GET SMARTER WITH YOUR HEALTH

By Samrat Amatya

We engage in a variety of activities to stay healthy, be it hitting the gym or following a strict diet routine. But doing things arbitrarily will not produce the results we want. It becomes imperative to keep track of our exercise and calorie intake. Not only does it help to scientifically record our effort but also aids in staying motivated. Here are some smart devices which will enable us to do just that and more straight from our wrist.

Xiaomi MI Band 2

Xiaomi, a Chinese OEM, makes a lot of electronic products including a fitness band. Xiaomi MI Band 2 is one of the most popular fitness bands in the market right now. Not only that, it is quite affordable compared to its competitors. The MI Band 2 from Xiaomi doesn’t pack a lot of bells and whistles but has all the bare necessities to keep track of your health. The band coupled with its companion app makes for a convenient way to keep all your simple exercises in check. The band allows you to track your steps, calories burned, heart rate and distance traveled.

A good night’s rest is key to one’s good health! The MI Band 2 helps you monitor your sleep patterns without any inconvenience. It calculates your time in bed and categorises it according to how deep or light your nap was. Besides that, it also can act as an alarm clock, waking you up through a gentle vibration. The band also makes you competitive about your health and achieving your set goals.

Did I mention—the band has a built-in heart rate scanner and is water resistant? If you are on a budget but still want to keep track of your health, the Xiaomi MI Band 2 is your best option.

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier

It is a fitness tracker that also doubles as a smartwatch. Although a smartwatch, the Gear S3 is packed to the gills with a ton of health-related features. The health suite on the watch revolves around Samsung proprietary app, S Health. It also has a companion app which works in conjunction with the app on the smartwatch. The watch can do a lot of things: track your steps, count the floors climbed, monitor heart rate, sleep patterns and exercises. You can also monitor your water and caffeine intake so that you meet your set target. The Gear S3 also has 4GB of built-in memory enabling you to leave your phone home while you exercise. You can listen to the music you love with a Bluetooth headset straight from your watch. The S3, furthermore, comes with a built-in GPS to track your morning joggingand also the pace at which it’s being done.

Besides, Gear S3 helps you supervise your food consumption during different periods of the day. It also gives you a rough estimate of calorie intake from the food you have eaten. If that was not enough, the Gear S3 reminds you to stay healthy and off the couch. It gives you a slight nudge if you stay inactive for a certain period of time. Moreover, the Gear S3 packs various sensors like an Altimeter, Barometer, GPS, Heart Rate scanner all in an IP68 rated dust and water resistant body.

Price: Rs. 41,900 Available at: Samsung Mobile Nepal Official Showroom, Durbar Marg

Samsung Gear Fit 2

If Xiaomi MI Band 2 is not the quintessential feature-packed device for you and Gear S3 is too expensive, then Samsung Gear Fit 2 is your most viable option. Fit 2 brings the best of both worlds in an attractive package. It is not as bulky as a smartwatch, but packs almost all the goodies one would expect from it. The center of attraction is its 1.5 inch AMOLED touch display which makes it much easier to interact with the device. It also has a built-in GPS and a heart rate scanner to record your location and measure your heart rate on the go.

Just like the Gear S3, Fit 2 uses the companion S Health app to sync all your information. It can track activities like walking, jogging, cycling, etc. but struggles a bit detecting other heavy types of exercises. The Gear Fit 2 alerts you if you stay stationary in a certain place for too long. It also packs all the needed sensors like an accelerometer, gyroscope, and barometer to get the most accurate reading of your work out. And yes, it is also water resistant just like the other two.

Price: Rs. 15,000 Available at: CTV Mobile, Tamrakar Complex