11 Dec
Blog

Halo View Review: An Affordable Fitbit Alternative

Amazon Halo View lineup.

Halo View Review: An Affordable Fitbit Alternative

RRP $ 79.00

"The Halo View competes with Fitbit and offers robust functionality and a price that doesn't break the bank."

benefits

  • Inexpensive

  • Affordable membership

  • Easy

  • Focus on wellness

disadvantage

  • No GPS

  • Not as durable as others

Amazon unveiled its Halo fitness band in 2020 to mixed reviews. While many liked the simple design and abundance of wellness features, the voice tracking and fat scanning features caused quite a stir. The company has listened to this feedback and is back with its second iteration of the fitness tracker. The new Halo View takes the best features of the original Halo, removes the controversial ones, and adds an important feature that is missing from the Halo band. Is this new band keeping their promise to "build a healthier lifestyle right from the wrist?" We tested it to find out.

Fitbit-like and feature-rich

When I first saw the new Halo View from Amazon, my first thought was, "This looks like a Fitbit". The Halo View features Fitbit's traditional rectangular case, soft elastomeric strap, and a bright, colorful AMOLED display. It's a bit more boxy than the current-gen Fitbit Charge 5, but the similarity can't be denied.

Halo View's feature set is very competitive. It has a battery life of seven days and has withstood this claim in my tests. It's also equipped with an optical heart rate sensor, a pulse oximeter that can take both background and on-demand measurements, and a temperature monitor for your skin. Thanks to its 50-meter water resistance, you can wear the Halo View in the shower and while swimming.

Person wearing the Amazon Halo view.

Light as a feather

The Halo View looks like a Fitbit but doesn't have the same feel as a Fitbit. Compared to most other fitness bands with a weight of 30 grams, the Halo View is incredibly light at 20.6 grams. The View is so light that I've often forgotten I'm wearing it. It's also very comfortable on the wrist with an easy-to-close strap that doesn't pinch or, at least to me, irritate my skin.

If you want a fitness band that won't weigh you down, the Halo View should be your first choice.

The Halo View doesn't feel as solid as a Fitbit, either. While it feels cheap, it doesn't work like a cheap device. The Halo View exceeded expectations during the test. The battery life was up to a week and the sensor readings were accurate. Although the tape is awkwardly attached to the top of the sensor unit, it held it securely on my wrist and the screen remained scratch-free during the test.

Fitness tracking falls short in one area

Weekly goal for Halo view

Amazon is new to fitness tracking, but you wouldn't know. The Halo app is surprisingly designed with a user interface that makes it easy to find the information you need. And that information is abundant. Amazon's Halo View gathers all of the common health metrics you need to track your fitness, like step count, heart rate, calories, and more. The View uses a weekly scoring system to measure your activity level, which is perfect for busy people. Instead of cramming thousands of steps each day, you can take a day off, exercise when you have more time, and still meet your fitness goals. GPS is the only blatant omission. The View has no built-in GPS and does not use your phone's GPS. As a result, it will not display distance or pace during an outdoor activity. Most people probably won't care, but runners and bikers alike will be disappointed.

Temperature tracking while you sleep

Halo View automatically tracks your sleep every night and is great at knowing when you fall asleep and wake up. It also calculates a sleep score, which is a quick and easy way for you to gauge your sleep quality without digging deep into a variety of metrics. If you want to explore the details, you can too. The Halo app divides sleep into deep, light REM sleep, as well as number of disturbances, awake time, and more.

Not only does Amazon Halo View track your nightly heart rate and movement, it also measures your skin temperature at night. This adds another metric that you can use to diagnose sleep problems or to monitor your health. Do you wake up tired but have slept eight hours? You can check the temperature stats to see if temperature played a role in your insomnia. You may need to shed a layer or add a blanket to keep yourself comfortable at night. Temperature can also be used to diagnose illness, track your menstrual cycle, and monitor other changes in your body or around you.

Halo Fitness brings the burn

Halo fitness

Halo View integrates with Amazon's Halo Fitness, which provides access to a growing library of on-demand workouts led by professional fitness instructors. You can choose between cardio, outdoor, strength, yoga and mobility courses. And there are workouts for all fitness levels. Like Apple Fitness and iFit, the workouts are mostly bodyweight exercises, but that doesn't mean they were easy. The classes I took were strong enough to make me sweat and left me sore the next day. Most of the exercises take less than 25 minutes, so you can easily do them even on a busy day. Although I used Halo View to track my workout, the tracker stats don't integrate with Halo Fitness in the Halo app. I had to look at my watch to check my heart rate instead of seeing it on my phone's screen.

