Microsoft Band now available for purchase in the UK: Is the wearable worth buying?

Microsoft entered the wearables segment late last year by launching the Microsoft Band in the US. The device has finally reached UK shores and has been priced at £170 ($250).

The Microsoft Band can be purchased on Microsoft's online store and physical retail stores across the UK.

Is the Microsoft Band worth purchasing?

At £170, the Microsoft Band that comes with a cross-platform fitness tracker, may seem a bit over-priced when compared to the Samsung Gear Fit, which has been priced at £100.

However, since the wearable allows users to sync it with devices running on Windows Phone 8.1, iOS 7.1 and 8, and Android 4.3/4.4 via Bluetooth, the Microsoft product sure has an advantage.

Also, with inbuilt Cortana, the Microsoft Band lets users keep a tab on important activities, without depending on smartphones.

Moreover, Samsung's Gear Fit does not offer a personal digital assistant (PDA), nor does it have any voice assistance, hence users have to continually depend on smartphones for updates.

Other key features and tech-specs of the Microsoft Band include:

• Touch-enabled TFT full-colour display
• 64MB internal storage
• ARM Cortex M4 processor
• Optical heart rate sensor, GPS, UV Sensor, along with a host of other sensors
• Low-energy Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity
• Microphone and Haptic vibration motor embedded
• Compatibility: Windows Phone 8.1 Update, iOS 7.1, iOS 8, and Android 4.3, 4.4 compatible
• Built-in Smart UV Monitor
• Ability to read text messages, and view incoming calls, even when on the move
• Email notifications and Calendar integration
• Two 100 mAh rechargeable Li-Ion batteries, that are claimed to operate for at least 48 hours in normal usage conditions
• Batteries can be charged to full, in less than 1.5 hours
• Dynamic accessibility to Microsoft Windows Store, Google Play Store and Apple App repositories
• The Band weighs 60 grams.

In the US, the Microsoft Band is priced at $200 (£135).