iPhone XS and XS Max Feature Upgraded IP68 Water and Dust Resistance
One of the new features included in Apple’s high-end OLED iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max is improved water and dust resistance, with the two devices now offering an IP68 rating, equivalent to Samsung’s Galaxy S9 smartphones.
The IP68 rating means the iPhone XS and XS Max can withstand water up to two meters (6.6 feet) deep for approximately 30 minutes. In this number, the IP6x rating refers to dust resistance while the 8 represents water resistance.
IP6x is the highest dust resistance rating, so the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are fully protected from dust and dirt. The new IP68 rating is up from the IP67 rating of previous iPhones.
Apple’s iPhone XR is also water and dust resistant, but it is IP67 rated rather than IP68 rated, like the iPhone X. IP67 means that the iPhone XR can withstand immersion in water up to one meter (3.3 feet) for 30 minutes.
Apple does not cover any kind of water damage to its iOS devices, so it’s always best to use caution when exposing a water resistant iPhone to liquids.
Apple also warns that seals against water resistance can weaken over time, which is another reason why it’s best not to deliberately expose iPhones to moisture. In general, though, the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR will hold up to accidental splashes of water and rain.
The Apple Watch Series 4, also newly announced, continues to feature the same water resistance rating as the Apple Watch Series 3. It has a water resistance of rating of 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010.
That means the Apple Watch Series 4 is suitable for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or an ocean, but it should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing, or other activities that involve exposure to deep water or high-velocity water.
Related Roundup: iPhone XSTag: September 2018 event
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iPhone XR Hands-On: Vibrant Colors, Solid Camera/Display, and Cheaper Price Should Entice Many Users
In addition to hands-on time with the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, members of the media today got the chance to see the new LCD iPhone XR up close. This is Apple’s cheaper alternative to the higher-tier XS models, with the XR starting at $749 in 64GB and rising from there.
In person, The Verge said that the six new colors of the iPhone XR are all very vibrant, and the site particularly liked Coral and (PRODUCT)Red. Additionally, The Verge described the iPhone XR as noticeably lighter in comparison to the XS, and ultimately said that the XR will likely become the “default” iPhone for many users this holiday season.
I just spent a few moments playing with the new iPhone XR, which feels like it will be the default iPhone for many people this season. Not only does it have a very similar design to the more expensive iPhone XS model, it has many of the same features for a considerably lower price.
The iPhone XR comes in six different colors, including very nice-looking coral and blue options. The colors are extremely vibrant in person; the coral and red, in particular, are terrific. (They’re honestly a reason to get the XR over the XS if you don’t care about the other features like dual cameras and 3D Touch.)
In terms of downgrades from the iPhone XS to make the XR cheaper, Apple went for an LCD display instead of OLED, chose a single-lens rear facing camera instead of the dual lens on the XS, and removed 3D Touch. TechCrunch, like many outlets, said that if you don’t miss these features then it’s easy to see why the XR will be enticing, particularly if you want more color options.
Other than those differences, the iPhone XR has an A12 Bionic chip, a TrueDepth camera system, and Face ID — just like the iPhone XS.
For most users, I suspect most of these elements won’t really be missed — unless, of course, you’ve already gotten comfortable with the iPhone X. While $749 is hardly “cheap” by the standards of mid-range handsets in 2018, it’s a pretty good entry-level price for an Apple handset. Also, don’t underestimate the importance of colors choices in the phone-buying process.
The XR feels like less of an afterthought, unlike the iPhone 8, which was hugely overshadowed by the iPhone X released alongside it. It looks and feels enough like the premium handset that, when coupled with the $250 price drop, it seems inevitable that Apple will sell a ton of the damn things.
Mashable reported that the rear camera on the iPhone XR is still impressive, despite the fact that it’s not a true Portrait Mode effect like those produced by the dual cameras on iPhone XS or XS Max.
