So with the increasing awareness around wellness and self care, it is no surprise that there are many gadgets also in the market that help users achieve a higher level of wellness. Now, while some devices like the UltraHuman fitness patch, or the more recent fitness rings do work in terms of helping users enhance their lifestyle, there are also confusing products in the market that make you think “why does this product exist?”
One such product is the Evolv28 wearable device. Now, I got the opportunity to review the device about a couple of months back and ever since, I have used it on and off. What started as a passionate and dedicated use of the product for the first 10 days or something, eventually faded into a sense of useless weight on my neck. So let me tell you what went into the transition.
Evolv28 wearable: What is does
So the Evolv28 is a wearable which is aimed at making you achieve a higher level of “mindfulness, mental wellbeing, and holistic wellness.” It helps users sleep better, reduce their anxiety, improve their mood, and help reduce stress. The device uses low frequency magnetic pulses that are claimed to “readjust your brain’s natural waves” using electromagnetic waves. Now, this is a tall claim.
But that’s not all, the Evolv28 also generates a magnetic field that safely harmonizes the frequency of your brain waves. It uses an electromagnetic sensor on the back of the neckband to send these waves or pulses to your brain in order to readjust your disturbed brain waves.
Evolv28 wearable: But does it work?
After reading all these claims on the company’s website, I was instantly interested since I am someone who suffers from a major sleep disorder and ADHD issues. Clearly, I jumped on the opportunity and got on a call with the team at Evolv28. Now, while on call with the team, I was convinced, given that the brand has put in the effort to do their own study around the requirement of such a product.
Furthermore, Evolv28 also generates the least amount of vibrations among the handful of such products that are available in the global market. So instantly, I was ready to fix my sleep and improve my focus with the help of the Evolv28.
But to my disappointment, the device didn’t help me. As mentioned above, I used it diligently for the first 10 or 11 days, putting on the neckband for about 7 hours daily (as suggested by the Evolv28 team). For all of these days, I used the “improve sleep” option.
Now, wearing the device was a bit of an odd experience for the first time. It didn’t really do anything other than sit on my neck. There is a minor vibration when you start one function, but after that there is no feedback or no way for you to know if the device is even working. I had to look at the LED indicator on the device or the mobile app to check if it’s working. For people with anxiety, it is highly counterproductive since wondering if your wellness device is working or not is itself something that can potentially induce anxiety.
But well, coming back to my experience. The app only shows a timer, which keeps going on if you’re wearing the device or not. And yes, since the device isn’t doing anything, the only way to make sure if it’s working is to check the timer on the app, then see if the LED indicator is on to know if the device is working.
Since this was a bit of an issue, I contacted the brand and was told that I can’t feel the electromagnetic pulse going through to my brain and I have to keep using it for at last 7 hours for 10 days straight to feel the actual difference. And that’s exactly what I did.
So after using the Evolv28 for 10 or 11 days (yes, I lost count after a point) for 7 hours straight, I didn’t notice any chance in my sleep. For a person who suffers with ADHD, wearing something for 7 hours is a challenge in itself, let alone doing it for 10 days. But I did it. Only to see that my sleep had, in fact, not changed at all.
On the first day of using the Evolv28, I tracked a total of 6 hours and 39 minutes of sleep. Out of this, 1 hour and 43 minutes was rapid eye movement (REM), 2 hours and 5 minutes was deep sleep, and 2 hours 55 minutes was light sleep. After using the Evolv28 for 10 days, I slept a total of 6 hours and 35 minutes, out of which, REM was 1 hour and 22 minutes, deep sleep was 2 hours and 18 minutes, and light sleep was for 3 hours. Here is a chart for the same:
So after fighting my own ADHD issue for each day for 10 straight days, I was highly disappointed with how the product works. The sleep schedule didn’t change much, the device didn’t give me any feedback on whether it’s working or not, and even the app experience wasn’t the best.
Evolv28 wearable: App compatibility
The app for the Evolv28 is also in-line with the device itself. The experience is very limited and you can only select a few functionalities from the ones mentioned on the website. I, for example, only had access to four of the functions – sleep better, reduce anxiety, uplift mood, and mindful meditation. There are not many details about the device apart from a 360-degree 3D model and telling you if it’s connected.
It also comes with a “Mindful Consulting” tab, where you can take consultation from Evolv28 about your state of wellbeing. For this also, it is ideal to have your device connected. Then there is your profile tab, which only shows your profile, there is a “badges and leaderboard” section, which I’m guessing is some sort of a reward system, and the option of connecting to your Google Fit account along with family. So yes, the app is also very limited in terms of how much you can do.
Evolv28 wearable: Honest takeaway
So as I mentioned in the beginning. The Evolv28 wearable is a confusing device. While there are studies and reports backing up products like this, my experience wasn’t really “well” while using it. Yes, we need devices that help people deal with mental issues, but it also needs to work clearly and not let users keep guessing all the time.
The bigger problem with the Evolv28 is the level of commitment. In a generation where the only commitment we see is between people and their screens, asking users to put on something for 7 hours straight for at least 10 days, after paying a handsome amount of Rs 19,999, is asking a bit too much for any device that doesn’t do much.
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