That alone makes it an interesting device to test. The real question is not whether it can display blood pressure numbers, but how closely those readings match a clinically validated upper-arm cuff in day-to-day use. In this review, I’ll be looking at accuracy, consistency and whether this is genuinely practical as an everyday wearable.

One minute review

The Wellue BP Watch gets an important thing right: blood pressure tracking. The cuff-based system delivers reliable readings and, in my testing, this is where the device really stands out. The automatic hourly reading option is particularly useful, making it easy to build a picture of how blood pressure changes through the day without having to remember manual spot checks.

A traditional upper-arm blood pressure monitor will still remain the gold standard for absolute accuracy, but the BP Watch comes closer to that experience than standard smartwatches that claim blood pressure monitoring through sensors and calibration. That makes it far more useful for anyone who needs to keep a close eye on their numbers.

Outside of that core feature, the overall experience is limited. The wider health tracking is quite basic, sleep data can be inconsistent, sports tracking is minimal and the smartwatch features are sparse. It is also a chunky plastic device that looks and feels much more like a medical tool than a lifestyle wearable.

The other main cuff-based options are the Huawei Watch D2 and the older Omron HeartGuide. The Huawei comes in at roughly $450, so it is considerably more expensive than the Wellue’s $179, but it offers a much more complete smartwatch experience with better sleep, fitness and smart features. The Omron typically sits even higher, anywhere up to $500 depending on where you buy it.

That actually makes the Wellue BP Watch look pretty competitively priced. At $179, it undercuts both of the other proper inflatable-cuff watches by a fair margin, while still delivering the key feature, blood pressure readings.

If you are after a more rounded smartwatch or sports watch experience, you are better off looking elsewhere. But for users who prioritise blood pressure readings and want to track from the wrist, this is easy to recommend.

Wellue BP Watch can be purchased from Wellue’s website*

Design, hardware

Look & feel

The first thing that hits you with the Wellue BP Watch is the sheer thickness of the device. This is not just about the strap housing the inflatable cuff, the watch body itself is chunky too. On the wrist it has a noticeably tall profile, and that gives it more of a dedicated health device feel than a regular smartwatch. At 54 grams, it is not excessively heavy, but the thickness makes it feel more substantial than the number alone suggests.

The plastic construction reinforces that impression. It feels solid enough for everyday use, but there is little attempt to disguise its purpose as a health-focused device. More than anything, it comes across like a wrist-worn medical monitor, and in this case that is not necessarily a drawback. The design feels driven by function rather than aesthetics.

The 1.83-inch display is a good fit for this kind of device. The large screen makes readings easy to view at a glance, whether you are checking blood pressure values, pulse rate or stored measurements. It also helps the watch avoid looking disproportionately bulky, as the larger display gives the front face a more balanced appearance.

Two physical buttons can be seen on the right side of BP Watch. You use these, in combination with the touchscreen, to navigate the menus.

One thing that takes a bit of getting used to is the strap. This is not your usual smartwatch band. Instead, it uses a more specialised fastening mechanism that feels a little unfamiliar at first, but once you get used to it, it does a good job of keeping the device securely in place. Also, parallel to the strap itself is a thin inflatable piece for taking blood pressure measurements.

Overall, the BPW1 gives off a distinctly clinical feel. Between the thick case, plastic finish and its sheer wrist presence, it feels closer to a compact medical device than a conventional smartwatch. That is likely to be the immediate first impression for most people taking it out of the box.

Under the hood

The real technology inside the device revolves around its cuff-based blood pressure system. Rather than relying on software estimation, the watch integrates a micro air pump, inflatable airbag and a high-precision pressure sensor directly into the device.

When you start a reading, the cuff inflates and the internal pressure sensing system captures the oscillations in blood flow to generate systolic and diastolic values. Wellue specifies an accuracy of ±3 mmHg, which puts it much closer to a proper home blood pressure monitor than a conventional smartwatch.  

Beyond blood pressure, the watch also includes an accelerometer for movement tracking, along with heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring. These extra sensors help broaden its day-to-day health tracking capabilities.

What makes this interesting from a wearable tech perspective is that the engineering focus is very different from most wrist devices. This is first and foremost a medical-style sensing platform built around pressure measurement hardware, with smartwatch-style health tracking added around it.  

Battery life

Battery life is decent. Wellue quotes up to 15 days of standby time from the 330mAh battery, with around 7 days under more regular use. The latter is likely the more realistic figure for anyone taking multiple blood pressure readings throughout the day.

In real-world use, longevity will depend heavily on how often the cuff inflates. This is not like a standard smartwatch where battery drain mainly comes from the display and optical sensors. Here, every blood pressure reading activates the micro air pump and pressure sensing system, so more frequent checks will naturally have a noticeable impact on battery life. If you are using hourly scheduled monitoring, expect it to sit closer to the lower end of the quoted range.

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Charging is handled via a magnetic charger and a full top-up takes around two hours. For a device that may be used repeatedly during the day, that feels like a reasonable turnaround.

Technical specs

Blood pressure tracking

As you’d expect, blood pressure measurements are where this device separates itself from the vast majority of smartwatches. Most watches that claim blood pressure tracking use optical sensors, essentially the same light-based sensors used for heart rate monitoring, and then apply algorithms to estimate blood pressure from changes in blood flow.

These systems are useful for spotting general trends, but they are still estimates and need regular calibration against a standard cuff monitor. Studies on cuffless smartwatch methods have also shown a tendency to drift toward the calibration point, which can make them less reliable at higher or lower pressures.  

The BP Watch takes a very different approach. It uses a proper cuff-based oscillometric system built into the strap, with a micro air cuff that inflates during each reading. This is the same core measurement principle used by conventional upper-arm blood pressure monitors, just miniaturised for the wrist.

Which means that instead of estimating pressure from optical signals, it directly measures pressure oscillations in the artery. This is why the readings tend to be much closer to what you would expect from a home monitor. That medical focus is also reflected in its regulatory credentials, with the device carrying both CE marking and FDA clearance.

The difference is immediately noticeable in day-to-day use. It feels like taking a proper measurement and, in my testing, the readings were in line with a traditional blood pressure monitor. At times a few points off – but not by much.

Even the sensation is familiar, with the small cuff inflating around the wrist in a way that feels very similar to using a standard blood pressure monitor. It slowly tightens around your wrist – but not too tight that it feels uncomfortable.

But what I particularly like is the automatic reading option. You can set it to take a measurement every hour. For anyone monitoring hypertension or trying to understand how stress, activity or time of day affects their numbers, this is far more useful than the trend-style estimates most smartwatches offer. It moves the experience much closer to a wearable medical device than a standard health watch feature.

Another thing I like is that the device only takes measurements when you are at rest. If there is too much movement, it discards the reading rather than logging unreliable data, which makes the results far more useful. For the best accuracy, you should also keep your wrist roughly at heart level. That happens naturally when you are lying down, so taking readings in that position work well.

Wider health & sports tracking

Now for the less impressive part. Outside of blood pressure tracking, the wider health and sports features are much less polished. Step counting is generally fine for everyday use and gives a reasonable picture of daily movement, but beyond that the experience is a bit hit and miss.

Sleep tracking in particular was not always reliable in my testing. On a few occasions, the sleep statistics ended up with gaps if I did not sync the watch the following day, which is frustrating if you are trying to build up a continuous picture of your sleep patterns. That makes it feel noticeably less dependable than the core blood pressure functionality. And when it worked, it tended to overestimate mu sleep time.

Blood oxygen monitoring is also more limited than on many mainstream smartwatches, as it is only available on demand rather than as continuous background tracking. Heart rate monitoring works, but the sampling interval appears to be around once every minute or so. And while this is fine for general wellness checks it is not ideal if you are expecting detailed workout-style heart rate curves or more granular overnight trends.

Sports tracking is also very limited and clearly feels like an afterthought rather than a core feature. If you start a workout from the smartphone app, it will log your distance using connected GPS, but it will not record your heart rate. If you start a workout from the watch itself, connected GPS is not used, so distance tracking is missing, while heart rate is recorded directly on the device.

The problem is that those heart rate figures are often not very accurate, which makes them difficult to trust for anything beyond very casual activity. Workout syncing from the watch to the app is also inconsistent. Sometimes sessions transfer without issue, other times they simply do not, which adds another layer of frustration.

So this is not really a device I would recommend for anyone who cares about workout tracking or serious fitness use. This is not what this watch is about.

That really sums up the device quite well. As a blood pressure watch, it does its main job well. As a broader health and sports wearable, not so much, with the additional tracking features serving more as extras than reasons to buy it.

App experience & smartwatch features

The BP Watch does include a handful of smartwatch-style features, but this is very much a basic experience rather than anything close to a modern smartwatch platform. Notifications come through to the wrist, which is useful for quickly checking calls, messages and app alerts without reaching for the phone. In day-to-day use this works well enough for simple glanceable information.

Wellue BP Watch*

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Beyond that, the feature set is fairly limited. You get the essentials such as alarms, basic reminders and access to stored health data, but there is very little here in terms of apps, watch customisation or smart tools. This is not the sort of device you buy for productivity features or an extended app ecosystem.

Q&A

Is the Wellue BP Watch accurate?

