If you’re in the market for a stylish smartwatch, the Luxium Crusader might seem like an attractive option. Its sleek design and tempting features are certainly attention-grabbing. However, before making a decision, it’s essential to dig deeper to understand if it’s really worth your money.
In this review, I’ll share my honest experience with the Luxium Crusader, going through its pros, cons, and a comparison with similar watches out there, so you can make the right call.
My Experience With Luxium Crusader Watch
Using the Luxium Crusader for about a week, I quickly noticed its shortcomings. Initially, I was drawn in by its sleek design and the promise of health tracking features.
However, the heart rate and blood pressure readings were noticeably inaccurate compared to professional devices, which made me skeptical of the other health features. The step counter was also wildly off, showing numbers far higher than what I had actually walked.
The Bluetooth connectivity was another pain point. When paired with my phone, I experienced frequent dropped calls and inconsistent notifications, which was frustrating. While the battery life lasted about two days, the charging time felt quite slow.
In summary, the Luxium Crusader looks good but falls short in performance, accuracy, and reliability. It may serve as a basic smartwatch, but if you are serious about health tracking or seamless connectivity, this watch is not for you.
Features of Luxium Crusader Watch
- Design And Display
First impressions do matter, and when it comes to design, the Luxium Crusader delivers an appealing aesthetic.
The large HD watch face is bright and easy to read, giving off a premium look.
It fits comfortably on the wrist, and the modern design makes it compatible with most outfits—whether you’re in business attire or in your gym gear.
But it’s not just about how a smartwatch looks. As I used the watch for a few days, I quickly realized that the touchscreen, while responsive, could have been more fluid. I experienced a bit of lag when trying to navigate between apps, which took away from what would have been an otherwise polished experience.
- Performance And Features
The Luxium Crusader boasts several features that you’d expect from a smartwatch—step counting, heart rate monitoring, notifications, and even blood pressure tracking. However, my experience with these features was disappointing.
For starters, the step counting seemed overly generous. During a typical day of moderate movement, the Luxium Crusader claimed I’d walked almost three times the distance that I had actually covered. It might seem flattering to some, but it ultimately made the data unreliable for anyone looking to track their fitness seriously.
Next up was the heart rate and blood pressure monitoring. The readings were inconsistent, to say the least. I compared it with professional medical equipment at my doctor’s office, and the discrepancies were alarming. If accurate health tracking is what you’re looking for, I’d say you’re better off looking elsewhere.
The intelligent voice reminders worked decently, but the feature wasn’t something that I found very useful. If you rely on reminders, you could easily set them on your phone.
And speaking of connecting to the phone, it wasn’t a smooth ride either. I experienced multiple dropped calls when the Crusader was connected, which eventually made me disconnect the watch entirely.
- Battery Life
The advertised 400mAh battery is supposed to last several days, and in my experience, the battery performance was average. It managed to get through two days on a full charge, which isn’t horrible but also not a standout feature in a smartwatch of this category.
The charging process, however, was somewhat slow, taking up to three hours for a full charge.
- Water Resistance
Luxium advertises that the Crusader is waterproof, meaning it can withstand everyday splashes. It held up well to handwashing and general daily use, but I wouldn’t trust it near the pool. There’s no clear rating for submersion, and given my other issues with this watch, I wasn’t willing to take that risk.
Pros And Cons of Luxium Crusader Watch
Pros
- Fashionable Design: The watch genuinely looks good. It’s sleek and modern, and it’s one of those accessories that can easily elevate your outfit.
- Basic Features: It covers the basic needs of a smartwatch—notifications, reminders, step counting, and health readings (albeit inaccurate).
- Comfortable Fit: The strap is soft and comfortable for all-day wear.
Cons
- Inaccurate Health Tracking: Heart rate and blood pressure readings were inconsistent and inaccurate compared to professional equipment.
- Unreliable Step Counting: The step counter seems to inflate numbers significantly, making it useless for anyone serious about fitness tracking.
- Connectivity Issues: Multiple dropped calls and pairing issues made the Bluetooth connection unreliable.
- Poor Customer Service: From my experience and what I’ve seen from other users, customer service is non-responsive, and they aren’t willing to accommodate returns.
