An Immersive Bedtime Experience.

The Aura smart sleep mask combines total blackout with integrated sound and light to create an immersive wind-down experience. The sunrise alarm clock offers a gentle wake-up, while the buildable soundscape provides customization options. However, the high price tag is hard to justify, especially as it’s not a particularly user friendly design.

Pros

• +Blocks out all light
• +Stays in place overnight
• +Sunrise alarm function
• +Large sound library
• +Immersive meditation

Cons

• -Limited app functionality
• -Awkward button placement
• -Not suitable for front sleepers

AURA SMART SLEEP MASK: TWO-MINUTE REVIEW

The Aura smart sleep mask uses light and sound to transform a basic eye mask into a mindful, immersive experience. I tried sleeping with the Aura mask for a week, and as someone uses an eye mask every night, I was excited to see whether a smart upgrade really could improve my rest.

Crafted with integrated speakers and an in-built ‘glow’ light, the sleep mask connects to the Aura app to provide a customizable sleep experience. You can mix and match ASMR sounds, guided meditations, and nature soundscapes to craft a meditative wind-down routine, while in the morning, the sunrise function gently wakes you up with light and sound.

The basic design of the Aura mask is excellent. The sculpted interior ‘Hug’ cushion keeps the pressure off your face and blocks light completely, while the anti-slip straps hold the mask in place even over restless nights. Back and side sleepers should be able to get comfortable, but stomach sleepers are likely to find the mask presses into the face.

Thanks to the blackout effect and calming sounds, it’s easy to get immersed in the Aura experience. If you’re struggling to find a mindful headspace before bed, the Aura separates you from the outside world while encouraging relaxation. And with a lightweight build and easy charging method, you can take the Aura’s calming techniques with you when you travel.

However, it’s expensive for a sleep mask, and I’m not sure the features entirely justify the price. There are some issues with the user experience and the app is basic, which seems at odds with the price tag. The Aura is a product like no other, and if you want a more mindful bedtime routine (especially on the go) it might be worth the money. But if it’s just better sleep you’re after, a basic eye mask is probably the better starting place.

I tested the Aura smart sleep mask in Midnight Black, which is available for pre-order and will be released 14th March. The Aura smart sleep mask original was launched in November 2023. and is available for purchase from Aura.

Buy the Aura Smart Sleep Mask in Midnight Black from Aura

AURA SMART SLEEP MASK: PRICE

• MSRP US$358 / £285 / €339.95, often discounted to US$229 / £182 / €218.95
• Aura app is free to use
• 1 year warranty for the mask, Hug insert has a 3 month warranty

The Aura smart sleep mask has an MSRP of $329, although it’s regularly discounted, so don’t expect to pay full price. Aura has previously discounted the original sleep mask by up to 40 per cent, taking it down to $199.

Even at a discount, this is an expensive buy, especially considering a basic sleep mask is only a few dollars. However, the Aura is pretty unique. While blackout masks, sleep masks with integrated speakers, and sunrise alarm clocks exist separately, as far as I can tell the Aura is the only one that combines all three.

Aura offers a one year warranty for the mask, while the interior insert has a three month warranty. The app is free to download and doesn’t require a subscription to use it. This gives you access to the full range of features at no extra cost – a welcome bonus, as you can’t use the mask without the app. It’s not unusual for smart products to charge an app subscription cost on top of the original price, so I certainly appreciate that the Aura doesn’t require this.

Is the Aura mask worth it? Thinking of it less as a sleep mask with some added features and more as a sunrise alarm clock with a speaker, a blackout design, and excellent portability, the cost is somewhat justified. There are limited uses to the Aura, but for those after improved mindfulness before bed, the mask delivers.

AURA SMART SLEEP MASK: DESIGN

• Magnetic 3D Hug insert relieves pressure at the eye area
• Velcro strap for a secure fit
• USB-C charger included

The Aura looks like a bigger, bulkier version of a standard sleep mask, but the simple design hides everything interesting happening underneath. Available in two colors – gray and black – the Aura has a sleek appeal. A few interesting colorways would be welcome, especially considering the price, but the overall look is stylish.

Inside sits a detachable 3D Hug band. This is a sculpted, cushioned band that sticks to the interior of the mask with a magnet, taking the pressure off the face while blocking all light. The outer material and the interior Hug are both soft against the skin, and the 3D effect prevents the mask from damaging the eyelashes. Straps at the back use velcro for an adjustable fit, with an anti-slip design to prevent the mask from moving around in the night.

The interior of the Aura smart sleep mask, including hug cushion and glow bar.

Hidden inside the mask is a set of ultra-slim speakers. Because the speakers aren’t set directly over the ears, there is some sound leakage – if you share a bed, your partner is likely to hear what’s coming from your mask, although not clearly.

Sitting just in front of the eye line on the interior of the mask is a small ‘glow’ bar. This is a gentle light, but when the mask is closed, it does flood the space. It’s also not visible from the outside when wearing the mask.

