Buying Guide 2021: Smartwatch
Intelligent watches have been around for some time such as the Casio watch with a calculator. With today's technology, we can pack a lot of technology within a small watch with more computing power than Apollo 11 that landed the first human on the moon. Smartwatches are capable of displaying notifications, monitor heart rate and count your steps. The latest crop of smartwatches does more than just tell the time. I have created a guide to help you decide and I have round up the top 6 smartwatches to look out for when shopping around.
What to look out for when buying a smartwatch?
Operating System
First thing first, you should consider whether the smartwatch is compatible with your smartphone. Generally, any smartwatch will work with any smartphone however with some restrictions on functions due to incompatibility issues. If you own an iPhone, it's best to use a smartwatch that uses watchOS. However, if you choose a smartwatch that runs Wear OS then that will work with android phones.
Apps
When you buy a smartwatch, it will have the default apps installed. However, to unlock the full potential of your smartphone; an app store with a large library of apps will give you more flexibility to customise your smartwatch to cater to your lifestyle. It's best to check the different apps to ensure your favourite apps are available.
Function
There are many smartwatches available on the market and some will offer better features than other smartwatches. Most smartwatches will offer basic tracking basic activities such as steps. Others such as the Apple Watch Series 6 will offer GPS to track your runs and an inbuilt heart rate sensor.
Battery Life
Different smartwatches have different battery life, which will determine how often you need to charge the smartwatch and whether the smartwatch will last the entire day through moderate use.
Do you need cellular connectivity?
There are two types of smartphones in terms of connectivity non-cellular and cellular. Non-cellular smartwatches will need to be constantly in range of your smartphone to have the ability to receive notifications, calls and internet connectivity. Cellular smartwatches will not need to be constantly tethered to a smartphone as they will need a separate data plan for the smartwatch to operate independently.
Budget
Purchasing a smartwatch can cost the same as a budget smartphone so deciding your budget first will dictate what kind of features you will get in your next smartwatch. Buying a cheap smartwatch will mean it may lack some of the above points and you may end up with a smartwatch that doesn’t cater to your needs.
Top 6 Smartwatches
Apple Watch SE
Price: £249
Apple Watch Series 7
Price: £369
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
Price £269
Ticwatch Pro 3
Price: £289
Fitbit Sense
Price: £279
Moto 360
Price: £199