After releasing the first smartwatch with a touch screen, Vapor, last year, Misfit returns to it with the next: generation Vapor 2. As with the original Vapor, the new smartwatch starts with an inexpensive $ 250, but there are several new features that accompany the heart rate monitor, including built-in GPS and NFC chip for contactless payments. Unfortunately, everything is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor.

While the heart rate monitor and built-in GPS are the features we want in smartwatches, we'd like it to last longer than one day between recharges. With a 300 mAh battery in Vapor 2, the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor would be ideal because it provides two days of battery life among other upgrades. On the other hand, Misfit Vapor 2 is one of the first watches that includes the updated interface of the Wear OS, which makes using it much more enjoyable. Let's take a closer look.

Gorgeous, modern design

Misfit Vapor 2 does not look significantly different than its predecessor, but small changes in the design have a noticeable (and necessary) effect. At the beginning there are now two sizes – 41 mm and 46 mm to accommodate those with smaller wrists. We thought the original Vapor was too big for women's wrists, although we appreciated the larger screen size to read the warnings.

We tested a 41 mm size with a pink-gold aluminum box and a pink-and-beige sports belt, and it's the perfect size for our little wrist. The design is a pleasant change from the stunning smartwatches that are usually aimed at women. Not only looks beautiful in combination with any outfit, but it is light enough to work well with it.

Other colors for the 41mm case include a black casing with a black sports belt, a pink casing with a navy blue sports belt, a stainless steel case with a stainless steel bracelet and a pink rose casing with a steel stainless steel bracelet.

But Misfit Vapor 2 eliminated one feature that really distinguished it from other smartwatches available on the market – a tactile touch panel. Instead of sliding your finger along the black edges to scroll through the menus and notifications, now we have a rotating crown. The touch-sensitive luminaire was a feature we often do not see on smartwatches, and we preferred it to the crown because it feels more comfortable to use.

There are also many pre-mounted watch faces to choose from on Vapor 2. The range from subtle to colored, and you can customize them in terms of color and complexity. We preferred the main "Misfit Vapor 2" option, which we set to show our steps, heart rate and weather.

Smooth performance, vivid display

In terms of performance, there are no major issues to keep in mind, even with a 2-year Snapdragon Wear 2100 chipset. In most cases, applications load quickly, and when using the Google Play Store on a smartwatch there was a delay. There is also 4 GB of space, so you can store music directly on the device.
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With 328 pixels per inch, the Resolution display is sharp on the AMOLED circular 1.2-inch display – and we had no problems viewing the content in direct sunlight. Misfit Vapor made the screen scratched easily, but fortunately we did not encounter the same problem with Vapor 2. Unfortunately, we saw several scratches on the casing

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Track your daily activity with built-in GPS

The original Vapor contains a heart rate sensor, but the Vapor 2 adds a built-in GPS. We used Google Fit to track distances during our journeys, but those who like to see visions of their journeys or cycling will have to use their smartphones. For now, Google Fit on Wear OS tracks only the distance you are on and does not show the actual map as in the app.

We've found that the heart rate sensor is extremely accurate – our own results compared to Misfit Vapor 2 were only turned off by about 1 beat per minute. In addition, the smartwatch will also track your steps, calories burned, distance traveled and heart rate thanks to Google Fit and Google Fit exercises.

To keep track of your heart rate during the day, you need to turn on the smart watch function. Your number of beats per minute will be updated every 20 minutes and will be monitored in the Google Fit app, which you can reference at any time to view your BPM at all times of the day. To save battery life, you can instead measure your heart rate manually during the day.

There are also many watch faces available to choose from that display your heart rate. This way you can simply view your BPM at a glance. But for those who want to preserve the confidentiality of information, there are many projects to choose from that do not contain data for everyone.

In selected countries, Misfit Vapor 2 can also handle contactless payments. Thanks to the built-in NFC, you can make a payment by sliding your finger down the menu and touching the Google Pay tile.

Redesigned Wear operating system

As with Fossil Q Venture HR, Misfit Vapor 2 is equipped with the redesigned Google Wear OS, which was a much-needed update. Instead of memorizing various gestures, simple drags will bring you where you want. The interface not only looks nicer, but it is much more pleasant to use.

