We live in a world where smartwatches are still a new concept that's yet to take off, but more and more companies decide to invest in this side of the industry and bring out their very own devices supposed to help us stay connected at all times and get an extension to our phones that could help track fitness more easily.

“An extension to our phones” - that's a weird phrase. Who needs an extension to a phone when our handsets already do pretty much everything you can think of?

That was the question Microsoft tried to answer with the Band. Launched in late 2014, Microsoft Band is a device that's not a smartwatch per se, but more of a wristband that can help you track fitness with smartwatch capabilities always available.

The device is packed with sensors, comes with a touch-capable display, promises a full two-day battery, and works with all mobile platforms out there thanks to cross-platform Bluetooth support.

It's available for only $199 (€150) and went on sale globally soon after its public launch, with Microsoft saying that demand across the world skyrocketed after the limited debut in the United States. Therefore, the company made it available on key markets across the world and it shouldn't be too difficult to get one right now no matter where you live.

We tested the Band for several weeks to find out what it's up to, so read on for more information about its design and features as a stand-alone device or when put against its competitors.

Band Thermoplastic elastomer with adjustable fit clasp Display 11mm x 33mm; capacitive 1.4" TFT full color display; 320 X 106 pixel resolution Connectivity Bluetooth 4.0 / Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) Compatibility Windows Phone 8.1 or later, with Bluetooth 4.0

iOS 7.1 or later: iPhone 4s, 5, 5c, 5s, 6, 6 Plus

Android 4.3 - 5.0 phones with Bluetooth Battery Type: Dual 100mAh rechargeable lithium-ion polymer batteries Life: 48 hours of normal use; advanced functionality like GPS will impact battery performance Average charge time: Full charge in less than 1.5 hours Connector: Magnetically-coupled connector to USB Sensors Optical heart rate sensor

3-axis accelerometer

Gyrometer

GPS

Ambient light sensor

UV sensor

Skin temperature sensor

Capacitive sensor

Galvanic skin response Environmental Water resistance: Dust and splash resistant Operating temperature ranges: -10°C to 40°C (14°F to 104°F) Maximum operating altitude: +1200 m (3937 feet) Others Microphone

Haptic vibration motor

Design - it looks odd (when it's not on your wrist)

Many years ago, Apple was considered the most innovative company in the world, but these days, Microsoft just seems to innovate more than any of its rivals does (HoloLens anyone?).

Microsoft Band isn't really the most innovative product you can find in the wearable industry, but it certainly comes with features that could impress many of those who'd like to keep an eye on their physical condition all the time.

The design of the device seems odd at first, but it's all just a matter of time until you get used to it. Trust us, it looks odd because it's not on your wrist. When you put it on for the very first time, the Band suddenly becomes the kind of device you wouldn't mind wearing on a daily basis. It might not feel comfortable at first, but don't worry because, once again, it's just a matter of time until you forget it's there.

After all, it weighs only 60 grams, so it's actually lighter than your regular watch.

One of the most criticized things about the Band concerns the dimensions and the shape of the display. The Band comes with a 1.4-inch TFT 320x106px touchscreen display, so you're able to access its features by simply tapping the screen with the other hand.

Microsoft Band on wrist

We've heard quite a lot of people complaining that the display is just too wide and it doesn't feel natural at all when doing lots of things, such as pulling anything out of the pocket with the hand wearing the Band. And that's indeed a setback, but just like we’ve said before, there's a learning curve here too. The Band might not feel comfortable at first when doing certain moves, but it certainly feels right after a few days with it.

The Band can be worn as a regular watch or on the inside of the wrist, so it all depends on how you feel it more comfortable. There are two buttons available, lock and action, so it's easy to start a new exercise even if the watch is already on your wrist.

What we really like is the rubber strap. Available in three different sizes, L, M, and S, the rubber band is as soft as it is durable. It just feels like something that can't break or damage with ease, although we found that it's quite easy to scratch it.

And speaking of scratches, that's one of the problems with the Band. Its display can easily get full of scratches because of the shiny cover and this is certainly a thing that might disappoint many buyers, especially because it's the kind of device you should wear when exercising and when sleeping.

The rubber strap can be adjusted with ease and the Band never falls off your wrist.

Features - packed with sensors, but still missing some

Before starting to talk about its sensors, there's something we need to set straight. The Band is not a smartwatch per se, so it shouldn't be compared to devices that are specifically designed to compete on the smartwatch market.

And living proof is the number of sensors available on the device. Microsoft brags about it and it has every reason to do so. The Band is one of the most advanced fitness trackers out there and can provide with you more information about your exercises than you can handle.

Microsoft Band sensor

It has a heart rate sensor, a 3-axis accelerometer, a gyrometer, GPS, ambient light sensors, UV sensor, skin temperature sensor, capacities sensor, and galvanic skin response. At the same time, it packs a microphone and haptic vibration, which definitely comes in handy when being used to pull in all your smartphone notifications.

