Microsoft Band is a $199 smartwatch with GPS and two-day battery life

Microsoft Band goes official with ten sensors and $199 price tag

Microsoft has beaten Apple in the race to get a wearable to market. And unlike the iWatch, you might not have to charge the Microsoft Band every single day.

Microsoft Band goes official with $199 price tag

The Microsoft Band sits between smartwatches and fitness trackers. It’s a whole lot more than a Fitbit Flex, but not a full-blown third screen on your wrist like the iWatch or the bevy of Android Wear watches you can already buy (and may already have bought, for that matter).


Microsoft Band’s sensors allow it to measure heart rate, stress levels, and UV exposure among others. Available in three sizes, the device has built-in GPS, which allows runners to keep track of their workout without a phone. Its dual 100mAh batteries can power it for as much as 48 hours between charges.  

Microsoft Band goes official with $199 price tag

Like many fitness trackers, the Band is packed with sensors and designed to monitor heart rate, steps taken, calories expended, and even help assess the quality of your sleep. There’s also a sensor that can tell you what the UV index is so that you know whether you need to bump up the SPF (or just get out of the sun already). Stopwatch functionality is built in, too,

But the Band is capable of much, much more. It pairs with your phone via Bluetooth and can display incoming SMS messages, emails, Facebook, and Twitter updates. You can view your calendar and monitor your stock portfolio. It’s also plugged into the Microsoft Health cloud for customized fitness suggestions and detailed analysis of your sensor data.

Microsoft Band goes official with $199 price tag-exploded

Now, what about that price? $199 might seem a bit steep, but consider what you’re getting. There are numerous trackers on the market that offer no smartwatch functionality at all (except maybe a digital clock) that sell for around $150. Most also don’t have a GPS for that price, so you can’t track your runs without bringing your phone along — or they add GPS and drop other sensors. For an extra $50, you’re getting a device with a dynamic touchscreen that can display notifications, send text messages, and let you chat with Cortana (Windows only for now, but you’ve got to believe this will hit other platforms soon enough).

And compared to smartwatches, the Band is a lot like the Gear Fit, but again — no GPS. You’re still tethered to a phone for run tracking. It’s at least $50 cheaper than most other smartwatches on the market with the exception of the Gear Live and Pebble, but again, they’re missing sensors and/or GPS. And unlike the majority of smartwatches currently for sale, Microsoft Band works with Windows, Android phones, and the iPhone, too.

Microsoft Band goes official with $199 price tag

For $199, it looks like a smoking hot wearable if you’re in the market. One downside, though: it’s dust and splash resistant, not proof — so you won’t be able to use Band to track your aquatic routines.