[Marco Morais]

I'm thinking of getting a Band 2 to help with gym life.
Do you think I should buy the 2 now or wait for the 3? Any ideas about the release date of Band 3 and what it will pack?

Thanks!

[Jazmac]

If it were me, I'd wait on the 3 or look at another solution. Love the sensors in the Band but the materials used to build it are second rate IMHO.

[Marco Morais]

Any rumor on the release date for the MB3?

[anon(5327127)]

I'd buy a Band 2 as you might be waiting for ages. I never, thankfully,had an issue with the band 1 or 2 so treat it well and enjoy.

[nmercy]

I would either buy something else or wait till Band 3. The reason for this is that, as a Band 1 owner, as soon as Band 2 was released, even though some features could have been implemented into Band 1, support for Band 1 became almost nothing. The only updates we really get are those that are purely in the app itself.

As far as Band 3, there will probably be something in the October time frame is my guess... but then again I expect them to release a Surface 4 late spring/early summer so...

[DeNachtwacht]

There is no reason until now to expect a Band 3 this year, Microsoft has stated that we should not expect any devices from them this year, maybe except a surface 4 device but also that one has never officially announced. My guess would be that they will keep improving the software a lot this year, because a lot has to be done yet.

The last badges of the Band 2 have been shipped with tougher material so the band itself will not tear anymore, but you sure should make sure you buy it at a place where guarantee has been arranged properly. Best would be a MS Store.

[DavidinCT]

If on the fence....Try to find a USED band 2.... Ebay is loaded with them, you might find one for under $100 if you hunt around and keep watching.

For $100-125, it should hold you off for a bit, it works good

[LarsCor]

@DeNachtwacht, how you know new Bads are made of tougher material? And how can I recognize if a Band is made with it?

[11B1P]

I'm thinking of getting a Band 2 to help with gym life.
Do you think I should buy the 2 now or wait for the 3? Any ideas about the release date of Band 3 and what it will pack?

Thanks!

Absolutely buy one. My wife and I have had ours since before Christmas. I use mine in the gym, biking and running and it's holding up excellently. It is a great choice. I don't think you'll find another device that has this much variety of options at the price a B2 is currently or even at full price.

Nobody has any idea if/when there will be a B3. You can't play the waiting game in tech (unless you KNOW an updated device is about to launch) or else you'll always be waiting.

[rusty502]

Personally very happy with Band2, it does everything I want it to do, something new and "improved" is always just around the corner, so......you can wait, or enjoy. If the band2 will do what you want, get it and enjoy, it really is a fantastic device as far as I'm concerned.

Sent from mTalk

[DeNachtwacht]

@DeNachtwacht, how you know new Bads are made of tougher material? And how can I recognize if a Band is made with it?

I'm afraid you can't unless you know which serial numbers are the new batches. However as it tears, you don't have to be afraid because it's covered by warranty. It's just annoying. An employee at the chat stated the following:

It's a known issue with the Band 2. The refurbished Band you receive should not experience this issue as adjustments have been made to the design.

[luxnws]

I'm afraid you can't unless you know which serial numbers are the new batches. However as it tears, you don't have to be afraid because it's covered by warranty. It's just annoying. An employee at the chat stated the following:

Interesting if true. I wonder why Microsoft hasn't put this information out in the public. Maybe they don't want to do a product recall? ;)

[anon(8555314)]

I'm generally happy with my Band 2. Personally, I place about equal value on the smartwatch, sleep tracking and exercise tracking. If I was heavily into exercise or doing a lot of workouts lasting more than 3-4 hours, esp. biking, swimming or triathlon, I'd probably suggest the Garmin Vivoactive HR GPS, because of the much longer battery, waterproof capability, support for many additional sports, and the Garmin infrastructure for biking such as ant+ cadence sensors.

[Davide Carozza]

Love the design, love the functionality, but I'm on my 3rd Band 2. They've only been lasting 3 months or so, which is ridiculous for a $250 piece of tech.

[Jazmac]

If on the fence....Try to find a USED band 2.... Ebay is loaded with them, you might find one for under $100 if you hunt around and keep watching.

For $100-125, it should hold you off for a bit, it works good

I'd agree with this. If you can get it for 100 bucks, its worth at least that. But at the price they want in the store new? Never. Check Ebay or Craigslist and be patient. Other than some need to promote "status", its not doing anything other fitness devices can't do. That are equally attractive, equally functional, work with Windows Phone to boot for considerably less.
Disclaimer, I've had 2 of these in a year.(check the threads) I run, lift weights, walk and sleep. All day I sit at a computer. The materials don't work with its design. Period.

[Muessig]

I've had a Band 2 since about November/December and I've had no problems with it so far. I've read about some people having problems with tearing on the strap but I've not had any problems. As others have said look into the functionality you've currently got on the Band 2 and think about whether it does what you need right now. If it does then get one but bear in mind it's possible that the Band 2 won't get as many updates as it currently is doing.

[Kylesh12]

I would wait or go with something else - if you are cycling longer than 2-3 hours with GPS - the battery will run out before you finish - even using the estimated GPS. Today - before I could even start my ride the band shut down - and it had > 80% battery life. Got home plugged it in and it showed 78% - but then gave me the message battery died - please set date/time. I am going with the Garmin when it releases next month.

[Captain_Eric]

I would wait or go with something else - if you are cycling longer than 2-3 hours with GPS - the battery will run out before you finish - even using the estimated GPS. Today - before I could even start my ride the band shut down - and it had > 80% battery life. Got home plugged it in and it showed 78% - but then gave me the message battery died - please set date/time. I am going with the Garmin when it releases next month.

I had the same "dying when battery is ok" problem. Apparently it's a known problem. Amazon took back outside of warranty. Maybe try a return.

[Issac72]

I am going with the Garmin when it releases next month.

I almost did the same, before purchasing the Band 2. But a cursory look at their forum - https://forums.garmin.com/forumdispl...6-vivosmart-HR - and you'll discover a number of metrics that are way off base, and numerous complaints about their elevate optical HR sensor (the same sensor being used in the upcoming Vivoactive HR). When I was monitoring their Facebook page, every couple of days Garmin users were posting messages about the site being down - which, according the users, is a chronic issue.

So, as the saying goes, buyer beware.

[11B1P]

I'd agree with this. If you can get it for 100 bucks, its worth at least that. But at the price they want in the store new? Never. Check Ebay or Craigslist and be patient. Other than some need to promote "status", its not doing anything other fitness devices can't do. That are equally attractive, equally functional, work with Windows Phone to boot for considerably less.
Disclaimer, I've had 2 of these in a year.(check the threads) I run, lift weights, walk and sleep. All day I sit at a computer. The materials don't work with its design. Period.

I disagree. At $175 it is a good deal. The Band does more than the other trackers (UV, golf courses, integration with Cortana) and will have more integration with a WP than any other tracker. I run, walk, lift free weights, jump rope, bike as well. I sit a fair amount of time at the computer, even though that's not my job. I believe the materials work just fine, as long as you have an appropriately sized Band.

[George Ponder]

If there is a Band 3, it will likely be released for the Holidays. As low as the Band 2 is priced these days, I'd take the leap now.

[slickxsparkie]

I've dealt with 2 replacements for the band 2 (covered through Microsoft) because they stopped charging. It also doesn't work flawlessly on windows 10 mobile with Cortana voice to text not working, and also typing on the band to the phone doesn't work either. I haven't updated my phone to fast ring for fear my band disconnects. But I heard it has connection/pairing issues with the new update. I would wait for band 3, but even then, I'd wait to see if they fixed the kinks. When it worked on my Lumia 920, it worked great! Not so much 950xL, but even that still needs a lot of work

[Jazmac]

I disagree. At $175 it is a good deal. The Band does more than the other trackers (UV, golf courses, integration with Cortana) and will have more integration with a WP than any other tracker. I run, walk, lift free weights, jump rope, bike as well. I sit a fair amount of time at the computer, even though that's not my job. I believe the materials work just fine, as long as you have an appropriately sized Band.

It will at some point but it doesn't today, and for what it can do today, which is when the money will be spent, it doesn't. Anything else is navel gazing and wishful thinking. Again, I wanted like anything to like the Band for a long time but after 2 failed attempts, it simply costs me too much to engage in my fantasy of "all Microsoft all the time". So I had to more on from this health/fitness solution.
Its painful but that doing the same thing expecting a different result makes me a fool and my momma didn't raise no fool.
Maybe you have a budget for it but I cannot afford these expenditures especially when I know Microsoft and I both know how weak these materials are.

One thing they should do with Band 3 is make the bands replaceable. Because the bracelets are worthless.

[Issac72]

Anything else is navel gazing and wishful thinking.

Well, color me wishful but so far, the Band2 is outperforming the Polar a360 and Fitbit Blaze... and by a long shot. Moreover, I'm an Apple fan, so I can't even use some of the features on Band2. But there's so much to love about this product... hardware and software. I'm bloody impressed. For now.

[Erik Read]

As a prior owner of the Band and current owner of Band 2 I would suggest a completely different brand/device. My first band lasted about 5 months before the band started separating from the clasp and a number of sensors started failing. I sent it in for warranty support and it was sent back because I abused it. I am a casual runner and a software engineer. I most certainly did not abuse it. I got the Band 2 for Christmas and, up until this last weekend, was pleased with it. This weekend it started shutting down for no apparent reason. I noticed that when it powered up, if I touched the clasps together it would power off. Anyway, trying the service request again but I have lost faith in that process.
The bands are cheaply made and I can't imagine anyone that is more than a casual workout person being able to use the device for any length of time.