Customer Ratings & Reviews

I have been using this band for the last 1 month and getting very comfortable with the operations. I also tried UP2, Fitbit, Fitbit HR before moving towards Band. Pros of Band2: 1) You don need to constantly monitor the progress in your Phone as we usually do with other Trackers due to the beautiful display 2) UV Tracking is a plus 3) Other activity tracking along with various modes for different exercise starting from Cycling, Stair climber, Rowing, Strength and ofcourse Running with GPS is working accurately 4) HR is accurate as I tried to compare with other devices Cons: Batter last only for 2 days. With IPHONE, data sync is very slow. Wakeup Microsoft. Band is kind of heavy but you get used to it in few days and acts like a mini smart watch. I like the Starbucks pay feature a lot. Overall, For 175$ I feel its a great buy. Go for it !!!

The Microsoft Band 2 is a big improvement over the Band 1 in several ways. The shape is more comfortable and easier to wear (the 2 doesn't snag on long-sleeves like the 1 did). The screen size is slightly larger, making items easier to see and making it possible to type on its on-screen keyboard. It also has several new features, including a smart alarm, inactivity alerts, an motion-based "watch mode" activation, and music controls for music playing on your phone, that make it a serious competitor in smart wearables. The smart alarm alone was worth it to me, but the inactivity timer and music controls definitely seal the deal. However, it still has a few flaws that might make you reconsider. The screen orientation is still 90 degrees perpendicular to what most people would consider comfortable or intuitive. It still can't charge while being worn and the charge port is still awkward (new location and design, but still awkward). But worst of all is battery life. Just using it for notifications and sleep monitoring - no workouts or anything - I go through about 40-50% battery life in 24 hours from a 100% charge. For anyone using the Band 2 for tracking their workouts or long hikes/walks/rides, you can expect the battery to drain rapidly during active monitoring. Turning on location awareness for a long hike will kill the battery completely in 4-6 hours. Overall, it's an excellent device for people like me who aren't already active but who want to monitor and improve their lifestyle. For those who already live an active lifestyle, the battery life may not be good enough for your routine. For someone like me who has central sleep apnea and difficulty waking up, the smart alarm can be a life saver.

I was attracted to the Microsoft Band 2 by the multitude of sensors, especially the ones not available on other fitness bands or watches. At first, I had issues with the comfort/fit. I have thinner wrists, and the contacts leave indents in my skin (especially overnight) which took some time to get used to, so I switched wrists often, and loosened/tightened it depending on what I was doing. It still leaves the marks, but it's not as irritating as it was (I find watches irritating as well, so I'm probably at the extreme end :). I can type just fine it (I wear it facing inwards and my left wrist) and it doesn't get in the way. The positives of this band are plenty and hence my review. Firstly, the app is great, the desktop/browser dashboard is even better. It can connect to Apple iOS, Android or Windows Phones which automatically make it easy to use with whatever/whenever you change phones/services. This is a huge deal since many other services are tied to ONE company, and if you find something you think you might enjoy more, you can't bring your stuff with you with those kinds of companies. The app syncs with your band several times through the day (or you can sync it manually) and the information is uploaded to the cloud. You can view great information in the app, but the magic is the website dashboard. You can break down into details, time comparisons, comparisons with other people in your category, gender/age/bmi/activity level, etc. The sleep tracking is awesome (on the website you can view your heartrate during your entire sleep, view your periods of light and restful sleep, and your 'awake' times. It'll give you a small review in the morning telling you little things that can help improve your sleep. The 'Smart Alarm' allows the band to notice when you are in lighter sleep to wake you up easier (up to 30 minutes before your alarm time) with a subtle vibration. (you can turn this off if you just want to sleep until your alarm). For walks/runs, you can turn on GPS (though you'll only get 4-6 hours of use with GPS on), an you will have a map with your travel, colour coded by speed, interval times, heart rate, etc. You can even use it for golf, though I haven't tried that. I've only fiddled with the workouts, which give you your exercises on your phone, and the band let's you know when to start/stop based on time or with some exercises, reps. I've only used the UV sensor one day as well. Another sensor that I'm not sure have a visible use for yet include galvanic skin response - maybe you can make a mood band app! You also have the ability to set it to always show the date/time, or to only show it when you lift/twist your wrist - my preference. My wife has used it to pay for Starbucks, which is the only pay app on the Band as of this writing. Checking text messages is great. Email is neat for checking the header information to see whether it's worth picking up the phone to read the email or not. You can use Cortana (I think only on Windows Phone?) by talking to your Band (it simply connects to the phone and does your search - so you'll have to pick up the phone anyways. I find the sensors very accurate, though walking requires your arms to move - carrying a glass usually results in no steps. The positive side is that you don't end up with Fitbit '500 steps taken' while driving your car or brushing your teeth ;). My altimeter for measuring floors up/down doesn't seem to be super accurate. Doesn't work enough in our home, and at a hospital, I only measured 1 floor, even though we went up 2 and down 2 - maybe I wasn't moving my arm enough? Not sure for that. Heart rate works really well once it's locked, though it'll jump somewhat if your heart rate skips - though I believe it takes the average during the time it takes the measurements for data purposes. And calories burned are based on the heart rate (so doing nothing, or sleeping, shows your estimated calories burned - while walking/running/exercising would show an increase along with heart rate). Overall, I enjoy the Band 2 a lot, and would recommend it to anyone, with the caveat of giving it at least a couple of weeks to get used to the clasp/battery/anodes and find the position and arm that feels most comfortable to yourself. I switch arms sometimes a couple of times a day, sometimes not for days. I get a full 2 days of battery life, though I find giving it a quick charge while in the shower/getting ready is enough to keep me going.