Decreased creepiness

Amazon raised some eyebrows with its tone voice analysis and the photo-based body fat analysis it added to its original Halo fitness band. Even though it removed Tone from the Halo view, Amazon kept the body fat measurements that require you to take a photo of yourself in your Skivvies. Measuring body fat using photos may be more accurate, but not everyone will use this feature.

Same goes for Halo View's new Movement Health, which uses the camera to assess your ability to make five simple movements. The data collected by the camera is then analyzed and used to improve your mobility, stability and posture. Fortunately, these features are optional and disabled by default. I turned it on for testing but didn't use it much after initial setup. Step count, activity score, and the weekly goal were my main motivators for keeping moving.

Diet adds a new dimension

View Hale nutrition recipes

Step count, heart rate and sleep tracking are only half the story. The Halo View is packed with a variety of health and wellness features that complement the fitness metrics gathered by the band's built-in sensors. Diet is one of the newest additions and shows promise. The Nutrition section in the Halo app contains customized single meal recipes as well as long-term nutrition programs to help you build healthy eating habits over time. I signed up for "Have a Glass of Water Before Every Meal" and cherished the daily reminders that encouraged me to improve my hydration each day. In the future, Amazon plans to offer instructions for meal planning and shopping lists that will be synchronized with Alexa.

Affordable monthly membership

Amazon nailed the membership options on Halo View. Some companies cripple their devices for non-subscribers, but Amazon gives you basic metrics like steps, heart rate, and sleep times for free. You do not need to purchase this additional subscription to take advantage of the device's minimal fitness tracking capabilities.

Those who want advanced metrics like daily activity results or personalized insights can sign up for a Halo membership. Amazon cost its membership at an affordable $ 3.99 per month. The View comes with a 12 month free subscription to Halo membership so you don't have to pay that fee right away.

Person wearing the Amazon Halo view.

Our opinion

The Halo View is a great value for those looking for an affordable alternative to the more expensive trackers from Fitbit and Garmin. It has more than enough metrics and wellness features to keep most users at ease. The Halo View might not have enough bells and whistles to draw people away from Fitbit or Garmin, but it's a great starting point for those new to fitness tracking.

Is there a better alternative?

The Halo makes a great entry-level fitness attacker, but there are better alternatives. With sleek, rounded lines and a beautiful AMOLED display, the Charge 5 is a worthy competitor to the Halo View. At an MSRP of $ 129, the Charge 5 is more expensive but offers the distance and pace metrics not found on the Halo View. Another option is Garmin's Vivosmart 4, which has a sophisticated design and loads of smart features to keep you both connected and healthy.

How long it will take?

Amazon Halo View is a budget fitness tracker, so don't expect it to last five years. Most users will be able to use Halo View for a number of years with normal usage. Adventure athletes or hand-working people such as mechanics or carpenters may find the View too sensitive for their harsh lifestyles.

Should you buy it?

Absolutely. With fitness tracking, sleep tracking, nutrition, and access to instructor-led workouts, the Halo View is ideal for someone who wants a fitness tracker but doesn't want to spend a lot of money.

Editor's recommendations



21 Jan
Blog

Logitech Circle View Wired Doorbell Review: It’s Very Apple

Circle view doorbell mounted on brick.

Logitech Circle View doorbell

"This is a great video doorbell if you're a die-hard Apple."

  • Neat integration with other smart home devices

  • Good color night vision

  • Light sensor with readable interface

  • face recognition

  • Not at all compatible with Android

  • Additional hardware and subscription requirements

When Apple announced HomeKit Secure Video, manufacturers took the opportunity to deliver hardware for the Apple home ecosystem. We have one of the first video doorbells, the Logitech Circle View Wired Doorbell. This video doorbell was specially developed for Apple. You will immediately notice that it will not connect to Android at all. That has to be the first thing you know about that doorbell.