Aura claims the battery lasts for seven nights of normal use, which I found accurate. However, the battery life does depend on usage – if you choose a particularly long soundscape, expect the battery to drain quicker. A light on the mask indicates when the battery is running low, and you can check battery life by connecting to the app. As the Aura charges directly via the cable, you can’t comfortably use the mask when it’s charging.

Weighing 4.59oz (130g), this is heavier than your average sleep mask, but feels surprisingly light on the face. It’s also light and compact enough to travel with. The Aura does come with a small bag that I assume is for traveling, but it’s very hard to actually get the mask in there, so it might serve some other purpose I’m not aware of. (Aura reached out to me to explain that this bag is a laundry bag for the Hug cushion, to keep it protected during a machine wash. Even without the bag, I maintain it would be easy to travel with the Aura.)

The interior Hug band is removable and can be machine or hand washed with mild detergent. Leave it to dry completely before reattaching to your mask. The mask itself is spot clean-only, and you should avoid getting it wet.

AURA SMART SLEEP MASK: FEATURES

• 100 per cent blackout eye mask
• Integrated speakers play customizable soundscapes
• Glow light provides a sunrise alarm effect

At a basic level, the Aura is a 100 per cent blackout sleep mask. Thanks to the thick fabric and molded shape, no light can get in from any side, leaving you in total darkness. While it does rely slightly on the contours of your face roughly matching the Hug insert, for most people, the Aura should block essentially all light.

But this is the simplest function of the Aura. The Aura is a smart sleep mask, able to connect via Bluetooth to the Aura app to play sound, light, and act as an alarm. As well as white noise for sleep, the Aura offers guided meditations, nature soundscapes, and ASMR, which you can schedule and customize depending on whether you’re waking up, going to sleep, napping, or meditating. Because it uses Bluetooth, you can also play your own music through the Aura…  although I wouldn’t recommend it, as I’ll discuss in the performance section below.

The glow bar on the inside of the Aura smart sleep mask, surrounded by the 3D hug cushion

As well as soundscapes, the Aura also contains a sunrise light. This gentle glow bar is located on the interior of the mask, and it pulses along with certain meditations and noises. It also acts as a sunrise alarm clock, with the light gradually increasing at your chosen wake-up time, for a gentle start to the morning.

The Aura app has its own set of features, but it’s primarily used to control the Aura. While there’s a small sleep diary, its functions are minimal, and it primarily tracks your chosen wake-up and sleep times. The app also sends occasional notifications, indicating it’s time to nap, get ready for bed. These need a bit of fine tuning – I received a wake-up notification several minutes after the alarm had gone off, when I’d already disconnected the Aura and closed the app, for instance.

AURA SMART SLEEP MASK: PERFORMANCE

• Comfortable fit that stays in place during the night
• Immersive experience from blackout design and speakers
• App is basic and not particularly user-friendly

First, let’s talk about the Aura as a sleep mask. It’s soft against the face, with the velcro strap allowing you to create a close and secure fit. The inner Hug cushion is sculpted to the eye area and even with the straps as tight as they would go, it’s comfortable and won’t press against your eyes. An anti-slip coating prevents the Aura from moving during the night if, like me, you toss and turn.

This contoured fit prevents light from leaking in around the edges of the mask, creating a 100 per cent blackout effect. With the mask on, it’s honestly hard to tell if it’s day or night. As someone who struggles to sleep with even small amounts of light in the room, this is a real bonus. But this close fit did come with a slight downside – it could get warm. However, this is an issue with many eye masks.

The 3D cushioned Hug mask, removed from the Aura smart sleep mask.

With the Aura you get the basic benefits of a sleep mask, plus a lot more additional features. Using the Aura app, I designed a series of soundscapes for meditation and to help me fall asleep. With white noise, meditation tracks, ASMR, and nature sounds to choose from, there’s enough variety to suit the majority of sleepers. It was fun to craft these soundscapes, and while I normally kept my sessions under the 30 minute mark, you could push it much longer if you wanted sounds to last for most of the night.

The in-built speakers gave the Aura something of a surround sound effect which, combined with the total blackout, made for a deeply immersive experience. I often struggle to concentrate during meditation – the urge to peek is just too strong. With the Aura, it was much easier to get into the serene headspace and stay there. Plus, because the mask was already on my face and the alarm was set, at the end of the soundscape, I simply had to lie down and go to sleep. No disruptions to my calm mood.

That’s at the start of the night. For the morning, you can use the app to set an alarm for your chosen wake-up time. When the time comes, the ‘glow’ light will gradually illuminate, simulating a sunrise, before the sound kicks in.

The Aura Smart sleep mask in the box it came in.

The wake-up is impressively effective, with the light and sound coming together to create the feeling of a natural beginning to the morning. I did find it a little slow at waking me up, but that’s by design – this isn’t the jarring alert of a standard alarm. However, I always set the alarm to start a few minutes before I actually wanted to wake up, so it had time to work.

