Hume Band vs Apple Watch: which one should you choose?

Every once in a while, a new wearable pops up and promises something "new" in the field of fitness, readiness, and health tracking. As a successful brand in the niche, Hume has quickly positioned itself as the industry’s leader, but others are quickly picking up the pace.

This time around, we found a rather exciting competitor, as you’ll be able to see from this Hume Band vs Apple Watch guide. Together with my research team at Cybernews, I looked at this comparison from different angles to explain which choice makes the most sense.

At first glance, Hume Band seems like a better option overall, providing supposed long-term fitness insights and metabolic capacity tracking. On the other hand, Apple has made significant progress in the healthtech niche with its latest wearables, such as the Apple Watch Series 11.

Join me in this guide to find out how they stack up.

Hume Band vs Apple Watch overview

Check out this Hume Health Band vs Apple Watch comparison to get the head-to-head details you might need to make the final call.

Device	Hume Band	Apple Watch
Rating	4.8	4.6
Activity features	Daily health scores with metabolic capacity overviews, strain and recovery metrics, and sleep tracking features	Daily health status checks, heart rate and respiratory rate measurements, sleep tracking, ECG tracking, and blood pressure tracking
Weight	8.6g	34.6g to 37.8g (depending on series)
Battery life	Up to 7 days	Up to 24 hours
Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) compatibility	❌ No	✅ Yes
FSA/HSA eligible	✅ Yes	❌ No
App	Hume Health app	Vitals app, ECG app
Price range	From $199 to $249	From $399 (Series 11)
Subscription cost	None required	None required
What we liked	Long-term health-related insights and metabolic capacity tracking Subscription-free tracking and AI coaching options Daily fitness recommendations based on your metabolic capacity	Claimed hypertension and blood pressure spike identification Premium materials and upscale production ECG tracker built into the app
What we didn't like	Worse material quality compared to Apple Relatively short battery life	24-hour battery life (18 hours of active use and 6 hours of sleep tracking) High upfront cost

How we test smart devices

To get our Apple Watch vs Hume Band ratings, my Cybernews research team and I came up with a unique ranking methodology for healthtech devices, focusing on the following aspects:

• Features and technology (40%). The first thing I checked was the list of tech features for claimed health tracking. I also looked at the sensors and their type, as well as the complete list of health-related insights.
• Design and comfort (20%). I overviewed the general comfort of wearing both to give you an idea of what’s best for you.
• Cost and value (20%). I also considered the long-term benefits of using these devices compared to their prices.
• Battery life (10%). The whole point of healthtech wearables is to have them on you during your daily activities, so I pushed both of these to their limits to test them out.
• User feedback and reliability (10%). Finally, I reviewed the comments and feedback left by previous users to see if they aligned with my firsthand experiences.

Device considerations: smart band vs watch

Smart bands and smart watches are two fundamentally different types of wearables in terms of their weight, design, quality of materials, features, and price tags. To further point out their distinctions, I’ll give you a detailed overview below:

Smart bands like Hume Band:

• Very comfortable and lightweight
• Less likely to be damaged compared to smart watches
• Focused on health-related and wellness insights and tracking
• Extended battery life with up to 7 days of use

Smart watches like the Apple Watch Series 11:

• Premium materials like the top-quality glass display
• Multifunctional lifestyle devices offering more than just fitness tracking
• Real-time notifications and integration with health-tracking apps
• More expensive options compared to smart bands
• Shorter battery life span

What is Hume Band?

Hume Band is a lightweight and affordable smart band device for tracking basic fitness-related metrics. It comes without a display, so the price tag is a bit lower when compared to the Apple Watch.

Hume is a renowned company in the healthtech sphere, and it also developed the Hume Health app, which integrates with the band. You can use it to check your fitness and health-related metrics for an overview of metrics, including sleep, heart rate, recovery, and metabolic capacity.

It is said to focus on longevity, giving you all the tools to boost your performance and recovery up to the extent that it positively affects your metabolic age. I especially liked its personalized insights and exercise-related recommendations for app users.

What is the Apple Smart Watch?

The Apple Smart Watch has been on the market for quite some time now. However, it’s only with the latest releases, like the Smart Watch Series 11, that health-related tracking took full swing at Apple.

From my perspective, one of its biggest benefits is direct integration with apps like Apple Health and dedicated ECG and Vitals apps. It’s even claimed to measure heart rate and blood pressure with remarkable accuracy, but I’d still point out that it’s not a medically proven device.

You can also use the Workout app with features like Pacer and Custom Workout to optimize your training sessions according to the insights that the device gives you. The latest generation of the Apple Watch now provides supposed ECG tracking, SpO2 measuring, and other health-related features, all while still offering basic calls/messaging and GPS options.

