Which smart watch is better to choose: smart watch models

The content of the article

• What are smart watches for?
• What is a smart watch?
• Smartwatch Features
• Functionality
• Design
• Moisture and dust protection
• Display specifications
• Strap
• Battery
• Where to buy smart watch
• Manufacturers
• Price
• Smartwatch rating

The era of mini-gadgets, unusual and super-fashionable devices, sorting out some of the functions of smartphones, was marked by the appearance of “smart watches” that are gaining popularity. Stylish and functional, they have become not just a trend, but also a convenient accessory for people living in the crazy rhythm of megacities. How to choose a smart watch so that it successfully performs the functions you need and meets the criterion of “price-quality”? Reliability, appearance, convenience and ease of use, battery life are the main factors for a successful purchase.

What are smart watches for?

Inexpensive options of Chinese manufacturers, fashionable and expensive Apple Watch, status Withings Activite, popular watches for Android Samsung Gear, Sony Smartwatch provide great opportunities for potential buyers. What features of a smart-brain watch do you need, and what should you consider when buying? If you are a supporter of wearing bracelets or other devices like fitness trackers, you have to use a GPS system or you love trendy trendy devices – a smart watch will be an excellent solution to a lot of problems.

The significant size of the smartphone is not always convenient with constant use. Smart watches will become an occasion less often to get a mobile phone out of a purse or pocket, notifying the owner of incoming messages, bank newsletters. The combined functionality of an alarm clock, a personal “fitness trainer” (due to the functions of a pedometer), a remote device, an organizer are good reasons why a modern person needs a smart watch.

What is a smart watch?

Smart watches with a phone function, the ability to call or chat on social networks are currently in the development plans of leading manufacturers of gadgets. Manage music, receive notifications, unlock your phone, make voice messages or notes, and finally, you can easily find out the time using this smart mini-device. Being a kind of smartphone interface, smart watches save time by simplifying access to popular functions of mobile phones.

Most variations on the theme of smart watches have various characteristics, united by a common indicator: the ability to minimize the use of the phone when receiving messages, notifications and save battery power.

Smartwatch Features

Depending on the needs of individual groups of potential users, smart watches are presented in several categories:

• for business people;
• for buyers who are actively involved in sports, monitoring their own health;
• for fashionable, stylish young people and girls who prefer a “trendy” life.

The main characteristics that play an important role in choosing a particular model include appearance, multifunctionality, quality, reliability of materials, protection from dust, water and external influences, battery life for smart watches without recharging. The ability to use third-party programs – from readers (should someone be lucky in the exam) to barometers and navigators – affects the cost, the ability of the gadget’s battery to “hold” a charge.

Most smartwatch manufacturers use Android or Android Wear platforms. Notable are the recently launched AppleWatch with iOS system, as well as devices with individually developed software and platform, such as PebbleSteel. A significant plus of the latter is the need to recharge the battery no more than once every 5-6 days.

Functionality

Most of the models of smart devices presented on the modern market are “tied” to a smartphone, the work without which will be limited by the capabilities of the fitness tracker and ordinary watches with an electronic display. The capabilities of Samsung Gear S, LG Watch Urbane LTE are more extensive: they have a built-in communication module, and connection to the phone is optional for them. Communication with a smartphone in a smart watch is provided via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi in access points.

Features of smart watches:

• music management;
• the ability to download Google Play tracks;
• listening to downloaded music using a headset;
• counting steps taken (mileage) and calories burned;
• pulse, pressure measurement;
• an alarm clock with the ability to control the light and deep phase of sleep, provided that you are on your hand at night;
• the possibility of making a call or rejection;
• voice reply to message.

When deciding which smartwatch to choose, consider the model and operating system of your smartphone. With the Android base, you can buy any device on the market with Android Wear or pure Android. Stylish and fashionable phones with a “bitten apple” combine only with the expensive and no less stylish Apple Watch. Among the “generalists” are only Pebble, successfully working with both iOS, Android, and Windows Phone.

Design

Until recently, the usual characteristics of color and appearance, used to choosing a watch, played an insignificant role for lovers of smart mini-gadgets. Sports or semi-sports style, a simple display, a minimum of exquisite “bells and whistles” are distinguished by mass sector models:

The classic round case, the use of familiar metal, leather and glass for the LG G Watch Urban, Motorola Moto 360, Samsung Gear S2 models, stylish design attract the attention of potential buyers, despite the relatively high price. As representatives of the premium segment, it is worth highlighting the Apple Watch Edition in the “package” of 18 carat gold or the strict, elegant Withings Activite with a round case and a sleek design.

Among the representatives of beautiful smart watches with a “sporty character”, Adidasmi Coach Smart Run should be noted, which will help to draw up a personal training plan, tell and “show” in short clips how to correctly perform exercises of various types of loads: power, cardio, aerobic. In addition, they will carefully monitor the state of your body and its reaction to sports as a tonometer, tracker, heart rate monitor.

