Not just the Apple Watch! 8 best buys of "smart band" which was a good harvest in 2021

When you want a smartwatch, many people imagine high-end products such as Apple's "Apple Watch" series. However, the genre called "smart band" cannot be overlooked as a cheaper option. These are by no means novel products, but the global market size has been expanding in the last few years, partly due to the effects of the prolonged self-restraint period and heightened health awareness. Especially in 2021, I got the impression that sophisticated smart bands were developed by many manufacturers.

In this article, we will pick up and introduce notable products from the smart bands released in 2021. I can't afford a smartwatch that costs more than 40,000 yen like the Apple Watch, but maybe I can get it from 5,000 yen to 20,000 yen ... If you are such a person, please check it out.

In Japan, about 1 in 10 smartphone users use it.

First, let's touch on market trends. According to a press release released by MM Research Institute in September 2021, domestic sales of smart watches (including wristband products) in FY2020 were 2.294 million units, an increase of 19.9% ​​from the previous year. According to a web survey conducted by the company, the usage rate of smartwatch bands accounted for 9.4% of smartphone users. It feels like one in ten people is using it.

According to the release, Apple has the largest share of sales in the domestic market, followed by Fibit, followed by Garmin, HUAWEI, Samsung, and others. Below, we will introduce notable products for each major manufacturer and brand.

Since the line between smartwatches and smartbands is very vague, this article also introduces some products branded by manufacturers as smartwatches as an extension of smartwatches.

[Part 1] [Part 2] Fitbit, which has the largest market share

As mentioned above, Fitbit has the second largest market share in the smartwatch market after Apple. Speaking of smart bands alone, excluding watch types, the company may be said to be a substantial major manufacturer. With the acquisition of the company by Google in January 2021, it has become a brand that is paying attention to future trends.

In 2021, the "Fitbit Charge 4" (about 20,000 yen, the price is tax-included and basically the information at the time of release, the same applies below) and "Fitbit Charge 5" (24,900 yen) compatible with Suica, And the "Fitbit Luxe" (17,990 yen), which prioritizes luxury comfort, has been released. I feel that it is the leading brand in smart bands that is creating representative trends such as Suica support, luxury production, and products for children.

[Part 3] [Part 4] [Part 5] HUAWEI with excellent quality

Garmin, which had the third largest share of smart watches, is a brand that specializes in sports watches. From the perspective of the smart band that we are going to discuss this time, the next thing to pay attention to is HUAWEI.

In particular, pay attention to the "HUAWEI WATCH FIT" series equipped with a vertically long display developed by the company. As you can see from the product name, it is treated as a "smart watch", but the design is close to that of a smart band, and the functions are upward compatible. When talking about smart bands, we cannot help talking about this.

Above all, the impression that "HUAWEI WATCH FIT Elegant" released in April 2021 was of high quality. The strap is made of fluoroelastomer, which is familiar to Apple Watch series bands, and it is extremely comfortable to wear. The estimated market price is 19,800 yen (tax included), and the cost performance is also good. Furthermore, in December, the "HUAWEI WATCH FIT mini" (19,800 yen including tax), which allows you to select a leather band, was introduced.

Also, as a cheaper option, pay attention to "HUAWEI Band 6" (released in May, 8580 yen including tax). This is a product that can be called a smart band without a doubt. There are some parts that are inferior to the HUAWEI WATCH FIT series, but it is worth considering if cost is important.

By the way, the company also has sharp products such as "HUAWEI TalkBand B6" (released in July), which uses a smart band as a headset, and "HUAWEI Band 4e" (released in February), which can be fixed to shoes to measure running data. We are energetically developing. The company's domestic expansion of smartphones has slowed down due to political circumstances, but it seems that its presence in the peripheral device market such as smart bands is growing.

[Part 6] [Part 7] New OPPO attacking at COSPA

OPPO is a brand that has been steadily developing in the Japanese smartphone market to replace HUAWEI. And, as the company's first smart band "OPPO Band Style" was released for the Japanese market in April, it has become a remarkable presence in the peripheral device market from 2021.

The biggest feature of OPPO Band Style is the price below 5,000 yen. Still, the cost performance is high, such as including two types of straps. Of course, there is a price-appropriate part, but it is well worth considering if cost is the top priority.

Also, in December, "OPPO Watch Free" equipped with sleep monitoring will be released. This is a smartwatch with a portrait display, which has a large display of 1.64 inches. Whether or not it can be called a "smart band" is the last line, but I also want to check it.

[Part 8] Xiaomi, which is already a standard in the low price range

Xiaomi is a rival of OPPO. It can be said that the company is side by side not only in smartphones but also in the smart band market due to its price. However, the company was originally a manufacturer specializing in home appliances, and Xiaomi was ahead of OPPO in the domestic smart band market. Specifically, the "Mi Smart Band" series has been deployed for several years.

In the same series, "Mi Smart Band 5" (4490 yen including tax) was released in January 2021, and "Mi Smart Band 6" (5990 yen including tax) was released in July.

As mentioned above, even if we call it a "smart band" in a word, the price and texture have become quite wide. As a trend, it is becoming standard to emphasize wellness functions such as SpO2 measurement and sleep tracking, so I think you should pay attention to that point as well.

By the way, I recommend luxury models such as "Fitbit Luxe" and "HUAWEI WATCH FIT Elegant" that are particular about the texture of the strap band. Because it is a smart band that you can wear for a long time, if you choose quality rather than cost, you will be more satisfied.