Huawei TalkBand B2 Review

Summary

It is with the TalkBand B2 that Huawei makes its comeback to the fitness industry. This gadget, which costs $179, is similar to the original B1 in that it monitors steps, calories, and sleep. Additionally, the module can be removed from its base and attached to the ear so that it may be used as a Bluetooth earpiece for making calls. On the other hand, the B2 can now interface with Jawbone’s app ecosystem and is constructed from materials that are of higher quality. Following the completion of our testing, we have certain issues about the band’s erratic sleep tracking and its unsatisfactory battery life.

Huawei TalkBand B2 Review: Crafting

From the TalkBand B1 to the TalkBand B2, Huawei has delivered the much-needed design improvement. In place of the B1’s flimsy plastic construction and tactile scroll button, the B2 has a more streamlined aluminum alloy and a 0.73-inch PMOLED display. This updated design is not only more powerful and professional, but it also makes it lot simpler to wear it with a suit than the previous version did.

Because the display on the band is now touch-enabled, there is no longer a need to click a button repeatedly in order to browse between displays, as was the case with the B1. However, Huawei did not eliminate all of the buttons; there is one additional button on the side of the module that can be used to wake up the screen and bring up the menu.

A cradle for the module to sit in and a plastic structure with a quick snap closure are also features that are characteristic of the band, which is essentially the same as it was in the past. When you wish to utilize the cradle as a Bluetooth earpiece, you may do so by pressing the two little circular buttons that are located on one side of the cradle. These buttons allow you to release the module.

Black was the color of the B2 that I reviewed, although it is also available in silver and gold. Although I like having a touch screen that allows me to check my data in a fast and simple manner, I find that the style of the Jawbone Up2, which costs $99, is more understated and stylish.

In the event that the plastic band that comes standard with the B2 is not to your liking, you have the option of upgrading to a leather band for the module. Similar to the B1, the B2 has an IP57 rating, which indicates that it is able to resist dust and water for a period of thirty minutes up to one meter in depth.

Huawei TalkBand B2 Review: Access point

Six screens are included on the TalkBand B2, including a home screen that displays the current date and time, as well as the remaining battery life and Bluetooth connection status. The arrangement of the displays was really appealing to me; the text was wide and thin, which made it simple to read. There are feet strolling (activity), a flickering flame (calorie burn), and a snoring moon (sleep) on the fitness tracker. These little moving graphics are a pleasant addition that are not included on many other fitness trackers.

On the other hand, there isn’t much more to check out on the pages. You will only be able to interact with the timer page, which allows you to begin tracking an exercise by pressing and holding the start symbol for a lengthy period of time. After that, you may touch to suspend the exercise at any moment, or you can stop it by clicking the symbol that looks like a stop sign.

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The side button of the B2 has two purposes: first, it unlocks the screen, and second, it allows you to access what I like to refer to as the “Huawei menu.” By pressing and holding the button for a few seconds, you will be presented with three alternatives, one of which is the ability to connect over Bluetooth. In order to link the device with your phone, you will need to utilize this during the initial setup process of the device.

Find My Phone and Camera Remote are the other two choices, and they are only compatible with Huawei smartphones like the P8 and the P8 Lite to perform their functions. There is a phone-finder option that I like: By tapping the icon that looks like a magnifying glass, the B2 is able to search for your smartphone. Once it has located your smartphone (provided that it is within Bluetooth range), the phone will start to buzz and ring with a song that is jingly and a charming little voice that says, “I’m here! Now I am here!.

Huawei TalkBand B2 Review: The Huawei Wear

When compared to the version of the Huawei Wear software that was launched for the B1, the one that is used by the B2 seems to have a lot more streamlined appearance and feel. A significant amount of white space is included, and the colorful circles on it indicate the degree to which you have progressed toward your daily activity target.

The primary display displays not only the number of steps you have taken but also a breakdown of the percentage of your activity that has been comprised of walking, running, or cycling. It is possible to access a similar screen by swiping to the left, which displays your sleep time from the previous night. This page includes the total amount of deep and light sleep, as well as the amount of time it took you to fall asleep.

You may see comprehensive bar graphs showing when you were most active throughout the day and when you were in various stages of sleep during the night by tapping the large circles. Other bar graphs will show you when you were sleeping. It would be great if you could also see your monitored exercise sessions in this view, just as you do in the Jawbone Up app; but, the band does not split them down according to their separate sessions.

