In the photo: multifunctional and stylish fitness tracker Honor Band A1
The popular health gadget from a famous brand offers many features.
Just a few years ago it was hard to believe - a compact bracelet will help you achieve success in training, get a good night's sleep and even protect yourself from harmful UV radiation.
In the photo: weighing only 20 g, the smart fitness tracker Honor Band A1 recognizes more than 100 characteristics
A healthy lifestyle is not only about proper nutrition, but also about proper exercise when playing sports. A new product from Huawei is a stylish, modern and very comfortable fitness bracelet, Honor Band A1, which will help you calculate your training program.
Characteristics
| Type | fitness bracelet without screen |
| Platform support | Android 4.4, iOS 7 |
| Notifications | SMS |
| Vibration | There is |
| Bracelet/Strap Colors | black, turquoise |
| Time display method | digital (electronic) |
| Time display method | digital (electronic) |
| Moisture protection | yes (IP57) |
| Adjusting the length of the bracelet/strap | There is |
| Weight | 20 grams |
| Headphone jack | absent |
| Phone calls | incoming call notification |
| Mobile Internet | absent |
| Interfaces | Bluetooth 4.1 |
| Monitoring | sleep, calories, physical activity |
| Sensors | accelerometer, UV sensor |
| Waiting time | 672 h |
| Additional Information | silent alarm, UV radiation intensity monitoring |
| Module material | metal |
| Bracelet material | Leather/Polyurethane |
| Battery | 70 mAh |
| Availability of indicator | There is |
Equipment
The Honor Color Band A1 fitness bracelet comes in a fairly compact box of a deep blue color that is pleasing to the eye. On it we find information about the main features of the smart bracelet, in addition to standard entries. The bracelet itself is placed in a compact insert, which completely secures it and, I think, provides good protection for the device.
Expecting something extraordinary to be included in the package is absurd. Look at the cost of the accessory. That’s why inside there are short instructions, a warranty card, a Micro USB cable, magnetic charging and, in fact, the tracker itself.
Bracelet app
Owners of the gadget must download the application for Honor Band A1. Without it, the device is of no value and becomes an exceptionally beautiful toy on the user’s hand.
A separate Color Band A1 program was developed for the fitness bracelet. You can download it from the official store on your platform. The application's interface is simple, you can figure it out within a couple of minutes.
When you first start the program, you must enter personal data. They will be required to process the collected information and make the most accurate calculations. Among the application's features:
- Determination of UV radiation level.
- Counting the number of steps.
- Determining the approximate distance traveled.
- Sleep monitoring.
- Data on completed training sessions.
- Setting goals.
- Smart alarm clock.
- Setting up notifications.
- User motivation system.
Design
Band A1 (otherwise called Color Band A1) consists mainly of three parts:
- from the core, which is encased in a tightly sealed metal case;
- hand strap;
- rivets, which are easily removed, but also stay on the belt quite securely.
The device module is made of metal and has a slightly curved shape with “ears” along the edges where the strap is threaded. On the outside there is an LED and an ultraviolet sensor, and on the inside, adjacent to the hand, there are charging contacts. The locking clasp is also made of metal and has the inscription “honor” on it. The main part is removable, has two colors: steel and gold, the color depends on the color of the selected strap, but in Russia only steel is available.
The design of the strap is in the style of previous models of the Honor line: laconic, minimalistic, strict. The bracelet comes in two types: hypoallergenic silicone or leather (of course, this modification differs in price). The silicone model, like the cult Honor Zero model, has a bracelet made in the form of a prism: it is perforated with intersecting diagonal stripes - glossy and matte. Looks stylish.
The silicone version received four color options for the bracelets - black, turquoise, pink and white. Black is undoubtedly the most popular, especially among men, as it has the most neutral appearance.
Since the strap hides the core itself with the main hardware, it attracts the lion's share of attention. Accordingly, when discussing the design of the A1, we are talking primarily about the design of the bracelet, 80 percent, and 20, or maybe less, left to the gadget itself.
As for the overall appearance: the design is pleasant and not aggressive, suitable for almost anyone in clothing style, be it for training or daily wear.
