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Ditch Your Smartwatch? Try This $99 Fitness Strap
27 Nov
Summary
- The strap offers over 10 days of battery life, ideal for continuous tracking.
- AI-powered food tracking uses photos for calorie and macro breakdowns.
- Zepp app's BioCharge metric provides daily readiness scores based on sleep and stress.
Priced at an affordable $99, the Amazfit Helio Strap provides a lightweight and distraction-free fitness tracking experience, lasting over 10 days on a single charge. Its functionality is deeply integrated with the Zepp app, which offers a wealth of health and fitness data, including workout tracking, heart health, and sleep statistics. This minimal design eschews a watch face, encouraging users to rely solely on the app for insights.
The Zepp app introduces innovative features like BioCharge, a daily score out of 100 reflecting readiness for the day, and PAI (Personal Activity Indicator), which motivates consistent physical exertion. The app's AI can also analyze food intake by snapping photos, surprisingly accurately breaking down caloric values and macronutrients, though it may struggle with precise portion estimation.
While the strap itself is basic and shows wear over time, its true value lies in the comprehensive Zepp app. It functions as a standalone device or complements Amazfit's Balance 2 smartwatch for a seamless tracking experience, all without a mandatory subscription, though premium insights are available.