Aura claims the mask is side sleeper-friendly, and I found this largely accurate. Sometimes it took a minute of adjustment to get my head, the mask, and the pillow just right, but after that, the mask stayed comfortably in place.

I also found it much easier to get comfortable when I switched my pillow. I usually sleep on a medium-firm, all-foam pillow. The foam gently contours to your head, but it doesn’t have a huge amount of give (read my Levitex pillow review to learn exactly what it’s like). When I used a feather pillow with more yield, there was less pressure from the mask overall. If you’re interested in the Aura, consider what’s the best pillow to suit this smart mask.

The tester using the Aura sleep mask while lying on their back.

Back sleepers shouldn’t have any issues with the mask, however, it’s not recommended for stomach sleepers. The sides of the mask press into the face, so unless you twist your neck all the way around, it’s pretty uncomfortable in this position.

Connecting the Aura to the app was easy, although I question why the power button is in the middle of the face, rather than along the top bar with the rest of the buttons. With the mask on, it’s hard to locate just where the button is. I spent the first part of any mindfulness session randomly pressing my face and hoping for the best. It’s easier to find when you don’t have the mask on, but then it’s a rush to get comfortable before your soundscape starts.

As it uses a Bluetooth connection, you can also use the Aura to listen to your own music or meditations. However, I don’t recommend it. While the speakers are fine for meditations and white noise, there are some obvious issues with sound quality when listening to music. It’s definitely not good enough to replace a set of headphones.

The buttons at the top of the Aura smart sleep mask.

The app itself has room for growth. There’s a sleep diary with space to record my wake up time and sleep time, plus an emotion and a gratitude prompt. It doesn’t record any additional information about sleep quality – you’ll need one of the best sleep trackers for that – but this isn’t a major downside, as the mask isn’t equipped to note that sort of data. The bigger issue is that the sleep diary function is limited and not particularly intuitive. Overall, the app could be more user-friendly – the design seems to prioritize minimalism over navigation, which did not put me in a very mindful place. However, I appreciate that this is a free app, and as the Aura is a relatively new product, there’s plenty of time for development in this area.

The mask isn’t the most user-friendly design and it has limited uses. For example, while the immersive experience is great for meditation, the blackout effect means it’s no good during yoga.

But used before bed, the Aura has some real benefits. The combination of blackout and sunrise light allows you to really tap into your circadian rhythms. At night, I could drift off in darkness, while in the morning, natural-seeming light helped gently wake me up. For meditation, the Aura can improve concentration for anyone with wandering thoughts, and I could see the same benefit if you’re struggling to sleep from stress or anxiety. By balancing mindfulness with real-world features, the Aura can be a helpful addition to the pre-bed routine.

AURA SMART SLEEP MASK: SHOULD I BUY IT?

Buy it if…

You’re sensitive to light: Sleep masks are excellent at blocking light in the evening, making it easier to fall asleep. However, that same blackout effect can be problematic in the morning, when you need light to wake you up. The Aura navigates this issue by incorporating light into the mask itself, waking you up with a natural seeming daylight.

You struggle to concentrate during meditation: As someone who gets distracted easily during meditation, the Aura sleep mask helped me add some mindfulness to my bedtime. Surrounded by sound and with a total blackout, you’re pretty much forced to concentrate. And with the velcro straps keeping the mask close to your face, there’s no temptation to peek.

You travel frequently: A lightweight build makes the Aura easy to travel with, while the total blackout effect and immersive soundscapes can help you relax even in unfamiliar, noisy, and bright environments. And thanks to the glow effect alarm, early morning flights might feel less disruptive (there’s even a pre-flight anxiety meditation).

Don’t buy it if…

You’re on a tight budget: You could buy a lifetime’s supply of standard sleep masks for the same price as the Aura. Of course, you won’t get the light and sound functions that make this smart mask standout, but if you just want a darker night, it’s not worth the money. And if only one of the smart features appeals to you (for example. Integrated speakers) there are cheaper options available.

You sleep on your stomach: The sculpted face of the Aura sleep mask presses into the face in most stomach sleeping positions, requiring multiple adjustments to get comfortable. Whether you spend the entire night on your front or you’re a combination sleeper who moves around, there are some sleep positions that just don’t work with the Aura.

You want all your sleep tracking in one place: The Aura app is free but basic and the sleep diary is bare bones. While I didn’t expect the app to track my sleep, I would have appreciated a little more functionality. Overall, it’s not the most intuitive design to use, and it seems like a missed opportunity. A functioning sleep diary plus more space to record your thoughts and mood would have really added to the experience.

AURA SMART SLEEP MASK: HOW I TESTED

I tested the Aura smart sleep mask for a week, using it both before bed as part of my wind-down routine and in bed to help me sleep and wake me up in the morning. I tested during a mild spring in Wales, in a room without blackout curtains. I also used the Aura around other people, to see how much sound traveled.

