Was really looking forward to this until I read the Washington Post review. Which you should read before buying, because it eviscerates this device.
BUT...
I had already ordered it; it was too late to stop the shipment, and so, it came and I tried it.
I am an overweight woman who works as an adjunct professor.
Currently I am working from home doing classes on zoom.
I have been using this time (where I don’t have to drive to a bunch of different colleges) to work on exercise.
Since August, I have gone from completely sedentary, to running 3 miles a day.
I got my halo in the mail, and I put it on, and I set it up, and I got up in the morning and ran my 3 miles.
It gave me nine points for my 3 mile run.
Even if ran my 3 miles seven days a week, I would never get to the 150 points it says I need.
And currently I only run five days a week.
BUT
AND EVEN WORSE
After I ran and showered and all that kind of stuff, I sat down to do my day of zoom teaching.
In between zoom teaching I ran up and down the stairs to let the dog out
took the dog for a walk
went to pick up the mail
but basically spent about seven hours teaching on zoom.
By the end of the day my nine points had dropped down to three. :(
In my current situation, there is nothing else I can do, after I finish teaching, I have a child to take care of I have a husband I have dinner to cook I have things to do.
Doing those things did not raise my score above the measly three points.
And so, I have never been so unmotivated in my life to continue exercise that it has been very very challenging for me to achieve.
This is the most unmotivating thing I have ever encountered.
It is an anti-cheerleader.
And I can tell you that I was never going to upload photos, either naked or otherwise, because
I don’t want to be further shamed by this device.
I was really disappointed to get it and to find out that in order to do the fat analysis you had to upload photos of yourself.
I was hoping that it somehow measured your fat through the connectivity of your skin, but I guess that’s just sci-fi stuff that hasn’t happened yet.
In any case, when someone like me has gone from zero exercise, to participating in 5Ks for the first time in her life, what that person doesn’t need, is a device like this, that tells you that this is a worthless effort.
What a person like me doesn’t need is something that punishes you by subtracting points.
I can see that the hard-core exercised obsessed would like this, Maybe even teach the band to call them a worthless maggot or something.
For me, I need something kinder and gentler. I have decided to just repeatedly sign up for any local 5Ks that are happening as a way to encourage myself to continue training. It’s a much better use of the money as the money goes to charities, and not Amazon. And they don’t make me feel ashamed of my pitiful effort.
Not sure which to choose? Size Guide
Selecting a size
Measure your wrist
To select a size, we recommend measuring your wrist. Wrap a measuring tape around your wrist. Place it just below your wrist bone (closer to your elbow), not too tight.
Or, wrap a piece of string or strip of paper around your wrist, mark where it overlaps. Then measure the string or paper with a ruler.
If your wrist is between two band sizes, we recommend getting the larger band size.
-
Smart Displays
-
Smart Speakers
-
Alexa on the go
-
Fire Tablets
-
New: Fire Kids Pro
-
Fire Kids tablets
-
Fire Plus tablets
-
Tablet bundles
-
Streaming Devices
-
Smart TVs
-
With Fire TV Built-In
-
Companion Devices
-
Kindle E-Readers
-
Kindle Bundles
-
Household Robot
-
Doorbells
-
Security Systems
-
Cameras
-
Outdoor Lighting
-
Smart Bulbs
-
Appliances
-
Wifi Systems
-
Amazon Halo
-
Halo View
-
Halo Band
-
Cloud Gaming
-
Luna Bundles
-
Home Security
-
Echo & Alexa
-
Fire Tablets
-
Kindle
-
Fire TV
More than a band—a membership
Amazon Halo Band is an accurate health tool on its own, but offers even more as part of Amazon Halo, the health and
wellness membership designed to help you improve your health by better understanding it.
Check out this video to learn more about Halo membership.
Discover
Hundreds of premium on-demand workouts, daily meditations, sleep and nutrition support, and more.
Body composition
Analyze body fat percentage—a better indicator of health than weight or BMI alone.
Activity
Track active and sedentary time, intensity of movement, and steps.
Sleep
Analyze your sleep patterns, like how often you wake up in the night.
Tone analysis
Analyze your tone of voice to become more aware of how you sound to others.
Movement
Measure your movement health and receive a personalized plan to help you improve over time.
Halo members have full access to our ever-expanding suite of tools, features, and programs including Body composition and Tone. Non-members can still use the Amazon Halo Band and Halo app to access basic features like steps, heart rate, sleep time, and sleep tracking.
