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Performance
- The Nokia Go doesn't do many strenuous tasks
- It will automatically detect workouts like swimming, walking and running
Just a few moments after you take the Go out of its box, it greets you with your walking progress and the time.
And after just a minute's worth of setup, we had pretty much already forgotten about it on our wrist. It might sound weird, but we were really happy in that moment because it spoke to the power of a device that doesn't try to dictate your life with reminders and notifications.
It's there when you need it, like before bed when you want to reflect on your accomplishments.
The Nokia Go offers up an experience that encourages you to move at your own pace.
Once you do start moving, so does the Go. During our time with this fitness wearable, we did about two week's worth of walking, a little bit of jogging and, of course, sleeping. Unlike other wearables, the Go doesn't track every activity under the sun, just the ones that are most common.
Tracking, in general, works well. Step monitoring is accurate, as is its ability to track sleep. The app does little more to reward you for meeting your step goal than to change the Go's center symbol to a star shape, but the metrics for your sleep are nicely detailed.
The screen shows your progress by wrapping tick markers around the border of the screen. Once the ticks make a full circle, you've reached your goal and the walking icon turns into a star. Some might complain about the lack of positive feedback for reaching your goal, but is a celebratory vibration really all that rewarding?
Tracking progress is simple, but checking the time is more complicated than it should be. For those moments, you may find it frustrating that it doesn't allow you to set the time function as the default screen. You need to press the screen in to see the time. The clock face will automatically go back to the goal tracking screen after about five seconds.
But the Nokia Health Mate app does allow users to adjust the color theme between light and dark. Each looks pretty bold and the one you'll choose just comes down to personal taste.
Interface and app
- The Nokia Health Mate app is easy to use and displays your details clearly
- You'll need to use the app often as the Nokia Go itself doesn't display much
You can get suited up with Nokia's fitness trackers regardless of smartphone OS allegiance. If you're running a phone with iOS 8 or Android 4.3, or higher software you'll be able to connect it with the Nokia Health Mate app.
Third-party app integration is a big deal for those who are deep into fitness. Thankfully, the Health Mate companion app doesn't disappoint. It's compatible with Apple Health, Google Fit, MyFitnessPal and RunKeeper.
To get the Go up and running, you'll need the Nokia Health Mate app. It's the same one that manages its other products, like the Nokia Steel and Nokia Steel HR.
If you're someone who likes to keep an eye on your in-depth metrics, the Nokia companion app won't disappoint. It's up there in terms of its visual design and ease of use.
While waiting for the Go to sync with the app does take some time, it's so worth it just to see the vivid, detailed breakdown of your activities.
The app's homepage and dashboard make it easy to parse through daily and weekly wrap-ups for personal reflection. But if competing with friends is more your style, Nokia has you covered here.
Leaderboards allow you to face-off against your companions to see who can walk, run, sleep or swim more. It's a rather basic social feature, but appreciated nonetheless.
Battery life
- The Nokia Go is built to last for eight months without a recharge
- You'll need to replace the watch battery when it does run out of charge
For as much promise as wearables often hold, battery life is a common low point. Thankfully, that isn't a problem with the Nokia Go.
Whether the efficient E Ink screen gets all of the credit, or it's just the limited functionality of the Go in general, you can't cough at a battery that lasts for eight months.
The Nokia Steel also offers this long term battery life, and we have seen similar battery life from products such as the Moov Now.
