Apple iWatch vs Microsoft Band Comparison and Review: Which Wearable Tech is Better?
The smartwatch concept is not a foreign idea and has been around for a long time now but it is quickly gaining popularity among tech manufacturers and consumers. Apple is pitching in to the market with its Apple Watch and Microsoft has decided to release their own product ahead of Apple with the Microsoft Band.
The Microsoft Band was only announced earlier this year and the quick followthrough release was a surprise, with some saying it was intended to beat Apple to the market and bag some sales early on. The Apple Watch on the other hand is scheduled for an early 2015 release but it's already looking to be one of the most highly anticipated wearables in the market.
While waiting for the release of the Apple Watch, there are already details about the device's specifications and features. Of the most basic, the Apple Watch will be sporting a square-face type design with customizable straps. Functionality-wise, it's intended to be used as a notification hub, a fitness tracker, and in some ways as a standalone device able to make simple calls and texts.
The Microsoft Band on the other hand, is more of a fitness band than a watch and functions as such. It sports a rectangular design and a bright full color display. As a fitness-oriented device, it is able to track its user's steps, monitors heart rates and has a built-in GPS.
Since the two devices are electronic and runs on a battery, there's always the issue of how long the battery lasts with continuous use. Apple CEO Tim Cook has hinted that the Apple Watch will be "charged nightly," which probably means that the watch's battery only lasts a day. Microsoft on the other hand claims up to 48 hours of battery life on normal use, five hours with constant GPS use.