Meditation is a personal practice that one does to hone in on their mindfulness. It trains your attention and awareness to achieve a certain mentality that will allow you to be emotionally calm and clear. So for today, we will be taking a closer look at our Muse S review and see if this is the wearable to help you with your meditation.
Unlike its predecessor, the Muse and the Muse 2, the S in the Muse S stands for sleep. Meaning, this particular wearable has now sleep-tracking sensors and functions that aim to help you sleep better at night. However, the guided meditations you receive from the Muse S are still pretty great.
Personally, it’s quite surprising, albeit impressive, that we have advanced into an age wherein technology now plays a hand in making your meditation sessions better. So let’s see how the Muse S fairs well and if it really does the job in making us more mindful. Read on to find out more about our Muse S review.
As you might already know, the Muse S headband is a brain-sensing headband that offers guidance for your meditation sessions as well as acting as a sleep tracker at night. The Muse S uses an electroencephalogram (EEG) and a number of other sensors to give you feedback regarding your meditation.
The Muse S is designed as a device that allows you to have an idea of how your meditations go and help you further improve them so you can have a more effective session. Moreover, this headband also efficiently monitors your sleeping patterns at night.
All you have to do is wrap the wearable around your head during the day before starting your meditations or overnight as you go to bed.
What does the Muse S do exactly?
Unlike an actual human coach that personally guides you through your meditations, the Muse S can sense what your brain is actually doing and will tell you about it as it’s happening. Using a pair of headphones or earphones is ideal so you can listen to audio cues in real-time regarding feedback from your meditation.
When it comes to sleep tracking, the Muse S will monitor your brain activity, your movements, heart rate, and body temperature through your skin overnight.
Once the Muse S has collected all that data from your sleeping patterns and meditation sessions, it will base everything from the collected information to continuously guide you through meditation sessions during the day along with suggestions to improve, then at night, it will provide you with detailed sleep monitoring.
How the Muse S feels like when in use.
While the headband itself feels really comfortable to wear due to the soft fabric material, it does take some time to get used to. After all, it’s not every day you wrap something around your forehead. However, it can be a rather unique alternative for anyone who might be uncomfortable with wearing a watch while they sleep.
Although personally, wearing a watch is much more preferable and I find it a lot more unobstructive. But to each their own.
In addition, the Muse S also connects to the Muse app installed on your phone via Bluetooth. You can use this to listen to soothing soundscapes or bedtime stories that can help ease you off to sleep.
Once morning arrives, you will find yourself waking to the Muse S already finished collecting the data from your sleeping patterns and habits, and is now readily available to be viewed on the dedicated application on your phone. The data itself is an extremely detailed breakdown of your overall sleep quality.
Features & Specifications
Product Dimensions: 2.99 x 6.34 x 7.68 inches
Manufacturer / Brand: Muse.
Sensor Type: Wearable.
Item Weight: 12.8 ounces.
Material: Fabric.
Wireless Communication Standard: Bluetooth
Connectivity: Bluetooth
Compatible Devices: Apple iOS 11 and higher (integrates with HealthKit sleep and meditation), Android 5 or higher, Huawei devices NOT supported.
Battery: 10 hours and uses Lithium Ion.
Colors: Grey.
Extra Special Features: Sleep (EEG + PPG + Accelerometer), Mind (EEG), Heart (PPG + Pulse Oximetry), Body (Accelerometer), and Breath (PPG + Gyroscope).
Come check out Muse’s preview of the Muse S in their Youtube channel below.
From being your aid to having better meditation sessions to capable sleep tracking abilities, let’s dive into the things we love about the Muse S.
Meditation Aiding
While the Muse S obviously wants to be a balance between achieving better meditation and sleeping habits, its meditation aid capabilities are where it truly shines the most.
As we live in such stressful times in the midst of an ongoing pandemic, it can actually be quite helpful to start developing and practising your mindfulness to ease ourselves from any stress. Staying calm and relaxed through meditation is a great way to do that.
And that’s what the Muse S is exactly for. It’s perfect for beginners who want to dip their toes in meditation without needing a human coach since we are all recommended to practice social distancing.
Moreover, the audio cues you receive during your meditating sessions are really handy in letting you have an idea of what your brain is going through at the moment. If the Muse S is sensing that your brain is particularly more active or stressed, it will send you the appropriate audio cues such as roaring thunder and waves or strong gusts of wind.
But if your brain is on the calmer side, you’ll get more soothing and tranquil sounds to accompany your current state. This way, you will get an idea of what works in your meditation sessions and what you need to adjust or change in order to avoid any stressful activity in your brain.
Sleep Tracking Features
Admittedly, the sleep tracking capabilities of the Muse S are not entirely too impressive. It’s something we have already seen in previous wearables like fitness trackers and smartwatches. But it’s still a great addition and something I welcome to an already terrific device that promotes a more mindful lifestyle.
What I did like with its sleep monitoring features is how it also uses the appropriate audio to help you doze off. As someone who struggles with sleeping regularly, this is something I really appreciate. You can choose between soothing and tranquil soundscapes or having bedtime stories told to you in a gentle manner.
Then in the morning, you can check the app to view the detailed results of your overall sleep quality and patterns. One thing to keep in mind though, the app does use a lot of your phone’s battery, so keeping it plugged in is highly recommended.
Design & Comfortability
When it comes to the comfort of use, you’ll have no worries with the Muse S. Unlike its predecessors, the Muse S was able to take away all the flaws the previous models had in terms of design and was able to perfect it in this particular unit.
The headband itself is made of really soft fabric and feels light and comfortable to wear all around. It will still take some time getting used to but once you’re there, it will just feel natural. The Muse S is also washable, just make sure to take out the removable pod that houses the battery before throwing it into the laundry.
