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Withings Pulse
80
Engadget Review
Withings has crafted an excellent piece of hardware that might actually beat the Fitbit One at its own game. We just wish the company would add more motivational tools to its companion app.
Daniel CooperAugust 16, 2013
Pros
- Small and unobtrusive
- Excellent battery life
Cons
- Heart rate tracking will be a gimmick for most
- Rubberized coating chips easily
- Companion app offers little in the way of motivation
View All Critic & User Reviews
Withings Pulse
- Critic Reviews (11)
- User Reviews (16)
- 84AVERAGE CRITIC SCORE11 ReviewsEngadget80Withings Pulse reviewAs you may have gathered, we generally like the Pulse, but it has some problems that could ultimately hamper its success.Laptop Magazine80Withings Pulse ReviewWhile we wish it were easier to view the Pulse's screen through the wristband, this little device does more--and costs less--than the competition.Wired80Withings Pulse You’re Going to Need a Better MemIt’s a solid choice, and it has many strengths. Having said that, it’s not my current favorite, due entirely to the fact that it is an attachable device, not a wearable device.TechCrunch90The Withings Pulse Is A Step Closer To Activity TrThe Withings Pulse is probably the best available option in fitness trackers, but that might depend on how you want to wear one.Gizmodo90Withings Pulse Review: Lots of Data In a Little PaAssuming you have a newer phone that it will work with (check compatibility before you buy), then you should at least consider it. It's a really nice piece of hardware, and it gives you more metrics than just about any other tracker.CNET80Tiny wireless pedometer with heartDespite a few design quibbles, the Withings Pulse is one of the best wireless pedometers to date.PC Mag90Withings PulseThe Withings Pulse takes everything you love about existing top-notch activity trackers and adds a nifty built-in heart rate sensor, giving you a more comprehensive picture of your overall health.EngadgetNot RatedWithings Pulse hands-onObviously it's going to be hard to pass judgement on the Pulse after just a few short minutes handling it, but it definitely shows promise.EngadgetNot RatedWithings goes after Fitbit with its pulse-readingThe company may find comparisons with the Fitbit One uncomfortable, but the two devices really do feel like they're from the same family ... The biggest difference is the built-in pulse monitor, which requires you to jam a finger onto a sensor based on the underside of the device.GizmodoNot RatedHands-on with a Seriously Next-Level Activity TracIt's an odd little shaped device in that it's kind of like Apple's iPod Shuffle ... Most of the functions are cycled through using the button at the top but you can cycle through previous days recorded steps and the like by swiping from left to right.Pocket-Lint80Withings Pulse activity tracker reviewWe've seen the highs of Pulse, of which there are plenty, but we've also seen the lows when it's refused to read our heart rate, run out of battery mid-day in our pockets, been forgotten about, misplaced, or just inaccurate based on our activities.TechHive70Review: Withings Pulse shows heartFor the most part, though, while the Pulse feels different from the Fitbit Zip I love, I can’t say that it’s better. If you don’t mind missing out on the vibrant social community that Fitbit offers, the Pulse is a fine option.SlashGearNot RatedWithings Pulse hands-onThere’s a lot to like about the Pulse, such as being freed from the need to wear a wristband – unless you’re sleeping, in which case you can slip the device into a bundled wrist strap to use its sleep-quality monitoring feature.iLounge90Withings Pulse Activity TrackerWe can easily say that Pulse is the best consumer-level fitness tracking tool we’ve yet tested. It’s an unobtrusive accessory that looks great, and presents useful data in an easy and fun-to-access way.UbergizmoNot RatedWithings Smart Activity TrackerSomething tells me that those who pick up this puppy might actually lose it all too easily, considering the super small dimensions and near non-existent weight.TrustedReviews90Withings Pulse reviewThe Withings Pulse packs a lot into such a small body. It’s so easy to use, has a great battery life and has the unique features that make it the best fitness tracking device to buy right now.