The second thing you need to know is that you will need additional Apple hardware and a monthly iCloud subscription for the doorbell to work at its fullest. In addition to having an Apple Hub or AppleTV or iPad as a hub, you'll also need to subscribe to Apple's iCloud plan with 200GB or 2TB (for $ 3 / month and $ 10 / month, respectively) so the doorbell does not collect records Counted towards your iCloud storage space.

In short, you need to be all-in with Apple for this doorbell to be of any use to you. If you've read this far, you are probably all there so we can move on. If you are an Android person, this video doorbell won't work for you at all. You can go ahead and stop reading. I'm assuming anyone reading past this point is either a die-hard Apple fan or my editor (hi, boss!).

Appleness extends into the hardware

Once you're beyond that, we can begin examining the doorbell ourselves. The hardware is a study in overengineering. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing to be completely honest. Maybe I'm not pecking here, but even the way Logitech handles the wiring is a bit strange. On the back of the doorbell housing, slide the doorbell wires into slots that "grab" the wires rather than just using screws as you may be used to. When connecting the power converter, Logitech includes clips that you use to connect the power converter to the transformer. Neither of these are bad, in fact it makes for a very clean experience, but it just felt a little over the top. There is nothing wrong with wire nuts and screws. These other methods aren't better or worse, they're just very Apple.

Logitech Circle View Wired doorbell merrily on brickDigital trends / Adam Doud

The video doorbell hardware looks a bit simple. It's a black rectangle on which (from top to bottom) the camera is located, a light for night vision, motion and light sensors, an LED notification light, the doorbell button with a ring of light so people know where to press and finally a little branding. The doorbell is 4.68 cm high and 1.65 cm wide on the larger side. It also comes with an angled bracket if you want to turn the doorbell 15 degrees to the side.

I am particularly impressed with the color night vision capability.

The camera itself has a field of view with a diagonal of 160 degrees and has excellent night vision functions even without the 4,000K LED light strip. The camera does not use IR night vision, but rather a pithy night vision that is grainy but otherwise clear even on a particularly dark night. I set the doorbell on my back door so it didn't even have the luxury of my front yard light to help, and the image was still pretty good, although it wasn't good enough for facial recognition, which we'll investigate further in a little bit .

The camera also has a motion sensor and a light sensor that measures the ambient light in lux. This is really neat as I can tell at a glance at the doorbell if there is enough light outside to take photos or videos. The software doesn't take full advantage of these sensors, however, which we'll explore below.

The wiring is a clean doorbell experience.Adam Doud / Digital Trends

With negatives, the camera suffers from a fish-eye effect on the periphery of the camera. The LED strip on the doorbell has an on and off setting, but no automatic setting. Given the doorbell has a motion sensor and a light sensor, it seems ridiculous that you can't configure the light to turn on when the sensor detects motion and the light is below a certain threshold. However, this is a software glitch, and not the only one.

The software is very Apple

Once you've set up a Home Hub and have an iCloud subscription, open the doorbell features. In particular, you can have the activities for recording the doorbell carried out, e.g. B. Motion detection, doorbell ringing, etc. If you don't have a hub, you're only limited to one live stream. I honestly don't see the need for a home hub to easily capture and store video. If I only had an iPhone, I could still watch motion event videos. This is a blatant platform lock-in and a little gross. Other doorbells require subscriptions to record video, so I'll barely forgive Apple's iCloud request.

It's also noteworthy that if you want to stream video from the camera, every device that acts as a hub must be turned on. Most of the time this isn't a problem, but if you ever need to turn off your iPad, your doorbell will ring. This again supports the argument that using an iPhone I can stream data to it without the need for a device in between. Not cool.

The Logitech Circle View doorbell CAmera uses color night vision.

Other aspects of Apple software are standard on other doorbell interfaces. Scrubbing through events is a little shaky as you can only view events that detect motion or people. However, you have to drag your finger from event to event, and getting to the beginning of an event is a little difficult. However, sharing and saving videos is easy with Apple's share menu.

With Apple, you can also use the sensors in the doorbell to trigger other events in your house. For example, if you want a specific light in your house to turn on when your doorbell senses movement, you can do that. This is a very smart integration that really makes a smart home.

