When Apple unveiled the Apple Watch last year many pundits predicted it would be the downfall of fitness trackers since the Watch featured a number of fitnesses-focused capabilities. However, that’s been anything but the case according to the latest data from IDC:
“The worldwide wearables market reached a new all-time high as shipments reached 33.9 million units in the fourth quarter of 2016 (4Q16), growing 16.9% year over year. Shipments for the entire year grew 25% as new vendors entered the market and previous champions refreshed their product lineups. The year came to a close with 102.4 million devices shipped.”
"Like any technology market, the wearables market is changing," said Ramon Llamas, research manager for IDC's Wearables team. "Basic wearables started out as single-purpose devices tracking footsteps and are morphing into multi-purpose wearable devices, fusing together multiple health and fitness capabilities and smartphone notifications.
It's enough to blur the lines against most smart wearables, to the point where first generation smartwatches are no better than most fitness trackers. Meanwhile, smart wearables are also evolving. Health and fitness remains a major focus, but once these devices become connected to a cellular network, expect unique applications and communications capabilities to become available. This will also solve another key issue: freeing the device from the smartphone, creating a standalone experience."
And that’s nothing but good news for fitness wearable maker, Fitbit, who maintained its lead as the top wearable vendor for the past quarter and year. With no fewer than eight wearables on the market, their Fitbit Alta HR is currently the newest option. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
Fitbit Alta HR: Health Features
The biggest advantage to the Alta HR is that it’s packed with health features. These include: Steps, Calories & Distance tracking; Auto Sleep Tracking with the ability to track Sleep Stages; PurePulse Heart Rate tracking; SmartTrack Auto Exercise Recognition so it's able to detect if you are walking or running; and Reminders to get up and move.
Perhaps the most beneficial of these is the Alta HR’s ability to track your heart rate without the requirement you wear an annoying chest strap. Another huge benefit is the ability for the Alta HR to track sleep, based on your heart rate and pulse. The Alta HR shows your time spent in light, deep and REM sleep to help you understand your sleep quality.
Fitbit Alta HR: Other Features
But this fitness tracker also has other features as well. Among the best are: a 7-day battery life; Call, Text & Calendar Alerts; a tap to wake display; and a clock with customizable watch faces. The Call, Text & Calendar alerts send notifications to the Alta HR’s display, so you never miss messages you receive even if your phone is in your pocket on silent.
Fitbit Alta HR: Style
One other added benefit of the Alta HR is it comes in many different styles and colors, including special editions and designer collections, so you can find a look that matches your style no matter if you are wearing it on the track or in the boardroom. Standard editions of the Alta HR come in: stainless steel and black, blue gray, fuchsia, or coral color options. Special edition options include gunmetal stainless steel and black or 22k rose gold plated and soft pink.
Fitbit Alta HR: Who Is It For?
The Fitbit Alta is great for those who want to make sure they’re getting enough exercise and/or movement throughout the day–it’s perfect for office workers and people who want to be reminded to move around. But it’s for more than people who just want to track their calories burned or distance walked. Those who want to monitor their heart rate—think athletes or those with specific physical conditions. Overall, it’s a fantastic all-around good choice for those shopping for a mid-range fitness tracker.
Fitbit Alta HR: Price
The Fitbit Alta HR costs £129 for the standard edition models and £149 for the special edition models. All FitBut devices can be bought direct from FitBit, so head on over to the site and see what else it has on offer!
