Smartwatches have become an increasingly relevant device among smartphone users. And currently they can not only be an extension of the mobile to see notifications and respond quickly to messages, in addition to counting the steps we take, but they are also tools that can work independently and do many things that just a few years ago they couldn’t.
In a market full of alternatives and brands, the question I ask myself every two years or so is what could be my next smartwatch, if I want to continue using one (to be honest, I’m already so used to to use them than the The answer to this last question is a resounding “yes.” As with cell phones, Several factors influence the decision to purchase a new watch.. And while the battery is important, it’s not the only relevant thing. In fact, it’s not even my top priority.
A good smart watch should not be a slave to the cell phone
One of the aspects that I consider the most important in a smart watch is it works with my smartphone, but it shouldn’t depend on it 100%. And I don’t necessarily mean that it has an LTE connection (if it does, even better); Even if it’s a watch that relies on cell phone or WiFi to access the internet, I need to be able to use it properly. independent.
I wear the watch all day, except when I shower (it’s waterproof, but even though I’ve been analyzing the technology for over 12 years, it still feels “weird” to shower with the watch on). I sleep with the watch and I go everywhere with the watch. And so many times, When I go for a walk or run for exercise, I wear my watch but not my cell phone..
The watch should be able to not only track my steps and routes, as well as my heart rate and (approximate) calories burned, but also must have the ability to play music
The more apps that can work independently and without the need for a mobile phone, the better. But this also means that the watch must have good hardware, including generous storage capacity, as well as a processor and RAM with enough power to have a seamless experience when using any appespecially if we constantly switch from one application to another.
What will I use the watch for?
This question is directly related to the smartwatch hardware and what I expect from this device on my wrist. In the past, the main reason I wanted a smartwatch was to track my physical activity and quickly see notifications. Furthermore, Before, my biggest priority was autonomy.
Sometimes a good activity tracker is exactly what we’re looking for (Image: Fitbit Charge 6)
At that time, the answer was in an activity bracelet, and not on a smart watch. The bracelet did exactly what I wanted: it was an extension of my phone to see notifications, it tracked my physical activity in detail, and I only had to recharge its battery once every 10 days or so.
Today, I’m waiting for something else. My top priority is a multifunction wrist device, with access to several applications, which is as independent as possible from the mobile phone (as I already mentioned in the previous section) and which has a normal screen full of information. This being clear, an activity bracelet is no longer enough.
Powerful hardware and the more sensors, the better
For an app obsessive, like me, it is necessary that the smart watch has a powerful processor and the more RAM the better, so that in this way the user experience is always fast and smoothas I go from downloading a playlist on Spotify to replying to a WhatsApp in the Wear OS app, all while taking a break from my exercise routine.
This type of material unfortunately has a higher price. Models like the Huawei Watch GT 4 or the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro have these types of specifications under the hood, with a price of at least 250 dollars, or even more. It is very difficult to find performance of this type in a watch worth less than 50 dollars.
Regarding the sensors, since the smart watch is a device that is also designed for health activities, I generally look for them to have certain capabilities that currently could be considered basic in a wearable: heart rate measurement, sleep tracking and blood oxygen measurement are among the most important. But if you can do more, the better, like performing EKGs or measuring blood pressure.
Attractive design and exceptional display. If you can’t see it under the Sun, what’s the point?
Don’t get me wrong, even though I left the design and screen almost until the end, that doesn’t mean they aren’t two very important aspects when making a decision to buy a smartwatch . After all, a watch, whether smart or not, is an accessory, practically another item of clothing we wear.
There are smart watches that basically It looks like jewelry, as is the case of the beautiful Huawei Watch Ultimate, which if you see it out of the corner of your eye and don’t know what it is, you might believe that it is a luxury watch. a luxury brand. Sure, this is a considerably expensive watch, but it has good reason to be.
The Huawei Watch Ultimate has a beautiful design that resembles a luxury timepiece.
A sportier style, without falling into simplism or excess, can also be very attractive. A good example is the Xiaomi Watch S1 Active, which offers good overall functionality as well as a youthful, sporty design that doesn’t look cluttered.
These are two extremes of design: one more luxurious and another more luxurious. sportbut since it is not at all practical to have more than one smartwatch and use each of them depending on the occasion (as is the case with traditional watches), I personally prefer one midpoint between the two styles: something that feels both classic and casual, to use it all the time. Make it stylish, but not boring, as is the case with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic or the Huawei Watch GT3.
And finally, the screen. The three aspects that I consider most important in this section are: that it has an AMOLED panel, its maximum brightness level is considerably high and the bezels are minimal, preferably. If the screen isn’t good quality and doesn’t have good brightness, that means we probably won’t see content very well in broad daylight, and that’s not the experience we’re looking for.
The hardest part: the sacrifices we are willing to make
The interface of the Xiaomi Watch S1 Active is very nice.
Ideally, the smart watch should meet all our needs and preferences, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made, that we prioritize certain things over others when choosing. And this is partly because, although I’m looking for a watch that can operate autonomously (or as independently as possible), there is an important aspect that also needs to be taken into account: the ecosystem.
The mobile you use and the ecosystem of its manufacturer can be important factors in choosing a smart watch
Manufacturers generally talk about an ecosystem for a good reason: if you use a mobile phone from a brand, Smartwatches from the same brand are likely to have exclusive features, and work better together. Manufacturers usually have their own ecosystems and systems for their wearable devices. This is in many ways the same thing Apple does with its devices: if you use an iPhone, you’ll be better off with an Apple Watch than a Wear OS watch.
In my case, although I have several phones, my main phone for daily use is a Galaxy S23 Ultra, and although I have tried many smartwatches, using a Galaxy watch with a Galaxy phone has its advantages, especially if we also add headphones to the Galaxy Buds formula. This allows me, for example, to quickly and easily sync the earbuds with the watch to use them when I go for a run (without carrying my phone), and once I get home, I can quickly sync the Buds with my phone again .
There are also exclusive functions, including features like EKG and blood pressure measurement, which only work with Samsung Galaxy phones (although there are ways around this barrier), and the ability to synchronize the “Do not disturb” mode of the watch with the mobile phone. . Again, that manufacturers are working to create an ecosystem should not surprise us. Ecosystems, although they create barriers, also have their advantages.
Beyond the ecosystem and functions, sometimes it is not possible to have everything: sometimes it is preferable leave aside a certain priority to get the best value for money, depending on what you are looking for. Maybe we need to leave aside the greatest possible autonomy, maybe we need to leave aside the ecosystem, or maybe the most premium design. It’s all about finding the best option that suits our needs without having to spend an excessive amount of money.
In Xataka Android | Over a million free watch faces for your smartwatch: Timeflik is perfect for personalizing your Wear OS
In Xataka Android | I’ve been using Android for over twelve years and here are my tips for organizing the home screen
Table of Contents
