codoon smart heart rate earphones: intelligent with free courses

The Codoon Smart Heart Rate Earphones were launched as a crowdfunding product on JD.com in June 2018, raising millions in funding and exceeding the target by 730%. They are now available for sale in major online stores.

I have been using them for nearly half a month and would like to share my experience.

Brand Introduction

Codoon is a sports social platform for 100 million people, a unique leading brand in internet sports, and a pioneer and advocate of smart sports.

Chengdu Ledong Information Technology Co., Ltd. was established in 2010, and the 'Codoon' brand was born. The company advocates for technology that is people-oriented and has obtained over 20 patents. Since its inception, Codoon has been relentlessly pursuing innovation in technology, products, and services, providing users with simple, fast, and reliable internet-based sports services through powerful sports data and AI technology. Codoon is committed to building the world's largest and most comprehensive internet sports industry, emphasizing a people-oriented approach, technology as the foundation, and interest and taste as the core, with an international perspective and global positioning. The company promotes a positive, healthy, and optimistic lifestyle, showcasing the multiple beauties of life.

In early 2017, Codoon released its smart sports strategy, combining sports equipment, training courses, and AI technology to develop and launch a series of products such as Codoon Smart Running Shoes. These products use AI technology to provide scientific real-time guidance to users, reducing injuries and ensuring safer and more efficient exercise. To date, Codoon has released four smart sports equipment: Codoon Smart Running Shoes 1.0, Codoon Smart Walking Shoes, Codoon Smart Running Shoes 2.0, Codoon Smart Sports BRA, and 'Codoon × 1MORE Smart Sports Earphones.' The Codoon Smart Running Shoes series, in particular, features a sports capability testing system developed based on sports big data analysis, which evaluates users' physical conditions and provides scores. During running, it monitors relevant data in real-time and offers safe and scientific voice guidance.

(Brand content quoted from the official website)

The smart earphones launched by Codoon were introduced under the backdrop of Codoon's smart sports strategy released in 2017, providing more scientific guidance for sports enthusiasts through the combination of hardware and software (Codoon APP).

Unboxing Display

The earphones are produced by Ear No. 1 Acoustic Technology and currently come in two colors: Hot Red and Girl Pink.

The packaging box highlights the main features of the earphones: smart heart rate monitoring, smart sports guidance, and in-ear closed noise reduction.

Regarding the earphone OEM, it is not the familiar 1MORE, but it is related to 1MORE. The following is an introduction to Ear No. 1 Acoustic Technology Company, content sourced from the official website.

Ear No. 1 Acoustic Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. was established in Shenzhen, China, in 2016. It was formed by merging the acoustic R&D center of the original 1MORE Acoustic Technology Co., Ltd. with the TiinLab technical team led by Jay Chou, a Chinese pop king. The brand name is 'TiinLab.'

TiinLab possesses professional and rigorous acoustic R&D capabilities, focusing on core competitiveness, accumulating strength, and continuously innovating. It brings together many acoustic experts, including four-time Grammy-winning recording master Luca Bignardi, Tsinghua University acoustics Ph.D. Gary Chiu, and University of Michigan aerospace engineering master's graduate Edward Lee, to create an internationally standard 'Listening Lab.'

TiinLab conducts research and exploration in various fields such as new material diaphragms, multi-unit hybrid technology, digital active noise control technology, microphone arrays, smart hearing protection and compensation technology, head-related transfer function rapid modeling, 3D recording and playback systems, bringing the diverse charm of music to music lovers.

With strong independent R&D capabilities and support from co-founding partners, TiinLab is dedicated to providing different software and hardware product solutions for domestic and international customers, including ODM manufacturing, co-branding, and joint development.

The earphone accessories include one earplug storage case, two silicone earplug sets, two bullhorn ear sets, one manual, and one USB charging cable.

Appearance Display

Product identification, indicating product name, manufacturer, and other information.

