Nancy Blair

USA TODAY

SAN FRANCISCO – Intel-owned fitness-band maker Basis is shifting into higher gear with a new device called Peak — which it says improves on its built-in heart rate monitoring and, coming soon, will add basic smartwatch functionality.

The Basis Peak arrives in November for $199. It's a big update for Basis, which was acquired by Intel in March for an undisclosed price rumored to be in the $100-$150 million range.

In a crowded category, Basis has made its mark by going deeper with sensor technology. The new Peak tracks your heart rate whenever you're wearing it, without a chest strap, and also monitors other physiological data like perspiration and skin temperature. It also covers the basics: steps and other activity tracking, and sleep tracking and the like in an automated way. It can tell when you are walking, running, biking or sleeping without you having to adjust settings.

The new Peak band is a smart-looking monochrome touchscreen device that looks very much like a watch. Among key features are improved heart rate sensors on the back, battery life of up to four days and water resistance for swimming. It has a forged aluminum body and Gorilla Glass screen.

It works with apps for Apple and Android devices.

I got a first look at Peak in a demo at USA TODAY's San Francisco bureau. Out of the gate, Peak looks and feels great. A future upgrade will add some smartphone notifications for incoming calls and texts. That could be key as fitness bands feel the heat from smartwatches hitting the market from tech heavyweights including Samsung, LG, Motorola, Sony and soon Apple.

In a recent report, research firm Canalys said shipments of "wearable" bands will grow to 43.2 million units in 2015, up 129% from this year. It divides the category into two segments – smart bands, which can run third-party applications, and basic bands, which don't.

Basic bands from Jawbone, Fitbit and others have a lower-price advantage for now, Canalys principal analyst Chris Jones said in the report. Eventually, though, intensifying competition will drive prices down even further, threatening basic bands.

Basis is part of Intel's New Devices Group, run by Apple vet Michael Bell.

Once Peak launches, previous Basis bands will be supported but won't be available for purchase. As of Monday, the original Basis was available on the company's website for $149.

The new Peak can be pre-ordered at mybasis.com (existing customers), Amazon and Best Buy.

Follow Nancy Blair on Twitter: @nansanfran.