bracelet reviews, reviews, prices and features smart health innovation

A year ago, Razer became known for its "gamer" smart health connected bracelet: the Nabu. This device offered a correct activity tracker and more interesting social functions, allowing you to manage your notifications with a wrist movement and to add new contacts by tapping them in the hand. For the Razer Nabu X? We use the same ingredients, we remove the superfluous (namely the OLED screen) and we lower the price (2 times cheaper!). It remains to be seen whether the formula still works.

Characteristics of the Nabu X

First observation: the disappearance of the OLED screen, present on the elder of the Razer Nabu X. If this change may seem anecdotal, it is clear that it has a significant impact on the design of the object. More refined, with an aesthetic a little less "gimmicky" and more discreet than its predecessor, this one has few visual elements : the Razer logo at one end and the three LEDs that replace the screen. Indeed, it will be via these three light points (red, green or blue) that all the notifications, alarms and objectives that you have set will pass.

As for the bracelet, it is also available in several colors: black, white or green. Note that the Razer nabu X is made of the same rubber material as the Nabu and is found to be particularly comfortable. It’s a one-size-fits-all, which means you won't have to worry about the size of your wrist since it is supposed to fit. Finally, the Razer Nabu X is waterproof, water resistant to a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes.

On the hardware side, the sensors are included in a module that attaches to an opening on the bracelet.

Razer Nabu X features

Like its predecessor, the Razer Nabu X plays on two fronts: that of activity tracking and that of smart health bracelet.

Side physical activity, the bracelet does not really play the card of originality since it is satisfied with reproduce what all his fellows offer already: calculation of the number of steps, calories burned and analysis of sleep quality. If these features are indeed required for any good bracelet smart health connected, it is not by these that the Razer Nabu X seeks to stand out. The pedometer doesn't really shine with its precision, and it would sometimes seem that the bracelet simply stops recording your progress. It is certainly neither serious nor surprising for a device of this price range (since it is sold $ 50), but it’s good to report it.

Technical level, the Razer Nabu X allows check your progress against your goal by double tapping the bracelet. The idea is good, and fits well in the desire for discreet and tactile use desired by Razer. The problem is that it does not always work and that often tapping the bracelet will only show the remaining battery level. A minor flaw that we hope will be fixed in future versions.

Just like the activity tracker, the sleep monitoring is relatively simple. Sleep mode can activate directly from the dedicated application, or preprogrammed in case of prolonged inactivity during the time slot of your choice.

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As for social component, things get more interesting. The special thing about the Razer Nabu X is that it only display three LEDs. Via different colors and vibrations, the smart health connected bracelet alerts you of your calls, texts and all your social interactions. The principle is that it is possible to customize the displayed colors and form your own color code based on notifications. You are the only one who knows what your bracelet communicates to you via its light signals. By default, social notifications are indicated by green LEDs, calls in blue and other alarms in red.

Nevertheless, the main attraction of the Razer Nabu X remains the possibilities for social interactions of its own. In addition to sharing your physical activities or interacting with multiplayer games, it is the possibility ofexchange Facebook or Twitter data with a stranger by giving them a high five that seduces … provided you come across someone who has the same bracelet as you. Because yes: the functionality is really interesting, but it is above all only compatible with other Nabu devices. Given their number, let's say … restricted in the streets at the moment, it is difficult to speak about the social interactions offered by the device. At least they have the merit of existing.

Let's also add the ability to interact with notifications displayed intuitively and discreetly with a movement of the wrist, that the Razer Nabu X is not the only one to offer but which is still nice.

Application of Nabu X

As a dedicated app, it's actually two separate platforms that you will need to download : the Nabu X Utility and the Nabu Fitness. Both are compatible android (from version 4.3) and iOS (on iPhone 5 and later). They are free to download from Google Play and the Apple App Store. Also to know that Nabu Fitness is perfectly compatible with the Apple Health platform.

Nabu X Utility is the application that allows you to manage bracelet preferences. In short, it is what allows you to pair the device with your phone, modify the notification settings, determine the alarms, etc.

The app Nabu Fitness, not surprisingly, is dedicated to tracking of your physical activities. There is not much to say so much she is simple, which can be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on what you expect from the Razer Nabu X. The application is nowhere near as comprehensive as Jawbone's for example she is content with the minimum but measures it correctly. Figures and graphs illustrate the number of steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, and light and deep sleep periods. In terms of your personal goals, progress bars legibly represent your situation in relation to the goal to be achieved (which can also appear on your bracelet via the display of certain LEDs). Bonus point: it is possible to consult its data in days, weeks, months or quarters.

Razer bracelet battery and autonomy

As for the battery, Razer announces one week of battery life in constant use. In reality, we are closer to the 5 days, but it likely depends on how you use your smart health bracelet, since the device can last up to 30 days on stand-by. This is a good average for the Razer Nabu X, given its price and the features it offers.

The bracelet charges fully in about an hour, via a proprietary USB cable.

Price and availability of the Razer Nabu X?

Presented at this year's CES in Las Vegas, the Razer Nabu X is already available for sale on their site. Its price is its real asset, since it will only cost you $ 50 (equivalent to just under 44 €), or less than the majority of smart health connected bracelets. It remains to be hoped that this figure will attract crowds, because a large part of the social interactions it offers (essentially via the social platform of Razer, Pulse) lose their interest without other users of the Razer Nabu X. No reason to rush on the bracelet immediately, therefore.

AB SMART HEALTH REVIEW