 65 thousand shades versus 16 million (it was 24 bit, now it is 16 bit).
Enough brightness in any lighting conditions
In practice this is not noticeable. In fact, you can’t even see the new resolution of 126x294 pixels. Another thing is the current 12 lines of text versus 10 lines of the predecessor. Even though they are just as narrow, they come in very handy when displaying messages.
What can Mi Band do without a smartphone?
In some sections, hieroglyphs flash.
Status shows the number of steps taken today, distance, calories burned and an inactivity notification counter. Statistics on steps for the last week are also displayed here, separately for each day.
PAI (Personal Activity Index) determines a conditional cumulative activity indicator that increases with increasing training intensity and time with an increased heart rate.
The heart rate monitor is frankly not very accurate
Pulse allows you to measure an instantaneous value or view information accumulated over the day, taking into account various conditions. Same thing, but more details can be found in the appendix.
Notifications are configured in Mi Fit by selecting specific synchronized applications. Only fresh ones arrive - connecting the bracelet and getting everything you missed won’t work.
Messages arrive steadily, there are no problems with Cyrillic
Stress in parrots determines the “stress level” on a 100-point scale; Breathing suggests doing breathing exercises based on this data.
Events - the same as Notifications, but for alerts configured in Mi Fit and system messages.
You can get confused with additional features
Weather can show the forecast for several days ahead with details. But not from the most accurate sources for Russia, and only when synchronized with a smartphone.
Workout is worth considering in detail - this section in Mi Band 5 has seriously changed compared to its predecessors.
Improved activity tracking
Activity tracking is excellent.
But I was just sitting on a chair. There are significantly more types of activity tracking: 11 versus 6 programs look like a serious improvement.
There are separate modes for cycling, elliptical and rowing machines, yoga and jump rope. The swimming mode has not disappeared, as has the moisture protection of the bracelet itself.
In any workout mode, the screen displays data on heart rate during the workout, frequency and number of steps, average pace and number of calories burned. You can also teach Mi Band to vibrate when you reach a goal or exceed your heart rate.
Settings can be very detailed
Some users note that the tracker independently detects the user’s transition to running and offers to include training based on heart rate intensity.
Apparently, this requires long-term wear and the definition of personal modes in the application on the smartphone.
Daily statistics became more detailed
The older version with an improved heart rate sensor (a smaller version of the Amazfit GTS/GTR/Bip S sensor) promises a 50% improvement in heart rate measurements and a 40% improvement in sleep tracking. It has not yet been possible to measure this. But the accuracy of the basic version is not encouraging: there is no difference with the Mi Band 4, the budget Amazfit smartwatch is a little more accurate.
What else can Mi Band 5 do?
The player controls are a bit small.
But it works In addition to the already mentioned functions and minor improvements, Mi Band 5 received a number of fundamentally new functions for this series of fitness trackers. Thus, the “Find Device” function used to work in the opposite direction (and now it works - the bracelet will vibrate after pressing the corresponding key in Mi Fit)
Another useful feature allows you to enable silent mode on your smartphone with the Mi Band, which will be very useful in cases where the latter is not at hand.
World watches with selection in the application also appeared on the screens of Xiaomi fitness accessories for the first time.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning that the gadget can now control music and video players, for which a separate screen is dedicated. You can change tracks, pause and adjust the volume.
How to recognize this as a smartphone camera remote control?
In the depths of the menu you can even find a smartphone camera remote control. So far it only works with Android, and not with all smartphones (it didn’t work for me). Another function of the bracelet will be useful for girls: tracking the menstrual cycle and determining the time of ovulation, displayed both in the application and on the device screen.
What you need to know about waterproofing gadgets
Such a quality as moisture protection can be found in the description of many electrical appliances and digital gadgets. You can understand whether a device will really work in unfavorable conditions or is it just a marketing ploy by the presence of a protection class, denoted by two Latin letters and the same number of digits.
Until recently, confirmation of moisture protection was provided by reference to certain standards. Today, on smartphones, fitness trackers and other digital devices, you can see a specific water resistance level, most often designated as IP67 or IP68.
Moisture resistance and water resistance are different concepts. Despite their similarity, they are not synonyms. In the first case, we are talking about a low degree of protection against splashes and minor ingress of water. With such a tracker, you cannot shower, swim, or exercise for a long time in conditions of constant precipitation. But water resistance is a quality that indicates a high level of protection for the tracker. The higher its value, the more opportunities for the athlete to engage in a variety of sports.
