Noise has bundled all the features you’d find in any wearable today and added the ability to take phone calls via Bluetooth. This makes a big difference, as calls through smartwatches are largely reserved for products in the premium segment. With this, Noise probably hopes to capture a larger share of the domestic wearable market. Also read: The best gadgets for the road But can it? If you’ve used budget smartwatches before, the ColorFit Ultra Buzz, released a few months ago, won’t surprise you in any way. It is quite a large and thick watch, weighing 43 grams without the strap. Devices like Amazfit Bip U Pro or Realme Watch 2 are lighter and easier to use, even if they offer smaller screens. Weighing under 38 grams and with case sizes around 40mm, the latter two are easier to wear throughout the day — with the Ultra Buzz, you might like to take it off every now and then. That would matter little. If it’s your first smartwatch, you’ll probably wear it all day. Personally, with a budget of around ₹3,000, I would prefer an analog watch for aesthetics. But with all the connectivity and health tracking, the benefits of a smartwatch are undeniable in today’s market. The Ultra Buzz, however, is very large – and therefore not the most comfortable to wear. In fact, it may be too big for many wrists—with a case size that tops out at 46mm, compared to a globally optimal watch case size of 42mm. Women in particular, with a wrist size of around 40mm, may not be the right audience. If the app works for you, what you will like is the screen brightness. The touch response is also very good, but the interface stutters quite a bit. The smartwatch’s wake-up response is good, somewhat compensating for the absence of an always-on screen. I like the overall menu layout. You can access your call log on the left and your daily activity data on the right. The jittery interface detracts from the ease of use and experience, but it’s not too bad in terms of ergonomics. Sure, it’s no Apple Watch, but at less than a tenth of the price, it would be unfair to compare the two. The ColorFit Ultra Buzz’s fitness and health tracking capabilities are on par with most other smartwatch offerings. However, it’s not particularly accurate when it comes to tracking steps and monitoring heart rate. Step tracking, for example, shows about 30% higher numbers, which is a major deterrent if you want accurate readings. The heart rate monitor also shows quite fluctuating numbers—even during a moderate evening walk, the ColorFit Ultra Buzz showed heart rates above 200 bpm. While the stress showed fairly accurate readings, based on what I felt when I tried it out, the smartwatch wasn’t very good at tracking fitness. It works just fine for casual training and gives you a rough idea of progress in daily activities. It is this factor, more than its large dimensions, that negates the good work of decent aesthetics and a clean interface. Also Read: Five Homegrown Audio Apps Targeting Indians In Their Own Languages The key feature that the Noise aims to attract buyers with is its use of a Bluetooth calling interface, which makes it one of the most affordable smartwatches that support hands-free wireless calling. The feature works well with both iOS and Android, although there is a second long delay in transmitting the call notification from phone to watch. Fortunately, there are no delays in relaying the call itself. The built-in speaker on the smartwatch isn’t particularly loud, but it gets the job done. That makes its main feature a logical hit, so if you need a basic smartwatch that can make hands-free calls, the Ultra Buzz should be on your short list. At ₹3,299, the Ultra Buzz is not an ambitious gadget. But it could be a practical buy for a first-time buyer, despite the stuttering interface and inconsistent fitness tracking data. The watch looks well made and sturdy. It has a lot of watch faces, and although they take a while to sync with the watch itself, you’ll get quite a few quirky options. Hands-free calling works. Even when it comes to battery life, the Ultra Buzz does pretty well, delivering about four days of use on a single charge cycle. For a full charge, the watch takes about two hours—something you might need to do twice a week. Should you buy it? It’s not bad, and it gives you enough for a basic smartwatch experience. But there are better smartwatches on the market that are lighter, offer better fitness tracking, and a similar user experience for about the same price. Unless you’re planning to buy a Noise smartwatch, there’s no real reason why you should. Standards Screen: 1.75 inch LCD Resolution: 320×385 pixels Battery size: 300mAh Battery life: ~ 5 days Case size: 46mm Price: ₹3,299 Also read: This new Netflix show examines the future of dating and dogs
