‘Ghost in the Shell’ anime will return to US & UK theaters

Before the live-action version of Ghost in the Shell hits theaters in March, the original animated movie will return for a limited theater run. In the UK, that means a one-night-only appearance January 25th, while in the US Funimation is backing a two-night stand where the movie will play subtitled one night and then with English-dubbed audio the next, on February 7th & 8th. Afterwards, Lionsgate is re-releasing the movie on Blu-ray and Digital HD March 7th in a Deluxe Collector’s Edition with Steelbook packaging and Mondo artwork.

Whether you need a refresher before checking out Scarlett Johanssen’s take on the cybernetic Major and her high-tech world, or plan on skipping the remake entirely, it should be a worthwhile night out. Of course, if you’ve just never seen it at all, then we can only recommend you fix that oversight, immediately.

The websites have more information about participating theaters and ticket information, but there’s also a treat for homebodies. The Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex series will return to Cartoon Network’s Toonami lineup, starting Saturday, February 4th at 3AM. And you don’t even have to get off of the couch.

Via: CNET

Source: UK, US, Toonami (Facebook), Funimation Blog

Norway is killing FM radio and folks aren’t happy

Norway has started switching off FM transmitters today, becoming the first nation in the world to dump the 80-year-old standard. The changeover to Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) will give citizens more stations, better coverage, program time-shifting and more, the government says. However, the majority are against the changeover, according to a recent poll. “We are simply not ready for this yet,” MP Ib Thompson told Reuters.

There are millions of radios in houses, summer homes and boats that will no longer work, and only a quarter of the nation’s cars have DAB radio. Though much of Europe changed smoothly from analog to digital TV, most folks were able to get adapter boxes for under 25 euros ($30) or so. The same can’t be said for FM — it reportedly costs between 1,000 and 2,000 kroner ($120 – $230) for a DAB car radio adapter. “It’s completely stupid, I don’t need any more channels than I’ve already got,” 72-year-old Eivind Sethov told the AFP in Oslo.

Norway has been prepping the switch for years, though, with DAB running alongside FM since 1995. (The US uses HD radio, which transmits both analogue and digital FM bands simultaneously.) Right now, there are 22 national digital stations, but only five can be packed into the analog FM bands. Switching to digital will also increase coverage and reduce transmission costs, as it is difficult and expensive to get FM signals into Norway’s fjords and mountainous regions.

A radio transmitter in Isfjord, Norway (Getty Images)

Nationally owned chain NRK will be the first to turn off its FM transmitters, with private stations following later in the year. Broadcasting chief Thor Gjermund Eriksen told Aftenposten that he’s confident, but anticipates some early turmoil. “We expect a big rush,” he said. With the gradual transition, though, Eriksen hopes that people will take action once they notice what’s happening. “We believe that many people will be in touch when they discover that they have lost some of their NRK channels.”

Other Euro countries will follow suit, depending on how it goes in Norway. Switzerland and Denmark have made a strong push for digital radio, and Britain says it may turn off FM once half of listeners are using digital formats. The UK recently launched “multiplex” digital stations, despite reported reception issues and other problems. While France and other nations aren’t convinced, successful digital switchovers in neighboring countries might tip the scales there, too.

One area that hasn’t been discussed much is the learning curve. First developed in the 1930s, FM radio is one of the last 20th century technologies to cede to the digital age. By switching to DAB, Norway is cutting off a large group of people, especially the elderly, from one of the few kinds of tech they know how to use. While the nation is one of the more technologically advanced in the world, the switchover may be the most difficult for those folks.

Source: Aftenposten (translated), Norwegian Minister of Culture

The best ‘Battlefield’ is finally playable on Xbox One

The pinnacle of the Battlefield series is at long last backward compatible on Xbox One. Of course, I’m talking about Battlefield Bad Company 2, which came out way back in 2010. There have been four games in the franchise since (Battlefield 3, 4, Hardline and last year’s Battlefield 1), but the developers at DICE still haven’t gone back to the Bad Company well.