When compared to the software of the TalkBand B1, the software is an upgrade; yet, it does not compete with the more friendly and welcoming applications that Jawbone and Fitbit provide. These applications not only provide you with a greater number of functions and a greater number of ways to see your data, but they also make use of vibrant colors and iconography to make the experience more enjoyable.

Huawei TalkBand B2 Review: Integration of the Jawbone Up

The TalkBand B2 is the first fitness tracker from a third-party manufacturer to interact with Jawbone’s Up app; nevertheless, this integration is underwhelming. To my knowledge, the only thing that is shared between the Huawei Wear app and the Up app is activity information. I would have liked it if the Up app on the B2 also carried over sleep data so that it could take use of Jawbone’s comprehensive sleep-tracking capabilities.

If you had access to that data, it would offer more fuel for Smart Coach, which is Jawbone’s health advisor. Smart Coach utilizes your statistics to provide you with advice on how to improve your fitness level. The business is collaborating with Jawbone to enhance the B2 with sleep data integration for the Up app, according to a spokesperson from Huawei who briefed me about the collaboration.

Huawei TalkBand B2 Review: The performance

I took 105 steps around my workplace, and TalkBand B2 counted them as 99 steps. This meant that the band was able to measure my activities with a reasonable degree of accuracy. The time it took for the band to synchronize with the app was just around ten seconds each time I accessed it. Also, the TalkBand’s inactivity alarms caused my wrist to buzz once per hour, which served as a reminder to get up from my office chair and walk about.

In addition, the alarms were precise and simple to use. Two alarms were set for me: one to wake me up, and the other to remind me to take my medicine on a regular basis. The two of them transmitted powerful vibrations to my wrist, and I was able to simply reject them by tapping the button on the side of the device.

Huawei TalkBand B2 Review: Monitoring of Sleep

That the B2 is able to identify when you are falling asleep automatically is a feature that would be advantageous if it were accurate. On the very first night that I wore it, the band managed to put me to sleep beginning at about one in the morning, but in reality, I was already in a dream state by eleven thirty in the evening. Although the app performed a better job every other night, it was constantly inaccurate by around half an hour with regard to the overall amount of time I spent sleeping.

When I was standing still on the metro commute to work, the B2 recorded me as sleeping for an additional forty-five minutes. This circumstance made the situation much more difficult. Although my firmware was up to date prior to the occurrence of this issue, Huawei instructed me to update the device’s firmware in order to fix the problem.

Huawei TalkBand B2 Review: Telephony using Bluetooth

When a call comes in on your smartphone, you may disconnect the module from the B2 and attach it to your ear so that you can use it as a Bluetooth earpiece during the conversation. In a manner similar to the alerts on the Fitbit Charge HR, the display also illuminates and provides you with information on the caller, including either their name or their phone number (for those who are not familiar with them).

The B2 comes with ear inserts in three different sizes, allowing you to select the one that fits you the best. When I made my selection, I went with the biggest one, and while I had the impression that the insert might come out of my ear, it never really did.

I was able to communicate with my mother despite the loudness of rush-hour traffic in Brooklyn thanks to the B2 Bluetooth earpiece, which, with the exception of one conversation that was lost, worked as a reliable Bluetooth gadget.

Huawei TalkBand B2 Review: Lifespan of the Battery

When compared to the TalkBand B1, the TalkBand B2 has the same 95-mAh battery, which indicates that it should be able to last for at least six days on a single charge. Following three days of continuous usage throughout the day and night (with just one Bluetooth call), the battery had reached a level of thirty percent. Compared to the battery life of the Fitbit Charge HR, which may last for up to five days, this is considered to be somewhat shorter.

Huawei TalkBand B2 Review: As a conclusion

The Huawei TalkBand B2 is a wearable device that has a strong desire to differentiate itself from the other products in its category. To a certain degree, it does this via the use of its Bluetooth headset function, which enables straightforward call making and receiving.

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On the other hand, the gadget is not enough for use as a fitness tracker. When compared to brands such as Jawbone and Fitbit, its accompanying app is not nearly as sophisticated as it could be, and its sleep monitoring is not accurate. For a price that is thirty dollars cheaper, the Fitbit Charge HR offers superior fitness capabilities, such as the ability to track heart rate, in addition to an app that is more informative and interesting.

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