Smart bracelets – or smartbands – are the most economical way to start tracking health information on a daily basis.
These products offer features very similar to those of smartwatches (smart watches), with the advantage of being much cheaper. This is because they do not have integrated GPS and use their cell phones to track their outdoor exercise routes.
However, smartbands measure the amount of exercise done by its ownerO number of steps data, evaluate the sleep quality and still monitor heart rate and oxygenation of the blood.
O Shopping Guide tested three models of smartbands that cost in the range of R$350 to R$500, with prices consulted in internet stores in mid-April. For comparison, a smartwatch starts at R$1,400 (see the test carried out in 2023).
The models evaluated were:
Testing included using each bracelet for a week, including walking and running. The models were loaned and will be returned.
See the results below and, at the end of the report, the conclusion.
The three smartbands vary in size: the Huawei Band 8 is that it has an intermediate screen – Samsung’s has a large display, and Xiaomi’s has a small one.
The Huawei Band 8 has a 1.47-inch display, measuring 43.4 × 24.5 × 8.9 mm. Its weight is 14 grams without the bracelet. It has a side button to access menus and notifications, which complements the use of the touch-sensitive display.
Its performance is very similar to other equipment and it is the cheapest bracelet in the test, selling for around R$350.
The bracelet, which can be changed, is made of TPU (polyurethane thermoplastic) – a very flexible and resistant material. It has two parts, which fit at the top and base of the case, as is the case with conventional watch straps and smartwatches.
The app used by Band 8 is Huawei Health, with versions for iOS and Android. Through it, the synchronize with your cell phone and send message notifications and calls, exercise control, music, among other functions.
Huawei has created two methods for evaluating daily goals.
The first is the visualization by circles which are filled in throughout the day, measuring the number of steps, minutes of movement and whether the person was standing at that time (and, if not, they alert with a vibration to move a little).
It’s something very similar to the activity circles that Apple uses in Apple Watch.
The other is younger and represented by a health clover, with assessment of movement, sleep quality and “mood” (a metric that includes sleep, stress level and number of steps per day), as you can see in the image below , in the Huawei Saúde app and in the two competitors:
Water resistant, the bracelet can be immersed up to 50 meters deep. It also measures heart rate and blood oxygenation level.
For exercise, the device can monitor data from 100 sports, with automatic detection of running, swimming and walking. Just like its competitor Xiaomi Band 8, the Huawei bracelet helps its owner run, with training plans.
A battery of Huawei Band 8, with 7 days of use, reached 20% load. The manufacturer reports that the battery lasts between 9 and 14 days, depending on how the product is used. And 5 minutes of charging allows use for another two days.
A Samsung Galaxy Fit3 and the bigger of smart bracelets, with a 1.6-inch screen, wider than that of the Xiaomi Band 8.
It is also the more expensive of the three, being sold for R$500 in April in the online stores consulted.
The smartband measures 42.9 x 28.8 x 9.9 mm and weighs 36.8 grams. As with the Huawei model, the Samsung model also has a button to help navigate between the device’s menus and notifications.
The bracelet material is TPU, with two parts that fit on the top and base of the Galaxy Fit3.
Samsung uses the Galaxy Wearable app, that only works with Android phonesto synchronize data with the smart bracelet – such as managing notifications, changing the display style and ordering resources.
The health part connects with the Samsung Health app, also for Android only, to track exercise.
The Galaxy Fit3 has some similarities with its competitors, such as the automatic detection of simple exercises and tracking of more than a hundred activities.
And some different functions, such as automatic pause of an exercise when waiting to cross the street, for example.
It’s something that Xiaomi and Huawei models don’t do.
Another unique feature – and which is common in more expensive smartwatches – is the detecting your user’s falls. The device can “understand” that the person has fallen and activates an emergency mode to call for help.
Sleep measurement is also present, with the same animal profiles (such as a lion or bear) used in the brand’s smartwatches, with the intention of helping the user while they sleep.