Yes, in my testing the blood pressure readings were in line with a standard home monitor. This is helped by the fact that it uses a proper inflatable cuff and oscillometric method rather than relying on estimated readings. Of course, traditional upper arm devices still remain the gold standard for accuracy.

Does the Wellue BP Watch take automatic readings?

Yes, and this is one of its best features. You can set it to take automatic readings at regular intervals, such as every hour, which makes it much easier to track blood pressure trends throughout the day.

Is it a good smartwatch?

Not really, at least not in the conventional sense. The smartwatch features are fairly basic, with limited smart functions, very basic sports tracking and wider health tracking that is serviceable rather than impressive. This is much more of a dedicated health device than a lifestyle smartwatch.

Is it comfortable to wear?

It is wearable, but it is definitely chunky. The watch itself is thick and the overall plastic design gives it more of a medical-device feel than a regular smartwatch.

What other options are there?

The main alternatives with proper inflatable cuffs are the Huawei Watch D2 and the older Omron HeartGuide. The Huawei is much more expensive at around $450, but offers a far more complete smartwatch experience. The Omron usually sits in the $300 to $500 range and leans even more toward the medical device side. At $179, the Wellue undercuts both by a fair margin.

Who is it best for?

This is best suited to anyone who needs regular blood pressure monitoring and wants the convenience of having that on the wrist. If accurate blood pressure readings are your priority, it is a strong option. If you want a more rounded smartwatch experience, there are better alternatives, but outside of the small number of cuff-based devices, most of them will not do a particularly good job of delivering reliable blood pressure readings.

Wellue BP Watch can be purchased from Wellue’s website*

*We are a review site that receives a small commission from sales of certain items, but the price is the same for you. Purchasing items by clicking on links in this article allows us to run this website. We are independently owned and all opinions expressed here are our own. See our affiliate disclosure page for more details.

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Amazfit Active 3 Premium: One minute review

The Amazfit Active 3 Premium does not really try to break new ground, and that is perfectly fine. What Zepp Health has done here is take the proven feature set from its recent watches and package it into a more compact design with slightly more premium materials.

That means you are getting a familiar mix of solid health tracking, strong sports features, offline maps and dependable battery life, all wrapped in a watch that feels good on the wrist and looks a step up from the standard model. The Zepp Health app has also continued to improve, which helps the overall experience feel more polished than it did a year or two ago.

The main appeal is the balance between features and $170 price-tag. If you want much of what Zepp Health already offers on its recent lineup, but in a smaller and more refined package, this watch makes a lot of sense.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium can be purchased from Zepp Health or Amazon*

Design, hardware

Look & feel

The Amazfit Active 3 Premium leaves a good impression from the start. It feels closer to a mid-range sports watch than something in the sub-$200 bracket, and much of that comes down to the materials. You get a stainless steel frame, sapphire glass over the display and a clean round design that gives it a premium look.

In terms of size, the watch comes in at 45 x 45 x 11 mm and weighs 38g without the strap. On the wrist, it feels light enough for 24/7 wear without ever coming across as flimsy.

The four-button layout is also worth mentioning. It gives the watch more of a sports-watch feel and, from a practical point of view, makes navigating workouts, maps and menus easier, particularly when moving.

The 1.32-inch AMOLED display is decent. It runs at 466 x 466 resolution with 353 PPI and can hit up to 3,000 nits brightness, so outdoor visibility is no problem. In bright daylight it remains easy to read, whether checking pace data during a run or looking at notifications.

The sapphire protection is another plus, especially if the watch is going to be used regularly for training. On the downside, the screen does attract fingerprints quite easily, and it is a shame there is no anti-fingerprint coating.

In many ways, the device feels like a sibling to the Amazfit Active Max. But while that one comes with a larger 48.5mm case and feels more substantial on the wrist, the Active 3 Premium comes across as more of a unisex option, better suited to those with smaller wrists. So while the Max goes bigger with its 1.5-inch display and larger case, the Active 3 Premium strikes a better balance for anyone after something less bulky.

I, personally, prefer the Active Max. Sure it’s a less premium design. And you get two physical buttons instead of four. But I prefer the larger size. Of course, not everyone will agree with this.

Overall, the design of Active 3 Premium works well. The lighter weight means it never feels cumbersome, and for a watch at this price, the combination of sapphire glass, steel frame and a bright AMOLED screen is a strong selling point.

Under the hood

Under the hood, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is well equipped and shares much of its hardware with Zepp Health’s recent watches. There is no sense that anything important has been stripped back here.

At the core is the latest BioTracker optical sensor, using a 5PD plus 2LED setup. This handles heart rate, blood oxygen and the wider set of health and fitness data the watch tracks. It is the same generation sensor tech found on the newer models, which is good to see.

Backing that up is a full sensor array that includes an accelerometer, gyroscope, geomagnetic sensor, barometric altimeter, ambient light sensor and temperature sensor. For outdoor use, the barometric altimeter is particularly useful as it helps track elevation changes more reliably during runs, hikes and climbs. The geomagnetic sensor also helps with direction when using on-wrist maps and route guidance.

GPS hardware is another important part of the package. The watch supports five satellite systems, which should provide solid location tracking in most environments. It does not use dual-band GNSS, so this is something worth noting.

A nice touch is the inclusion of both a microphone and speaker. That means Bluetooth calling, voice assistant features and audio prompts during workouts are all available. These are still extras you do not always see on watches at this price.

Battery life

Battery life is pretty decent. Zepp Health quotes up to 12 days of typical use, and while real-world results obviously depend on settings and workout frequency, that figure does not feel unrealistic. I switched on pretty much all the bells and whistles apart from the always-on display, and the watch is capable of comfortably lasting well over a week with a few exercise sessions thrown in.

Once you start leaning more heavily on GPS, the picture changes a bit, but it still holds up well. For longer activities, the GPS battery performance feels strong enough to comfortably cover long runs, marathon sessions and day hikes without any real battery anxiety. That matters because it means the watch’s sports credentials are not let down by weak endurance.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium*

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The always-on display also has a noticeable impact, so anyone who likes the screen permanently visible should expect shorter endurance. Even then, it remains far more forgiving than watches that struggle to get through two full days.

Tech specs

Health & fitness tracking

Health and fitness tracking is very much in line with what you get on Zepp Health’s recent watches. There is nothing radically different here.

As mentioned, the Active 3 Premium uses the same latest-generation sensor setup as the company’s newer devices. So you are getting the full suite of metrics you would expect, including heart rate, sleep, blood oxygen, stress and recovery-focused insights. Nothing important missing here.

Performance is broadly where you would expect it to be as well. Accuracy in day-to-day health tracking feels solid, particularly for continuous heart rate, sleep trends and general wellness data. If you have used other recent Amazfit watches, the experience here will feel very familiar.

What’s worth a special mention is the smartphone side of the experience. Zepp Health has been steadily improving the app over the past year or so, and it now does a much better job of presenting data in a way that is useful.

A good recent example is the rollout of the updated BioCharge tools on the Amazfit Balance 2, which will almost certainly make their way to other Amazfit watches soon. Alongside Life Log, which lets you manually add things like stress, alcohol intake, travel and illness, the update also introduces boundary alerts during workouts and a new Self-check feature designed to flag unusual trends in your recovery data. 

That is the bigger point here. Zepp Health is not just tweaking the visuals of the app, it is actively improving the way the data is interpreted and presented, which makes the whole ecosystem feel more mature.

Sports tracking

Sports tracking is also very much in line with what Zepp Health has been doing on its recent watches, and that is a good thing. The Active 3 Premium gets the same broad workout tracking platform, so if you have used the Balance 2, T-Rex 3 or Active Max, the experience here will feel very familiar.

For running, most of the advanced metrics are here. I did several runs and the watch performed well. Here’s an example of my most recent run as compared to a Garmin Forerunner.

Distance tracking was almost identical. The Amazfit recorded 5.50 km, while the Garmin came in at 5.52 km. A 20 metre difference over a run of this length is negligible in real-world terms and well within what you would expect even between two high-quality devices.

Pace data also lined up extremely well. The Amazfit reported an average pace of 5:58/km, while Garmin showed 5:56/km. That two-second gap is about as close as you could realistically hope for, and it suggests both GPS tracking and pace calculation are working very well on the Zepp Health watch.

Heart rate was virtually spot on. Both watches returned the same average of 135 bpm, while maximum heart rate was 155 bpm on the Amazfit versus 154 bpm on the Garmin. That is an excellent result and suggests the optical sensor is doing a very solid job, at least for this type of steady run. It helps that the watch is very light – so does not move much on the wrist while you are exercising.

The same applies to running dynamics. Cadence was 173 spm on the Amazfit and 172 spm on the Garmin. Stride length was effectively identical at 97 cm on both. Ground contact time was 260 ms versus 265 ms, which is again very close. The only noticeable difference was vertical oscillation, where the Amazfit came in at 9.1 cm compared with Garmin’s 8.3 cm. That is still in the same ballpark, but it is one area where the numbers are not perfectly aligned.

Power tracking was also close enough to inspire confidence. The Amazfit averaged 298 W, while Garmin showed 311 W. A 13-watt difference is not huge and could easily come down to how each brand calculates wrist-based running power.

Plus Zepp Health has recently added a lactate Tthreshold figure. That is also in line with my Garmin, at 155 bpm only 1 bpm difference.

