Motoactv Review and Comparison

The Motoactv is a versatile device that tracks your daily activities, from running and cycling to swimming and strength training. It's a great tool for anyone looking to monitor their fitness progress.

It has a built-in GPS, which provides accurate distance and pace tracking during outdoor activities like running and cycling. The GPS also allows for route mapping and tracking.

One of the standout features of the Motoactv is its water resistance, making it suitable for swimming and other water-based activities. This is a huge advantage over other fitness trackers that are not water-resistant.

The device has a battery life of up to 4 days on a single charge, which is impressive considering its features. This means you can wear it for extended periods without worrying about recharging it.

For another approach, see: Galaxy Watch 7 Ai Features

The Motoactv comes with a single clip, but if you need an additional one, you can buy it for $20.

The bike mount is a must-have for frequent riders, attaching easily to road bikes, triathlon bikes, and other types of bikes, and it's only $30.

You can also pair regular Bluetooth stereo headsets with the Motoactv, and I was able to pair a Bluetooth powered speaker called the Tunebug Shake, which worked just fine.

The Motoactv's Bluetooth 4.0 capabilities will eventually bring with it new low-energy sensors, but for now, it's unclear if other Bluetooth or Bluetooth Smart straps will pair with the unit.

The Motoactv supports a wide range of ANT+ sensors, including heart rate monitors, speed and cadence sensors, and power meters.

You can pair multiple sensors with the Motoactv, and it will store them in a saved setting for easy recall later on.

The Motoactv can display the device ID of each paired sensor, allowing you to select the correct one.

It would be even more useful if the Motoactv also displayed the value being transmitted by each sensor, such as the heart rate or power value.

The Motoactv can pair with Motorola's own Bluetooth Low Energy Headphone/Heart Rate Monitor sensor, but this feature is not yet fully tested.

The Motoactv supports ANT+ power meters and allows you to calibrate them via auto zero or manual zero.

The recording rate interval for the Motoactv is fixed at 1s intervals when a power meter is connected.

The Motoactv supports Bluetooth 4.0, which will eventually bring with it all the new low energy sensors only found on Bluetooth 4.0.

You can pair any regular Bluetooth stereo headset with the Motoactv, as I was able to pair my Tunebug Shake, a Bluetooth powered speaker aimed at cyclists.

The Motoactv can also be discoverable, but I haven't found a reason to do that yet.

On a similar theme: Fairphone 4

The Motoactv runs on Android, but the exact version isn't specified. However, the interface is familiar to anyone who's used Android before.

The initial setup process is intuitive and guides you through setting up your Motoactv online account, Wi-Fi networks, and personal details like age, gender, and weight. You'll also need to create an account with Motorola's MotoCast software, which can be a bit annoying, but it's necessary for syncing your device.

The software on the Motoactv is pretty well-built, with a user-friendly interface that's been highly customized. However, it can be a bit convoluted to navigate, especially in the settings menu, where you'll need to scroll and backtrack to find what you're looking for.

Related reading: Comparison of Android Go Products

The MOTOACTV software is based on Android, which makes its interface familiar to anyone who's used Android before. The initial setup process is straightforward and guides you through setting up your online account, Wi-Fi networks, and personal details like age, gender, and weight.

You'll need to pair the device like a normal Bluetooth device, which can be a bit of a hassle. This can be frustrating, especially for those new to this type of technology.

The interface is intuitive, and you can navigate through the cabin homescreens by swiping left and right. However, there's no hard menu key, which can lead to some inefficiencies in getting things done.

The software is well-built and doesn't stutter, despite being highly customized. However, there is one persistent niggle – arm swings are counted as steps on the pedometer, which can lead to phantom steps and calories burned.

You'll also find icons for the battery, Bluetooth, and GPS in the top-right corner, with the battery icon being persistent and a good indicator of the remaining charge.

You can create and download workouts to your device via the Motoactv website.