Convenience
Speaking about ergonomics, we can say that Honor Color Brand A1 is quite flexible and can take almost any position with your hand without restricting movement or interfering. I wonder how it will behave with a leather strap, but with a silicone one - no problems. A large supply of sizes - suitable for absolutely any hand, be it a strong man's or a fragile woman's (there are 10 holes in total in the bracelet). By the way, your hand does not sweat under the strap.
The bracelet is comfortable to use – you don’t feel it on your hand (the gadget weighs only 20 grams). The material of the bracelet does not cause any discomfort, the rivet fits tightly. It is also not possible to lose it - you need to make some effort to simply unscrew the rivet, however, if you succeed, the safety loop will hold the device on your hand. Personally, I completely forgot about the existence of the bracelet and it did not bother me day or night. Perhaps this is one of the main advantages for wearable electronics.
The next point: the Honor smart bracelet received protection from moisture and dust according to the IP57 standard, which allows you to wash your hands without fear during everyday use without removing the bracelet.
After a month and a half of continuous wear, the back side began to wear slightly. Otherwise, there are no external traces, although I can’t say that I only work in offices and am generally a careful user.
Possibilities
There are only two sensors inside the Honor Band A1: a three-axis accelerometer that measures acceleration, and an ultraviolet sensor for monitoring the intensity of ultraviolet radiation. Great, but what can the bracelet do in practice?
Accurate statistics
The Honor Band A1 fitness bracelet is equipped with a high-precision three-axis accelerometer that records workout time, distance traveled and number of steps. The accelerometer recognizes more than a hundred characteristics, including the degree of acceleration and load intensity. The Honor Band A1 fitness bracelet uses a self-learning algorithm to automatically recognize activity.
Physical activity recognition
Having studied algorithms for various scenarios of the state of physical activity and rest, and processed a huge amount of data, the development team of the Huawei Research Center managed to achieve high accuracy in recognizing types of physical activity (walking, running, cycling) and sleep state.
Setting goals
Calculation of the load and calculation of burned calories are carried out in accordance with your physical condition.
Sleep monitoring
Thanks to the self-learning algorithm, accurate recognition of sleep states, including daytime sleep, and registration of sleep stages (deep sleep and light sleep) are performed. The polysomnography technologies used in the fitness bracelet allow you to accurately assess the quality of your sleep. This data will help you study and evaluate your sleep patterns and improve your sleep quality.
UV monitoring
The Honor Band A1 fitness bracelet monitors the intensity of UV radiation and gives tips and recommendations for protection from the negative effects of sunlight.
Notifications
Set up smart notifications and your fitness band will vibrate and its indicator light will flash when you receive an incoming call or message. You won't miss an important call or notification when your phone is in your bag or you're in a noisy place.
Main functions of the Honor Band A1 fitness tracker
In the photo: the Honor Band A1 fitness tracker monitors physical activity, monitors your sleep, can count calories, has a built-in alarm clock and receives notifications about incoming calls and messages.
The main functions of the Honor Band A1 fitness bracelet include:
- definition of 3 types of physical activity: walking, running and cycling;
- pedometer;
- sleep monitoring;
- calorie calculator;
- smart alarm clock;
- notification of calls and incoming SMS;
- measuring the level of ultraviolet radiation.
Connection
It's worth making a quick note about the inclusion of the Honor Band A1. There is no button anywhere to activate the gadget. At the very beginning it needs to be charged, preferably to 100 percent. When there is battery charge, the device works; when it is 1 percent, it turns off. This is the simple principle of operation of the device.
Of course, all management, configuration and statistics tracking takes place in the application. It is clear that the utility is located on the smartphone, and our hero connects to it via Bluetooth.
And now it’s time to scold the tracker. The thing is that once the connection is lost, it no longer connects to the smartphone on its own. That is, you paired it with your smartphone, configured the accessory, notifications of incoming calls via vibration, and so on. As long as the connection is not accidentally broken (maximum distance 10 meters), everything will be fine.
Once the tracker loses sight of your smartphone once, it will no longer vibrate when calls come in. In fact, this is particularly annoying, because at such moments you have to resynchronize the device with the head unit. The synchronization process itself goes like clockwork, but doing this several times a day is a shame. By the way, it has been tested with at least five different smartphones, including Honor 6X.