Measure and track body fat
Halo accurately measures your body fat percentage using your smartphone’s camera and
provides a personalized 3D model to help you track progress over time.
|
|
With Halo’s wide range of high-performance silicone and soft-woven fabric bands, you can
match your mood or activity without missing a (heart)beat.
Product Details
Technical Details
|
Subscription |
$99.99 device price with six month free subscription. After six months, your subscription will automatically renew at $3.99/month plus applicable tax. See terms of service to learn more. |
|
Battery life |
Up to 7 days (Tone disabled), up to 2 days (Tone enabled). Fully charges from 0% in less than 90 minutes. Battery life varies based on device settings and usage. |
|
Water resistance |
Swimproof; water resistant to 50M (5 atm). Learn more about water resistance. |
|
Halo band/sensor colors |
Black/Onyx, Winter/Silver, and Blush/Rose Gold |
|
Band sizes |
Fabric: Small (135-155 mm circumference), Medium (145-180mm circumference), Large (170-220 mm circumference), Sport: Small/Medium (130-180 mm circumference), Medium/Large (160-230 mm circumference) |
|
Band material |
Fabric: a woven blend of polyester, nylon, and spandex, Sport: high-performance silicone |
|
Weight |
Sensor: 18g, Band: 5.2g (S), 5.4g (M), 6.0g (L) |
|
Bluetooth |
Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, Serial Port Profile for Bluetooth connectivity to Android phones and iPod Accessory Protocol for Bluetooth connectivity to iPhones. |
|
Audio |
2 built-in microphones for Tone analysis |
|
Warranty |
1-year limited warranty. Use of Amazon Halo is subject to Amazon’s Conditions of Use and the terms found here. |
|
Included in box |
Sensor, band, USB charging clip, and Quick Start Guide |
|
Generation |
1st Generation - 2020 Release |
|
Bands |
Interchangeable and available in a variety of colors and materials |
|
Requirements |
Active Amazon.com account, compatible mobile device (iOS 12.0+ or Android 7.0+), and the Halo app |
Customer Questions & Answers
Customer reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2020
Color: Winter + SilverSize: SmallStyle: FabricVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2020
Color: Winter + SilverSize: MediumStyle: FabricVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2020
-Hardware: Not having a screen is strange at first but I have learned to really like it. With all of our devices, it is one less thing to distract me. The device itself is lightweight aluminum that fits the wrist nicely. It has one button for resetting the device if ever needed. A double tap will resync the app and the band if you have had both connected for a bit without using. There are the typical sensors on the bottom to measure your heart rate. I got one with the silver mesh strap. I really like it but opted to buy a silicone strap as the Halo is waterproof and I like to shower without removing it. The mesh strap stayed wet too long for my liking. Amazon has some work to do on the silicone strap designs. They are all pretty ugly but they work. All and all this is a very comfortable device that you won't mind wearing all day everyday.
-Software: As one would expect from a company like Amazon, the software experience is where things shine for me. It is still incomplete in some ways but you can see where they are heading and the future is bright. As it sits, it is still pretty great. There are four tabs at the bottom of the app; Data, Lab, Live, and Settings. Data is where your various stats are displayed. Those include Activity, Sleep, Tone, and Body. Let's dig into these.
-Activity: Amazon is taking a total activity approach to healthy living. Less about steps though they are there if you want to see them. The idea is that your activity levels throughout the day accumulate for points. For instance, I got 50 points for a 50 minute elliptical session this morning. It automatically picks up your activities but doesn't necessarily always know what you are doing. After my workouts I just go back in and edit them if they are not properly identified. The Halo starts you out at 150 points a week as a target and moves you up as you achieve your target points. All and all it works great and keeps me motivated.
-Sleep tracking: The sleep tracking is thorough and robust. Though if you are like me and sometimes fall asleep on the sofa for an hour and then go to bed, the Halo band will almost always fail to register the first hour. Seems like a simple update at some point. I like the point system Amazon employs here. It drives me to go to bed earlier and leave my TV off.
-Tone: This one is a weird one. Basically, the Halo band listens to you and analyzes your tone of voice to try and measure stress and anxiety. It does actually work but I didn't really get much out of it honestly. Further, it significantly reduces your battery life. Maybe by as much as 60%. For me, I would rather have the battery life but I think this will be a highly individual experience. Some will really appreciate this new approach.