Noticeably impressive is the camera. It’s got just a single rear camera (there’s no 2x telephoto lens), but it’s still stunning. The Steve Jobs Theater hands-on area was relatively well-lit, so it’s hard to say how well the camera performs IRL, but that adjustable bokeh effect for portrait photos looks sick. Not so great: the even larger camera bump. The thing is massive.
A couple of minutes is obviously not enough time to get to know the iPhone XR, but at first blush, it looks like a winner. The colors will suck you right in. I’d totally buy the yellow one.
The iPhone XR will go up for pre-order this Friday, October 19, ahead of a launch one week later on October 26.
Related Roundup: iPhone XSTag: September 2018 event
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Apple Watch Series 4 Hands-On: Larger Displays, New Finishes, Slightly Thinner, ECG, and More
Following the introduction of Apple Watch Series 4 models at Steve Jobs Theater today, MacRumors and other media outlets were provided with some up-and-close hands-on time with the new lineup.
At first glance, the most obvious difference with Series 4 models is their larger displays, as Apple has significantly reduced the size of the bezels around the screen. The bezels now look similar to those on the iPhone X and newer, although the display is not completely edge to edge.
Apple says the larger displays provide 32 percent and 35 percent more viewing area on the new 40mm and 44mm models respectively, compared to the previous 38mm and 42mm models in previous generations.
Taking advantage of the larger displays, Apple has redesigned the entire watchOS interface to provide more information with richer detail. A new Infograph watch face can accommodate up to eight complications.
Series 4 models are also ever slightly thinner than Series 3 models, measuring in at 10.7mm, compared to 11.4mm. Apple didn’t allow me to test my Series 3 band with a Series 4 model, but it did confirm that both new and existing bands are compatible with all Apple Watch generations.
Apple Watch Series 4 has a new electrical heart sensor on the back side for electrocardiography, often shortened to ECG or EKG. This potentially life-saving functionality can indicate whether your heart rhythm shows signs of atrial fibrillation, a serious form of irregular heart rhythm.
Series 4 introduces some finishes, including gold stainless steel casing and a gold Milanese Loop. The back side on all the new models is now crafted from sapphire crystal and ceramic, whereas some Series 3 models had composite backs.
On the side of Series 4 models, the Digital Crown features a thin circle, which is black on GPS configurations and red on LTE configurations. By comparison, nearly the entire Digital Crown is red on Series 3 models with LTE. In my opinion, the new, subdued look of the crown is more aesthetically pleasing.
Overall, the Series 4 models do not represent a full-out redesign of the Apple Watch, but the larger displays and improved health monitoring tools are much welcomed features that are worth considering upgrading for.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4, watchOS 5Tag: September 2018 eventBuyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)
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Apple Shares New Pricing for Battery Replacements Starting January 1, 2019
Since the end of 2017, Apple has been offering battery replacements for a discounted price of $29 to appease customers who were upset at device throttling resulting from degraded battery performance.
When announcing the new inexpensive battery replacement pricing, Apple promised to offer the discounted price for the entirety of 2018.
Now that we’re nearing the end of the year, Apple has provided us with an updated support document on what battery replacements will be priced at after the price drop expires.
Starting on January 1, 2019, battery replacements for the iPhone SE, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus will be priced at $49, up from $29.
iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR battery replacements will cost $69, as will iPhone X battery replacements, and batteries for all older iPhones will cost $79.
At $49 and $69 for most devices, Apple is dropping the price of its battery repairs overall. Before the entire throttling snafu that resulted in the price drop, battery replacements cost $79.
Devices that are under an AppleCare+ or AppleCare+ Theft and Loss plan will not incur a fee if a battery replacement is required.
Customers with older iPhones that want to take advantage of the $29 battery replacement pricing should schedule a replacement before the end of 2018 before prices go up.
Related Roundup: iPhone XSTags: iPhone Slowdown, September 2018 event
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Upcoming HomePod Software to Add Call Support, Multiple Timers, Find My iPhone, Lyric Search and More
At today’s “Gather Round” event at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California, Apple CEO Tim Cook highlighted some new features that are coming to the HomePod through a software update set to be released next Monday.
