Review of Honor Band 4 Running Edition

Honor Band 4 Running Edition is sold at a price of about 1,100 rubles, and this fitness tracker can be worn on the wrist or on shoes. It is designed to be waterproof (up to 50m). The Honor Band 4 Running Edition is an activity tracker designed for runners, but it doesn't look like a standard bracelet. In fact, this product does not have GPS or heart rate sensor and cannot track runs when you wear it on your wrist. Instead, the tracker comes with an attachment that allows you to attach it to your shoes. Once you do this, it will be able to track your runs and provide information that most other products in this area cannot provide.

Running Edition is a simplified version of Honor Band 4. Is this fitness tracker suitable for use without GPS and heart rate sensor? We used the device for about 10 days to find out all the details.

Characteristics of Honor Band 4 Running Edition

Factory data

Warranty: 12 months.
Country of origin: China

Are common

Type: fitness bracelet
Model: Honor Band 4 running
Case color: black
Strap color: black
Optional Color: Red
Compatible with devices: Android devices, iOS devices
Operating system compatibility: iOS 9 and above, Android 4.4 and above
Control type: touch

Display

Availability of display: yes
Dial Type: LCD
LCD screen manufacturing technology: OLED
Touch display: yes
Color display: no
Diagonal: 0.5″
Resolution: 88×48
Display form factor: bracelet

Case and strap

Housing material: plastic, polycarbonate
Water resistance: 5 Bar
Protection level: WR50
Strap material: TPU
Place of attachment: on the leg, on the arm

System

Built-in memory: 1 MB
Sensors: 6-axis motion sensor

Communication and switching

Wireless: Bluetooth
Bluetooth version: 4.2
GPS: no
SIM card slot: no

Camera

Built-in camera: no

Functions

Measurements: number of steps, duration and quality of sleep, calories burned, distance traveled
Application support: Huawei Health
Audio playback: no
Video playback: no
Sports functions: physical activity monitoring, running parameters monitoring
Smartphone interaction functions: incoming call alerts, incoming SMS alerts
Other functions: calendar, alarm clock, smartphone search
Contactless payment technology: no

Power and charging

Power type: battery
Battery form factor: Li-Ion battery
Battery capacity: 77 mAh
Operating time: 504 h
Charging time: 2h

Additionally

Equipment: shoe holder, documentation, charger

Dimensions and weight

Width: 14.8 mm
Length: 40.5 mm
Thickness: 11.2 mm
Weight: 20 g

Customer Reviews

I was amazed by the gestural control system. Cool feature, very convenient to use. No need to press buttons to activate the screen. All you have to do is raise your hand. The instructions in Chinese are a minus for me, because... I'm not good with such devices (even with simplified controls). But finding a Russified version on the Internet was not difficult. The interface is well thought out, all functions are useful. Synchronization via Bluetooth is beneficial. As I understand it, battery power is saved significantly. By the way, I completed the first recharge after 12 days. And then the battery is not completely empty.
Natalia

I am pleased with the purchase of the running bracelet. Before that, I used the Xiaomi tracker - for comparison, Honor more accurately calculated the number of steps taken (the first one was wrong by 97 steps). The design is comfortable and fits well on the hand. I like that the set includes a shoe mount. I also use the bracelet as an alarm clock. The tracker vibrates on your hand at a given time. Some people may not like it, but I'm a light sleeper, so I immediately hear the response. Tracks sleep phases, but you will need an app for this. All data is stored on it, which is also very convenient. I didn’t find any cons for myself, I’m happy with everything.
Denis

Unlike the basic model, the running version lasts longer without recharging. I did not turn off Bluetooth and used all the meters - the battery lasted for 2 weeks. The running functions are fine, but there is a slight problem with sleep monitoring. Sometimes the tracker stops recording on its own and the data is not saved. This happens rarely, but I still haven’t figured out the reason. I can say that the sleep monitoring function is more of a bonus for me than a main feature. I stopped using it, but I’m constantly counting my steps. Everything is clear here.
Evgeniya

Management and design

Honor Band 4 Running Edition can be used in two modes - on the wrist and on the leg. It has a tiny, 0.5-inch OLED display on the capsule. The capsule has one capacitive button that you can press to scroll through different menu options (distance, sleep, calories, etc.).

You can press and hold the button to trigger certain actions, such as restarting the device or starting to record your current workout. The kit includes an adapter that can be used to charge the device.

The adapter connects to the device using a proprietary port, and at the other end is a regular USB, so you can easily charge the device with any standard USB charger.