-Body: Unless you are in really really good shape, this one will probably haunt you a bit but man is it effective so I really recommend utilizing this feature. Basically you set your phone down a solid ten or so feet away from you at waist height with just your underwear on. The app scans your body, captures the image, and calculates your body fat. It is fairly accurate. Maybe a little heavy handed. I am a fifty year old man that works out regularly. Let's just say, after seeing the image and the body fat percentage, I have a lot of work to do. I am extremely motivated to improve both the fat percentage and the image I am looking at in the app. I think the easiest thing to do in life is lie to yourself about how you look. This feature makes that impossible. It hurts but I really like this feature. I will absolutely get healthier because of it. I would add a word of caution here. If you are someone that has struggled with body issues in the past, you might not be right for this device. It definitely makes you more conscious of your body and appearance.
The next tab at the bottom is lab. This is where I think Amazon's future in fitness has the most potential. They have partnered with dozens of companies to provide workouts, stretching, yoga, meditations, diet info, and more. I did an Orangetheory workout this morning. It was brutal. I also have been doing a two week bedtime guided meditation. It has been amazing. This is all built into your monthly subscription ($3.99) after your free trial. It really is great and provides an absolute ton of added content value. The best part is Amazon is just getting started here. With Amazon's market power, I have to imagine that Lab is going to become unbelievably valuable in the coming years. If you have been with Prime for a number of years, I can imagine a growth curve similar to that where Amazon just continues to add more value, more content, and probably more cost. I look forward to seeing this.
The next tab is the Live tab. Live is simple but great and it is something I wish my Samsung Active 2 offered. You can hit the tab button and see your heart rate or your tone (mood) in real time. When I get on a treadmill, I fire up my jams, go to the Halo app, and hit the Live tab. It shows me an accurate measurement of my heart rate that updates continuously throughout my run. Its something like having a chest strap monitor on without having it on. It has helped me a great deal.
Lastly, you have settings. All the typical things you might want to tweak are in there. Solid.
All and all, the software experience here is very good and it is likely to get much better. Amazon gave Halo a big update not long ago, presumably in anticipation of it going on sale to the public. It received a lot of upgrades. If Amazon continues to develop and support Halo band, as I anticipate they will, this will just get better.
-Battery Life / Charging: With tone turned off, I get in excess of ten days on a charge. With it on, its closer to five or six. Charging from zero-ish percent takes around two hours via a proprietary charger. It is big and I don't love it but it works. So, A for me on battery life and more like a C- on the charger itself.
I will update this review as I go with more information but, for now, call me impressed. It isn't perfect. The device is a little clunky and unrefined. Tone is cool but weird. The body scan might bruise your ego a bit. I would love to see the addition of a calorie counting section on the app and a more robust tracking of actual exercise history. After all of that though, what Amazon is really focused on here are three really important aspects of your life: How active are you, how are you sleeping, and how fat you are. If we all just stayed focused on those things, the world would be a much healthier place. So, I am recommending giving Halo a shot, especially if you are sick of the connectivity a smart watch gives you. Today, it just works and motivates me. I cannot wait to see what the future holds with the Amazon Halo Band.
***Update***One thing I forgot to add but is important relates to why the Amazon approach to activity is important. Most fitness bands / watches track steps. It is a solid metric. What makes Halo better is, while it tracks steps, it does so in conjunction with the effort you are putting in. So let me show you what I mean. Today, I got credit for just over 4,000 steps on my 50 minute elliptical workout. I got 51 points for it. After going about my day, showering, working, getting ready for tomorrow, etc. I have finished my day at just over 15,000 steps. However, I have only earned an additional 20 points to finish at 71 points for the day. The point is, that the Halo Band is able to weigh steps during a workout as being more valuable than steps taken running around the office or my home. You get credit for those steps but the weight is scored heavier when your heart rate is higher. Steps are good but it is the kind of steps you are taking that make the difference to your health and weight. There are other bands that do this kind of thing but I think that Amazon has executed it particularly well here. One other thing I should have added from my first go is that Halo is partnered with Weight Watchers. My wife uses Weight Watchers and she finds Halo to be incredibly valuable to her efforts. It automatically syncs your activities in your WW account so she doesn't need to track that manually any longer. Great addition for all you Weight Watchers fans. It is available through Labs.
03/05/21 Update: Amazon recently released a substantial update to the band which does a number of useful things. First and foremost, it now has voice integration with Alexa that is useful. You can just ask for updates like "Hey Alexa, how many steps do I have today?" It is a nice integration. It is optional in the app. I will include a picture of the toggle above. Additionally, they have enhanced sleep tracking. It is more robust and allows you to tap your finger on your sleep grid at any point to see the time much like Fitbit does. They have also enhanced 'Discover' which allows you to more easily find new content such as workouts and meditations you might want to try. Lastly, they added a calendar sync for Tone which I do not use due to the afformentioned battery drain. However, this looks pretty neat. So, say you have "lunch with Mom" on your calendar. Halo will track your tone during that time and let you know how your tone and mood seemed during the lunch. I won't use it but it seems like a useful enhancement to a feature that is unique to the Halo band. This update is a great example of the potential this band has if Amazon continues to grow it and support it.