Our Least Favorite Things
As for all products that we review, we are bound to find some things that we are not particularly fond of with the Muse S. So here are some of them.
It Still Uses A Micro-USB For Charging
At this time and age, who even uses micro-USBs anymore? People and other companies are now moving to use USB-C. So it was pretty disappointing to find that the Muse S still uses a micro-USB for charging. Especially now that this type of USB port is slowly becoming extinct.
It’s Fairly Expensive
Money might not be an object for some of you but this is still a pretty expensive piece of technology in my personal opinion. If you don’t mind spending a few hundred dollars on a brain-sensing headband, then by all means.
But I feel like you can get cheaper alternatives like a dedicated fitness tracker or smartwatch for improving your wellness.
In A Nutshell
Not that we have broken down what we loved and disliked about the Muse S, here’s a narrowed down list of the good and the bad with this particular brain-sensing headband.
Pros
Great wellness tools to increase one’s mindfulness
Impressive mediation guides during the day.
Helps you relax and get to sleep at night via relaxing soundscapes and bedtime stories.
Provides an in-depth breakdown of your sleep quality and stats.
Unique design.
Cons
The design can take some time getting used to especially if you’re wearing it to sleep.
Expensive.
Still uses a micro-USB for charging.
Final Verdict
Meditation is not for everyone. Some people are into it. Some are not. But if you’re someone who is willing to spend a few hundred bucks on a device that will help you increase your mindfulness and wellness, then this is a device you might want to consider.
Plus, the sleep tracking features on this wearable are not too bad either. As long as you don’t mind wearing a headband going to sleep.
Do you already own the Muse S? Or still planning and pondering on it? Feel free to share any of your insights, experiences, or suggestions in the comments section below. I would love to hear your thoughts about our Muse S review!
Today, we will be highlighting one of Fitbit’s best-released products in the market, the Fitbit Sense. Our Fitbit Sense review aims to take a closer look at whether this is the smartwatch for you.
In these times, looking out for our health is more important than ever. Ever since the pandemic started, a lot has changed in our lifestyles. We had to adjust from working in an office to working from home. Quarantines were placed in order to protect ourselves from a deadly virus.
But if you’re someone who was never much concerned about your health beforehand, perhaps it is time to start now. A great way to do this is through the use of smartwatches or fitness and health trackers.
These wearables are a helpful option for people who want to receive gentle nudges or notification alerts when it’s time to stay active as well as updates and analytics regarding their health from the comfort of their wrists.
That’s exactly what Fitbit is going for when they released the Fitbit Sense. So without further ado, let’s dive into the review.
Right off the bat, I think the Fitbit Sense is a really ambitious smartwatch that is built upon the success of its predecessors such as the Fitbit Versa line.
However, the Sense is more of an attempt to be a balance of both a smartwatch and a fitness tracker with a few yet significant upgrades on features that focus on one’s mental health and wellbeing.
Equipped with impressive features such as a more advanced sleep tracker, overnight measurements of your SpO2 levels, a stress monitoring sensor to help you manage your stress levels, an FDA-approved ECG, and so much more, this wearable aims to help you improve and monitor your overall wellbeing.
With such mindful tools packed in one device, you’ll be able to understand more about your physical and mental health so you can make small changes over time to live a more fulfilling and healthy lifestyle.
Personally, I really appreciate that a company like Fitbit is now placing importance on taking care of a person’s mental health. While more can be done than just monitoring and managing someone’s stress levels, this is a good way to start and I only hope that more companies follow the same route and continue improving upon this.
As we keep living in a time of a pandemic, some people’s lives can be more stressful than ever. So having a wearable handy that will detect any potential problems like an incoming panic attack due to overwhelming stress might be pretty helpful for your day-to-day life.
Not to mention, the FDA-approved ECG or electrocardiogram sensor built into this smartwatch can also detect any irregularities in your heartbeat or signs of atrial fibrillation, while the highly advanced sleep-tracking features provide more in-depth and detailed analytics regarding your sleeping patterns and overall sleep quality.
Features & Specifications
Product Dimensions: 1.59 x 1.59 x 0.49 inches
Item Weight: 1.06 ounces
Manufacturer / Brand: Fitbit
Batteries Used: 1 Lithium Polymer battery.
Battery Life: Lasts up to more than6 days.
Wireless Communication: Bluetooth and GPS.
Compatibility: Android and iOS.
Interface Output: Touchscreen.
Waterproof: Yes.
Heart Monitoring: Yes.
Sleep Tracking: Yes.
Colors: Black with interchangeable bands.
Extra Features: EDA Scan app, Fitbit ECG app, advanced sleep tracking, Always On screen, on-wrist skin temperature sensor, built-in GPS, supports Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, built-in mic and speaker.
Here’s a preview of the Fitbit Sense presented by Fitbit through their Youtube channel.
What We Love About The Fitbit Sense
From the wide array of health monitoring features to the fitness tracking abilities we all come to know and love from Fitbit, here are some of the things we really liked about the Fitbit Sense.
Stress Monitoring & Management
The Fitbit Sense is packed with a lot of amazing health and fitness tracking features, but what really shines and stands out from the rest is its stress monitoring.
This is made possible by its built-in EDA sensor. Essentially, this particular sensor will provide you with measurements of your stress levels through the form of electrodermal activity (EDA) responses, which is detected through the conductivity of your skin. This means that the Sense retrieves this certain data from your sweat.
However, it is important to keep in mind that emotional factors aren’t the only thing that will make you sweat. Physical activities, as well as heat, can also have an effect on your EDA responses.
In order to scan your stress levels, all you need to do is place your free hand over the stainless steel rim on the top of the watch for two minutes. Make sure it is placed securely around your wrist and after that, you will feel a gentle vibration.
Finally, the EDA sensor will measure any possible stress markers triggered by your sweat. If you get fewer EDA responses, that probably means you’re not as stressed at that moment.
Moreover, you can also get a stress management score from Fitbit so you’ll have an idea of how your body reacts and responds to stress based on factors like your heart rate, activity data, and sleeping patterns and habits. Additionally, the app will also provide you with stress management suggestions that can be helpful for you.
Advanced Sleep Tracking Features
Another noteworthy feature of the Fitbit Sense is its impressive sleep tracking features. If you find yourself having trouble sleeping and would like to have an idea why or how to improve your situation, then you will love how detailed the analytics this wearable will provide you.
In addition to extremely detailed information regarding your score on your sleep quality, the Fitbit Sense will also determine and measure your skin temperature overnight as well as your oxygen saturation levels.
I only wish that the two latter features could be done at any given time instead of only being viable at night when you go to bed.
Fitness Tracking
As you can see, Fitbit is really working hard to bridge the gap between fitness and wellness here. This is something quite apparent with most smartwatches nowadays but when it comes to fitness tracking, Fitbit easily is one of the best in the market. So no disappointments here!
The Fitbit Sense offers the same fitness tracking features that we are already well familiar with plus the addition of a new feature called Active Zone Minutes. Furthermore, the integrated GPS also helps a lot in making sure that your stats are done with better accuracy.
Design & Build
When it comes to design and build, Fitbit has really outdone themselves with the Fitbit Sense. Overall, it’s a very good-looking smartwatch. One that rivals the Apple Series Watch. It has a sturdy build with a very appealing design.
You can also have the bands changed if you want other colors and the display is much brighter and clear even under harsh lighting such as direct sunlight. Plus, it’s a very comfortable watch to wear even after long periods of time.
No product is perfect. Though, still a pretty impressive and reliable smartwatch, here are a few things we don’t love as much from the Fitbit Sense.
Some apps require Fitbit Premium
As much as I love the impressive health monitoring features on the Fitbit Sense, it’s important to take note that some of these features do require you to subscribe to Fitbit Premium in order to maximize its full potential.
The only upside is that upon purchase, you get a 6-month free trial of the Fitbit Premium app so you can see for yourself if it’s worth the upgrade.
In A Nutshell
Not that we have broken down what we loved and disliked about the Fitbit Sense, here’s a narrowed down list of the good and the bad with this smartwatch.
Pros
Impressive battery life as expected from Fitbit. Can last up to 6+ days depending on usage.
You get extremely detailed sleep analysis and results.
Supports Google Assistance and Amazon Alexa for getting the latest updates and trends.
The screen and display are very bright and vibrant.
The ECG is fairly easy to use.
Comfortable to wear around the wrist everyday and overnight.
Cons
Some apps require you to subscribe to Fitbit Premium to fully utilize them.
Interface is a little laggy compared to its competitors.
Final Verdict
Overall, the Fitbit Sense is a great balance between fitness tracking, wellness, and health monitoring. I think Fitbit succeeded in what they were going for here. It’s not just a wearable that will help you stay in shape but will also keep you healthy and stress-free throughout your usage.
If that’s something that you think will benefit you and improve your current lifestyle, then I highly recommend considering this as an option. Especially if you find smartwatches like the Apple Series Watch a little way over budget for you.
Already own the Fitbit Sense? Feel free to share any insights, experiences, suggestions in the comments section below. I would love to hear your thoughts about our Fitbit Sense review!
Affiliate Disclosure: I am grateful to be of service and to bring you content free of charge. In order to do this, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most cases I receive referral commissions. Eventually, I may earn enough to buy a beer or two.
A good night’s rest after an incredibly long day is something every person on this planet needs. But sometimes, it can be terribly hard to get that good sleep. Some days, you don’t even get any shut-eye at all. But what exactly causes the good nights and the sleepless nights? One way to find that out is through the best sleep trackers 2021.
Overview
Most of you might not know, but we actually spend the third of our lives asleep. However, sleeping in itself can be quite a mystery. Questions like, how do we sleep, why do we sleep, what happens during our sleep, tend to pop out now and then.
Several years ago, we had very limited tools that can accurately track our sleeping patterns at night. Not to mention, the concept of tracking our sleep wasn’t so popular either. We just wake up either feeling refreshed and energized or terribly tired and in desperate need of a caffeine boost to perk us up.
The funny thing was, we were okay with it and it didn’t matter to us much if we had trouble sleeping at night. We just went with it and started our days like it was nothing.
But thanks to our ever-advancing technology, sleep trackers have improved vastly in terms of the features it has and its built-in sensors in the most recent years.
If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of a sleep tracker, don’t worry! I’ll be giving you a thorough explanation of what a sleep tracker is, its benefits, why you need them, as well as our top recommendations and a quick buyer’s guide on what to look for in a sleep tracker all in this article.
So if you’re itching to find what a sleep tracker is all about, just read on to know more.
What is a sleep tracker?
Essentially, a sleep tracker is a device that can help you gain insight and information regarding your sleeping habits throughout the night.
It can provide you with significant data regarding your sleeping habits and patterns, the duration as well as the quality of your overall sleep, and the stages you go through by measuring things based on your heart rate, respiration rate, and movement as you sleep.
These trackers have sensors built-in that will help gather this specific information or data throughout the different cycles and stages of your sleep at night. You will be able to check your patterns whenever you’re in light, deep, and REM sleep.
