boAt has launched the Storm Call 3, an affordable smartwatch with turn-by-turn navigation. The device is the first smartwatch in India to offer independent navigation, powered by Mappls MapmyIndia. It can provide accurate and detailed doorstep-level guidance across tens of thousands of cities and villages in India.
The Storm Call 3 features a sizeable 550-nit dial with a resolution of 240*296 dots and various downloadable watch faces that can be personalized with preferred designs, photos, or themes. The device is also equipped with a highly sensitive microphone and clear onboard speaker, enabling seamless calling directly from the wrist. It also features camera/music controls, notification alerts, quick replies, and weather updates.
In addition to these features, the smartwatch encompasses a comprehensive array of health and activity applications. Users can access Fitness Buddies, Wellness Crew, Gamification and Badges, and even devise Custom Run Plans. Onboard sensors monitor heart rate, SpO2, and sleep while tracking energy and sleep scores.
The Storm Call 3 is available in four stylish colours: Cherry Blossom, Active Black, Olive Green, and Silver Metal. It is IP67 certified, safeguarding it against water, sweat, and dust damage, and comes with an internal battery providing up to 7 days of charge-free usage (up to 2 days with BT Calling).
“At boAt, we believe in democratizing technology and bringing cutting-edge innovation within the reach of every individual. With Storm Call 3, we have revolutionized accessibility to cutting-edge technology, making it affordable for all,” said Aman Gupta, Co-Founder of boAt.
The Storm Call 3 is currently available for an introductory price of INR 1099/- and can be purchased from the boAt website (boat-lifestyle.com), Flipkart and Blinkit.
The OnePlus Watch 2 is a beautifully crafted timepiece with a sleek round design. There are two buttons, which are both thoughtfully placed to prevent accidental presses.
The watch has 2.5D sapphire crystal glass and a durable stainless-steel chassis, ensuring it can withstand everyday wear and tear. One of the standout features of the OnePlus Watch 2 is its big and bold screen. Considering the watch’s size, this makes it perfect for individuals with larger wrists who may struggle with smaller watchfaces. Additionally, the watch meets IP68 standards, making it the ideal choice for swimmers and outdoor sports enthusiasts. It is also suitable for those who engage in workout activities.
PERFORMANCE
The OnePlus smartwatch boasts an interesting feature – the Dual-Engine architecture. Essentially, this feature means that the watch is powered by not one but two processors. OnePlus has named this feature as Dual-Engine Architecture. The watch is equipped with two independent chipsets – one is the BES2700 chipset, which efficiently handles light tasks from the RTOS (Real-Time Operating System). The other chipset is the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 platform, which handles the more complex tasks involved in running the WearOS. The Dual-Engine architecture of my device has significantly improved its battery life. In Smart mode, the device automatically switches to different modes depending on usage, and I could squeeze out 92 hours of battery life.
I’m also impressed with the Always-On display feature of the OnePlus smartwatch in its default mode. Surprisingly, after using the Always-On feature for 24 hours, the battery only dropped by 24%, which is quite impressive for a smartwatch. All this is possible due to OnePlus’s clever trick of using RTOS, which consumes low energy and offers basic features like displaying the time and tracking multiple workouts.
The menu on the Watch 3 is quite similar to that of an Apple watch, featuring round icons arranged in a grid format. It’s powered by Google’s latest WearOS, which means it has a built-in Play Store. You can download apps and watch faces on the Watch 3.
The OnePlus Watch 2 is a perfect fitness partner for anyone who wants to keep track of their physical activities and performance. The brand has invested a lot in fitness tracking. For instance, the watch comes equipped with dual GPS capabilities, which help improve location accuracy during workouts. Additionally, a Dual processor efficiently handles complex fitness tracking tasks and an extensive set of sensors that monitor your every movement. There is a dedicated button that you can use to open different sets of workouts ranging from simple outdoor runs to extreme mountain hiking. With over 100 different sports modes and 6 different modes of physical activity, you can choose the perfect workout that suits your needs.