Moisture and dust protection

An important parameter, given the high cost of smart watches. In some models, sapphire crystal (Sony Smartwatch 3) helps to avoid scratches and damage to the screen display, which affects the price increase, but increases the life of the gadget. You can find out the degree of protection against water and dust from a smart watch by the code indicated in the technical specification: IPxx, where the first x indicates the level of anti-dust protection, and the second indicates moisture resistance.

With a dust protection rating of “6”, your smart watch will be protected from the smallest dust particles, and you can travel with them in the Sahara during dust storms. Do not take off the smart device while taking a shower, it is possible if the last digit in the protective characteristic is 5 or 6, and for swimming choose models with seven or eight. Most smartwatch models from leading manufacturers have IP67 or IP68..

Display specifications

The case of the device is presented in the form of a rectangle or a classic circle, but the color and characteristics of the “wrist” mini-monitor have features:

1. Screen color.

• Monochrome. These smartwatch models are controlled using external hardware buttons.
• Color. The disadvantages include the loss of clarity and brightness in bright sunlight.

2. The presence of sensors.

• Touchscreen. It is convenient to use, however, if the glass is damaged, there may be problems with the sensitivity of the sensors..
• “Button” screen. Smart watches are controlled via external mechanical buttons, which makes it difficult to access information or increases the response time to incoming messages. More practical and durable.

Strap

Sports models are equipped with a rubber strap. In their production, hypoallergenic rubber is used that does not cause stains and irritations. Some models for everyday use come with a replaceable set of straps made of leather or rubber in different colors. Smart watch manufacturers produce products with a metal bracelet (Huawei Watch Classic made of stainless alloys, SONY Smart Watch 2) or a plastic strap (Pebble, Casio).

Battery

The more functionality a smartwatch model has, the greater the problem is the uptime of the battery. Base models with limited service are equipped with a battery with a service life of about 2 years, after which it will need to be replaced. The leader is Pebble with a screen on electronic ink, in which the battery is recharged for the watch once every 5 days. Multifunctional ASUS Zen Watch, SONY Smart Watch, etc. models will be able to work in active mode from 25 to 3 hours due to the small size of the case and not very energy-intensive battery.

When deciding which smartwatch to choose, pay attention to the charging port. In some models it is universal (microUSB standard), while Samsung Gear, ASUS Zen Watch, Apple Watch require a special adapter. Motorola Moto 360 comes with a base charging station, thanks to which this beautiful and stylish wrist smartwatch turns into a no less stylish desktop alarm clock.

Learn how to unlock an iPhone if you forget your password.

Where to buy smart watch

The fast-growing market for smart watches “gives out” up to 5 new models on a quarterly basis (thanks to our Chinese friends). You can not get confused when choosing an existing assortment, you can purchase a quality item in the price range that interests you:

1. By visiting specialized stores of “smart goods” off-line. The advantages of such a purchase include: the ability to feel, see in reality and test the model you liked, get expert advice. The disadvantages include: the price includes not only the cost of the watch model (and it is quite high), but also the overhead of the store in the form of rents, employee salaries and current expenses.
2. Buy smart watches online from representatives of trading companies or by catalog in online stores of official manufacturers. The price of such products will be lower than in real stores, but there is a chance of running into an unscrupulous seller or defective goods.

Manufacturers

The top rating of manufacturers of smart watches is presented by ten leading companies that have the greatest demand in the consumer market of Moscow:

• Samsung
• Apple
• Sony
• LG
• Alcatel
• Casio
• Asus
• Motorola
• Pebble
• Polar

Among the countries producing smart watches are Germany, Denmark, China, the USA, Finland, Sweden, South Korea, Japan, Italy. Russian companies can also boast of their smart gadget options. The development of the company Explay is presented by the model Explay N1 Watch (cost 3000 rubles), which is distinguished by the following characteristics:

• the ability to call from the clock;
• write and send text messages;
• listen to music tracks.

Price

When choosing a model of smart watches, price characteristics are decisive factors. Brand models Samsung, Asus, Sony, Adidas start from 200 euros. The cost of mass-sector models of Chinese manufacturers is from $ 90 to $ 150 per unit copy. The sports version of the Apple Watch went on sale at a price of $ 394, while the luxury model of the same Apple Watch Edition with a gold coating “pulls” at $ 10-17,000.

When deciding to buy a smart watch, evaluate the ratio “quality-functionality-price” so as not to buy an expensive trinket and cheap fake, which will go “on the shelf” due to unnecessary or poor-quality work.

Smartwatch rating

To understand the abundance of offers on the market of smart watches will help the rating of models that are most in demand among buyers. Which device with a set of “smart” functions to choose, guided by the parameters: simplicity, quality, functionality, reliability and … price? Top 20 smart watches among buyers in Moscow and the Moscow region: