June 23, 2024, 12:12 pm | Read time: 10 minutes
The smartwatch has become an indispensable companion for many people. Whether for fitness enthusiasts, tech lovers, or those looking to simplify their daily lives, there’s always something suitable. However, before purchasing, many questions arise about what to pay attention to. TECHBOOK has summarized seven points and reveals how to choose the optimal wearable.
Most smartwatches today offer a variety of functions and features. Often, the differences are only marginal. Choosing the right smartwatch can be a challenge. Should you opt for a very expensive smartwatch or a more affordable model? Which functions are absolutely necessary, and which features can you do without? From usage to design to technical specifications, TECHBOOK highlights relevant aspects to help you make an informed choice. Here’s what to consider before buying a smartwatch.
Overview
Purpose and Use of the Smartwatch
Smartwatches come in countless versions designed for different purposes. High-end models are often all-rounders, while low-budget wearables require some compromises. However, this doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. Most of the time, you don’t need all the offered functions. This point is quite important. You can choose a smartwatch according to your needs.
For sports fans, there are models with numerous fitness and health functions. Those who engage in outdoor activities need a robust smartwatch with special features. If you prefer to use the smart watch as a daily companion and more for communication, you can opt for smartwatches that offer fewer fitness but more smart functions (notifications, mobile payment, etc.).
If you want to use the smartwatch exclusively for moderate sports purposes, you can switch directly to fitness trackers, which are much cheaper and especially more handy. However, if you don’t want to miss out on the luxury of using both smart and sporty functions, buying a smartwatch is, of course, the ideal decision.
More details on this: Smartwatch, Fitness Tracker, Running Watch – Which is Suitable for Whom
Design, Display, and Materials
Design is a crucial factor for smartwatches. Not only the appearance but also the wearing comfort is very relevant. Some models appear bulky, while others are more discreet or compact. The case material also affects the weight. For example, stainless steel and titanium are more durable but heavier. With aluminum, it’s the opposite. The former are also more expensive.
Depending on the wrist size, you also need to choose an appropriate display. These are usually available in either square or round models. The diameters are typically 44 or 46 millimeters. However, there are also smartwatch displays with a diameter of 42 millimeters, which are especially recommended for thinner wrists.
The size is also important to ensure that the displayed information is always readable. Additionally, the display type plays a significant role. If you want better image quality, you should opt for smartwatches with OLED or AMOLED displays. LCDs usually offer higher brightness but are not as energy-efficient as the other displays. Almost all smartwatches are operated via touchscreen. They primarily have a few physical buttons on the edges.
You also don’t want the smartwatch to break quickly after purchase. For this, the display glass must be stable. Most often, Gorilla Glass or sapphire glass is used. You should also ensure that the smartwatch is waterproof.
Not only the case but also the bands come in different materials. If you are allergic to certain materials, you should choose the right bands accordingly, which are now interchangeable on most smartwatches.
Also interesting: 8 Powerful Smartwatches for Every Day
Compatibility and Ecosystem
Just like smartphones, smartwatches also have integrated operating systems. These determine not only the usage but also which functions and apps can be used. In fact, not all smartphones are compatible with all smartwatches. This is also due to the operating system. Among others, there are watchOS (Apple), Wear OS (Google), Tizen (Samsung), and various proprietary smartwatch operating systems (Garmin, Huawei, etc.). Regarding compatibility, let’s take watchOS and Wear OS as examples.
The operating system of the Apple Watch is watchOS. It is a very sophisticated, strong, and comprehensive system. The app selection is also impressive. The problem: You can only use Apple’s smartwatch with an iPhone and not with an Android smartphone.
It’s similar with smartwatches with Wear OS. These are compatible with all Android smartphones and can be used to their full extent. Even as an iPhone user, you can use a smart watch with Wear OS, but you have to do without some (or many) functions and features.
The interaction of smart devices is often referred to as an ecosystem. The more devices in such a system, the more efficient, smoother, and easier the exchange and process. Therefore, it is always more sensible to buy the smartwatch according to the smartphone (or vice versa) to fully enjoy the benefits of an ecosystem.
App Offering
Operating systems use different app stores, so the selection of apps and, consequently, the functionality can vary. Here, the ecosystem comes into play: The more devices in the same system, the easier and better the usage. The ecosystem determines which applications or apps you can install and use on the smartwatch after purchase.
It is also important that the stores are broadly positioned. Generally, there is the Apple App Store, the Google Play Store, the Samsung Galaxy Store, and smaller stores from other manufacturers. The latter usually have a smaller app offering, which does not necessarily mean they are useless. Often, the focus is on fitness and sports rather than lifestyle applications. In the three major stores, however, you will find the most important and best apps on almost all topics.
To illustrate which apps you can use with a smartwatch, we provide a brief overview of the most important areas. The majority often falls on fitness and health. There are numerous apps for this. Another important application area is communication with various messaging apps. Depending on the model, you can send and receive messages.
