Aura released details of its new Aura Strap 2 today. The new Aura Strap 2, designed for Apple Watch users comes with many new features and will require a monthly subscription.
The Aura Strap 2 is 20% slimmer and narrower than the original AURA strap. A streamlined process now requires users to only use one touch to launch the measurement process directly from the watch band.
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The Aura Strap 2 Apple Watch band helps users with measuring bio-impedance. Bio-impedance sensors assist users with understanding their hydration levels, provide details about fat and muscle content in their body and more importantly allow users to check these levels while they are working to improve and transform their health and fitness.
When it comes to the accuracy of these readings, the company has made numerous changes to the sensor and the associated processes. Now, the Aura Strap 2 provides 95% accuracy comparable to a DEXA-scan, which is the gold standard for bioimpedance measurements.
The technology is not new. Body composition metrics are available today on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. Apple Watch users, however, do not have any mechanisms on current Apple Watch models to measure bio-impedance. The Aura Strap 2 makes this possible for Apple Watch Series 3 and higher users.
The new AURA App version 3.0 allows users to receive insights, personalized recommendations, and goal setting and management functions to assist them in optimizing their fitness performance.
That being said, the subscription costs related to the Aura 2 strap are kind of on the higher side and may only be meaningful for super enthusiastic users.
AURA Plus costs $9.99 per month or $79.99 for an annual subscription. AURA Device users receive a free six-month trial of AURA Plus.
Based on rumors and reporting made available by Mark Gurman, we can expect Apple to soon introduce the body temperature sensor on the next generation Apple Watch. It is not clear if Apple is planning to introduce BIA (bio-impedance analysis) related features anytime soon for the Apple Watch.
The Aura Strap 2 however provides users with a blueprint of what might be coming down when it comes to the available real estate on the watch bands. It is very much possible that users will soon have a choice in what and how many extra sensors they may want to incorporate into their Apple Watch bands.
