Brief Summary
The Amazfit Helio Strap is a screenless fitness tracker that competes with devices like Whoop, offering sleep, recovery, and activity tracking at a lower price point with no subscription fees. It integrates into the Amazfit ecosystem, allowing users to combine data from other Amazfit devices like smartwatches and smart rings. The strap tracks various health metrics, including sleep, biocharge (readiness), exertion, heart rate, and blood oxygen saturation, all accessible through the Zepp app. It can also be used as a standalone device for tracking workouts, utilizing the phone's GPS for accurate data.
- Affordable fitness tracking with no subscription fees.
- Integration with the Amazfit ecosystem for comprehensive health data.
- Standalone workout tracking using the phone's GPS.
Intro / Overview
The Amazfit Helio Strap is a low-profile, screenless fitness tracker designed to monitor sleep, recovery, and activities. It directly competes with devices like the Whoop band, offering similar functionalities at a more affordable price. The Helio Strap features a small pod containing a heart rate sensor that tracks heart rate and blood oxygen saturation levels throughout the day.
Ecosystem
The Helio Strap integrates seamlessly into the Amazfit ecosystem, allowing users to combine its data with other Amazfit devices like the T-Rex 3 and Active 2 smartwatches. Amazfit stands out by offering multiple devices for health and wellness tracking, such as the Helio Ring, enabling continuous data collection across different times of the day without gaps. The Helio Strap can be used independently or in conjunction with other Amazfit devices, with all data consolidated in the Zepp app.
Pricing
The Amazfit Helio Strap is priced at $99 in the USA, significantly undercutting competitors like the Whoop Band, which costs $359 per year due to its subscription model. Unlike Whoop, the Helio Strap requires no subscription, offering a one-time purchase for continuous use.
Colors / Accessories / Strap
The reviewed model features a Hyrox-branded band, designed for Hyrox athletes participating in fitness races involving running and weightlifting. A standard black band will also be available at launch. The pod inside the strap is removable, allowing users to switch between different colored bands. The strap includes quick-release pins, compatible with standard watch bands, offering customization options.
Size / Weight
The device measures approximately 28mm wide and 10.5mm thick (excluding the heart rate sensor bump) and weighs only 20 grams with the included band, making it incredibly lightweight and comfortable to wear.
Charging / Battery Life
The Helio Strap uses an Amazfit magnetic charger, the same as those used for devices like the T-Rex 3. It offers up to 10 days of battery life on a single charge, which aligns with the reviewer's experience after several weeks of testing.
App Overview / Health Data
The Amazfit Helio Strap syncs with the Zepp app, displaying various health metrics. The app shows paired devices, battery charge, and settings for the strap. Health monitoring settings include high and low heart rate alerts, heart rate push options for use as an external heart rate sensor, assisted sleep monitoring, stress monitoring, and blood oxygen sensor toggles. The app also features workout detection settings with adjustable sensitivity. Users can set alarms that trigger vibration feedback on the device. The app's home screen provides an overview of sleep score, biocharge, and exertion score. Biocharge, a new metric, is more dynamic and sensitive to daily habits compared to the previous "readiness" score. The exertion score indicates how much you exerted yourself on a given day and provides a target to hit.
Activity Tracking
The Amazfit Helio Strap can track workouts independently using the Zepp app and the phone's GPS. Users can select a workout type, such as outdoor running, and start tracking. The app displays time, pace, and heart rate data, and a map view is available. Workouts are saved to the Zepp app and can be synced with third-party services like Strava. The data from these workouts contributes to the user's exercise status, including estimated VO2 max, training load, and recovery time.
Heart Rate Accuracy
The Helio Strap uses the same heart rate sensor found in many Amazfit watches, including the T-Rex 3. Comparisons against an ECG-based HRM600 and a Garmin watch show similar graphs with no major outliers. The accuracy is attributed to the improved heart rate sensor and the strap's lightweight design, which minimizes movement on the wrist.
Final Thoughts
The Amazfit Helio Strap is a worthwhile addition for Amazfit users, especially those who prefer not to wear a smartwatch to bed. Its low profile, affordability, and comfortable design make it a compelling option for sleep tracking. While there are areas for improvement, such as VO2 max accuracy, Amazfit's continuous updates and the new biocharge feature show promise. While not necessarily a "Whoop killer," the Helio Strap offers significant value for its price and lack of subscription fees, making it a viable alternative for those considering a screenless fitness tracker.