Beyond running, the usual wide range of sports profiles is present, covering cycling, swimming, walking, gym sessions and the other activity modes you would expect from a recent Zepp Health device.

Offline maps and route navigation are also included, which remains one of the stronger parts of Zepp Health’s sports offering. At this price, having mapping on the wrist is still a real advantage, particularly for outdoor runs and hikes.

The main takeaway here is that Zepp Health has not stripped anything back for this model. It gets the same strong sports feature set as the company’s other recent watches, just in a smaller and more premium-feeling package.

Smartwatch features

On the smartwatch side, the Active 3 Premium covers all the essentials you would expect from a modern Amazfit device. Notifications come through reliably, calls can be taken directly from the wrist thanks to the built-in microphone and speaker, and there is support for voice assistant functionality as well.

Music controls are present and work well, which is handy for day-to-day use as well as during workouts. More importantly, the watch also offers 4GB of onboard storage for offline maps and audio, so you can load music or podcasts directly onto the device and head out without your phone.

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You also get the usual collection of alarms, timers, calendar reminders, weather and other everyday tools that most users will rely on. And as with other recent Amazfit watches, there is a decent selection of apps and watch faces available through the Zepp Health ecosystem. It is not trying to compete with the depth of Apple’s App Store or Wear OS, but for most people the core functionality is all here.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium can be purchased from Zepp Health or Amazon*

*We are a review site that receives a small commission from sales of certain items, but the price is the same for you. Purchasing items by clicking on links in this article allows us to run this website. We are independently owned and all opinions expressed here are our own. See our affiliate disclosure page for more details.

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One minute review

Luna Ring 2 is easy to get along with once you spend a bit of time with it. What stood out most is the solid sleep tracking, dependable battery life and a straightforward feature set that covers what most people actually need.

Compared to the original, it feels like a clear step forward. The whole package comes across as more complete, both in terms of the hardware and the app. Nothing feels experimental or half done. It all works together in a way that makes sense.

In terms of accuracy, things are mostly consistent. The main weak spot is exercise, where heart rate tracking struggles. That said, this is not unusual for smart rings. Most devices in this category run into similar issues once intensity goes up.

Where the ring really stands out is value. Retailing for around $300, you get a wide range of features without having to think about a subscription. And that shifts the overall appeal quite a bit.

If you go in with realistic expectations, Luna Ring 2 delivers a well rounded experience. I would put it right up there with RingConn, Ultrahuman and Hello Ring as a solid subscription free alternative to Oura.

Luna Ring 2 review: Design, hardware

Look & feel

I’ve tested quite a few smart rings over the years, and Luna Ring 2 comes in a form factor I’m very familiar with. It goes for a clean, understated look. More practical than luxurious.

There are no buttons or anything like that. Just a smooth surface. The titanium build gives it a solid, durable feel. Nothing out of the ordinary here, a simple design with a shape that feels natural after a day or two of wear. Which is exactly what you want from something you wear 24/7.

Getting the right size matters though. There is a sizing kit, and it is worth using it.

The edges are more rounded than on the first generation, although this could still go further. The thickness is also slightly noticeable compared to slimmer rings, especially if you are used to wearing traditional jewellery. But nothing that would be a deal-breaker.

In terms of design, I would say Luna Ring 2 is right up there with most smart ring alternatives. Probably better looking than Ultrahuman, but slightly behind RingConn.

As far as scratch resistance, I have been wearing it for the past few weeks including on bike rides and during weight lifting sessions. And it has held up well. There are no visible marks so far, which suggests the finish is pretty solid.

If you are coming from the Gen 1 device, there is not much to separate the two visually. The overall design stays very similar, with slight slimming and small refinements. It feels very light and comfortable on the finger, including during movement and sweating.

Under the Hood

Under the hood, Luna Ring 2 keeps things fairly straightforward. It uses an optical sensor setup to track heart rate throughout the day, along with support for blood oxygen during the night and skin temperature.

There is also an accelerometer for handling movement. That takes care of steps and general activity, but it is not a complex system designed for detailed workout analysis. It does a solid enough job, though, of capturing how active you are across the day.

These are the core signals you would expect from a smart ring, and that is exactly what you get here. It covers all the basics – nothing lacking, but also nothing extra.

Flip the ring over and you can see the sensor array on the inner side. It sits close to the skin and feels quite low profile, which helps with consistent readings without affecting comfort. Once it is on your finger, you do not really notice it, and that is kind of the point.

Decent battery life

Battery life is one of those things you don’t really think about after the first couple of days, which is a good sign. I was genuinely impressed with it. Mind you, some smart rings face battery depletion issues after a year or two of use – so it will be interesting to see how Luna Ring 2 holds up long term. I’ve only been using it for a few weeks.

You can expect the ring to last around five days before needing a proper top-up. If you are a bit lighter with it, you can stretch that closer to six.

What makes Luna Ring 2 feel easier to live with is the charging case. Instead of waiting for the battery to run down completely, you can just drop the ring in for short top-ups here and there. That changes the whole experience a bit. You are not dealing with a dead device, just keeping it topped up as part of your routine.

Also, I like the fact that the charging case is small. Smaller than some other options on the market. And nice looking.

Charging itself is quick enough that even a short break is useful. Take it off while showering or sitting at your desk and you can claw back a decent chunk of battery without thinking about it too much.

Luna Ring 2 review: Features

Now what about the health tracking features? This is where a smart ring either works or falls apart.

The good news is Gen 2 has moved things forward. The original sometimes struggled with sleep tracking, but that feels improved here. The app has also come a long way over the past year. It feels more polished and easier to navigate.

You get all the usual metrics running in the background, heart rate, blood oxygen, skin temperature and stress. The app pulls all of that into a vitals dashboard, along with three main scores, sleep, readiness and activity. Those are the ones you actually check. They give you a quick sense of where you stand without digging through charts.

The app keeps things simple. It is not cluttered, but everything you need is there. You also get extras like your circadian rhythm mapped through the day, plus useful touches like a suggested caffeine window.

What stands out is the restraint. They are not trying to overwhelm you with endless metrics or features you will never use. Compared to Ultrahuman, you get fewer features. Compared to RingConn, the level of detail is not quite as deep. But for most people, this will land in the right place. You get what matters, without the noise.

The stats feel generally reliable. I compared them against my Garmin watch and a couple of other smart rings, and most of the data lines up pretty well. Overnight blood oxygen is the one area that felt a bit off. On a couple of nights, the ring flagged readings as below optimal, which did not quite match what I expected.

Sleep is where the ring feels most complete. You get a sleep planner based on your vitals, and in the morning the app breaks everything down into light, deep and REM sleep. It also shows total duration, sleep consistency and breathing patterns. On top of that, there is a sleep score with a simple breakdown of what went well and what did not. After a few days, it becomes easy to spot patterns.

It is also good at picking up naps and shorter sleep sessions, which is not always a given with these devices. And there’s a smart alarm, which is a nice touch. Taken together, the sleep tracking and tools feel genuinely useful.

Readiness pulls together things like resting heart rate, heart rate variability, temperature trends and sleep quality. It is basically a quick check of how recovered you are before the day starts. It does not go very deep, but it gives you enough to know if you are on track or should take it a bit easier.

Stress tracking runs in the background and builds a score based on how your heart rate behaves during the day. You also get guided breathing sessions in the app if you want them. It is simple, but easy to access and does the job.

Then there is the AI side of things. Luna’s assistant feels fairly well put together. You get daily suggestions, the option to dig deeper into your health data and even some basic workout guidance. It is not perfect, but it feels more useful than what a lot of other smart ring apps offer right now.

Activity and exercise tracking

Activity tracking is more on the basic side. Which shouldn’t surprise as smart rings typically focus on recovery metrics. Luna Ring 2 is no different.

You get steps, calories and general movement, plus the option to log workouts. That said, it is not trying to replace a sports watch. There is no real depth to workout analysis. It is more about keeping a record than breaking things down in detail.

You are meant to start exercise tracking from the app. This has the benefit of being able to link the data to your smartphone’s GPS signal, and that part works well. Where it falls apart is with heart rate tracking accuracy, which means the data ends up being of limited use.

That is not unique to this ring. Most smart rings struggle here. The issue comes down to how and where they sit on the body. Your finger has less stable contact during movement, more variation in blood flow and more external interference from grip and hand motion. That makes it harder for optical sensors to lock onto a clean signal, especially during higher intensity workouts.

Alternatives to consider

We are not big on monthly subscriptions. That said, if you are fine with paying one, the Oura ring still sits near the top of the category and has one of the most complete app experiences out there.

The good thing is you now have a few solid options that do not lock features behind a subscription. Luna Ring 2 is one option. RingConn is also right up there. It tends to be one of the more accurate smart rings, battery life is strong and the app goes deeper into your data than most.

Ultrahuman is also worth a look. The Ring Air is not the most eye catching in terms of design, but the app is one of the strongest around. It offers a wide range of features and add-ons, so there is quite a bit to explore if you want more insight.

Then there is the Amazfit Helio Ring. In our Amazfit Helio Ringtesting, it is one of the few that can keep heart rate reasonably accurate during exercise. It also runs on the Zepp Health app, which means it fits neatly if you already use other Amazfit devices.

