AURA Strap 2 Offers Fat, Muscle and Water Balance Measurements on Apple Watch

[MacRumors]

AURA Devices today announced its second-generation AURA Strap, which is a follow up to the original AURA Strap that came out back in 2020. The redesigned and reengineered AURA Strap 2 is meant to augment the Apple Watch's health and fitness capabilities by adding bioelectrical impedance analysis.

The strap attaches to an Apple Watch and has sensors that rest against the wrist to take regular measurements. AURA says that it is able to measure body changes as a result of exercise, offering up fat, muscle, and water balance measurements on Apple Watch.

Compared to the original AURA Strap, the AURA Strap 2 is 20 percent slimmer and five percent narrower for a better fit. The stretchable band comes in multiple size options and is similar to one of Apple's Solo Loops with no clasp.

Taking a measurement can be done with a single touch, and the updated design captures 16 times more data points, according to AURA. AURA says that this improvement brings the AURA Strap 2 to 95% of the accuracy of a DEXA-scan.

Using the collected metrics, the accompanying AURA app provides users with personalized recommendations and goals to help them optimize their fitness performance.

Alongside the AURA 2 Strap, AURA is introducing an AURA Plus subscription service that offers up monthly fitness and nutrition reports, deep analytics of body composition, fitness content, and in the future, live chats. Six months of AURA Plus is included with the AURA Strap 2, and after that, it is priced at $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year.

The AURA Strap 2 is available in black and it is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 3 or later. It is priced at $149 and can be purchased from the AURA website.

Article Link: AURA Strap 2 Offers Fat, Muscle and Water Balance Measurements on Apple Watch

 

[spartan1967]

Definitely some good direction showing Apple the untapped usefulness of the Apple Watch.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

They should add a negative reinforcement electrical shock anytime someone opens the fridge, walks into a fast food joint, picks up a donut, sits on the couch too long, etc.

 

[dannyyankou]

I was looking into the accuracy of this thing. Their website says 95% measurement accuracy, and there's an asterisk that says "according to internal research". Anyone can say that.

Anyway, a little pricey.

 

[frankly]

Compared to the original AURA Strap, the AURA Strap 2 is 20 percent slimmer and five percent narrower for a better fit. The stretchable band comes in multiple size options and is similar to one of Apple's Solo Loops with no clasp.

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Article Link: AURA Strap 2 Offers Fat, Muscle and Water Balance Measurements on Apple Watch

It doesn't come in multiple size options that you would expect for a stretchable band compared to the Apple Solo Loop. It has a 41mm and 45mm version. It does not offer different diameters.

 

[2540497]

2.2 star rating on the App Store.

I’ll pass.

 

[Archmage]

It doesn't come in multiple size options that you would expect for a stretchable band compared to the Apple Solo Loop. It has a 41mm and 45mm version. It does not offer different diameters.

Each device comes with 4 sets of Infinite loops. Set for 41mm Apple Watch includes XS, S, M, and L loop sizes. Set for 45mm Apple Watch M, L, XL, and XXL loop sizes. You can pick size and tightness according to your preferences!

 

[Archmage]

2.2 star rating on the App Store.

I’ll pass.

I see 3.9 on the US store

 

[Archmage]

It looks like without the subscription, you get all the stats but none of the analysis, reports, recommendations, or workout plans.

 

[beermode]

I didn't know the first one existed. This looks neat.

 

[fredrik9]

They should add a negative reinforcement electrical shock anytime someone opens the fridge, walks into a fast food joint, picks up a donut, sits on the couch too long, etc.

They already have this. Not the electrical shock but definite negative reinforcement.

 

[npmacuser5]

Like the concept. Add the functionality one needs. If glucose important buy a band with the censor. No need to buy a new watch, for example. The challenge, implementation. Maybe Apple looking into this type of Watch functionality. Could be a big win.

 

[Pankeborg]

> Obese
> "You're doing better than 82% or Aura users"

Yikes

 

[sparkinstx]

That is, until Apple mysteriously breaks that capability in WatchOS.

 

[chucker23n1]

Using the collected metrics, the accompanying AURA app provides users with personalized recommendations and goals to help them optimize their fitness performance.

Uh.

Is an account required? Because, no, I don't want to share health data with a company that's likely to a) sell it to third parties or b) eventually get acquired by a different company whose policies I've never consented to.

 

[CoMoMacUser]

I've been in places where I wished I were carrying a strap.

 

[boss.king]

I'd be curious to see someone do some proper measuring and testing to verify the stats this thing puts out, preferably with a range of people of different sizes and shapes. I'm always very sceptical of things like this.

 

[gsmornot]

My scale provides these readings and sends the data into Health. I'm not sure I need it on a full-time basis but its something I track daily. Built in would be nice.

 

[BeefCake 15]

My scale provides these readings and sends the data into Health. I'm not sure I need it on a full-time basis but its something I track daily. Built in would be nice.

Accuracy is very iffy on these scales but precision is not bad and can be a good indicator in any case.

 

[nippyjun]

"Every package includes 4 sets of straps of different sizes to fit any wrist size."

 

[aardwolf]

I was looking into the accuracy of this thing. Their website says 95% measurement accuracy, and there's an asterisk that says "according to internal research". Anyone can say that.

Anyway, a little pricey.

I've had DEXA-scans. They can tell me the muscle to fat to bone ratio in any of my limbs, complete with density, like say my left calf. Are they saying this watch band can tell the bone density in my left leg accurate to 95%? No way.

 

[_Spinn_]

Sounds very cool. There really is a lot of untapped potential in the Apple Watch. I wonder if Apple will explore adding "smart" bands to the Watch in the future?

 

[purfledspruce]

It looks like without the subscription, you get all the stats but none of the analysis, reports, recommendations, or workout plans.

That’s fantastic! I only want the data, I can do my own analysis. And seriously, their workout plans and recommendations would have been relegated to the trash folder anyway.

 

[purfledspruce]

I've had DEXA-scans. They can tell me the muscle to fat to bone ratio in any of my limbs, complete with density, like say my left calf. Are they saying this watch band can tell the bone density in my left leg accurate to 95%? No way.

I agree. That would be overpromising. I ASSUME they’re talking whole-body measurement only. But companies will say lots of things if they think it will get you to spend your money on their stuff.

 

[toph2toast]

I'd be curious to see someone do some proper measuring and testing to verify the stats this thing puts out, preferably with a range of people of different sizes and shapes. I'm always very sceptical of things like this.

I agree, I'm definitely interested but also curious how a sensor on my watch band can detect fat/muscle composition. Not only that, but are those metrics changing enough that I need to constantly monitor it?