The HomePod will gain a number of new features with the software update, which is going to come alongside iOS 12, tvOS 12, and watchOS 5.
- Search for your favorite songs by lyrics using Siri
- Create multiple timers
- Make and receive phone calls right from the HomePod
- Ping your iPhone or any of your Apple devices to find them in your home
HomePod is also going to work with Siri Shortcuts, a feature coming in iOS 12. According to Cook, Siri Shortcuts will “open up a world of apps” for HomePod.
Many of these new features are additions that HomePod users have been hoping for. The HomePod has been the butt of jokes for not being able to support more than one timer at once, and while it could be used as a speakerphone previously, the new phone call functionality will expand its usefulness as a standalone communication device.
All of Apple’s fall software updates are set to be released on Monday, September 17, with the exception of macOS Mojave, which will see a release on September 24.
Related Roundup: HomePodBuyer’s Guide: HomePod (Buy Now)
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New 2018 iPhones Support Background NFC Tag Reading, No App Required
As outlined on Apple’s developer site, the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR models allow users to scan NFC tags without an app using a new background tag reading feature.
On iPhones that support background tag reading, the system scans for and reads NFC data without requiring users to scan tags using an app. The system displays a pop-up notification each time it reads a new tag. After the user taps the notification, the system delivers the tag data to the appropriate app. If the iPhone is locked, the system prompts the user to unlock the phone before providing the tag data to the app.
Background tag reading is designed to work only when a user’s iPhone is in use in order to avoid unintentional tag reading. It also will not work if a device has not been unlocked, a core NFC reader is in session, Apple Pay Wallet is in use, the camera is in use, or Airplane mode is enabled.
The new background tagging function will allow an iPhone user to scan any NFC tag at a museum, store, or other location without first having to open up an app. Scanning an NFC tag will present a notification on the display, which can be tapped to launch an app.
Launching an app using this method requires a tap from the user, so it will not allow NFC-based methods to automatically launch apps sans user permission.
According to Apple, background NFC tag reading is a feature that’s limited to the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR. It is not supported on iPhone X and earlier models.
Related Roundup: iPhone XSTag: September 2018 event
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Apple’s 2018 iPhones Support T-Mobile’s 600MHz LTE Spectrum for Improved LTE Performance
The iPhone XS, XS Max, and iPhone XR are the first iPhones to support T-Mobile’s 600 MHz LTE spectrum (aka Band 71), according to T-Mobile CEO John Legere.
Band 71 is listed as a supported option on the Tech Specs pages for both the iPhone XS and the iPhone XR. Apple additionally says its new devices support the most LTE bands ever in an iPhone.
T-Mobile purchased the 600 MHz spectrum in an FCC auction in April 2017 and shortly after announced plans to use the spectrum to improve its network in rural America.
By the time T-Mobile announced its plans for the rollout of the 600 MHz spectrum, the hardware for the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and 8 Plus was already secured, giving Apple no time to build in support.
T-Mobile in August 2017 activated the first 600 MHz site in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and has since expanded it to 1,254 cities across 36 states, including Puerto Rico, which means many T-Mobile customers who purchase the iPhone XS, XS Max, or XR will benefit from the improved coverage.
According to T-Mobile, the 600 MHz spectrum adds increased building penetration and covers greater distances. When used in metro areas, it improves in-building coverage, and in rural areas, it improves the company’s LTE footprint.
Of course we’re going to carry the new iPhones!! BEST PART?! They are the first iPhones ever to INCLUDE our 600MHz Extended Range LTE!! That means your new #iPhone will have the best coverage and network experience of any @TMobile iPhone, EVER! #AppleEvent
— John Legere (@JohnLegere) September 12, 2018
Other smartphones that offer 600 MHz support include the LG G7 Thin Q, the Samsung Galaxy S9, and the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.
