Microsoft Band 2 Impressions

by Felix Wong | 12 Nov 2015

It’s been just over a year since Microsoft had sort of silently surprised the world with the release of its first fitness band, the Microsoft Band. I got it on Day 1 of its release, and over the last year saw it improved with software updates that included Strava connectivity, a bicycling app, and automatic sleep detection. Those additions addressed virtually all my quibbles on the software front. It was a device that I was delighted with, one that packed a whopping 10 sensors and allowed me to sell all the Garmin tracking devices that I have long had a like-hate relationship with particularly because it has built-in GPS that does not require carrying around a phone.

But a year is kind of a long time in the tech world—especially for mobile devices—so when images and information were leaked about the second generation Microsoft Band, I promptly sold my first generation Microsoft Band on eBay before its resale value plunged into the ground like Wile E. Coyote. Although I was not able to purchase the Microsoft Band 2 on October 30, Day 1 of its availability, I was able to able to obtain one on Day 5 at the Microsoft Store in St. Louis. Now that I have used it for a whole week I can share some impressions of it, particularly in comparison with the first Microsoft Band.

1. The Microsoft Band 2 is very attractive. While the first generation looked high quality, it had an understated, industrial design with straight edges along the screen and two battery compartments under the rubber straps. In contrast, the new Band 2 is much sleeker with a curved display that melds into far more flexible straps. Also, the edges of the screen and the clasp are made of stainless steel which adds some bling, much like a shiny buckle on a fashionable belt. There are no silkscreen decals or logos; only the simple four-pane window Microsoft logo molded into the rubber near the clasp. In my opinion the Microsoft Band is the best looking fitness band/smartwatch on the market so far.
2. The Band 2 has Gorilla Glass 3 whereas the original Band had easily scratchable glass that necessitated a screen protector. Not needing a plastic screen cover improves the aesthetic and swiping feel immensely. I have yet to scratch the Gorilla Glass and considering the number of YouTube videos showing how Gorilla Glass cannot be scratched with knives or keys, I don’t expect it to as long as I do not go rock climbing wearing it.
3. Battery life seems significantly improved. Microsoft actually claims two days of battery life for both generations of the Microsoft Band. But with the Band 2, I always have more than 50% charge left after one day, so I believe that Microsoft is being conservative. Some users have said they have managed to get three or almost four days of use on one charge and up to 5.5 hours while running with GPS. Battery life seems good enough that my daily ritual of charging the Band 2 during my morning shower has kept it charged up enough that I have not even come close to depleting the battery yet. Both the Band 1 & 2 need only 20-30 minutes of charging to reach 80% battery capacity, although it may take up to two hours to reach 100%.
4. One reason for the improved battery life might be because the Band 2 gives the option to show the time when you rotate your wrist upwards (this works very well). This presumably conserves battery over having Watch Mode on all the time, which was how I and probably most other users had set the original Band. (Watch Mode set to always on resulted in 1.5 days of battery life for my original Band.) It also has the benefit of not emitting a distracting glow when you are not looking at it in the dark.
5. The run mode display is improved. On the original Band, the display prioritized total run time and I needed to swipe down on the screen to reveal other metrics. The Band 2 prioritizes showing distance run while simultaneously displaying pace and time run. Distance run and pace are usually the two metrics I care most about so I am happy with this change. (Update December 8: Not sure if this is a change or not. I just noticed that in the “Manage my tiles” settings, you can change what metrics are displayed and prioritized on the main screen.)
6. The charging port has been relocated. Before it was underneath the display side. I never had a problem with that, but other people said it caused skin irritation and dirt got into the charging port. Microsoft ingeniously solved this problem by locating the charging port on the Band 2 underneath the upper clasp! So when you are wearing the Band 2, the charging port never touches your skin.
7. There’s a new barometer, which enables the Band to record altitude changes and number of flights of stairs climbed. So now there are a total of 11 sensors: optical heart rate monitor, accelerometer, gyrometer, GPS, microphone, ambient light sensor, multiple galvanic skin response sensors (to determine if you are wearing the band), UV sensor, and barometer.
8. The Microsoft Band 2 has a new smart alarm that can wake you up at an optimal time, up to 30 minutes before your preset time, as determined by its sensors and algorithms. In theory you will wake up more refreshed despite laying in bed for a shorter amount of time. I have yet to use this feature enough to judge how well this works but will update this section after I have spent more time using it.
9. The screen is taller and more vibrant. Also, the user interface looks more modern and refined.
10. The Microsoft Band 2 sizes are a little larger. For the first generation, my wrist was squarely within the medium size; for the Band 2, either the medium (with clasp tightened almost all the way) or the small (with the clasp loosed almost all the way) would have worked. I went with the medium size because it looks better with the lower clasp entirely obscured by the upper clasp.

I have read that the optical heart rate monitor on the Band 2 is slightly more accurate and that GPS locks in shorter time. But they already seemed good to me on the original Microsoft Band and I cannot honestly tell a difference.

For the second generation of their fitness band, Microsoft hiked up the price by $50 (to $249) but I believe the above improvements totally justify it.

Other reviewers quibbled about things like the Microsoft Band 2 is not waterproof enough to swim or shower with it, that it does not look like a $10,000 Omega watch, and that it does not run Windows 10. Or the Microsoft Health app lacks social features that, say, Fitbit has (not really valid criticism since it can automatically upload your activities to social platforms such as MyFitnessPal and Strava).

But for me, the device is virtually perfect. If I had to nitpick, of course I would not mind if the battery life was even longer and that the lower clasp (housing the battery) was a little thinner.

Also, of course I would not have minded a lower price when I bought it, but I think when compared to the competition it was very reasonable. That said, if price is a deterrent, I would recommend picking up the original Microsoft Band on eBay. Now that the Microsoft Band 2 is out, the first generation is going for blowout prices like $70-110 at the time of this writing. That is the same price as an old-school Timex but has 10 sensors for recording fitness and sleep activity along with smartphone (Windows Phone, iOS, and Android) and automatic first- and third-party (e.g., Strava, MyFitness Pal, Runkeeper) fitness tracking connectivity.