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In a sea of budget smartwatches, Fire-Boltt’s Phoenix Ultra stands out. This is mainly because of two factors — its price and design. The smartwatch is currently available in India at Rs. 2,199 makes it one of the most affordable smartwatches to sport a classic watch design and metal body, which feels familiar and appears more like a traditional timepiece than a smartwatch. I was a bit excited to see how it was possible to deliver such a device at this price point, but after a couple of weeks of use, I think know how it pulled it off.

Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra price, design and specifications

The Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra is currently available in single option which is officially priced at Rs. 2,999, but can be purchased for as low as Rs. 2,199 from online retailers. Fire-Boltt provides the smartwatch with a silicon strap, an extra magnetic metal loop strap, and a two-pin magnetic charger in the box.

The smartwatch is available in three case finishes – steel, black and gold. These finishes come with various strap combinations in the box. I received the steel finished case with a magnetic blue metal strap and soft grey silicone strap.

The Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra has a metal case and a 3D-curved display glass

At a glance, the steel finish of the 44mm case sure looks classy and very similar to traditional timepieces. For an entry-level smartwatch, the finish of this metal case is surprisingly good and devoid of any sharp or rough edges. The back of the case is made of plastic with the sensor laid out dead-centre and the metal charging contacts closer to the edge above it. The Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra weighs 55g without the strap and also has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.

The Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra with both metal and silicon straps is quite comfortable and does not feel heavy. The 22mm silicone strap has a quick release mechanism for attaching itself to the case. The metal loop strap has a strong magnet to hold the watch in place. During the review period, the watch never came undone no matter which strap I used.

Fire-Boltt also offers an extra magnetic metal loop strap in the box

The Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra has a rather basic 1.39 inches LCD display with a resolution of 240 × 240 pixels and a standard 60Hz refresh rate. It is surrounded by some really chunky bezels and the display in my unit seemed misaligned as the bottom bezel was a lot thicker than the rest.

The smartwatch has only one button and pressing it either wakes the display and shows the watch face or turns the display off. If you are in any other menu or app in the watch interface, pressing the button gets you back to the watch face directly.

Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra software and performance

The Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra offers a very basic software interface. While it lacks any support for third-party apps, even the basics aren’t covered here. For example, there’s no way to set the display timeout on the watch, which is set to five seconds by default. There’s no basic calculator app either. I could not even check the charging status of the watch.

The Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra needs to be disconnected from the charger in order to view the watch face, which is the only place that displays the battery status. Setting an alarm, timer or stopwatch requires one to enter the settings menu, which is a layer down from the main menu.

The display on the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra seems to be misaligned

Navigating this simple software interface is quite easy using swipe gestures, which is why the usefulness of the crown is reduced to simply powering the display on or off as the flick-to-wake gesture also works just fine.

Moving to the companion app, it’s as basic as the smartwatch’s UI and is available for both iOS and Android smartphones. The Da Fit app has three main sections — Today, device settings and My (which is basically the user’s profile). Setting up the app using an Android smartphone was a fairly easy experience, its just that you have to keep the app locked in the phone’s Recents menu to keep receiving notifications on the watch.

The Da Fit companion app has a simple interface

The Today page display’s readings from the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra which includes step count, sleep, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, along with exercise records. The device settings section lets you change the watch face, adjust notifications, set alarms etc. There is an important section called Others buried deep in here that let me set the time format, unit system, DnD timings, continuous heart rate setting intervals, and most important of all, the auto-lock or display sleep setting, which is not accessible on the watch.

One can use GPS connected exercises like outdoor runs or walks only via the Da Fit mobile app as the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra does not have built-in GPS. What I did find odd is that the watch will never sync data to the app unless you enter the mobile app and swipe down to refresh the data in the Today section.

The watch face gallery has a handful of preinstalled watch faces (including one of Mahendra Singh Dhoni), but opening up the online gallery using the mobile app gave me access to plenty more downloadable ones, which appeared a lot more interesting. However, I did not manage to download and install a watch face even though these were barely 159kb in size. During this time, neither smartwatch nor the app is accessible, which can get frustrating.

It’s hard to tell which app a notification comes from on the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra

Notifications from the smartwatch are truncated. But it’s hard to tell which app they’re coming from as there is no clear iconography to indicate the same. Setting a timer on the smartphone will also push constant notifications for each passing second, filling up the notifications menu on the smartwatch.

Health tracking is another reason why most users go in for a smartwatch these days. Sadly my experience with the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra was far from great. To begin with the watch only offers two automated health monitoring features. The first one is sleep monitoring, which attempts to deliver detailed sleep stage data or reports like deep sleep, light sleep, REM sleep and more.

However, I found this data to be far from accurate as the watch often counted my time resting in bed (before falling asleep) as time spent sleeping due to which the resulting data turned out inaccurate. Continuous heart rate monitoring was another automated health-tracking feature and it is customisable letting you choose the interval.

Regular heart rate measurements were inaccurate, inconsistent and quite unreliable when compared to the measurements provided by a standalone oximeter. SpO2 readings were a bit more reliable but still not consistent.

The Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra offers up to 123 fitness tracking sport modes. I tried out the basic step tracking feature using the Walking exercise mode and the watch managed to detect 505 instead of 500 steps, which seemed fine for a smartwatch at this price point. However, this is not a smartwatch I would choose for health and fitness tracking.

The Bluetooth calling feature works as expected and setting up the feature did not require me to pair the watch twice with the Android smartphone either. The caller could be heard loud and clear and wasn’t able to tell that I was calling from a smartwatch.

The magnetic charger fits snuggly in place while charging the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra

In terms of battery life, I found that the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra could deliver on its claimed battery life of seven days. This is possible mainly because the watch barely offers any auto-health tracking features since a majority of them have to be activated manually. Even data syncing does not take place automatically. Day to day battery drain was around 15-20 percent which included one short workout routine and sleep tracking. The automated heart rate monitoring, despite throwing up a warning, did not seem to affect battery life drastically provided I set it to 30 minute intervals. Charging the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra does take a while. When connected to a 33W charger, it took around two hours.

Verdict

It is difficult to beat the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra when it comes to looks at this price, and that is sadly the only reason why could consider one. For everything else, there are much better options in the market.

If you are looking for accurate health-tracking features in a wearable, then the basic fitness band like the Amazfit Band 7 (Review) is definitely a more reliable option (at a lower price). Those looking for something fancier or closer to a smartwatch (with features like a larger display, Bluetooth calling and automated health tracking features), will find the new Redmi Watch 3 Active, a much better choice at Rs. 2,999. If you are looking for a premium-looking smartwatch, the OnePlus Nord Watch (Review) surely seems like a better choice at Rs. 4,999.

The post Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra Review: Got the Looks, but What About the Rest? appeared first on Review Products.

Samsung has recently been less innovative than Apple, not only with its wearables but also with its high-end smartphones. The recently released Galaxy S23, S23+, Galaxy Z Flip 5, and Galaxy Z Fold 5, all of which bring qualitative performance and imaging advancements, serve as a case in point. Samsung has continued this trend with the Galaxy Watch 6 series for users of the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. There is a new chipset; one display is more extensive and has a rotating bezel back, and the health and fitness tracking is more individualized.

On paper, there seems to be little incentive to upgrade to the new models, mainly since its feature set doesn’t provide much that is novel. But thanks to these tiny improvements, the Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic are somewhat better. And that is enough to convince upgraders who aren’t too thrilled with their current wristwatch or those who are just shopping for their first WearOS-powered wearable to buy the new versions.

Price and features of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic

There are two models of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 series. The Galaxy Watch 6 is the regular model, and it comes in the same 40mm and 44mm case sizes as the Galaxy Watch 5. The pricing of the Bluetooth variants is Rs. 29,999 and Rs. 32,999, while the price of the cellular variants is Rs. 33,999 and Rs. 36,999.

The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is an additional option, and it comes in 43mm and 47mm case sizes. It is priced at Rs. 36,999 and Rs. 39,999 for the Bluetooth versions and Rs. 40,999 and Rs. 43,999 for the cellular versions, respectively.

Compared to what Apple offers, Samsung’s finish options remain highly constrained. The Galaxy Watch Classic is available in Silver and Black, while the Galaxy Watch 6 includes options for Silver and Graphite cases. I received the 44mm Graphite Galaxy Watch 6 and the 47mm Silver Galaxy Watch 6 Classic for review.

Design and features of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 features the same style and button layout as the previous generation and has an aluminum body with flat sides. The display is the only thing that stands out, and it has gotten bigger because Samsung chose to use a smaller bezel this year.

It can be difficult for the average consumer to distinguish between the Galaxy Watch 4, Galaxy Watch 5, and Galaxy Watch 6. This is because the design has mostly stayed the same over the past two generations, which does cause it to get a touch stale in its third year.

Compared to the ordinary Galaxy Watch 6 model (left), the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (right) features an updated look.

On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, which has returned after a year-long hiatus, appears slightly refreshing. Samsung chose to forego the Classic model last year in favor of the new Pro model. The target market for the Pro and the new Classic is different. The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro still features the largest battery of the current and previous models, making it a solid rival to Apple’s Watch Ultra variant. Except for a longer battery life and a titanium case, it did not differ significantly from the ordinary Galaxy Watch 5 model’s functionality.

Samsung’s replacement for Apple’s digital crown, the rotating bezel, is a prominent feature of the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. It performed as predicted during the testing period and is what separates the two versions.

What’s fascinating about the Classic’s design is how Samsung reduced the width of that rotating bezel while still fitting in a display more prominent than the ones on the older Galaxy Watch 4 Classic and the more recent Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. Compared to earlier models, this slim bezel makes the stainless steel casing look cleaner and more modern. Another thing to note is the dual-tone finish, which combines polished and brushed stainless steel and has a luxurious appearance.

Both smartwatches feature an array of sensors on their backs.

