[General Accessories] Alberto96:
Introduction

This is the CUBOT S1.

Hardware

As a whole new device compared to the predecessor CUBOT V2, this S1 features some really interesting features such as a built-in Ambient Temperature sensor, and much more. The IP65 certification is still here.

Of course this can't be compared anymore with the famous MiBand 2 being a new-gen Smart Band, so i guess this can be considered as a FitBit alternative.

Unboxing

As usual, the package is pretty small, with the minimum necessary to operate the device: 1x Magnetic Dock Cable, 1x User Manual, 1x Alert Message (must be charged before first usage) and the Smart Band (of course).

On the front there is the outstanding OLED screen, one of the best i have used on a Smart Band, and the panel has been kept touchscreen. Something really important to report is its resistance to scratches. Compared to the previous V2, this S1 looks almost like new, meaning that the quality of the front panel has been improved.

The bracelet is made of rigid (or hard, choose the word you prefer) TPU and feels comfortable enough, even though i would have preferred a more soft band with the ability to use all the space available on the wrist. (without air gaps, even though with hot temperatures this is much better)

On the back side there is the Heart-Rate sensor, the Magnetic Dock connector required to charge the device and nothing else. The design is pretty clean.

Just like on the V2, also on the S1 the whole body is made of Plastic, the only part made of Aluminum is the clip used to lock the wrist band position, but the quality has been improved a lot, it is possible to feel the high-quality plastic. This means higher protection from scratches and lower weight. But, there is also a negative point about it. It feels a bit bulky, especially for me with a small wrist.

Device

Screen

As already said before, this OLED screen is fantastic. It is monochromatic (white on blacks) and it is also bright enough for almost any usage. The surface is slighly too much reflective so under direct-sunlight you might need to cover the display with an hand.

Viewing-Angles are as great as you would expect from an OLED screen. Something they should have improved is the distance between the front panel and the screen itself, a gap is slightly noticeable reducing viewing angles a bit.

Heart-Rate Sensor

Unlike what happened with the CUBOT V2 where, due to my little wrist and issues with the bracelet, on this V1 i was able to measure the heart-rate in a much more reliable way, requiring less adjustments to get the heart-rate detected properly.

Pedometer and Health Management

This is another part that has been improved A LOT compared to the V2. Thanks to the new-gen of sensors, this one doesn't over-estimate (or over-measure) the number of steps, and it provides more data on the same screen without having to slide everytime.

Extra Features

Something unique, never seen before on a smart band, is the Ambient Temperature sensor. It is accurate, easy-to-use and nice to have.

There is also the possibility to start/stop the Music Player directly from the Smart Band.

Finally, the last useful feature, is the timer. I don't pratice any sport so i am not using it, but for those who do, it is essential.

Battery Life

Battery Life is something i never appreciate about CUBOT Smart Bands unfortunately. Just like the V2, also this one doesn't last more than 7 days without 24h heart-rate monitoring. I know, this matches what they declare on the website, but i still would have preferred at least 10 days.

I don't know if this can be implemented or not, but they should add an option to decrease the screen brightness during the night (or at the time you choose) in order to save battery. CUBOT, if you are reading this review, try to consider this idea.

Software

Thankfully unlike most chinese smart bands, this one has an Official App (available on Play Store for Android users) that works without major issues, and it has been also improved a lot compared to the V2 app.

The app still lacks Google Fit sync, but the amount of features has been increased, and most important, Whatsapp, Telegram, Facebook and other western-targeted apps are now supported.

The Sleep Monitor works fine, and can be programmed.

I can't find any serious issue with the app, it is pretty decent and stable, but i hope CUBOT doesn't keep ignoring Google Fit sync, something that some other brands are already supporting.

Conclusions

I am impressed by the new generation of Smart Bands, i would have never expected to see this amount of features in such a small device. Still, it doesn't mean that it is still a generation without issues, due to the battery life limits.

Apart from that, this CUBOT S1 is an huge step forward to the V2. Better App with native Whatsapp support, almost infinite features and an impressive build quality makes it, based on my tests, one of the best smart bands from a not-well-known brand (such as FitBit).

Hopefully they will be able to get some extra juice for the battery life and maybe add Google Fit sync, in order to make this device perfect. If it satisfies your requirements, i can recommend it with no doubts.

Rating: 8.4

Packaging and Accessories: 7

Design and Materials: 8.5

Screen: 9.5

Ease of use: 8.5

Heart-Rate Sensor: 8.5

Health Management: 8

Battery Life: 7

Software: 7.5

OEM Support: 9

Price: 10

You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: http://imgur.com/a/WkzBU

Official Website: http://www.cubot.net/wearables/s1/

You can buy it on many online shops. Official, and authorized, Retailers are listed in the CUBOT website.​