Also, some more advanced sleep trackers in the market can monitor your snoring and other sounds you might be producing through the use of smart listening technology. Some may also include features that can detect ambient noise happening around you, air quality, your room temperature, light levels, and so much more.
Moreover, sleep trackers can also do a plethora of other things than just tracking your sleeping patterns. With technology highly advancing every single day, it’s not surprising that sleep trackers are trying to do the most for us now too.
Now, aside from patterns, sleep trackers can also provide us with very detailed stats and analytics about the quality of our sleep. Certain sleep trackers can record your data and save it in a dedicated app that you can access at any time.
In addition, these sleep trackers are also built in a way that can provide maximum comfort during your sleep. Some are designed as wearables around your wrist, and some are designed as sleep tracking pads or sensor strips that you can place underneath or on top of your mattress.
What are the benefits of a sleep tracker?
Sleep trackers come in with a lot of benefits and features that can be very helpful to someone who wants to find out more regarding how they are during their deep slumbers or the lack thereof.
As I have previously mentioned, sleep trackers are made to monitor your sleeping patterns, record the data, then provide you with significant and detailed analytics regarding the quality of your sleep.
So how does it help you?
The answer is simple. With knowledge comes power. And that particular saying is actually true. When you have the information regarding your sleeping habits and patterns, then that’s when you can start modifying and fixing it to further improve your sleep at night.
With such helpful data in your hands, you will know where and when to start changing certain habits that can help you sleep better. You will be able to point out what is causing you to sleep terribly at night, and more importantly, you can have an idea of whether it is time to visit a specialist to get the appropriate help and medicine you need.
Personally, I have always been someone who has had trouble sleeping at night regularly. So having a sleep tracker on hand became really helpful and useful in times of need. Being able to see my stats, I was able to pinpoint the things I need to change in my sleeping habits as well as my lifestyle to get my sleeping on track.
So if you’re someone like me and you find yourself having difficulty getting some decent shut-eye, perhaps it’s time to look into some sleep trackers and see if it will work for you.
Who needs sleep trackers?
Throughout recent years, sleep trackers have gained a lot of popularity. Especially within people who find themselves having trouble sleeping and would like to find out more about its causes.
Usually, when a certain product is released, it’s targeted at a particular market or audience. But the good thing about sleep trackers is that anyone can use them. Of course, people who want to have more insight into their sleeping habits or their health, in general, would be more inclined to invest in these devices.
Aside from that, people who don’t like or are simply wear of having to go through the formal process of medical examinations can also benefit from sleep trackers as these devices measure your sleeping analytics and statistics indirectly.
Meaning, sleep trackers rely on monitoring your physical signals during sleep which is a lot easier to detect unlike in medical examinations where they need to monitor your brain activity and eye movement. However, do keep in mind that sleep trackers are not meant to replace your regular checkups with your doctor.
They’re just a useful device to keep in handy for your sleep data so you don’t have to constantly check in with a specialist if there is no immediate concern.
All in all, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a fitness and wellness enthusiast, or a health nut, or just the average person who deals with sleep issues from time to time. You and anyone else in this world can definitely benefit a lot from using the best sleep trackers this 2021.
Our Top Recommendations
For this list, I was able to do some thorough research on the best sleep trackers of 2021 that are available today. Throughout my research, I found that these listed products will give you the best insight and information regarding your sleep and how you can make it better if you have been having trouble with getting your night’s rest.
1. Fitbit Sense
Overview
When it comes to fitness and wellness, Fitbit is probably the brand to go to. It comes as no surprise that all the best fitness trackers in the market are under Fitbit and the Sense is just a primary example of that.
If you’re looking for an all-in-one device that not only can track your sleep throughout the night, but also monitor your stress levels, then this is the sleep tracker you’re looking for.
Equipped with features that rival the likes of the Apple Watch Series and Samsung’s Galaxy Watches, the Fitbit Sense is packed with a plethora of useful tools that can help you improve your health and your overall lifestyle.
Like all of Fitbit’s products, the Sense also comes in with the basic features we all come to know and love plus a lot more additions and upgrades that can be pretty useful for monitoring our health.
Such features include an EDA scan app that monitors and measures your stress levels and tell you how to keep them under control, provide blood oxygen level readings, body temperature measurement, sleep monitoring, and as well as an FDA-cleared electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG).
As for sleep tracking, the Fitbit Sense helps in measuring your blood oxygen levels overnight as well as your body temperature and can actually spot any signs of potential sleep disorders such as sleep apnea.
In addition, once a potential problem has been detected, the Fitbit app can help you make a report which you can share with your doctor.
Features & Specifications
Product Dimensions: 1.59 x 1.59 x 0.49 inches
Manufacturer / Brand: Fitbit
Sensor Type: Wearable
Item Weight: 1.06 ounces
Material: Silicone.
Wireless Communication Standard: Bluetooth
Connectivity: GPS
Compatible Devices: Android, iOS
Battery: 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. Can last up to 6+ days depending on usage.
Colors: Black, Carbon, Graphite. (bands are interchangeable for different other colors)
Extra Special Features: Weather Reports, Sleep Monitor, Reminders, Voice Assistant, Alexa, Phone, GPS, Heart Rate Monitor, etc.
Now if you’re an athlete or someone who loves to run and would like to be more mindful about your sleeping patterns and other health necessities, the Polar M430 is your best bet.
This wearable was designed specifically for runners and athletes in mind. But that’s not to say that non-sporty folks can’t use this particular tracker.
The Polar M430 is equipped with a built-in GPS that can help monitor and track your stats a lot more accurately as well as 24/7 health and activity tracking. This means that this wearable will continuously monitor your heart rate and it will also detect if you have fallen asleep based on your movements.
When it comes to sleep tracking, the Polar M430 doesn’t lag either. The Polar Sleep Plus technology in this device will analyze your sleeping habits, the duration of your sleep, and its overall quality so you will have an idea of how you can optimize your sleeping experience.
Not to mention, the Polar M430 can also point out if there were any disturbances or interruptions during your sleep and gives you a description of how well your sleep was.
So regardless if you’re an athlete or someone who just wants more insight about their sleeping habits, the Polar M430 definitely has a lot of fitness and wellness tools tool to offer that you can benefit from and take advantage of so you can further improve your lifestyle.
Features & Specifications
Product Dimensions: 9.65 x 1.5 x 0.47 inches
Manufacturer / Brand: Polar
Sensor Type: Wearable.
Item Weight: 0.2 kilograms
Material: Synthetic.
Wireless Communication Standard: Custome USB cable and Bluetooth.
Connectivity: GPS
Compatible Devices: Android and iOS.
Battery: 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. Can last up to 5-14 days depending on usage.
Colors: Black.
Extra Special Features: Running program, running index, 24/7 heart rate monitoring, activity guide, fitness test, training and activity benefits, smart calories, training load, recovery status, and sleep plus technology.
Pros
Amazing sleep tracking features.
Great for runners and athletes who are goal-driven as well as the casual folk.
Integrated GPS for better health and fitness tracking accuracy.
Plethora of fitness and wellness features that anyone can use.
Unlike the first two devices mentioned in this list that you can wear around your wrist, the Wellue O2 Ring is a pulse oximeter you slip on your finger like a ring. Meaning, this device will measure the oxygen saturation in your blood while you sleep overnight.
Not only that, but it will also continuously monitor and track your heart rate and movements apart from pulse oximetry. This medical-grade oxygen monitor will helpfully alert you and send you gentle vibrations whenever it detects low oxygen levels or abnormal heart rates.
If you’re unaware, pulse oximetry can actually help identify potential sleeping disorders in a person such as sleep apnea.
This wearable can work both as a standalone device as it has its own built-in storage memory and an OLED touchscreen, then you can also sync this with the ViHealth app.
The ViHealth app will offer both real-time displays, as well as downloadable, detailed reports and analytics of your nightly, weekly, or long-term sleep data which you can opt to share with your doctor.
Additionally, the Wellue O2 Ring also works effectively with on-the-spot measurements or readings of your oxygen saturation levels and can also detect an array of potential problems like asthma, flu, and even symptoms of COVID-19.
Features & Specifications
Product Dimensions: 4.02 x 3.7 x 2.99 inches
Manufacturer / Brand: Viatomtech / Wellue
Sensor Type: Wearable
Item Weight: 4.2 ounces
Material: N/A
Wireless Communication Standard: Bluetooth
Connectivity: Bluetooth
Compatible Devices: Smartphones and desktops.
Battery: 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. Can last up to 16 hours in a single charge.
Colors: Gray / Blue.
Extra Special Features: Overnight tracking, vibrating alarm, abnormal alerts, free apps for Android and iOS as well as desktops and laptops, built-in memory storage.
Pros
Unique design that will appeal to people who don’t want to wear a watch to sleep.
A simple, beginner-friendly product without too many complicated features.
Ergonomic.
Cons
Only focuss on heart rate and oxygen saturation levels.
Another sleep tracker in this list that’s built for athletes in mind is the Polar Vantage V2. This particular wearable is a multi-sports wristwatch that has integrated GPS to track your activities and health a lot more accurately.
If you’re a dedicated athlete or fitness enthusiast, you must already know that recovery is one of the most important things needed for you to get back on your feet and further improve your performance after an intense training session.
This is where the Polar Vantage V2 shines. This wearable has two distinct sleep tracker tools that will help you optimize your recovery: Recovery Pro and Nightly Recharge. So what’s the difference between the two? Let’s find out.
Recovery Pro measures and focuses on your sleep quality, your training load, stress levels, mental health, and the results of subjective questions. This helpful tool will also suggest ways for you to optimize and tweak your training goals and plans to get that right balance between your training and recovery.
Meanwhile, Nightly Recharge makes use of a combination of your sleep quality data as well as your automatic nervous system or better known as ANS.
This way, the ANS charge will look at how well your entire nervous system has calmed down during the first hour of your sleep. This will be based on factors such as heart rate, heart rate variability, and breathing rates.
Overall, the two scores you get from these sleep tracking tools will be compared to your baseline, and then the Polar Vantage V2 will use this information and results to give you a personalized recommendation regarding your exercise, sleep, and how to regulate your energy levels.
Features & Specifications
Product Dimensions: 1.85 x 1.85 x 0.51 inches
Manufacturer / Brand: Polar
Sensor Type: Wearable
Item Weight: 1.8 ounces
Material: Silicone and aluminum.
Wireless Communication Standard: Bluetooth
Connectivity: GPS
Compatible Devices: iOS and Android.
Battery: 1 Lithium Metal batteries required.
Colors: Black, grey, lime, and green. (bands can be customized and are interchangeable)
Extra Special Features: Advanced wrist-based heart rate, ultra-long battery life & built-in GPS, Training Load Pro and Recovery Pro, Running and cycling performance tests, Leg recovery test, Nightly Recharge and Sleep Tracking, FitSpark Daily Training Guide, music controls, weather, and phone notifications.
Pros
Great fitness tracking and recovery insights.
Comfortable and lightweight around the wrist.
Can easily connect with online sports communities for road running, swimming, cycling, cardio, triathlon (MyFitnessPal, Endomondo, Nike+ Run Club, Strava, TrainingPeaks, Adidas Running by Runtastic etc.)