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Honor Band 4 Running - Running and nothing more

22.06.2019

An interesting new product has appeared on our market - a running bracelet from the Honor brand. The Band 4 Running model is aimed at those who run.

In fact, if I had not read this on the official website, I would never have even guessed.

In fact, this is the most ordinary bracelet with basic functionality and starting capabilities for activity analysis.

The designers decided to “reward” the device with a sporty appearance. I can't say that I like this approach. Yes, the quite obvious sports orientation is visible in every detail. However, people have different associations. For example, some people asked what kind of children's bracelet I wear on my arm. All this indicates that it is better not to use the device with casual or formal clothing.

The bracelet has two colors that are only visible through the holes on the strap. The thing is that the device can have a green or coral backing. The colors are slightly muted and don't match the trendy neon shades that are currently trending in modern fashion.

In general, the appearance is not for everyone - one of the most controversial details of the new product. It goes well with a sporty style, but this design is not a universal solution.

The single-color OLED screen has a diagonal of 0.5 inches. It's not touch sensitive. The bracelet is controlled using a touch-sensitive round button. The device does not recognize any gestures. In the sun the image is difficult to read. Screen brightness is adjusted manually. The screen is simple and designed to display the most banal graphic elements and a small amount of text.

The device has only one wireless interface - Bluetooth 4.2. The connection is stable. No problems. To connect to a new device, you need to do a reset, and information about previous activity disappears.

The bracelet can be worn on the wrist, or you can remove the “core” and fix it on your shoes. According to the manufacturer, the device will count activity regardless of the way it is worn, the same in all situations. In fact, this is not entirely true. I measured the activity at the same distances, and it turned out to be different.

The bracelet is protected from moisture. With it you can dive to a depth of 50 meters. But is there any point in this if there are no swimming modes here?

The functionality of the device is standard: a regular alarm clock, sleep time monitoring, vibration notifications about incoming calls and messages (only an icon is shown, not informative text), analysis of daily activity.

The bracelet can work in constant connection with a smartphone for more than two weeks. In autonomous use mode, it lasts for three weeks or a little longer. Excellent performance for a fitness tracker. The gadget is fully charged in about an hour and a half. A proprietary cradle is used for charging.

What activity can the device record? Everything is extremely simple. There is simply no pulse sensor here, so it is impossible for the user to find out the heart rate using the bracelet.

The manufacturer uses a special six-axis sensor that analyzes the steps and parameters of your running or walking. In principle, the device quite accurately calculates steps and average distance. To say that it is completely reliable is to lie. However, this error is insignificant (5-10%, according to my observations).

If you attach Band 4 to your leg, during training the bracelet will analyze the efficiency of your running. However, it will still not be very clear what to do to improve running efficiency. The application does not display any additional notifications with expanded messages.

In addition to steps and distance covered, the bracelet can count calories. The analysis of calories burned is carried out automatically, and most likely does not correspond very accurately to reality. At the very least, the data from the bracelet differs from the performance of the exercise equipment in the gym. Perhaps the bracelet is better suited for outdoor sports.

Honor Band 4 Running left controversial impressions. This is the simplest and most commonplace tracker that analyzes user activity. There are a lot of competitors, both in price and in capabilities. It's hard for me to say why you might choose this device at the current price. Any other fitness bracelet in this segment can do similar things.

6 out of 10.

ilya_p

Wrist use

To use the tracker in wrist mode, you simply need to put it on the strap.

We found that the capsule was quite loose in its place and, therefore, it jumped out of the strap several times. In other cases, on the contrary, we had to slightly bend the strap several times in order for the capsule to pop out of its recess. This lack of a secure fit can be a problem for people who use the tracker during training.

Despite this, the strap is quite comfortable. It has multiple holes on both sides for ventilation, preventing discomfort during long workouts. The strap has a standard watch clasp, which ensures that the strap will never fall off your wrist.

Specifications

Honor Band 4
Date of issue	September 2021
Official price	US$29
Color options	Black, blue, pink
Screen size	0.95 inch
Screen type	AMOLED
Permission	240x120 pixels
CPU	Apple 3
operating system	Native OS
RAM	384 KB
Built-in memory	16 MB
Connection	Bluetooth 4.2LE
Sensors	6-axis acceleration sensor, optical heart rate sensor, infrared sensor
Battery	100 mAh
Autonomy	Up to 14 days of normal use, up to 6 days with heart rate tracking
Dimensions	43×17.2×11.5 (body)
Weight	23 grams

Wearing attached to shoes

Honor Band 4 Running Edition comes with an accessory that allows you to attach the capsule to your shoes. You simply need to slide the device under the laces and attach the capsule to it. The capsule snaps easily and remains motionless. At the top of the capsule, there are two metal contacts and two more on the accessory.