As a refresher, the Bad Company sub-series started out as a PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 game, and put a big emphasis on the single-player campaign. It was a stark departure for the previously multiplayer-only (and mostly PC-based) franchise, and also served as the starting point for the Frostbite game engine that powers almost everything publisher Electronic Arts makes these days.

The campaigns followed a ragtag group of disgraced soldiers and took a tone more along the lines of Tropic Thunder than Black Hawk Down. The writing was hilarious, often taking direct jabs at how over-serious Call of Duty and other military games had become — something that even followed through to the game’s marketing materials. What’s most impressive, though, is that neither the multiplayer or campaign portions felt tacked on to service the other; each felt complete on their own.

For Bad Company 2, DICE ramped up the humor and, on the tech side, the scale and destruction. Especially in terms of multiplayer. After any given match, structures would be demolished and the map (Arica Harbor, whatup?) looked wildly different as buildings were torn asunder. The chaos of squad-based combat left its scars on the, well, battlefield in a way that was fun and believable. Speaking of maps, to keep things fresh EA regularly gave out free map packs for a year after the game came out. Would that happen today? Hahahahahaha.

And while Battlefield 1 definitely scratches my longstanding itch, I’m more excited to jump into a chopper in BC 2’s Vietnam maps with Creedence Clearwater Revival playing in the background than I am to man a mounted gun on a zeppelin over France again.

Way back when, Joystiq awarded the online offering four out of five stars, with Alexander Sliwinski saying that finding fault with the adversarial suite was “really difficult.” So if the game is so great, how come it hasn’t gotten the sequel it deserves? Well, back in 2014, then-CEO Karl Magnus Troedsson explained to Eurogamer that his studio didn’t know what made the game so beloved to fans. Hence its long-standing hesitation.

“It’s scary to go back and try to remake an old fan favorite when no-one can really put their finger on what it is people love,” he said.

The good news is that with it being backwards compatible now, maybe you could find a few ways to articulate what’s special about the game for EA. Battlefield 3 is on offer too, but if you didn’t play it back in 2011, you aren’t missing much six years later.

Also, Dragon Age Origins, Battlefield: Bad Co. 2 & Battlefield 3 are coming to Xbox One Backward Compatibility today https://t.co/qPMRNrLoTQ pic.twitter.com/IOoqzK7My3

— / Larry Hryb / (@majornelson) January 10, 2017

Via: Eurogamer

Source: Major Nelson

You can get the Honor 6X for just $199 today, but you’ll have to act fast

Honor 6X’s first flash sale kicks off later today in the U.S.

Honor unveiled the budget Honor 6X last week, and the handset will be available for sale in the U.S. starting January 15 for $249 unlocked. Ahead of its debut, Honor is running a flash sale on its website that kicks off at 12 p.m. CST, in which it is offering the Honor 6X for $199, a $50 discount.

To be eligible, you’ll have to register on Honor’s website ahead of the sale, following which you will receive a coupon code in your email. Once the flash sale kicks off, you’ll be able to use the coupon to claim a $50 discount on the Honor 6X. Honor says that stock is “incredibly limited,” so if you’re interested, you’ll have to purchase the phone as soon as the sale kicks off.

The Honor 6X features a 5.5-inch Full HD display, octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 655 SoC, 3GB of RAM, 32GB storage, microSD slot, dual camera setup at the back with a 12MP primary shooter along with a 2MP sensor for depth-sensing information, 8MP front camera, and a 3340mAh battery.

On the software front, the phone runs Huawei’s EMUI 4.1, which is based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. An update to Nougat with EMUI 5.0 is planned for sometime during the second quarter. To know more about the device, be sure to take a look at our hands-on post.

See at Honor

Lenovo P2 makes its debut in India with huge 5100mAh battery

Snapdragon 625, 5100mAh battery, and fast charging for ₹16,999.