Where to buy Honor Band A1?
In Russia, sales of Honor Band A1 began in October 2021. An elegant and multifunctional gadget can be purchased in the company’s online store shop.huawei.ru.
The price of the Honor Band A1 bracelet with a polyurethane strap is 990 rubles.
In the photo: no matter where you are, with the Honor Band A1 fitness tracker you will not miss a single important call or message - the gadget will notify you by flashing the indicator and light vibration
The gadget is also included in promotional sets, in which several devices are sold together at a better price than purchasing each separately.
Application
The gadget is compatible with iOS and Android devices. By the way, there was no information on the application on the box, and in the standard for all Huawei Wear bracelets, the tracker itself was not in the list of devices. The gadget has its own Color Band A1 application. In terms of its use cases, color scheme and button positions, it is very similar to Huawei Wear before the update in November-December 2021, only with a new menu for working with information from the UV sensor.
In general, the application is quite simple to understand and without pitfalls, everything is accessible and extremely clear, so even an amateur can figure it out. The device synchronizes with it via Bluetooth 4.2 with devices Android 4.4 and higher and IOS 7 and higher and, by the way, very quickly. Next, we enter personal data: gender, height, weight and date of birth so that the application can analyze the information received from the bracelet. Then the capabilities of the gadget open up to us.
So, the application has loaded, the charged device has been paired, and we’re ready to go. There are three dots on the central screen, indicating three sheets of statistics - pedometer, sleep and UV. Clicking on the chart in the center reveals additional details.
Main functionality of the application:
- Training data
- Sleep monitoring
- Smart alarm clock
- UV radiation
- Smart notifications
Recording and monitoring of physical activity data depending on the type of physical activity - walking, cycling, running.
In this mode, the bracelet records training time, distance traveled and number of steps. It is noteworthy that the gadget is able to recognize more than a hundred characteristics, including the degree of acceleration and load intensity. As a result, it determines exactly what you are doing - walking, cycling or running. As you use the bracelet, accuracy increases thanks to a self-learning algorithm.
During training, the application displays kilometers traveled, number of steps, calories burned, speed. You can also see the route you took if you had a smartphone with you.
Like other fitness apps, Color Band A1 lets you set a goal. For example, walking so many steps a day to burn so many calories. Interestingly, for clarity, calories are also written in food equivalent. For example, 200 calories is one chicken leg.
Monitoring the quality and phases of sleep - shallow sleep, deep sleep, wakefulness.
Perhaps the most interesting feature. After all, without special monitoring, we can judge the quality of sleep only by how much sleep we got. The Honor Band A1 bracelet allows you to penetrate the mystery of your own sleep and find out how much time you spent in deep sleep, how much in shallow sleep, and how much you just lay there, “counting sheep.”
If you sleep too little, or the quality of your sleep leaves much to be desired, the application will give advice. For example, it will remind you that exercise and proper nutrition are the key to normal sleep. And he will advise you to listen to relaxing music. Of course, to use this feature, you will have to sleep with the bracelet on your wrist.
Note that the Honor Band A1 has a smart alarm function. For many, this function is almost decisive when purchasing fitness bracelets. A “smart” alarm clock makes waking up “smooth” and “pleasant” - it starts to gently wake you up at the appropriate sleep phase. As a result, you wake up rested, and do not jump up with a cast-iron head, as is usually the case when your sleep is interrupted by a regular alarm clock.
Real-time monitoring of UV radiation intensity and suggestions for skin protection.
A relevant feature, especially if you travel a lot to hot countries and spend the winter in Thailand, Bali or Goa. Monitoring UV radiation will allow you to be more aware of what is happening outside your window. Based on measuring the intensity of UV radiation, the bracelet gives practical advice: put on sunglasses, put on UV glasses, take a hat, an umbrella, plenty of water, or even just apply a product with SPF 70.
Notifications about an incoming call or message, help in finding a smart bracelet and setting up smart alarms.
When paired with a smartphone, the Honor Band A1 will notify you of incoming calls and messages. If you take off your bracelet and forget where you put it, the application will allow you to find it. The Color Band A1 application not only allows you to control the bracelet and view statistics for the day, but also collects data for a week, month or more, presenting it in the form of graphs for clarity.