Both types have two physical buttons with different purposes that can be programmed. Both watches’ quality and polish were satisfactory. Still, I preferred the average Galaxy Watch 6’s strap since it is softer and less rigid than the Classic model, making it more comfortable to wear. But I could easily switch straps between the two eyes because the 20mm straps on both watches are the same. I found the Classic’s thick 47mm case manageable while I slept.

This year’s specifications are comparable to the Standard and Classic variants. The same 5nm Exynos W930 chipset powers both devices, although they have 500MB more RAM than the previous generations. The watch is jam-packed with sensors, including an accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, heart rate monitor, temperature sensor (for skin temperature), barometer, and a 3D hall sensor determining where the spinning bezel is in space.

The 44mm and 47mm Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic variants may switch straps.

The 44mm Galaxy Watch 6 and the 47mm Galaxy Watch 6 Classic share a 1.5-inch super AMOLED display with sapphire crystal for protection thanks to the thin bezels on both wearables. The 425mAh battery capacity is the same for all variations of each model. Each model’s lesser variations include 300mAh batteries. All models and interpretations have been MIL-STD-810H certified and are 5ATM water resistant with an IP68 designation, making them just as durable as other contemporary clocks.

Performance of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic

When necessary, the displays are said to be capable of reaching 2,000 nits of peak brightness (the same as the Apple Watch Ultra), and I can attest that they are sufficiently bright to handle all kinds of lighting circumstances. Both smartphones’ built-in speakers are loud enough to pick up calls and hear Google Assistant’s responses. Even with some wind blowing into the mic, it is still pretty clear to the caller. The watch’s LTE connectivity makes it an excellent option for staying connected on walks or jogs, allowing you to leave your smartphone at home. When the linked smartphone cannot be reached, both devices can connect to Wi-Fi networks.

You don’t need companion apps to get started because they are already preinstalled on Samsung devices. I also used both devices with a Pixel 7a regarding features and functionality. However, I noticed that the Camera Controller app vanished from the watch’s app menu because it can only be utilized with a Galaxy smartphone.

For the watch to work correctly with a Pixel 7a, you must install three apps (Samsung Health, Galaxy Wearable, and Samsung Smart Switch) and a plug-in. Once established, I discovered that the Samsung Health and Galaxy Wearable applications were well-designed, with all options located precisely where they should be. To make things more convenient, I hope that Samsung eventually merges its Health app into its Wearable app.

The Galaxy Watch 6 and the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic included software that I found enjoyable. However, the rotating bezel of the Classic gives it a tremendous mechanical feature (which is lacking from most WearOS-powered smartwatches these days). It takes it nearer to classic clocks. Instead of repeatedly swiping the display, which did become tiresome when using the Galaxy Watch 6, the rotating bezel’s geared clicks provide a quick way to scroll through menus. On the Galaxy Watch 6, you can scroll using the virtual touch bezel, but it’s still a fidgety experience and does not offer precise control like the actual rotating bezel.

Over the previous generation, overall software performance has significantly increased. There is no lag when navigating between tiles, watch faces, and other options, unlike with the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.

The One UI 5.0 Watch user interface has seen some minor changes from Samsung. Although the choices are still somewhat limited compared to what you get on an Apple Watch, there are new watch faces that are highly customizable. With the help of a new battery tile, you can quickly check the battery life of all your Samsung devices. You can now make folders, a valuable method to remove all of those pointless apps off the main menu and make it easier to find what you need.

Without resetting the watch and restoring from a backup, you may now backup, repair, and even transfer your look to another phone (even an Android smartphone made by a manufacturer other than Samsung). Users may now secure their watches with a pin or pattern, rendering them worthless in theft.

The associated Samsung Health app provides intriguing insights when displaying data linked to sleep.

Enhanced sleep coaching is another addition to One UI 5.0, which I found intriguing, considering the thorough results and the additional data the companion app offered. I received the expected outcomes, which included reliable sleep-tracking data and the various sleep stages. With enough data, the sleep coaching tool performs reasonably well (it needs a seven-day break-in time to work its magic). The watch measures blood oxygen levels while you sleep and provides a sleep score and badges. Samsung has also used its temperature sensor well by recording your skin temperature while you sleep.

Additionally, the companion app detects when you stray from your typical sleep patterns and sends you a reminder the following day with a browser link to read up on why it’s not a good idea to do so. Even the regular stand-up reminders offer three quick workout mode suggestions that hardly take a few minutes to complete during the periods I’m stuck in my work chair.

When I use an Apple Watch, I do not feel as motivated to get up from my chair for a fast workout because these stretches are counted and accurately tracked. After a while, I started to feel as though my watch genuinely cared about me, which I’ve only seldom had with any of the smartwatches I’ve tested so far.

There are numerous workout modes on the Galaxy Watch 6 series, including one that may be customized.

The ability to design your custom activity, receive heart rate assistance throughout running exercises, and have personalized heart rate zones while running was another feature of Samsung’s personalized coaching that I loved. In essence, this aids users in getting more out of their exercise or workout.