Smartwatch features

A few paragraphs ago we said that the Band is not a smartwatch per se, so what's the purpose of a dedicated section in our review just for this? The answer is as simple as it could be: the Band might be a smartwatch in all its glory, but it comes with the essential to do pretty much everything a regular smartwatch would do. And sometimes even a little bit more.

The Band comes with Bluetooth 4.0 support, so it doesn't work only with Windows Phone handsets. Nope, it works with Windows Phone, Android, and iOS devices, so you won't be limited to just a single phone.

Microsoft Band can be used to get smartphone notifications right on your wrist and you're allowed to choose between mail and messaging and absolutely all notifications.

The latter option could become annoying at times because it vibrates for absolutely everything that pops out on the phone screen, including app updates and sometimes that little option on Android that enables you to select the keyboard you want to use. But otherwise, this can be really useful because this way you can see WhatsApp, Skype, and other notifications at any time.

“Microsoft Band can pull all notifications from your phone, including WhatsApp, emails, and text messages, and vibrates when you receive a new message.”

There is an option to keep the time always on (by default it's configured to enter in standby and turn off the display to preserve battery) and you can customize the wallpaper, colors, and live tiles you want to see.

If you pair it with a Windows Phone, you can even bring Cortana on your wrist. That's why there's a microphone actually. Obviously, it uses the phone's Cortana, so you can perform a number on the phone itself without actually touching it. Another Windows Phone-exclusive feature is a tiny keyboard with auto-correction that allows you to type in reply messages on the go. This feature works with text messages only but can be easily expanded to emails and Skype notifications, for instance.

Another thing that makes Windows Phone the best option is the number of apps that allow you to read information collected by sensors and to customize the Band. Skin temperature is not available right now in Microsoft Health (the official app for the Band), so third-party apps are needed and they do not exist on Android and iOS.

Fitness tracking features

This is where the Microsoft Band really excels. The Band can be used for the common exercises, such as running and biking, and the available sensors collect information that can be then accessed on the device itself, on your phone, or on a PC.

The GPS module, for instance, tracks the distance you cover when riding a bike, and generates a summary to see your route and the speed for each split.

Information that is displayed once a workout has been completed includes duration, start time, calories burned, average and top speed, total gain and loss, max and min elevation, best split, average pace, low, high, and average heart rate, recovery time and fitness benefit.

Microsoft Band sleep info

You can share, delete, and name each exercise, and every time you set a new personal best, you see a small trophy icon next to the session. Graphs for performance, elevation, and heart rate tracking are also provided.

Sleep monitoring is one of the most exciting features of the Band, and thanks to a recent update, the device automatically detects when you go to sleep, so you won't have to manually turn this mode on every time (we've received reports that sometimes this feature doesn't work right, though).

But the volume of information is absolutely amazing. You can see the amount of restful and light sleep, how many times you woke up during the night, the time you needed to fall asleep, sleep efficiency, duration, resting heart rate, calories burned, and sleep restoration time. A heart rate graph is also provided, and if you see any spike during the night, that probably shows that you had a nightmare at a given moment.

We, however, found that some of the information might not be entirely accurate. The recovery time, for example, is shocking to say the least. For a typical 15-kilometer ride with the bike, the Band tells that you need 53 hours of recovery, which, let's be honest, is too much even for the lazy editor writing this review.

All these details are displayed on your phone with Microsoft Health, which is the essence of Microsoft Band. The app works on all major mobile platforms, and in Windows 10, it'll also offer support for the traditional PC, but in the meantime, you can access the web dashboard by logging in with your username and password to access the collected data.

Microsoft Health displays all info on your phone

This could be an issue though if you don't like your data to be synced with the cloud, but it's the only way to view info on a laptop.

The biggest setback of the Microsoft Band is that it can't be used during swimming. The device is dust and splash resistant, and Microsoft says it can be used in light rain, but you must not take it with you when swimming or showering. If you love swimming at least as much as we do, that's a deal breaker. That's where we'd actually want to use the Band, so it could easily become a no-no if you want to purchase it. Microsoft really needs to take care of this in the next hardware upgrade.

Other goodies - yep, there's more

The Microsoft Band comes with a dual 100mAh rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery and provides approximately 48 hours of normal use. This means that it lasts for around a day if you use it with Bluetooth always on and with GPS module turned on at frequent times.

It recharges fully in approximately one hour and a half, so you can always do that while working. The magnetically coupled connector allows you to recharge it via USB, and although a wall charger is not provided, it works with some quite nicely.

The operating temperatures are -10°C to 40°C (14°F to 104°F), which again could be an issue if you use to run or ride a bike during the summer, when temperatures could go past these limits (although it's pretty clear that such a thing is not recommended).

The Microsoft Band is also a pedometer that tracks the distance you've traveled, allows you to set goals and see calories burned during the day.

And speaking of goals, that's another key feature of the Band. The Microsoft Health app allows you to set guided workouts and stay in tip-top shape with exercises recommended by professionals. The device lets you know when you need to rest or switch to another exercise. There are plenty to choose from, so you decide what and when you want to do.

Conclusion