Most popular Apple Watch models

There are plenty of different variations of the Apple Watch, but I’ve outlined the best ones in terms of claimed health and fitness tracking:

1. Apple Watch Series 10 - Best for cutting-edge features
2. Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) Smartwatch - Best budget-friendly Apple Watch
3. Apple Watch Series 8 - Best for advanced health tracking
4. Apple Watch Series 7 - Best for a larger display
5. Apple Watch Series 9 - Best for performance and Siri integration
6. Apple Watch Ultra - Best for athletes and adventurers

Hume Health Band vs Apple Watch: design and comfort

Some of the biggest differences between Hume Band and the Apple Watch can be seen in their design.

Hume Band boasts a rather minimalist appearance with no screens or displays and features a comfortable SuperKnit wristband, which is supposed to make everyday wearing easier. It’s lightweight, which doesn’t necessarily mean the material is weak or prone to tears. In fact, it’s pretty durable and even water-resistant.

On the flip side, the Apple Watch is made out of high-grade aluminum or titanium, depending on the model.

Some devices capable of health tracking, like the Series 11, feature a full-glass display, which is a testament to the material’s quality. I’ve checked some of the latest Apple Watch versions and was amazed by the high-quality OLED displays. Plus, Apple Watches are water-resistant, as well.

Hume Band vs Apple Watch: cost and value

In terms of pricing and subscriptions, it’s not exactly a close race: Hume Band starts at just $199, which is half of the Apple Watch base price. Still, it all depends on the band’s model, so the price can go up to $249 for the device alone, without any subscription.

While we’re at it, there’s no subscription required for this one, but you can opt for the premium plan with broader functionalities in the Hume Health app. This way, you can get access to advanced features, like AI coaching and personalized recommendations.

You can use some base functionalities like sleep tracking and health-related scores via the free version, though. There’s also the 30-day money-back guarantee with a 1-year standard warranty as reassurance.

Best of all, we can offer you an exclusive Hume discount code CYBER20 that shaves 50% off smart scale and band purchases.

As for the Apple Watch, it starts at $399 and goes up to $499 or even higher, depending on the model. You can also use Apple's monthly installments to purchase it.

I also liked the fact that the watch easily integrates many great health-tracking apps like Apple Health, and there’s no need to pay a subscription fee here.

Apple Watch vs Hume Band: core metrics tracked

I’ve also found a few differences in the tracked metrics of these two wearables. Starting with Hume Band, the device supposedly monitors metabolic capacity by measuring your body’s energy production and usage. It gives you a metabolic momentum score, too, based on your daily habits and results.

The brand also claims that the device can potentially help identify certain signs that may indicate health issues, but all insights must be confirmed by professional medical checkups.

In terms of performance, the device marks your recovery patterns for custom recommendations.

Moving to the Apple Watch, it can supposedly track everything from blood oxygen levels to blood pressure, ECG, heart rate variability, and irregular rhythm. Based on these metrics, it can give you custom workout insights, and you can also use Apple’s fitness apps, which are integrated without any extra cost.

Hume Band vs Apple Watch: battery life

One of the things that make smart bands better than smart watches is the massive difference in battery life. Once fully charged, your Hume Band is good for 5 to 7 days of continuous use, and it’s estimated at even longer periods while in standby mode.

On the other hand, the Apple Watch can last between 18 and 36 hours, but it’s mainly rated at 24 hours on a full charge as the middle ground. In some cases, it might keep working longer than that, but I still prefer the longer battery life of Hume Band.

I also made some interesting findings concerning their charging times. Hume Band only takes from 30 to 90 minutes to fully charge, while the Apple Watch needs from 90 minutes to 2 hours. Ultimately, Hume Band is a safer option if you’re traveling or simply don’t have the time to charge the device daily.

Hume Band vs Apple Watch: pros and cons

To fully settle the Hume Band vs Apple Watch debate, you also need to consider the pros and cons of each. Here’s an overview based on my firsthand perspective and findings:

Hume Band vs Apple Watch: which one should you choose?

Ultimately, the matter of Hume Band vs Apple Watch depends on your perspective and needs. Through my research, I’ve come to realize that Hume Band is a far better option focused on training and fitness tracking metrics. It’s also very simple and convenient to use, lasts for up to 7 days on a single charge, and is easily integrated with the Hume Health app.

Still, the Apple Watch is a worthy contender, considering that it is more of a lifestyle addition that still comes with comprehensive health-related tracking features. So, if you’re looking for a stylish accessory with all the performance and recovery insights you could need, Apple Watch does just fine.

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