Photo credit: www.theverge.com
Smart rings are experiencing a resurgence, offering consumers a variety of options beyond the well-known Oura Ring. This expansion is exciting, but many of the competing models are still in their early generations, resulting in features that may feel unrefined. The Amazfit Helio smart ring, priced at $199.99, exemplifies this trend.
Amazfit may not be a household name, but it has made a mark among consumers looking for budget-friendly wearables. The Helio marks Amazfit’s debut in the smart ring category, serving primarily as a sleep tracker. It includes an AI chatbot named Zepp Flow, an AI coaching feature, and several sensors for monitoring stress, blood oxygen levels, temperature, and menstrual cycles. Additionally, it integrates seamlessly with popular fitness apps like Adidas Running, Strava, and Komoot, as well as Apple Health and Google Fit. One of its advantages is compatibility with Amazfit’s smartwatch line, allowing users to collect data from multiple sources or alternate between devices based on activity and battery life.
Advantages
- No subscription required
- Compatible with Amazfit smartwatches
- Provides decent sleep and recovery tracking
- Comfortable to wear
Disadvantages
- Charging through a dock could be improved
- Limited size options available
- Sizing method is inconvenient
- Battery life is not impressive
Upon launch, Amazfit slashed the Helio’s price by $100 and introduced free lifetime subscriptions to its Aura and Fitness services. This pricing strategy initially appears to be a great deal, yet several drawbacks temper its appeal.
One of the primary concerns is the battery life and the restricted sizes available for consumers. Many leading smart rings boast a battery life of about four to seven days, depending on their size. In contrast, the Helio ring is rated for around four days, though in practice, it may only provide about three days on a single charge, which is short, especially for a device designed to monitor sleep.
When compared with other models such as the Oura Ring 4, the Helio requires charging two to three times more often. Using it alongside other Amazfit devices did not yield any significant battery improvements, unlike the Samsung Galaxy Ring, which optimizes battery use across devices.
Additionally, the reliance on a dock for charging poses an inconvenience. Small pets can easily disrupt charging stations, making charging cases that protect the device preferable. The Helio ring is also limited in color and size options—available only in one color and three sizes (8, 10, and 12)—which restricts its suitability for many potential users, particularly those with smaller fingers.
The absence of a sizing kit is another drawback. Proper sizing is critical for wearables to ensure they function accurately and comfortably. The Helio requires users to measure their fingers using makeshift methods like string or tape, which is far from ideal.
Despite these challenges, the Helio’s health and sleep tracking capabilities offer a broad overview of trends, although individual sleep sessions may not always be accurately recorded. For instance, while the Helio may log significantly longer sleep durations than were truly achieved, it does provide a general idea of sleep quality and irregular sleep patterns over time. Other metrics such as blood oxygen and stress levels appear to be in line with competing devices.
However, as a fitness tracker, the Helio has limitations. It offers a narrow selection of tracking activities and, unlike more advanced models, does not automatically detect exercises. Furthermore, it lacks the option to modify exercise data after a session has ended, an inconvenience that could be rectified in future updates.
The Zepp app accompanying the Helio has also had its share of updates, now featuring a cleaner and more user-friendly interface. On the downside, long-term historical data can be challenging to access, which may frustrate users who seek to analyze trends over time. While the app incorporates an AI chatbot for a personalized experience, many of its insights are basic and can feel redundant for users already familiar with their habits and routines.
While the Amazfit Helio smart ring is not without its faults, it holds potential, especially for those who already own Amazfit smartwatches. The prospect of syncing data across devices adds value, but concerns regarding battery life and sizing remain critical considerations. Future iterations may address these shortcomings, but as it stands, it is difficult to label the Helio as an unequivocal bargain.
Agree to Continue: Amazfit Helio Smart Ring
With the advent of digital devices, users are often required to consent to various terms and conditions, a task most people overlook. As part of our review process, we now keep track of how many agreements users must accept to utilize these devices.
To operate the Amazfit Helio Smart Ring, users must connect it to either an iPhone or Android device, which entails accepting the phone’s terms of service, privacy policies, and numerous other permissions. If you opt to use Zepp’s Aura or Fitness features, you’ll also need to agree to those privacy terms and conditions, including permissions for any third-party integrations.
By setting up the Helio Smart Ring, users are essentially consenting to:
Final Tally: Three mandatory agreements and several optional permissions and agreements.
Source
www.theverge.com