Lenovo’s latest phone in India is the budget-centric P2. The phone will be going up for sale later today in Champagne Gold and Graphite Grey color options, and will be exclusive to Flipkart. The highlight of the P2 is the 5100mAh battery, which Lenovo says will last up to three days on a full charge. The company is also touting its new fast charging solution, which provides up to 10 hours of “normal usage” with a 15-minute charge.

The Lenovo P2 features a 5.5-inch Full HD display, and is powered by an octa-core 14nm Snapdragon 625 SoC clocked at 2.0GHz. You also get 32GB of storage (and a microSD card slot), and the phone will be offered with either 3GB or 4GB of RAM. Other specs include 13MP camera at the back, 5MP front shooter, Wi-Fi ac, LTE with VoLTE, FM radio, NFC, and Bluetooth 4.1. On the software side of things, the phone runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow.

The variant with 3GB of RAM will retail for ₹16,999, and the model with 4GB of RAM will be available for ₹17,999. Given the minor difference between the two variants, you’re better off opting for the version with more memory. And if you have a credit card from SBI, you’ll get 10% off. Who’s interested?

See at Flipkart

How to fix ‘You have downloads on too many devices’ error on Netflix

Getting a “You have downloads on too many devices” error on the Netflix Android app? Here’s how to fix it.

When Netflix introduced the ability to download content offline, people were thrilled — and rightfully so! Now it’s possible to take Orange is the new Black on the subway, or Jessica Jones on a plane. It means being able to store as much content as your device can handle and watching it whenever or wherever you want, internet connection be damned!

But there are some limitations. If you find yourself with an error message telling you that you have exceeded your device limit, there’s an easy fix: delete the content from a device you’re no longer using.

How to delete downloaded content from Netflix for Android

Open the Netflix app.
Tap on the menu button (three lines) on the left side of the screen.
Tap on My Download.

Tap on the title(s) you want to delete.

Tap on the blue “phone” icon next to the title description.
In the overflow menu, select Delete Download.
Repeat for all content on the device, or use the edit button to delete all the episodes of a show.
Make sure your phone is connected to the internet so Netflix acknowledges files have been deleted.

Why is this error happening?

The “You have downloads on too many devices” error comes from a limitation on how many devices per account can download offline content. The breakdown is as follows:

• SD plan: 1 device
• HD plan: 2 devices
• 4K plan: 4 devices

Most people subscribe to the HD plan, which allows for offline downloads on two devices, say a phone and a tablet. You’ll get the above error if you attempt to download content onto a third device.

What happens if I reset or lose my phone without deleting content?

It’s possible to forget to manually delete offline Netflix content before resetting a phone, or before it is tragically lost. In that case, Netflix will continue acknowledging that device for 30 days, after which time it will reset the count. There’s nothing you can do — though you may want to talk to Netflix’s support if the issue is urgent — but wait it out.

How to download offline content on Netflix

What is HDR?

Your phone takes HDR pictures and your TV shows HDR video. Here’s what that means.

HDR is a term that gets tossed around a lot, and it seems like it never really gets explained. It stands for High Dynamic Range, but it means different things depending on what exactly is being discussed. Let’s break it down into simple terms so we all can understand what it means — and why it matters.

You’ll see HDR being used as a descriptor in a lot of different products — cameras, televisions, microphones, and even industrial and medical equipment. In the generic sense, HDR means a thing has a wider range of acceptable input or output when compared to standard equipment. What we’re going to focus on is HDR as it applies to camera and displays.

HDR Cameras and Photos

We all have used a crummy smartphone camera and tried to take a picture without enough light. It ends up being a dark, yellow mess that’s not a great way to capture the moment on any level. We’ve seen the same when we use the flash on a smartphone camera to try and fix it, then everything turns a weird ethereal bluish-white. This is because of the dynamic range of the camera.

