Runtastic Orbit: It also shows you how efficient your sleep is

Runtastic is a well-known running app, but not many know that it has its own fitness tracker, Orbit. Launched last year in the US, Orbit will be in Singapore at the end of this month.

Like many fitness trackers, it comes with a tracking module and a wristband, which is in black. An additional blue wristband and a black clip come with the package.

The module has a small display and a big metallic button below. Press the button and the time will appear. Continue pressing to toggle through steps taken, calories burned and active minutes.

It is waterproof down to 10m, so you do not need to remove it when you go for a swim. It does not track your swim, but it will record your calories burned.

The Orbit also tracks sleep, but you have to press the button and hold for 3sec to activate the sleep tracking mode.Sleep tracking is quite accurate. It shows the hours you are awake and in light or deep sleep. It also shows your sleep efficiency in terms of percentage.

However, the daily activity tracking at times differed by as much as than 30 per cent from my calibrated Nike+ Fuelband fitness tracker.

The Orbit might not function like a GPS running watch. But if you use the Runtastic running app with your smartphone to track a run, the Orbit can display time, distance, calories and pace.

Battery life is decent. It lasted around four days before I had to charge it. Like many of the fitness trackers here, you need a proprietary charging cable, so make sure you do not lose it.

TECH SPECS

PRICE: $169, available end Nov 2015
WATER RESISTANCE: 10m
WEIGHT: 25g

RATING

FEATURES: 3/5
DESIGN: 3/5
PERFORMANCE: 3/5
BATTERY LIFE: 4/5
VALUE FOR MONEY: 3/5

OVERALL: 3/5

VERDICT: If you use the Runtastic app a lot, the Orbit is a good companion.

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This article was first published on November 11, 2015.
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