Regarding the tracking components, the step tracking was precise and tallied 500 steps while walking. SpO2 tracking was accurate and reliable compared to a standalone pulse oximeter, but I had to sit down and bring my palm up to my chest while wearing the watch close to my heart to record it. The results of my heart rate were also accurate. In India, the ECG functionality and blood pressure monitoring are currently unavailable or inoperable.

However, I did have a few snags while using the watch. When switching from AOD to the watch face on a Samsung device, you may need to physically make the flick-to-view gesture because it isn’t as sensitive as the Apple Watch Series 8’s. Because the rotating bezel is better suited for Samsung’s watch OS and apps than for some Google and third-party apps or the Play Store, software interactions when utilizing it might become clumsy. The standard swipe gestures on the display undoubtedly performed better in these circumstances.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 series includes the same charger as last year’s model.

Because they both have identical display sizes and battery capacity, my experience with battery life on the Galaxy Watch 6 series was consistent. However, a 1km GPS-connected walk or run will only use up approximately 3% of the battery, which is about 21% for my 7km brisk walks.

The watch lasted one day, 7 hours, and 20 minutes (or 31 hours, 20 minutes) with the AOD on, brightness set to auto (on a sunny day), continuous heart-rate monitoring, stress monitoring, and sleep tracking (with SpO2 and Skin temperature tracking). My standby time they were improved by around nine hours when AOD was turned off, giving me one day, 17 hours, and 2 minutes (or 41 hours, 2 minutes), which is comparable to a 45mm Apple Watch Series 8 in size. The smartphone charged as quickly as models from the previous year, reaching 50% charge in 30 minutes and 100% charge in 1 hour and 27 minutes.

Verdict

Even while the new Galaxy Watch 6 has a few improvements over the previous model, there are few reasons to switch from a Galaxy Watch 5 (Review) unless you need more excellent software performance or somewhat more extended battery life.

Most of the hardware- and software-related improvements listed above will also be added to models from last year via the One UI 5.0 update, which Samsung has already started rolling out in several nations. In the case of the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, things are different because it has a brand-new design as opposed to the recycled one on the ordinary model, which is refreshing.

The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, which is the finest way to use a Galaxy smartwatch, is what I would select if I had to choose between the two. And since I don’t own a Samsung smartphone, this wearable is automatically my top pick for anyone searching for a high-end Wear-OS-powered gadget in India.

The post Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic Review: Notable Upgrades appeared first on Review Products.

Although the Apple Watch series is aspirational and may be a bit pricey for many of us due to its price and positioning, it has increased interest in smartwatches. As a result, the market for budget smartwatches is growing, driven by several firms that use their knowledge of smartphones and Bluetooth connectivity to provide capable wearable technology at affordable rates. This includes Xiaomi, which unveiled the Redmi Watch 3 Active, a smartwatch focusing on health, which costs Rs. 2,999.

Regarding fitness tracking, my previous experiences with low-cost smartwatches could have been better; generally, low-cost devices are best suited for fundamental features like notification mirroring and watch face customization. In addition to checking the boxes for a low-cost smartwatch, it will be interesting to see if the Redmi Watch 3 Active can live up to its moniker and perform effectively as a fitness and health tracker. In this review, you’ll learn if the Redmi Watch 3 Active is worth the money.

Along with step tracking and other features, the Redmi Watch 3 Active can measure your heart rate and blood oxygen levels.

Design and technical details of the Redmi Watch 3 Active

The budget smartwatch market aims to provide as many functions as possible at an affordable price. Design and form are somewhat simplistic in this market, and the Redmi Watch 3 Active maintains this straightforward appearance. The absence of distinguishing features and emblems makes identifying this as a Redmi product at first glance challenging. You decide whether that’s good or negative, but the appearance is too plain and unremarkable.

Review of the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra: Best Smartwatch Under 3,000 Rupees.

Nevertheless, it is valid, and some people might even prefer the shiny exterior complementing the 1.83-inch color screen. If you use a watch face with a black background, you won’t see the screen’s thick borders, and unless you pay great attention, the front will appear relatively uniform. A button that controls power unlocks the app drawer and awakens the screen from standby is located on the watch’s right side.

Fortunately, the screen can also be turned on by double-tapping it or by using the lift-to-wake motion, which involves turning your wrist to face you as you would ordinarily look at a wristwatch. By covering the screen with your palm, you may instantly switch it off. Alternatively, using the screen timeout feature, you can set the Redmi Watch 3 Active to go into standby mode.

The sole logo on the Redmi Watch 3 Active is located directly above the optical sensors on its underside, allowing blood oxygen levels and heart rate tracking. The magnetic charger attaches to the contact points below and connects to a USB Type-A port on the device’s opposite end; a power adapter is not included. The smartwatch’s interchangeable straps can also be detached from it at the bottom.