Related Roundup: iPhone XSTags: T-Mobile, LTE, September 2018 event
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Apple Requiring All New Apps and App Updates to be Built With iOS 12 SDK by March 2019
Apple today asked developers to begin submitting apps that take advantage of new features in iOS 12, watchOS 5, tvOS 12, and macOS Mojave ahead of the upcoming launch of the new software updates.
You can now submit apps that take advantage of the powerful new capabilities in the next release of iOS, watchOS, and tvOS. Build your apps using Xcode 10 GM seed, test with the latest releases of iOS 12, watchOS 5, and tvOS 12, and submit them for review.
According to Apple, all new apps and app updates for iPhone, including universal apps, will be need to be built with the iOS 12 SDK and will need to include support for the iPhone XS Max starting in March 2019.
All new apps and app updates for Apple Watch will need to be built with the watchOS 5 SDK and will need to support Apple Watch Series 4 by the same date.
Apple plans to release iOS 12, watchOS 5, tvOS 12, and new software for the HomePod on Monday, September 17. Apple will release macOS Mojave a week later on Monday, September 24.
Tags: App Store, September 2018 event
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Google Home review: After nearly two years, is it still worth it?
Google Home is the original Google Assistant enabled smart speaker. When it launched competition didn’t exist. If you wanted an Assistant enabled speaker, it was your only choice. Since then, there have been several Assistant smart speakers released. Your choices are no longer as limited as they once were. Now the question is, how does Google Home compare when it is no longer your only choice?
Design
The Google Home has a neutral design that blends seamlessly into most rooms. It mostly resembles an air freshener in my opinion, and I mean that as a compliment. Google Home simply blends in and won’t draw any extra attention to itself. It is not meant to look like a piece of tech and it excels at this.
A lot of this comes from the color choice and shape of the device. However, if you want yours to stand out you can easily buy replaceable bases and even skins for the top plastic section. The fabric base is held on securely by magnets and is easy to slide off and on. I’m happy to let mine look like a fancy air freshener.
My favorite part of the design would be the hidden LEDs on the top of the unit. The purpose of these is to give you feedback when Assistant is listening, thinking, or speaking to you. There is something so satisfying about watching the four multicolored LEDs light up and dance around. It’s honestly what I miss most when using any other Assistant enabled speaker.
Besides the animated LEDs on the top, there is also a touch sensor for controlling the volume. By running your finger in a circle around the top you can lower or raise the volume as indicated by the white LED volume meter. Then, of course, there is the mute button for the microphone on the back.
Features
Google Home launched with some fantastic features such as controlling your smart home, music playback, alarms, timers, updating you with your daily news and weather, and more. All you had to do was utter the command and like your digital genie, Assistant would light up and do your bidding. Over time it has gained more and more abilities such as making phone calls, adding reminders, playing games, and the list goes on and on.
Read More: 9 Tips and tricks for your Google Assistant speaker
While all Google Assistant smart speakers share essentially the same features, there is one exclusive to the Google speakers. For whatever reason, you can only make calls using the Google Assistant speakers at this time. Asking any other Assistant enabled speaker to make a call will be met with the reply “sorry I can’t make calls yet”.
Microphone Performance
The far-field microphones used in the Google Home speaker are some of the best I’ve ever used. Through my testing of several other smart speakers, I’ve always found the Google Home to be one of the top performers in this category. In fact, it even works better than the one on my smartwatch. Many times when trying to activate my watch only inches from my face Google Home would light up while the watch laid dormant.
Sound Quality
As a bit of an audiophile, I’ve been disappointed in the audio quality of the Google Home speaker since day one. The good news is the Google Home speaker has tons of bass and is very loud. I didn’t expect that given the compact size of this speaker. The bad news is, the bass is overwhelming and it lacks any detail in the high end making audio sound muddy overall.
