Runlio T115 Fitness Tracker

That changes the whole habit. There is no taking it off before a swim and forgetting it in the locker, no pause in the step count while you shower. It stays on from the morning alarm to the next night's sleep.

Where 5ATM makes the difference:

• pool swimming, with its own swim mode to log the session
• showers at normal temperature
• rainy runs, walks and rides
• water sports on the surface, such as boating

The band is thin and light, built for all-day comfort. The 1.47-inch HD touchscreen runs at 240 x 280 pixels, bright enough for the step count and heart rate at a glance, with 100+ watch faces or your own photo as the background.

It is a slim fitness band first. There is no speaker or microphone, so calls stay on the phone, but the T115 buzzes for incoming calls, SMS and apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram. For many people that is the right balance: informed, not interrupted.

If you want calls on the wrist and do not swim, the calling watches in the alternatives suit better, such as the Coucur Y66.

The full line-up includes walking, outdoor running, treadmill, outdoor cycling, spinning, swimming, jump rope, yoga, sit-ups, jumping jacks, gymnastics, dancing, mountain hiking and free training. Team and racket sports are well covered too: basketball, football, baseball, volleyball, cricket, rugby, hockey, tennis, table tennis and badminton, plus boating.

A four-mode habit to start with:

1. Walking on most days, building toward your step goal.
2. Swimming once or twice a week, using the 5ATM rating.
3. Jump rope or jumping jacks for short, sharp sessions at home.
4. Yoga for recovery on the rest days.

Health readings, day and night

Heart rate and blood oxygen are measured in real time. Overnight, the T115 tracks sleep quality, splitting deep, light and wake time, and the app shows the trend across days and weeks.

The daily reminders are small but useful:

• Sedentary alert: a buzz after long spells at a desk.
• Drinking-water alert: a cue to refill the bottle.
• Menstrual cycle tracking: dates and reminders on the wrist.

Twenty-five modes may sound short next to watches that list a hundred, but most people rotate through four or five. The T115's list covers the common ones well, and the short menu is quicker to swipe through with wet fingers after a swim.

Wrist readings are wellness estimates. For how far to trust step counts, SpO2 and sleep scores, see the budget tracker review, which also covers swimming on a 5ATM band.

1. Charge the band on its cable before first use.
2. Install the companion app given in the Runlio instructions.
3. Turn on Bluetooth and pair from inside the app.
4. Allow notifications for calls, SMS and chosen social apps.
5. Set profile details and a daily step goal, then turn on the water and sitting reminders.

Older Android phones tend to close background apps aggressively, which stops alerts reaching the band. If notifications go quiet, pin the app in the recent-apps view and remove it from battery optimisation. The stay-connected guide has the steps for each platform.

Setting it up for someone else? Do the pairing on their phone, pick a sensible step goal together, and switch on only the alerts they want. A band that buzzes for every app is the fastest way to end up in a drawer.

Battery routine

A 200mAh battery gives 5 to 7 days of active use and up to 15 days on standby. Frequent swims with the screen lighting up, all-day SpO2 and many notifications all nudge it toward five days.

If it stops charging, check the contacts for chlorine or sweat residue first, then work through the charging checklist. For a spare strap, the bands guide explains sizes.

The Enfit IDB05 offers far more sport modes on the same screen size, with a lighter 3ATM rating. The Zeacool 5ATM band matches the water rating with a smaller AMOLED screen and a longer battery. The Coucur Y66 is a full calling watch but not swim-rated.

The T115 wins when:

• swimming is part of your week
• you want the band on 24/7, shower included
• your phone is older and other bands will not pair
• you prefer a slim, light fit to a big watch face

A calling watch wins when you want to talk from the wrist, need a larger screen for messages, or value a long menu of workouts over water resistance.

There is also a middle path. Some people wear a calling watch during the working day and switch to a slim swim band for training and sleep. If that sounds like too much kit, decide which moment matters more to you, the call on a walk or the lap in the pool, and let that pick the device.

Check before ordering:

• There is no built-in GPS.
• It shows call alerts but does not answer calls.
• It comes in black with a silicone strap.

For swimmers and anyone who hates taking a band off, the T115 keeps the streak unbroken.