full Review of both trackers smart health innovation

May 21, 2020

As Fitbit continues its mad race at the top of the classification of the best-selling bracelets, two competitors launch a new bracelet supposed to dethrone the Charge HR, praised by the critics and by ourselves. Initially expected at the start of the year, the Jawbone UP3 will not be available until mid-July. In question, the tightness of the product which the manufacturer did not like. To be forgiven, Jawbone promises a high-flying tracker with precise measurements and permanent coaching. For its part, Huawei is putting on the market version 2 of its Talkband, a bracelet capable of transforming into a Bluetooth headset. Sold almost at the same price (to 10 euros), the drafting of ABSMARTHEALTH.net offers a Review versus to find out all about these two trackers. Who will win?

(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o9jDQfsACY (/ embed) 

Brands : Jawbone and Huaweï

Category : smart health connected bracelets

Availability : Mid-July 2015 for Jawbone, June 29 for Huaweï

Price : 179.99 euros and 169.99 euros

Unboxing

Jawbone UP3

The brand offers a simple box, but quite effective. Without frills, the white box lets see the bracelet. Inside there is therefore the Jawbone UP3, but also the charging cable and a small user manual. Not much to say on this since the box does not overflow with content. That said, no more is needed. The box does what is expected of it.

Huawei Talkband B2

Here too, the Chinese manufacturer offers sober, but effective packaging that highlights the bracelet. Inside there is the power cable and a short, but sufficient notice. The opening side up clearly makes you think of a jewelry box which still gives a qualitative side to the nice Talkband.

The winner ?

The two are equal, but if one had to be chosen, it would be Huaweï who won the round for the slightly more qualitative side of its packaging.

Design & Ergonomics

Jawbone UP3

Remember we criticized Jawbone's main competitor, Fitbit, for the quality of its bracelets and especially the material used. As for the Jawbone UP3, it's not much better. There is a bracelet with a rubber effect that is not really comfortable to wear, especially when you do sports. Assessment, a big flat for the brand, because if at 129 euros we already had trouble tolerating such a material, at 179.99 it becomes really hard.

To continue on the product design: it is not ugly, but clearly not comfortable to wear. Fortunately, we had the black model with a striped top and not the red or gray and the particularly unsightly quilted effect. We must say that we are still as surprised to see the manufacturers offer such classic designs to the point of becoming commonplace. At least the Jawbone UP3 has an advantage, it is relatively discreet and will easily fit under a T-shirt or a shirt.

Unfortunately, it’s not over, the fixing system is not very practical. The idea was first and foremostprevent the Jawbone UP3 from coming off. The least we can say is that it works at the expense of simplicity. You have to twist in all directions to get there. The application recommends having a flat surface to install it, but even that is a big headache. Also note that very small wrists may run into a problem. The bracelet is adjustable, of course, but it is difficult to over-tighten, the fault with the sensors preventing the action. It will therefore be necessary to raise the Jawbone UP3 higher on the arm to have a larger surface to cover.

For the rest, we find all the sensors on the back of the Jawbone UP3, but also a small port to charge the device on a USB or AC outlet.

Huawei Talkband B2

Since we are talking about the quality of the bracelet, at 169 euros for the Talkband, you will find the eternal silicone bracelet, really not beautiful and unpleasant to wear. However, it is still possible to change this provided you pay the price. There are significantly more beautiful leather bracelets, but relatively expensive. At least they have the merit of existing.

Nevertheless, facing Jawbone, the Talkband B2 is prettier, partly thanks to its screen which gives it a more attractive appearance. Nevertheless, it is not free from defects, because better does not mean perfect far from it. It remains extremely classic. The screen is there, but contrary to what one might think it does not cover the entire upper surface, but barely half. A choice that we understand from the Japanese manufacturer who undoubtedly wanted to gain autonomy in order to reach the 12 days without recharging that he announced. Too bad we're actually closer to 3 to 4 days. Still, we would have liked it to be bigger even if given the little things it displays, it is not necessarily necessary, but it is another problem.

Although the fastening system is very classic, it works well. No need to twist around and abuse your wrist to install it. The only concern will probably come from the smallest wrists, the attachment stops soon enough to tighten as much as possible.

The winner ?

You will understand, none is free from defects, but it is undoubtedly the Jawbone Up3 which has the most. As a result, he finds himself once again behind the Talkband 2 which wins the round.

Application

Jawbone UP3

To you who thought this Review would be an assassination for the Jawbone Up3, go your way. If the design is clearly one of the big weaknesses, the application is a success. It’s the heart of the whole process. It is clear and relatively well thought out. It is especially extremely complete, but we will see that in use. More than an application, "Up" is a real life coach. If the bracelet detects a slightly withdrawn activity for several days, we advise you to move, etc. As for stability, it is exemplary. We will see in the use part how it all comes to fruition.

Huawei Talkband B2

Well, at least it works well. I have to say that it’s not the content inside that might cause it to crash. What a desappointment ! A screen for the physical exercise part, a screen for sleep, two three alarms and we talk more about it. It’s sure that faced with Jawbone UP3 and an ultra-complete application, Huawei is clearly no match.

The winner ?

Unsurprisingly, the Jawbone UP3 wins this round hands down. Not that the application is more stable or prettier (although the colors at Jawbone are clearly more cheerful), but above all much more complete. We will see that in detail right away!