Charcoal Black and Platinum Grey are the two color choices for the Redmi Watch 3 Active. Although the latter may appear slightly better looking and more distinctive, the review unit supplied to me is the former. The smartwatch’s 5ATM water resistance certification and the default strap’s comfort level and waterproofness work hand in hand. The Redmi Watch 3 Active connects through Bluetooth 5.3, and when coupled with a smartphone, it supports Bluetooth calling. Of course, a speaker and microphone are built-in for this to function correctly.

Active software, user interface, and app for Redmi Watch 3

Compatibility with smartphone operating systems (and occasionally even inside the Android ecosystem) isn’t guaranteed on low-cost smartwatches, but the Redmi Watch 3 Active checks all the right boxes. The device supports the smartwatch on iOS and Android platforms and is compatible with the Mi Fitness app.

For my review, I used a OnePlus 9 Pro (Review) with the Redmi Watch 3 Active connected and the Mi Fitness app installed. The program manages the connection between the smartwatch and the smartphone using Bluetooth. It also establishes the link for voice calls and synchronizes notifications between the two devices. The app receives fitness and health information gathered on the watch to offer improved insights and analysis.

With widgets for activity, sleep, steps, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and more, the software itself is well-presented. Additionally, you may begin exercises from within the app. Outdoor activities incorporate mapping into the monitoring; however, this depends on your phone for position information because the smartwatch does not enable location tracking. It’s simple to change the gadget’s settings and essential tools; overall, the app is functional and well-equipped for the device.

The Redmi Watch 3 Active boasts a wide selection of watch faces, just like any good wristwatch should. A wide array of downloadable options, arranged arbitrarily, is available in addition to the three default choices. The smartwatch may store up to two additional watch faces in addition to the three default choices, which can be deleted and updated as much as you like if you find one you prefer and download it using the app. There were a few good choices, but most were too bizarre for my tastes.

The Redmi Watch 3 Active is compatible with the iOS and Android-based Mi Fitness app.

Redmi Watch 3 Active battery life and performance

Regardless of price, almost all smartwatches offer the most basic form of fitness tracking. The Redmi Watch 3 Active tries to distinguish itself as a fitness-friendly alternative given its ‘Active’ label, but the accuracy and utility of this could be better on low-cost gadgets.

The Redmi Watch 3 Active doesn’t live up to its boasts, essentially in line with the rest of the inexpensive wristwatch market. Even though there are more than 100 tracking and sport modes with allegedly optimized tracking performance, most of these are specialized, making it difficult to determine whether the tracking data is reliable.

I focused on recording the fundamentals for my evaluation, particularly steps, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels. The Redmi Watch Active estimated 1,060 steps in our 1,000-step test while I physically counted 1,000, indicating a 6% inaccuracy rate. This is too far removed from the more precise step-tracking data that high-end devices can produce, but it is close to what other smartwatches in this price range deliver.

Similar issues arise with heart rate tracking, especially when taking a reading while moving around; the results are frequently too low or fluctuate erratically. The blood oxygen tracking and the heart rate reading, compared to the Apple Watch Series 7 for accuracy, were limited to standing still or sitting with my arm steady.

Water resistance for the Redmi Watch 3 Active is 5ATM.

The specifics of sleep tracking didn’t seem remarkably accurate or detailed; it was very simplistic and reasonable about the amount of time spent sleeping. Overall, health tracking on this can give consumers a rough understanding of what’s happening, but it’s far too erratic to be depended upon for anything significant.

The Redmi Watch 3 Active performs admirably overall, with the default user interface and apps generally functioning as expected. The Redmi Watch 3 Active’s screen is bright and adequate for the price, even though it isn’t quite as sharp and attractive as some of the competition in this market (which employs OLED displays).

I could wear the smartwatch all day, occasionally while sleeping, and use it for around seven days on a single full charge. If you turn off the continuous connection for calls and avoid using the Redmi Watch 3 Active for too many calls, you can extend the battery life a little.

Turning it on through the Bluetooth settings is simple if that is something you plan to utilize. The Redmi Watch 3 Active will only activate for calls if you answer the call on the smartwatch itself. This is useful since, even with the connection active, answering a call on your linked smartphone rather than the watch guarantees that audio is diverted to the correct device. Call quality is acceptable for brief calls in comparatively quiet settings. You’ll find it too soft and annoying for prolonged calls or in noisy surroundings, and you’ll probably want to switch to your smartphone or good earbuds.

Verdict

The Redmi Watch 3 Active is a fitness-focused smartwatch, although there isn’t much evidence to support this. It still qualifies as a wearable device and is a capable budget option that effectively manages tasks like notifications and calls. It is attractive and comfortable, has an excellent screen and software, and can operate effectively for around seven days on a single charge.

As a result, there are a few issues, but the Redmi Watch 3 Active only offers a little that makes it stand out. If you’re looking for a new, inexpensive smartwatch that costs less than Rs. 3,000, consider this, mainly because Xiaomi products are known for their dependability and longevity.

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