There is now a genuine choice depending on what you value most, whether that is accuracy, depth of data or just keeping things simple without a subscription.

*We are a review site that receives a small commission from sales of certain items, but the price is the same for you. Purchasing items by clicking on links in this article allows us to run this website. We are independently owned and all opinions expressed here are our own. See our affiliate disclosure page for more details.

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The Amazfit Active Max arrived earlier this month, just ahead of CES 2026. With its bold design and large display, it’s clearly positioned to catch the eye. This is Zepp Health pushing further into the large-screen territory, without pushing the price up to match.

I’ve been wearing the timepiece since launch and putting it through its paces in daily use. From training sessions to sleep tracking and everyday tasks, it’s been a chance to see how the experience holds up over time. Here’s what I made of it.

Amazfit Active Max: One minute review

The Amazfit Active Max does exactly what it sets out to do. It’s bright, comfortable and well-built, with reliable tracking and battery life that goes the distance without needing constant attention. Health features cover all the basics, and the Zepp Health app continues to get better with each update.

Sports tracking performs surprisingly well, even when lined up against more expensive watches. You don’t get all the deeper training analysis that brands like Garmin are known for, but you still get plenty. Plus the data you get is consistent and easy to work with day to day.

For me, this is the most attractive watch Zepp Health has dished out so far. And I’ve reviewed a lot of their devices over the years. The design feels more polished, the screen is a pleasure to look at, and the whole thing just works without being overcomplicated. If you want something that nails the basics, looks good doing it and doesn’t cost a fortune, the Active Max is one of their strongest efforts yet.

Amazfit Active Max can be purchased from Zepp Health or Amazon*

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Design, hardware
Health & fitness tracking
Sports tracking
Smartwatch features

Design, hardware

Look & feel

I wasn’t expecting the Amazfit Active Max to look this sharp on the wrist. It’s got that big, bold 1.5-inch AMOLED display that dominates the front, and it really works. Everything feels bigger, brighter and better looking than you’d expect at this price. Text is sharp, colours pop, and it’s easy to read in full sun thanks to that 3,000-nit brightness.

Despite the size, the thing doesn’t feel heavy or bulky. I have rather slender wrists and it didn’t look out of place.

The case measures just over 48mm across, but Zepp Health has kept the weight down by using aluminium around the frame and polymer elsewhere. Without the strap it’s under 40 grams, and that helps it sit comfortably on the wrist. I’ve worn it for full days, including sleep tracking, and barely noticed it was there. The strap is silicone and soft enough to wear all day, with a standard pin buckle that stays put. It’s also a regular 22mm width, so easy to swap if you want a different look.

There are two side buttons that come in handy when you’re in the middle of a workout or just don’t feel like swiping. They’ve got a solid click to them and feel well made. My one complaint is that they perhaps sit a bit too flush against the case – so you need to push firmly for a press to register.

The overall build is sturdy. It’s not pretending to be a rugged adventure watch, but it feels like it can handle daily knocks and splashes. With 5 ATM water resistance, you don’t need to worry about wearing it in the rain or rinsing it off after a workout.

In black, which is the only option it comes in, the device looks clean, minimal, with a bit of a sporty edge. It’s the kind of design that works for both workouts and everyday wear. You could easily dress it up or down, and make it look very pretty with some really nice watch faces.

For a timepiece this big, it’s surprisingly easy to live with. Some oversized watches feel awkward or top-heavy, but this one sits flat and stays put. It’s clearly been designed with wearability in mind. From the first day I put it on, it just felt right.

Under the hood

The Active Max might look clean and simple on the outside, but it’s packing a decent set of components inside. At the core is Amazfit’s latest BioTracker sensor. It combines five photodiodes and two LEDs to track heart rate, blood oxygen, along with stress levels.

The sensor package covers all the basics. You also get an accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light sensor, barometric altimeter, temperature sensor and a geomagnetic sensor. The altimeter and compass make it a good fit for hiking or trail running, and the temperature sensor logs ambient data throughout the day. It’s not skin temp like in some newer wearables, but it’s still useful for context during outdoor activities.

On the positioning side, the watch connects to five satellite systems. It doesn’t use dual-band GNSS, so it sticks to single-frequency tracking, but it still locks on quickly and held signal well in most conditions. In open areas it stayed accurate, and only dense tree cover or tall buildings caused minor drift. For a watch at this price, that’s about what you’d expect.

There’s also a speaker and mic onboard, both neatly integrated. You can use them for Bluetooth calls or music playback, and while the speaker won’t blow you away, it’s loud enough. Inside, there’s a rotor motor for vibration alerts. It’s quiet, but the feedback is clean and not too sharp. The whole thing feels well balanced for the kind of user this watch is aimed at. It’s not trying to pack in every possible sensor, but it does enough to hold its own for daily health tracking and weekend activities.

Battery life

Battery life is one of the bigger strengths of the Active Max. Amazfit says you can get up to 25 days on a single charge, and while that’s with lighter use, the real-world numbers are still impressive. I had most of the bells and whistles switched on, and it lasted well over a week without needing to charge. No special settings or tricks. Just put it on and use it.

Amazfit Active Max*

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If you like having the always-on display turned on, you’re looking at about 10 days. That’s still way ahead of most smartwatches out there. One thing you may notice, the display dims a bit if the battery is close to empty.

GPS tracking can stretch to 64 hours, which makes this watch a solid pick for anyone doing longer outdoor sessions or multi-day events. Even when I added music playback while using GPS, it still pushed through about 22 hours without cutting out.

Charging takes a bit over two hours, so it’s not blazing fast. But with the kind of endurance you get, that charge time doesn’t really matter. I never found myself stressing about battery percentage or planning around it.

Tech specs

Health & fitness tracking

The Active Max keeps tabs on heart rate, blood oxygen, stress and more. And all of it just runs in the background once you’re wearing it. There’s also a handy one-tap check that pulls in all the main stats at once. You don’t need to scroll through menus or launch separate apps to see how your body’s doing.

BioCharge is Amazfit’s take on a readiness score. It’s been around for a few months and is one of the more useful features on this watch. It pulls in sleep quality, stress, and other recovery metrics to give you a simple number each day. It’s not as detailed as what you’ll get from Garmin or Whoop, but it’s a decent overview of how recovered you are and whether you’re ready to train. PAI is also here if you prefer a more effort-based goal, built around your heart rate zones instead of daily steps.

Heart rate tracking holds up well for day-to-day use. It stays consistent throughout the day and during regular activity. SpO₂ and stress tracking have also been reliable.

Sleep tracking has also been accurate for the most part. It breaks things down into REM, light, deep and awake, and also keeps track of overnight heart rate and breathing. It even logs naps, which a lot of watches still miss.

The Zepp app gives you a sleep score and a few insights each morning. The data won’t blow your mind, but it’s enough to spot patterns and understand your recovery. Plus you get some more novel information such as hypopnea – which makes an interesting read.

A recent revamp to the Zepp app brought in a new badges system, and it’s actually a fun little addition. You now get a dedicated spot in the app where all your achievements live, like personal bests, streaks and completed challenges. It’s not something you see on the watch itself, but in the app it gives your stats a bit more life. The update also freshened up the overall look with softer colours and cleaner cards.

Sports tracking

There are over 170 workout modes on the Active Max, which sounds like overkill, but you can hide the ones you don’t use and keep the list manageable. The usual stuff like running, walking, cycling and strength is all there, and you can also import routes and use offline maps, which is great if you’re heading out without your phone.

I tested it on several runs against a Garmin Forerunner 955. On a 7.5 km city run, the Garmin logged 7.58 km, and the Amazfit came in at 7.48 km, which sits well within normal GPS variation for stop‑start urban routes. Average heart rate was 140 bpm on the Active Max and 139 bpm on the Garmin, with peak readings of 160 bpm and 166 bpm. But for most of my other runs, the data was even closer together – so this was actually a bit of an outlier.

The core heart rate pattern was similar on both devices throughout my runs, including sections with changes in pace and rhythm. The Amazfit tends to stick slightly higher on cadence, with 180 steps per minute for this 7.5K compared to 176 on the Garmin. Stride length was effectively the same, sitting at 97 cm versus about 1 metre.

Where the numbers split a bit is in running dynamics. The Active Max reported a bit more vertical movement, and ground contact time was shorter compared to the Garmin.

Training load and effort feedback on the Active Max felt off, because the watch had estimated my maximum heart rate at 164 bpm using a simple age-based calculation. Garmin had mine at 174 bpm based on years of data. That affects how zones are calculated and how hard a run feels in the summaries.

This is actually a limitation introduced with the latest version of the Zepp Health app – you can’t manually edit the max HR like you could previously. No doubt, in the coming days it will be resolved.

After workouts you still get pace, heart rate zones, calories, recovery time and a VO₂ max estimate right on the watch, with a session summary in the Zepp app. VO₂ max was about 42 ml/kg/min on the Amazfit, a few points below Garmin, but again that’s tied to how each ecosystem builds your baseline. Indoors, strength workouts and treadmill runs tracked fine too.  Overall it’s solid enough for everyday running and general training without making you constantly question the numbers.

Smartwatch features

Finally, let’s talk about the general smartwatch features. The Active Max covers plenty, without getting bogged down in extras you won’t use.

