Evaluation of Careeach HR

The Careeach HR is a free tracker provided by Health Promotion Board. The following is a comparison with Garmin Forerunner 935. The comparison is one way. That is to say only compare what Careeach HR has to Forerunner similar functionality only. It is unfair to compare with all the available features of Forerunner 935.

1. Steps - Steps are fundamental feature however it is noted that Careeach HR always track about 10% less compared to Garmin even the steps setting are the same. Garmin seems to show slightly more steps than usual.

2. Heart Rate - Careeach heart rate measurements are very unstable. It can go above 150 while Forerunner shows a modest sub 90. The measurement can simply drops well below 80 while exercising and can drop out of continuous measure mode unexpectedly. Its auto mode is most unreliable. I always turn on continuous mode while exercising. Garmin shows a bit less accurate in auto mode but function well in continuous mode. I can use Garmin to control the heart beat rate but not Careeach. The latter heart beat goes up and down too much and too quickly. Careeach calculates max heart rate according to age. It will buzz user to slow down if the heart rate goes beyond heavy range. Garmin does not buzz user and its range is fixed percentage.

3. Display of the Careeach tracker is always off but can be activated by hand or a twist of the hand but often have to make very large angle swing of arm in order to activate it. Garmin does not have this feature as its display is always on. Both tracker will switch over to clock mode if it not in continuous measure mode. Garmin heart rate display will switch to clock mode after a while but it will stay if it is displayed in sports tracking mode.

4. Upload of data is a hassle. At times the HPB App has to be turned off and on a few times to make it update. Sometimes, the whole hand phone has to be rebooted to get it to work. Garmin update to HPB is via its apps. Although two steps are required but the updates are usually reliable.

5. Charging of Careeach is via USB but the display can some times go straight into full by just plugging in the tracker. The full charge display can stay till it run suddenly out of juice thus lost valuable data. Turning off and on the tracker does not help. Garmin charging can be a bit of problem due to contact issues but never have wrong display issue.

6. Careeach states that its tracker is splash proof. However, one tracker died after going though a light drizzle. Had to replace it. Garmin is water proof up to 50 meters.

7. Battery life of Careeach is way too low to be compared to Garmin. But it can last at least 10 hour of continuous heart beat tracking mode. It could last 2 days or more on normal mode.

8. Careeach will buzz user if they stay static for too long. I am not sure Garmin has it.

For a free device, Careeach HR could be used for tracking steps. Heart rate is at best good for indicator only. Just don't exercise in the rain or use quick charger to charge it.