- 71AVERAGE USER SCORE16 ReviewsEngadget Reader60April 30, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I love the Pulse, it has tons of features. The major downside is durability, it's my 4th Pulse in a year!Engadget Reader40December 29, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!This is a toy, and not a very well designed one. Just get a fitbit and avoid the hassle.Engadget Reader70November 27, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A dependable product that doesn't really stand out from the competition. - EngadgetEngadget Reader80November 17, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The HR monitor is a great feature (would love if it can measure HR during sleep). Goals cannot be edited. There is noticeable lag between button presses and the display. BT syncing with iOS is very slow.Engadget Reader80October 8, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I was excited for this product simply because I use a Withings Body Scale, and I had a strong desire to contain all my data in that app. Plus, after looking at things like the Fitbit and the Fuel Band, I realized I wanted something to measure pulse and sleep in one device, and this is that device. As a tracker, it works flawlessly. It measures my steps and elevation, calories burned, and reports all this to the Withings apps (on phones, tablets, and the web). The pulse measuring can be a little tricky from time to time, but overall it seems to be accurate. The sleep measuring is what you'd expect. Battery life is about two weeks, but account for the "new device factor" if you buy one - when you first get it, you'll be looking at it all the time, but after the novelty settles down, you'll have a solid 1.5-2 weeks between charges. My only major gripe is the belt clip. Over time, it seems to lose its shape/hold on the Pulse, and there's concern about the Pulse slipping out of it. Well, it happened to me; it popped out and right into the toilet. Withings was gracious enough to give me a brand new one as an exception, but I don't rely on the belt clip anymore.wayneis50September 14, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I really tried hard to like my Withings Pulse. I have a Fitbit Ultra and used it at the same time for a comparison.The good bits First. Small compact light and when it worked the Bluetooth transfer along with extended battery life able to use for 7 days no problems. In the sunlight same problem as the Fitbit Ultra you can not read the data screen at all you need some shade. The carry 'pouch/clip) stays clipped on however at times due to the rubber design and small lips at both ends I found that the device would pop out of the holder, only happened a few times. The pulse reading I found at times semi accurate, its a novelty addition, I have the Withings WS-50 scale and would find that pulse readings differ on both products.For the Bad part WITHINGS get your act together.....your customer support is non existent, to the point that there are many articles all over the web stating the same. I have written 3 emails over a 4 day period trying to sought out why my Pulse device will no longer sync and no response. This brings me to the most annoying feature. The Pulse has stopped syncing, there by making the device useless. My ipad and the Pulse will both hook up and indicate that a transfer is/has taken place however no data transferred. This problem happened after the last firmware update. SO if your device is working and your asked to do an update DONT. obviously there is a bug in the firmware. Great Device when it works let down by lack of support from withings and a Bluetooth sync issue. NOTE I tried Pulse on Android would not sync and also uninstalled the Withings Health App and also restarted the Pulse ( Hold button on for 15 sec) No luck so if any one has had a similar issue and been able to solve it please let us all know. I have my Fitbit Ultra still slogging along for over a year and have to give the Pulse 2 stars . Had the bluetooth issue been soughted would give it 4 stars however as it is its pretty much useless. Very Disappointed.Engadget Reader70September 9, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A dependable product that doesn't really stand out from the competition. - EngadgetEngadget Reader70August 19, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I really wanted to like this device. It is less expensive than the competition, and I know Withings is capable of a quality device (I own one of their scales, and it is spectacular. However, the unit has terrible battery life. Advertised at two weeks, I'm lucky to get 4 or 5 days. Also, the automatic run logging is inconsistent--as anyone that has tracked fitness before knows, if you're bothering to do it, you'd like it to be accurate. Plus, there's no way to manually edit anything, as far as I can tell. All in all, I'd rate it on par with the Fitbit devices, and a little lower than the Jawbone UP. None of them have made me truly happy, though.Engadget Reader30August 15, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A poor product that's more likely to be frustrating than useful. - EngadgetEngadget Reader100August 3, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A gadget unicorn - EngadgetEngadget Reader90July 26, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!When I first received the Pulse I was excited to get to using it, however the first one I got had issues. After many emails with Withings they sent me a new one and things have been pretty good so far.Immediately you recognize how nice it is to use when you turn it on. The OLED screen is clear, bright, and very easy to read. Being able to swipe to view past history is a nice feature and a very easy way to see if your activity is on point or your fallen behind other days.The Pulse is small but the included belt clip is really secure, more so than the one I had for my FitBit. The clasp is metal but doesn't easily flex or bend when under pressure. I've taken this on three runs now and each time I never noticed it was there, nor did it every fall off. It's not going to fully replace a proper watch or HRM, but being able to track an activity without needing to switch devices is nice.The sleep tracking is great and it's something I try to use frequently. The watch strap is a little uncomfortable but over all it works just fine. My one complaint is the mesh felt over the display, I wish it wasn't there honestly. It makes it a little difficult to engage with the Pulse while it's in the slip and it obstructs the information. I kind of wish they made it a clear plastic or nothing even, this way it could double as a watch strap for running.The one feature I absolutely love is the built in HRM. It