You must make sure that both of these pins are firmly connected when connecting the parts so that the tracker will automatically switch to foot mode. It will vibrate to let you know it has happened.

It is important to note that the capsule can be attached incorrectly. We'd like a mechanism designed to be installed only one way, but if you accidentally dislodge the capsule, you'll at least know it's happening because there's no vibration.

Functional

During the review of Honor Band 4 Running, it was noted that the sports bracelet supports more than 20 functions. The device is equipped with the latest six-axis sensor that tracks body position using seven different activity indicators. The advanced monitoring algorithm developed by Huawei and CICC provides record accuracy during a run (more than 97%). The main functions of the device include:

distance. Honor Band 4 Running provides an accurate overview of the distance covered, showing data in km;
calories. The miniature device tracks information from the pedometer and calculates the number of calories burned;
alarm. The functionality of the device is represented by five vibration-type alarm clocks;
pedometer. Accurate counting of the number of steps taken by the owner per day;
dream. Monitoring the phases and timing of sleep, determining the right time for useful rest.

Performance in wrist-worn mode

To test the accuracy of the Honor Band 4 Running Edition, we ran our standard tests while wearing it on our wrist. The first test is a walk of 1000 steps with manual counting to ensure the accuracy of step tracking on the device.

The Honor Band 4 Running Edition recorded 986 steps when we walked 1000. We have tested many other products using the same process and the best ones do not show deviations of more than five steps. A deviation of 14 steps from 1000 may not seem like much, but compared to other products, this model definitely lags behind.

This is made worse by the fact that if you wear this device on your wrist, you won't be able to track your current workouts. You can only use it to count the steps taken.

Functions

What Honor Band 4 Running Edition can do:

Steps. Accurately counts the number of steps taken per day;
Distance. Shows the distance covered in kilometers;
Calories. Analyzes data from the pedometer and counts burned calories;
Dream. Tracks the time and phases of sleep, determines the correct rest time;
Alarm. The bracelet supports 5 vibration alarms.

The tracker also displays notifications from your smartphone, information about missed calls, received SMS, etc. But! The application will help you to fully use the functionality.

Download and install the proprietary Huawei Health application on your smartphone. The program also records data from meters and analyzes the information. The user can view the indicators at any convenient time.

Performance in leg-worn mode

Once you switch to wearable mode, the tracker allows you to start or stop tracking your running workout.

The capsule can be quickly removed from the tape and transferred to an accessory to attach it to shoes

When you do this, you will only be able to see the distance and time traveled. We believe the tracker should allow people to see the number of steps taken when logging their mileage. It records this data, but you won't be able to see it until you return to wrist mode or check the app on your paired smartphone.

If you're looking for an affordable running tracker, the Honor Band 4 Running Edition won't disappoint. We ran 1km with the tracker attached to one of our shoes to see how accurately it could measure distance. We measured a certain route using an odometer on a car and know that it is 1 km long.

Even though it doesn't have GPS, the Honor Band 4 Running Edition showed a distance of 1.04 km at the end of our route. This is more accurate than most GPS-enabled devices we've tested and marginally worse than the best devices, which report a distance of 1.02 km or 1.03 km.

Honor Band 4 and Band 4 Running Edition - fitness bracelets with NFC and OLED

Honor Band 4 and Band 4 Running Edition are new fitness bracelets with a number of interesting features that allow you to train better and track your own body parameters. Fitness trackers were presented along with the new mid-range Honor 8X and Honor 8X Max. The new products have a number of new and interesting features that can set them apart from similar ones in their price segment.

The regular Honor Band 4 brought a color AMOLED display with the ability to display up to 45 characters, the diagonal of which is 0.95 inches. The most notable feature is its support for continuous heart rate monitoring, unlike most other similar devices that monitor heart rate at time intervals. The full diagram can be found in the appendix. If the heart rate increases, the fitness tracker will notify the user about this. At night, an infrared sensor is used for control. To improve tracking accuracy, a larger sensor was installed to cover a larger area of skin.

In addition, there is an NFC module (most likely, it only works in China) and support for a large number of activity recognition, including swimming. The case is protected from water and dust with the ability to dive up to 50 meters. The dimensions of the device are 43 x 17.2 x 11.5 mm, and the weight is 23 grams. The built-in 100 mAh battery can provide up to 6 days of autonomy with continuous heart rate measurement or up to 14 days with continuous monitoring disabled.

