HTC targets fitness fanatics with its first wearable, the HTC Re Grip
You can’t throw a smartphone in a Best Buy without establishing a Bluetooth connection with some kind of fitness tracker, so when HTC decided to enter the wearables market, it wanted to be sure it stood out. The result: The HTC Re Grip, a smart band aimed at runners and gym-goers.
The band is one part fitness tracker, one part GPS band and one part smartwatch. It resembles a Nike+ FuelBand, with a similar low-res display built into the band. But the Grip is larger, more ruggedized and actually more comfortable.
I only wore the Re Grip for a few minutes, and not continuously as I exercised (as it’s intended), but I preferred it to the FuelBand’s more rigid exterior, and was able to type while wearing the HTC wearable with no problems.
The neon yellow color on the inside of the band is a dead giveaway that the the Grip is a sports tracker, and the device is equipped with sensors to measure your movements for various activities (running, cycling, etc.). Importantly, it has built-in GPS so it can track your location when your smartphone isn’t close by — runners especially will find that feature useful.
Of course, any tracking wearable needs an accompanying app, and HTC decided not to start from scratch and instead partnered with Under Armour to take advantage of its platform, a partnership announced back in January. The UA Record app is on iOS, Android and the web, although it isn’t integrated with Apple Health or Google Fit… at least not yet.
The HTC Re Grip works with the UA Record app, made by Under Armour, on iOS and Android.
Image: Under Armour
HTC opted not to include a heart-rate monitor on the Re Grip for a simple reason: The company doesn’t think wrist monitors are very accurate. For the sports enthusiast, that accuracy is important, and HTC recommends third-party chest straps.
HTC emphasizes that the Grip is intended to be a powerful and durable tracker even when your phone is nowhere near it, boasting 2.5 days of battery life when GPS is turned off, and 5 hours when it’s on. Even though the band doesn’t need your smartphone, it’s even more useful when it’s close, displaying call and text notifications on the 1.8-inch PMOLED screen as they come in.
The HTC Re Grip comes in three sizes to accommodate all kinds of wrists.
Image: Mashable, William Sands
Of course the band is waterproof with an IP57 rating, meaning it can be immersed in 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. It’s available in three sizes to accommodate a variety of wrists.
The Re Grip is the second product to fall under the Re sub-brand, which is a key focus for the company as it looks to finally stop struggling and fully break out of its niche. HTC strongly hints that several more Re products are in the pipeline, and the Re Camera may get a rebrand at some point so its name is less functional.
As for the Re Grip, it looks and feels like a strong first step into the wearables market, although by picking the most conventional of products (a tracking band) it’s still a baby step. We look forward to the ecosystem growing.
BONUS: HTC’s new flagship smartphone, the HTC One M9
Hands on with the HTC One M9
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The new One
The HTC One M9 has a similar design to last year’s HTC One M8, although there are slight differences in the contours and buttons. The biggest change, however, is the camera: HTC ditched its “ultrapixel” camera in the rear imager, replacing it with a more conventional 20-megapixel shooter.
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Two colors
The HTC One M9 comes in dark gray and silver finishes.
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No depth sensor
The HTC One M9 drops the depth sensor of the M8, which helped the camera perform photographic trickery like altering the focus after a shot was taken. That’s all done with software now.
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HTC Sense 7
HTC’s Android skin, HTC Sense 7, can now surface apps that you use the most in specific locations.
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