This doorbell is one of the first ones I tested that offers facial recognition that really works. The implementation is not the best. Apple uses your photo library to identify people who ring the doorbell. So, if you've had an iPhone for a long time, you have a lot of people in your photo library. If you're like me and only use Apple products occasionally, this won't work as well. But just the fact that it works at all is very cool. Given the number of doorbells I've tested that I'd love to access Google Photos if they only asked for it, this was a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, my photo library can only accurately identify me and my children. Fortunately, you can add the names of new faces as they appear. This comes in handy the longer you use the doorbell.

Our opinion

Overall, this is a really nice video doorbell – if you're a die-hard Apple fan. If you are not, this is not a good doorbell at all. We already established that by the time you've read this far, it is you. Yes, this is a very nice doorbell that is specially made for you and your existing ecosystem. The field of view is pretty good, although it's not the 180 degrees you get from the Vivint Video Doorbell Pro. Plus, the video quality is good even at night, similar to the HomeHawk window I checked a few months ago. I really like the access Apple gives to the motion and light sensors. Other doorbells have these sensors, but Apple lets you use them, which is pretty neat.

Is there a better alternative?

From a holistic standpoint, this video doorbell is just as good in everything out there. I am particularly impressed with the color night vision capability. While infrared-based night vision can produce brighter and clearer results even on a cheap doorbell like the Wyze video doorbell, I prefer colored night vision because it allows you to better visualize what is actually outside your door. There are also three more doorbells that HomeKit support, including offerings from Netatmo, Robin, and Yobi.

Will it take?

This doorbell is very well built, albeit made of plastic. It's not made from the most durable building materials any doorbell I've tested. That honor likely goes to the Nest Hello doorbell. That being said, I have no concerns about long-term profitability. The doorbell is designed for operation at -20 to 40 degrees Celsius. There is a one year limited warranty.

Should I buy it?

If you've read this far, you're a die-hard Apple. Yes, you should buy it. The integration with the Apple ecosystem is pretty powerful, and using those sensors on the doorbell to trigger other smart home events has really good potential. The $ 199 MSRP is right in the wheelhouse of other doorbells like the Eufy Security Doorbell. After all, the software, Apple's Home Kit, is far more secure than Ring Video Doorbell 3.

Editor's recommendations




08 Jun
Blog

Logitech Circle View Review: All About Privacy

Logitech Circle View on the edge

"This exclusive HomeKit camera attaches great importance to privacy from the inside out."

  • No additional app download required

  • The electronic lock helps protect privacy

  • Designed to work indoors and outdoors

  • Easy setup

  • A paid iCloud subscription is required to save videos

  • Expensive costs for basic security functions

I've been tracking Logitech security cameras from the start, starting with the original Logitech Circle in 2015, followed by its successor with Logitech Circle 2 in 2017. I enjoyed the plethora of accessories that the Circle 2 used as an indoor surveillance camera for the outside area as well as the "Day Brief" mode, in which clips were put together for a time-lapse overview.

With the introduction of the third generation model, the Logitech Circle View, these functions were dissolved. Instead, there is a big focus on privacy. The camera is even available exclusively for Apple's HomeKit smart home platform. Data protection is a hot topic among surveillance cameras today more than ever. Is the new Logitech camera enough?

You don't have to download an app

When setting up the circle view, I immediately noticed that no additional app had to be downloaded. Everything is done through the iOS Home app, so you don't have to register a new account or download an app – much like any other camera.

HomeKit optimizes the setup process. This is a stroke of luck for anyone who is not tech-savvy. After a few simple steps, scanning a QR code and choosing a routine, the circle view was ready to monitor my apartment. In a way, it is strange not having to download an app, but the obvious advantages of HomeKit's exclusivity are that it uses all of the camera's privacy features.

In comparison, setting up the ring cameras is a bit more complex, also because you have to download an app and register a new account. Who would like to remember a password? I am happy to just unlock my smartphone and use a native app. With Google’s Nest cameras, you’ll also need to download another app to sign in to your Google Account. Of course, it is convenient to use your Google account, so you need one less password to remember. However, you still need to download a separate app to access the camera.

Emphasis on privacy

Ring's problems have certainly changed the way people look at surveillance cameras at home, but we're beginning to see proactive measures to address the issue during the development phase – and Logitech Circle View is one of them. Appropriate measures are taken to address concerns. This is a relief as privacy is a top priority.

