In the mood for a Pomo 37
The numbers seem a bit wonky, but this fitness-tracking wristband costs less than Bt3,000
THE POMO 37 fitness-tracking wristband will monitor your blood pressure and heart rate, counts your step and track your sleep – and even keep an eye on your mood.
Sold with wristbands in black, blue or orange and two USB battery-chargers (a spare in case you lose one), the device is compact and lightweight enough to wear all the time, including in the shower.
An optical sensor monitors blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate as well as emotional status, but you have to make sure you’re wearing the wristband properly. It’s got to be on the left wrist, two fingers’ width from the bone formation called the ulnar styloid process. The manual shows you exactly where.
There’s no display to read, just an LED lamp indicating current charge status. If the light’s green, the tracker is fully charged, if flashing it’s recharging, and if red and flashing, you’re running low.
To read your fitness data, you need to pair the wristband to your smartphone or tablet using an easily downloaded app. You just use your phone to scan the QR code on the Pomo 37 packaging, or else browse to www.PomoHouse.com/pomo37_dl.
There are two versions of the app – Android for Android 4.3 devices or later and iOS for iOS 7 or later.
Once it’s installed, you simply switch on the Bluetooth of your device and the connection to the Pomo 37 is made. On first use the app sends a code to your phone to activate the wristband. Then you enter your gender, birthday, height and weight and indicate which wrist it will be sitting on.
Racing off to test the Pomo 37, I noticed that the pedometer was counting far fewer steps than the previously tested Fitbit Charge HR. The latter recorded my day’s tally at 11,413 steps, but the Pomo 37 counted only 7,828.
This is apparently because the Charge HR included the number of “steps” I made peddling my bicycle to the office and back – and also because the two devices might be using different algorithms.
The Pomo 37 also seemed to be overestimating my blood pressure and showed fluctuations throughout the day, ranging from 168/110 to 124/73. Pomo says its optical sensor detects changes in the blood circulation and uses algorithms to calculate the pressure level.
My heart rate, meanwhile, came up between 51 and 80 beats per minute and my breathing rate at 20 times per minute.
The Pomo 37 reported the length of time I was in bed, the duration of deep sleep and light sleep and the number of times I woke up during the night.
The Pomo 37 is made by Thai firm Pomo House, whose export arm, Pomo International, is based in Singapore.
The Pomo 37 retails for Bt2,990.
Key Specs
- Weight: 21 grams
- Operating temperature: Minus-10 degrees to|45 degrees C
- Battery capacity: 157mAh
- Battery type: |Lithium polymer
- System requirements: Android 4.3 or above, |iOS7 or above
- Connections: Bluetooth 4.0
- Length: 247mm full, 145mm to 209mm adjustable
- Waterproof grading: IP54
