Are you aware of a battle going on for your wrist among smartwatch manufacturers, from Apple and Samsung to Fossil and Tag Heuer? Competition is good. All smartwatch makers are battling it out in the quest to develop watches that are more functional than the shiny chronometers that graced our grandparents’ wrists. There are dozens of companies digging up all matter of innovations to create smartwatches capable of delivering hundreds of apps and notifications to your wrist.
Designs and features truly do count but the basic function of a smartwatch is to save you time. You need a smartwatch that helps you to quickly check your messages or just tone down your music. There are other equally important but often neglected features of a smartwatch, such as its band and clasp. There are different watch bands and buckles but it pays to have one that fits properly.
So how do you decide which smartwatch is right for you? Here are a few things you need to consider before you purchase your next smartwatch.
Compatibility with other devices
A few models of smartwatches work independent of your smartphone but in most cases, the two devices are designed to function as close companions, fully compatible with each other. Device compatibility is a crucial factor to consider before you buy a smartwatch. For example, Samsung’s Gear S3 works perfectly with iPhones and different types of Android handsets. You can easily check if your phone is compatible with Android Wear Watches by visiting Google’s g.co/wear site.
Display screen
Most smartwatches today use either an AMOLED display or a colourful LCD screen. Both types of screens allow you to view your apps, photos, and any other content in bright rich color. Get a smartwatch with a display screen that will still show time even on dimmer levels of brightness.
Alerts and notifications
Every smartwatch is designed to alert you to incoming emails, calls, and messages with a short buzz on your wrist. The alerts help you to quickly check if the incoming call is worth answering immediately or not. However, you should also look for a smartwatch with social network integration. Such a watch will give you notifications from social media sites including Facebook and Twitter.
Extra features
A good smartwatch should also come with extra features such as fitness and activity trackers as well as a heart rate monitor. Fitness tracking has become quite popular today and smartwatch makers are doing a great job by integrating innovative activity-monitoring functions on their devices. Most smartwatches rely on smartphones for activity tracking while others come with their own in-built steps tracking pedometers.
Battery life
This is one of the most important considerations in a smartwatch. A good number of smartwatches come with bright color screens that last up to two days after a full charge while others can barely last a day. Apple Watch has a battery life of up to 18 hours after a single charge. It is important to look for a smartwatch that gives you sufficient time of mixed usage between charges.