The range of light that the camera hardware can focus on and capture is fixed. HDR fixes that.

A camera can only process a certain amount of light that’s brighter than a threshold, and a certain amount that’s darker. You can move the threshold, but you can’t expand it to see more of one side without losing some of the other. If parts of the image are brighter than the allowable range, they are washed out and white. If parts are darker, they are black. If you make an adjustment to see more of the brighter light, more things turn black. If you do the opposite to see more dark things, more things wash out. The range of light that the camera hardware can focus on and capture is fixed.

More: When to use HDR for photos on your Android

HDR settings aim to fix this and give you a picture that has more bright things correctly exposed and more dark things correctly exposed at the same time. This is done by taking more than one picture when you press the button. Photos are taken (usually three or five, which is called bracketing) in quick succession and each has the exposure set to a different level.

An HDR photo of an HDR TV playing HDR content — streams have been crossed.

The software that turns the image data into a picture analyzes each and stitches a single photo together with the bits and pieces that are exposed properly. The picture that’s set to see more dark areas has those spots combined with the normally-exposed picture, and the same is done for the brightly lit areas. The software picks the image with the best detail when it sees a trouble spot and tries to make a photo that looks good.

The Best Android Camera

It mostly works. Even on an automatic setting where the image is analyzed and HDR is applied if needed, most of the time HDR can help turn an average photo into a better photo. It’s not magic — it can’t fix a bad photo and it doesn’t help when you’re taking one that has great lighting throughout. It depends on the people making your camera being able to program it to do a good job guessing what’s right or looks good. Some are better than others, but it’s always a lot better than any HDR post-processing filter.

HDR Displays

HDR photos have nothing to do with HDR display technology. Both are used when the product can do its thing with a wider range — in this case, the thing is to show you a picture.

HDR photos have nothing to do with HDR display technology.

HDR displays do three things to make the image they show look better than a normal display. They have a better contrast ratio that lets them produce brighter whites and darker blacks at the same time, with both ends being sharp and well defined. They have a higher degree of color accuracy so the colors look closer to what your eye sees if you were looking at things in real life (or a producer’s vision of real life). And they have a Wide Color Gamut (WCG) so more colors can be displayed on the screen itself. A TV that doesn’t have a WCG display won’t reproduce the actual color of a stop sign. You’ll notice this the next time you see it. WCG lets it create that particular red and a lot more colors.

These three things are combined into one selling point called HDR. You might see other extras like 3D color management or a special rendering engine, but HDR itself needs those essentials to be reproduced. It really does look better if you see it beside a display of the same content on a standard range screen.

The best HDR TV to buy for your new Chromecast Ultra

The content matters, too. A TV can’t create all these new colors and put them where it thinks they should be. HDR content is required, and if you’re watching standard videos no monkeying around with the image to try and upscale it to HDR is happening. This is possible, and upscaling to HDR algorithms are used to do things like detect blemishes on manufactured parts or bruises and soft spots on fruits and veggies. But not on your TV or monitor. HDR content carries metadata along with the signal that tells the display exactly how to display the content. The display itself just creates the right color for each pixel according to the metadata and the picture we see is brighter and more lifelike.

The important part is to make sure everything is HDR-capable. For example, you need a Chromecast Ultra, a 4K HDR TV, a 4K HDR source and enough bandwidth to stream the video and associated metadata to get a good 4K HDR picture from Netflix. If one piece of the chain is broken, you get a standard HD picture instead.

There’s a lot more to know about HDR, like how HDR media is created or how a camera processor knows what looks good when faced with three photos to choose from. But these basics are all you need to know the next time someone starts talking about HDR so you can follow along.

LG G6 will launch before the Galaxy S8 to capitalise on Samsung’s downfall

A report straight from Korea is suggesting LG will release its 2017 flagship device, highly likely to be the G6, before Samsung releases the Galaxy S8. It will be the first time LG has released its flagship before its South Korean rival.

