A smartwatch can support you to stay connected and multitask, so you never miss a beat. They can help you monitor your heart rate, measure your movements, tell the time, display notifications, and much more. And you can do all of these activities without even taking your phone out of the pocket.
However, buying a smartwatch isn't as easy as it seems though. There are so many available in the market right now that getting the right one for you can be confusing. You should always compare the features present in various models of different brands and pick what suits you best.
Some of these watches are a bit costly, but you don't need to pay a lot of money to get a good smart watch, as there are many low-cost smartwatches out there packed with great features and functionalities. To help you select, we have put this smartwatch buying guide together. Read on!
What To Consider When Buying A SmartWatch?
Compatibility
Before you buy a smartwatch, you should always check whether it is compatible with your existing phone. Different watch brands use a different OS, so you should always buy a watch with an OS that is fully compatible with your mobile phone. Knowing this will also help you eliminate a lot of smartwatch choices.
For example, if you have an android phone and you want to buy the Apple Watch, then you will be just spending money for nothing. This smartwatch model won't be compatible with your mobile phone.
Battery Life
Most of the smartwatches will last from one to two days without charging. But watches that have more features tend to last only around 12 hours. You can see every smartwatch's battery life in the manufacturer's specifications and pick one that will suit you the best.
And once it runs out of buttery, then you need to charge the smartwatch. Some of them come with convenient wireless chargers, while others require a USB cable that plugs into the watch itself.
Displays
When shopping for a smartwatch, it is pretty important to consider what type of display you want, as it is the place where you will be operating and managing various activities. Most of the brands either use either a colorful LCD or an AMOLED screen. While it is a little bit more expensive, we suggest you stick with the AMOLED display since it provides you with a crisper experience and a smooth design.
Design
Nowadays, smartwatches come in various designs, so you will surely find a design that will suit you the most. They may have a square dial or a circular dial. You can also pick between a watch with changeable bands and a watch with metallic bands.
Brands will offer you multiple customization options like material, band color, finish, and size.
How Much Does A Smartwatch Cost?
Various factors determine the cost of a smartwatch, and some of them are the brand, the OS used in it, its design, the band's material, the functions it can perform, its health-related features, etc.
On average, smartwatches cost from around $30 to over $700, which is a huge price gap. At the top of the price range, you'll be paying for premium materials, popular brands, and decorations, such as gold or precious gems.
How Did We Test?
When picking the best smartwatches, we have put into consideration a lot of factors. Some of them were customer reviews, brands, price, durability, etc. Once we've picked the top smartwatches, we have done personal testing of all of them in order to assure that we are providing our readers with genuine information.
What Are Some Important Features Of The Smartwatch
Payments
Most of the smartwatches will offer you the opportunity of making payments or online transactions. They have built-in NFC chips, which help to make payments even if you don't have your phone close to you. But different smartwatches have different payment processors.
For example, Apple smartwatches will use Apple Pay. Android smartwatches will accept Google Pay, or if you have a Samsung, then you need to use the Samsung Pay service.
Activity Tracking
The smartwatch is mainly known for its health and activity tracking features. It is pretty handy to have as many of these features as possible. Here are some of the most important activity tracking features: a speedometer used to track your steps, a calorimeter will keep track of the calories your burned, a barometer to measure the air pressure, and a GPS that will track your movement.
Auto-Pairing
Most smartwatches are typically smartphone accessories because they rely on a smartphone connection via Bluetooth or a WiFi network. A pretty popular feature that is installed in most recent smartwatches is the auto-pairing option. This allows your device to get automatically paired up with your smartphone and provides you with a hassle-free experience.
Water Resistance
Most of the smartwatches are at least somewhat water-resistant, so you will be able to wash your hands with your smartwatch or go out in the rain. But only the waterproof models can resist a dip in the pool without any problems. So be sure to check the specs if this is a crucial feature to you.
Call And text capability
If you're purchasing a smartwatch, you want to have the most basic features, such as making calls and sending texts. So most smartwatches come with this option, but all of them operate differently.
For example, usually, all the smartwatches will let you see notifications and texts. But some of them will let you shoot a short reply from the smartwatch, while others will require you to use your phone to reply.
Conclusion
A smartwatch is a great way to acquire easier access to many things you would usually do on a smartphone. And the market has exploded in recent years with excellent products designed to suit all kinds of people, personalities, and preferences.
Hopefully, this guide has given you a better idea of what are the essential things you should be looking for. So, now you'll be capable of making a more informed choice. Happy shopping!
SmartWatch FAQ
Q: Can smartwatches make calls?
Yes! Most of the smartwatches will allow you to make and receive calls. These watches will usually need to connect to your smartphone's network via Bluetooth to make the call. However, there are some smartwatches available on LTE (cellular). Going for the LTE version will cost you a little bit more, but you'll be able to make/receive calls without having to carry your phone.
Q: Are Smart Watches Waterproof?
Most modern smartwatches are either waterproof or water-resistant. But to be completely sure, we advise you that you review the product's features before buying the smartwatch to know if it's waterproof.
Q: Can you text on a smartwatch?</h4>
Yes, you can send and reply to messages from your smartwatch without even opening your phone. Some of the most advanced smartwatches have built-in messaging functionality to allow you to shoot text messages from your watch, and it's not as hard as you may think, even with such a small screen!