So, I'm a die-hard Microsoft guy, but I'm also very picky about my tech. I had the original band and loved it, but this new band blows it away. The style and comfort is light years beyond the original. All the great things and features of the original are there plus there are more. If you want the best hybrid of a smartwatch and fitness band this is the one for you. Track your steps, run, biking, sleep, golf, heart rate, calories, flights of stairs, and then get all your texts, notifications, emails, Facebook, Twitter, Facebook messenger, and missed phone calls on your watch. Reply tot texts right from the watch. Trust me...you'll love it.

I find the Microsoft Band 2 to be a pretty good, well rounded contender in the field of wearables. It is reasonably comfortable to wear, and easily adjusts. Charging is quick, and can be done while in the shower in the morning or by taking a break from wearing it. Battery lasts me all day and through a sleep cycle, charged in the morning. The Band's fitness tracking for runs and general exercise has been fairly accurate, as with the step counter. I have not evaluated the golf functionality. Guided workouts are nice, to prompt different exercises, while working on a routine. Bluetooth connectivity is pretty good, there is a bit of jank sometimes trying to pull up the keyboard to reply to text messages (seriously, it works, you can type on it), or use the MP3 controls. It is nice that you can customize what notifications you get on the band, but, not much beyond the application level, so it may not be perfect for all uses. So far after owning it for a few months, it has not broken or failed. I worry that by the end of it's two year lifespan it will not look pretty, or that the clasp will have broken, but, so far so good. If you are looking for something more simplistic, as you are not interested in seeing news, email, etc on your wrist, this may not be the best choice, there may be less expensive options. Similarly, this is not a water proof device, and is not going to work for those who want to swim, like triathetetes, or those looking for chest straps or other metering options. It is a middling choice in the health wearables arena, one which does well for me as a notification device and fitness tracker. I will admit I am a Windows Phone user, which would limit the number of choices for me anyways, though anyone evaluating a not-quite-full-blown smart watch should at least take a look, regardless of their phone type.

I have been wearing the Band2 for nearly 2 solid weeks without any issues. I track my sleep, 2 bike rides, 4 runs, several hikes, daily steps while I sync with my Nokia windows phone. I'm using the Windows Health app to track all activities (no issues), Cortana seems to work just fine, I get instant updates and notices from Text, email, phone calls, Cortana, UV, daily goals etc... and no GPS issues at all. It is so comfortable I hardly even notice it on my wrist. I stopped wearing a watch years ago, but having the ability to easily check time is great. I have greatly reduced pulling out my cell now that I get everything on my band2! I was tossed giving it a 4 or 5 only because of battery life even though I haven't had any problems. Charging is quick, but being new it is always on my mind.

