Microsoft Band

usability, comfort, price, size, performance

image quality

78% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Bright, easy-to-read screen ; Custom workouts a unique addition ; Consistent experience across mobile platforms

Ugly and uncomfortable to wear ; Fiddly to review progress during tracking ; App doesn't display all sensor data

The Microsoft Band is an activity tracker that puts innovation ahead of ergonomics. Unwearable tech, if you will.

Works on iOS, Android and Windows Phone ; Lots of data, thanks to a raft of sensors ; App has a clean design and shows promise ; Connects to Cortana on Windows Phone ; Guided workouts are extremely helpful

Hardware is uncomfortable and poorly designed ; Microsoft Health is mostly promise ; Smartwatch-like battery life ; Does too many things, many of them poorly ; Seriously, the Band is really uncomfortable

If Microsoft Health ever lives up to its ambitious goals, it could be game-changing. But right now, the Microsoft Band is the only device available for it. And the Band seems more like a prototype than a consumer device. It's bulky, uncomfortable and...

Comfortable ; Sensor-rich ; Decent battery life

Microsoft Health app needs work ; Expensive ; Design is forgettable

The Microsoft Band has the potential to be the best fitness tracker, but the lack of apps and its overhyped Health platform aren't quite there yet.

More functionality than rivals ; Guided Workouts are great ; Lots of data via the app

A bit uncomfortable; very ugly ; Some HR accuracy issues ; Several pointless sensors

Packed full of features. Tracks steps, workouts, runs, calories burned, heart rate, sleep. Includes some smartwatch functionality. Customizable screen.

Wildly uncomfortable. Not suitable for petite people. Lackluster app. Touch screen is difficult to manipulate while in motion. No tracking for bicycling. Requires a mobile phone; currently no computer syncing or Web interface. Lacks calorie-logging...

One benefit of the Microsoft Band, however, is that it also tracks distance, and distance is a far easier metric to verify than steps. Stride length and other factors make steps-per-mile vary wildly from person to person, but at least with a mileage or...

Collects a tremendous amount of data ; Guided workouts are awesome ; Simple, easy navigation ; Cross-platform support is crucial

Not enough battery life ; No waterproof = no good ; What am I supposed to do with all this data? ; Big, bulky, and expensive

Heart rate, UV light and skin temperature monitoring sensors on board for accuracy; built-in GPS can track your runs or bike rides so you don’t have to take your phone with you; communication apps give you smartwatch functionality; iOS, Android and...

Clunky and unattractive design which can be painful to wear, especially at first; short battery life means you’ll not be able to wear it 24/7 as suggested; pricey for a fitness tracker but probably more suited to the sportswatch or training aid sector;...

The Microsoft Band is a good product in part, if strangely branded. Microsoft calls it a fitness tracker but its best use is far beyond that. The company also claims that it is a 24/7 device, but its battery life and clunky size belie that ambition.