First, there is a button on the back of the camera that can effectively cut audio and video. This is useful if you are still paranoid that someone is watching on the other end. The disadvantage of this data protection lock, however, is that you cannot remotely turn on the camera with the home app. This is a useful feature for those who are concerned about privacy. Logitech takes an extra step by designing the camera to tilt all the way down to point to the base.

Logitech circle view down

Logitech Circle View rear privacy button

Second, thanks to the support of HomeKit Secure Video, the camera saves recorded footage in your iCloud account. However, you must adhere to Apple's 200GB iCloud plan. That means you have to subscribe to the $ 3 monthly plan. Unfortunately, the free 50GB plans for 5GB and $ 0.99 per month do not support video cloud storage, but you can still access a livestream and have two-way audio. Since the encrypted footage is stored in iCloud, there is little concern that a third party can view it. including Apple.

Designed for inside and outside

With the redesign of the camera, the Circle View does not support the multitude of accessories that the predecessor was able to provide. I really enjoyed how the Circle 2 transformed from a stationary camera into something that can be plugged in, attached to a window, or even battery operated. Nevertheless, the design of the Circle View with its metal base and matt surface gets a higher quality construction. It is a nice looking camera.

It is frankly a good looking camera.

It also helps that it can be used indoors and outdoors thanks to its IP64 degree of protection. The only challenge when mounting outdoors is to find a nearby outlet because the attached power cord is 10 feet long. Speaking of which, the cable cannot be detached from the camera because it is integrated. I prefer a micro USB or USB-C connector for the power supply, but it makes sense to integrate the cable for weather resistance.

Data protection comes at the price of functions

I welcome the camera's focus on privacy. Compared to its contemporaries, however, the Logitech Circle View lacks some urgently needed functions.

As a surveillance camera, the 1080p clips are sharp, filled with solid details and the colors are displayed precisely. It helps that the field of view is 180 degrees, which ensures adequate coverage, but there is a noticeable fish-eye effect. In poor lighting conditions, the quality of the film material becomes softer, but this is typical. When it is completely dark, the infrared sensors snap into place to illuminate areas up to 15 feet away. For small apartments (like mine) it is sufficient. It does, however, follow the range of other cameras, such as the 20-foot range of Nest cameras.

There are controls in the Home app that let you choose what type of motion the camera should detect. This includes people, animals and even vehicles. However, some of the more advanced features we get in other cameras are missing, such as: B. Zone detection and face detection. I would very much have liked the ability to select zones in camera view to monitor motion just because it helps reduce the number of notifications sent to my iPhone. Many budget cams actually have this feature, like the Wyze Cam V2 for $ 20 and the Blink Mini for $ 35. This is mainly due to the fact that HomeKit does not support this feature, but an update to the platform may finally bring it.

A relief to know that privacy is top priority!

I'm also excited to see how the camera can be used with other devices supported by HomeKit to improve its functionality through automation. For example, it is wonderful that there is an option to automatically turn off the circle view when it detects that I am at home (via the GPS location of my iPhone), but I also want it to work in conjunction with another gadget , maybe a smart lock to automatically record footage when the door is opened or closed.

Our opinion

If privacy is a top priority in your list for a surveillance camera, the Logitech Circle View is an excellent choice. For Apple users, this is one of the few options currently available on the market that support HomeKit.

Security camera privacy scorecard
Logitech circle view
2-factor authentication X.
Mandatory 2-factor
Privacy lock X.
Local memory
App lock
Detection zones
face recognition X.

Is there a better alternative?

The $ 160 price for the Logitech Circle View is expensive when compared to some of its direct competitors. Take EufyCam 2, for example. In addition to HomeKit, it also supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant with a recent firmware upgrade. Although it costs $ 220 more, you get two cameras instead of a single while offering local storage.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Ring Indoor Cam is a balanced $ 60 surveillance camera that has received some new data protection features and can be integrated with other Ring products for a more comprehensive security solution. If you're on a serious budget, the Wyze Cam V2 is an excellent budget offer for $ 20 and doesn't skimp on features.

Do you want more options? Check out our favorite smart home surveillance cameras.

How long it will take?

Thanks to its solid construction, high-quality materials and protection class IP64, the Logitech Circle View does not give the impression that it will soon go bad. In this rare case, however, a one-year limited warranty applies.

Should you buy it

Yes, especially if the setup is a breeze, you don't need to install another app and data protection is paramount.

Editor's recommendations