The workout creator allows you to create workouts with targeted zones and paces.

Intervals can also be set up within these workouts, making it easy to customize your routine.

These workouts will then sync wirelessly to your watch, so you can access them on the scheduled date/time.

It takes about 30-60 seconds for the upload process to complete, but you can also manually sync your workouts if you prefer.

This feature is really cool, and it's automatically on your watch before you even have to think about it.

Unfortunately, 3rd party site compatibility is currently limited to the Motoactv site itself. However, the good news is that you can export your data to a simple CSV file for any workout.

The Motorola folks aren't isolating your data, so you can still access and use it. This is a big plus, especially when you're waiting for third-party site support.

TrainingPeaks has committed to having support for the Motoactv by early December. They've already started working on it, and I've even supplied them with example workout files to speed up the process.

Strava and Runkeeper are likely to follow suit soon, as they're among the bigger running and cycling sites.

The Motoactv sports watch packs a punch when it comes to common workout features.

Auto-Lap allows you to configure the unit to automatically create a lap after a preset period of time or distance. You can define how long that is, via the settings screen.

Auto-Run automatically starts a workout under the run functions if the unit detects you're running outdoors. This feature is particularly useful for inner city running where you're constantly hitting stoplights.

Auto Display automatically scrolls through the different display fields as you workout, including custom display fields, map, HR/Pace zones, and lap fields. This mode is a great way to stay organized and focused during your workout.

Auto Interval automatically iterates forward to the next step in the interval, so you can keep pushing yourself without any interruptions. This feature is perfect for track intervals.

Auto Pause, or Auto Start/Stop, automatically starts and stops the unit when you run, giving you a fully hands-free experience. This feature is especially useful for inner city running.

Coaching and Alerts provide audible alerts that read out metrics around changes in zones, including power, pace, or heart rate. You can set this to alert you on demand or automatically on every lap.

Device Tap allows you to configure what happens when you tap your device, such as reading out information or demarking a lap. I personally prefer the lap option for setting a lap.

Racing Yourself is a feature that allows you to select an existing run and race against it, giving you a virtual friend to compete against. This feature takes the virtual partner feature to a whole new level.

The Motoactv is a user-friendly device that makes it easy to track your daily activities. You can configure the display to timeout after about 30 seconds, which will easily last all day.

The watch face can be customized to display various styles, including the time, date, calories burned, and steps taken. The steps taken feature is surprisingly accurate, thanks to the internal accelerometer.

You can change the watch face and color schemes to suit your preferences. The time can also be displayed in 12hr or 24hr variants, and the date can be customized as well.

The device is designed to be easy to use, even during a workout. The music and FM Radio features are accessible from the Music menu, and the album art will appear when playing music.

The Motoactv also allows you to view a map of your workout, which can be preloaded on the device or downloaded later. This feature is especially useful for tracking your progress and staying motivated.

Here are the main menus on the Motoactv:

Your workout gets automatically synced via WiFi, so by the time you take off your shoes in the house, it's likely that the workout is already there and visible online.

To create an online account, you must have a device, and it's done using the desktop software. This means you'll need to have a PC to configure your WiFi networks and sync your workouts.

The Motoactv site has more functionality than expected for a first attempt, including most of the basics, although there's still room for improvement.

Mapping is a crucial step in data management and sharing. It helps to organize and visualize data, making it easier to understand and work with.

Geographic information systems (GIS) are often used for mapping, especially when dealing with spatial data. This type of data is essential for applications like urban planning and environmental monitoring.

Effective mapping requires a clear understanding of the data's structure and content. This includes knowing the data's format, resolution, and any limitations it may have.

Data visualization tools like graphs and charts can be used to create interactive maps that allow users to explore the data in more detail. This can be especially helpful for identifying trends and patterns.

By mapping data, researchers and analysts can gain a deeper understanding of the information and make more informed decisions.

