Fitbit or similar worn health smart devices

[404cameljockey]

I'm 67 and just starting to consider looking after myself a bit: doing moderate exercise, watching weight, I monitor blood pressure but all OK, not much else (sausage roll and espresso for breakfast will not be cancelled).

Does anyone use a Fitbit or other wrist device to monitor body health? Are they particularly helpful? I would not bother with the subscription service Fitbit offer.

Also I saw some expensive Withings smart scales which give a lot of information about body composition, cardiovascular health, etc., but the better model isn't available in Thailand.

Who here uses technology to help monitor their health?

[VincentD]

I've been using the Amazfit BIP (original, they're now up to version 3) and for what I paid for it, I'm pretty happy. It's a cheap and cheerful one, but does have built-in GPS and a heart rate monitor with alarm settings. It will also display messages when linked with your phone and has a 3 week battery life between charges with moderate use.
All smart watches typically come with a companion phone app. This one is stand alone, not particularly invasive, and does not need a subscription.
My sons have the Samsung smart watch and the Garmin, but they don't do very much more for eight times the price.
If you just want to monitor your health, get the Amazfit BIP 3 Pro, it has the GPS and also includes an oxygen level sensor. Do note that this is not a medical grade device, but neither are any of the smart watches either.
It's a decent size for my wrist, but you may need to shop around if you need something larger or classier. YMMV.

[hhinner]

I've been using the Amazfit BIP (original, they're now up to version 3) and for what I paid for it, I'm pretty happy. It's a cheap and cheerful one, but does have built-in GPS and a heart rate monitor with alarm settings. It will also display messages when linked with your phone and has a 3 week battery life between charges with moderate use.
All smart watches typically come with a companion phone app. This one is stand alone, not particularly invasive, and does not need a subscription.
My sons have the Samsung smart watch and the Garmin, but they don't do very much more for eight times the price.
If you just want to monitor your health, get the Amazfit BIP 3 Pro, it has the GPS and also includes an oxygen level sensor. Do note that this is not a medical grade device, but neither are any of the smart watches either.
It's a decent size for my wrist, but you may need to shop around if you need something larger or classier. YMMV.

I have the Amazfit GTS (original version), which is similar to BIP. Originally the battery lasted for over 2 weeks, but after nearly 4 years it's down to 6 or 7 days between charges.

It doesn't have it's own smart OS (like Android or iOS, hence good battery time) and connects with phone via Bluetooth. I use it mostly for tracking pulse and cycling for which statistics are sent to a phone app.

Also provides notifications from phone, eg vibrates when there's an incoming call and phone is in DND mode.

[hhinner]

^^ Forgot - tells the time as well.

[404cameljockey]

Thanks guys, I've ordered the Amazfit Active in black. Not the cheapest but has good range of functions and it's not as bulky as some of their range!

[VincentD]

The original BIP has good battery life because the display is liquid paper. The GTS came later, but since the BIP is still chugging along I have no need for another.
Re the 'smart' scales. As long as your weight doesn't fluctuate too much, don't bother. I have one of those inn the house and it confuses the h*!! out of everyone because you don't know whose profile or is, whether it is reading weight, or BMI something else again.
The is a fine line between useful technology and hype.

[404cameljockey]

Sadly there's only me in my house as of last year. The function I like is the cardiovascular check, arterial monitoring, even can different between say a problem with right arm/leg over left, but I won't pay to have it imported!

[buksida]

I got the Mrs the Amazfit Bip 5, which seems to be an impressive piece of kit for the price (about 2,300 baht). She's figured out the modes and the levels of workout she need to do to achieve her goals.

Thinking of getting something similar just to see if the amount of running I'm doing is actually of significant benefit to other exercises as I'm starting to get knee aches which I won't want to get worse.

The Xiaomi Mi Band 8 Pro looks pretty similar in function and price. Anyone used a Xiaomi smart/fitness watch?

[Dan86]

Haven't tried a Xiaomi but have a an Honor Band knocking around, used to be a Huawei subsidiary. Works pretty well for step tracking, the sleep tracking and the heart rate stuff seems less accurate than the Fitbit I had for 3 years until it broke but all in all, for the basic stuff I think the Chinese brands do fine they all have run modes and various other exercise tracking stuff.

I got the Mrs the Amazfit Bip 5, which seems to be an impressive piece of kit for the price (about 2,300 baht). She's figured out the modes and the levels of workout she need to do to achieve her goals.

Thinking of getting something similar just to see if the amount of running I'm doing is actually of significant benefit to other exercises as I'm starting to get knee aches which I won't want to get worse.

The Xiaomi Mi Band 8 Pro looks pretty similar in function and price. Anyone used a Xiaomi smart/fitness watch?

[Chazz14]

Hi Buksida, by pure coincidence my Mi Band 7 died this week after 15 months when it refused to charge. The screen had also recently become corrupted also. Here is a link to an interesting Y/tube guy who tested the Mi Band 8 last year: If I remember correctly, he found that the 8 performed pretty much the same as the 7 i.e. step counting good, but heart rate and sleep monitoring not so good. But my 7 only cost B1400 so what can you really expect!? I'm thinking of spending a little more this time (B3000?), but there's so much choice out there! Interested to know which one you choose...

[buksida]

This is the Band 8, not the Mi Band 8 Pro, which I looked at. The major difference is that it is more of a watch than a 'band', and it has an AMOLED screen and a GPS, which is essential for tracking runs. Ordered it yesterday from Laz at B2,250.

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/xiaom ... 93962.html

[VincentD]

I also have a Huawei fitness band, think a 3. It looks good on paper, even has gps and SpO2, but is now gathering dust on the shelf. It is a pain to set up, the companion app is fiddly and the band will not work at all without the app. I could not, for the life of me, change the units from Imperial to metric. Big disappointment.
I would personally buy a fitness device that looks functional as a digital watch, so you could still wear it day to day and not look like a fitness freak. And my original BIP is still going strong..

[hhinner]

Until recently I had an Amazfit gts. Sadly, after 3, nearly 4, years it died.

I wanted another Amazfit, but their prices were too high now - got greedy maybe.

I ended up with a Redmi watch 4. It was cheap, has a big screen, pulse monitor, sleep monitor function and GPS. And all the other stuff for exercise monitoring. I can't say how accurate the pulse monitor is, but the GPS is good enough and syncs to satellites faster than the old amazfit. Phone answering works too.

Battery is excellent. Charge it twice now. It arrived with about 70% charge, which lasted about 15 days. After I charged it to full the first time, it lasted 22 days. Currently 38% after 15 days. Not been using the GPS much though.

It was either the watch 4 or the mi band 8 pro. What clinched it was the knob (crown). Band 8 pro doesn't have one.

[STEVE G]

I would personally buy a fitness device that looks functional as a digital watch, so you could still wear it day to day and not look like a fitness freak.

I use a Garmin for that:

[Dan86]

Yeah mine is also gathering dust to be honest, as you say the Chinese app is bit of a pain to setup. My Honor Band does work just fine without it UNTIL the battery runs out, then you must reconnect it with the app or its a brick, I was using it bascially offline so this was quite annoying as I had uninstalled the spyware from my phone already. I just use a digotal watch with some fitness timing stuff on it now.

I also have a Huawei fitness band, think a 3. It looks good on paper, even has gps and SpO2, but is now gathering dust on the shelf. It is a pain to set up, the companion app is fiddly and the band will not work at all without the app. I could not, for the life of me, change the units from Imperial to metric. Big disappointment.
I would personally buy a fitness device that looks functional as a digital watch, so you could still wear it day to day and not look like a fitness freak. And my original BIP is still going strong..