Smartwatches are becoming far more than luxury gadgets. A smartwatch can be used for a variety of tasks, including making calls, checking emails, and more. They’re so convenient that it eliminates the need to pick up your phone. You have all the information available on your wrist. But we’ve come to a point where users can choose between dozens of smartphone manufacturers. While Apple did start the smartwatch revolution with the Apple Watch, plenty of companies want in on the action.
As such, buying a smartwatch is easier said than done. Because of that, here is what you should be looking for when buying a smartwatch.
What Do You Need It For?
A smartwatch is a name given not only to digital watches but any watch. However, there is a fine line between buying a smartwatch and a fitness band. The latter is a gadget that resembles the former but is used for fitness and exercise monitoring. Because of that, fitness bands are usually less stylish and come with fewer features.
The first thing to do when buying a smartwatch is to figure out what you want. No doubt fitness bands are becoming more and more popular with athletes, personal trainers, and people looking to get into physical activities. Smartwatches, on the other hand, come with a host of applications intended to make things easier for the user.
You can even put a SIM card into your smartwatch to make and receive calls and texts. If you’re having difficulties doing that, here is how to activate a SIM card with your smartwatch.
Look For the Type Of OS (Operating System)
A smartwatch needs an operating system (OS) to run. The two most popular smartwatch OS’ include Apple’s Watch OS and Andoird Wear. Watch OS is designed only for Apple smartwatches. Not only that, but Apple smartwatches work only with iPhones.
On the other hand, Android Wear is an OS developed by Google. However, unlike Wear OS, Andriod Wear smartwatches can also work with iPhones and Android smartphones. This is a clever move by Google to try and seize some of Apple’s market. Everyone knows how expensive an iPhone can be. As one can imagine, Apple Smartwatches are also costlier than Andoird smartwatches.
The reason why the OS is important is due to compatibility. We already briefly mentioned that you can sync your smartphone with the smartwatch. This will allow you to make calls, listen to music, even control the volume on your phone.
Also Read: Oura ring vs Whoop: Two of the Most Trendy Health Trackers in the Market
Look At the Hardware Specifications
It’s becoming a meme that we’ll one day be able to download apps on our refrigerators. But this meme is already a reality when it comes to smartwatches. One of the best features of the smartwatch is that they come with all kinds of apps. However, this isn’t that important as you can still download apps to your smartwatch.
What is important is the hardware. Namely, a smartwatch is very limited compared to smartphones. Naturally, it will have less storage and less computing power. So you can’t expect to download as many applications as you would on your new iPhone or Galaxy. Naturally, a smartwatch with higher hardware specs is more expensive. Apple’s latest Smartwatch comes with 32 GB of storage capacity. This is seriously impressive hardware compared to the rest of the market.
Look Out For Connectivity Features
Smartwatches are all about convenience and connectivity. While a built-in GPS feature is standard in the industry, what’s even more impressive is that some smartwatches come with a host of additional features. Examples include NFC, which allows the smartwatch to pair with your phone. In many cases, NFC is used as a payment method. Mobile payment services are available to smartwatches. Google Pay and Apple Pay are two particular services that smartwatches come with.
So before buying a smartwatch, think about if this is something important to you. In a couple of years, NFC will be standard with most smartwatches.
Look Out For Battery Life
We’ve become dependent on our smartphones and smartwatches. Much like any other 21st-century gadget, even a smartwatch needs recharging. There is only so much this gadget can last before it runs out of juice. It is far more different than a normal watch, where the battery can last for years.
The battery capabilities of smartwatches are changing to bigger and better. Nowadays, they can last for a whole day, if not multiple days, before needing recharging. But through time, the battery life will significantly shorten. This is an issue that also exists with smartphones. The more you charge it back to full, the more it shortens the battery lifespan.
Battery life is an important factor to consider when buying a smartwatch. The last thing you want is to have to charge it multiple times of the day due to a serious miscalculation on your end. Always read the hardware specs as this technically falls under the same category.
Look For the Types Of Controls
Smartwatches come in two types of controls, touchscreens and physical controls. The reason why this is important is that it directly relates to how simple or easy smartwatches are. A touchscreen smartwatch works just like any other smartphone. Physical controls, on the other hand, are from a technology many don’t seem to familiarize anymore. These watches work differently and resemble old watches.
The user presses a button or moves a tiny control pad to use the smartwatch. While it does seem simpler, it’s far less convenient. Naturally, touchscreen smartwatches are more expensive.
Look Out For the Design
The last of our smartwatch buying guide talks about something that each person looks at differently – the design. Smartwatches come in all shapes and sizes. They can be round, rectangular, or even resemble normal watches. But the design is an important factor to look at. Luckily, the design doesn’t impact price as much as hardware spec or brand name.
However, you wouldn’t be buying a smartwatch that doesn’t appeal to you, would you?