The Sony SmartBand is the latest fitness tracker to hit the market, and it has a little more to offer than what you'll find from other competitors these days.

The device, which was announced earlier this year at CES, tracks everything from steps taken to your sleep cycle.

Sure, it looks nearly identical to the Fitbit Flex — although its silicone casing is much softer to the touch than Fitbit's rubbery band — but it incorporates a few smartwatch-like features that make it a potential standout.

First, it must be paired with a phone via NFC or Bluetooth; naturally, the company wants you to use the corresponding Sony phone, but it will work with any device running Andriod KitKit 4.4.

Image: Mashable, Christina Ascani

You'll need to download Sony's Lifelog app, which lets you control music, keep track of your movement and vibrate when you get a call, text or email. Since there's no screen, you can't tell who is calling or sending you a message without grabbing your phone. But this is a nice way for Sony to incorporate some of that smartwatch functionality.

Similar to the Fitbit Flex, the Core (where the battery and all intelligence lives) pops in and out of the band. It also comes with an open micro-USB port and it's waterproof too.

Image: Mashable, Christina Ascani

Another promising perk: It will buzz you if you're too far away from your smartphone, so you'll never have to run back to a store or restaurant because you left it there. Sony is calling the SmartBand "a leash for your smartphone" and this is one of the many features that do just that.

The SmartBand is available starting Wednesday at Sony Stores and online for $99.99.

Mashable has its hands on one and will be doing a full rundown as to what to expect and how it works. Check back soon for details.