Zac
Are smartwatches worth it? You must have seen them at one time or the other. Smartwatches have been increasing in popularity ever since the first smartwatch hit the market several years ago. But are they something you would benefit from owning?
Most people are skeptical about smartwatches and any benefits they might have. For those who have tried them, however, they are the best thing that ever happened to them.
They continue to divide opinions everywhere, with most people seeing them as a waste of money. The few that have bought them, however, are defiant in the face of the critics.
Let’s go over some of the features of smartwatches to know whether it would be a good idea to get one for yourself.
Table of Contents
Why Are Smartwatches Not Suitable for Everyone
Even with their burgeoning reputation, smartwatches are not everyone’s cup of tea. Of course, people have different reasons why they wouldn’t want to own some devices, but could there be people who smartwatches wouldn’t be suitable for? If so, why?
Let’s look at some of the reasons why smartwatches aren’t suitable for everyone.
1. They Are Expensive
Smartwatches are expensive. That’s one of the main reasons most people ask themselves, ‘should I buy a smartwatch?’ But, unfortunately, with the high prices they retail at, they wouldn’t be suitable for most people. Most people wouldn’t want to waste money on a device whose primary role is to tell time.
Such people would rather use their phones to get the tie instead of investing in a smartwatch. They usually have fancy features that bump up the price a few extra dollars.
For instance, some smartwatches go for prices close to those of smartphones. That’s what makes them unsuitable for most people who would prefer to buy phones instead.
2. Smartwatches are Cool Vanity Gadgets
Smartphones might be unsuitable for you if you aren’t that much into cool vanity gadgets. However, they are an excellent addition for anyone that loves cool gadgets that can do multiple things apart from what they are famous for.
While watches tell time, smartwatches do more than that by offering extra features. Therefore if you don’t love vanity gadgets, then you should spend much more time asking yourself if getting a smartwatch would be a smart idea.
3. They require Someone With Tons of Work.
For a manager juggling multiple tasks, running to meetings, or keeping up with the kids at home, smartphones are a godsend. They help someone to navigate the day-to-day life of managing tons of work efficiently.
If you aren’t a person with many responsibilities, then a smartwatch will be underutilized and wouldn’t be a good option.
4. Can be Complicated To Use
Smartwatches have tons of features that make it possible to perform the many tasks they do. As such, the average person would utilize them to their full potential. Some people cannot use them to their full potential.
If you are such a person, then probably you shouldn’t get a smartwatch. You can learn to use them in the long run. However, if you didn’t plan to utilize them fully, you will be wasting your money getting a smartwatch.
Key Features of smartwatches
1. GPS Tracking
Yes. Smartwatches have GPS trackers. They aren’t called smart for anything since you can also use them for GPS tracking-just like smartphones. Much like phones, smartwatches will enable you to track your location wherever you go.
That’s why they are popular with travelers, hitchhikers, and sportspeople. Such people use them to enable other people to keep tabs on their location at all times. Likewise, sportspeople love smartwatches mainly because they help them track their position at all times.
Picture a situation where a person gets lost somewhere, but they have a smartwatch with them. Such a person will find their way out and track the distance ran and at what speed.
That’s one reason why they are some of the most popular and cool gadgets on the market at the moment.
We do love Polar Vantage V and Garmin Forerunner 235 for their GPS tracking function. Can check one of our reviews on cycling smartwatches.
2. Navigation
Have you ever gotten stranded in a strange place or lost your way in an unfamiliar location? Well, if you had a smartwatch with you, then you could have a way out. Like with smartphones, smartwatches will also enable you to navigate your way in unfamiliar places.
Smartphones have arrow features that enable you to tell direction. Some even go a notch higher and tell you the direction to take through vibrations or voice commands.
So next time you are going to a new place, remember to take your smartwatch with you.
3. Sleep Tracking
Sleep is essential if you are to have your body functioning like the well-oiled machine it is. It offers the body the chance to recharge after long hours of activity. Smartwatches enable you to track your sleep and know the exact amount you slept.
That feature is quite important since some people tend to have trouble getting to sleep. They don’t know how to rectify such situations, which is why a smartwatch comes in handy. A sleep tracker helps you know the ideal time for sleeping and waking.
If need any recommendation, we will recommend Garmin VivoActive 4 and Zeblaze Smartwatch series are our all-time favorite choice for Sleep Tracking.
