RealClear Summary
Posted On January 02, 2013
Looking to fulfill those New Years resolutions? Jawbone's UP is a wristband fitness tracker that works with your iOS device (iPhone, iPad, iPod) allowing you to log how much you eat, sleep and your daily movements. The basic idea behind the UP is that as you quanitfy your daily life, it will help you moderate bad habits and get on a healthier track.
It boasts a 10 day battery life and water-resistant construction so it can be worn during just about any activity. It contains an internal motor that vibrates if it senses you've been inactive for too long. The iOS app is on hand to transfer data from the UP wristband via a 3.5mm jack and display it and other information about your health habits.
The UP is Jawbone's second pass at a fitness tracker (the first one flopped after users complained of a rapid failure of the hardware) and it earned mixed reviews. The biggest drawback, reviewers said, was the lack of Bluetooth, which means that all health details stored by the UP wristband have to be manually input into your mobile device via a physical connection. It's also pricier than competitive products. Still, other reviewers had a more positive spin on the device, praising its design and higher quality hardware.
Reviews Sources
The newly revamped Jawbone UP tracks personal health and fitness very well in a stellar iPhone app, but it's not the best fitness tracker you can buy.
At the end of the day the Up excels at encouraging good habits and a healthy lifestyle, but considering the competition we're not sure $130 is a compelling price.
Taken together, the drawbacks makes using the device more annoying than informative.
If you're willing to devote the time and attention (and when it comes to your health, there's a good reason to do so), the Up and Fitbit One are probably your best options.
The bracelet itself is both good-looking and comfortable. It also exhibits a build quality that is clearly superior to last year's version of the Up, which Jawbone had to pull from the...
The shine quickly rubbed off the original UP, but all signs point to Jawbone having learned its lesson. The new hardware feels sturdier than before, and the more stringent tolerances...
The good news for Jawbone's bracelet is that from last year to now, things have only gone up.
Despite the Up's flaws, I really like it. I'm convinced that next year's Up will include Bluetooth, which will make it significantly better than this year's iteration.
| Approve | Mostly Approve | |
Mixed/Caveated | Mostly Disapprove | Disapprove |