An overwhelming amount of bass isn’t always a bad thing. For instance, when listening to rap, pop, or dance music it can be nice to feel the impact of the bass. Thankfully, if you’re not enjoying the sound quality of the Google Home speaker, there is a solution. Nearly a year after its release, Google finally added an equalizer option into the settings.
With the ability to tweak the bass and treble you can greatly improve the sound quality. However, even after adjusting the equalizer audio quality still falls short of some other Assistant speakers on the market. While the equalizer is a great feature, it also appears to be another Google speaker exclusive. None of the other speakers I’ve reviewed have included this option.
Final Thoughts
The great thing about smart speakers is they don’t age the same as other tech does. They don’t get slower over time, the battery life doesn’t decline, and a new faster one doesn’t come out every year. That means your smart speaker never gets worse, in fact, it actually gets better over time. Your smart speaker is always evolving as the AI improves and new skills and features are added.
With that said, there is no doubt that Google Home is better now than it has ever been. However, it no longer stands alone and you now have more choices than you have ever had when buying an Assistant enabled speaker.
Read more: Here are all the Google Assistant speakers, headphones, and displays you can buy
My biggest complaint about the Google Home was always the audio quality. However, after the introduction of the equalizer setting Google has almost negated that entirely. There are still slightly better sounding speakers in the same price range, but none are as fully featured as the Google Home. Making it one of the best choices when it comes to buying a midrange smart speaker. If you’re interested in picking one up you can get it from one of the links below.
Google Store ABT Best Buy B&H Photo Frys Newegg Target Verizon Walmart
Garmin vivosmart 4 review: If you don’t need GPS, this is a great option
Garmin’s vivosmart 3 fitness tracker tried some interesting things, but it didn’t follow through so well on all of them. This year, the company not only needed to make up for the vivosmart 3’s faults, but also create something to go head to head with the upcoming Fitbit Charge 3. That’s where the Garmin vivosmart 4 comes into play.
This is our full Garmin vivosmart 4 review.
Garmin vivosmart 4 review notes: I’ve been using the Garmin vivosmart 4 as my main fitness tracker for roughly two weeks. The Google Pixel 2 XL has been my smartphone companion of choice for the duration of this review.Show More
Design
Many people who prefer fitness bands (instead of fitness watches) like them because of their size. If you’re one of those people, the vivosmart 4 will be right up your alley. The size actually reminds me a lot of the original Xiaomi Mi Band. It weighs just 20.4 grams, and it’s super thin.
This is a very important thing to consider with a fitness tracker. The lighter and less obtrusive it is, the more you’ll wear it, and the more metrics it will track. Nobody wants to go to sleep with a bulky thing on their wrist every night.
The vivosmart 4’s thin and lightweight design makes it super easy to wear at all times.
However, this small design’s display, while vastly improved from its predecessor, is very narrow. There’s no problem moving around the interface, but selecting different options can be difficult and text often cuts off, which can be annoying. I don’t really know how to fix this — it’s not a problem with Garmin’s software or the display itself — it’s just the downside to having a small, narrow screen.
The display quality is much improved this time around. It’s still monochrome, but it’s now a much brighter OLED touchscreen instead of the slightly matted, dim screen on the vivosmart 3.
To make up for the silicone band not being interchangeable, Garmin added more color options to the lineup. I reviewed the black model, but it also comes in three other colors: berry with a gold bezel, powder grey with a rose gold bezel, or azure blue with a silver bezel.
Overall, the vivosmart 4’s design is a big step up. It looks more like a classy fitness tracker than something trying to disguise itself as a piece of jewelry, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. It’s the case with most of Garmin’s wearables, after all.
Fitness and health tracking
Garmin vivosport (left) and vivosmart 4 (right)
Before we run down the features, you should know where the vivosmart 4 fits into Garmin’s lineup. This is definitely on the low end of the vivo series, with only the vivofit 4 beneath it. One step up is the vivosport, which comes with some higher-end features like built-in GPS. The vivoactive 3 and vivoactive 3 Music sit at the top of the line, featuring advanced hardware like GPS, support for Garmin Pay, and full-fledged smartwatch features. Okay, got it? Let’s continue.