4. Monitor Heart Rate
You can download several apps on your phone and track your heart rate when doing an activity. That is also possible with smartwatches. For example, you can use a smartwatch to track your heart rate when you are out for a run.
That ensures you know the pace you are running at and whether it is taking a toll on your heart or not. It could also come in handy to prevent disasters such as heart attacks.
You may want to take a look here for MorePro smartwatch with a heart rate monitor feature.
5. Blood Pressure Tracking
Smartwatches, apart from tracking heart rate they will also enable you to track your heart pressure. So if you have blood pressure issues, then the smartwatch could come in handy, allowing you to stay on top of things with your blood pressure.
Blood pressure, if not monitored, might be a recipe for disaster, especially for people with lifestyle diseases.
Find out more about CanMixs P22 Smart Watch with blood pressure tracking
6. Sports & Fitness Tracking
You already are aware of a smart watch’s similarity to a mobile phone. It, therefore, follows that if you can use a smartphone for fitness and sports tracking, then a smartwatch could also function in the same way.
A smartwatch through several apps can help you keep with your fitness by storing up your excessive data. That makes it a handy device for fitness enthusiasts and sportspeople as well.
If you are looking for an affordable fitness tracker, we do recommend the Willful smartwatch collection.
7. Contactless Payment
This one of the primary reasons why people love smartwatches. In an increasingly digital world, more and more people embrace cashless modes of payments that are far much safer than carrying bundles of cash.
A smartwatch can seamlessly combine other tasks with contactless payment. All you have to do is point the smartwatch to a payment system for the payment you are doing to go through.
That’s possible if you have Apple or Android Pay apps on your smartphone. It works just like a smartphone.
8. Notification
Most people lead busy lives that make it harder for them to stay on top of everything as it happens. Phone notifications often go missing if the phone is on silent or you don’t hear any notification.
With a smartwatch, you will significantly reduce it since you get to manage the notifications better. Like your phone, the Smartwatch will vibrate and show you the notification without you having to reach for your phone.
If you are in a noise-free zone, this could come in handy as you could reply to some messages with your watch. How cool would that be?
9. Offline Music
One of the main things people get from having smartphones is the ability to play music anywhere, anytime. Well, with a smartphone, that is possible as well. The watches come with memory card slots that enable you to play music from your watch without n the need for the internet.
Also, since you can use the smartwatch to control your phone, you could send commands to play music. This, however, isn’t a trendy feature since most people find it weird having to listen to music from watches.
However, there might be some situations that call for that.
Major Drawbacks of Smartwatches
As with any major technological innovation, smartwatches also have certain drawbacks that give their critics the fuel to criticize them.
For starters, smartwatches are quite expensive for watches. Someone would ask themselves why they should get a watch for the price of a phone when all it does is tell the time. That’s considering that high-end smartwatches can cost an arm and a leg.
Smartwatches also have relatively small displays. They have to stick to the watch design, which means that manufacturers have their hands tied as far as the display size is concerned. That’s what makes it seem queer that they would suggest that you could watch a movie with a smartwatch.
Smartphones come with batteries that don’t last that long. You, therefore, need to always have some form of power on standby at any given time. That’s in addition to always having to carry your charger with you wherever you go.
Should I Buy a Smartwatch?
You can ask yourself these few questions below to determine whether do you really need a smartwatch
Can I afford a smartwatch?
Before getting a smartwatch, you will first want to consider whether you can afford it or not. As we have mentioned already, smartwatches are pricy gadgets to purchase. You should, therefore, ask yourself whether you can afford it or not.
Do I need a smartwatch?
If you already have a smartphone, you might question the wisdom of getting a smartwatch that your phone can do the same things. Your phone can also tell the time, but will it do everything a smartwatch can do?
Is a smartphone better than your current traditional watch?
This is a common question among technology skeptics. This is purely understandable since they both essentially tell time. The smartwatch, however, throws in a few extra features that a traditional watch wouldn’t match. So yes, a smartwatch is better than a conventional watch.
Final Thoughts
Whether smartwatches are worth it? That depends on individual disposition. Some people love them, and some don’t. However, we can say that they are one of the trendiest options to keep up with the times and would thus be worth it.
If you love trendy gadgets, then they would be worth every penny you can invest in them. But, on the other hand, if the skeptic in you thinks your phone is smart enough and can tell time, you probably shouldn’t get a smartwatch.
Add comment