After 4 days of use, the Galaxy Fit3 battery has reached 30% charge. According to Samsung, the product can last up to 13 days on a single charge.
It is worth noting that all smartbands use a USB cable with a magnetic connector that connects to the back of the bracelet. Samsung’s is the only cable with a USB-C connection, the others come with a USB 2.0 cable, the more traditional and older one.
A Xiaomi Smart Band 8 It is the most recent version of the smartband and the only one of the three bracelets in the test with a different design, more elongated and with rounded screen edges. Side by side with its competitors, it is the smallest of the three.
The product has a 1.62” touchscreen display, measures 2.25 x 4.8 x 1.1 cm and weighs 28 grams. All commands are made via the screen, without the help of buttons, as in the other two smartbands in the test.
Its TPU bracelet can be exchanged – but it is worth mentioning that Xiaomi changed the way the parts fit together. In previous versions of the product, it was a single piece of plastic.
Now, there are two distinct parts – as in smartwatches, and the old bracelets do not fit the latest model.
In internet stores, the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 cost R$450 in April.
All synchronization with the cell phone is done with the Mi Fitness app, available for Android and iOS systems. Xiaomi says the bracelet also shares data with the Strava (which tracks and shares exercise data with friends) and the Apple Healthfrom iOS.
As with the other smartbands in the test, the Mi Fitness app synchronizes notifications from your cell phone to the bracelet, such as WhatsApp messages, weather forecast and music control.
To measure health information, Mi Fitness is very similar to Huawei Health, with circles that must be “filled in” every day when meeting goals for steps, movement and time spent standing.
Xiaomi’s bracelet also evaluates a concept of “vitality” of its owner, showing a score from zero to 100 per week – the higher it is, the better its health.
The number of exercises that Xiaomi’s smartband accompanies is the largest of the three bracelets: the manufacturer cites 150 modes.
You can understand the high number of functions: several gym exercises, such as weight lifting or squats, are counted individually.
The bracelet can also automatically detect exercises, such as walking, running, dry rowing, cycling and elliptical.
A battery of Xiaomi Smart Band 8 reached 51% charge in seven days of use, alternating dates with and without exercise. According to the manufacturer, the battery can last up to 16 days.
BEST COST/BENEFIT: In daily use, the three smartbands are very similar in terms of features and battery life. They all measure a lot of exercises, can check heart rate, blood oxygenation and assess sleep quality. The battery is also similar in Huawei and Xiaomi models.
At the price consulted in April, the Huawei Smart Band 8 had the best value for moneybeing sold for R$350 in online stores.
SYNC WITH IPHONE: Both Huawei and Xiaomi synchronize data with the iOS system, used by Apple on iPhones – notifications, message replies and control of music and podcasts work without problems.
It’s just a partial synchronization: Your workout information goes to the Apple Health app.
And they don’t go to Fitness, which is only used by the Apple Watch – and is the app that has the iPhone manufacturer’s movement circles/goals.
YOU ALWAYS NEED YOUR CELL PHONE: Smartbands lack something essential to smartwatches – the GPS integrated to track exercise routes and outdoor walks. This way, they always need their smartphone nearby to synchronize data – which may take a little longer to happen.
ATTENTION TO THE SCREEN: with smaller sizes compared to a smartwatch – with more viewing area on larger screens, Seeing the small screen of a smartband can be difficult in sunlight.
The tip here is to increase the display brightness in the settings when going out for physical activity – if the level is low, the chance of seeing the information is equally reduced (or almost impossible).
MORE CONFORTABLE: Due to their smaller size compared to smartwatches, smartbands have an advantage when using them at night to sleep – they are lighter and are less bothersome on the wrist while sleeping.
This report was produced with total editorial independence by our team of specialized journalists and collaborators. If the reader chooses to purchase a product from the links provided, Globo will be able to earn revenue through commercial partnerships. We clarify that Globo does not have any control or responsibility regarding the eventual purchasing experience, even through the links provided. Questions or complaints regarding the product purchased and/or the purchase, payment and delivery process must be directed directly to the responsible retailer.
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