Maybe I am just too old @ 60 years old to get a good pulse rate measurement during exercise. The Band 2 is the absolute best product i've used. GPS tracking in the Band while biking or walking. Great sleep tracking. All the features offered by bluetooth. Microsoft Health is pretty good too. Unfortunately, during exercise my heart rate spikes to 188 beats per minute when I am actually 118. As a fairly fit 60 year, who had a heart attack 18 years ago, exercise programs of biking, elliptical, hiking, snow showing, good sleep, weight tracking are extremely important. the large error in pulse rate during exercise, is a deal breaker and with tears in my eyes I had to return it. I understand the pulse error doesn't effect everyone.. so give it a try. I wish MS would tell the many who are having problems and tell us how to correct the malfunction.

As many are mentioning, it is really great for what it does. It is not the best smartwatch, or the best fitness watch, but it might be one of the best combo packages. I really like the sleep tracker, and the continuous heat rate tracker, and it gives me access to emails, texts, etc. I don't have the Windows phone, so yes, I have used the tiny keypad as well, and believe it or not it works rather well for a short reply. Any longer reply would be too cumbersome, so I just pull out my phone for those. The GPS tracker feature is awesome. It kept a very accurate route for my last hiking through the woods with the family. Nice feature, but that does eat the battery life as others have mentioned. However, it has a battery feature that you can use for longer hikes, bike rides, that gives you most of what you need anyway. The band is comfortable to me, as I have worn this Band2 for over a month and a half straight. Yes, I only take off for showers (when I charge the band in the bathroom), and I put it right back on after. The battery has yet to deplete to the dead zone. So, the battery life has been great to me so far and is a non-issue. I really did not want a lot of 'fluff', but wanted a good combo fitness smartwatch, and I found the perfect match for me. BTW: my friend's band snapped in half last week, but he called the local Microsoft store and they gave him a free watch the next day when he was able to go over there. The "replace my band' feature allowed the data to move over, based on what he told me and he did not miss a beat. Way to go Microsoft!!!

After just a few months the band has torn and it's difficult finding someone to help get this repaired.

I've had the Band 2 for over 2 months now and I am loving it. The Microsoft Band 2 does everything I want and more. It is one of the few fitness devices that combines just about every feature available from GPS to a heart rate monitor. I would agree with the one downside that comes up in several reviews, that the design is a bit strange with the large, bulky, pack that sits near the band's clasp. But, after wearing it over several weeks, I don't realize it anymore. Certainly I hope Microsoft corrects this with the next iteration. Pros: Tons of features and Microsoft keeps adding them with feature updates. For example, the new explore feature you can use to track hikes. I also really enjoy the Microsoft Health app and web interface. It's easy to use and has great visuals to track fitness progress. Cons: Bulky design. Battery life is about 2 days, but much shorter if you use the GPS or have the screen on for workouts. It gets beat up quickly. Screen has a nick already and the band looks worn down due to the soft rubber like material. For me, I easily look past the Cons because it is so feature rich and is a great fitness band, and adds a few smart watch features like text, phone, and calendar notifications.

So far I am really enjoying the Band 2. It feels comfortable, it's not bulky and is a decent quality for the price. I've been comparing this to a few other devices and it seems to be very accurate. I could have probably used a medium, but this still fits well.

The Band 2 may have a slightly lower battery life than the Band, but this is more than made up for by better comfort and a higher build quality. (big price boost). The device is still a little chunky around the clasp where the galvanic sensor is located and lacks water proofing which I would view as necessary for an activity device. My band has been in continuous use for a month or so with no malfunctions. GPS can be slow to work. Also I'm not a big fan of the data residing in the cloud under Microsoft's care and protection, but that seems necessary to apply analytics for me and others (specifically cohort comparisons) . Hopefully all that data will be put to benevolent uses.

