With the extensive terminology surrounding smart watches, it can be challenging to discern which features are truly necessary. TRDuk aims to elucidate the various features commonly found in leading brands and explain their significance.
Health Monitoring
Health monitoring is among the most valuable features integrated into contemporary smart watches. This encompasses a range of sensors that provide insights into your health and wellbeing.
These sensors can be highly advanced. For instance, an optical sensor measures your pulse by emitting a green light onto your skin and assessing the light absorption by your blood. If you are keen on tracking your workouts, ensure your watch includes this feature.
Monitoring your heart rate helps you ensure you are exercising sufficiently and recovering adequately after high-intensity workouts. This is just one way a smart watch can enhance your health. Popular options include the Apple Watch, Fitbit, and Garmin Smart Watch range.
Another essential health monitoring feature is sleep tracking. While you sleep, the watch measures your pulse and combines this data with readings from an accelerometer (a device that measures movement speed). It can then calculate not only the duration of your sleep but also its quality. Stress monitoring is another beneficial feature derived from the pulse monitor, providing gentle reminders to relax.
Payment Capabilities
For those frequently on the move, the ability of a smart watch to function as a payment method can be highly convenient. With a single tap, you can pay for your morning coffee, new shoes, or train tickets.
Many leading smart watch brands have developed their own mobile payment systems, all utilizing Near Field Communication (NFC), the same technology used for contactless payments on debit and credit cards. Check the specifications of the smart watch you are considering to ensure it supports NFC payments.
It is important to note that the manufacturer of your smart watch must have an agreement with your bank’s payment processor, which can vary by region. For example, Samsung smart watches are compatible with Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, allowing you to connect your card and make payments. Some smart watches, however, only support Mastercard and only in certain countries.
Is this feature essential for men’s and women’s smartwatches? It depends. If you always carry your purse or wallet, it may not be. However, this feature is incredibly useful if you are going clubbing or to a party and prefer not to carry your physical card.
Communication Features
One of the most sought-after smart watch features is support for calls and texts. This can be extremely useful, but not all models offer this capability.
For instance, fitness and activity trackers may only provide text and call notifications without the ability to answer calls or reply to messages directly on the watch. However, smart watches with larger face plates typically allow users to respond to messages and answer calls on the watch itself.
Some high-end smart watches even enable you to make calls if your phone is not nearby. These devices include an e-SIM and LTE, transforming them into a mini-phone. You can take calls, send messages, and even stream music or download photos using mobile data.
If this feature is essential for you, ensure you purchase the LTE version of the smart watch, as brands charge more for models with an LTE antenna. Additionally, verify with your phone’s network provider if your watch can use your phone’s data plan.
Water Resistance
Most modern smart watches claim to be waterproof. This is beneficial as it protects the device from damage if you forget to remove it before showering. Additionally, water resistance is crucial for tracking swimming activities. However, not all waterproof smart watches offer the same level of protection.
The most common water resistance measurement for smart watches is the ATM system, which indicates the pressure a watch can withstand before breaking. This is important because the deeper you go underwater, the more pressure the watch experiences.
It’s not just depth but also the force of movement that affects the pressure on the watch. Swimming quickly through shallow water can subject the watch to pressures equivalent to a dive.
Most smart watches have a minimum water resistance rating of 3 ATM, meaning they can withstand the pressure equivalent to 30 meters underwater. This protects against rain and splashes, and you can wear the watch in the shower, but 3 ATM is insufficient for swimming.
For swimming, a water resistance rating of at least 5 ATM is required. Some fitness brands, like Garmin, offer smart watches with a 10 ATM rating, allowing them to withstand pressures equivalent to 100 meters underwater. These watches are suitable for snorkeling or swimming at relatively shallow depths.
Currently, no smart watch is suitable for scuba or saturation diving. For underwater exploration, we recommend purchasing a dedicated diving watch.
Operating Systems
As sophisticated devices, smart watches come with an operating system (OS) that controls their features and functions. Similar to desktop PCs, the OS determines which apps the watch can run and its compatibility with different smartphones.
Most manufacturers have developed their own OS for their watches. Apple Watches use watchOS, which is closely integrated with the iOS system used for iPhones and iPads and is not compatible with Android phones. For Android smart watches, consider brands that use Google’s WearOS, Samsung’s Tizen, Huawei’s HarmonyOS, among others.
In conclusion, smart watches offer numerous impressive features, but the essential ones depend on your priorities and how you intend to use your new watch.