• LG G6: What’s the story so far?

The Electronics Times goes on to say the G6 will be unveiled at MWC 2017 and will launch in South Korea on 10 March, although it doesn’t say when we can expect to see the new phone around the rest of the world.

It’s thought that LG wants to capitalise on Samsung’s failings with the Galaxy Note 7 and get its phone out early to try and entice customers. It’s a tactic that Samsung has often used in previous years, but in 2017 the company is believed to be delaying the launch of the Galaxy S8 until at least April to make sure it’s in full working order and completely safe.

LG is hoping to further capitalise on an early launch by releasing a phone it believes consumers will actually want. The LG G5 introduced a new modular design for the company, but it wasn’t particularly well received. The G6 will lose the modularity and instead offer a new Quad HD+ screen, unibody design and will be waterproof for the first time.

• Mobile World Congress 2017: Smartphones, smartphones, smartphones to expect

Mobile World Congress is still more than a month away, so there’s of course plenty of time for these rumours to change, but we’re starting to get a clearer idea of what to expect from LG’s next flagship.

Can I watch the HTC ‘For U’ launch event online?

HTC lining up a big launch event for 12 January. Using the “U” moniker, the company has been promising that this is all about you and rumours are suggesting that it’s going to be the launch venue for a number of new devices, and perhaps some personalisation too.

The event is virtual – there’s no physical event – and HTC is promising a live stream. It’s due to kick off at 8am GMT on 12 January 2017 for those of you in the UK, but here’s how it breaks down internationally:

• Seattle: 00:00 PST
• New York: 03:00 EST
• London: 08:00 GMT
• Berlin: 09:00 CET
• Dubai: 12:00 GST
• New Delhi: 13:30 IST
• Taipei: 16:00 CST
• Tokyo: 17:00 JST

HTC has hosted the following teaser for the event and we’re expecting this to become the live stream once the event starts.

The first device due for launch is the HTC U Ultra. This is thought to be a 6-inch device with flagship specs, looking to pick-up some of glory in the wake of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7’s demise.

• HTC U Ultra: Release date, rumours, specs on HTC Ocean Note

The second device is thought to be called the HTC U Play. This is rumoured to be a smaller device at 5.2-inches, more of a mid-range proposition. We don’t know much about this device, but we’ve raked through the internet to pull together whatever details we can.

• HTC U Play: Release date, rumours and specs for HTC Alpine

The great thing about this event is we really don’t know much about HTC’s plans for 2017. Although there’s a lot of noise circulating and a lot of codenames being thrown around, there’s very little certain information. Will this all be related to the HTC Ocean concept that was shown off? Will we see a new flagship? All will be revealed on 12 January.

Huawei Fit review: A fitness watch you’ll want to run away from

If, like many, you’re thinking along the lines of “new year, new you” then a decent fitness tracker such as the Huawei Fit is probably atop your 2017 gadget wish list.

Getting the right one can be the difference between hitting that 10k personal best, or giving up on your latest fitness kick before January is even out.

• Best fitness trackers 2017: The activity bands to buy today

The Huawei Fit is a recent device in this bulging market. Packing traditional fitness tracker skills into a more sports watch-style design, it faces-off against the likes of the Fitbit Charge 2 and TomTom Touch for a spot on your arm.

Capable of tracking everything from your steps and sleep, to run distances and calories burned, the Fit – which also brings call and message alerts direct to your wrist – plays nice with both Apple iOS and Android devices.

So far, so good then, but does the Huawei Fit do anything to separate itself from the masses? We put it to the test to find out.

Huawei Fit review: Design

• 247 x 39 x 10mm (229mm small strap); 35g
• Black, blue and orange colour options
• IP68, 5ATM waterproof rated

Fitness trackers aren’t always the best looking bits of kit. Actually, they’re often a bit bland and boring looking.

