Amazon Halo View Review: Budget Fitness Tracker Packed With Features
Offers accurate health data and holistic wellness insights in a sleek, comfortable form.
Amazon Halo View Review: Does This Budget Tracker Deliver?
In a sea of wearable fitness trackers, the Amazon Halo View aims to offer an affordable, feature-rich solution for users wanting to keep closer tabs on their health. With its color display, comfort-focused strap, and integration with Amazon’s ecosystem, the Halo View promises a holistic approach to wellness—but does it live up to the hype? This review explores core features, real-world accuracy, and usability to help you decide if it’s worth the investment.
What Is the Amazon Halo View?
The Halo View is Amazon’s second-generation entry into the wearable fitness space. Unlike its predecessor (the screenless Amazon Halo Band), the View introduces a compact AMOLED color display on the wrist, enhancing ease of use and allowing for instant access to core metrics without reaching for your phone.
Key features include:
- Continuous heart rate monitoring
- Sleep tracking with depth analysis
- SpO2 (blood oxygen) measurement
- Step and calorie tracking
- Text and call notifications
- Touch and swipe navigation via its small display
- Water resistance for swim tracking
- Integration with the Amazon Halo app for reporting and insights
Design and Comfort
Amazon has focused on a design that balances subtlety and function. The device is lightweight, making it ideal for all-day wear, with a soft, adjustable silicone strap that many users find comfortable even during sleep. The display is compact but responsive, enabling quick glances at your statistics directly from the wrist.
Waterproofing (up to 50 meters) means the tracker can be worn in the shower, pool, or during rain without concern. Strap size is adjustable and the View comes in multiple color options to suit different styles.
Setting Up and Getting Started
Initial setup is straightforward, requiring only a few steps via the Amazon Halo mobile app. Users download the app, create or sign into their Amazon account, and synchronize the Wristband via Bluetooth. After setup, the device is ready to track your core health stats.
The Halo View connects seamlessly for most, though some users reported needing to reposition the band for consistent readings, especially with heart rate monitoring. Charging is easy with the included tool-free USB charger, providing up to 7 days battery life on a single charge.
Core Tracking Features
Activity and Steps
The Halo View records daily step counts, tallying active and sedentary minutes, and calculates calorie burn based on individualized metrics. You can view real-time data on your wrist, dive deeper in the app, or set personalized activity targets to maintain accountability.
Heart Rate Monitoring
Using an optical sensor, Halo View tracks your heart rate continuously, providing readouts during exercise and rest. Comparisons with gold-standard chest straps show that the device reports within a few beats per minute of more expensive, specialized sensors—a level of accuracy suitable for most users seeking fitness insights rather than clinical precision.
Sleep Tracking
The device automatically detects when you’ve gone to bed and analyzes sleep cycles, including duration, wake periods, and time spent in light/deep phases. This helps users better understand their sleep quality and patterns over time.
SpO2 and Additional Wellness Metrics
SpO2 readings, or blood oxygen measurements, are available directly on the View’s screen—a feature common in modern wearables. This can give peace of mind regarding respiratory health, especially during sleep. Note that SpO2 readings are intended for wellness, not medical diagnosis.
The Halo App Experience
The Amazon Halo app is the neural hub of the system. Upon opening, users are greeted with an info-rich “Feed“, displaying daily activity, sleep trends, and health insights. The Data tab offers a more streamlined look at activities and sleep for users who prefer simplicity.
Key app features include:
- Detailed summaries of calories burned, steps, heart rate, and sleep data
- Visual graphs and weekly/monthly comparisons
- Personalized insights and reminders based on tracked trends
- Access to libraries of recipes, guided workouts, and mindfulness sessions
- Body composition analysis using smartphone photos (see below)
- Movement Health assessment—an analysis of mobility and flexibility based on video-guided exercises
The trade-off for such a comprehensive database is occasional “information overload”—some may find the Feed crowded, while others appreciate the abundance of personalized options and advice.
Body Composition and Movement Health Analysis
Standing out in the fitness tracker market, Halo View offers an advanced body composition tool, which uses a guided in-app photo process to estimate body fat percentage. Movement Health is another specialty, where users record themselves performing a short movement circuit via phone; the app then analyzes flexibility, stability, and range of motion, suggesting areas for improvement.
While innovative, some users may feel sensitive about privacy for photo-based scans, but all images are securely processed and can be deleted from Amazon’s servers after analysis.
