This post will be read by two types of people. The people who think smartwatches are a waste of money and those who want to learn more about their advantages and disadvantages before buying one.
Check out our guide below. By the end of this article, I am pretty certain you will know if a smartwatch is right for your lifestyle.
The Big Smartwatch Benefits
What are the advantages of a smartwatch over say a smartphone that make it a worthwhile investment? Let’s take a look at some key smartwatch uses that might convince you to make the switch.
They do more than tell the time
Many people prefer to wear a watch. It is either functional (telling the time) or fashionable. Watches look great on someone’s wrist.
Smartphones are making watches less popular. When you have a phone that tells the time, has a calendar, and has an alarm, why would you need a watch? It’s a valid point and explains the decrease in watch sales over the last few years.
The smartwatch buck this trend by offering something unique. They offer all the basic watch features, but also do things that smartphones cannot. Over the course of this article, we will explain exactly what these things are.
A travel companion on your wrist
James L. McQuivey, an analyst at Forrester Research, describes a smartwatch as:
“Someone who knows what you need better than you do.”
When following directions, the Apple Watch can vibrate to let you know if you need to turn right or left. Instead of looking at your smartphone all the time, you can follow an invisible guide that informs you where to go. Instead of staring at a map, take in the scenery.
Finding a phone, key, or device has never been easier
Losing a phone or keys is an extremely frustrating experience, as you well know. We always seem to be late before some important event!
With a smartwatch, this inconvenience can be eliminated.
The majority of them have a “Find Phone” feature. You will be able to ring your phone or any other device through your watch whenever you wish.
Have you lost your phone? In seconds, you can locate it by pressing a few buttons on your watch.
They are good fitness trackers
Fitness tracking is a common feature of smartwatches. It will help you stay on top of your fitness goals. So if you are ever thinking of ditching your fitness tracker or pedometer, you can replace it with a smart watch.
How does a smartwatch work? Some even calculate other important metrics beyond what these devices calculate, like steps, distance, calories, heart rate, pulse rate, and sleep. We recently reviewed the LQM EX1 fitness tracker, and I am sure a good smartwatch can provide you with the same benefits.
Garmin watches are especially good for fitness tracking, but most fitness tracking devices these days are much less expensive to manufacture than they used to be.
Even waterproof models are available now, making them perfect for swimmers. See our guide to the best waterproof smartwatches.
Instantly respond to messages and receive calls
You no longer need to take your phone out of your pocket if you have a smart watch on your wrist. You can receive and reply to messages on the go. It’s useful if you’re exercising or in a situation where carrying a phone is just too difficult.
Some watches offer voice support as well. Almost like something out of Star Trek, you can talk to your wrist and communicate with someone thousands of miles away!
All this is done on a much smaller scale than a smartphone so the interface can get a bit fiddly. Even though a smartwatch cannot replace a phone for these tasks (at least in the near future), it certainly proves useful when used for short amounts of time when carrying a phone is just plain inconvenient.
Check your social media notifications
What person doesn’t want to see Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, SnapChat or other social notifications on his wrist? For me, this is always something I turn off, but for others, this is a “must have” feature.
There are some watches that simply display your messages and social media activity, while others allow you to interact with the application. It’s not something you should use as your main method for interacting with people on social media as it can be a bit fiddly, but if you’re out running, it’s awesome!
Find a watch that does this correctly, but be careful. Many manufacturers will claim their watches are connected in this way, but they actually rely on a Bluetooth signal from your phone. The truly independent, standalone smartwatches typically require a data plan and SIM card and tend to be on the expensive side.
You can even stay connected while doing activities
While running, cycling, swimming or engaging in any other form of exercise, you might want to check your messages, calls, or notifications. Sometimes you can’t keep your phone with you during those activities, and it is just awkward and annoying when you do anyway. Smartwatches are really useful in situations like this.
Do you think you’re underwater? I have no problem at all! Apple Watch Series 4 is waterproof up to 50 meters under water. While swimming, take a quick break to check your messages without having to leave the pool.
It keeps you connected longer than a phone
If you already have a great smartphone, why would you need a smart watch?
Ignore it because many smart watches have such powerful batteries that a phone just can’t compete.
Are you planning a long trip? On a single full charge, the Pebble Time Steel smartwatch can keep you connected for up to 10 days.
This isn’t even the longest lasting battery out there! We just think it’s a great watch with a great battery life.
Entertainment at your fingertips
Imagine that you are walking and suddenly you want to watch a YouTube video your friend keeps mentioning. YouTube can be played on your watch with just a few clicks.
On the go, you can watch videos and listen to music. It won’t replace the big screen quality of your phone, but for those quick moments, it’s unrivaled in terms of convenience.
Recent models, such as the Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music (I own this watch and it’s awesome!) even let you store music and play it wirelessly through your Bluetooth headphones. When I run, I always look forward to seeing this. This is sci-fi movie technology from 20 years age.
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