6 Amazing Features to Look Before You Buy Your Next Smartwatch

With the fast-moving world, a device that can combine your smartphone ability of calls and messages along with tracking your health and fitness can be an amazing elixir in this busy world. A Smartwatch is a perfect device for all your needs. The only challenge is when the market is filled with so many options, how will you select the right device for you? Hence, we present to you a buying guide for smartwatches.

Basics of a Smartwatch?

If you remember old James bond movies, where the hero used to talk secretly with a device attached to his wrist, well, that’s a Smartwatch. A smartwatch is a digital gadget with combined functionalities of smartphones and fitness tracker. It can connect to your phone and, hence, can provide many functions that are useful in daily life. Smartwatch delivers alerts, notifications, apps, and more right on your wrist. It can also provide with functions of a fitness/health tracker. It’s important to understand that these watches have specific compatibility with the smartphone ecosystem. Most smartwatches are designed for either Android or iOS devices. Hence, you should make sure that your phone should be compatible with the Smartwatch you are planning to buy.

For example, Apple Watch is designed to work best with the iPhone only. However, it can work with Andriod also but with limited functionalities. But will you buy an expensive watch and use limited functionalities only?

One of the most questions that come in my mind while buying a smartwatch is that what all features should I look for during the purchase of a smartwatch? So I had listed below my preferences when I went to the market for the smartwatch purchase.

1. Style and display

Looks & aesthetics of a smartwatch is a top priority for me. There are different styles and displays available in the market, along with different types of straps and materials. Make sure that you choose the best one for your use and the one you are comfortable with every day. Some key features about the Display & Battery of your Smartwatch to keep in mind are:

Backlit OLED (organic light-emitting diode) or LCD AMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) displays work best. Like Apple Watch Series 5 has a 1.78-inch screen with a resolution of 448 x 368 pixels and a pixel density of 326ppi. However, if you want vivid pin-sharp visuals, the ones you get with the Apple Watch and Android Wear devices, your Smartwatchs battery life will last for two days. It’s a simple choice about what’s most important to you.

If you want a more extended battery life (between a week and a month), then you will have to sacrifice screen quality. In this case, you’ll get e-paper or low energy LCD, as we’ve seen on the Mi Band, Pebble, Garmin Vivoactive.

2. Battery Life

Battery Life of your Smartwatch is a very vital feature. Some fitness bands last for only half a day while some can function for a week or two (or more) in a single charge. The battery life of your Smartwatch would also depend on the features it has and on how regularly you used the watch with the big internal battery. So, it is essential to check the battery life before you purchase a smartwatch as, if you buy a watch which has a lesser battery life then charging it every now and then would be a headache.

3. Is it water-resistant?

If you are an adventurous person and like outdoor activities like running or biking, you would want a water-resistant smartwatch. A watch which is stamped with “Water Resistant” means that it is humidity-protected. It can endure a few water splashes from washing your hands or being caught in the rain. However, water resistance does not, at all, mean you should swim or shower with your watch on.

4. Chemically strengthened glass or Gorilla Glass

Watches having a durable glass, such as Corning Gorilla Glass, are built to handle the wear and tear of your daily life, so you don’t have to worry about scratches, dust, or other damage. Gorilla Glass is a brand of specialized toughened glass developed and manufactured by Corning, now in its fifth generation, designed to be thin, light, and damage-resistant.

5. Fitness tracking

As fitness trackers continue to attract attention of many, smartwatch manufactures are getting in on the action by integrating activity-monitoring functions in smartwatches. Some smartwatches are dependent on your smartphone for activity tracking, but most, at least, have a built-in pedometer for tracking steps.

Most Android Wear devices have a built-in heart rate monitor, but we haven’t found them reliable. They are useful for measuring heart rate occasionally but fail to follow your heartbeat during an intensive workout, consistently. If you take your fitness regime seriously, then you should opt for a Fitness Band.

Another Gadget which you can buy for fitness is Good Quality Wireless Earphones

6. Apps Compatibility

A variety of apps like phone trackers, maps, notifications, digital clocks, and many like this can come on your wrist. Yes, some smartwatches provide apps and widgets in your watch. While smartwatches run paired to a phone in most cases, they still have app stores that enable you to add to the core features of the watch – just like a smartphone.

Apple iOS Store already has more than 15,000+ compatible apps that can function on your wristwatch. It includes Games, Productive apps, Uber & Taxi apps, etc. Google Play store has the fastest-growing apps, thanks to the open community for developing Android Wear apps. The number has already crossed 8,000+ and still counting. Only challenge that prevails is to find out more quality apps as compared to the iOS store.

The Pebble watches boast an array of apps made by a community of loyal and enthusiastic developers; the Pebble app ecosystem means compatibility for more than 13,000 apps.

Which one is best for you?

If you are buying a smartwatch that is fashionable and provides you with some simple functions, a smartwatch that looks like a traditional watch is preferred. Always make sure that the Smartwatch can connect to your device because without connectivity, you won’t be able to enjoy most of the features.

If you are not much touch-friendly, preferably go for the Smartwatch with button operation. If you are sporty and a fitness freak, make sure that your Smartwatch is water-resistant and has the fitness tracking system. Technology lovers should make sure they buy a smartwatch that includes apps, as it would be great to have almost everything on your wrist. In the end, purchase the one which suits your budget and daily needs.

Also Read: How to buy best Bluetooth Speaker for home party!