The topic of entertainment is also significant. Various music and podcast apps can be controlled via the smartwatch. You can also easily integrate navigation apps.
Functions and Sensors
From the apps, we move directly to the functions and sensors. Essentially, all three points have something in common. For a smartwatch to function perfectly, the interaction of these three components is crucial. While the sensors collect the data, it is then processed by the app. This data is then used to execute the watch’s functions.
Both expensive and cheaper smartwatches have integrated sensors–some more, some less. In any case, these are responsible for collecting data, which is especially important for the functions. The most relevant sensors include the accelerometer for movements, the gyroscope, the heart rate sensor, GPS, the SpO2 sensor for measuring oxygen levels, the temperature sensor, the barometer, NFC for contactless payments, etc.
The collected data is then processed in an app. This is converted into useful, helpful, and increasingly better information. The functions of a smartwatch are therefore based on the data collected by the sensors. The most essential examples of functions include fitness tracking, health monitoring (sleep, heart rate, etc.), as well as notifications, telephony, and various other controls.
This combination can be summarized as follows: Data is collected by sensors, processed by apps, and provided as functions. For this reason, you should ensure before buying a smartwatch how many sensors are necessary or how many functions you need. The more sensors are installed and, consequently, data can be processed, the more expensive but also more functional a smartwatch is.
Battery
Smartwatches have an integrated battery. However, the runtime varies greatly depending on the use of the wearable. Many smartwatches have a battery life of up to two days. These models are usually fully equipped and in continuous operation, which quickly drains the battery and requires frequent recharging. However, there are also wearables with significantly longer runtime or higher battery capacity.
Besides the functions, the display also plays a crucial role. The display technology also affects battery life. AMOLED displays, for example, are more energy-efficient, especially in dark mode. An always-on display, on the other hand, can increase battery consumption. By disabling this feature, you can save a lot of energy. Smartwatches with extensive connectivity also consume more battery. Fortunately, almost all smartwatches have power-saving modes that can be easily activated to regulate or reduce battery consumption. Some models can last for days in power-saving mode, but their functionality is then severely limited.
When it comes to the battery, you must decide individually how advanced the smartwatch should be. Wearables with many sensors, functions, and additional modules consume more battery. However, if you can manage with fewer features and don’t want to control all functions via the smartwatch, you can achieve a longer operating time. It’s also important to know: An expensive smartwatch does not necessarily mean a large battery is integrated. For example, a new Apple Watch, which is among the best on the market, needs to be charged almost every day with intensive use.
Is the Apple Watch in trouble now?
How Do Smartwatches Measure Movements and Body Functions?
Connectivity
Connectivity should not be overlooked. Especially when using it with a smartphone (or even without), you should know from the start how you want to use your smartwatch. The most basic form is, of course, Bluetooth. A smartwatch should at least be able to connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth. You should pay attention to which version is integrated, what the range is, and that smooth data transmission is ensured. Additionally, there are smartwatches with a Wi-Fi connectivity feature. This is practical when your smartphone is not nearby. This way, you can easily receive notifications, emails, etc., on the wearable. The constant synchronization of apps and data is also ensured.
High-end smartwatches also offer an integrated cellular connection, also known as LTE. This allows you to not only use the internet but also make calls, send messages, etc. Generally, you can say that with LTE, you can use the smartwatch independently of the smartphone. However, it should also be mentioned that LTE consumes more energy than Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, thus shortening the wearable’s battery life.
Other important connectivity features to consider when buying a smartwatch are GPS, NFC, and ANT+. The former doesn’t need much explanation. Higher-priced smartwatches have integrated GPS. If this is not the case, GPS (Glonass, Galileo) can also be used with smartphone pairing. If the smartwatch supports NFC, you can easily make contactless payments. For example, you can use Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay, which are available on the respective smartwatches. TECHBOOK also explains how else you can use NFC.
For athletes, ANT+ is interesting. This communication technology is responsible for transmitting fitness and health data. Numerous fitness devices support ANT+, including bikes, heart rate straps, etc.
Entry-Level, Mid-Range, or High-End?
As mentioned earlier, a high price does not necessarily mean it’s a better smartwatch. “Better” is quite relative. The available budget is the primary consideration. There are indeed affordable or cost-effective models with solid features. If you’re satisfied with that, you’ll quickly be happy with these smartwatches. Nowadays, these wearables offer basic functions like notifications, step counters, etc. Mid-range devices offer a bit more but are more limited in features than high-end smartwatches. With the latter, you can expect comprehensive features, high-quality materials, exclusive functions, and top sensors. However, the price is correspondingly high.
If you’re not very active or less tech-savvy, you certainly don’t need a high-end product. The ratio of utility to price-performance will hardly be justified in the end. An entry-level model or affordable mid-range wearable is entirely sufficient. For fitness enthusiasts or tech nerds, it’s advisable to spend more when buying a smartwatch, as the functionality and tracking are much more extensive. Ultimately, the choice is an individual decision.