The Sony SmartBand 2 looks nearly identical to its predecessor, but the module under the wristband now contains a biometric sensor to read a wearer’s heart rate.
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Sony has announced a second generation activity and fitness tracker that maintains the core design and abilities of its first, but adds a heart rate tracker to more accurately judge pulse and cardio information. The LED’s will notify you of new messages, calls, emails or social media updates.
Fitness trackers are big business, so it’s no surprise Sony’s ailing Mobile division is keen to bank on the trend.
Sony is marketing the new heart rate sensing as a way to keep an eye on stress levels as well as your fitness.
Sony has provided its Lifelog app that works as a companion app with the SmartBand 2.
It also provides sleep insights, with automatic sleep detection and a smart alarm clock function, which gently vibrates to wake the user up at the best time, based on their sleep cycle. You can also use the band to play, pause or skip through music tracks playing through a phone or tablet.
First, the SmartBand 2 is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, so you can pair it with your iPhone (8.2 and above) as well as your Android (4.4 and above) mobile.
It has a little extra perk for those with one of Sony’s Xperia devices – it lets out a vibration alert if you move more than 10 meters from the device. And you get all this tech with a full two days of battery life.
The SmartBand 2 can be worn in a variety of situations as well, thanks to its IP68 dust and waterproof rating.
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Available in black and white on launch with interchangeable pink and indigo straps to follow later, the SmartBand 2 will cost 119 Euros (around £85) when it goes on sale next month. Sony said the device will launch in 60 countries across the world in September, for a recommended retail price of around Euro 199.
