Sony SmartBand 2 will track your stress levels and fitness
Sony's latest activity tracker can measure heart rate variability so you can log your stress levels throughout the day
Sony’s SmartBand will be getting an upgrade this September as the company prepares to launch SmartBand 2, the latest model in its line of activity trackers. It uses the same ‘core’ silicone chassis as the previous SmartBand, but the SmartBand 2 now has a built-in heart rate sensor that can measure your pulse as well as increasing stress levels.
It does this by measuring your heart rate variability – the milliseconds between each heartbeat – which it then plumbs into Sony’s LifeLog app so you can measure your stress levels throughout the day. Together with its accelerometers and heart rate sensor, it can also detect when you’re walking, runniing, swimming or sleeping, giving you a full picture of your overall fitness and daily activity. It even has an alarm clock function that sends out gentle vibrations to wake you up at the best time of your sleep cycle so you’re not yanked out of deep sleep when it’s time to get up in the morning.
It will also buzz and flash with red, blue and green LEDs when you get calls, texts, emails and social media notifications. You can also use the SmartBand 2 to control your music on your phone or tablet. What’s more, Xperia phone or tablet owners will be alerted whenever they move more than 10m away from their device, ensuring you’ll never leave it behind when you go out the front door.
The SmartBand 2 can be worn in a variety of situations as well, thanks to its IP68 dust and waterproof rating. This means it can survive in up to 3m of fresh water for 30 minutes, as well as in swimming pools provided you rinse it off in fresh water afterwards. It won’t, however, survive a dip in the sea.
As for battery life, Sony estimates you’ll be able to get around 2 days out of the SmartBand 2. It charges via micro USB, too, so you don’t need to worry about having another cable with you in case it runs out of juice.
Available in black and white on launch with interchangeable pink and indigo straps to follow later, the SmartBand 2 will cost 119 Euros (around £85) when it goes on sale next month.