If you’re the type who doesn’t like wearing anything around your wrists or fingers as you go to bed then the Withings Sleep Tracking Pad might be the one for you.
The Withings Sleep Tracking Pad is a fuss-free pad you can just slip under your mattress and it will automatically keep track of your sleeping quality, habits, and patterns overnight. This means you can just climb into bed and not have to worry about wearing anything like watches or rings for a sleep tracker.
Additionally, the Withings Sleep Tracking Pad also monitors a variety of other statistics as well. This includes your heart rate, your sleep stages or phases, the duration of your sleep, and if you snore during your sleep and how long did you snore.
This sleep tracking pad is great for anyone who wants an unobtrusive sleep tracker that they can just leave under their mattress overnight then check their sleep data in the morning in a dedicated easy-to-use application.
For those of you who don’t know, the Muse S headband is a brain-sensing sleep-tracking headband you wrap around your head overnight as you go to bed. This particular sleep tracker monitors brain activity, your movements, heart rate, and body temperature through your skin.
After collecting all that data, the Muse S will base everything from the collected information to guide you through meditation sessions during the day, then at night, it will provide you with detailed sleep tracking.
The headband itself feels comfortable to wear and can be a unique alternative for anyone who is uncomfortable with wearing a watch while they sleep. The Muse S also connects to the Muse app installed in your phone via Bluetooth and will ease you off to sleep through relaxing soundscapes and bedtime stories to help you doze off.
Once morning comes, you will find that the Muse S has collected the data from your sleeping patterns and habits and is now readily available to be viewed on the dedicated application on your phone. The data itself is an extremely detailed breakdown of your overall sleep quality.
Features & Specifications
Product Dimensions: 2.99 x 6.34 x 7.68 inches
Manufacturer / Brand: Muse
Sensor Type: Wearable
Item Weight: 12.8 ounces
Material: Fabric
Wireless Communication Standard: Bluetooth
Connectivity: Bluetooth
Compatible Devices: Apple iOS 11 and higher (integrates with HealthKit sleep and meditation), Android 5 or higher, Huawei devices NOT supported.
Battery: 10 hours and uses Lithium Ion.
Colors: Grey.
Extra Special Features: Sleep (EEG + PPG + Accelerometer), Mind (EEG), Heart (PPG + Pulse Oximetry), Body (Accelerometer), and Breath (PPG + Gyroscope).
Now that you have finished reading our top picks for the best sleep trackers 2021, here are some quick shopping tips and things you need to consider when looking for a sleep tracker before making any final purchases.
Sleep Detection Accuracy
One of the main things you need to research about particular sleep trackers is their accuracy when it comes to detecting your nocturnal activity during your sleep. Every manufacturer and brand out there has their own unique technology built into their devices that helps them track and monitor your sleeping patterns.
So it’s up to you to find out if a certain sleep tracker is accurate enough or not. One way to know this is if the tracker detects instantly whether you’re sleeping or fully awake.
The Data Quality It Provides
Another thing you need to focus on when choosing sleep trackers is the quality of data it provides you. How detailed do you want the resulting information to be? Do you want a full breakdown of your nocturnal activity? Do you want it to monitor your heart rate as well as your breathing and movements?
These are the questions you need to ask yourself and answer so you know which sleep tracker will fit your criteria. Additionally, it also helps a lot if the data the sleep tracker you have chosen is easy to read and understand.
Comfort Of Use
When it comes to sleep trackers, there’s a variety of types you will come across in the market. Some are made to be worn around the wrist, some are sensor strips placed under or above the mattress, and then there are the more uniquely designed sleep trackers such as headbands rings, and etc.
Whichever of these you prefer, I highly suggest taking into account its comfortability when in use. After all, these sleep trackers are in the business of helping you get better sleep.
Conclusion
To sum it all up, sleep trackers are very useful devices that can promote a healthier sleep hygiene and even improve your overall wellbeing. Most of you might not need the extra help sleep trackers can provide and that’s alright. At the end of the day, it’s up to you whether you want to invest in these devices or not.
However, if you’re constantly having sleep troubles at night, perhaps it’s time to start considering having a sleep tracker handy. This way, you can have an idea of what’s causing your sleeping difficulties, how you can prevent it and improve your bedtime habits, and if it is time to check in with a specialist to further evaluate your health.
Do you already own any of the sleep trackers listed above or still planning to buy one? Did your favorites make it to our list? Let me know all about your insights and experiences with sleep trackers or any suggestions or questions you might have in the comments section below. I would love to hear your thoughts!
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a hardcore, competitive gamer or the casual and chill type. You can’t deny that a good pair of gaming headphones can sometimes make the difference between winning or losing a game. So if you’re someone who’s been in the market, come check out our guide on how to buy gaming headphones this 2021.
Understandably, any device, gadget, or peripheral that has the word “gaming” attached to it usually gets a few brows raised from certain people. Some think that it’s just a marketing ploy to get gamers to shell out extra cash because they think these gaming peripherals will help them game better.
Admittedly, some of these products get gimmicky. But the majority of them were actually built and produced with gamers in mind. In turn, these peripherals allow gamers to have a better and more immersive gaming experience.
Some accessories like gaming headphones in this case have certain features that let gamers pick up particular audio cues that traditional headphones won’t let us hear. Things like this matter especially if you’re very serious with your gaming.
So to clear any misunderstandings, let me explain and answer some of the most common questions asked regarding gaming headphones. Read on to find out more.
I know by now that almost everyone on this planet knows what gaming headphones are. However, if some of you are still confused with the difference between gaming headphones and traditional ones, let me clarify things for you.