Color: Winter + SilverSize: MediumStyle: FabricVerified Purchase
Not perfect but a really good first effort by Amazon.***Update 03/05/21***
By HJeffK on December 14, 2020
I have been using Halo for a couple of months now and there is so much to like but it feels a bit rough around the edges when compared to other more refined products from Fitbit or Samsung. I have had a number of smart watches and fitness bands over the years. I have been using a high end smart watch for the last year. The problem with that is that I cannot wear my good analog watches without looking like an idiot. Even the Fitbit fitness bands have a large digital display which looks somewhat stupid when you have a big dive watch on the other wrist. So, I wanted something small and really understated. Amazon had invited me to try Halo (paid for it but at a discount) and it looked like it might fit the bill. For the most part it does. Here are the highlights:By HJeffK on December 14, 2020
-Hardware: Not having a screen is strange at first but I have learned to really like it. With all of our devices, it is one less thing to distract me. The device itself is lightweight aluminum that fits the wrist nicely. It has one button for resetting the device if ever needed. A double tap will resync the app and the band if you have had both connected for a bit without using. There are the typical sensors on the bottom to measure your heart rate. I got one with the silver mesh strap. I really like it but opted to buy a silicone strap as the Halo is waterproof and I like to shower without removing it. The mesh strap stayed wet too long for my liking. Amazon has some work to do on the silicone strap designs. They are all pretty ugly but they work. All and all this is a very comfortable device that you won't mind wearing all day everyday.
-Software: As one would expect from a company like Amazon, the software experience is where things shine for me. It is still incomplete in some ways but you can see where they are heading and the future is bright. As it sits, it is still pretty great. There are four tabs at the bottom of the app; Data, Lab, Live, and Settings. Data is where your various stats are displayed. Those include Activity, Sleep, Tone, and Body. Let's dig into these.
-Activity: Amazon is taking a total activity approach to healthy living. Less about steps though they are there if you want to see them. The idea is that your activity levels throughout the day accumulate for points. For instance, I got 50 points for a 50 minute elliptical session this morning. It automatically picks up your activities but doesn't necessarily always know what you are doing. After my workouts I just go back in and edit them if they are not properly identified. The Halo starts you out at 150 points a week as a target and moves you up as you achieve your target points. All and all it works great and keeps me motivated.
-Sleep tracking: The sleep tracking is thorough and robust. Though if you are like me and sometimes fall asleep on the sofa for an hour and then go to bed, the Halo band will almost always fail to register the first hour. Seems like a simple update at some point. I like the point system Amazon employs here. It drives me to go to bed earlier and leave my TV off.
-Tone: This one is a weird one. Basically, the Halo band listens to you and analyzes your tone of voice to try and measure stress and anxiety. It does actually work but I didn't really get much out of it honestly. Further, it significantly reduces your battery life. Maybe by as much as 60%. For me, I would rather have the battery life but I think this will be a highly individual experience. Some will really appreciate this new approach.
-Body: Unless you are in really really good shape, this one will probably haunt you a bit but man is it effective so I really recommend utilizing this feature. Basically you set your phone down a solid ten or so feet away from you at waist height with just your underwear on. The app scans your body, captures the image, and calculates your body fat. It is fairly accurate. Maybe a little heavy handed. I am a fifty year old man that works out regularly. Let's just say, after seeing the image and the body fat percentage, I have a lot of work to do. I am extremely motivated to improve both the fat percentage and the image I am looking at in the app. I think the easiest thing to do in life is lie to yourself about how you look. This feature makes that impossible. It hurts but I really like this feature. I will absolutely get healthier because of it. I would add a word of caution here. If you are someone that has struggled with body issues in the past, you might not be right for this device. It definitely makes you more conscious of your body and appearance.
The next tab at the bottom is lab. This is where I think Amazon's future in fitness has the most potential. They have partnered with dozens of companies to provide workouts, stretching, yoga, meditations, diet info, and more. I did an Orangetheory workout this morning. It was brutal. I also have been doing a two week bedtime guided meditation. It has been amazing. This is all built into your monthly subscription ($3.99) after your free trial. It really is great and provides an absolute ton of added content value. The best part is Amazon is just getting started here. With Amazon's market power, I have to imagine that Lab is going to become unbelievably valuable in the coming years. If you have been with Prime for a number of years, I can imagine a growth curve similar to that where Amazon just continues to add more value, more content, and probably more cost. I look forward to seeing this.