In turn, the Honor Band 4 Running Edition differs from the usual version by the presence of a monochrome POLED display, a 77 mAh battery and the absence of a continuous heart rate sensor and NFC. Despite the reduced battery capacity, the charge lasts for 20 days. In addition to traditional wear on the wrist, the manufacturer offers to attach the device to shoes.

New items connect to other devices running iOS 9 and Android 4.4 and higher using Bluetooth 4.2. The Honor Band 4 in pink, black and blue is priced at 199 yuan, while the Honor Band 4 Running Edition in black, blue, red, green, pink and yellow costs 99 yuan. The wearable devices will go on sale on September 20.

But now you can pre-order on AliExpress and be among the first to receive a new bracelet:

buy Honor Band 4 for $34.99 - Store
buy Honor Band 4 Running Edition for $20.99 - Store

The bracelets are available in all colors and at the most interesting price at the time of pre-order:

Waterproof and battery life

It's good to see that this product is said to be waterproof (up to 50m), because if you accidentally step in a puddle or want to run while it's raining, you don't have to worry. Honor recommends not exposing this product to seawater to avoid corrosion of the metal contacts.

During our review, we wore the Honor Band 4 Running Edition on our wrist while showering several times, and also submerged it in a bucket of water. The tracker passed all these tests successfully, without consequences. Honor claims this product has a battery life of up to 21 days, but with notifications turned on, we found the battery drained after eight days.

This won't bother most people, but we think it's a drawback given the tracker's limited functionality.

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Message Honor Band 4 Running with phone

Similar to the Honor Band 4 model, the fitness bracelet needs to be connected to the phone via Bluetooth. This can be done through the Health application, which is available in the Google Play app store. The sparring procedure is simple and does not cause problems. When creating a user profile in Health, you need to enter standard characteristics - age, weight and height - which can help you roughly determine your step size, the number of calories burned, and other parameters.

On-wrist mode

Honor Band 4 Running Edition is equipped with a small monochrome P-OLED display with a diagonal of 0.5 inches. The screen is not touch-sensitive, so the touch button located under the display is used for control. When worn on the hand, the gadget is inserted into a thermopolyurethane strap with ventilation holes. To do this, you need to place the device capsule under the strap and press it so that it fits into a special frame. To remove the tracker, you need to take the strap and press down on the Honor Band 4 Running Edition display. At first glance, it seems that the tracker is attached securely. And in fact this is not entirely true. The frame itself on the strap where the capsule is inserted is not rigid, so if you “bend” the bracelet at the edges, the capsule will fall out. This happened several times during testing.

You need to raise your wrists to turn the screen on, lower your wrists to turn it off, and rotate your wrists to switch between picture modes. In total, the display has 7 modes. The first standard screen shows the time, date, day of the week, battery charge and Bluetooth connectivity. The second mode is the number of steps taken per day, the third is the distance traveled, the fourth is the number of hours of sleep. The fifth allows you to launch the smartphone search function. To do this, after switching the display to the above-mentioned mode, you need to press the touch button and hold it for several seconds - then the smartphone, if it is in Bluetooth communication range, will start playing a melody even when it is in silent mode. Another mode shows the time spent standing for half a day (in general, here the tracker produces information of dubious quality and usefulness). And in the last display mode, you can adjust the brightness, turn off the bracelet, or display the model name. To do this, you need, again, to hold the touch button for a few seconds.

In “on the wrist” mode, Honor Band 4 Running supports several useful functions: vibration notification and an icon on the display about an incoming call, similar message notifications via messenger, email or any other selected software applications. Plus, you can't "drop" an incoming phone call or view the contents of a message with this model: you only receive a notification.

Honor Band 4 Running is also capable of working as a vibration alarm (which is configured in the Health software application), reporting when a goal has been reached, and also signaling when the Bluetooth connection is broken. It should be noted that the tracker quite accurately counts the number of steps taken if it is a standard walk. During testing, the error was literally 2-4%. But, of course, the device can be fooled by, for example, waving your hands.

Similar to the Honor Band 4, the Running model also estimates sleep duration. But unlike the older version, the sleep monitoring function here does not work very correctly.

On-foot mode

As noted above, the functionality of the Running version is very limited in comparison with its “big brother”. And this is probably not surprising, since the main highlight of the Honor Band 4 Running is the ability to fix it on the leg to monitor activity while running.