Use / Getting started

Physical activity :

Jawbone UP3

Despite a questionable design, when it comes to activity tracking, the Jawbone UP3 does its job well. There are of course the number of steps taken, but also the calories or the% of our daily goal (often set at 10,000 steps). But that's not all, the bracelet automatically detects physical activities and their duration as well as inactivity (and it’s more rare in the competition). Plethora of statistics and graphs are on the program for all those who are interested in this information. But the real interest is that the application behaves like a real coach. Depending on your activity or how you move, the app will give you tips to motivate yourself and improve your quality of life. “Start with a little walk" or "If you can, try playing sports today”Are the kind of little personalized messages you can receive.

Of course it automatically records the sports sessions you do with a fairly good accuracy it must be recognized, but it is also possible to enter the different activities yourself. As for the activities available, that is to say that there is no shortage of them. Hold on tight: walking, weight training, running, walking, hiking, cardio, cycling, yoga, stationary, pilates, elliptical machine, basketball, Zumba, swimming, tennis, dance, football, skiing. Unfortunately, the app does not automatically detect what activity you are doing. It should be specified once it is completed.

On this side, the Jawbone UP3 is a real companion for all Sunday athletes, but also the most diligent. Even if the accuracy is good, it does not differ so much from the results that can be found on other activity trackers while the brand has communicated a lot on it. For example, the results between the Jawbone UP3 and Talkband are roughly the same in terms of activity (at least sports in common). Much less for sleep…

Huawei Talkband B2

As we said, the application is relatively basic. Therefore, besides monitoring physical activity not much to get your teeth into. The Chinese manufacturer seems to have preferred to do in sobriety and simplicity. Followers of stats of all kinds, so go your way. We will be satisfied with the calories burned, the steps taken and the distance. Note however that the screen displays your steps, but also the calories you burned while moving without taking care of the calories that you spend when you are inactive. Besides, after too much inactivity you will receive a small vibration to tell you to move. So it's up to you if you are on a diet to calculate all this. Because instead of a nutritional coach, the Talkband B2 turns into a Bluetooth headset.

Specialization:

Jawbone UP3: nutrition

Jawbone UP3 coaching continues with food. The app allows constant monitoring of what you eat with the ability to take photos directly. Recognition is not exceptional, but it can be fun. The same is true for product scanning. Most often it will be necessary to enter the food yourself. The result is then marked on the health home menu next to your sleep and physical activity history to really have a track of your day on all levels. Even stronger, there is a “Food Score” with integrated nutritional qualities. Basically, if a food is bad it will be red. Conversely, it will be green if it is recommended for your diet. At the end of the day, you will be able to observe your nutrition score. Again, the app is really comprehensive on every level.

Huawei Talkband B2: Bluetooth headset

You have to believe that the integration of the Bluetooth headset functionality and a nutritional coach are not compatible. No possibility to follow his diet or even his weight. Instead, the Talkband can be turned into a headset for making calls. It’s pretty practical, you have to admit, but ultimately quite gimmicky. Logically, you have to unhook it from the bracelet to be able to use this function which is ultimately quite gadget. What's more, the communication is not that great. The quality of the audio leaves something to be desired for both the user and the caller, with the constant impression that the person is far from their phone.

Sleep tracking:

No need to separate the two products, because they basically do the same thing. monitoring of deep, light and paradoxical sleep. We would tend to believe the Jawbone given the results of the other components of the bracelet, but some data such as 10 minutes of deep sleep per night seem rather strange to us. As for sleep time, no big differences within a few minutes. The main difference comes from the fact that the Talkband B2 automatically records the sleep and not the Jawbone UP3. A small weakness compensated by a taking a resting heart rate when you wake up, something not offered by its Chinese competitor. The Talkband also has its small weakness, when you go to bed it tends to turn on automatically regularly thinking that you are watching the time when not at all. We say hello to the light in the eyes.

The winner ?

Inevitably, with such a complete follow-up, it is difficult not to give the round to the Jawbone UP3 which literally crushes its opponent in terms of content. The only exclusivity of the Talkband B2 is the transformation into a Bluetooth ear.

Against competition

There he is, from the top of his hit parade, the Fitbit Charge HR, Jawbone's biggest competitor, but also of all the brands that rub shoulders with the experience of the activity tracker. Sold around 120 euros on the web, it offers an experience perhaps a little less complete than Jawbone on the number of activities available or coaching, although, but its price and its screen make it a serious opponent despite its seniority compared to these two models.

Conclusion

The advantages of the Jawbone UP3

> An ultra-complete application> A true companion for statistics freaks> The personalized coach

Cons of the Jawbone UP3

> Design that leaves something to be desired> The chaotic attachment system> Small abandoned wrists> The price is too high> No screen

Advantages of the Huawei Talkband B2

> Good quality screen> The possibility of using it on a Bluetooth headset> Clean design> Very easy to use

Cons of the Huawei Talkband B2

> Less autonomy than announced> Application that lacks content> A price that is still too high> Too basic functionalities

In this face to face, Jawbone UP3 wins. The fault of an opponent who offers features that are too basic for the price it costs. The price, this is a huge defect of the UP3 which despite an extremely rich application can not legitimize the 180 euros required to get it. In addition to a design to review and the absence of an almost mandatory screen in this price range, the UP3 especially lacks fun. Whether in form, colors or in the way of using it, which is sometimes complicated (the attachment system, the obligation to put it in night mode or even having to push hard to tap it so that it lights up). So it's hard to say that the Fitbit Charge HR has been exceeded. The champion remains champion.