With fitness bracelets designated IP68, you can swim in the pool, exercise in the rain and fog, and dive to a certain depth. Such activity of the athlete will not in any way affect the full operation of the gadget, the accuracy of its measurements or the battery life. At the same time, the instructions for the device indicate the conditions for safe operation and indicate possible restrictions.
The main protection for the gadget is provided by the design and material of the case. In most cases, the manufacturer monitors the tightness of the parts, using rubberized and silicone inserts. The screen glass is also covered with a special film that prevents moisture penetration. After assembly, the model must be tested for compliance with the standard. Only after successfully passing the tests does the fitness bracelet enter the market.
All the main characteristics of the Xiaomi Mi Band 3 tracker, including moisture protection, are indicated both in the instructions and on the packaging.
Interesting! The very first gadget, a phone with a “moisture resistant” option, was released by Siemens in 1998. It was splash-proof and could even work for several minutes under conditions of complete immersion in water.
What does the IP67 water protection marking mean?
The designation from IP11 to IP68 indicates the class of protection against water and dust. This standard was developed by the IEC. Its international name is “Ingress Protection Rating”. The first two letters of the degree of protection are taken from it. This classifier was the result of numerous tests, as a result of which levels were created, each of which is accompanied by a number of technical requirements.
The numbers following the letters indicate the class of dust and moisture protection.
The level of protection against ingress of solid particles varies from 0 to 6:
- 0 – complete absence of dust protection;
- 1 – penetration of particles larger than 50 mm in diameter is excluded (cannot be touched with the palm of your hand);
- 2 – particles larger than 12.5 mm in size are not allowed (impossible to touch with a finger);
- 3 – the ingress of particles with a diameter exceeding 2.5 mm is excluded (cannot be touched with a screwdriver);
- 4 – exposure to particles larger than 1 mm is not possible;
- 5 – partial protection from dust;
- 6 – full protection.
It is the latter value that can most often be seen in the characteristics of phones, trackers and other types of digital devices.
The level of moisture protection is characterized as follows:
- 0 – complete lack of water resistance;
- 1 – protection from vertically impacted drops;
- 2 – from drops flying at an angle of less than 15°;
- 3 – from splashes hitting the device at an angle of up to 60°;
- 4 – from drops and splashes falling on the body from any direction;
- 5 – enhanced protection against water jets directed at the gadget from any angle;
- 6 – from water jets under pressure;
- 7 – with short-term complete immersion in liquid to a depth of no more than 1 meter;
- 8 – when placing the device in water to a depth of more than 1 meter for a period of up to 30 minutes;
- 9 – from exposure to high temperature liquid.
Thus, when purchasing a swimming tracker, the future owner should choose a version with a class no lower than IP68. For outdoor activities in conditions of possible precipitation, IP67 will be sufficient. However, this class does not guarantee complete tightness.
Interesting! A number of manufacturers equip the cases of their gadgets with special stickers that change color when exposed to excess moisture. The indicators are located on the inside of the case, and if the color changes, these cases are considered non-warranty.
Are trackers really waterproof?
There are no absolutely waterproof gadgets, even if advertising claims otherwise. And the point is not so much in the design or material from which the case is made, but in the laws of physics.
Laboratory testing is a little different from normal physical activity in everyday life. During testing, the device is placed in clean fresh water, which is free of any impurities. The water in the pool is often chlorinated, the sea contains a large amount of salt, and fresh water from ordinary reservoirs can “boast” of a rich chemical composition. As a result, results obtained in controlled and natural environments may differ from each other.
In addition, any tracker has a charging connector, into which liquid can penetrate over a long period of time in water. Therefore, long periods of exposure to pools or bodies of water are not recommended by the manufacturers of absolutely all models.
The third problem is condensation. The devices are assembled not in a vacuum, but under normal conditions; as a result, there is always air in the capsule, and it contains moisture. The waterproof case does not allow air to pass through, so when the temperature drops and the “dew point” passes, water from the air turns into condensation. Most often, condensation occurs when you spend a long time in cool water or dive to a depth where the temperature is lower.
The fourth thing to remember is that every device has its own “point of failure.” It is a critical combination of duration of use, depth and exposure to water. For this reason, all levels of moisture protection have their own conditions and caveats.
Interesting! Even the swimming style matters. Tests have shown that when swimming breaststroke, the level of water penetration into the body is less than when using the butterfly style. The same results were obtained when comparing slow immersion and sudden jumps into the water.