Pocket-lint

The Huawei Fit though certainly looks the part. Styled like a traditional watch, it’s slick, round, button-free body gives it a clean, unassuming look that’s suitable for everything from a day in the office to a night out on the town, via that lunchtime gym session.

Unlike a lot of fitness trackers, this design doesn’t scream for attention, either. People won’t even know you’re wearing a fitness tracker unless you tell them – saving you, and those around you, being subjected to endless, unsolicited chat on running routes.

The Fit’s slim metal body is practical as well as pretty, squeezing in impressive waterproof skills. It’s not just a run in the rain or a post-gym shower that the Fit will survive, either. Waterproof to 50 metres, you can take it along for your next trip to the swimming pool too.

Available in a trio of colour options, the black on black model we tested is the most understated. Elsewhere, the silver body with either blue or orange straps offers a more sporty, outgoing style.

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Want to switch things up? Fine. Those rubberised waterproof sports straps are interchangeable, letting you customise what is already a comfortable, lightweight fit, even when embarking on long runs.

Huawei Fit review: Display

• 1.04 inch Memory LCD
• Touchscreen operation
• 208 x 208 pixel resolution (200ppi)

Unlike devices such as the Apple Watch or Suunto Spartan Sport, the Huawei Fit doesn’t offer a colourful OLED or LCD display.

That doesn’t mean it’s missing touch-friendly controls though. Not only does the its monochrome Memory LCD display let you swipe through a number of screens to navigate your way to your daily step count or calories burned, it’s down to this touch panel to front all of the interface interaction as there are no physical buttons.

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Unfortunately it’s not really up to the task, as the touch elements are temperamental at best. Swipes are all too regularly read as presses and presses blanked completely. There’s not much finesse to this screen.

Throw running into the mix and trying to scroll through your real-time data is all but impossible without first slowing your pace.

It’s not all infuriating misery though. On the up side, this 1.04-inch panel creates a device that’s easy to view without dominating your wrist. The always-on screen makes checking the time and current steps count a breeze, and the auto backlight and ambient light sensor are smart to your surroundings.

No, the 208 x 208 pixel (200ppi) display isn’t the sharpest, far from it, but that doesn’t really matter. It displays all your live run data in an easy-to-read but far from inspiring fashion.

Pocket-lint

It’s a bit dull and lifeless, yes, but the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 coating does ensure the watch will stand up to all the knocks and scuffs that it’s likely to face when chucked into your gym bag or when running through the woods.

Huawei Fit review: Features and performance

• Heart-rate sensor built-in
• Accelerometer and gyrometer
• Bluetooth connectivity for app sync

Want to track all your activity be it walking to the shop or running a half marathon? No problem, that’s what this watch is for.

At least that’s the theory. In practice, however, the Huawei Fit is about as successful as your plan to completely avoid booze and burgers for the next 12 months.

Pocket-lint

On paper it might tick all the right fitness-tracking boxes, but start pounding the pavement and things all too regularly come up short.

Accuracy is its big issue, with the watch’s lack of integrated GPS costing it big when it comes to data you can trust.

Despite using a similar 6-axis accelerometer and gyroscope sensor pack to many more accurate trackers, the Huawei Fit’s fitness tracking is all over the shop. Walk down the road and it’s too generous with its step count; start running and it becomes particularly stingy.

Overall, it’s consistently about 10 per cent off in terms of accuracy, underplaying the true distances of your runs. Hold your phone or water bottle in your watch-accented hand while running and these accuracy shortcomings are further exaggerated. When you’re covering distances of 10k or greater, that’s a huge, energy-sapping discrepancy.

Pocket-lint

It’s not just your distance that this affects either. It throws all of your data off and underplays your improving fitness levels. This alone is reason enough to avoid the Huawei Fit.

Sadly, however, it’s not the watch’s only issue with accuracy. The device’s integrated heart-rate sensor, slotted on the underside of the metal bodied watch, is poor.