The Microsoft Band 2 is a BIG improvement from the first model, but i think its a little too expensive. It does everything health and it works really smooth. I think its comfortable and the sleep tracking feature its a must for a good rest. DO NOT BUY this if you want a smart watch to play with(iWatch, Android Smart). This purely for exercise, running, biking or golf.

The band is very good. I have being using it for 3 week. It is a little big, very close to unconfortable, but usable. The wheater does not work with iPhone 6. Battery last lest than 2 days. Everything else is very good. My wife loved the built in gps and that she has no loger to use a band to know her heart rate.

The Microsoft Band 2 has all the functionality to keep you motivated and more. I use it with my Apple phone and connected to my laptop running Windows 10. What I like....it keeps track of your steps, stairs, heart rate and calories burned. In addition in the running or biking mode you have GPS to keep accurate track of the miles you run/bike. The GPS also connects fast so that you don't have the wait minutes to get going. The battery life is short, however, the recharge rate is extremely fast. Overall I really like the band and the interface is easy to use. For the price you get a lot of functionality.

Band 2 works as advertised. Loaded with sensors and seems pretty accurate. Comfortable and unintrusive. Top off charge daily while showering etc. Only thing I wish Microsoft would push is sharing type app to compare stats to friends. So far happy with purchase.

Functionality-wise, the band 2 is a great product. It tracks steps, distance, route (GPS), heart rate, steps climbed, elevation change, etc. It's comfortable, easy to read, and it was very easy to set up. However, the battery is a deal-breaker. If I turn on GPS, a fully charged battery lasts less than two hours - not great for hiking. With GPS off, dim brightness setting and heart rate monitor on, battery has never lasted a full day and evening. One battery glitch: three times, I have gotten a message that the battery stopped and I had to reset the date and time. Great as the many, many features are, I would not recommend this product because of the very limited battery life and glitches.

If you saw my review of the band under the MS Band 2 Medium size, this is the same review. The only difference is I needed to exchange it for the large size. Best Buy did the swap no problem. Since I am a fan of Microsoft's products and I didn't care about doing challenges via a fitbit I decided to try the MS Band 2. I am not a runner, I mainly use the band 2 for step tracking, mild workouts and monitoring my heart rate. It does a good job at all those things. If you are a runner it will track you via GPS and give you a detailed report of your run on the MS Health app. If you start a run and only walk, you can still use the GPS run tracker. The band 2 works with the MS Health app which is available on Windows Phone, Android and iPhone. I have used it on both WP and Android and it works great on both. If you use the default applications for texting and email, both will show up on the band as well. I use the texting feature and it works great if I am in a meeting and want to see who sent me a text without taking out my phone. You can also reply from the band 2 and its not that hard to tap type on the tiny little keyboard.

As a personal trainer and fitness enthusiast, I've been waiting for a smart watch that has more functionality and capabilities than what is already out on the market and the Microsoft Band 2 definitely comes very close to meeting my needs. The simplistic design and functionality makes it very easy to use and I barely realize I'm wearing it half the time. As a workout tool, it is simply an awesome companion to have, keeping track of all the essentials. I find it hard to take off to let it charge sometimes! The only thing that really gives this product a 4 instead of a 5 is its lack of (but up and coming) FULL functionality with non Windows phones as well as the lack of Apps currently available. This thing definitely gets the job done as a smartwatch fitness tracker but I feel with the hardware it has inside and the resources Microsoft has, it could be SO much more.

I purchased my Band2 about a month ago but was considering and researching the product (and the competitors) for about 6 months (Yeah, it takes me awhile to truly decide what I want). I looked at the reviews, read about all the different Fitness Trackers out there and then finally decided to pull the trigger! And boy am I glad I went with this one! I love the sleep tracking, the UV Sensor, and the Heart Rate Monitor!! I haven't actually exercised with it yet, but am looking forward to the Spring Weather so that I can test out the Golf feature and the running :D Although I was leery about the online complaints about the Band2 (band breaking, battery mysteriously loosing charge, etc), Best Buy's Warrenty fixed that! They will replace the Band2 for accidental damage!! Only thing that could make this better is if the Band 2 was waterproof- but then again, the majority of the competitors aren't either, so no big deal!