Obviously, a pair of gaming headphones is a type of headphones that companies make that are specifically and specially made for gaming. It is equipped with certain features that can elevate and upgrade a gamer’s overall gaming experience.
Below are a few things I have listed that make gaming headsets different from your traditional headphones:
Built-in microphone. The mics on gaming headphones are usually a lot more fine-tuned. Which helps in better communication between you and your teammates. These mics can be detachable as well.
Better surround sound experience. With gaming headphones, it’s very important that you get that additional awareness or audio cues when it comes to your surroundings.
Comfortable build quality. When you’re playing a game, you usually take plenty of hours doing it. Sometimes, we don’t even notice the time. That’s why manufacturers make it a point to make sure that their gaming headphones will provide maximum comfort to their users.
Gamer aesthetics. When it comes to aesthetics, gaming headphones are usually a lot more stylish or edgy in terms of design. Though personally, they can be hit or miss.
Who needs gaming headphones?
While the short answer is gamers, different types of people can still benefit from the unique features some gaming headphones have. For example, if you’re job requires you to edit videos or syncing audios on videos, you might want to consider getting yourself a pair of gaming headphones as they tend to pick up even the smallest of noises.
Moreover, more and more companies are slowly making gaming headphones that will make audiophiles turn their heads. So if you’re a gamer who is also an audiophile, you might want to start looking for these kinds of headphones.
For more competitive gamers, especially the ones who get into intensive e-sport competitions, using a pair of gaming headphones can be crucial to one’s way to victory.
However, that’s not to say casual gamers won’t be able to enjoy the benefits of good gaming headphones. Ultimately, this will make their gaming sessions a lot more enjoyable and immersive. It will feel as if you’re part of the game itself and everything in the game is actually happening around you.
In addition to those things, it might not seem like it, but using the right headphones for gaming will also help you communicate better with your teammates if you’re playing co-op games.
The right pair of headphones will let you hear even the quietest of footsteps from afar so you can anticipate your enemy’s next movements. A good pair of gaming headphones can also pinpoint certain audio cues to let you know what is happening around you.
When you have all these qualities and features in your gaming headphones, winning a game can be a lot easier for you and your team.
Now that we have covered what a gaming headphone is essentially and who is the target market for it, here are some quick shopping tips to keep in mind!
Plan Your Budget
Because the gaming industry is filled up to the brim with different kinds of gaming headsets from an endless variety of brands and manufacturers, you will soon realize that the price for gaming headsets can range from something around $5o to a whopping $500. It’s overwhelming, to say the least.
With that in mind, you can easily get lost in a sea of gaming headsets. But having a set budget, you will be able to filter out gaming headsets that are way out of your budget and stick to a price range you’re comfortable in.
Going Wireless or Stick With Your Cords?
Before you head on out to a physical store or open up Amazon, try deciding first whether you want a wireless pair of gaming headphones or if you want to stick with the traditional corded ones. Just like with your budget, knowing which one you’ll get will immensely narrow down your options.
If you’re still unsure on which one to get, here are a few advantages and disadvantages to wireless and wired gaming headphones.
You’re now ready to buy your gaming headphones! But before you make any final purchases, here are the things you should be considering to make sure that you get the one that’s best for you.
Obviously, the reason you’re getting a pair of gaming headphones for yourself is that you want to experience high-quality in-game audio. It’s also another way for you to connect deeper with your game through a more immersive experience.
Sometimes for some people, terrible sound quality can ruin our gaming mood. Just imagine hearing static blasting through your ears. It’s not a pleasant sound to hear.
Thankfully, a lot of gaming companies actually provide very good audio quality with their gaming headsets now. Making sure they’re as crisp, clear, and realistic sounding as possible. Some even provide surround sound wherein you will be able to hear your in-game audio from every direction possible!
Surround Sound or Stereo?
For gamers, this question should be a no-brainer. Obviously, you need to always go for surround sound when it comes to buying headphones for gaming.
Surround sound will let you hear noises coming from every direction which can be crucial if you’re playing games like Fortnite or Valorant wherein you need to pay attention to your enemy’s footsteps or movements. It would be a shame if you lose because you weren’t able to pick up those certain sounds.
However, stereo gaming headphones aren’t too bad either. If your game isn’t that big on sound effects, you can still opt for this type of gaming headphones.
Battery Life
This certain aspect usually only applies to wireless gaming headsets. So if you’re opting for the corded gaming headsets, you can scroll past this. But if you’re planning to get a wireless one, make sure that the gaming headset you’re choosing has adequate battery life.
Some brands offer wireless headphones that can last up to 24 hours on a single charge which I find pretty impressive. Though, it’s up to you how many hours you game and how many hours you want your gaming headphones to last.
Conclusion
Overall, gaming headsets are a pretty vital piece in your gaming setup. Whether it be the surround sound features, the comfort it provides even after long hours of playing, or just simply the aesthetics it has, I think it’s a worthy investment and something you should consider if you aren’t already.
Anyway, we have finally reached the conclusion of our guide on how to buy gaming headphones this 2021. I hope this article was able to help you out in making an informed purchasing decision.
Already bought your own gaming headsets? Was my article on how to buy gaming headphones able to help you out when it came to choosing your gaming headset? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any suggestions or questions. I would love to hear your thoughts!
Wireless gaming headsets have had quite a reputation in the gaming community. Multiple problems have occurred regarding latency issues, delays, and such. That’s why the majority of gamers nowadays would still pretty much prefer corded headsets. But will our Razer BlackShark V2 Pro review change your mind about going wire-free?
Not too long ago, Razer released the BlackShark V2. And it’s safe to say, it became an immediate success. I’ll even go as far as saying that this is probably one of the best gaming headsets to come out as of recent for under a hundred dollars.