Notifications from your phone come through without delay, and on Android you can even send quick replies straight from the watch. It handles calls too. You can answer, reject or take the call on your wrist using the built-in mic and speaker.

Music controls and offline music storage are there, and iPhone users get remote camera control which is a nice bonus. You can also ping your phone if it’s gone missing in the couch cushions again.

Beyond that the watch supports calendar reminders, to-do lists, alarms, world clock, Pomodoro timers, weather, along with even a morning summary with the day’s basics. There’s also a basic voice memo feature if you want to quickly record something on the go. It locks when you need it to, has Do Not Disturb when you don’t want to be bugged, and keeps track of sedentary time with gentle nudges to move around. Plus you can install lots of other apps via the Zepp Health App Store.

Amazfit Active Max*

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If you’re in a supported country, you also get Zepp Flow, which brings voice control into the mix. You can talk to the watch to set reminders or launch apps, or just ask general questions. It almost functions like a full-blown assistant. Plus it’s more useful than most of the voice control efforts I’ve seen on other budget watches.

There’s even some nice quality-of-life stuff built in. You can add digital membership cards to the watch, customise shortcut cards for quick access to your favourite features, and check the temperature straight from the wrist. It doesn’t overcomplicate things, but there’s just enough here to feel like a proper smartwatch, not just a fitness tracker with notifications.

Amazfit Active Max can be purchased from Zepp Health or Amazon*

*We are a review site that receives a small commission from sales of certain items, but the price is the same for you. Purchasing items by clicking on links in this article allows us to run this website. We are independently owned and all opinions expressed here are our own. See our affiliate disclosure page for more details.

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The post Amazfit Active Max review: The budget sports watch that looks anything but appeared first on Gadgets & Wearables.

I’ve been using it to see if it helps with my tennis elbow and sore shoulder. Here’s what it’s like to live with a wearable light therapy device that promises recovery without the fuss.

Prungo FluxGo: One minute review

FluxGo is for people who are dealing with a specific issue and want something they can actually stick with. You’re not buying a smart device with tracking or a panel that lights up half the room. You’re getting a focused, portable setup. That’s the design. If you want to deal with sore knees, stiff shoulders, tight hamstrings or anything else that needs repeat attention, this gives you a way to do that without changing your whole routine. Strap it on, press a couple of buttons and move on with your day.

You feel it straight away. There’s a clear calming effect after each session. It’s not a magic fix that resolves the problem in a single go. But the area feels better almost immediately, like the edge has been taken off. With regular use, that effect builds. The soreness eases off faster, movement gets easier, and it feels like the recovery process is actually shifting. That lines up with what this type of light therapy is meant to do.

The strap system takes a few tries to get right, and it won’t sit perfectly on every part of the body without adjustment. But once you’ve figured out the best fit for your use case, the setup becomes easy to repeat. You can use it while working, watching something or walking around the house.

This is not a general wellness device for full-body recovery. It’s not made for that. It’s for people who have one or several areas that need regular attention and want something they can use without thinking about it. If that’s what you’re after, FluxGo makes sense.

You can check out Prungo FluxGo on Prungo’s website. Use code INY15 at checkout for 15% off.

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Prungo FluxGo: Design, hardware

Look & feel

The FluxGo comes in a compact zip-up case. The whole thing is small enough to throw in a backpack and sturdy enough not to feel disposable. Inside, the three modules are docked in place, with the strap and cable tucked in the appropriate departments. You open the box and immediately understand what everything does.

Each module is roughly palm-sized, 72 x 48 x 29 mm as per my measurements, and weighs around 115 grams. That weight is noticeable in the hand but not excessive. It gives the impression of proper hardware rather than a lightweight wellness gadget.

In use, it feels most at home on bigger joints like knees or shoulders where there’s enough space to lay out the modules and get the strap sitting tight without much hassle. That said, you can still wrap it around smaller areas if you’re willing to tweak the setup a bit.

On the top of each module there are two physical buttons. That’s the only control. No smartphone app or any such non-sense.

Press one button to start, the other to cycle through the three modes. Simple and to the point. A small LED display shows which mode you’re in and a countdown timer. It’s visible but not distracting. Just as it should be.

Getting everything aligned takes a bit of patience at first. The modules don’t automatically sit flat on curved areas, so you’ll need to adjust angles and spacing. Once you’ve figured out the right layout for a body part, it becomes repeatable. The modules stay put even if you move around or change position. It also takes a bit of time to figure out how to connect the strap to the modules. But, as mentioned, you don’t really need an instruction booklet. After a bit of experimenting you will get the hang of it.

The modules are rated IP65, so sweat and splashes aren’t a problem. You don’t need to baby them during use, but they’re clearly not meant for showers or full water exposure. Overall, the materials and construction feel deliberate and durable. Nothing feels fragile, decorative or overdesigned. It’s a tool that expects to be handled often and without ceremony.

You can take this thing anywhere. It’s light, it packs down small, and it doesn’t make a big deal out of itself. Throw it in a gym bag, use it at home, bring it on a trip, whatever. It’s made to be used.

Worth mentioning, this isn’t my first red light therapy device. I tested the Kineon Move+ Pro a few months back, and I’ll be doing a separate piece soon that looks properly at how the two compare.

Purely on design, though, I’d lean toward Prungo. The light modules are noticeably larger than the ones on Kineon, which lets you cover more area at once. The strap setup is also simpler and quicker to deal with. Add in the lower price, and Prungo starts to look like the more practical option overall.

Under the hood

Each module in the FluxGo uses a mix of red and infrared light. You get 18 red LEDs at 660 nanometres and 12 laser diodes at 850 nanometres. The lasers are VCSELs, which means the beam is more focused than what you get from standard LEDs. There’s also a lens in front of the light source and a polarising filter over the infrared to help push the light deeper. Prungo says it can reach three to five centimetres into tissue depending on the area.

There are three modes to pick from, Mild, Mid and Strong. Each one runs a timed session. Mild is 8 minutes, Mid is 15, Strong is 20. You control it using the buttons on top of each module. In the strongest setting, the LEDs put out just over a watt per module, and the lasers stay at 48 milliwatts. Prungo lists the surface irradiance between 65 and 100 milliwatts per square centimetre depending on the mode.

Here’s a table that cleanly lays out the performance in each mode.

When a session ends, the module gives a short beep and shuts off. Built-in safeguards cover overcurrent, overvoltage and low battery shutoff.

Battery life

Each module runs for about 75 minutes per charge. That’s enough for at least three or four sessions depending on the mode. You can see a tiny battery left percentage on the display of each module.

Prungo FluxGo Red Light Therapy Device*

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Charging is done through the case, which also works as storage. It has a built-in 10000 mAh battery and can recharge the modules several times before you need to plug it in. Just drop the modules into the slots and they click into place. No cables, no lining anything up. The case charges over USB-C and has a row of lights on the front to show how much juice it’s got left.

There’s also a little proprietary cable in the box that you can use to charge a pod without the storage case by connecting directly to a USB port. Which might come in handy on occasion.

Tech specs

Prungo FluxGo: How to use

There’s nothing complicated about using the FluxGo. As mentioned – press and hold the power button on the module to turn it on. Then press the mode button to cycle through Mild, Mid or Strong. Once you’ve picked a mode, hit the power button again to start the session. That’s it. Each session runs on a timer, so you don’t need to watch the clock.

You can use one, two or all three modules at once. Strap them where you want them, line them up as flat as you can, and let them run. If you’re covering a knee or shoulder, it’s easy to stack the modules side by side. For a longer muscle like a hamstring, you can spread them out a bit more. You’ll need to tweak the position sometimes during the first few tries, but once you’ve figured out your setup, it’s quick to repeat.

You don’t need to stay still while it’s running. Most people just wear it while sitting at a desk, watching TV or moving around the house. Under the light, you will feel a bit of warmth that sinks in deep. Once the session ends, the module beeps and shuts off. You can restart it or switch modes right away if you want another round.

Pick one area and use it every day. That’s how you’ll actually see results. It’s not something you use once and forget about. The company suggests you use it twice per day on the effected areas.

For smaller aches, you might feel a difference after a few sessions. If it’s something more stubborn, give it a couple of weeks. After you’re done, give the modules a quick wipe if they’re sweaty and drop them back in the case so they’re ready to go again. That’s all there is to it.

Effectiveness

Of course, the all important question is – does it work?

I’ve been using it mainly for tennis elbow, which I somehow picked up without actually playing tennis. It’s been nagging me for months. The same strain, picked up while carrying wood, also left my right shoulder sore.

From the first session with Prungo, I felt immediate relief. More of a soothing effect than anything dramatic. It didn’t fix my elbow or shoulder in one go, but after each session there was a clear improvement. The aching felt dialled down. I’ve been using it on those areas a few times a day, and over time I can feel both the tennis elbow and the shoulder slowly improving. There’s definitely a noticeable difference.

And my view seems to be in line with what you see on Reddit, Trustpilot (where it has a 4.4 rating out of 5), and other social and review sites. Most people using FluxGo say it helps if you stick with it.

You see a lot of posts about joint pain easing up after a week or two of regular sessions, especially for knees, shoulders and elbows. It’s not instant but people talk about less stiffness, quicker recovery and being able to move more easily after using it daily. A few mentioned that when they stop for a few days, they feel it. The soreness creeps back in. That matches up with how this kind of therapy usually works.