The motivation system is striking in its care. The application believes that I am too little in the deep sleep phase, so it certainly advises me to complete all my tasks for the day and relax: drink a cup of chamomile tea, listen to relaxing music, and sometimes have a poke game during the day. And the distance traveled is calculated in the equivalent number of strawberries, bananas, glasses of milk, and, most curiously, the percentage of burritos - what percentage of burritos did you run today? All these funny wishes and comparisons touch to the core; Huawei developers know how to make a truly caring device.
Frankly speaking, the design was not the best. In general, Huawei and Honor smartphones have very stylish shells - EMUI. Minimalism, grace, beauty - it’s all there. But the Color Band A1 application does not fit into this concept at all and was clearly developed without any proper control.
Words in Russian practically touch each other, the color scheme is poorly chosen, and there are also problems with intuitiveness. For example, I absolutely do not understand how I can quickly view my statistics for the week. At the very bottom there is an icon “Today”, and next to it “For a month”. It is logical that there should be weekly statistics between them, but no. In its place is a “Send” icon, which personally didn’t bother me at all.
Autonomy and charging
I would especially like to note this point. like autonomy. The bracelet is equipped with a 70 mAh battery, and the manufacturer claims up to 28 days of battery life in standby mode. What I want to say: he came to us on December 13 and we did not part with him for a day, today the charge percentage is at around 64%, and I think this is a more than good result.
The Honor Color Band A1 is charged using a cradle that is magnetized to the tracker + Micro-USB cable
Long operating time without recharging
The Honor Band A1 does not have a built-in display, which allows the bracelet with a 70 mAh battery to work up to 28 days without recharging.
In the photo: the Honor Band A1 fitness tracker comes with a cable for charging the gadget
And this does not prevent the gadget from notifying the user about calls and incoming SMS - the vibration motor in combination with a bright LED will not let you miss important calls and messages.
In the photo: 28 days of standby time and an easy-to-use charger will ensure comfortable use of the fitness tracker
All statistics are collected in the convenient Huawei Color Band mobile application. You can install it not only on smartphones running Android, but also on Apple gadgets running the iOS operating system. The program is already available for download on Google Play and the App Store, you can download it completely free of charge.
Waterproof
Honor Band A1 is protected from moisture. However, the manufacturer warns in the instructions that with the gadget on your hand you can wash your hands, wash your car, take a shower or walk in the rain. But you can no longer swim or dive with the device - it must be removed.
Pfft! When did I trust instructions! Of course, I went to the pool and checked how our hero would feel after such a test. And guess what? He passed it perfectly! Swimming a kilometer with Band A1 on his arm did not affect his performance in any way.
Moreover, several times I dived to a depth of about 2 meters, but the tracker didn’t care!
The Honor Band A1 fitness tracker is resistant to moisture. In general, the conclusion is this. You can swim with Band A1, but I didn't tell you anything.
Versatile style and waterproof
In Russia, Honor Band A1 will be available in a version made of hypoallergenic polyurethane. The basis of the device is a metal tracker, which is connected to the bracelet by a strong and reliable mount.
There are two color options: gadgets are available in black and turquoise.
In the photo: thanks to the simple geometry of its shape, the Honor Band A1 fitness bracelet fits perfectly with any clothing and looks great with both an official suit and everyday items
The total weight of the device does not exceed 20 grams, so the hand does not get tired from wearing the smart accessory.
In addition, Honor Band A1 is not afraid of water and dust.
In the photo: the waterproof case will ensure comfortable use of the Honor Band A1 fitness tracker
The gadget complies with the IP57 standard, which implies short-term immersions to a depth of up to a meter. Accidental rain or spilled water from a cup - the gadget can easily withstand such tests.
Prices
Let's move on to discussing the most important issue - cost. Honor A1 could easily gain an advantage among its competitors if it were sold at the price it had at the start of sales - 990 rubles. After all, you are buying a device officially sold in Russia, with instructions translated into Russian, with guarantees, and you don’t have to wait a whole month for delivery from China.
