Microsoft Band 2 Better Than Predecessor But Pricey

Microsoft Band 2 has made it to the stores in United States on October 30, according to a Microsoft blog. It is available online at microsoftstores.com as well as retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Dell.com, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sports Authority, Taylormadegolf.com and Target.com.

The latest wearable from Microsoft allows tracking heart rate, exercise, calories burned and even sleep quality. In addition to the ten sensors seen in the previous version – Optical heart rate sensor, 3-axis accelerometer, gyrometer, GPS, ambient light sensor, UV sensor, skin temperature sensor, capacitive sensor and galvanic skin response sensor, Microsoft Band 2 has a new sensor – Barometer, to measure elevation gain and loss with even more precision.

Also, the new Microsoft Band is cross-platform compatible, allowing the use of iOS, Android or Windows devices.

The Verge, however, has reported a number of not-so-perfect features of the Microsoft Band 2:

• Short-battery life – two days at best — less if one exercises consistently and for extended periods.
• Software is “great” but syncing data to it is quite difficult
• Priced on the higher side - $249, up from $199
• It’s still unbending and uncomfortable to wear, especially to bed (it tracks sleep as well as exercise).
• Cannot use Cortana on the Band if it’s paired with an iPhone.

The band uses Bluetooth 4.0 and is compatible with devices running Windows Phone 8.1 or later, iOS 8.1.2 or later (iPhone: 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, 6, 6 Plus), and many Android 4.3-5.0 with Bluetooth.

A user needs to download the free Microsoft Health app to pair the band. The app collects all fitness data, but it uses a dull, simplistic layout that lacks detail and is organized with long lists. Also, the white-on-blue color scheme is difficult to look at for a long stretch of time, PCmag explained. 

“Wearing the bulky Band 2 makes working out more of a strain that it already is...it slide around [the wrist], and it made exercises like pushups particularly unpleasant”, PCmag added.

Both The Verge and PCmag said that the device has been priced quite high. The former said that it is a challenge to convince people to spend $249 on the “thing”. On the other hand, PCmag said that though it is definitely an improvement over its predecessor, for the said price Fitbit Surge is recommended.