Plenty of users also compare it to red light panels and pads, saying FluxGo works better in smaller areas and is easier to wrap around joints. Some say they feel a warm, relaxing sensation during a session and more flexibility afterwards. It’s not all glowing reviews. A few say they didn’t notice much at first or that it took a while before anything changed. But the general takeaway is that if you use it regularly, and you’re not expecting miracles, it can actually make a difference.

This isn’t for full-body stuff. It’s for hitting one spot over and over. Easy to use, easy to stick with. That’s what makes it work.

What about the science?

There’s actual science behind red and infrared light therapy. Research into photobiomodulation, which is the formal name for this kind of low-level light treatment, shows it affects cells and tissues in specific ways.

Light in the 660 and 850 nanometre range interacts with mitochondria inside cells, which can boost ATP production, improve blood flow, and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. This mechanism is well described in a widely cited review published in the journal Medicine, which explains why these wavelengths are commonly used in clinical rehab and pain management settings.

Prungo FluxGo Red Light Therapy Device*

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When you look at outcomes, the evidence is fairly broad. A large systematic review published in BMJ Open found that red and near-infrared light therapy can reduce pain and improve function in people with musculoskeletal conditions, including knee osteoarthritis and chronic joint pain.

Other reviews have reported benefits for conditions like fibromyalgia, lower back pain, and post-surgery recovery, especially when treatment is applied consistently over time rather than as a one-off session. For example, a review in Frontiers in Pain Research looked at whole-body red and near-infrared light exposure and found reductions in pain scores and improvements in quality of life for people with chronic pain conditions.

It’s also worth saying that results aren’t identical across every study. Some trials show mixed outcomes depending on dosage, treatment duration and the condition being treated, as discussed in a recent analysis published in PLOS One.

Still, the overall picture is that red and infrared light therapy can help with pain, inflammation, and recovery when used properly and regularly. Which is exactly the context devices like FluxGo are designed for.

Buy if, don’t buy if

Buy if

• You want to target one or several specific pain or sore spots daily
• You like gear that’s simple to use with no app or setup
• You prefer wearable light over big panels
• You’re okay with putting in a bit of consistent time
• You want something you can toss in a gym bag or backpack

Don’t buy if

• You want full-body light therapy coverage
• You expect instant, dramatic results
• You need data or tracking with an app

*We are a review site that receives a small commission from sales of certain items, but the price is the same for you. Purchasing items by clicking on links in this article allows us to run this website. We are independently owned and all opinions expressed here are our own. See our affiliate disclosure page for more details.

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The post Prungo FluxGo review: When red light therapy feels like it’s doing something appeared first on Gadgets & Wearables.

Pongbot PACE S PRO: One minute review

The Pongbot PACE S PRO has genuinely changed how I approach solo practice. It’s a major step up from my old Slinger Bag.

The PACE S PRO is built for serious training. It goes well beyond basic ball feeding, combining mechanical speed with player tracking and smart drill logic. It’s ideal if you want structured, high-volume hitting with full control over difficulty. The pace, spin, and variation keep sessions productive.

This isn’t for someone looking to casually hit a few balls after work. It’s for players or coaches who want structure, repetition and challenge on demand.

The hardware holds up well. Spin changes are quick, movement is fluid, and ball delivery stays consistent even at higher speeds. Battery life supports long sessions without fuss, and the app makes switching drills or settings straightforward. The included sensors add extra functionality – as the machine knows in real time exactly where you are on the court.

Build quality has been good during the one month of testing, though parts like the hopper and wheels do feel a bit fragile. That said, I’ve had no problems so far.

This isn’t a device you learn once and forget. You’ll keep finding new ways to use it. The presets are solid, but the real value comes when you start building and experimenting with your own drills. If you already train with data or track your sessions in detail, this machine can slot into that routine and raise the intensity.

It’s not a small purchase, but if you’re serious about your tennis training, it justifies the cost. Especially if you can pick it up on a discount. For those that want something dead simple, there are cheaper options out there. But if you’re willing to dig in, the value really shows.

All of these features, especially with the AI modes and sensor integration, are unmatched in this price range. It won’t replace a coach, but it can sharpen your sessions in ways most machines can’t. I wouldn’t go back to a basic ball launcher after this.

View PACE S PRO on Pongbot’s website (For $75 off, at checkout add coupon code: gadgetsandwearables). Also, check out my Youtube review to see the machine in action.

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Design & hardware
Technical specifications
How to use
Is this right for you

Pongbot PACE S PRO review: Design and how it holds up

• Sturdy and quiet during use, with good on-court stability
• Easy to roll around, though less convenient on stairs or in tight spaces
• Minimal on-device controls, with functions handled through smartphone app or remote

The PACE S PRO feels like something built for people who actually train. It’s not trying to be stylish or compact. Visually, it’s low-profile but sturdy, giving off the impression of a system that’s meant to be forgotten once it’s working. Having said that, I’ve had players from nearby courts come over mid-session to ask what it is and watch it in action.

The hopper is fixed into the top half of the unit and loads easily, but removing it takes more effort than I expected. It fits tightly, which helps keep it in place, but I’ve caught myself worrying about breaking it.

The machine weighs around 19 kilos, so it’s not exactly something you’d call lightweight. That said, it’s lighter than a lot of the other ball machines on the market. Compared to the Slinger Bag, which I used for a few years, this one takes up noticeably less space. It’s about half the height, so it’s easier to store.

There are wheels and a telescopic handle, so moving the PACE S PRO across flat ground is pretty straightforward. Stairs are more of a hassle because of the slightly awkward weight distribution. Getting it in and out of a car on your own takes a bit of juggling. I haven’t had any issues with the wheels, even on a few 20-minute walks to the court. But I’ve seen some users mention that the rubber on the wheels might wear down faster on rough or uneven surfaces.

Once the machine is in place, it stays put. The wide base and locking mechanism hold it steady even when firing at high speeds or with heavy spin. That makes a big difference when running more intense drills. I never had to stop and reposition it mid-session.

What I particularly like is how quiet it is during use. You can barely hear the motor running and that’s a good thing. I for one, do not want to disturb players on nearby courts with a loud piece of gear. This one is practically silent.

There’s a sound alert before each ball is launched, probably a safety feature, but that can be turned off in the app. I prefer it off. One thing I noticed is that the internal wheels keep spinning even when it’s in standby. You can stop that by switching it into Eco mode, which is easy enough to do in the settings.

On the unit itself, you can find a small control interface. The LED indicators in front are clear and easy to read, and the whole system powers on without any weird delays or boot-up issues. I usually have it ready in a couple of minutes.

Nearly all interaction with the machine happens through the app or remote, which works well. The Bluetooth connection has been totally reliable, and I can adjust drills or settings straight from my phone without needing to touch the machine once it’s powered on. The only real job is loading on the balls to the hopper.

The system also comes with a player-tracking sensor you can wear, plus two net sensors for positional feedback. But you can train just fine without using any of them. They do allow, however, for some more advanced drills. More about that later.

The design doesn’t try to stand out, but once you’ve used it, it feels solid and well put together. Everything is laid out logically, and build quality has been good so far. Still, parts like the hopper and wheels may show wear over time, so that’s something I’ll be keeping an eye on. I’ve been using it for about a month – and so far I’ve had no issues.

Technical specs

• Fast, consistent feed with up to 80 mph speed and 60 RPS spin
• Smooth motorised angle and sweep adjustments
• 8 hours of battery life on a single charge

As far as the hardware, the PACE S PRO runs on a dual‑wheel drive system that feeds balls through direct contact with the wheels. It’s capable of delivering a wide range of shots, including topspin, backspin and flat balls.

Spin intensity can be adjusted across 21 levels, with a maximum of 60 revolutions per second, which covers everything from slow looping topspin to heavier drives. The response time when switching spin types is short, so drills can simulate real rally conditions without delay or mechanical lag.

Speed can be set anywhere up to around 75–80 miles per hour. That’s more than enough to replicate real match pace. Ball frequency is adjustable from 1.5 to 12 seconds, depending on the type of session you’re after. The ball feed has been consistent in my use, and the delivery feels smooth even when pushing the higher settings.

Elevation and horizontal movement are fully motorized. You can shift the launch angle from 10 to 50 degrees for anything from low skimming shots to high lobs. Side‑to‑side movement spans roughly 50 degrees across the court, which enough to simulate both singles and doubles coverage. Transitions are fluid, and the machine keeps its aim stable between sequences.

The outer shell is reinforced plastic with internal framing that supports the motor assemblies and protects the tracking hardware. Vents are cut into the side panels for cooling. There are no exposed belts, cables or high-friction parts prone to failure. In use I did not notice any overheating or noise from cooling fans, which suggests the PACE S PRO handles heat well.

I’ve also found the ball feed reliable. After a month of use, there was only one session where there was a ball jam. And this was easily rectified by opening the side door. Problem solved in a few seconds.

As mentioned, the machine supports player tracking. It does this through a 100 Hz motion‑sensing system, which can detect position. The feature is there if you want to add reactive drills or recovery‑based training.

Battery life

Everything runs off a removable battery stored beneath the motor housing. It’s got enough capacity for multiple sessions without needing a recharge. I’ve done a couple of long workouts back to back and never had to worry about it running out. The company says you get over eight hours on a full charge, and that seems accurate. After a two-hour session, I usually drop just one of the four battery bars, so the estimate checks out.

