Today, a watch can do much more than just tell time. Thanks to technological advancements and the invention of the smartwatch, watches can now be your coach, assistant, and phone all rolled into one. So if you want to have the world at your fingertips (or better yet, on your wrist), a smartwatch is the new essential accessory. But don’t worry if all the tech talk confuses you. We are here to help you decode these groundbreaking devices and find your perfect smartwatch partner with this guide.
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What Makes A Watch A Smart watch?
First the mobile phone became, in effect, a computer in our pocket. Now the smartwatch looks – with further miniaturisation – to become a computer on our wrist, or at least an extension of one. For the time being, any advanced functionality is dependent on its connection to a nearby smartphone.
Whether you need a smartwatch is another matter – they work well as fitness watches and perhaps for those who travel a lot. But beyond that it’s really for those, in a sense, too lazy to get their phone out of their pocket – a means of getting a quick glimpse or access to many of the apps the wearer uses.
At least, that’s how the Swiss watch industry tends to see them – more as novelty than real competition. After all, a mechanical watch is a very different thing – an expression of craft and materials that, arguably, evokes something emotional rather than practical.
That said, the famed makers of said watches are eyeing the boom in smartwatches somewhat nervously. This is because some studies have suggested that people raised on cellular tech not only have diminishing interest in wearing a watch full stop, but if they can be convinced to wear one, they expect it to do more than just tell the time.
Apple Watch
“I think the fact is that all of us will be wearing some kind of smart device in the next five to 10 years,” as watch designer Max Busser of MB&F has it, “because connectivity will just be that important. The possibilities for how these devices will be used are just so varied.”
Whether you need a smartwatch is another matter – they work well as fitness watches and perhaps for those who travel a lot. But beyond that it’s really for those, in a sense, too lazy to get their phone out of their pocket – a means of getting a quick glimpse or access to many of the apps the wearer uses.
At least, that’s how the Swiss watch industry tends to see them – more as novelty than real competition. After all, a mechanical watch is a very different thing – an expression of craft and materials that, arguably, evokes something emotional rather than practical.
That said, the famed makers of said watches are eyeing the boom in smartwatches somewhat nervously. This is because some studies have suggested that people raised on cellular tech not only have diminishing interest in wearing a watch full stop, but if they can be convinced to wear one, they expect it to do more than just tell the time.
Apple Watch
“I think the fact is that all of us will be wearing some kind of smart device in the next five to 10 years,” as watch designer Max Busser of MB&F has it, “because connectivity will just be that important. The possibilities for how these devices will be used are just so varied.”
Made for Running… and So Much More
In most cases, more features mean more dollars when you’re shopping for a new GPS watch. While there are ways to cut down on price—like buying a refurbished version or opting for an older model of a recently released watch—narrowing down the features you need is key. And that doesn’t just include fitness features. These high-tech timepieces come with a slew of lifestyle functions and perks that you may—or might not—use long after you kick off your running shoes. Here are a few of the hottest features, for both working out and just hanging out, that you’ll want to consider.
Fitness Features
Altimeters, barometers, and gyroscopes show up in GPS watches geared to hikers and trail runners who want to keep tabs on altitude and air pressure, and navigate new routes in the wilderness. But they do come at a bit of a price bump, so decide where you’ll be doing most of your training. If the answer is on the roads, check out watches with built-in visual maps to guide you through new neighborhoods, or ones that track your in-depth running metrics and design personalized workouts for you. Think you’ll be spending a lot of time cross-training? Some high-end picks offer up to 80 different sport modes ranging from surfing to snowboarding and biking to badminton. Some watches will even let your friends live track your runs.
Lifestyle Features
GPS watches with cellular service mean you can call and text right from your wrist, and give you access to your favorite smartphone apps. For example, you might order your Starbucks latte on the go, stream music wirelessly through Spotify, track your Uber ride, switch off your house lights—and then brag all about it on Facebook. Wi-Fi compatibility can also make it easier to sync a full music library, check the weather, or scroll through your e-mail. And no worries if you leave you wallet at home. NFC payment features mean you can pay right from your wrist.