Heart rate readings are consistently too high, warming us we’re in dangerous levels while only enjoying a casual jog.

While your resting heart rate will display as a little on the peaky side, start training and it quickly shoots off the chart. Worn at the same time as both the Apple Watch Series 2 and Garmin Forerunner 35, the Huawei Fit’s heart-rate sensor was at times 40 points higher than its rivals.

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Notifications aren’t much better, either. Despite coming through just fine, they’re not particularly pleasant to read, with large, blocky text forcing you to slowly read word by word. It’s quicker and easier just to get your phone out of your pocket, and sadly this flawed system is just the tip of the Fit’s software shortcomings.

Huawei Fit review: App and software

• Android (v4.4+), (iOS 8.0+) and later compatible

Any fitness watch is, to some degree, only as good as the software and app that power it.

Sadly, the Huawei Fit fails to inspire. It’s competent enough at displaying your fitness data – however skewed it might be – but it doesn’t really build on the core foundations.

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Yes, the app lets you create your own training plans, but there’s no smart coaching element here to tailor the plan to your goals, improve fitness levels or guide you through your next training session.

Instead of turning your data into a tangible, meaningful insight, it simply spews it at you in a variety of charts and graphs that on their own fail to show you how to improve.

Navigating your way through these is a laborious chore, too, with no fluidity to the app’s layout. It’s an uninspired, unoriginal approach that already feels dated.

And that’s assuming you can get the app to sync. Despite having the watch and phone connected – call notifications were coming through fine – watch-based fitness data often refused to transfer during our testing. Citing connection issues, we regularly had to re-sync the watch just to see how far we’d run.

Worryingly, the watch’s onboard software is even worse. It’s clunky, awkward and – short of displaying a large ‘Start run’ button front and centre – does little to encourage you to get active and pursue your latest fitness goal.

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Live data is in short supply too. You can see distances covered, time run and calories burned, just not all at the same time. Instead, you’ve got to swipe through the real-time stats, something that’s not exactly with this screen when you’re bobbing along at a steady pace.

Fiddly to navigate with an Android Wear-style up, down, left right swipe interface, even the software’s better ideas are executed poorly. Having your heart rate intensity highlight when you’re in the prime fat-burning zone is a great idea, but the watch’s woeful heart-rate sensor readings mean this addition is essentially redundant.

Huawei Fit review: Battery life

• Six day’s life per charge
• 1.5hr recharge time
• Magnetic four-pin charger

Thankfully there are positives. Accurate fitness tracking might not be this wearable’s strongest suit, but it’s not a watch that’s all doom and gloom.

There are a few plus points, and, like it’s design, the watch’s battery life is another highlight.

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You’ll get a full working week between charges. This isn’t just five days stuck to your sofa measuring little more than your hourly trips to the fridge, either. Throw some daily runs or serious walking sessions in and the watch will still be proudly displaying the time come the end of the week.

However, while this is nice, we’d really rather have a three day battery life and power-sapping GPS thrown in to provide more accurate run tracking.

Verdict

If you’re looking to get active, and, more importantly, stay active in 2017 and beyond, the Huawei Fit probably isn’t the fitness watch you’re after.

Yes, it looks great and the battery life lasts an age, but that’s not enough to compensate for its disappointing step, run and heart-rate accuracy.

Little more than another “me too” device, the Fit is slow and clunky, while the app (although easy on the eye) does little to translate your fitness data into meaningful health-improving guidance.

Trade in style for substance, and you’ll get far better fitness trackers at a similar, or better price.

Huawei Fit: The alternatives to consider

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Fitbit Charge 2

• £120

The Charge 2 might not look as good as the Huawei, but it’s got it comprehensively beat in every other department.

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Withings Activite Steel

• £140

If you really covet a good-looking fitness tracker, then the Withings is more accurate than the Fit while remaining easy on the eye. There’s also a heart-rate model coming out too.