Charging is straightforward. You just plug it in and let it do its thing. Since the battery is removable, it’s easy to handle and doesn’t get in the way. I’ve never felt limited by battery life, even when running high-speed or heavy-spin drills.

One nice touch is that you can charge the sensors directly from the machine via USB. That is handy if you’ve forgotten to refuel them at home. 

Pongbot PACE S PRO review: How to use

• App setup is quick with presets and deep custom options for advanced drills
• Smart features like AI Recovery add match-like realism
• Building long custom drills takes time, but the control over each shot is impressive

Initial setup is quick. The smartphone app pairs to the machine without fuss, and it walks you through the basics the first time you connect. Even if you’re not especially tech-savvy, you’ll be fine after a bit of poking around.

Once it’s charged, you wheel it onto the court, position the hopper and dump in the tennis balls, power it on, and control everything from your phone or the included remote. There an on-unit LED indicator lets you know when Bluetooth is active.

The app is the main control hub. You can pick from a large set of preloaded drills or start building your own. The preset drills are handy for quick sessions, and probably enough for the majority of average tennis players out there.

You can choose varying levels of difficulty, hand preference, combo interval, sequential/random sequence and more. That gives some room to tweak without going into full custom mode.

Custom drills are where this machine really stands out. You can tweak every single ball in the sequence -speed, spin, depth, placement.

It does take time to build a drill from scratch, especially if you’re setting up a 30 or 40-ball sequence. The app supports up to 45 shots per drill, and you can combine different shot types in any order. Once created, drills can be saved to your library and edited later.

You can also download drills shared by other players, and some of them are actually great. It’s a simple way to keep things fresh. The drill-sharing feature is built into the app, and you can favorite or copy any public drill into your own library.

The thing to note is that there’s a bit of a learning curve. Not because it’s hard, but because there are so many options. Especially with drills.

It took me a few sessions to figure out which features and drills were actually useful and which ones I could ignore. But once you get used to it, the basics feel straightforward. You can also simplify things by adjusting court positioning and feed delay globally, which helps match the machine’s output to your timing.

Some of the smarter modes (referred to as Smart Pace in the app), such as Recovery Trigger, are where the PACE S PRO really stands out. These are features that make the machine feel less like a ball launcher and more like a training partner.

Recovery Trigger, for example, is especially useful for footwork drills. It tracks when you’ve moved back to the centre back-end of the court and only then fires the next ball. That changes the rhythm entirely. Instead of feeding on a fixed timer, the machine reacts to your recovery, simulating real match flow. And if you’re not fully fit, you can slow the tempo down to keep the session under control.

To get this working properly, you’ll need to clip the third sensor onto yourself and set up the two net sensors that come with the system. Once everything is paired, which usually takes only a few seconds, the tracking is surprisingly accurate.

There can be a bit of a lag now and then, but overall the experience adds a strong element of realism to solo practice. It forces you to reset quickly, stay balanced and not cut corners between shots. That alone gives these drills more value than anything you’d get from a fixed feed interval.

Ramp up the difficulty level to challenge yourself even more. The thing about this is – instead of a predictable rhythm, you get a more varied pace that mimics what happens in an actual rally. It’s sometimes quicker, sometimes slower, depending on the previous ball. The whole thing keeps you alert and removes the tendency to fall into a drill pattern. It’s like training with a partner who never misses!

Together, these modes make the training feel alive. If you want sessions that prepare you for how points actually play out, these features are the ones to lean on.

View PACE S PRO on Pongbot’s website (For $75 off, at checkout add coupon code: gadgetsandwearables).

Is this right for you?

Buy if

• You train solo and want full-court feeds with real spin and pace
• You want drills that adjust based on your movement, not just timers
• You need detailed control over shot type, speed and placement
• You value long battery life and app control for quick setup
• You can store or transport a 19 kg machine without hassle

Don’t buy if

• You only play casually and don’t need advanced drills
• You want something ultra-light to carry between locations
• You’re looking for a basic ball launcher

*We are a review site that receives a small commission from sales of certain items, but the price is the same for you. Purchasing items by clicking on links in this article allows us to run this website. We are independently owned and all opinions expressed here are our own. See our affiliate disclosure page for more details.

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The post Pongbot PACE S PRO review: tracks your footwork, feeds like a pro, drills without mercy appeared first on Gadgets & Wearables.

Muse S Athena review: One minute review

Muse S Athena is the most advanced version of the company’s headband to date. It brings more sensors, smarter software, and a shift toward personalised cognitive insights. I’ve practically followed this product line from the start—reviewing the Muse 2 back in 2019, when real-time EEG feedback at home still felt experimental. A couple of years later I tested the Muse S, which added sleep tracking and a softer design for overnight use. Athena feels like a natural evolution of that journey.

Back then, there were two things I felt were missing. One was the ability to track cognitive performance over time, the other was real-time access to raw brainwave data. Athena delivers both.

On the surface, not much has changed. The design is familiar, comfortable, and still sleep-friendly. But under the hood, Athena is a different animal. The addition of fNIRS gives it the ability to track mental effort, not just brain states, offering a new way to measure cognitive endurance. The company upgraded the EEG and heart rate sensors, and the device now delivers more stable, more detailed biofeedback.

Daytime meditation still shines, and the new Strength session adds a sense of challenge and progress. Sleep tracking remains a strong feature, and tools like the Go-to-Sleep Journeys and Digital Sleep Pill make it easier to drift off and stay asleep. Add in brainwave visualisation, cognitive performance scores, and solid battery life, and you’ve got a headband that’s doing more than just guiding meditation.

If you’re serious about mental fitness, this is the version to get. It’s more advanced than anything else out there, both in terms of hardware and the depth of insights it delivers.

Those ready to dive in can pick up the Muse S Athena for $474.99 from the choosemuse.com website. To save 15%, use code “gadgetsandwearables” at check-out. Also, there’s a 30-day money back guarantee if it doesn’t live up to your expectations. The Gen 2 Muse S no longer appears on the site, so it’s likely being phased out. Muse 2 is still around and can be purchased for $249.99.

Jump to

Design & hardware
How to use for daytime meditation
How to use to enhance sleep

Muse S Athena review: Design & hardware

• Breathable stretch fabric offers a secure and comfortable fit, day or night
• Redesigned sensor pod with low-profile button and hidden LED indicators
• Includes, for the first time, fNIRS sensors
• Enhanced internal electronics deliver faster, more accurate feedback

Look & feel

At first glance, Muse S Athena looks almost identical to Muse S. The soft, fabric headband design is still here. That familiar, wraparound style remains unchanged, and if you’ve used Muse S before, Athena will feel instantly familiar.

There are a few subtle changes worth pointing out. The pod that holds the sensors has a slightly different shape, though it still snaps into the middle of the band using strong magnets. The enclosure has also been tweaked a bit.

Another tweak are to do with the multi-coloured LED lights, which are now located on the front of the pod. You’ll notice the indicators stay hidden when inactive and light up to show battery status and other basics when active. A single physical button at the bottom of the pod powers the device on or off. The main lights will turn off during sleep, but there are a two tiny LED lights on the underside that helps you confirm whether the device is running.

The strap system is still there and there was no need to change that as it works well. Clip at the back, elastic section for adjustability, soft fabric all the way around. For me it is pretty easy to get a good fit, and the strap stays in place—something that matters if you plan to use the device to track sleep through the night. With Muse devices, signal quality is import and it largely depends on proper contact with the skin.

For care, you can hand-wash the fabric band using mild, unscented detergent. Wipe the pod with a dry cloth only—avoid any chemicals or moisture. So make sure to remove the pod if you are planning any spring cleaning.

All in all, the design doesn’t stray too far from Muse S. And that’s probably a good thing. That device was already well-designed, and Athena keeps that same comfortable feel.

Under the hood

Athena takes everything Muse S did and builds on it. It keeps the same headband format and core idea of helping you train your mind and sleep better, but pushes the tech inside forward in a few important ways. This makes it feel more grown up.

The biggest new addition is a sensor called fNIRS. It tracks how oxygen flows through the front part of your brain using near-infrared light. That might sound a bit sci-fi, but the idea is simple.

EEG shows what your brain is doing and how efficiently it processes tasks through changes in brainwave activity. fNIRS, on the other hand, shows how hard your brain is working, i.e how much energy it is using. Whether you’re trying to stay focused or mentally winding down, Athena can now measure the effort behind those states, not just the end result.

With fNIRS, the idea is that with regular practice, you can train your brain to work harder and recover more quickly. A bit like lifting weights and cooling down after a workout.

The company says they’ve also improved EEG performance. The signal is now sharper and more detailed thanks to higher resolution readings and upgraded internal referencing. If you’ve used Muse before, you’ll probably notice faster signal lock and fewer hiccups during sessions.

Heart rate tracking got an upgrade too. The PPG sensor now uses three wavelengths: infrared, near-infrared, and red. This helps with more accurate heart and sleep data. On top of that, Athena uses silver-thread sensors that should hold up better over time and deliver a cleaner signal. 

Finally, they’ve also updated the wireless chip. Bluetooth LE 5.3 is faster and more stable than the older version.