What’s New?
The past year brought a new metric for runners to track: pulse oximetry. “It’s a non-invasive way to measure the amount of oxygen carried in your red blood cells,” says Jonathan Parsons, M.D., a pulmonologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Now, smartwatches, including the Fitbit Sense and Apple Watch 6, have redesigned their optical heart-rate sensors to measure blood-oxygen levels. They can provide only an estimation of your blood oxygen (SpO2), but for data-driven runners, “they’re accurate enough to give you a ballpark number and frame of reference as to how your numbers are trending,” says Parsons. When the number is lower, your blood is carrying less oxygen and workouts will feel harder—this is especially true if you’re at altitude. A lower number may also suggest that you should focus on recovery.
Buying Guide for Smartwatch in India
Who would have thought that a watch on our wrists would be able to monitor our health 24×7 or we could speak to people around the world through a watch?
Smartwatches have brought a revolutionary change in the watch industry just like how the iPhone revolutionized the smartphone industry.
If you are reading this then it is likely that you are planning to purchase a smartwatch for yourself but are not sure about which is the right one for you.
We at Bettershark have prepared a short buying guide to give you an insight into some of the factors that you should consider before purchasing a smartwatch.
So without wasting any more time let’s get right into it.
CASING
The casing of the smartwatch is also known as its body or frame. The material used for the casing of the smartwatch is a very crucial factor in determining its durability in the long term.
Smartwatches come in polycarbonate, stainless steel, and aluminium casing. Stainless steel and aluminium casing are the more durable ones.
Polycarbonate casing is common in budget smartwatches. There is nothing wrong with going for a polycarbonate casing but it won’t provide the premium feel which we get from a stainless steel or aluminium casing.
DIAL
Smartwatches are available in two dial shapes – square, and circle. The shape of the dial in a smartwatch does not affect its performance and is purely an aesthetic choice.
If you prefer a more aggressive design for your smartwatch we recommend that you go for a square dial on the other hand if you prefer something more minimalistic then you should go for a circular dial.
STRAP
The strap of a smartwatch is also a really important feature that deserves attention.
Smartwatches primarily come with a silicone strap, however, these silicone straps are not recommended for those who have allergic reactions to synthetic rubber.
You can also find smartwatches that have leather straps or metal chains although they are not that common.
We recommend that you go for a smartwatch with detachable straps so that you can add a strap of your choice rather than permanently sticking to the straps provided by the manufacturer.
FEATURES
The main reason you would buy a smartwatch is to get access to its wide range of features.
Smartwatches come loaded with various sensors such as heart rate monitor, SPo2, accelerometer, gyroscope, IR blaster, etc.
The feature set of the smartwatch varies according to its budget. The more premium the smartwatch the more features it has, some smartwatches like the Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch 3 are capable of performing ECG readings which is advanced and can inform you of any cardiac anomalies.
People who have cardiac issues tend to benefit from the health and fitness features that these smartwatches provide.
Another important function in a smartwatch is calling and texting. Calling is possible in most top-tier smartwatches and the same goes for texting.
Budget smartwatches generally do not get calling functionality, hence if you want the ability to attend calls from your smartwatch then you would have to pay a premium.
WATER RESISTANCE
It is recommended that you go for a smartwatch that is water-resistant because since a watch is worn at all times we never know when it might get drenched in water.
Smartwatches come with IP68 water resistance, 5ATM, and 3ATM water resistance.
According to Wikipedia IP68 is “dust and water-resistant” and can be “immersed in 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes”.
5ATM water resistance means that the watch can be submerged in water for under 50 meters and 3ATM water resistance means that the watch can be submerged in water for 30 meters both up to 10 minutes.
With this we have reached the end of our buying guide, make sure that you go through the above-mentioned factors and choose the smartwatch that has the features suiting your needs.
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