Jawbone UP3 - Review



The Jawbone UP3 has a number of inexcusable faults which make it very difficult to recommend



ONE of the most disappointing wrist-worn trackers on sale, courtesy of one the most impressive fitness firms on the market.

 

Pros – Jawbone has the best fitness tracking app available, UP3 has a sleek and compact design

Cons – One-size-fits-all clasp is infuriating to adjust and failed multiple times during testing, no altimeter

On paper, the Jawbone UP3 – the firm's most feature-packed fitness tracker to date – should have been a home-run. 

On the wrist, the UP3 is a crushing disappoint that unravels some of its predecessors best features.

Express.co.uk has been tracking our every step, calorie and minute spent asleep for the last three weeks using the Jawbone UP3.

 

Unlike the engorged Microsoft Band, Jawbone has built a sleek and attractive wristband. 

The thin jet-black wristband is made from supple and pleasantly tactile rubber.

The £129.99 Jawbone is crowned with a touch-sensitive panel, with three coloured icons.

Tapping this touch-sensitive panel was previously used to switch between day-time tracking and sleep mode.

 

The UP3 has a subtle, twisted pattern on its touch-screen panel

Indicators lights keep you up-to-date about your progress, and tell you when you've switched modes

However it would often take half a dozen attempts for the UP3 to realise what was going on and make the switch.

Fortunately this exasperating process has been rectified by an app update which means the UP3 now detects when you have drifted off to sleep automatically. 

Despite its svelte frame, Jawbone has packed a a reliable three to four days battery life, as well as a slew of cutting-edge fitness sensors into this slim wearable.

The UP3 boasts a tri-axis accelerometer, bioimpedance sensors, as well as skin and ambient temperature sensors into its flagship tracker.

Unfortunately, unlike some of its main rivals, Jawbone’s flagship tracker does not include an altimeter, so don’t expect to find out how many floors you’ve climbed in the past week.

 

Despite its small footprint, the Jawbone UP3 is packed with sensors and features

But this is a minor quibble, especially considering the amount of data this small band can collect.

The Jawbone UP3 tracks your step count, calories burned, resting heart-rate and sleep quality. 

Unfortunately – the lack of display means you’ll need to check the app to be kept up-to-date with any of this data.

Luckily the mobile app is one of the best available for any fitness tracker.

 

Jawbone’s iOS and Android apps analyse the constant stream of data to make intelligent – and personalised – recommendations.

And it’s this personalisation that really helps the Jawbone ecosystem stand-out from its competitors.

Dubbed Smart Coach, the feature tries to add some insight to the slew of numbers your fitness tracker throws up everyday. And it works really well.

The Jawbone app will suggest an ideal bed-time, based on previous sleep data. It will also analyse your heart-rate throughout the day and night, to offer insights into the data.

The smartphone app also displays your activity in a beautiful timeline, as well as a series of graphs.

 

Jawbone is using bioimpedance sensors instead of the LED light system used by some competitors

Unfortunately, after prolonged periods, this quickly become uncomfortable and press into your wrist

Jawbone also has the best social features of any fitness tracking app.

The firm recently introduced Duels – which allows those running the app to kickstart a head-to-head step battle lasting 24 hours, three days or 1 week with a friend.

Its an intuitive, well designed and shows why the Jawbone app ecosystem is the best on the market.

That’s why the latest hardware refresh from Jawbone is such a disappointment.

Although the discreet, sleek look of the new UP3 has its appeal, it doesn’t have the style or instant brand-recognition of the previous generation’s snake-like design.

But its more than just design. The Jawbone UP3 just isn’t very comfortable to wear.

The US firm’s new one-size-fits all approach is made possible with a new clip design. Unfortunately, it's terrible. 

The new clip is the polar opposite of the sturdy and reliable Microsoft Band clasp

 

The one-size-fits-all clasp is infuriatingly fiddly and has failed during our testing

Fiddly and infuriating to adjust, the tiny clasp is almost impossible to make comfortable. Its also difficult to adjust with one hand.

But worse still, the clasp failed multiple times during our review. The UP3 catch would get caught on a cuff or a jacket sleeve and immediately fall off the wrist.

The US firm’s new one-size-fits all approach is made possible with a new clip design. Unfortunately, it's terrible

 

Jawbone claims that it has listened to the complaints from early adopters and changed the clip for its latest models.

“We have improved and tightened the band clasp,” a spokesperson told Express.co.uk.

Jawbone has taken a difficult approach to heart-rate tracking with the UP3.

Whereas most competitors use an LED light to measure heart-rate, the UP3 has opted for bioimpedance sensors, which protrude like gold cuboids from the inside of the band.

Jawbone claims these sensors are more accurate than LED. The results are also not thrown off by tattoos, which is a bonus.

However the sensors would often leave marks in the wrist after a day of wearing the band.

Leaning on a table while wearing the band also pushes the bioimpedance sensors into your skin, which is more than a little unpleasant.

      

The Jawbone UP app is colourful, intuitive – and links with a slew of other popular fitness apps

Final Verdict 

Its a shame that the latest Jawbone hardware does not match the quality of its awesome software.

The Jawbone app challenges you to challenge yourself – and your friends, thanks to interesting features like Smart Coach and Duels.

The iOS and Android app also syncs with a range of other devices and services, which means you are never chained to Jawbone’s hardware.

Challenge friends with an Apple Watch or Pebble to a week-long step duel, or import data from RunKeeper, MapMyFitness or other fitness apps.

Not that you will want to stray far from the Jawbone app ecosystem. The firm’s software is colourful, intuitive and fun to use.

Although thats all quickly forgotten when you find yourself wrestling with the fiddly clasp on the UP3..