However, the A1 does not have such an advantage, because the official price is 1,990 rubles. According to Yandex Market, the average price of a gadget for 2021 is 1,600 rubles. And prices on Aliexpress start from 1,100 rubles, and there you can separately order a leather strap for the Honor Band A1.
What is included
The device is sold in Russia in the following configuration:
- Fitness bracelet.
- Charger.
- Instructions.
- Warranty card.
A magnetic USB charger is included.
Everything is packed in a beautiful box. The charger is connected by magnets to the terminals on the inside. You can buy Bluetooth headsets and organizers separately.
Conclusion
Huawei Honor Color Band A1 is a gadget with a stylish design that weighs almost nothing and fits cool on the hand. It has a built-in pedometer and UV sensor. But if a pedometer is actually a useful thing, then the need for an ultraviolet radiation sensor can be questioned. In our latitudes, where the sun is hot for 3 months a year, the sensor will still always indicate a low level of radiation and advise you to apply sunscreen - your face is always exposed to the sun, so it needs protection. The application is simple, pleasant and very caring - it seems that it was thanks to its advice that I began to go to bed earlier, it motivates me perfectly.
In general, Honor Band A1 is an excellent fitness tracker with a set of useful functions. The operating time of the gadget is impressive. The appearance and ergonomics are excellent. But the main thing is that Honor Band A1 is inexpensive and is perfect as a gift for both men and beautiful girls.
Description of the Honor Color Band A1 fitness bracelet
The unique feature of the tracker is the lack of a screen. Instead, there is an indicator and an ultraviolet radiation sensor. The comfortable bracelet is made in 2 versions: leather or silicone, which does not cause allergies. Both options have 4 colors. The measuring part is colored in the same way as the strap.
The design of the tracker is ergonomic. The Honor Color Band fitness bracelet is lightweight, comfortable and does not interfere with movements. The hand under it does not sweat.
The strap does not unfasten itself. Long, designed to fit any hand, can be used by both men and women.
It is easy to use. Among the shortcomings is the lack of heart rate measurement and signal for calls or notifications from third-party applications (messengers, social networks, etc.).
Comparison with competitor - Xiaomi Mi Band
Design
Firstly, I liked the appearance of the A1. And you know, I can’t possibly be objective here. The thing is that Mi Band has been on the market for more than two years and its design is already quite boring. This small metal pebble framed with a rubber strap has become boring. From here our hero earns a point, but the Xiaomi device receives nothing. And colored straps don't save him.
But where the Honor gadget definitely loses is in terms of displaying certain events. Both devices have vibration feedback, and in my opinion, it is simply impossible to miss vibration on the A1. It feels like it will break in half when it vibrates, but it will notify you of the call.
However, Honor has only one LED that is not very informative, while Mi Band boasts as many as three, which display different statuses (notification type, progress level, and so on). In fact, in the absence of a screen, whether there are LEDs or not is of little use. However, the XMB 1S is a little more advanced in this regard, so the score is 1:1.
Ergonomics
I've been using both devices for quite some time, so I can talk about all the pains and problems that users of these fitness trackers may encounter.
Until Mi Band 2 came out, everything was bad for Xiaomi. Firstly, the nucleolus could easily fall out of the rubber strap and easily get lost, which is what happened in my case. Secondly, after about 7-8 months the bracelet itself begins to go bad: the silicone peels off, the locking loop comes off, and so on. In general, in terms of reliability, the XMB 1(1s) is doing poorly.
Against the background of all this, Honor Band A1 looks much more cheerful. I don’t know what will happen to the locking ring after 8 months, but in two months of use the bracelet accidentally came loose only once. I grabbed it tightly onto the straps of my backpack. Winter, a lot of clothes, a down jacket, and then a backpack - in general, you know. This happened to the mi band all the time, literally every day.
In addition, the A1 core cannot fall out in any way. Here everything is much more reliable, and therefore the score is 2:1 in favor of the newfangled “Chinese”.
Connection
As I mentioned earlier, Honor has problems connecting to a smartphone; as soon as the bracelet loses sight of the phone at least once, it will no longer vibrate when calls come in. The same Mi Band 1S easily restores the connection and holds on to the smartphone in almost any conditions. Honor does not have this, and therefore the competitor wins. Thus, the score was leveled - 2:2
Software
Compared to Mi Fit, the Honor app looks very damp and meager. A clear win for Mi Band 1S. The score is 2:3.
