More and more smartwatch models, or smart watches, are coming to the market. And there are also more people who begin to see in them an interesting gadget for their day to day. But how do you know which smartwatch to buy? What do you have to look for so as not to make a mistake in the purchase?
As with mobile phones and airpods (although without as much variety), each company has its own watches with its own characteristics. Therefore, we are going to collect some tips for those users who do not know anything about these devices but are interested in buying one.
1. Smartwatch is not an activity bracelet
You have to start with the foundations. An activity bracelet, commonly called a band , is not a smartwatch. Although it may seem obvious, it is very important to be aware of it because if we do not go to any physical store – something possible in the face of the pandemic – some models of activity bracelets look a lot like a smart watch, which can be confusing.
The main difference lies in the operating system and, therefore, its possibilities. An activity bracelet is limited to showing the time and keeping track of certain parameters (heart rate, for example), although some report mobile notifications.
Meanwhile, smartwatches have a “complete” operating system; In most cases, smart watches have many more possibilities for both connection and customization options.
Some models will not only allow you to take calls from the watch to the phone, but you will also be able to talk from it. Or you can listen to music without the need to have your mobile near you. This type of smartwatch is often called wearables – for Wear OS, the Android operating system for watches -.
And this difference does not have to be negative. Some users do not look for their own device to be able to leave the mobile at home if, for example, they go out to exercise. If you intend to have a device with a lot of autonomy, few complications and that keeps your activity up to date; maybe a band is your best option.
2. Wear OS, Tizen, Lite OS… which operating system to bet on?
But if what you are looking for is a smartwatch, we are going to review some very important points before buying it. The first is the operating system: which is the best? Well, here it depends entirely… on the mobile.
It is true that Android is usually more open in this type of case and a Samsung smartwatch – such as an Active 2 – will work without problems with, for example, a Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T mobile and most functions can be accessed.
But it is always recommended that the smartwatch we choose is of the same brand as our terminal – if the option exists, since, for example, OnePlus does not have a January 26 -. Tizen is from Samsung, Watch OS from Apple, Lite OS from Huawei, Amazfit OS from Amazfit… there are many existing systems.
In addition, each brand will always make the experience more closed and complete for the smartwatches that are used with the same brand. In this way, if the mobile is Xiaomi, we can use a Samsung smart watch without problems; but it will not get as much out of it as if it were accompanied by a Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite.
On the one hand, Apple’s Watch OS, which is the sharpest system and receives the most updates – although this is no longer so blatant -.
On the other hand, Wear OS, which is the mobile version of Android but adapted to smartwatches. Although it is updated more and more regularly and manufacturers improve their “layers”, the truth is that there are times when the period between updates extends too long or even they do not fully adapt to the model.
3. The design
More and more models resemble traditional watches, but there are still many that maintain that “square” design. The decision may be purely aesthetic, but it is also important to consider the wrist .
Smartwatch faces are usually between 38mm and 48mm. Although there are smaller and larger models, they are not usually common. If we have a small wrist, square models and models larger than 40mm can become uncomfortable – since they dig into the hand if they are not rounded -.
You also have to take into account the materials of the smartwatch . Many models look like sports watches with rubber or plastic finishes, but more and more are accompanied by metal parts and even ceramic cases. These last options are more durable and withstand shocks better.
The strap is also an important point. When buying one of these watches, we must think about how long we expect to have a useful life, since the strap can end up deteriorating and, if so, it will have to be changed. Some models have very specific fixing systems, so if we find ourselves in the previous situation, changing it can be complicated.
4. Screen type
Again, depending on the brand and budget, smartwatches have different types of screens. The most common are the OLED and the LCD , the classic ones that also face each other in the television market; although some brands like Samsung have AMOLED screens.
OLED and LCD screens have almost the same characteristics and differences as other devices. OLEDs usually have more brightness and better represented colors, although LCDs usually have a longer lifespan and are more resistant . Also, in the case of LCDs, they work better from different viewing angles.
OLED screens also allow smartwatches to be lighter and flatter. Most of the high ranges have OLED screens , while the lower ones tend to tend to LED. But you also have to take into account the size of the screen.
Wearables allow many functions in addition to seeing the time – such as responding to messages from the watch -, so a screen that we can see well and that can be seen correctly in bright light situations is very important.
5. Payments and calls
Some smartwatch models allow you to receive calls from the watch, with the mobile connected by bluetooth to it -as if it were headphones-. But some models, with a special rate with your telephone company, allow you to make calls from the watch itself.
This can become essential if what you are looking for is a smartwatch with which you can forget about your mobile phone without worrying . This can be known if you have LTE bands, which are compatible with 4G networks.
At the same time, many smartwatches have the possibility of paying through these devices. Samsung Pay, Apple Pay or Google Pay are available on most smartwatches – always subject to availability with the bank.
Quick tips battery
With all of the above, you will be much closer to finding the smartwatch that best suits your needs. But there are also some simpler points to keep in mind:
- Autonomy in smartwatches has not evolved much. The models with more features, and therefore more expensive, do not usually exceed two days of use at most. In addition, they do not usually include fast charging either.
- If we are looking for a smart watch to leave the mobile at home, we must look at its storage. Most pivot between 4GB and 8GB.
- Check the IP certificate . This indicates the water resistance of the watch – the higher the number, the greater the resistance; therefore: IP68 is better than IP65, for example-, something very necessary to not have to take it off in the shower or a swim in the pool.
