Jawbone is unveiling two new wearable fitness trackers to add to its UP portfolio; the UP Move and the Up3.
The Move costs just $50 and can be worn as either a clip-on device or as a wristband. The Up3, however, is Jawbone's new flagship device, with a heftier price tag of $180.
"People are clearly seeing real and tangible benefits from the UP system, and we want to expand those benefits to the widest possible audience," said Danny Carvajal, head of project management at Jawbone. "With UP Move we are bringing a simple, yet savvy, fitness tracker within reach of everyone with a great price and some fantastic accessories."
The Up3 is much smaller than other UP devices Jawbone has released and is the first to incorporate biometric sensors. According to Jawbone, an update for the Up3 will be released next year and allow the device to track new things like respiration and hydration.
The UP Move is capable of tracking a number of basic metrics such as steps and sleep and is a cheap alternative for those who don't need the features that other fitness trackers offer at a higher price.
Both the UP Move and the UP3 feed into Jawbone apps, which are focused on taking data and displaying it in an easy-to-digest fashion. According to Jawbone's CEO, the Up3 is part of a "second wave" of wearable tech that can be worn all day and night for several days at a stretch.
Complex biometric sensors have slowly been finding their way into fitness trackers of late and the Up3 is no exception. In fact, the Up3 relies on rather different technology than most other fitness trackers on the market. Devices like the Apple Watch and the Fitbit Charge HR use optical heart rate monitors, which uses flashes of light on the skin to track blood. Unfortunately, these types of sensors are known to have a number of issues. Darker skin pigmentation can confuse the sensors. Not only that, but often the activity in wrist capillaries really doesn't reflect what is happening in the heart of an individual.
Jawbone's new technology, developed in-house with Body Media, which Jawbone acquired last year, sends light through the wrist to track blood flow and heart rate. The technology uses what's called bioimpedance, which sends a small electric current through the body to measure tissue resistance. Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) measures body composition, how much body fat in relation to lean body mass.
While it remains to be seen how accurate this technology is, although Jawbone says that it is as accurate as medical grade technology.