As far as battery life – it is unchanged from before. You can expect around 10 hours between charges which, depending on use, is enough to get you through a few days of meditation. This sort of battery life is also good for a single night of tracking sleep. So if you intend to use the device for that purpose – you will need to charge every day.

Muse S Athena vs Muse S: the differences

Here’s a summary of the improvements Muse S Athena brings over its predecessors.

Muse S Athena review: How to use for daytime meditation

• Easy app-based setup with multiple meditation modes
• Strength session trains focus like a mental workout
• Cognitive scores offer insight into sharpness and recovery

Muse S Athena can be used for daytime meditation in much the same way as earlier models. The setup process is straightforward. Download the Muse app for iOS or Android, pair the device, and you’re good to go. Everything is controlled through the app, which is cleanly designed and easy to navigate. The default “Meditate” tab takes you straight into the available sessions.

I found the pairing process to be quick and easy. Also, I had no problems switching between my iPhone and iPad, as at times I preferred to view the results on a larger display

You’ll find the familiar options still there: Mind Meditation, Heart Meditation, Body Meditation, Breath Meditation, and Timer. Each one uses different sensors depending on the focus—whether that’s your brain, heart, breath, or stillness. They let you choose the session length and soundscape, and in some cases, you’ll get guided instructions.

The classic Mind Meditation is still my favourite. You calm your mind and the app reflects that with fewer environmental sounds. The calmer you are, the quieter it gets. Bird sounds let you know when you’re on track. You can earn badges and track progress over time. It still feels strange and a bit magical to control something with your mind alone.

The upside is that the acoustic feedback makes it really easy to catch when my mind starts to wander, and it helps snap me back to the breath pretty fast. The downside is that sometimes the sounds can be distracting on their own, pulling my attention outward when I’m trying to go inward. That said, the biofeedback does its job. It works.

Plus, if you find you would like silence while meditating – there is an option for that as well. Choose external audio sessions – without actually listening to external audio. What I like to do is, in this setting, I opt to hear the birds. They are never distracting and allow me to know when I am in deep focus.

There’s something for everyone when it comes to the types of meditations available. In fact, the variety can feel a bit overwhelming at first. It takes a few days to explore the options and figure out which ones suit you best. It’s definitely a learning experience.

And if that is not enough – you can opt for the Premium Subscription. It unlocks 500+ sessions, allows for sync with external apps and spits out some more advanced data. The good news? You don’t really need it as there’s plenty on offer without it.

What I also like are the simple explanations and tips that are sprinkled throughout the app. There really is a lot to take in and this helps to keep the learning curve manageable.

But what’s really new in Athena is how it pushes all of this further.

A new kind of feedback

As mentioned earlier – Muse S Athena introduces a new kind of feedback experience through its fNIRS sensors. These track oxygenated blood flow in your prefrontal cortex, giving you a read on how much mental effort you’re actually exerting. Alongside the standard EEG feedback, this opens the door to a new type of training: cognitive endurance.

One example is a new session type called Strength. In it, you’re asked to generate as much mental effort as possible by concentrating on the horizon in the image. Your focus propels an owl forward. The harder you push mentally, the quicker it flies.

It’s an interesting shift. Instead of just calming the mind, you’re now training it to perform—similar to how physical workouts build muscle. Your brain, like any other part of your body, needs oxygen to function. The harder you think, the more oxygen your prefrontal cortex demands. Athena measures this in real time and uses that data to assess your cognitive endurance.

It’s definitely an interesting addition. In practice, I found it works well. Having said that, I did have one session where I could not get the owl to move no matter how hard I focused. I am still not sure if that was to do with me or incorrect headband positioning.

Real-time brainwave visualisation is now part of the package

Last year, the company added a new brainwave visualization feature to its app. Which means can now see your brain activity during and after sessions, broken down into gamma, beta, alpha, theta, and delta waves. Each of these relates to a different mental state, so it gives you a clearer picture of what your brain is doing while you are meditating.

You get detailed reports after each session with this type of data, and there’s a mode where you can watch your brainwaves in real time. With Muse S Athena you can even view a livestream of your brain blood oxygenation.

All of this is definitely interesting to look at, but I haven’t found much practical use for the data yet. Maybe with more time, it’ll become more useful.

Cognitive Performance and Brain Recharge score

Worth a special mention are the Cognitive Performance and Brain Recharge scores, available exclusively on Muse S Athena. You’ll find them in the post-session reports, and they’re designed to give you a quick snapshot of how your brain is functioning that day.

Cognitive Performance uses something called alpha peak frequency, which links to focus, processing speed, and overall mental sharpness. A higher score generally means you’re more alert and better prepared for mentally demanding tasks. The system sets a baseline after a few sessions and tracks future scores against it. So this is a score that you can aim to increase over time.

Brain Recharge, on the other hand, is based on alpha power. It gives you a sense of how well-rested or mentally recovered you are—basically, your brain’s version of recovery status after a workout.

These scores are still pretty new, but I’m already finding them useful. They also signal a shift in direction: Muse is starting to move beyond just meditation and into the space of cognitive fitness. Which makes the device more useful.

On the flip side, it seems you will need a premium subscription to access these metrics. I do wish the company reconsiders and includes them as part of the free subscription – as they are very useful.

Muse S Athena review: How to use to enhance sleep

• Tracks brainwaves, heart rate, breath, and movement for accurate sleep stage detection
• Go-to-Sleep Journeys use real-time biofeedback to ease you into sleep
• Digital Sleep Pill restarts audio if you wake up, helping you drift back off

Muse S Athena isn’t just for meditation, it also tracks your sleep. You can wear it overnight or for naps, and the data it captures goes beyond what you’d get from a typical smartwatch. While I wouldn’t personally use it every night, it’s great for checking in on your sleep quality from time to time. That’s actually what InteraXon recommends.

The advantage here is that Athena S tracks brainwaves directly using EEG, along with heart rate, breathing, movement and brain oxygenation. This combination gives it an edge in identifying sleep stages accurately. The app presents everything in a clean, easy-to-read format, along with a Sleep Score after each session. It’s useful if you want more insight than what you’d get from a wrist-based device.

You’ll also find a feature called Go-to-Sleep Journeys. These are responsive audio experiences designed to help ease you into sleep. They use real-time biofeedback—your brain activity, heart rate, breath, and movement—to adjust the soundscapes and voice guidance. Think of it like a smart bedtime story that knows when you’re drifting off. You can set how long it plays, and the app fades out automatically once you’re asleep.

Comfort is better than earlier models, though it still takes a bit of adjusting to get the fit just right for overnight use. If you tend to toss and turn, the pod can shift slightly, which might end a session early. But once it’s in place, it generally stays put. For anyone curious about their sleep patterns—or dealing with sleep issues—it’s a solid tool to have on hand.

Out of curiosity, I compared sleep stats from the Muse S Athena with those from the Garmin Forerunner 955 on my wrist. The results were actually quite close. In the example above, Muse recorded a total time in bed of 8 hours and 22 minutes—just 6 minutes more than Garmin.

What really caught my attention was how closely the REM and deep sleep figures matched up, with only a few minutes difference between them. I did not expect that. The larger difference came in the light sleep and awake time categories. Muse seemed more sensitive here and did a much better job pinpointing when I was actually awake versus just in light sleep. I listen to podcasts at night and tend to have a low heart rate, which can throw off wrist-based trackers. But Muse handled this much better and felt more accurate in detecting true sleep.

Digital Sleep Pill uses smart fade technology

The Digital Sleep Pill is still here. It builds on the Go-to-Sleep Journeys with a more intelligent system that uses smart fade technology. The idea is that it not only fades out sound once you fall asleep, but it can also detect if you’ve woken up during the night. When that happens, it gently fades the audio back in—whether that’s a sleep story, ambient soundscape, or guided meditation, depending on your settings.

You can customise how long the fade lasts, the volume, and other small details. In practice, it’s a strange but interesting experience. If you’re a light sleeper or taking a nap, the audio can feel like it’s blending with your dreams. Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether you’re awake or still drifting. It’s the kind of feature that could be genuinely useful for people who struggle with falling—or staying—asleep.

A final word on safety

Safety deserves a quick mention. It’s good to be cautious with any tech that involves sensors on the head.

Muse S Athena uses passive sensors—EEG and fNIRS. That means it’s not sending any electrical current into your brain. EEG just reads the tiny voltages naturally produced by your brain’s activity. fNIRS uses low-intensity infrared light, which is non-ionizing, to measure blood oxygenation in your prefrontal cortex. Neither of these technologies is inherently dangerous. They’re also used in clinical and research settings with tight safety regulations.

So there’s no obvious reason to expect harm. Still, it’s worth being mindful of any physical discomfort, avoiding overuse, and taking breaks if you notice skin irritation or sensitivity.

Those ready to dive in can pick up the Muse S Athena for $474.99 from the choosemuse.com website. To save 15%, use code “gadgetsandwearables” at check-out.

*We are a review site that receives a small commission from sales of certain items, but the price is the same for you. Purchasing items by clicking on links in this article allows us to run this website. We are independently owned and all opinions expressed here are our own. See our affiliate disclosure page for more details.

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The post Muse S Athena review: Tracking brain states, sleep and now effort appeared first on Gadgets & Wearables.