The most notable omission here is the lack of GPS or phone tethering option. But did we expect Garmin to include that?
The vivosmart 4 tracks all the standard metrics you’d expect: steps taken, floors climbed, intensity minutes, calories burned, stress, sleep, and heart rate. You’ll notice a couple omissions from that list, however. Due to the lack of built-in GPS or phone tethering options, the vivosmart 4 can’t track distance or pace metrics. Even the Charge 3, the vivosmart 4’s biggest competitor, comes with Fitbit’s Connected GPS feature to tether to your phone. It would’ve been really nice to see here, but Garmin also sells the vivosport (currently our favorite fitness tracker), which has a built-in GPS. If you’re looking for a new fitness tracker from Garmin, your need for GPS will dictate whether you should look at the vivosport or vivosmart 4.
The vivosmart 4 can also track a variety of sport profiles like running, walking, strength training, cardio, elliptical, pool swimming, stair stepper, and yoga, as well as a catch-all “other” profile. It also supports Garmin’s Toe-to-Toe app.
Also read: What’s the best Garmin watch?
The tracker supports automatic activity recognition with Garmin Move IQ. Move IQ only automatically records “familiar” activities like biking, running, and using the elliptical. These activities only show up in your workout calendar in Garmin Connect, not in your news feed or activities list. It’s really there to record that you did an activity, and not necessarily all the metrics the activity might involve. Move IQ recorded an elliptical activity when I was actually playing the drums, and it only gave me start and end times — no fitness data.
I mainly tested the walking, running, and cardio profiles during my time with the device, and also compared those metrics with a variety of other devices. In the screenshots below, you can see a run I took with the vivosmart 4, Fenix 5, Fitbit Versa, and my Polar H10 chest strap.
Let’s start with heart rate data. All four devices actually came out with similar max heart rate recordings, and even more similar average heart rate readings:
- Polar H10: 175 max heart rate, 161 average
- Garmin vivosmart 4: 179 max heart rate, 157 average
- Garmin Fenix 5: 170 max heart rate, 155 average
- Fitbit Versa: 181 max heart rate, 156 average
The two Garmin trackers and the chest strap were only six beats per minute off with average heart rate, which is pretty good for a comparison between a chest strap and wrist-based heart rate sensors. It’s never going to be spot-on; chest straps are almost always more accurate than wrist-based sensors.
The Polar H10 and Fenix 5 were very similar in the first seven minutes of the run — they both reached 150bpm at around the same time, while the vivosmart 4 lagged behind. The Fenix 5 and H10 also recorded more minute rises and drops in heart rate readings than the vivosmart 4. The Versa’s stats are a bit harder to tell, but there is a pretty big dip in the first third of the run. I’m not sure where that came from.
Elsewhere, the vivosmart 4, despite not having a GPS, was able to more accurately track distance data than the Versa. On my 4.19-mile run (recorded with the Fenix 5), my vivosmart 4 recorded a 4.59-mile run, while the Versa recorded only 3.42 miles. You can manually change these metrics in the Garmin Connect and Fitbit apps after the fact, but it’s nice knowing Garmin’s new device isn’t very far off if you want to take a run.
The vivosmart 4 also handled step tracking — the most basic activity metric — much more accurately for me than competing devices from Fitbit. I never sit down and gain random steps just because I’m moving my arms, for instance.
The updated Elevate heart rate sensor in the vivosmart 4 will now alert you if it senses you have an abnormal heart rate. I haven’t been able to test this because, well, I haven’t experienced anything abnormal throughout my two weeks of testing. It also keeps track of your daily stress and offers a relaxation timer if you need help calming down.
VO2 max estimates are here again, and so is Garmin’s unique Fitness Age metric. According to Garmin, my Fitness Age is “that of an excellent 20-year-old.” I’m blushing.
