Razer's smart Nabu activity tracker is back with an improved design
The new Razer Nabu can track your steps, distance, calories burned and sleep, while also being able to display notifications from your Android or iOS device.
Razer was ahead of its time with its first Nabu smartband . The activity tracker debuted in early 2014 and was one of the first to include smartphone notifications. Production problems resulted in a limited release and the company eventually moved on to the more affordable Nubu X . But the original Nabu hasn't been forgotten, and on Friday the company unveiled a slightly redesigned version of the activity tracker at the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) video game convention in Seattle.
The new Nabu has all of the features found in your average Fitbit or Jawbone. It can track steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned and active minutes. The band can also measure the amount of sleep you get each night. This is done automatically, so you don't need to tap any buttons or enter a special sleep mode like you do with the Jawbone Up2 . To wake up you can set the band to gently vibrate.
The Nubu also contains a unique band-to-band communication feature. This lets two users share contact information and initiate friend requests with a handshake. You will, however, need to find another person that owns a Nabu activity tracker.
The tracker features a 128x16-pixel resolution screen to display your activity stats and notifications from an iPhone or Android device. There is a single button on the top of the band that lets you scroll through all of the different data screens. A shaking gesture is used to dismiss notifications.
When it comes time to shower or do the dishes, you won't need to remove the Nabu. While it can withstand splashing and showering, it isn't designed to be fully submerged, so swimming is out of the question.
One of the problems I had with the original Nabu was build quality. The screen scratched with normal usage and the rubber on the band was easily dented. I also found it to be rather uncomfortable to wear. There was one thing I liked about the band, but unfortunately it isn't being carried over to the new design.
The original Nabu featured a Micro-USB port right on the band for charging. It appears the new model will require a special plug or dongle. As for battery life, Razer said it should last up to 6 days, which is on par with the similarly featured Garmin Vivosmart .
Preorders begin September 15 for $100. International pricing and release information wasn't announced, but the US price converts to about £65 in the UK and AU$140 in Australia. Razer will begin shipping the redesigned Nabu in October.