TomTom Spark 3 Cardio Watch Review

TomTom Spark 3 Cardio Watch Review

TomTom Spark 3 Cardio Watch Review

Music is a vital motivating tool when exercising

It may give a steady beat to help you get through lengthy slogs and may get the heart pumping to really make it up that last hill. This is exactly why it is good to determine music players built-in to increasingly more Gps navigation watches. TomTom was in early stages this trend using the Spark Cardio   Music, and also the company's newest device, the Spark 3 Cardio   Music , improves upon that early device greatly.

TomTom Spark 3 Cardio Watch Review

You don't only have an integrated heart-rate monitor and the opportunity to be a musician without needing your phone or ipod device, but TomTom includes a set of Bluetooth earphones. Plus, the organization makes great strides using its application and interface, causeing this to be a great watch out for runners and other people who loves to jam out while exercising.

Editor's Note (5/26/17): This review was updated to mirror the truth that TomTom's application can sync its data with Google Fit and Apple HealthKit.

The Spark 3 uses TomTom's attempted-and-true style of a four-way directional pad underneath a black-and-white-colored display. It is a bit chunkier than Garmin's Gps navigation watches, which integrate the controls right into a circular face, however the Spark 3 felt comfortable to put on.

The Spark 3's band is removable, and TomTom sells numerous bands of various colors. Individuals will know you are putting on an exercise watch, but it is nice you are able to personalize the device's look. Such as the Garmin Forerunner 235, the Spark 3 is waterproof to 130 ft, so that you can securely go swimming it'll track your laps and strokes, too.

TomTom makes establishing its watches progressively simpler, however i still can't stand that I must first plug the unit right into a PC to have it ready to go. The general process required under ten minutes, that also incorporated an update towards the Spark 3's firmware.

Using TomTom's desktop application, you may also load music to the Spark 3. This interface is a lot more user-friendly than you have using the older Spark, but you've still got to make certain the background music you would like is within a specific playlist you cannot add individual songs.

Following this initial setup, you are able to sync all of your activities using TomTom's mobile application (Android and iOS) here, as around the desktop application, you may also link the unit to 3rd-party services for example MyFitnessPal, Strava and MapMyFitness. An update in May 2017 also allow you to sync its data with Google Fit and Apple Health.

TomTom's mobile application has additionally improved formerly, it felt just like a port in the company's desktop site. While will still be a little slow to load, information is proven inside a more user-friendly format, that you can observe your splits, heartbeat, pace along with other metrics overlaid on the customizable chart. However, you will see 3 metrics at any given time.

There's still a learning curve when navigating the Spark 3's on-screen interface. You are able to rapidly become lost when paging right, left, up or lower through menus, that is something should not need to consider in the center of a run.

While nothing spectacular, the incorporated Bluetooth earphones are very good your money can buy. I'd trouble pairing these to the timepiece initially within the documentation incorporated using the device, pictures indicate that you ought to contain the Power button for five seconds to pair the earphones using the watch (there aren't any written instructions). However, after trying this multiple occasions, I visited TomTom's site determined you need to contain the Power button for ten seconds for that earphones to go in pairing mode.

The earphones are LOUD

 They immediately began blasting Shut Up and Dance, and that i found myself turning lower the amount so they won't rupture my eardrums. Still, the seem was wealthy and full. There is a little bit of overemphasis around the lower finish, but simply enough to provide a thumping bass line such motivating tracks as Lose Yourself.

One issue I'd using the Spark 3 is the fact that, once you begin a good work out, you are locked right into a single playlist. And, you cannot make use of the watch's buttons to skip tracks you will need to make use of your Bluetooth earphones for your. And also the controls around the incorporated earbuds are small I discovered them a little difficult to press while running.

After I put down in my morning runs, the Spark 3 acquired a Gps navigation signal inside a minute, that is on the componen using the Garmin Forerunner 235. Following the watch locked to the signal, an amiable female voice within the Spark 3 chirped, "OK, I am all set to go." It will likewise talk to you whenever you set the timepiece to training mode, at moments for example when you are within the right heart-rate zone or when you have arrived at your ultimate goal.

Whilst not as colorful, or large

As Garmin's watch, the Spark 3's 144 x 168-pixel, black-and-white-colored display was plenty readable both in overcast and vibrant days. I love the watch's backlight instantly activates for any couple of seconds in dark conditions, and you can personalize the data that seems on the watch's screen, so the data that's most significant for you is in the forefront.

I am glad that TomTom finally includes split notifications the timepiece will buzz and display your average pace at 1-mile (or 1-kilometer) times. It is a feature which has lengthy been incorporated on competing Gps navigation watches. Oddly, though, there is no voice prompt to see your stats at these times, which appears just like a missed chance.

Such as the Garmin Forerunner 235, the Spark 3 may also act as a regular fitness tracker, counting your steps and calories. Here, though, Garmin's watch has two features making it more suited to all-day use: Its step counter will instantly decrease or increase your target according to your activity, also it can display notifications out of your smartphone, in addition to provide you with a environment.