Introducing: Visible Armband 2.0

At Visible, we're on a mission to make invisible illness visible, and that means building the best possible tools to measure and manage your energy-limiting illness.

Since we launched our wearable membership a year ago, we’ve released more than 100 software updates to the Visible app. But one thing has remained unchanged: the hardware that powers your membership. Today, we’re excited to share the next step in our journey: Visible Armband 2.0.

Here’s what you need to know.

What's new with Armband 2.0

Over the past year we’ve worked closely with Polar, a world leader in wearable technology with over 50 years of experience, to create the next generation of the Visible Armband.

Visible Armband 2.0 brings some important improvements:

• Longer battery life: Up to 5 days of battery life for continuous data capture.
• Simpler charging: No more fiddly cables and cradles with our all-new magnetic charger.
• Same unbeatable accuracy: Designed to be worn on the upper arm, for the same research-grade data you’re used to.

We’re excited for the potential for Armband 2.0 to improve your experience with Visible. And we’re grateful for all of the feedback we’ve received from Armband 2.0 beta users so far.

While there are no additional software features or metrics currently available for Armband 2.0, we’re excited about the possibilities that the new hardware can provide. Rest assured that regardless of which armband you use, we’ll continue developing features and updates for all Visible members.

Upgrading to Armband 2.0

Upgrading to Armband 2.0 is completely optional. If you are currently a Visible member and decide not to upgrade, you can keep using your current armband. All of the features you are used to will continue working, and your membership will continue as normal.

Who can get it and when

If you are a current Visible member who has been with us for more than 100 days, you’ll see the option to upgrade to Armband 2.0 in the app from 2 December 2024. Limited stock means we’re prioritizing availability for our members who have been with us the longest. We will make Armband 2.0 upgrades available to all Visible members in the app by February 2025.

How much does it cost

At Visible, we are different from fitness tracker companies like Apple, Garmin and Fitbit. We don’t make money by selling devices for a profit. Instead, we make hardware devices available to you as cheaply as we possibly can.

Because we don’t make money from selling armbands, it’s your membership fee that powers everything we do. It funds the development of our app and algorithms, and ensures we are constantly improving. It helps pay for our Member Support team who are there to respond to any questions you might have. And it fuels our investment in research into illnesses which have been underfunded and overlooked for far too long.

Charity donation program

While we can't accept trade-ins for your current armband, we’ve partnered with ME and Long Covid charities to create a donation program. If you'd like your old armband to benefit someone else in need, we can help find it a good home. You can find out more information about the program in the Visible app’s Help and Feedback section.

Making the invisible, visible

We know that Armband 2.0 and Visible membership might not be affordable for everyone right now. That's why we are committed to expanding accessibility to our services. We are actively working to build the necessary evidence base to partner with insurance providers and health programs. Achieving this will take time, dedication, and support from our community. We’ve written more about these efforts here.

Visible Armband 2.0 is a step forward in our mission to make invisible illness visible. We can't wait to hear what you think.

Onwards,

Harry