14 DAY TRIAL // Earlier this month at IDF, Intel announced the advent of its Basis Peak wearable and showed a first image detailing the device.
Now Basis is unveiling the Peak wearable, as a follow-up of the Basis B1 fitness tracker. Like its predecessor, the device is packing health, fitness and sleep features, but it adds a bunch of new ones as well.
The Peak's design has been improved
The Peak is now made of aluminum and glass, so it’s not only better looking but it also brings along novelties such as motion and heart rate sensors.
An important aspect we should stop to focus on for a little while is that the Peak does not need to be paired with chest strap or smartphone in order to measure your heart rate and that’s a big plus.
Apart from that, the Peak is able to “recognize” what kind of exercise you’re subjecting yourself to (in order to better calculate calorie consumption) or how much tossing and turning goes around in bed while you’re sleeping.
Albeit being a fitness-tracking device, the Peak looks very reminiscent to a smartwatch and even has a small touchscreen to help you navigate around.
The wearable has been 5ATM certified for water resistance, which Basis says translates into you being able to take the device for a swim without worrying about its safety.
Digging even deeper in smartwatch land, at some point Basis will deliver an update that will enable the delivery of call and text notifications to your wrist.
The Peak is compatible with both Android and iOS smartphones and will sell for $199 / €156 (the average price of an Android Wear watch) starting in November from a variety of retail locations like Amazon, Best Buy and Basis’ own website.
The Peak is customizable strap-wise
The tracker will be offered in two designs, one with a matte black watchface with a black strap accentuated by red highlights and one with a brushed aluminum watchface with white and gray-accentuated band.
The straps are interchangeable and support third-party straps.
What about battery life, you might wonder. Like its predecessor, the Peak is said to be able to provide up to four days of work time, which is more than the Android Wear host can muster. However, the Intel wearable takes advantage of a black and white display, so it doesn't put such a strain on the battery.
The Basis Peak will make it out just in time for the holiday season and it will be interesting to see its impact on the market.