Be sure to check out:
The fitness bracelet does not count steps. The main reasons for breakdowns of the pedometer, heart rate monitor and calorie counter IWOWN I6 Pro - a budget, multifunctional and high-quality fitness bracelet for tracking sports activity Xiaomi Mi Band 2 fitness bracelet: water test How to remove the strap from a fitness bracelet: rules and nuances
Top budget fitness bracelets for swimming
Huawei Band 4 Pro - Best for swimming with GPS
Key features of Huawei Band 4 Pro
- Operating system: Firmware.
- Compatibility: Android, iOS.
- Screen: 0.95 inch AMOLED.
- Screen resolution: 240*120 pixels.
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.2.
- Waterproof: 5ATM
- Autonomy: Up to 12 days of normal use, 6 - 7 hours with GPS module
- Battery: 100 mAh.
- Price: from 45 dollars
Huawei Band 4 Pro is one of the few fitness bracelets in the budget segment equipped with a GPS module. It allows you to track swimming not only in the pool, but also in open water. The gadget is equipped with a 0.95-inch diagonal AMOLED touch screen with a resolution of 240*120 pixels, on which you can view data in real time. You can set your swimming goals (distance, calories burned, duration, reminder interval) or just swim and let the bracelet automatically record the data.
The bracelet can determine the swimming style, such as butterfly, breaststroke, backstroke, freestyle, etc. During training, it counts the number of strokes, swim speed, arm extension frequency, number of laps, distance, SWOLF index, etc.
When immersed in water, the bracelet screen is blocked to avoid false alarms. Once the screen is unlocked, you can view your current workout time, distance, calories burned, and average speed. More detailed information will be available in the Huawei Health app after pairing with the smartphone.
Swim tracking is not the only feature of the Huawei Band 4 Pro. He can also:
- Track 11 sports modes;
- Assess the duration and quality of sleep;
- Measure heart rate around the clock;
- Measure blood oxygen saturation;
- Notify about calls and messages;
- Control the smartphone camera;
- Count steps, calories, distance.
One charge of the 100 mAh battery is enough for 5 days of battery life with constant heart rate monitoring and sleep tracking. In a more “economical” mode, you can get up to 12 days of operation without charging, and with GPS always on, the battery will last for 6 – 7 hours of operation. As for the price, you can buy Huawei Band 4 Pro on Aliexpress for about $50. For example, here or here.
Go to Huawei Band 4 Pro review
pros
- GPS module
- Bright display
- Blood oxygen level measurement function
- Good autonomy
- Smart alarm clock
- Stylish design
Minuses
- Doesn't measure heart rate while swimming
- Sometimes training may stop spontaneously.
Honor Band 5 - Best in terms of price/quality ratio
Key features of Honor Band 5
- Operating system: Firmware.
- Compatibility: Android, iOS.
- Screen: 0.95 inch AMOLED.
- Screen resolution: 240*120 pixels.
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.2.
- Waterproof: 5ATM
- Autonomy: Up to 14 days of normal use
- Battery: 100 mAh.
- Price: from 25 dollars
Honor Band 5 is another fitness bracelet from Huawei, sold under the Honor brand. It differs from Huawei Band 4 Pro mainly in appearance and the absence of a GPS module, but otherwise they are almost identical. Since there is no GPS module, the bracelet is not suitable for open water, but it copes well with swimming in the pool. After swimming, in the Health app you can analyze in detail the distance, speed of the swim, number of strokes and calories burned. The bracelet also understands swimming styles.
Everything is considered quite accurately, but there are also some glitches. Sometimes the workout can stop on its own, but this doesn't happen very often. Unfortunately, the bracelet does not measure your pulse underwater.
Honor Band 5 is equipped with a very bright 0.95-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 240*120 pixels. Very durable 2.5D glass protects the screen from impacts and scratches. The equipment also includes a heart rate sensor, a 6-axis accelerometer, and a blood oxygen level sensor. The capacity of the built-in battery is 100 mAh. One charge lasts up to 14 days or 6 – 7 days of active use.
Xiaomi Mi Band 5
Key features of Xiaomi Mi Band 5
- Operating system: Firmware.
- Compatibility: Android, iOS.
- Screen: 1.1 inch AMOLED.
- Screen resolution: 294*126 pixels.
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0.
- Waterproof: 5ATM
- Autonomy: 14 – 20 days
- Battery: 125 mAh.
