Jawbone’s newest Up fitness trackers have have a difficult past year. When the devices were announced last November, there was tremendous excitement about them, especially the heart rate sensing Up3. After a significant delay, the bands only hit the market a few months ago. Not only did the delay kill any buzz the devices had, it also put them in a position where they faced much stiffer competition than Jawbone likely anticipated. Despite a bevy of sensors and a version capable of mobile payments, the Up2, Up3, and Up4 were not very well received or reviewed. Even though they featured very capable hardware and a stellar battery life, software issues limited the usefulness of the device.
The good news is that Jawbone is looking to correct its wrongs; the company is pushing out a significant firmware update today. One of the biggest issues being addressed is resting heart rate. Up3 / 4 will now check your resting heart rate throughout the day (instead of only when you wake up). Jawbone has also implemented automatic sleep detection that is so reliable the company has disabled the “mode” button on the band. Finally, the Up2’s design has been tweaked; the band is now more strap-like and lighter weight. For those looking for a full featured fitness tracking wearable but nothing else, the improved Up series of bands offers a compelling option. But at a price point between $100 and $200, Jawbone is competing directly against some of the older Android Wear smartwatches which offer significantly more features. That is tough market segment to be in and an uphill battle for Jawbone.
