iFit Classic analogue fitness smartwatch review
iFit Classic
£199Pros
- Looks good
- Clear app
- Comfortable
- Clear face and dials
- Water resistance
Cons
- Can't see dials in the dark
- Pulse monitor would've been a great addition
The iFit Classic combines a fitness tracker with the luxurious and timeless looks of an analogue watch.
The iFit Classic is not going to go toe-to-toe with the Tag Connected but I have had a number of positive comments about how it looks. Even better is the astonished faces of those that I then tell that it is tracking my steps and calorie intake.
I think that we’ve all become used to how smartwatches and fitness trackers tend to look, that’s one of the main reasons I was so happy to be given the chance to review the iFit Classic.
iFit Classic design
At first glance the Classic looks like a diver’s watch with a main dial and then three sub-dials – until you figure out what those secondary readings are there for.
The iFit Classic is equipped with scratch and “break resistant” glass and a chunky, yet lightweight body.
The strap is a soft rubberised band, again keeping in with the diving/sports watch theme.
The version I have been sent to review is the ‘Obsidian’ model and, as you can already tell, it’s mostly a neat little black number with a red second hand and red accents on the face.
Either side of the crown, which is used to set and change the time as normal, you have two buttons flanking it.
These are used to manually input your calorie intake. Holding down the bottom one prepares the watch to take on the information, whilst the top one is used to tap in the calories at 50 calorie intervals on the subdial at the 6 o’clock position. Finally it’s back to the bottom one to log the information which is then added to the overall count in the subdial at the 12 o’clock position. It sounds a lot more complicated than it actually is.
The subdial at 9 o’clock is your step counter.
On the underside of the iFit you’ll see the charging points which connect with the supplied charging cradle.
The Classic is very comfortable to wear and is a good looking watch.
iFit Classic pairing and set up
The first time you use the watch, press and hold the bottom button for 3 seconds. After approximately 3 seconds, the watch will exit shipping mode and the hands will begin to move.
Download the free iFit app and once installed open it up and follow the on screen instructions. This will then take you up to pairing the Classic with your phone.
To do this, press and hold the top button for 3 seconds. The red LED on the dial will flash. Then, in the iFit app, select the watch from the list of discoverable devices. The iFit app will display your watch for you to select and sync.
Your watch will then flash a green LED light on the dial to notify you that the pairing is successful.
The good news is that, after pairing the watch, the iFit app will automatically sync whenever the iFit app is open and Bluetooth is enabled on your device. You can also manually sync the iFit Classic by opening the iFit app.
During the initial setup you will be asked to set your goals, alarms, sleep, and other settings.
I found all of this painless and pretty straightforward.
iFit Classic fitness log
The iFit App can track calorie intake, steps, distance, calories burned, and sleep patterns.
For the first few days I was punching in the calories manually via the watch until I realised that the app can not only do that, but you can actually just scan the barcode on your food’s packaging! That makes things a heck of a lot easier, I can tell you.
The step counter works by motion detection but that’s not all. The iFit Classic will also be able to tell when you have not been moving for a while and let you know when you need to move.
When you’ve been immobile for too long it will vibrate and light up. This amount of time can either be set in the app but it is preset to 30 minutes.
iFit Classic stamina
I’ve managed to get just over a week’s wear before needing to recharge the iFit Classic.
You do get a warning when it hits 20% battery by way of a red flashing light every-now-and-then.
The watch includes a charger that you snap onto it and then you can plug into any USB capable port.
iFit Classic review conclusion
I’ve been using the Classic for a couple of weeks now and, at the beginning, I will admit to being a bit harsh on it. I have a collection of vintage Rado watches and replacing my Manhattan or Starliner for the Classic just seemed a bit wrong to me.
However, this is a very comfortable watch to wear and, as I have said, has had its fair share of admiring glances. If I was to have one niggle about it though, it would be that none of the hands nor hour markers are luminous. I even tried a variety of button presses to see if there was a backlight – I couldn’t find one if there is.
What it did point out was my erratic sleeping pattern (it knows how long you sleep for!) as well as the fact that some days I go way over my calorie target, whilst others I consume about half the amount I should. I also didn’t realise how much distance I cover on an average day. This is all good stuff.
iFit Classic price and availability
The iFit Classic is available in two color options – the Obsidian has platinum-coloured accents with obsidian black band, or Frost which has warm rose gold-coloured accents with a frost white band.
The iFit Classic is available now at Nordic Track for £199.
iFit Classic specifications at a glance:
3-axis accelerometer
Vibration notifications
7-day rechargeable battery via USB power cable
Wireless sync via Bluetooth® 4.0 BLE to iFit fitness tracker app
Water resistant up to 50 meters, so you can swim, do dishes or take a shower without removing it
Android and iOS mobile apps available