The Hot Red earphones naturally use a red and black color scheme, a common sports color combination. The outer side of the earphone housing is designed with metal, and the CODOON logo is etched on each earphone. The earphones use an ear-hook design, which is flexible and adjustable. The entire device weighs only 15g.

The integrated line control and seamless button design are waterproof and dustproof, with the same life waterproof performance as the earphones.

The black line control has an additional red button, which is not only the power button but also the smart voice assistant activation button. The other three buttons on the line control are the volume up button, the blue function button, and the volume down button. These three buttons have a relatively hard touch and feel average.

When charging, the line control will have an indicator light that turns off when fully charged. Using the USB port on a Xiaomi socket, it takes less than 2 hours to fully charge.

The earphones come with silicone earplugs and bullhorn ear sets to meet the needs of different people.

The appearance of the earphones after removing the ear sets and earplugs shows good internal workmanship, with no burrs, glue marks, or large gaps.

The silicone ear sets of the earphones are marked with left and right indicators.

Replace with the provided bullhorn earplugs.

I recommend everyone to switch to the bullhorn earplugs; they perform quite well. From the first time I wore them, the earphones have never fallen off during my runs over the past half month.

The sensor exposed on the silicone ear set of the earphones, with the heart rate sensor on the right earphone and the left side idle.

The earphone core wire is wrapped in Kevlar fiber, which is flexible and tensile-resistant; the surface of the wire uses TPU material with a sawtooth pattern design, making it less likely to tangle. The black curved part that fits the ear is wrapped in ergonomic memory steel wire, which does not deform when bent or squeezed.

The picture shows testing the heart rate of a mobile phone, with the finger removed before taking the photo.

Heart rate monitoring simulation diagram

I did not see any light emitted from the heart rate monitoring module. Checking the crowdfunding page, it says that infrared is used, which is invisible to the naked eye.

Usage Experience

Bluetooth Performance:

The earphones use Bluetooth V4.2 technology and support HFP/A2DP/AVRCP Bluetooth protocols.

After successfully pairing the Bluetooth with the phone, open the Codoon APP and add the equipment, adding the Codoon Smart Earphones to the Codoon APP, which binds them together. This enables the smart earphone functions. When the phone is in standby mode, turning on the earphones will indicate that they are in Bluetooth connection mode, searching for Bluetooth. After about 12 seconds, the Bluetooth connects to the phone. At this point, activate the phone and open the Codoon APP. It takes about 5 seconds to connect to the Codoon APP, and then you can see the heart rate data on the earphone interface (it takes about 10 seconds to display the data).

Above is a video I shot related to Bluetooth connection, feel free to check it out.

Earphone Power Consumption:

Regarding standby efficiency, the official description states 4 hours of talk time, 5 hours of playback time, 70 hours of standby time, and 2 hours of charging.

In actual use, I found that the standby time is very short when the earphones are turned off. For example, if I turn off the earphones and then turn them on 24 hours later, I find that the earphones are already out of power and need to be recharged.

During use, running for 2 hours consumes 70% of the battery, leaving 30% (without listening to music). Considering that heart rate monitoring is particularly power-consuming, this power consumption is within an acceptable range. Using Codoon Smart Heart Rate Earphones for a 2.5-hour half marathon is sufficient, and it is also enough for regular running training.

Charging for 5 minutes allows for 20 minutes of use (running).

Earphone Sound Quality and Noise Reduction:

Sound quality introduction (sourced from the official website)

Sound quality is a very subjective and esoteric thing.

The Codoon Smart Earphones Quiet use a 'dynamic driver' acoustic structure. The previous generation of smart earphones used a 'dynamic driver' + 'balanced armature' dual-unit acoustic structure.

As sports earphones priced at 299 yuan, with the manufacturer's quality, Quiet's sound quality is sufficient for daily use.