There is one more point that will be extremely important for those who often change devices. For example, this is relevant for me. Using the Mi Band, I didn’t worry about my activity statistics. All information is saved both in the device’s memory (for about 14 days) and in the cloud, which the Mi Fit utility has access to. In other words, I can sync my tracker anywhere, on any device, just by installing the app and without losing anything.
This is not the case with Color Band A1. There is no cloud synchronization. The memory built into the bracelet is very short-term. For example, if today you synchronized with one smartphone, and tomorrow with an application on another, then none of yesterday’s statistics will be saved. I don’t talk about achievements over the week and month at all. This is completely inconvenient and, as a result, the point of owning a fitness tracker is lost in principle. Why is it needed then, if when you change a device you cannot check your activity for a month, for six months, for a year, and so on?
Thus, the tracker from Xiaomi gets another point - 2:4
Functionality
A1 can independently determine the types of activity of its owner. This may include sleeping, walking, running and cycling. And here you won’t be able to dig into the bracelet. Why? Here's a simple example.
Mi Band 1, 1S or 2nd version cannot track daytime sleep. The program and the tracker along with it assume that you need to sleep at night and only at this time of day are the algorithms able to track sleep and its phases. However, Band A1 can do the same during the day. A couple of days ago I decided to take a nap for an hour or two during the day and, to my surprise, the pedometer was able to record this sleep. I can’t say that I slept like the dead, because I tossed and turned, constantly woke up due to external stimuli, that is, I moved my hand with the tracker on it. And yet, the dream was recorded - that's cool!
For the rest I have the following to say. There are always some small differences. One device will have one feature that is more convenient, while another may offer an additional type of activity. For example, a device from Xiaomi can track specific workouts in the form of jumping rope, and a gadget from Honor is able to measure the level of ultraviolet radiation, giving its recommendations through a proprietary application. Ideally, I would like to have both, but the offset of all this functionality does not give any device a clear advantage.
In fact, 1S has something to answer. Let me remind you that the device can measure pulse, and it does this continuously in training mode. Our hero cannot boast of such a truly significant function, and therefore loses another point to his competitor. As a result, we get 3:5.
Battery
The battery built into A1 has a capacity of 70 mAh. Mi Band 1S cannot boast such an impressive battery capacity - 45 mAh. It would seem that the issue has been resolved and the winner is clear. No matter how it is!
In normal use, both gadgets work approximately the same - about a month. To be more precise, the A1 can last about 20 days, and the 1S about 25 days, subject to constant synchronization and vibration response. However, I don’t see a significant difference here, because the extra point does not go to any of the devices.
Let's summarize the comparison
According to the results of our objective testing (score 3:5), Xiaomi Mi Band 1S deservedly wins. Moreover, even the version that is officially sold here.
Honor Band A1 is inferior to its competitors in many respects: it cannot boast of such wide functionality, the proprietary application is not very convenient and informative, there is no sane data synchronization and correct notification via vibration.
And yet, the device has the right to exist and even to some success in terms of sales. The tracker counts steps well, tracks sleep perfectly, and will get you up in the morning without any problems, as it is equipped with an impressively powerful vibration motor. If your needs are limited only to this and you want something fresh, to somehow stand out from the army of Mi Band fans, then you should pay attention to the A1. The only way.
What is the difference between the Honor Band 6 models
From all that has been said, the first thing that stands out is the difference between the two models with and without NFC. Just $6 is no difference at all to save on it. This is further proof that when releasing cheaper smartphones without this function, manufacturers are not chasing savings, but are promoting more expensive models in their line.
On such a screen you can see much more than on the same Xiaomi Mi Band 5
It is also not necessary to say that there is no room in the case, since even in a tiny tracker, crammed to capacity with sensors, there was a place for it. It turns out that when new affordable models with NFC , this is not such an expensive act of generosity for the manufacturer, and one should not overestimate its kindness too much. It’s just that he’s not trying to promote expensive models (perhaps they simply don’t exist), but wants to sell this particular one.
