Wearable tech is the fashion these days, and with the sheer volume of fitness trackers out there, one is really spoilt for choice. But while most fitness trackers are still rudimentary or too expensive, one stands out among the rest. Say hello to the Jawbone UP2. Jawbone has been known to possess the best fitness tracker app there is on any market online, and that’s just the start.
Initially, when Jawbone released the UP2 variant, it had two visible short falls,namely, a heart rate sensor, and a comfortable fit. The latter went on to harrass almost everyone who bought the piece, which is why Jawbone, decided to head back to the drawing board, and release a new refined model of the Up2, which I will be reviewing today.
So, straight off the bat, the new Jawbone UP2 has been improved in all aspects, but what is most important to note, is that it now features a super comfortable and snug fit on your wrist, which means, that, unlike its older predecessor, the new Up2 device will not fall off your wrist every now and then. While the UP2 fans rejoiced over this new announcement, Jawbone decided to throw in a software upgrade to their lineup, which brought in the amazing sleep tracker feature, indirectly making the UP2 , arguably, the best fitness tracker device in the market today.
Before we jump into the review, reader can note that the new UP2 device will cost you $100 in the US. Jawbone has also decided to keep their older UP2 model on sale as well, but looking at the host of new improvements that the company has bundled in their newer variant, exactly who would go in for the older variant is a mystery to me.
Table of Contents
What is the UP2 all about ?
The first question in any new comer’s mind would be the one posted above. For the benefit of those who really are new to this sort of technology, the Jawbone Up2 is a bare boned fitness tracker device. People usually have this common misconception that a fitness tracker also acts like a sort of smart watch device, but that’s not true. The Up2 has been designed to help the user stay fit, and despite the fact that it lacks a heart rate monitor and a GPS, it still carries out its task with relative ease. Its a device that has been designed keeping style and practicality in mind, and though it may be accepted that it could have done with at least a heart rate sensor, trust me, once you start using this device, you won’t even realise that its missing that feature.
Simply put, the UP2 can perform all basic tasks ( Count the number of steps you take each day, Distance you travel, and the calories you burn ) and looks good while doing them. Earlier, users would have to tap the band to put it to sleep mode, but now, thanks to the latest software update provided by Jawbone, the UP2 features sleep tracker, which means that the device automatically detects when you are asleep, and does the needful. What all this means is that Jawbone is now in league with its rivals ( Fitbit,Garmin and Misfit ).
Coming to the automatic sleep tracker, I must say that its still a work in progress. This is because, there are times when the UP2 is unable to detect whether you are asleep or just lying down, and the results that follow can be hilariously annoying. Another factor that goes against this sleep tracker technology is the fact that the UP2 lacks a heart rate monitor, which means that the device relies solely on the movement of your wrist for its various measurements.