However, the OnePlus Watch 2 does much more than just track your fitness performance. It even shows me how to improve sleep quality, manage stress levels, or increase your workout intensity.
VERDICT
The OnePlus Watch 2 has a lot going for it, but it also comes with some compromises that are hard to overlook. While the watch has some great features, such as a long battery life, a vibrant screen, and convenient shortcut buttons, some drawbacks cannot be ignored. One of the main issues is the size of the watch. Even though I have relatively thicker wrists, people with thinner wrists will find it a deal-breaker. However, if you prioritize a big screen, long battery life, and a variety of workout options, the OnePlus Watch 2 could be a good fit for you.
In a groundbreaking move, boAt has unveiled the Lunar Pro LTE Smartwatch, pushing the boundaries of smartwatch independence. This smart timepiece lets you make and receive calls, connect to your True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds, and stay fit, all from your wrist. Boasting over 100 sports modes, health tracking capabilities, and a built-in LTE connection, it’s not just a watch – it’s a phone on your wrist with all the health and fitness smarts you desire.
The Lunar Pro LTE’s eSIM support ensures you stay effortlessly connected. You can make calls and reply to SMS without relying on your phone, thanks to Bluetooth and e-SIM calling dual chipset connectivity. The watch accurately tracks your activities with built-in GPS and GLONASS support, providing precise data on distance, steps, and time spent on the move.
The smartwatch features a 1.39-inch AMOLED display with 600 nits brightness and a sharp 454×454 resolution. The Always-On Display and Wake Gesture feature keeps you informed at a flick of your wrist, offering over 100 Cloud Watch Faces for personalization.
Prioritize your well-being with health metrics monitoring, including heart rate, SpO2, and stress levels. Manage stress with guided breathing and track sleep patterns. With over 100 sports modes, the Lunar Pro adapts to a diversified fitness routine. It is IP68-certified with Swim-Proof Technology for aquatic activities.
Choose from sleek black or refined brown to complement your style. The boAt Lunar Pro LTE Smartwatch is available at an exclusive launch price of ₹9,999 on Flipkart and boat-lifestyle.com. Additionally, purchasers can enjoy a complimentary plan worth ₹399 (valid for 3 months) with the acquisition of a new Jio SIM for the Lunar Pro LTE.
While lockdowns are finally being lifted across the whole of India, many people are now considering exercise and fitness seriously into their everyday routine. This is a good time for Xiaomi to launch the MI Smart Band 6, the latest addition to their popular fitness tracker lineup.
The new Mi Smart Band 6 features SpO2 measurement and now has the ability to track more exercises than the Mi Smart Band 5. It is priced at Rs 3,499 in India, but the owners of previous MI Band models can avail of an extra discount of 500, dropping the price to Rs 2,999.
The Mi Smart Band 6 only comes in a black strap, but you can buy different coloured straps to customise your fitness band. The Mi Smart Band 6 looks somewhat identical to its predecessor, the Mi Smart Band 5, but the difference is apparent when the display lights up. While the Mi Smart Band 5 had a small rectangular display, the one on the Mi Smart Band 6 stretches to the edges of the capsule and has very thin bezels at the top and sides.
The underside of the capsule has pins for charging the 125mAh battery in the band. There are sensors for heart rate and SpO2 tracking just right above the charging pins. Since all navigation in the MI Band 6 is touch-based, there are no physical buttons on the band.
The Mi Band 6 is water-resistant up to 5ATM, and can therefore also track swimming. The battery on the Mi Band 6 claims to provide 14 days backup in a single charge. The Mi Band 6 allows quick replies to calls with preset messages. The company also claims that this wearable has 30 different fitness modes and can automatically detect six types of workouts. You can track steps, distance, and sleep on the Mi Smart Band 6 along with SpO2 and stress tracking, as well as menstrual cycle tracking.
Mi Smart Band 6 can last for between 8-10 days with reasonable use, so it is still a good fitness wearable for the price.