However, Razer had more plans for this model and not long after, they released a wireless variant of the BlackShark V2.
Enter the BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless.
Essentially, you are going to find the same features you came to know and love about the BlackShark V2. Except now the latest reiteration has gone completely cord-free.
With more freedom in terms of mobility and no more pesky cables getting in your way and cluttering your space during your gaming sessions, Razer felt that a steep price increase justifies the costs of going wireless.
This ultimately begs the question, is the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless worth the upgrade?
When it comes to the gaming community, Razer is one of the biggest gaming brands that needs no introduction at all. Ever since 2005, they have been one of the leading companies and most recognized brands not only in the esports community but in the entire world.
With gamers in mind, they were able to build one of the largest gamer-focused ecosystems built on hardware, software, as well as services. This also includes award-winning and high-performing gaming peripherals, accessories, and laptops.
With such an impressive repertoire, does the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro live up to its hype and potential?
The simple and short answer to that question is yes.
Design, build quality, performance, and more.
Built upon the success of its predecessor, the BlackShark V2, The BlackShark V2 Pro is eerily identical. Aside from being wire-free, the differences between the two are pretty subtle.
The build quality is still very much the same, having a body and frame mainly made of plastic, with wireframe hinges, and a thickly cushioned headband for your maximum comfort. The overall quality is really sturdy and doesn’t feel or look cheap at all.
When it comes to design, while I don’t mind using an accessory that screams “I’m a gamer”, I do appreciate the restrained and subtle aesthetic Razer went for with the BlackShark V2 Pro. You will find no flashy RGB logos here that Razer is quite known for or oddly shaped design flourishes.
Instead, you get a really sophisticated and well-designed pair of gaming headphones. The logo is a minimalistic glossy black against the overall matte finish of the whole headphones.
As for comfortability, you won’t need to worry about any discomfort even after several hours of game time. The memory foam earpads wrapped in leatherette under a mesh fabric ensure that you are fully comfortable without any sort of buildup after long periods.
And just like its predecessor, the BlackShark V2 Pro works just as amazing once you put it into action. Equipped with a battery life of 24 hours, the in-game audio quality in this pair of gaming headphones is surreal and you’re sure to enjoy it for hours on end.
The THX Spatial Audio option works well when playing on PC and the virtual surround sound truly gives you a competitive edge when playing games like Fortnite, Valorant, and other first-person shooter games.
While the sound quality on the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is by no means near audiophile levels, it is still impressive enough to satisfy most gamers and casual listeners alike who aren’t too particular with in-game audio quality.
Especially having THX Spatial Audio, the immersive experience when you’re gaming just gets even better. You will also notice that there is an added emphasis on your game’s sound effects such as gunshots, explosions, and other similar sounds.
But don’t take it the wrong way, the boosted noises you are getting won’t drown out other more important sounds from the game. So if you need to keep your ear on enemy footsteps or movements, you will still be able to hear them, you just need to be a little more attentive than usual.
Amazing Battery Life
One of my most favorite things about the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is its battery life. This particular pair of gaming headphones can actually last you up to 24 hours of usage on a single charge. That means you can practically play all day long without having to worry about taking breaks in between to plug in your headphone to charge.
I get some of you might say that no one really plays games for a full 24 hours, I beg to differ. Sometimes, you don’t even realize it. With people stuck in their homes due to quarantine and the ongoing pandemic, more and more people are getting into gaming. Hence, the sudden boom of demand for gaming consoles and PCs.
Even if you’re not going to be using the headphones for a whole day, it’s still good to know that you can use this device for the next day and it will most likely serve you for about half of the day without worrying or needing to charge it.
Great Microphone Quality
You see, the detachable mics on gaming headphones like this always seem to be hits or misses. More often than not, they’re misses. So I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro’s built-in microphone worked so well.
Your voice with this pair of gaming headphones doesn’t get too distorted and actually sounds a lot fuller. Aside from that, it also did well in filtering out external noises while you’re speaking into the mic. If you have a deeper voice, you will find that this works excellently in your favor.
Overall, the microphone on the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is a huge improvement from its predecessors.
Our Least Favorite Thing/s
The Steep Price Increase
As I have already previously mentioned, the difference between the BlackShark V2 and the BlackShark V2 Pro is very subtle and few in between. In the naked eye, they look almost exactly the same product. The only main difference is that the latter doesn’t need to be wired to work.
However, Razer felt that cutting off the cord on the BlackShark V2 Pro warrants a huge increase in its price point. Admittedly, the BlackShark V2 Pro is still a pretty affordable gaming headset by industry standards. But comparing it to its predecessor, it’s a huge leap in price points with so few upgrades.
In A Nutshell
Now that we have broken down the things we loved and disliked about the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, here is a narrowed-down list of the good and the bad with this particular pair of gaming headphones.
Pros
Impressive surround sound quality.
Comfortable to wear throughout the day.
Sleek, all black design.
Has decent noise-cancelling features.
Inclusion of Razer’s THX Spatial audio app for fine audio customization.
Excellent value for its price.
Great battery life.
Budget-friendly and still pretty affordable despite the price increase.
Cons
Could have better battery life indicator.
A huge price increase from its predecessor.
The Final Verdict
Overall, if you’re in the market for a wireless gaming headset, this is one of the best pairs of gaming headsets you can get your hands on right now. It’s ultra-comfortable, has great battery life that can last you throughout the day, and has an amazing in-game audio quality that will make you feel like you’re part of the game itself.
Do you already own the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro? How was the experience for you? Let me know if you have any insights about this product in the comments section below. I would love to hear your thoughts!