takes about 5 seconds, maybe a bit more, for the Pulse to register you resting heart rate. This is something that is actually nice to have at your fingertips (HA) to gauge how your fitness level is. A good resting heart rate is an easy sign of someone who is active. So it's been fun to see how low I can get my heart rate while sitting at my desk.How far Withings has come with their website and app is amazing. When I first got my scale it used a really really poorly designed site, but the newer (and in beta) HealthMate, http://healthmate.withings.com, site is really nice. The app is even nicer and it's great to use to quickly see all the information.Bluetooth sync for the most part works and without a hitch. My original issue with the Pulse was with syncing but I was given a pre-production model, according to reps, and since the newer one has come through there have been no issues. You just hold down the button for 3 seconds and a sync kicks off. I have not noticed any considerable battery drain either with Bluetooth always being on so don't worry about that.One thing I would like to see implemented in a future release is something to take advantage of how it can tell when you're running or not. Something like pace would be nice to look at.What the Pulse can't do that something like the FitBit offers is a friends feature. If this is something you value then you may not like the Pulse, but as someone who doesn't care about that I'm a-ok without it. However like FitBit, Withings also integrates with a ton of services so you can have it be your main hub to look at food (MyFitnessPal) and activity (Endomondo or RunKeeper).If you already own a FitBit, Up, or FuelBand and you're happy with them then there is no need for you to rush out and buy this. If you are unhappy with your activity device, or you've been wanting one, I think at $99 you can't go wrong with the Pulse. The design, feel, use, and features really are great and I think it's really going to give a nice challenge to FitBit.Engadget Reader60July 26, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A forgettable product. It isn't bad, exactly, but also doesn't do anything particularly well. - EngadgetEngadget Reader90July 24, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader60July 22, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I wanted to like this device, I was trying to convince myself that it was better than the Fitbit One, but it just can't beat 4 years and 3 revisions of experience. I own the Withings Smart Scale Which is amazing, and I wanted to keep within that ecosystem, but it isn't cutting it.I owned both the Pulse and the One at the same time for a few days and I had my gripes with both, but the Fitbit won in the end. I will list how the Withings is better:- Easy to slip in and out of the belt clip- Touchscreen and history is a great addition.- Bluetooth 2.0 support, no need for a dongle for your PC. (I own an Android)- The heart rate monitor is a neat feature, but it is nothing my phone can't do.- Micro USB charging is convenient and you don't need a proprietary device to charge.- Elevation is measured in feet, and not floors.- The battery life is impressive, but isn't any better than the Fitbit One. I never went over a week without the "20%" notification popping up.Now I will list its drawbacks from the One:- The overall build quality feels cheaper.- Belt clip is not as tight and it HAS disconnected from my body a couple times.- Soft touch plastic scratches way to easy.- No vibrate function, which is honestly very handy with my Fitbit.- No right/left handed options. So when it it clipped on your right side the display is upside down. - No way to calibrate your stride.** 8 Aug 2013 - I don't know if the Fitbit does this, but I lost an entire day of activity because my Pulse didn't turn off of sleep mode. I think that this device would benefit from a firmware update that would automatically turn off sleep mode when it detects steps for a certain amount of time. I was running around airports all day and noticed tonight that I slept for 22 hours...Sure the ability to view history and take your pulse is neat, but those functions are rendered obsolete when you are using the device with a smartphone. I can view history on my phone, take my pulse, track my diet, and much more. Fitness trackers are made to show you how active you are in the day and night. At the end of the day, Fitbit has a much more refined product. Sure it isn't compatible with USB 2.0, but the Fitbit can be synced using the computer. I spend hours of my day next to a computer, and syncing is no problem. Just not immediate.It's the small things that the Withings wins in, but that's what they are, small things. Fitbit has used their experience in the fitness market and made a great upgrade to the older devices that were already fantastic. Maybe Withings will come out with a armband that will blow things out of the water.Engadget Reader90July 15, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Having tried a couple of fitness trackers, all from FitBit, Withings' Pulse is the first one I actually like. FitBit's Flex was a good concept, but failed in its execution. The FitBit Ultra was a great little gadget, but its wonky syncing requirements kept me from using it to its full potential.The Pulse, on the other hand, offers everything I could need. It syncs with my phone over Bluetooth, and it has the basics - an altimeter, pedometer, and sleep tracking. But, it also has a few extras - an OLED touchscreen, a heart rate monitor that works surprisingly well, and history tracking on-device. It comes with a silicone holder with a study clip that is meant for clipping onto a pocket or belt. It also comes with a very soft/comfortable band for wearing around the wrist while sleeping. The battery life is fantastic (two weeks per charge), and it seems very accurate.Withings' HealthMate companion app is great, and although it doesn't have the social features that characterize FitBit, it displays beautiful graphs and statistics about your movement/sleep habits. It's very easy to use and read.If you're tired of your FitBit, Jawbone UP, Nike Fuelband, or have never tried a fitness tracker, I highly recommend the Withings Pulse. I use the heart rate monitor far more than I ever thought I would, and rest of the device's functions are very well designed. Plus, Withings has great customer support. How could you go wrong?Engadget Reader100July 9, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A gadget unicorn - Engadget
Key Specs
TYPE
Wearable / clip-on
TRACKING METRICS
Motion, Distance, Heart rate, Calories, Sleep
DISPLAY
Yes
BATTERY LIFE
Up to 1414
MEDIA PLAYBACK CONTROLS
No
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