Body Battery
New to the vivosmart 4 this year is something called Body Battery, and it’s exactly what it sounds like. Garmin assigns a number to your body’s estimated energy reserves using information from stress, heart rate variability, sleep, and activity. Your number will rise and fall throughout the day depending on how active or relaxed you are, as well as a variety of other factors. The idea behind this is great, but sometimes the numbers are a little off. I mean, you can’t expect your fitness tracker to know how tired/energized you are at all times.
I’ve noticed after a good, consistent night’s sleep, I’d usually start the day with a 75 Body Battery score, increasing throughout the day (when I’m at my desk) to anywhere between 80 and 95. After I get off work at around 5:30 p.m. or so, my score starts slowly dropping for the remainder of the afternoon — even more so if I run right after work. I also usually see a bump up in my score between lunchtime and around 5 p.m.
It might not be accurate all the time, but Body Battery is actually really useful.
This has helped me out quite a bit over the past couple weeks. I was really tired after a long day of work, and the tracker said my Body Battery score was around 50 (medium-low). Because I was so tired I knew I wouldn’t have a good quality run that day, so I skipped it and rested at home instead. I kind of felt that way anyway without looking at the score, but at least it’s a good reminder to pay attention to what your body is telling you.
It’s also worth noting that on more than a few occasions, my Body Battery would continue to drop during sleep until I entered deep or REM sleep at around 4 a.m.
Body Battery takes a few days to “learn” your habits, so don’t expect it to be totally accurate right off the bat.
Pulse ox sensor and advanced sleep metrics
Also new on the vivosmart 4 this year is the built-in pulse ox sensor. This will estimate your body’s blood-oxygen saturation levels (how much oxygen is in your blood) based on a few different factors including your overall health and fitness levels. Below-average levels of oxygen in your blood can cause shortness of breath and even show early signs of hypoxemia.
You can set the tracker to measure your blood-oxygen levels when you’re sleeping, or you can do it manually at any time.
The inclusion of a pulse ox sensor is nice, but it’s not perfect.
I’ve found a couple issues with the pulse ox sensor. On most nights, it’ll track my blood-oxygen levels for a few hours, but not the whole night. I also can’t find any correlation between when it tracks and what sleep stage I’m in or how much I’m moving around. It just seems random. Also, I can take two SpO2 readings back to back and the results will be a few percentage points off from one another.
Even with its inconsistencies, it’s nice to see Garmin include a pulse ox sensor here, especially because the tracker is so small. It’ll especially come in handy for those who already carry around dedicated pulse ox sensors.
Also, despite dedicated pulse ox sensors costing around $10, this feature is usually relegated to high-end wearables. Right now, the only other Garmin watch with this feature is the Fenix 5 Plus, which costs boatloads of money. Alternatively, the Fitbit Ionic, Versa, and Charge 3 all have these sensors built in. I’m sure we can expect to see Garmin include pulse ox on most, if not all fitness trackers going forward.
Fitbit has trounced Garmin in sleep tracking for some time, but that’s no longer the case. With the introduction of advanced sleep metrics, the vivosmart 4 can now show you how much deep, light, and REM sleep you’re getting, as well as how much you moved during the night. Pair that with the pulse ox sensor and you have yourself a powerful little sleep tracker.
Garmin says the vivosmart 4 can last seven days on a single charge, and I’d say that’s spot on. Even with the heart rate sensor on at all times, it was pretty easy to reach a week without charging. You’ll only get around four or five days on a charge if the pulse ox sensor is switched on for sleep tracking. Five days is about the maximum battery life for the vivosmart 3, so it’s an improvement either way.
