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3 Jun 2024
As they say, once you get closer to your 30s, you either get married, have kids, or prepare for a marathon. Well, this piece is for the latter. Let’s talk about health tech accessories. Nowadays, there are so many options — Whoop, Fitbit, Apple Watches, Oura, and Ultrahuman — and these are the only ones you can find in the nearest Virgin shop.
But are they actually worth investing in? We have watched about a dozen reviews and are now ready to give you a thorough glimpse of the active bands.
In this article, we are focused on the ones you may frequently see on the arms of Dubai citizens; thus, you won’t see the whole array. However, we will provide you with a thorough examination of Whoop and/or Apple Watch as a sporty lifestyle device.
Also, if you are here — check out our tips on improving your sleep and some of the best cycling routes to accompany your fitness devices.
Whoop Strap 4.0
This one is believed to be a revolutionary fitness tracker designed to optimise performance and recovery through comprehensive data analysis. Whoop does not have a screen, focusing solely on gathering and analysing health data to provide actionable insights. But, even though it is screenless, many find them interrupting their personal style…
Key Features
— 24/7 Monitoring: The strap continuously monitors heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), sleep patterns, respiratory rate, and skin temperature, offering a holistic view of your physiological state.
— Recovery Insights: By analysing HRV, sleep quality, and other metrics, Whoop provides a daily recovery score that helps you understand how ready your body is to perform.
— Coaching: This feature guides you on how much exertion to take on based on your recovery score, ensuring you train effectively without overreaching.
— Sleep Analysis: Detailed sleep tracking includes sleep stages, disturbances, and overall sleep performance, helping you improve your sleep habits.
— Water-Resistant: Suitable for swimming and other water-based activities, enhancing its versatility.
— Battery Life: The device boasts a five-day battery life, and it can be charged while wearing it, ensuring you never miss out on tracking.
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Advantages
— In-depth recovery and strain insights tailored to optimise performance.
— Robust data analytics is provided through the Whoop app, accessible on smartphones and desktops.
Disadvantages
— Requires a subscription to access the full range of features and data analysis.
— The lack of a display may be a drawback for users who prefer on-the-go information.
Summary
This one is great for those with the “Athlete” brands on their instagrams, as it gives you a very deep insight on the quality of your performance. As of the recovery features — this one is good enough, although sometimes might be falsely accusing you of poor sleep and thus mess you data a bit. Therefore, Whoop Strap 4.0 is ruled to be more of an activity tracker, suitable for frequently exercising peeps.
Bonus track — Whoop also has its own apparel, which is pretty cool, and the company figured out how to track your running through your pants (cheeky people, innit?).
Apple Watches
To start with, which ones? Well, after thorough consideration, we have selected three of them — SE, Series 9, and Ultra 2.
Apple Watch SE
Let's kick off with the most simplistic ones. The Apple Watch SE is a budget-friendly option that offers many of the core features found in higher-end models, making it an excellent choice for users new to smartwatches or those looking for an affordable yet very basic fitness tracker.
Key Features
— Fitness and Activity Tracking: Comprehensive tracking for workouts, daily activity, and built-in GPS.
— Heart Rate Monitoring: Real-time heart rate monitoring and notifications for high or low heart rates.
— Sleep Tracking: Monitors sleep patterns and provides insights to improve sleep quality.
— Fall Detection and Emergency SOS: Safety features for added peace of mind.
— Somewhat Water-Resistant: Claimed to be suitable for swimming and water activities.
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Advantages
— Affordable entry point into the Apple Watch ecosystem.
— Offers many of the same fitness and health features as more expensive models.
— Seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, including notifications, music control, and Siri.
Disadvantages
— Lacks advanced health features like blood oxygen monitoring and ECG.
— No always-on display, which can be a limitation for some users.
Summary
These ones are for all that need a super super basic Apple Fitness and push-notifications on their wrists. Nothing extra, so perfect for those wanting to be “a sporty” without actually being a sport-geek.
Apple Watch Series 9
The Apple Watch Series 9 is the latest iteration in the Apple Watch lineup, boasting enhanced features and performance improvements over its predecessors. Basically, Series 7 and 8 are not that far from Series 9, though its performance is still a bit better. So, if the price difference is not that big of a deal — we would recommend going for Series 9. And yeah, the GPS+Cellular (this allows you to stay connected without having your phone with you) is definitely a game-changer for runners.
Key Features
— Advanced Health Monitoring: Includes ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, and continuous heart rate tracking.
— S9 Chip: Improved performance and efficiency with the new S9 chip.
— Always-On Retina Display: A bright and responsive display that stays on, providing easy access to information at a glance.
— Fitness and Sleep Tracking: Comprehensive tracking with personalised workout recommendations and detailed sleep analysis.
— New WatchOS: Enhanced user experience with the latest WatchOS features, including more customisable watch faces and improved health metrics.
Advantages
— High-performance capabilities with the S9 chip.
— Advanced health monitoring (in comparison with SE) features that provide comprehensive health insights (just like Ultra 2).
— Always-on display enhances usability and convenience.
Disadvantages
— Higher price point compared to the SE model.
— Battery life remains similar to previous models, which may not meet the needs of all users.
Summary
This one is a definite go-to for those, who prefer their design in comparison to Ultra. Light, techy, efficient and with all the important health features at half the price of Ultra. GPS + Cellular is amazing if you want to leave your phone behind.
Bonus track — here is a very thorough review of the health features in Series 9, that resembles the pretty fascinating accuracy, even though it is no Whoop.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
The Ultra is marketed as a tool designed for extreme sports and outdoor enthusiasts, offering rugged durability and advanced features tailored for adventurous activities.
Key Features
— Rugged Design: Built with aerospace-grade titanium for enhanced durability and water resistance up to 100 metres.
— Dual-Frequency GPS: Improved accuracy for location tracking in challenging environments.
— Action Button: Customisable button for quick access to key functions during activities, though this button may and will annoy some of us a lot.
— Enhanced Battery Life: Up to 36 hours of normal use, extending up to 60 hours with optimised settings.
— Advanced Health and Fitness Tracking: Includes all features of the Series 9 with additional metrics for diving, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
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Advantages
— Superior durability and water resistance make it ideal for extreme sports and outdoor adventures.
— Enhanced GPS accuracy for reliable location tracking.
— Longer battery life compared to other Apple Watch models.
Disadvantages
— Premium price point reflecting its advanced features and rugged design.
— Larger and heavier than other models, which may not be comfortable for all users.
Summary
Indeed, these ones have this cool scuba function and are marketed as the perfect fit for extreme sports lovers. But in fact, all the necessary functions are persistent in Series 9, where even the GPS is not that different (here is a good review on it). So, rather than for the look, you should be fine with Series 9 in terms of your fitness goals.
Whoop vs. Apple Watch
— Whoop Strap 4.0: Best for serious athletes focusing on performance optimization and recovery, offering in-depth data analysis without a display.
— Apple Watch SE: Ideal for budget-conscious users wanting basic fitness tracking integrated with the Apple ecosystem and a cool look.
— Apple Watch Series 9: Perfect for those seeking semi-advanced health features and the latest technology in a versatile design.
— Apple Watch Ultra 2: Sold to be tailored for extreme sports and outdoor activities, but gives you a different style with Series 9 features.
Choose the Whoop Strap 4.0 for a data-driven approach to fitness and recovery, or opt for one of the Apple Watch models depending on your need for your personal style, advanced health features, budget or sport-geekiness.
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