Amazfit Unveils Helio Strap Pro Fitness Tracker with Waist-Mounted Motion Sensor

Amazfit, a subsidiary of Zepp Health, has unveiled the new Helio Strap Pro fitness tracker, the first wearable device in its category to feature two separate sensors: a waist-mounted motion sensor and an upper-arm heart rate sensor. The device is aimed at athletes participating in Hyrox competitions—global fitness races where participants alternate between running and strength exercises across eight stations.

The waist-mounted sensor of the Helio Strap Pro tracks movement stability and quality, which is particularly crucial for exercises like sled pulls, weight carries, or jumps. The arm-based heart rate sensor, in turn, provides higher measurement accuracy compared to traditional wrist-based sensors, as it is positioned closer to the heart and is unaffected by wrist movements or interference from gym equipment.

For full functionality, the Helio Strap Pro requires either the Amazfit Balance 3 or Balance Ultra smartwatches, released last month. However, the tracker can operate independently with limited features. The complete system, including the smartwatch, costs between $570 and $800, which may pose a barrier for mainstream consumers. In the future, the company plans to expand compatibility with additional smartwatch models.

The device is compatible with iOS 17 and later, as well as Android 8.0 and above. The package includes the waist sensor, arm sensor, straps, and a magnetic charging dock. The waist sensor battery lasts up to 40 days, while the heart rate sensor battery lasts 11 days. Both devices take approximately two hours to fully charge.