| Material | Lens: polycarbonate Bezel: aluminum Strap: silicone |
| Display | Touchscreen OLED 6.6 x 17.7mm 48 x 128 resolution |
| Battery | 7 days (excluding pulse ox sleep tracking) |
| Memory | 7 timed activities, 14 days of activity tracking data |
| Sensors | Garmin Elevate wrist heart rate monitor Barometric altimeter Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Pulse ox |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth Smart and ANT+ |
| IP rating | 5ATM |
| Smart features | Smart notifications Text response/reject phone call with text (Android only) Weather Control smartphone music Find My Phone / Find My Watch VIRB Camera Remote |
| Compatibility | Android, iOS |
| Dimensions and weight | Small/medium: 15 x 10.5 x 197mm Fits wrists with a circumference of 122-188mm 20.4g Large: 15 x 10.5 x 223mm |
Smartwatch features
Related
Best smartwatches (July 2018)
Smartwatches are still a very new thing to a lot of people, and for good reason. You don’t absolutely need one to get through the day, and some of the best smartwatches are much too expensive …
It’s standard for fitness trackers to offer a bevy of smart features, and the vivosmart 4 is no different. You can check the weather, control your music, and utilize the “find my phone” feature right from your wrist. It’s handy in a pinch, but remember you’re doing this on a very small screen.
It’ll also relay all the notifications your smartphone’s notifications — texts, calls, social media, you name it. If you’re an Android user, you can even reply to preset messages from your wrist too (sorry iPhone users).
I know we’ve already touched on the display size, but I want to reiterate it here. When notifications arrive on the vivosmart 4, they scroll through like an LED ticker display, which is pretty hard to read.
It’s better than not getting notifications at all, I guess.
The Garmin app
I’ve talked a lot about Garmin’s app lately, and you can find out everything you need to know in our Fitbit vs. Garmin comparison. If you don’t want all the nitty-gritty details, here’s the TL;DR.
Garmin Connect has a lot going for it, but it’s still far from the most user-friendly fitness app out there. That has a lot to do with how many features are packed into the app, though. Your default home screen is called My Day and gives you health and activity metrics about the current day, yesterday, or the past week. Connect’s very powerful Calendar view also lets you look back at any day and see everything your device tracked. I use this feature almost daily.
However, Connect is also missing a few things. It doesn’t have as thriving a social community as Fitbit’s app. I really hope Garmin is working on this in the background, because it’s something I miss when I switch to a Garmin device from a Fitbit tracker. That’s not a knock against the vivosmart 4 at all — just an observation about the ecosystem.
Garmin’s app also doesn’t come with much third-party app support. You can link MyFitnessPal, Strava, and Office 365 to Connect if you don’t want to completely ditch those apps for Garmin’s, but the list stops there. I’d really like to see support for more third-party apps like Endomondo, MayMyRun, and RunKeeper in the future.
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Should you buy it?
The Garmin vivosmart 4 is a wonderful little fitness tracker. It excels in pretty much all areas except two. Its lack of GPS or phone tethering option is notable, though I don’t think we should have necessarily expected Garmin to include them here. The vivosmart 3 didn’t have it, and the company already sells the vivosport.
The screen size is the only other thing I can think of that would turn users away. It’s small and sometimes makes tapping on the right area or viewing notifications difficult.
If you can get past those two aspects, the vivosmart 4 is definitely a fitness tracker worth checking out. $130 is really not a lot of money to ask for a fitness tracker with this many features.
The Garmin vivosmart 4 is a great fitness tracker for people who don’t need advanced features.
However, the big question is if you should buy the vivosmart 4 over the Fitbit Charge 3. It all comes down to a few simple questions. If you need a GPS tethering option with your fitness tracker, buy the Fitbit Charge 3 (or the vivosport, which has GPS built in). If you need a feature-packed fitness tracker with everything but GPS, the vivosmart 4 is one of the best options out there.
If you want to work towards a fitness or health goal, or just want to keep tabs on your daily activity, I have no problem recommending this fitness tracker.
That’s it for our Garmin vivosmart 4 review. Thoughts? Are you going to buy one, or are you waiting for the Fitbit Charge 3? Let us know in the comments.
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