Alexa Integration
Although lacking a microphone for direct voice input, the Halo View leverages Amazon Alexa for a hands-free experience. With Alexa-enabled devices, users can ask for fitness stats, heart rate, or sleep reports pulled from the Halo platform, jumptstarting their day with health data without lifting a finger.
Membership and Features
Halo Membership unlocks the full suite of analytics and content for $3.99/month after a complimentary 12-month trial included with purchase. Membership perks:
- Advanced data breakdowns (body composition, movement health)
- Customized workout and nutrition plans
- Mindfulness and sleep support
- Tone analysis (on legacy devices only; not on Halo View)
Without membership, users retain access to basic tracking (steps, sleep, calories, heart rate), making the device functional even for those who opt out of ongoing fees. The membership is competitively priced, especially compared to alternatives such as Fitbit Premium at $9.99/month.
Key Strengths of the Halo View
- Value: Priced around $79, affordable for the feature set
- Long battery life: Up to 7 days on a single charge
- Accurate core metrics: Steps, heart rate, SpO2, calories burn, and sleep tracking
- Comfortable fit for extended wear
- Waterproof design for all-weather/sport usage
- Comprehensive app features—from health insights to recipes and mindfulness
Areas for Improvement and Downsides
- No built-in GPS: Cannot track outdoor runs/cycles with mapped distance, a dealbreaker for runners
- Some users experience inaccurate heart readings if the band isn’t snugly fitted
- Body composition and movement health analysis may be too personal for some
- App learning curve: Some find the app “a bit overwhelming” due to the sheer number of options
Additionally, while call and text alerts are handy, advanced notifications and app integrations (calendar, social messaging) lag behind major smartwatches.
Comparing Halo View vs. Competitors
| Feature | Amazon Halo View | Fitbit Inspire 2 | Xiaomi Mi Band 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | AMOLED color | Monochrome OLED | AMOLED color |
| Battery Life | Up to 7 days | Up to 10 days | Up to 14 days |
| Heart Rate & SpO2 | Yes | Heart only | Yes |
| GPS | No | No (connected only) | No (connected only) |
| Membership | Optional, $3.99/month | Optional, $9.99/month | No subscription |
| Body Composition | Yes (via app) | No | No |
Price and Availability
The Amazon Halo View retails at around $79 USD and is typically available via Amazon in the United States. Purchase includes a 12-month Halo membership, which can be renewed for $3.99/month if desired. International availability is currently limited, with most support and warranty options linked to the U.S. market.
Real-World User Impressions
- Many users praise the long battery life and ease of use for everyday fitness tracking
- Comfortable fit, sleek appearance, and easy syncing with the app and Amazon account are frequently mentioned
- Sleep tracking, step and activity metrics generally seen as accurate and helpful for building habits
- Some feedback about the app being feature-rich but “busy”, and a learning curve for newer users
- Waterproofing and strong build quality seen as positives for active users
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Does the Amazon Halo View have built-in GPS?
A: No, it does not have built-in or connected GPS capability. It will not track the distance of your outdoor runs or bike rides independently.
Q: How accurate is the heart rate monitor?
A: The Halo View’s heart rate readings are generally within a few beats per minute of chest-strap monitors, considered accurate for consumer fitness tracking, unless the strap is too loose, which can impair readings.
Q: What features do you lose if you don’t pay for Halo Membership?
A: Without an active membership, you can still access core stats such as steps, calories, sleep, and heart rate; advanced analytics like body composition, movement health assessments, custom workout and nutrition plans require a subscription.
Q: Is it comfortable for all-day and overnight wear?
A: Yes, the lightweight band and soft strap are designed for comfort around the clock, including while sleeping.
Q: Can I use Halo View outside of the United States?
A: Availability and support are primarily US-based. The device and membership features might be limited or unsupported in other countries.
Final Verdict
The Amazon Halo View stands out as a well-priced, feature-packed fitness tracker that covers all the basics—steps, sleep, calorie burn, SpO2, and heart rate—while offering additional holistic wellness tools for those who desire them. Its comfort, robust app ecosystem, and competitive membership make it appealing for most general users who value daily health monitoring. However, athletes or outdoor adventurers may find its lack of GPS limiting. For those prioritizing value and core health insights with the option to expand, Halo View is a solid contender in the budget fitness tracker market.
References
- https://www.wareable.com/fitness-trackers/amazon-halo-review-8244
- https://www.techgadgetscanada.com/review-amazon-halo-view-fitness-activity-tracker/
- https://www.bestbuy.com/site/reviews/name/6492470
- https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/fitness-trackers/amazon-halo-view/m404878/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWRDxhxgPKE
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