Startup Aura Devices is back with another version of its smart Apple Watch strap that's designed to deliver the sort of stats on your smartwatch you'd usually get from stepping on a set of smart scales.
Like the first Aura strap, it uses bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to deliver fat, muscle and water balance data. This is the same sensor technology Samsung included on its Galaxy Watch 4 smartwatch to bring similar measurements to the wrist.
Read this: Living with the Aura Strap for Apple Watch
Data is synced to Aura's companion phone app where you should find insights into your data, recommendations and the ability to tinker with goals.
Aura has now thankfully simplified the process of taking those measurements and has made the strap 20% smaller and 5% narrower, which we are glad to hear having been critical of the size of the first generation strap.
It's tweaked how the strap connects to Apple Watches Series 3 or later, to help make the design sit a little sleeker on the wrist too.
Apparently there's new architecture on board that can capture 16 times more data points and promises an improvement in accuracy, bringing the new strap to 95% of a DEXA-scan. That's a bone density scan, which is considered the gold standard of BIA measurement.
In addition to the improved hardware, Aura is taking the bold move of launching an Aura Plus subscription where you'll find monthly fitness and nutrition reports, further data analysis, fitness content and the ability to have live chats with personal trainers.
You can pick up the Aura Strap 2 now in the single black color for a not so cheap $149 from Aura's website and select retailers will be offering it up as well.
The subscription service costs $9.99 a month or you can go in on an annual subscription for $79.99 with Aura strap owners getting a free six-month trial.
We didn't have the greatest experience with the first Aura strap. It felt bulky and took too many steps to take measurements. The presentation of data and accuracy seemed hit and miss as well and it lacked some useful actionable insights.
It does look like Aura has addressed some of those problems with the new strap, but it does seem to be ambitious to go down the subscription route when accuracy of its hardware is still very much up for scrutiny. We've got the new strap in for testing, so we look forward to finding out if those improvements make a difference.
How we test
By Michael Sawh
Michael Sawh has been covering the wearable tech industry since the very first Fitbit landed back in 2011. Previously the resident wearable tech expert at Trusted Reviews, he also marshaled the features section of T3.com.
He also regularly contributed to T3 magazine when they needed someone to talk about fitness trackers, running watches, headphones, tablets, and phones.
Michael writes for GQ, Wired, Coach Mag, Metro, MSN, BBC Focus, Stuff, TechRadar and has made several appearances on the BBC Travel Show to talk all things tech.
Michael is a lover of all things sports and fitness-tech related, clocking up over 15 marathons and has put in serious hours in the pool all in the name of testing every fitness wearable going. Expect to see him with a minimum of two wearables at any given time.