I’ve been thinking about smartwatches for a while, and finally got my first one this August – the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7. Before that, I used a simple Huawei band that cost $30. Four months later, I’m barely using any features except the vibrating alarm and countdown timer. I also use it for tracking my runs, but honestly, my cheap Huawei band did that just as well.
I’m realizing that a smartwatch might just be too much for me, and I’m even considering selling my Galaxy Watch and getting something more affordable like a Fitbit.
What about you guys? How do you justify owning a smartwatch? Are there features that you can’t do without, which cheaper devices can’t provide?
EDIT: Just to clarify, by smartwatch, I mean devices like the Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, Garmin, etc., that cost over $200.
I love the health features – they’re pretty accurate. I also like the convenience of paying straight from my watch when I don’t have my phone or wallet. The fitness tracking is a huge plus too, especially since it gives detailed data for a lot of activities like strength training, hiking, yoga, and even SUP. The golf tracking is awesome too, especially for tournaments. Some models even give long battery life, which is great. But yeah, all these features aren’t cheap, and you need specific models to get them all in one device.
For me, it’s all about convenience. With the LTE version, I can leave my phone at home and still get calls, texts, and WhatsApp messages. Also, I’m a bit of a tech enthusiast. I love building my own watch faces with the data I want, which is a lot of fun.
I just can’t justify spending more than $30 on a smartwatch. For me, it’s mostly about notifications, because I don’t always carry my phone. It’s really convenient to just see them on my wrist.
I find smartwatches really useful once you add some apps. For example, I can make calls from the watch, and some models even have a SIM card. I can upload photos, texts, and even use the calculator. Plus, finding your phone using the watch is awesome. The sensors are better on pricier models – I have the Huawei Watch GT3 right now.
I use an old Sony SmartWatch 3. It’s a major upgrade from my old Reflex Active 12 that broke. I’m a modder, so I rooted my watch and turned it into a mini Android device. It runs Android 6, has VLC, file manager, and some games. I can listen to music, watch videos, and play old school games like NES/SNES from my wrist. I also use it for alarms and as a torch. The battery lasts about a day and a half, but it’s great for only £28.
I mean, that’s a really fun way to use a smartwatch.
It really is. The fact that old Android Wear watches are so easy to mod makes it super fun. It has 4GB of storage, so I can store music, videos, and ROMs. It even has a micro USB port, so I use it as a 1GB USB drive with an app called DriveDroid. I can even boot Linux off the watch. It’s a toolbox on your wrist and an ultimate flex!
I’m on my 3rd or 4th cheap Chinese smartwatch. I use it for notifications, calls, texts, and emails. I also like tracking my sleep, BPM, and stress. The sound quality is terrible for calls, though. My current watch has a weird glitch where it randomly stops showing notifications, and I have to delete the app and restart it.
I got a $60 CMF watch. I turned off all the smart features and sensors because I just wanted something that looks good. It’s simple, but it does the job.
I use my smartwatch just like a regular watch. I’m not into fitness tracking. I really wish I could buy a smartwatch without all the health features. My Pebble was perfect for that.
I’ve been using Fitbit for 7-8 years. I just got the Galaxy Watch 7, and I compared it with my Fitbit Versa 4 for two weeks. The stats were pretty close, except for the fancy features on the Galaxy Watch. I don’t need those, so I returned it. I use my Fitbit to track sleep and exercise. It’s been great for 3 years and lasts over 7 days on a charge. I’m a bit worried since Google bought them out, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.
I really enjoy getting notifications on my watch. I keep my phone on silent, and I still get everything on my wrist. The best part is being able to change straps and watchfaces. It feels like a new watch every time!