Uploading and downloading workouts via WiFi is a seamless process with the Motoactv.com platform. It takes about 30-60 seconds for the upload process to complete, and you can manually sync your workouts if you want them to upload sooner.

The Motoactv device automatically syncs your workouts via WiFi or via the desktop software, so by the time you take off your shoes in the house, your workout is already visible online. This is a convenient feature that saves you time and effort.

You can configure your WiFi networks from your PC, which is somewhat nice as it eliminates the need to futz with settings on the device. However, this also limits you to selecting preconfigured networks.

The automatic uploader works like the Withings WiFi scale, syncing your workouts as soon as you step within range of your home's WiFi access point. This is a great feature that sets the Motoactv apart from other devices.

The Motoactv's display shines at night, with brilliant color and readability. It's a major plus for users who plan to wear their device during evening workouts.

Using the touch display requires taking off your gloves, as none of the tested gloves worked with the Motoactv. This is a minor inconvenience, but one to be aware of.

The Motoactv has a clean user interface and easily records various types of workouts. It also supports ANT+, Bluetooth Low Energy, Bluetooth sensors, and Bluetooth headphones wirelessly.

The kitchen roller is a great place to compare different watch sizes, and I've done just that with a few different rounds of watches, including the Garmin Forerunner 210, Nike+ GPS Sportwatch, Timex Run Trainer, and Motorola Motoactv.

The kitchen roller puts all the watches on equal footing, making it easy to see the differences in size. The Garmin Forerunner 210, Nike+ GPS Sportwatch, Timex Run Trainer, and Motorola Motoactv all have unique designs and features, but they're all wearable on the wrist.

Comparing the iPod Nano to the Motorola Motoactv is also interesting, especially when they're both attached to a wrist strap. The iPod Nano looks almost identical to the Motoactv, but they have dramatically different capabilities when it comes to fitness.

The display on the Motorola Motoactv shines at night, with brilliant color and readability. However, it doesn't work with gloves, which can be a problem in cold weather.

The device has an amazingly clean user interface.

It's great that it can easily record your runs, bikes, walks, and other gym equipment.

Support for ANT+, Bluetooth Low Energy, and Bluetooth sensors is also a plus.

You can even connect Bluetooth headphones wirelessly for a more immersive experience.

Data export to CSV is a useful feature for those who need to track their progress in detail.

The device connects via Wi-Fi to automatically upload your workouts, making it easy to stay on top of your fitness goals.

However, the waterproofing integrity is questionable, so be cautious when using it in wet conditions.

You won't receive audible alerts without headphones, so make sure to have those handy.

There's no vibration engine for vibration alerts, which might be a disappointment for some.

The battery level seems lower than it should be, so keep an eye on it to avoid running out of power.

The MotoActv from Motorola is a great example of a hybrid music player-fitness tracking device that really delivers. It cleverly correlates and displays data from your workouts, such as the map of your route and your pace during each song on your playlist.

One of the standout features of the MotoActv is its ability to track your pace during each song on your playlist. This is particularly useful if you like to listen to music while working out and want to know how your pace changes throughout your routine.

The MotoActv is a pricey option, but if you're looking for a device that can track your fitness and music habits, it might be worth the investment.

The Motoactv is a game-changer for runners, offering a seamless experience that's hard to put down. The user's experience with the JayBird Freedom Bluetooth headphones and Motoactv is a testament to its effectiveness.

The headphones worked flawlessly with the Motoactv, with no skips or interruptions. This is a significant improvement over using smartphones, which would often skip over Bluetooth.

The user's previous routine involved a lot of hassle, including getting geared up, connecting their phone via GPS, launching music and running apps, and adjusting their headset. This is no longer necessary with the Motoactv.

The user has seen impressive results, losing 3 pounds in a week and shaving 20 seconds off their mile time. This is a direct result of being able to see detailed information while running and push themselves further.

The Motoactv has made a significant impact on the user's workout routine, making it easier and more enjoyable.