The lar M600 is the first truly fitness-centric smartwatch to come to the Android camp. It offers fitness sleep tracking that trumps most other fitness bs sportier Android ar watches. This is not a smartwatch designed for a sedentary couch potato who merely wants to track his steps. Rather, it’s for the devoted athlete who is serious about physically training for the next big showdown, or anyone who might be looking to transition to a heavily active lifestyle. I had the opportunity a few weeks ago to wear the M600 sample its fitness tracking app. I really like what lar is attempting to do for Android ar, though I’m also a bit put off by the bulky, masculine aesthetic of the M600. Android ar has come a long way since the first G tch hit the scene, the design of the M600 almost feels like a step back.
Function over form
The lar M600 is a gigantic smartwatch covered in smooth, black silicone. It reminds me of a toy watch I would have worn in the 90’s, though it also resembles a bloated version of the discontinued Sony Smartwatch 3. It’s big, it sticks out about a quarter of an inch off the wrist. Smaller hs will have trouble bending backwards while wearing this thing, I can’t imagine trying to transition from plank to downward dog with this behemoth strapped on. I tried on the M600 for about half an hour while its material is very comfortable, its bulky aesthetic is not particularly attractive. lar’s justification for the M600’s size is that it’s chock full of features you don’t get with a typical Android ar watch, for the most part that’s true. The M600 is not only equipped with both G GNASS, but it’s also waterproof, it can withst dynamic pressure so that divers can take it underwater. The lar smartwatch also employs six Ds on the bottom of the case for more accurate optical heart-rate monitoring. This compares to the dual D set-up that most other watches use. I tried it out for myself the darn heart-rate monitor gave away how anxious I get during briefings. I had no idea my heart beats so fast when I’m on the job! The M600 runs on a 500 mAh battery, which the company says should last up to 48 hours on one charge if you’re using the watch with an Android phone. (ione users will see battery life of up to 24 hours because of the lack of Bluetooth optimization.) ke most other Android ar watches, it features the traditional on/off side button, though there’s also an easy access button the front of the device that you can press when you’re ready to start a work out. This isn’t lar’s first dance with wearables. The company already offers an extensive line of fitness tracking devices, including the V800 smartwatch, which is widely used by professional athletes around the world. It’s likely that lar kept the M600 simplistic so that there’s some unity among its product lineup, but I would have liked to see at least another color option a thinner chassis to make it st out from the rest of it siblings.
A trainer on your wrist
lar hopes that its app will be what reels you in. The M600 comes preloaded with a companion app called lar Flow, which you can peak at in the ay Store. The app is only compatible with lar’s fitness trackers, so you can’t use with just any Android ar watch. lar Flow tracks all sorts of activities, including running, hiking, swimming, yoga, cross-country skiing. The idea is that if your body can do it, the app should be able to track it. The app tracks active time, burned calories, steps walked, sleep patterns (though I can’t imagine sleeping with it on). It also offers a quick overview of your training analyzes performance over time. I was impressed at the variety of activity offerings available in the Flow app, but I can’t speak to how functional it is when paired with a regimented training routine just yet. I’ll definitely be trying that out when the M600 comes in for review.
Clearly not for everyone
The M600 is geared up for the rigidly trained athlete who relies on numbers to quantify their physical improvements wants other app functionality. But for the average e who just wants to track his steps, there’s a whole ay Store filled with other Android ar offerings that are more stylish, more comfortable to wear. rhaps all the functionality of the lar M600 is totally worth the sacrifice of bulking up your wrist, but we won’t be able to tell until we try out the smartwatch for ourselves when it launches later this year.