- Price: from 30 dollars
Dear models
Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro
Best for swimming for Samsung fans
Key Features of Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro
| Compatibility | Android, iOS |
| Screen | AMOLED |
| Diagonal | 1.5 inches |
| Memory | 512 MB RAM + 4 GB internal memory |
| Water protection | 5ATM+IP68 |
| Battery | 200 mAh |
| Autonomy | 3 to 4 days |
| Price | From US$199 |
Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro is one of the most expensive fitness bracelets for swimming in our rating. Although it was released back in 2022, it is one of the most advanced and most functional gadgets available today.
It is equipped with a 1.5-inch curved color AMOLED screen, which is perfectly readable even under water. There is a screen lock mode to prevent the screen from triggering during a swim. It is also lightweight and convenient, which allows you to comfortably use all the capabilities of the device 27/7.
It can determine the type of swimming, record lap time, distance, SWOLF indicator and much more. The GPS module allows you to evaluate swimming not only in the pool, but also in open water. For more detailed analysis, the data is uploaded to the Speedo On application, developed by Samsung in collaboration with Speedo.
In addition to swimming, Gear Fit2 Pro can track a number of other activity modes, measure heart rate, count steps, calories and distance traveled. Supports call and message notifications, downloading apps from the Galaxy Apps store, playing Spotify playlists, 4GB storage, and more.
pros
- GPS module
- Multifunctionality
- Lots of swimming options
- Large AMOLED screen
- 4 GB memory for music storage
- You can install additional applications
Minuses
- Expensive
- Large error in heart rate measurement when running
- Bluetooth version 4.2
- Not the best oleophobic coating, the screen gets covered with fingerprints
Fitbit Charge 4
Key features of Fitbit Charge 4
| Compatibility | Android, iOS |
| Screen | OLED |
| Screen size | 11.8mm x 22.7mm |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, optical heart rate sensor, SpO2 sensor, GPS |
| Water protection | 5ATM |
| Battery | Capacity unknown |
| Autonomy | Up to 7 days of normal use |
| Price | From 150 dollars |
Like the Fitbit Charge 3, the Fitbit Charge 4 is waterproof to 50 meters and is suitable for swimming in the pool, lake or sea. But this is not the only reason why you should pay attention to this gadget. One of the main advantages of Charge 4 is the built-in GPS module. It allows you to get more detailed data about running, swimming or cycling.
Fitbit Charge 4 is also used to monitor heart rate, quality and duration of sleep, control the playback of a Spotify playlist, determine blood oxygen saturation, receive notifications of calls and messages, etc.
Thanks to Fitbit's relatively new SmartTrack technology, the Charge 4 can automatically recognize when you're swimming. It automatically records the length, duration, distance and pace of your swim. However, this data cannot be viewed in real time on the screen, only in the mobile application after the end of the voyage.
The Charge 4 also has a few drawbacks. The main ones: high cost ($150) and a monochrome rather than color screen. As for autonomy, without charging the gadget can work up to 7 days without GPS and up to 5 hours with geolocation enabled.
pros
- Advanced Sleep Monitoring
- Has GPS
- Many functions for monitoring the body's condition
- Cool design
Minuses
- Expensive
- Monochrome screen
- Short battery life
Samsung Galaxy Fit
Fitness bracelet that measures heart rate underwater
Key features of Samsung Galaxy Fit
| Compatibility | Android, iOS |
| Screen | AMOLED |
| Diagonal | 0.95 inch |
| Memory | 512 KB RAM + 32 MB internal memory |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, optical heart rate sensor |
| Water protection | 5ATM + MIL-STD 810G |
| Battery | 120 mAh |
| Autonomy | Up to 7 days of normal use |
| Price | From 100 dollars |
The Samsung Galaxy Fit fitness band is not a successor to the popular Gear Fit2 Pro activity tracker, but rather a new line of fitness bands from Samsung. In terms of characteristics and functionality, it is slightly superior to the same Honor Band 5 and Xiaomi Mi Band 5, but at the same time, it costs much more.
Galaxy Fit features a 0.95-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 240 x 120 pixels at a pixel density of 282 ppi. Among the main characteristics, it is worth noting the MCU Cortex M33F processor, Bluetooth 4.2 BLE interface, heart rate sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope and wireless charging. The tracker is waterproof up to 50 meters and meets the US military durability standard MIL STD 810G.
The functionality of the bracelet is standard: counting steps, calories and distance, monitoring sleep and heart rate, tracking more than 90 sports modes, notifications of calls and messages, and much more. Unfortunately, there is no built-in GPS module, so to correctly calculate distance, pace and get a track, you will need to connect to a smartphone and the Samsung Health application.
The Galaxy Fit doesn't boast impressive battery life. One battery charge is enough for approximately 7 days of autonomous use. There is support for wireless charging.
The tracker's body is waterproof up to 50 meters and, in addition, complies with the American military durability standard MIL-STD 810G, which allows it to be used even in the harshest conditions.
Accurate swimming monitoring is one of the advantages of this accessory. It can automatically determine swimming styles, swim time, calories burned, SWOLF indicator, number of strokes, pace (average and maximum), number of pools). There is no GPS module, so the tracker is not suitable for open water. But he can measure the average and maximum heart rate while swimming.
Price is one of the main drawbacks of the Galaxy Fit. You will have to pay about 100 dollars for the bracelet.
Learn more about Samsung Galaxy Fit and Galaxy Fit e
pros
- High quality build and materials
- Convenient application
- Very light
- Stylish design
- Good protection
- Accurate swimming tracking
- Measures heart rate underwater
Minuses
- No GPS module
- It costs expensive
- Bluetooth 4.2
- Small reserve of autonomy
- Low accuracy of step counting
As a result
Of all the models presented, the best choice for training in the pool are the Honor Band 5 and Huawei Band 4 Pro fitness bracelets. Both trackers are equipped with all the necessary features for swimmers, and the Band 4 Pro also has a built-in GPS module, which can come in handy when swimming in open water.
Samsung Galaxy Fit, unlike its competitors, in addition to detailed swim statistics, also provides heart rate readings while swimming, so this tracker should not be ignored. But we cannot recommend it for all people due to its high cost.
As for Honor Band 4, this fitness bracelet is in no way inferior to the fifth version in swimming monitoring, so it is also recommended for purchase. In addition, Band 4 is also great for monitoring any other physical activity, that is, it is a universal gadget that is worth its money. But given the same cost of Band 4 and Band 5, it is better to give preference to the second.
Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4 does a good job of tracking swimming activity, but does not provide detailed statistics for each swimming pool. It is advisable to buy this tracker if you do not go to the pool very often and are ready to limit yourself to only general swim statistics. For people who do not need detailed monitoring of swims, but just want to have a tracker with which they can go to the pool, swim in the sea and take a shower, the Xiaomi Mi Band 3 and Honor Band 3 bracelets are suitable.
The best manufacturers and brands
This list includes popular companies that have won the trust of consumers thanks to the quality products entering the market. If you decide which company is better to buy a smart gadget, you should pay attention first of all to the following brands.
- Samsung
The South Korean company, founded in 1938, has long specialized in the production of personal computers, and in 1991 completed the development of the production of mobile phones and devices. In 1999 she was awarded the Forbes Global Award. Currently considered one of the leaders in the mobile phone market.
- Polar
The company was established in 1975 in Finland, the founder is Seplo Sundikangas. Four years after the company was founded, a patent was received for a wireless device that allows measuring heart rate. In 1982, a portable model with these features appeared on the market. Today Polar is one of the largest manufacturers of smart devices that allow athletes to monitor their health.
- CARCAM
Domestic brand. The history of Karkam Electronics began in 2005, and in 2010 the company announced itself as the creator of a car DVR that produces high-quality Full HD recording. The company produces products for various fields: video surveillance, personal security, goods for recreation and tourism.
- Garmin
American brand. Garmin Ltd. has existed since 1989 and is headquartered in Kansas, USA. Founders: Gary Burrell and Ming Kao. The company specializes in the production of GPS navigators and sports watches.
- HONOR
Chinese brand. Owned by Huawei, founded in 1987. This company is considered one of the largest in the telecommunications industry. The brand appeared in 2013. According to George Zhao, director of Honor, the gadgets of this brand are designed for the younger generation of users.
- Xiaomi
Chinese company. On the market since 2010, and since 2022 it has occupied a strong position in the ranking of the most popular manufacturers of electronic mobile devices. “Chinese Steve Jobs” is what the head of the company, Lei Jun, is called for his foresight and ability to earn millions.
- Amazfit
Brand of Huami Technology, which has existed since 2013. This Chinese manufacturer was the first in the world to release a module for mobile electronic devices; this module is used in original models of smart watches and bracelets.
- Oppo
A trademark of the Chinese company OPPO Electronics Corporation. The company was founded in 2001. Known for her achievements. For example, this company became famous for releasing the thinnest smartphone model in 2012. This manufacturer entered the Russian market in 2013.