The device is equipped with a six-axis sensor that tracks seven different activity parameters: foot strike, degree of underfoot, stride length, cadence (the frequency with which your feet touch the ground while running) and duration of contact with the surface.

The delivery set includes a special plastic bracket for attaching to shoes. Thread it under your shoe laces, then squeeze the fitness tracker capsule from the strap and insert it into this bracket. In on-foot mode, the device only counts steps; any other functions, such as displaying the time and date, notifications of incoming calls or messages, are turned off. It is worth noting that the mount is very reliable, the user can safely run, jump, play tennis or basketball - the gadget will not fall off his feet. Of course, it is not recommended to play football, because you can destroy both the fitness tracker and the fixation bracket.

Thanks to this technology, the gadget tracks activity more accurately, since it does not confuse steps with hand waves. The Independent Running feature allows you to accumulate running data while leaving your phone at home or in the locker room of a fitness club. To synchronize information, just launch the Health application on your smartphone.

Application for Honor Band 4 Running Edition

The Huawei Health app , a companion app for the Honor Band 4 Running Edition, shows data that you won't get with most other fitness trackers. (You can download the Huawei Health app for free here...)

For example, based on the specifics of our running, the app suggested that we could reduce ground contact time and avoid landing on our heels to improve running form and reduce injuries. The analysis was accurate because we tend to land on our heels.

The high ground contact time basically means that we land hard while testing the walking mode of the Honor Band 4 Running Edition. This data is also accurate because this test was carried out immediately after we had completed a relatively fast kilometer run in the heat, which meant that we were tired and almost strained our legs.

The app displays your previous workout data in neat bar graphs and we think it's quite nicely designed. If you want, you can use the Huawei Health app to track your location while exercising (using your phone's GPS), but there are several other apps that do this better than Huawei Health.

Once you pair Honor Band 4 Running Edition with your smartphone, you will receive a vibration notification and icon on the device screen when you receive a phone call or SMS. You can also set an alarm through the app. These features work, simply, perfectly, but the small screen of the Honor Band 4 Running Edition is a big limitation.

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Review of the Huawei Honor Band 4 Running fitness tracker

This version can be attached to shoes. The release of the fitness tracker took place in 2021.

Appearance and ergonomics

The smart device has a beautiful appearance and low weight (22 g). During use, the watch is practically not felt on the hand. The tracker looks similar to previous models. Its design has undergone changes. Among the different strap options, you can choose the one that suits you.

The case is made of plastic, and the bracelet is made of silicone. The gadget is available in yellow, blue, pink, green and red colors. Its width is 17.2 mm, height is 43 mm, and thickness is 11.5 mm.

Display

The classic version of the watch has a larger display than the Honor Band. Its size is 0.5 inches smaller. The screen of the Honor Band 4 Running Edition smart device transmits data in black and white.

The display is made using POLED technology. You will have to remove fingerprints from the screen, since it is not touch-sensitive. The pedometer is controlled using a button located in the lower area of the gadget.

With a smart watch you can dive into water up to 50 m deep. Thanks to special protection, they will not be damaged by dust and moisture.

Huawei Honor display.

Connection

Bluetooth LE 4.2 is used to control the tracker wirelessly. You may receive notifications on your phone. When calls and messages arrive on your smartphone, the watch vibrates. The display is launched by moving your hand due to the fact that the gadget supports a gesture system.

Autonomy and battery

In a fitness bracelet, the battery capacity is less than in the classic version of a smartwatch. The indicator is 77 mAh. With continuous use, charging the gadget will last for 12 days. When operating in standby mode, capacity restoration will be required after 20 days.

Design and ergonomics

No fancy details or special style solutions - Honor Band 4 follows the path of minimalism and practicality. The tracker's flat capsule is housed in a simple, pleasant-to-touch silicone strap. Due to the absence of convex surfaces, Honor Band 4 does not cling to clothing and looks equally harmonious with both a sports uniform and a business suit. In addition, the strap has several levels of adjustment, so that not only an adult, but also a child can wear it.

The design feature is the screen material. Unlike its competitors, Honor Band 4 uses durable tempered glass. Even with less than careful use, this screen will not leave scratches or abrasions. Moreover, glass can withstand being dropped onto concrete and metal surfaces.

The gadget is perfect for water sports enthusiasts. It is built according to the WR50 protection standard, so it can be dived to a depth of up to 50 meters. During the swim, Honor Band 4 will recognize the swimming style and speed.