To go to settings, swipe down to access different shortcuts like airplane mode, Google Pay and battery saving. Moving up will display notifications that you can expand one at a time, and then you can swipe left or right to clear them. Swiping to the left will give you access to Google Fit, where you can check your Heart Points and Move Minutes throughout the day, along with the rhythm of the heart and the number of steps.

Moving to the right takes you to the assistant function of Google Assistant, which offers a personalized overview of the day, including calendar appointments, traffic alerts, and more. We used it to check the upcoming flight and hotel information for trips we had. There are also Smart Tips that help you make sure you use all available features, whether it's checking the number of steps or hourly forecast for the day.

It is important to take into account that Wear OS works best with Android Phones. Those who have an iPhone & # 39; can still use Misfit Vapor 2, but there are some limitations. With iOS, the Wear OS app must always run in the background so that the smartwatch can stay in touch and receive notifications. If you're using iPhone & # 39; a, you can not use notifications and you can accept or reject phone calls using your watch.

Less than one day of work on batteries

Misfit Vapor 2 differs in the size of the battery depending on the size of the housing – the 41 mm housing has a 300mAh battery, while the 46mm housing contains a 330mAh battery. Thanks to the smartwatch we were able to achieve battery life for the whole day. Despite the addition of the built-in GPS, the Vapor 2 lasted a little over twelve hours, even after tracking the workout.

After removing it from the charger around 9 am, we were 76 percent ahead of 1:30 pm. After our training (where we used Google Fit to track the distance of our run), we were about 37 percent before 8:45 in the afternoon. Before we went to bed at 23, Vapor 2 reached 18 percent

It should be noted that the percentage may fall below the value for people using an Android device because it is able to do more. We paired it with the iPhone, and also did not use Spotify during our run, which is an option, but it can drain the battery faster.

Misfit Vapor 2 also loads much faster than its predecessor. It is still equipped with a disk-shaped charger, but there are now magnetic pins attached to the bottom of the smartwatch. As with Fossil Q Venture HR, the new charger can power your watch to at least 80 percent in an hour. After placing it on the charger at 16 percent around 8 am, it was already 66 percent up to 8:30 in the morning

Information about price, availability and warranty

Both Misfit Vapor 2 versions with 41 mm and 46 mm diameters cost 250 USD. If you choose a stainless steel band in both cases, it will cost a bit more, amounting to USD 270. You can already buy it on the Misfit website.

Misfit offers a limited two-year warranty covering factory defects, but does not include accidental damage to the watch case or strap.
Our Take
Misfit Vapor 2 is a beautiful smartwatch that you can comfortably wear during training. For $ 250, it monitors your heart rate, GPS and redesigned Wear OS in an elegant housing that you can wear both day and night.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. If you are looking for a more stylish smartwatch, you will find Fossil Q Venture HR with a built-in heart rate and GPS. As with Misfit 2, it comes with a 1.2-inch AMOLED display and a redesigned Google Wear OS. Although it is slightly more expensive, starting at USD 255, the fourth generation Fossil smart watch has a lot more color options and styles to choose from.

For a bit less, Fitbit Versa is for $ 200. It has an elegant look, a heart rate sensor and can last up to five days on a single charge depending on usage. As a second watch, Smart Fitbit is a bit more sophisticated and can receive the same notification as any other Wear OS watch.

If you want to impress a bit more, you will find the Samsung Galaxy Watch for 330 USD, which is equipped with a heart rate monitor, built-in GPS and plenty of fitness monitoring functions. As with the Vapor 2, it comes in two different sizes (42 mm and 46 mm), both of which have stunning designs. It also has an impressive battery life – it lasted three to four full days, even after tracking workouts and receiving notifications.

For iOS users, we recommend the Apple Watch Series 4, which starts at $ 400. This way you can use all functions without any restrictions. The new version is also equipped with an electrocardiogram application that allows you to keep an eye on the irregular heart rate

How long will it take?

Misfit Vapor 2 will most likely last longer than a two-year limited warranty. However, keep in mind that the battery will run out of time, and it's not clear how long it will receive software updates, especially that newer smartwers will likely include an improved Wear 3100 chipset.

While Vapor 2 is swim resistant, we do not recommend diving or going deeper than a few feet. However, you can go for a few laps in the pool or in the shower.

If you buy it?

Yes. Misfit Vapor 2 is a versatile smartwatch, so comfortable that you can try it out and have a beautiful design that can be worn both during the day and at night. It also keeps track of all necessary health and fitness statistics every day.