The next tab is the Live tab. Live is simple but great and it is something I wish my Samsung Active 2 offered. You can hit the tab button and see your heart rate or your tone (mood) in real time. When I get on a treadmill, I fire up my jams, go to the Halo app, and hit the Live tab. It shows me an accurate measurement of my heart rate that updates continuously throughout my run. Its something like having a chest strap monitor on without having it on. It has helped me a great deal.
Lastly, you have settings. All the typical things you might want to tweak are in there. Solid.
All and all, the software experience here is very good and it is likely to get much better. Amazon gave Halo a big update not long ago, presumably in anticipation of it going on sale to the public. It received a lot of upgrades. If Amazon continues to develop and support Halo band, as I anticipate they will, this will just get better.
-Battery Life / Charging: With tone turned off, I get in excess of ten days on a charge. With it on, its closer to five or six. Charging from zero-ish percent takes around two hours via a proprietary charger. It is big and I don't love it but it works. So, A for me on battery life and more like a C- on the charger itself.
I will update this review as I go with more information but, for now, call me impressed. It isn't perfect. The device is a little clunky and unrefined. Tone is cool but weird. The body scan might bruise your ego a bit. I would love to see the addition of a calorie counting section on the app and a more robust tracking of actual exercise history. After all of that though, what Amazon is really focused on here are three really important aspects of your life: How active are you, how are you sleeping, and how fat you are. If we all just stayed focused on those things, the world would be a much healthier place. So, I am recommending giving Halo a shot, especially if you are sick of the connectivity a smart watch gives you. Today, it just works and motivates me. I cannot wait to see what the future holds with the Amazon Halo Band.
***Update***One thing I forgot to add but is important relates to why the Amazon approach to activity is important. Most fitness bands / watches track steps. It is a solid metric. What makes Halo better is, while it tracks steps, it does so in conjunction with the effort you are putting in. So let me show you what I mean. Today, I got credit for just over 4,000 steps on my 50 minute elliptical workout. I got 51 points for it. After going about my day, showering, working, getting ready for tomorrow, etc. I have finished my day at just over 15,000 steps. However, I have only earned an additional 20 points to finish at 71 points for the day. The point is, that the Halo Band is able to weigh steps during a workout as being more valuable than steps taken running around the office or my home. You get credit for those steps but the weight is scored heavier when your heart rate is higher. Steps are good but it is the kind of steps you are taking that make the difference to your health and weight. There are other bands that do this kind of thing but I think that Amazon has executed it particularly well here. One other thing I should have added from my first go is that Halo is partnered with Weight Watchers. My wife uses Weight Watchers and she finds Halo to be incredibly valuable to her efforts. It automatically syncs your activities in your WW account so she doesn't need to track that manually any longer. Great addition for all you Weight Watchers fans. It is available through Labs.
03/05/21 Update: Amazon recently released a substantial update to the band which does a number of useful things. First and foremost, it now has voice integration with Alexa that is useful. You can just ask for updates like "Hey Alexa, how many steps do I have today?" It is a nice integration. It is optional in the app. I will include a picture of the toggle above. Additionally, they have enhanced sleep tracking. It is more robust and allows you to tap your finger on your sleep grid at any point to see the time much like Fitbit does. They have also enhanced 'Discover' which allows you to more easily find new content such as workouts and meditations you might want to try. Lastly, they added a calendar sync for Tone which I do not use due to the afformentioned battery drain. However, this looks pretty neat. So, say you have "lunch with Mom" on your calendar. Halo will track your tone during that time and let you know how your tone and mood seemed during the lunch. I won't use it but it seems like a useful enhancement to a feature that is unique to the Halo band. This update is a great example of the potential this band has if Amazon continues to grow it and support it.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2020
Color: Blush + Rose GoldSize: MediumStyle: FabricVerified Purchase
Hard pass from me
By Katie Lewis on December 14, 2020
I will be returning. I have worn both Fitbit and Apple Watch for years (and for a while, both at the same time). This item is bulky and very uncomfortable. The actual device piece is very large, hard, and inflexible. It either has to be cinched so tight that it hurts, or it slides down and bangs itself on my wrist bone. The actual device piece sits up very high off the arm, and it stretches all the way across the wrist. The data is not useful at all. There is nothing I am getting from this that I can’t get from another device, and not having a screen to track progress (even just the dots on Fitbit) makes this invaluable and ineffective.
By Katie Lewis on December 14, 2020
Images in this review