- No Refund Policy: It’s disheartening that there’s no return option. Once you’ve bought it, you’re stuck with it.
Comparison With Other Brands
The smartwatch market is saturated with various options, each offering its own unique value propositions. To put the Luxium Crusader into context, let’s compare it with some other popular smartwatches.
- Luxium Crusader Vs. Apple Watch Series 8
The Apple Watch Series 8 is considered the gold standard when it comes to smartwatches, and for good reason. Unlike the Luxium Crusader, the Apple Watch provides consistent, medically reliable readings for heart rate, ECG, and blood oxygen levels.
The display is incredibly responsive, and the range of apps available makes it much more versatile.
Sure, the Apple Watch is more expensive, but it’s a case of getting what you pay for. The reliability, the vast number of features, and Apple’s robust customer service make the Apple Watch a vastly superior choice.
- Luxium Crusader Vs. Fitbit Versa 4
Another competitor is the Fitbit Versa 4. Fitbit has built a solid reputation for delivering accurate fitness and health metrics, and unlike the Luxium Crusader, the Versa 4 doesn’t exaggerate step counts or provide inaccurate heart rate data. Its integration with the Fitbit app is seamless, and it offers genuine insights into your health and fitness.
While the Versa 4 might lack some of the more advanced features of the Apple Watch, it still comfortably outperforms the Luxium Crusader when it comes to reliability and usability.
- Luxium Crusader Vs. Amazfit GTR 3
The Amazfit GTR 3 is another comparable option. It offers a beautiful AMOLED display, consistent tracking features, and great battery life. Unlike the Luxium Crusader, it actually lives up to its advertised specifications. With up to 21 days of battery life on typical usage, the Amazfit GTR 3 is well ahead in terms of value for money.
In comparison, the Luxium Crusader struggles with performance, accuracy, and reliability, which makes it a tough sell in the competitive smartwatch market.
Maintenance Tips For Your Watch
If you do decide to go ahead and purchase the Luxium Crusader, here are some tips to help you make the most of it and maintain its longevity.
- Charge Regularly and Correctly: The battery life of the Luxium Crusader, while not extraordinary, can be extended if you maintain good charging habits. Avoid overcharging it overnight, as this can degrade the battery over time. Aim to charge it during the day when you can monitor it and unplug it once it’s fully charged.
- Keep It Dry: Even though Luxium Crusader claims to be waterproof, I’d suggest being cautious. Don’t take it swimming or even wear it in the shower. A splash of water here and there should be fine, but prolonged exposure may cause issues. Always dry it off if it gets wet.
- Clean the Watch Face and Strap: To keep your watch looking fresh, clean the watch face regularly with a soft, damp cloth. For the strap, use a gentle soap solution, but make sure to avoid harsh chemicals, as they might damage the material. A clean smartwatch always feels more comfortable to wear.
- Update the Software: Luxium offers software updates that may improve the functionality of the watch. Be sure to connect your watch to the mobile app regularly and update whenever there’s a new version. It’s a simple way to ensure you get the best experience possible, even if it’s far from perfect.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
In my experience, Luxium is not a watch brand I would recommend. The quality of the Luxium Crusader watch, especially with inaccurate health metrics and connectivity issues, leaves a lot to be desired. Their customer service is also unresponsive, making it a frustrating experience if you face issues.
To pair your Luxium watch, you need to download their app on your smartphone. Then, you need to enable Bluetooth on your phone and follow the app’s instructions to connect the watch. Just be prepared for potential connectivity problems, as I faced dropped connections several times during my testing.
Luxium is a brand that offers smartwatches and other wearable technology. They position themselves as a stylish, affordable option in the smartwatch market, but in my opinion, their products fall short when it comes to quality and reliability.
Final Thoughts
While the Luxium Crusader watch has some attractive features, its inaccuracies, connectivity issues, and lack of proper support make it a challenging product to recommend.
If you’re looking for a reliable smartwatch that genuinely enhances your life, I would suggest looking at alternatives like the Apple Watch, Fitbit Versa, or Amazfit GTR. It’s worth investing in a watch that will live up to its promises and serve you well in the long run.