'Noise reduction' is also a highlight of Quiet's promotion, with an in-ear physical noise reduction design that reduces 60%-80% of environmental noise.

Physical noise reduction design

From this wearing picture, we can see that the earphone housing can be completely placed in the ear concha, even hiding the earphone's logo.

I personally think that physical noise reduction is just a gimmick and not very meaningful; otherwise, what is the point of noise-canceling earphones on the market? Also, the earphone's logo being hidden due to wearing is a design flaw in my opinion.

Heart Rate Monitoring:

The universally recognized most accurate heart rate monitoring is the heart rate strap. The heart rate monitoring module on the earphones is prone to shaking during exercise, making the heart rate values unstable, which is normal. I personally think it can only serve as a reference, but the heart rate curve can be used for analysis since heart rate changes are relative.

During running, real-time voice heart rate guidance provides running suggestions based on the current heart rate value. For example, if the heart rate is too low, it will prompt that the heart rate is low and cannot achieve effective exercise; you are currently in perfect exercise, keep it up; maintain rhythm during running, and other motivational phrases. It is quite suitable for running alone.

Heart Rate Training Courses

Currently, the Codoon APP offers three heart rate training tutorials: Cardiopulmonary Improvement Heart Rate Run, Optimal Fat Burning Heart Rate Run, and MAF180 Slow Run Training. All are beginner and intermediate courses, with no advanced training courses. I hope Codoon develops more heart rate training courses, leveraging Codoon's big data analysis to summarize some cardiopulmonary training courses.

Smart Voice Assistant

The earphones are equipped with Tencent Dingdang Smart Assistant, which can be activated through the smart button on the line control.

However, the voice assistant can only be used when the Codoon APP is open and the network is online, both conditions are necessary. In poor network environments, activation may fail.

This is a video I made about the smart voice assistant, which can achieve functions such as starting running, pausing running, stopping running, querying current heart rate, adjusting volume, controlling shutdown, and playing music through the smart voice assistant.

However, playing music requires the installation of the 'QQ Music' APP. The voice assistant will automatically open 'QQ Music,' which I do not like because I never use this APP. Can't I listen to music without it? Tencent Dingdang Smart Voice Assistant still seems too closed.

But I always feel that it is inconvenient for the smart assistant to require an internet connection to use. I think it could compromise by having both online and offline modes. For functions that involve weather, news, radio, etc., which require online queries, it should be online. However, for functions that do not require an internet connection, such as starting running, stopping running, querying remaining battery, making calls, etc., it should be offline. If it can distinguish between these two states, then it would truly be a smart control function.

Overall, the smart assistant is quite useful for basic operations such as controlling running and querying heart rate, which can increase user satisfaction. However, for functions involving online queries, the subjectivity is too strong, making it somewhat redundant in my opinion.

Summary

Is heart rate really important for running?

Whether you are an experienced runner or a beginner, understanding the average heart rate during running and its impact on human health will help you achieve more ideal and efficient exercise results. Calculating the average heart rate during running is a very effective way to evaluate your exercise intensity. Especially for beginners, as they often run too fast or too intensely, causing their heart rate to exceed the average level, which can lead to poor fitness results and discourage their enthusiasm for exercise.

As the quoted statement says, to achieve more efficient exercise results, understanding your heart rate is essential. Of course, this does not apply to casual runners.

The significance of controlling heart rate (sourced from the official website)

This chart from Codoon also illustrates the significance of controlling heart rate.

Therefore, for those who are keen on improving their running performance or enhancing exercise results, it is necessary to choose a heart rate monitoring device. There are heart rate watches, heart rate earphones, and heart rate bands.

The Codoon Smart Heart Rate Earphones Quiet is such a device. Its biggest advantage is its compatibility with the Codoon APP, allowing free access to heart rate training courses.

If you are a heavy user of the Codoon APP or part of the Codoon ecosystem, then the Codoon Heart Rate Earphones Quiet is worth considering.